Big Pimpin'......

Tomorrow I am leaving for Panama City Beach for my first race of the season! Woot! So very excited to get this done and over with. I had some pretty high expectations of myself but after my little stomach virus episode last week, I am not sure if I will be able to have the race I dreamed of having a few weeks ago. One thing is for sure: I MUST PR! That is my only real goal. Of course, I have goal splits that are written down, and a super-secret goal time, but I want to keep that super-secret for now.

In the meantime my bike is pimped out and ready to rock and roll! It looks like it will be hot, which is why the race is called "Gulf Roast" I have my Michael Jackson white glove that I will be wearing and filling with ice. Don't hate. It works. It also looks like the water is warm this year, and most likely won't be wetsuit legal. Of course I will bring mine because I know that these things can change pretty quickly. Chance of showers....I don't care if it rains as long as I am OFF the bike.

Good luck to all my fellow racers that will be out there representing their hard work this weekend! Can't wait to see everyone (too many people to even start to mention!) Look for me out on the course in my bright blue Luna kit!

Sunday Funday!

Today has been quite the day already!

I did a reverse triathlon: 6.35 mile run, 1.5 hr ride, 1.2 mile swim. Felt good, the best that I have felt all week. I may actually be returning to normal here shortly! Yay! My confidence to no longer slacking for Gulf Coast. I went through some old Garmin files and realized that I have put in the training, I just need to relax and let whatever happens happen this week!

After my triathlon I ran errands, gave both the dogs a bath and an extra long run, did laundry and now I am TIRED. Going to pick up some yummy Mai Tai takeout and do some stretching then call it a day!

Hope your Sunday was a funday too!

Are you ready/ How do you feel?

It seems like everyone has asked me if I am ready to race on Saturday and how I am feeling. I figured for those who didn't ask, they might be wondering.

Are you ready? I am SO ready! I wish that the race was tomorrow! At this point, I have put in all the training that I can, so now it's time to race! In a perfect world I would have started master's in January, and done long rides instead of running the ING and doing the Sprint tri. But I can't turn back time and change things, I just have to be confident in knowing that I have done enough training to get me across the finish line.

How do you feel? REALLY excited! I have never looked forward to something that will be this painful in my entire life! The beach, friends, unlimited beer at the after party and a race? Who wouldn't be excited! Actually, I was a bit worried at the beginning of the week. My lower back was still hurting( especially while swimming) and my left hip/buttock areawas very tight. My knee started acting up the way it always does during a taper week. I was also exhausted and my body just wanted to sleep. I told myself that I have trained hard for three weeks, and I am just showing the normal signs. I got a (ouch) sports massage yesterday and my back didn't hurt at Master's last night! This morning I was thinking that maybe the sports massage was a bad idea because I was MORE sore, but after intense icing like she told me to, I feel 100% better. I was on the trainer today thinking- if I feel this good on Saturday it's going to be a great day!

My step-dad asked me what I expected of the race. I told him I am not sure, but I expect that I will 1) finish and 2) it will hurt. Those are about the only things that I am totally certain of at this point. Since this is my first half-ironman I am using it to help me better understand long-distance triathlon, and assess where my body is in terms of my Ironman in August.

Have I told you that I was EXCITED? We leave early tomorrow morning, not a moment too soon! I have packed everything I own related to triathlon, including two wetsuits, the race wheels are on the bike, and my coffee is pre-set for the morning, I am ready!

Horoscope knows a lot!

Oddly, my horoscope is always close to being correct. This is just the one that pops up on MSN's website, but it always seems to know what kind of mood I am in. Today I have started to feel jittery about racing a half-Ironman in one week! I am going over things like nutrition, hydration, pacing strategies, etc,etc, over and over again.

Here's my horoscope: You may sense a nervous restlessness today, dear Cancer, that is egging you on to take action. A journey to one place may have you bouncing off to another place that may lead you on an adventure to someplace completely different. It may seem as if you are on some crazy scavenger hunt towards a pot of gold. The energy of the day may leave you feeling ragged, but don't give up. Persistence will pay off in the long run.

Off to seek my pot of gold!