36 hours to go...

I sit here 36 hours from my first triathlon with mixed emotions ranging from “I’m ready”, “It’s about the complete not the compete” and “what the hell am I thinking”.  This seemed so easy when it was three months away, now 36 hours away all I can think about is how “not” prepared I am for this.  I keep reminding myself that at this point I am as ready as I am going to get, so what will be will be.

Putting the whole race into perspective my biggest concern is with the swim, if I can get out of the water, I am confident I can finish.  About a week and a half ago I met with a professional triathlete, Leslie Howlett, and she gave me some suggestions and pointers on my swim technique.  (Checkout her blog at Triathlon-Mom, she will be racing the in the St. George Ironman May 1^st.)  I am been trying to focus on the information she gave me, but I really couldn’t make a ton of improvement in less than two weeks.  The swim is just like my run, I just need to put in the time in the pool.  This upcoming event is the only pool swim, the remaining events will all be in open water and almost twice the length as this one, so I need to continue to put in the time. 

I have ridden and run the course this week and it felt pretty good.  As for the ride, I am praying for either no wind at all, or at least a north to south wind.   When I rode it this week I had a south to north wind that damn near killed me on the 13 block stretch from 41^st South to 54^th South, all up hill, if I went any slower I am pretty sure I would have been going backwards.  Actually, the scariest part of the ride was the 13 blocks on 111 with the tailwind.  I was pretty much along for the ride and just hoping I could control the bike.  That stretch will be nicer with the traffic control and I will be able to go all out without worrying about cars, just the other riders.

As for the run, I would like to say my goal is not walk, but I am realistic, I may walk depending on how I feel after the bike.  The run has a couple good sized hills, but is mostly flat or downhill, with the last 400 meters on the track in the Oval.  When I ran it this week I was reminded that running outside is not the same as a treadmill or even a track.  I suffered from shin splints for a couple days after, I imagine that will be just one of my aches and pains after Saturday.  The weather just hasn’t been nice enough for me to want to run outdoors, and when it was I felt I needed to focus on the bike.  With this race, a 5k next weekend and the Race for the Cure 5k the week after that, I will need to put in some road time to build those outdoor muscles, but I am just happy to be running, outdoor endurance will come quickly.

This week I have backed off my training, I just don’t want to strain anything in so close to the race.  I have swam each day, but I didn’t really push myself, and frankly it didn’t help build my confidence.  I have also been focusing on my nutrition, I haven’t had any sugar, or fat this week, I have limited myself to good protein and good carbohydrates.  It has been hard, because have been hungry all week, I haven’t counted my calories this week, I have eaten often, but not a lot.  Leslie wrote a good article on the Triathlete’s Edge website about race day/week nutrition and I have been trying to follow it.

By the way, The Triathlete’s Edge website has added this blog to its featured blog page, which is very cool and I appreciate the support.  I also want to thank all my family and friends for their support through this process.  This week after I posted the before and after pictures I received a ton of comments about my success, and I truly appreciate that.  I especially enjoyed the reaction by friend who I have met after I lost most of the weight, they had no idea how large and in-charge I actually was.

Tomorrow, the day before the race, I am going to try and relax as much as possible.  I will put my gear together, making sure I don’t forget anything.  I will do some bike maintenance, checking tires and cleaning the change.  I also will be cleaning the house with the help of my girls, have to make sure it is presentable as my parents are coming down from Idaho to support me.  It is kind of funny that they never saw me compete in any sport in high school, but 22 years later I am.  In the evening I have to go to Lehi for packet pickup, I know I could do it Saturday morning, but I just don’t want any stress Saturday.

My next blog entry will be post race, I am just humbled at the thought of competing in my first triathlon.  I can thank my wife enough for making the decision in 2007 that we were going to change our lives and to start making healthy decision.  I am so happy to be an example to my girls, just as Stacy was last year in her first triathlon.  I love my family and my friends, thank you for all your support.