I Will Survive: Five Weeks 'Til Race Day!

I was (and still am) very much into Motown and blues especially from the 60s and 70s (which of us from that era did NOT grow up learning the Supreme's hand motions for "Stop In the Name of Love?"). Gloria Gaynor actually cut her teeth singing disco (for which we will forgive her) and she released "I Will Survive" in 1979, just in time for me to learn the lyrics during studying for college graduation. Great lyrics for any generation. Great song on the iPod for working out.

Thus we continue with the hard workouts as we move closer to the 70.3, which increase in distance and intensity until taper time. Coach Claire is leading me up to the event by making sure I am ready both physically and mentally for the challenge. I'm finally convinced I can not only do this thing, but, barring injury or illness or something outside my control on race day, I can do it with a smile at the finish line (it may look like grimace to YOU, buddy, but to me, it will look like a smile).

This weekend was a short (one hour--when did one hour runs become short in nature?) run in the blast wind from the north on Saturday. The good news is that it was a north wind, which means my last mile home is downwind and that little push in the backside from a strong wind means a lot some days.

On Sunday, it was semi dress rehearsal day--a 3.5 hour ride and a 45 minute tempo run. The wind was still blowing, but not as hard as Saturday thank goodness (only about 10-15 mph, which is normal for this time of year). It was a chilly morning, and as I ate my oatmeal with honey and berries (thanks for the crock pot hint! it cooked perfectly all night long) I debated my fashion options. It would probably be best to wear tights, but I had just purchased a new pair of (expensive) carbon Tyr tri shorts that I wanted to tri out, because they are going to be my choice for the race if they worked right. So I decided on the shorts, but a long sleeved wicking shirt under my new (expensive, but not as much as the shorts) tri top and a medium weight bike jacket on top.

We arrived (the Patient Spouse and I) at White Rock around 9 a.m. and brrr it was brisk in that wind. I was grateful for my jacket and was happy to put on the bike helmet and gloves. The bike bento box was loaded with a hard boiled egg (cut in quarters, salted, and in a baggie), 3 gels in my squeeze bottle, some gummy bears, and a cut up Luna Raspberry Chocolate bar (cut into widdle bite sizes, and in a baggie), and my water bottles were loaded with Gatorade Pro (on the aerobar bottle) and water (on the seat tube). Two Advil were tucked in a small nose clip plastic holder and stuffed in the bento box just in case. My run fuel belt held my small Gatorade bottle, some gummies, and another gel. I flelt like a camel headed to the desert for two weeks.

Off into the cool wind we rode, trying to go easy pace but the chill making us want to pedal harder. Six times 'round the lake was my goal (about 9.1 miles each trip) for the 3.5 hours. Patient Spouse was going to do 2 laps and a short run (he's my sprint tri guy) and then take his car on home.

First lap was faster than I wanted, over 15 mph average for the 9 miles, and then I had to stop to use the portapot (I had hydrated quite well the day before, thanksverymuch), and we were off for lap 2. Patient Spouse took off on his sprint pace and all I saw of him was his north end headed south for awhile, and then he disappeared from sight. At 14 miles I took in a half gel, and was careful to ensure that I took a large hefty swig of Gatorade each time the Garmin beeped a mile.

Second lap done a bit slower, wind a bit stronger and the crowds a bit heavier to dodge, then guess what, off for a portapot visit again (some of this is good hydration. Some of this is old age. Being over 50 is not for the faint of heart) and quickly back on the bike for lap 3--halfway. Sun's out strong now, beautiful early spring morning with trees in bloom and flowers starting, heaving my way up the 4 hills and muttering only 3 more times to do these, trying to save my legs a bit for the run while still not puttering along too slowly. At mile 28 (halfway for 56, even I can do the math) I ate my hard boiled egg a little at a time, and it was VERY tasty, the salted egg just hitting the spot for me. Learned something: put a marble or rock in the baggie to weigh it down when empty or else the wind is going to try to snatch it away, and littering on a tri can mean a DQ. Remind myself not to eat the rock.

Third lap down. I managed to not stop at the portapot this time. Starting to get cross eyed at seeing everything for the FOURTH time and knowing there was more to come (oh, there is the dog park...again....). Decided that my gel bottle should go in my back pocket instead of the bento box since it's taking up too much room in there, and I can't reach my other goodies. Takes a minute to stuff in it there. Cyclists have to be so good at riding one handed while using the other to grab nutrition, stuff our faces with it, put away trash, change gears, wipe nose (what gloves are for!), scratch, etc. I wish I was better coordinated at all this.

Park getting more crowded and more people to dodge, more children to worry about, more oblivious walkers stepping out in front of you from nowhere. Feet getting numb. Wiggle toes, arch feet, point upwards. Butt getting numb. Making sure I stand up in the saddle on every small downhill, sometimes on the flat. Winstead Hill getting higher (okay I made this one up).

Fourth lap down and two to go. Getting warm, had to stop and strip the bike jacket and (again) use the facilities. I am going to lose five or six minutes just visiting Mr. John. Can't be helped. I know the pros sometimes go on the bike--yes they do--but it's not gonna be me, babe. Quickly off for lap five, feeling it now in my legs a wee bit. Try to ease off on the 4 hills, seated climb and not standing, hunkering down low into the increasing breeze. Taking in more gel, some Luna Bar bites, a few gummies. Reach back for the gel bottle. Can't get it out. new shirt (Orca) that has flaps over the back pocketes. Great idea for not losing things; lousy idea for getting things out. Takes five minutes and six curse words to unleash the gel--put it in the bento box again. New shirt is now on the bad list.

Still feeling strong. Hit the bad hill and say ONE MORE TIME SUCKA to it.

Sixth lap coming up--last one! Butt really getting numb and so are toes. I can make the toes do okay by moving my feet around but the backside is just what it is. I love love the new Tyr carbon shorts but nothing short of getting off will make my rear get comfortable, let's face it.

Felt good to say to each hill that I won't be seeing you again. Still pedaling smoothly, no real issues, no real pain other than tired butt and numbish toes. Still over the aerobars so that tells me I'm not too tired. Reminding myself I have a run to do.

Parking lot coming up! 54.9 miles for the trip in 3:40, not too bad on time. If I can do 56 in 3:45 at the race, I'm way ahead of my time goal, so this is good news.

Stand up a bit in the pedals to get the blood flowing, shake my legs one at a time, come into the lot and unclip, GENTLY hop off the bike (learned the hard way that after a long bike, a quick dismount can lead to ugly things for shaky legs), into the car with it, on with the shoes and fuel belt, grab the Garmin off the bike and snap onto the wrist band, off with the helmet and gloves, and a quick trip (last one) to the portalet--and now I'm off running. Er, jogging. But moving.

Actually I didn't run all that slow. My running pace was between 10:30 and 11:15 min per mile pace, but I did run 8/walk 2 the entire time which is my goal for the first 4 miles of the real race (after that, I have to re assess how I feel; I may go to run 7/walk 3 etc). I did walk one other time when I turned up the area to the dam and forgot it was straight uphill so I gave myself 1.5 extra walking minutes and ran the rest of that steep uphill gritting my teeth. I continued to swig Gatorade and consume gel and Luna Bar each walk break, cursing at the flaps on the shirt pockets and wondering if I could sew them open later.

I was happy to see the finish line at 45 minutes (3.9 miles) but I wasn't falling over exhausted and could have kept going if I simply had to. I did note my mind was a bit fuzzy. Not uncommon for post race syndrome.

A great post workout stretch, some yoga, a burger and a Diet Coke put me back into mental swiftness. I didn't feel all that tired the rest of the day, and got some chores done, but was grateful for lights out that night around 9:45 p.m.

There's more to come, and I'm ready for it, but I've done part of the race already (I realize there wasn't a swim beforehand, and I only ran a little more than a quarter of the distance. Still. I KNOW I can do it).

Me and Gloria. We'll survive!