TR23: wimpy run (mommy duty calls)

As I said, I am really trying to focus on swimming for the tri, I figure not drowning IS important.  But peer pressure strikes again.  It was a ver legitimate question...Heather, one of my virtual running pals who is coming to Holland to do the Park2Park Half Marathon with Rhonda and I in September, asked how my runs were going this week.  I looked, it was Wed and I hadn't ran yet.  Swam, yes..lots.  Biked, yep...that too.  Running...nada.

So, I did my extra time after Hydration Hustle and ran after getting my swim in today.  It was only 2.5 miles, but I got it in.  I would have done more, but I had to pick up the boys from day care.

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/45342714

TR22: Hydration Hustle Virtual 5k

As time doesn't matter on this one, I invited a mommy gal pal who wants to get into running join me.  Like me, she struggles to find the time to do so.  We have 4 kids between us...a gorgeous day and a zoo with a 5k course.  Can you say perfect?  And FUN!?!?

We set out, took our time, visited exhibits, hauled butt to Africa (an exhibit that has a 1.5 mile walking or in our case running path with a huge hill in it)  She did great, the kids had fun and we got our 5k in in under an hour.  As she hasn't run in forever, or ever, not sure which is the case, we did kind of a couch to 5k style workout!

This was supposed to be my day "off" from training.  We did the zoo and then I took the kids for ice cream and the park.  As I was feeling guilty about the ice cream AND a little puppy was missing, the boys and I went on a 1.5 mile dog searching mission, so I got an additonal little run in :)

Momma freaks out

I am suspending the long runs for the half until I am done with the tri next weekend.  I am just very anxious about the swim portion and I need to focus on one thing.

When momma gets freaked, she gets busy.  Freaked pretty much describes how I am feeling about the swim portion of the tri.  The pool, I can handle; the lake is freaking me out.  How else can you explain how I can swim for 25 nonstop minutes in a pool and feel out of breath and freaked about the water in the lake?  I would say it is just easier, but I am using an endless resistance pool that is pushing water in my face continuously.  People freak me out, as do weeds, and of course the not being able to touch.

I have practiced swimming daily for the last three days and I am hitting the pool or lake again tomorrow.  Yesterday, I had an awesome pool workout and Monday was a nice 10 mile bike ride, down to the lake and back, where I struggled thru 750 yds of swimming.  I am guessing I will be in the water, during the tri, about 20 minutes unless I get an adrenaline rush or freak out. :)

Tri Panic Attack

Rhonda reminded me, I have 2 weeks till I become a triathelete.  This is both exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time.  I actually had a moment of panic/anxiety the other night.

But, today, I had a little bit of an epiphany.  While struggling thru a swim session, I have to hold on to Teri's quote: 

"this is me, not caring"

I think that quote is my new mantra.  Hell, I ran in short shorts and a sports bra in heat induced craziness on Thursday, I am owning it.

Why?  I will be swimming literally over my head against much faster/skilled swimmers.  I have no doubt I can

do the distance, but it will not be pretty.  I will be thinking,  "this is me, not caring" as I side stroke, breast stroke and back stroke if I have to those last 150 yards...

And...  I will be smiling as I roll thru the bike section (because the swim is done) AND thinking, "this is me, not caring" on my 10 year old mountain bike (with knobby tires) may actually be better suited for the delightful road conditions that we will encounter.  This pic is not an exaggeration of the road quality:

And I may even really get into the "this is me, not caring" mantra if I am spent at that point and I run ala JG style, with a run walk style.

With my half marathon, the goal was finish.  I am thinking that this first tri, the goal is similar!

TR21: Effin Hot

Work blew, needed to run, was scheduled to run.  So, at 4 pm, on the hottest day to record of the year, I ran.  It wasn't pretty, lost my breath pretty much, but I did it.  I felt better, but it took me about an hour, even after a cold shower, I was still sweating.  2.5 miles of hell.

TR20: WTF was I thinking?

This morning I made the mistake of running when it is good for others, not me.  I was supposed to do 8 miles.  There was no way in hell (as in that is how hot it was) that I could do that.  I was hoping to make 5, but, OMG.  I seriously had to walk to prevent from passing out/getting sick.  I ended up walking more than running in the end.

When I left the house, I swear the temp on my phone said it was 71*, when I got back, some 48 minutes later, it was 84*.  It was just plain awful.  I looked it up...not only was it 84*, but it was also 87% humidity...ugh.

TR19: Hot Three...

Today, I took advantage of the offer of a child-free run from Mom.  It was great.  Of course, it was later than I normally would have went, which of course made it hotter, but still got it done.  Followed by 15 minutes of lap swimming.

So I have a few observations from my run today:

Despite the fact it said 71* running at 12:40 is not for me.  Holy hotness. 

Athens, a small (redneck/hillbilly infested) blinker town, has no GPS signal (missing sections of my map showed me this)

I run so I can look like something a redneck/hillbilly might want to say "G Damn" to...yes, I guess he liked my Cw-X... lol  Only in small town USA would a shirtless dude working on a roof cat call loud enough that said small town can hear it....all over the town!

My runkeeper app went in and out so many times, it shows 3 separate entries on my activities page.  So I had to manually map it...here it is:

http://runkeeper.com/user/clyoungsey/activity/43226437

Note:  Corner of North B Ave and E Mill - catcall location