Three more days until Iron Star. I don't feel ready! What can I say? The time is upon me and I'm getting more nervous than I've ever been before a race (except maybe my very first race last summer). The sheer enormity of it all is starting to hit me. The last time I swam even one mile was in July at the Ironhead olympic distance triathlon. The last time I rode 60 miles was . . . . I can't remember! And, you all know I've never run more than 8 to 10 miles, so this is going to be a VERY interesting triathlon. I'm really not sure how I'll do. Nevertheless, it's coming and I gotta get out there and try! Here's the latest on this week's training:

Tuesday, October 24: I didn't get any training in. I intended to do a bike-run brick, but work was all over me. I did do push-ups and sit-ups when I got home, but it wasn't much.

Wednesday, October 25: I almost didn't get any training in Wednesday, either. I took the day off from work (to make up for having to work the previous two Saturdays). I had intended to get in a 50-60 mile easy spin working on form, nutrition, and keeping my heart rate under control. However, it rained ALL day yesterday, so I couldn't get the ride in.

I was also scheduled for the Wednesday swim workout with Texas Iron. Because of the rain, I was sure they'd cancel. By 5:30 PM, the word came down that class would be held. The rain let up pretty well by our 7:00 PM start time, so we worked out. Since so many of us are racing at Iron Star the workout was pretty simple. We warmed up with 16 x 25 m in 4 sets of 4. The first one of each set was a drill (catch-up, fingertip drag, etc.). The last three 25s of each set were strong and steady. We did 4 of those. Then, we swam 8 x 50 m alternating between a hard 50 and a strong, but steady one. We then did an easy 200 m recovery swim. Finally, we did 5 x 100 m. The first 25 m of each 100 was hard swim to simulate the start of the swim wave. The next 50 m were swum strong, but steady, focusing on long strokes to simulate settling in for the main body of the swim. The last 25 was a recovery swim. We then warmed down with an easy 200 m swim. I gotta say, I didn't feel great in the pool. I never could get into a good rhythm. Hopefully I got all the bad vibes out in practice and will have a GREAT swim on Sunday. Who knows?

Today, Thursday, Oct. 26: Today, I did an easy spin on the 22-mile hill course. I averaged 19.4 mph on the course without really exerting too much. It took me about 7 miles before I felt good on the bike, but when I finished, my legs did not feel tired at all. I wanted to run afterwards, but I decided against it since I'll be doing a run workout with Texas Iron tonight. I plan to take it pretty easy so that my legs aren't sore tomorrow and Saturday. The last thing I want is to be sore only a day or so before the event! Besides . . . it's Taper Week! ;-)

Three days and counting!