OMG

... that's all I can really say.

My brick this week is 60-70 miles cycling followed by 6 miles running.

I might die before I ever get to the race.
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Mighty Brick

I feel kind of like Robin - "Holy Brick, Batman!"

Finally this week I did a brick workout following... wait for it.... a rest day! What a difference! Not that I felt great, mind you, but I didn't feel like I was going to die. This was my third brick so perhaps that had something to do with it as well.

Saturday morning, Georgia, Richard and Patty met me bright and early for a 30 mile bike ride. Georgia was in charge of route planning and she picked a tough one! We did an out and back that had us on Millers and Shallow Well both ways for some good rolling hill action. My average speed wasn't stellar but I got it done.

Then Patty kindly ran with me! We did a slow six mile loop through West Creek. Again, nothing speedy, but the miles are in the bank. At the end, I felt like I could have kept going if I had to. Really I did have to, since my training plan called for 12, but I had only planned to do six so mentally I was done.

This week, I really tried to work on my nutrition and I think it went pretty well. I never felt hungry or thirsty, even at the very end. I am usually starving coming out of the swim though so I will be at more of a nutritional deficit in the actual race.

My kids wanted to go to the pool Saturday afternoon, and after a shower and some rest, I finally agreed. It was crowded and we hung out for awhile. Then when the crowd thinned, I got some mojo and swam laps. I was interrupted a few times including a big break to chat with a friend but ended up swimming 1600.

So I can do all three events in a day... if I could cut the course in half and have 12 hours to do it, I would be fine!

But as Susie says, there is still time....
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Dilemma

So, I am in a bit of a quandry.

I can't decide whether I should do an aqua-velo for the half iron I foolishly signed up for, or suck it up and do the whole thing even though I will be walking a good portion of the run. Another option is to have my friend Susan run for me as a relay, which she has agreed to do - even though she strongly encourages me to do it myself.

My training has been lame. Running has probably been the worst, as I injured my back in April and couldn't run again until the end of July. According to my training plan, my longest run to date should be 16 miles. It is 7 1/2. I don't want to build up too fast and hurt myself even worse, or hurt something else.

Almost as bad has been my swim training, mainly because it is my least favorite. Especially since I have to do it at my local community pool. Typically, I have to fight with multiple people for the one paltry little lap lane, and then get jumped on by kids. The worst was when an entire boy scout troop overtook the lane with no notice while I was in it. I discovered their presence when one dove directly into my side. Good times, good times. I didn't start swimming until a few weeks ago, and at best have swum twice in one week. Usually I make it once, and then either laziness or lightening takes me down for the second scheduled swim.

The bike is... well, the bike. I love it. I'm good riding 56 miles, I think, even though my actual longest ride has been 52.

Perhaps the final relevant point is that this is too much race for me. I doubt that I will ever sign up for this distance again. That goes both ways - do it because this is it... or skip the run because this is just too much race.

I ask you my friends: what would you do if you were me?
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Mighty Week

This past week was insane for me. I'd like to think I can maintain - dare I say even build upon it? But I think we all know me better than that. Anyway...

Last Saturday, I wanted to do a long ride. Even though the forecast was for 105 degrees (and I'm not even kidding), Dave, Patty and I got an early start and rode 52 miles, 17.5 average speed. We hit quite a few rolling hills and I felt pretty good until the last 10 or so miles. Then I started getting chills and had no legs left. When I finally got home, I ate everything in sight, took a shower, and crashed on the couch for a couple hours. And then I went to watch Taz and his All Stars team win their 9 year old baseball tournament! Woo hoo!!!! And then we all went out with the team and drank way too much. His coach even made me do a tequila shot which even if I hadn't been dehydrated would have been a very bad idea.

But I digress...

Sunday was equally hot and I was not quite as energetic as I had been the day before. Oddly, I had a bit of a headache. So the kids and I hit the pool. I swam 1600 meters with only a few interruptions from the kids.

Monday, Dave and I biked 20. We both complained of tired legs but still managed a respectable 18.1 pace. That boy is amazing. And he is determined to make me better on hills. I keep telling myself that what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.

I had to run Tuesday to report back to the voodoo doctor I'm seeing now for my back at my appointment that afternoon, so I forced myself out of bed and ran four miles. Physically, I felt pretty good. Mentally, I was not into it at all. Wil (the vodoo doctor aka therapeutic massage/alternative medicine dude) beat the crap out of me that afternoon and hopefully fixed more stuff. He is fantastic. Especially if you are into pain. (Check him out at http://www.themethuselahcenter.net/).

My Wednesday morning bike posse met as usual at 5:45 a.m. I had asked everyone to please be on time because my schedule was very tight that morning. Dave took that as license to ride - and push me - as hard as possible. We did 16 miles at a 19.7 mph pace! Dave's Garmin said 20 mph but he was as always a little faster than me so I'm sticking with my stat. And I would never have even done that if I hadn't glued myself to Robert's wheel for much of the ride. It was a good start to the day!

Thursday I ran again, this time 4.5 miles. I still felt a little sore from my beating Tuesday but I am able to run again without pain! Very exciting. I had planned to swim Thurs night but a very major late afternoon thunderstorm threatened my good intentions. The kids and I finally headed to the pool around 7:15 and were surprised to find it open. Guess I had to swim then... They played while I swam an uninterrupted (until the very end) 2000 meters - my longest swim literally in years. I did it without stopping to prove to myself that I can live through 1.2 miles of the half. To simulate race conditions, I interjected some breastroke into my set.

Friday was supposed to be my rest day, but since we were going out of town that night, I wanted to get at least some of my Sat brick. Deanna rode River Road with me - 22 miles at 18.1 mph average. I should have gone further, and I should have run a little bit afterwards, but I had to be home early than I anticipated so that was it.

Still, 110 miles of biking, 8.5 miles of running, and 3600 meters of swimming in one week is damn good for me.
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