I swear I offered to circle swim ...

and a big weekend coming up!

Last weekends race is still in my legs and my arms, but I'm trying to work through it and not just sit around and eat cake ---

--- seriously, one day last week, I found myself post workout in the pharmacy after a run and I was starving and I totally gave in a bought the entemans chocolate cake with chocolate frosting that was sitting right there by the check out and the darn thing is still around - I eat a bite or two or three every day and it seems never ending ---

so I stopped into the pool yesterday and planned to do the master's workout that was sure to still be on the board from the morning. Usually after work the pool is packed, but I timed it right and got my own lane which was awesome. Mid way through the warm up a girl joined me and said we should split the lane which was great. Then a guy who either was or wants to be her boyfriend jumped into the lane. I paused to confirm that we were going to circle swim but before I could even say a word the dude told me to "just keep swimming."

So I did. And they essentially circle swam in one half of the lane. She just did her thing but when it looked like they were going to collide head on he dove and swam under her. It was actually quite impressive but had to look odd to anyone watching - I wondered if any random people on deck thought I refused to circle swim? Reminiscent of my camp announcement that this was "not my bike" I wanted to put everyone on notice that I do in fact have good pool etiquette.

Anyway ... this weekend my plan was to go to Boston with a friend/neighbor and do an MS 150 ride with some people that I work with on occasion. As is my life, my friend bailed last minute. I've decided to be brave and go alone because I've realized that there are some things in life that you'll just never get to do if you sit around waiting for the right person to do them with. I'm actually more worried about the driving then the two days of bike riding - I know the people I'm riding with will stick with me but they live in Boston so when the ride ends, I'm on my own. I won't tell you about each of the 150 miles, but I'm sure it will be an adventure worthy of a blog!

Two 'Fer

Before we get to my two for one PRs (yes that's right, one race, two PRs ha ha), let me just note that aging up is ... interesting. Other then with myself, I'm probably one of the least competitive people you'll ever meet (or not meet as the case may be) so age groupiness is really irrelevant to me, but I found it incredibly interesting that there were over 3xs as many people in the 35-39 age group as in 30-34 and those ladies are fast! It seems like an odd phenomena to me, no?

Anyway, it was Pat G. time and I was sooo ready for this race. For one, I'm a big fan of repeating races I've done previously - its a great way to judge overall progress. For two, I LOVE this race. Its so low key and just easy. And in a lake. And at an amusement park. And for three, it was my first race of the year and I've been training a ton and I was just ready!

When I was preparing for this race, Liz commented that I have race plan creation down. And I do. This is old hat now, so I'm going to spare you the nitty gritty of how we got there and what we ate for breakfast and get straight to the good stuff.

Swim

Last time I did this race I went way off course and swam into some geese. I also suspected the distance was long. This time, it was pretty much acknowledged that despite all the literature saying this is a .9 mile swim, its really a 1.x mile swim. I stayed on course, drafted when I could, kicked an old man in the face and finished exactly 6 minutes faster (and what are the odd of it being exactly six minutes faster? last time I swam x:27 and this time I swam (x-6):27. strange). I was psyched. I am also psyched because that time included 90 seconds of running back to transition so this makes me excited for my HIM distance swim.

T1

I'm not big on comparing transition times race to race. So much is dependent on rack placement and wet suit cooperation. But I will not that even this was 25 seconds faster.

Bike & T2

This time the course was about 2 miles shorter due to construction. Despite this I knew more or less what to expect. I expected to go down, down, down and then up, up, up and to repeat that several times. I did. In the detour I also climbed up something so ridiculously steep that I was basically pedaling from soft spot of grass to soft spot of grass so that if forward movement ceased to be an option, falling over wouldn't hurt. Fortunately, forward motion was always (barely) an option. Liz advised me to play "how long can I fend them off" with regard to the women that I would come out of the water ahead of. I played the game and it was fun while it lasted! My bike + T2 time for this race was 14 minutes faster (and 2 miles shorter) then last time. I've been told to stop talking about the missing two miles because it was only 2 miles and they were on the bike and the detour was wicked. So I will stop talking about it and note only that no matter how you cut it, 14 minutes is a solid improvement.

Run

I noted last time that this double out and back course was up and down a mountain. The terrain hasn't changed, but this time it only seemed like a big hill. That in and of itself is an improvement. In addition to an improvement in my geographical perceptions, there was an actual 5 minute and 6 second improvement (and it felt great, even after swimming and biking I was flying - for me- on the down hills and flats and making it up the ups and cheering and chatting with my friends that were out there double out and backing with me). And not only was it a 5:06 course PR it was ... a 1:42 distance PR (beating a record from 2004). I guess I just need a long warm up.

The 10K PR left me with a total time that was almost 26 minutes faster then my previous time racing Pat G.

And that is the story of how I got two PRs for the price of one and did it surrounded by friends that make me super proud. I am super psyched for the rest of the season and hopeful that this race is indicative of how the summer in general (cheesy, but true)!

Goals

We all need them.

In fact I have some for my triathlon this weekend (more on that later).

I also have (at least) one to be accomplished within the next 365 days (hopefully less).

Specifically, I need a date to my brother's wedding which is in ... 367 days (you see why I'm hoping for less then the allotted 365 days - their caterer will thank me).

I'm taking suggestions/solicitations/introductions whatever. There might be a prize (which might be limited to good karma and my charming smile) to anyone who helps me to this goal.

Maybe he'll be at the triathlon this weekend - in which case I hope we don't meet because he tries to drown me. I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime, if you see I have a slow transition - assume I'm brushing my hair or putting on lipstick;)

Camp Highlights

There are a lot of posts floating around out there about our women's tri camp and since none of you really want to know about how I got to the airport or the details of getting our rental car (although the enterprise dude sure was friendly), I'll spare you and just hit the high points:

• For a long, long time I resisted the call of lululemon. Now that I've given in I'm worried that I might be addicted.
• Illinois is big. Getting around it requires a lot of driving.
• Driving a SUV when you're used to driving a mini cooper is interesting ...
• I like open water swimming but only if I remember my body glide.
• It is possible to ride 60 miles on a bike that it much too small for you. But, it might be better to learn how to travel with your own bike.
• Tailwinds rock. Headwinds? Not so much.
• Never underestimate what you would do for cold water.
• If the dog chases you stop pedaling and say "no" firmly. Shrieking and riding your bike into a corn field is less effective.
• Good new friends are the ones that give you the towel soaking in their cooler of ice water.
• Sleeping through yoga is totally socially acceptable.
• Never underestimate what you would do for cold water (in the pool).
• Running up and down a highway overpass is about as fun as it sounds.
• Sometimes telling someone to act like they are "really chopping wood" won't actually help them do the "wood chop."
• 99% humidity can turn to torrential rain quickly. Driving through torrential rain is less fun than it sounds.
• Elle & Neil make the best breakfast ever. Seriously.
• Beer at the airport makes flight delays more tolerable.
• When your flight doesn't land until 1 am the extra money spent to park in short term parking is worth it.

Camp in a nut shell. Happy weekend everyone!