7/27
Mini-Tri take 3! Tonight was awesome. Had an incredible swim. Found out yesterday that my heat will be one of the last heats so I figured I had better get used to swimming right in the middle of chaos instead of jumping out in front. Tonight I picked one of the middle heats and had a great time chatting before hand with a couple of the coaches. I will so miss this. I know I will keep in touch with a number of the group but there is something to be said about being part of a group all working together towards a common positive goal. When we get into the water it is chaos. I know people say you can walk the whole course…but really if you choose this option I wish they would tell them to get over to one side. It is very murky water even without hundreds of people in it and tonight it was impossible to see even a foot ahead and when people stood …bam no warning of feet or swishing water just straight into the person or persons as there was a lot of people two or three across chatting and walking in the water. This was very frustrating because it breaks your swim stride. Aside from the frustration with getting around walkers, I had a great swim and made incredible time. Hope I can do the same come race day! Out on the bike I had a great time as well. I really am kicking myself for not installing aero-bars and I think that might be my birthday gift to myself this year. Racing for an extended period of time in the “tucked-in” position without them is killer on the shoulders and neck, but the increased speed and reduced effort is so worth it! I had to be somewhere after tonight so I only did one loop. On the run I am doing really well! I keep an image in my mind of the guys I run with in the mornings and how I always push myself to keep up with them and I chased them the while time in my head tonight…result awesome run! I am feeling so keyed up and excited that I am fair to bursting with excitement…such a better night than last week that I feel a giant weight lifted!

7/28
I tweaked my knee today and it has swollen up, I am freaked! I know how horrible this can become…hoping it will calm down. Ice, ibuprofen and elevation.

7/29
Knee feels better and I do my morning run. We do a thirty minute run. It is sooo muggy out that I am drenched when I get back home and its only 5:30 am!!!!!! So glad I got this in early.

7/30
Last bike ride with the group, such a sadness. We do a couple group rides with mass transition starts up and down the entrance and exit road. Good to practice the running and mounting to the transition line. We get a couple of great pointers from the coaches to shave time off. Once we do this a couple of times we head out on the course for one last ride before the actual race. I end up riding for the most part by myself. It is quiet and the time to myself has my brain spinning and swirling around all the changes in my life. The time to contemplate the next step is nice. Once this race is in and done…the big question is what next. I have already signed up for the Skinny Man and I am on the verge of signing up for a half marathon (all depends on my knees) and if I can do a half marathon, I think my next goal is doing a 70.3. I just need to see if I can handle that run. I know now I can do the swim and bike…but can I run that far? Then my brain spiraled off into how different I am and how much I love the changes becoming a triathlete has brought to me as a person. I feel so capable and strong. This has been the most worthwhile endeavor. I used to do theater in college and I am getting that feeling of when a show is about to open and there is all the excitement and nerves and you know that inevitably the show will end and then the group you have been such a part of will disperse and it will be time to move on to the next play whatever that may be. I am excited to see what is next.

8/1
I spent yesterday doing yard work and things around the house so I switched the training to today. A night in the pool. We were supposed to run but my knee is not happy again. I have an appointment Wednesday with my ortho. To come all this way and now it starts to act up…grrrr! Wasn’t even training that did it. I will get this fixed and will do whatever I can come race day. Even if it means running with the brace on…which I hate. That aside the swim was just what the dr ordered to make me feel better. I have to remind myself that this is a taper week and to get out after I have done all the laps. I just wanted to keep going to burn all this nervous pent up energy out. Made sure to leave the sneakers in the car just to be sure that I’m not tempted to “just see” how running on the knee feels. I am feeling antsy and caged today. The knee has me itching with nerves. I just need to calm down and breathe…think I will go to yoga tomorrow. I haven’t been since June I have been so busy with training but I could really use a little Zen. I am looking forward to Wednesday and seeing everyone and talking out the nerves. Also looking forward to seeing about this knee, hopefully it will calm it’s self down too!