Nervous: my first tri in 2 years

[Tri Girl]

eek!
I've entered two tris this weekend: a sprint on Saturday and an oly on Sunday (part of the Rt. 66 Triathlon Festivus).

I've done tris for the last 6 years, although I haven't raced in 2 years. I took a year off, then got too scared to race last year and now I'm more terrified than when I did my first tri 6 years ago. Heck- I'm more nervous than when I did my IM. It's just two silly races...
I've gained almost 20 lbs, so I don't feel good about myself right now. My ego is messing with me big-time. I'm slower than I've ever been, but I want to get back out there and there's no better time than the present. Gotta suck it up, buttercup, and all that.

Hoping for 1:45 at the sprint and around 4 hours for the oly. Really- just hoping to finish the oly. Temps are supposed to be triple digits- so really just hoping to not pass out on the oly run course.

So if you have some extra speedy/endurance vibes you're not using- please send them my way. I can use all the racing mojo I can get. Thanks!

[redrhodie]

It's already back, your Mojo, that is! You're doing it! Yay, Tri Girl!

[salsabike]

Why do we race? To have fun. Because we love to swim, bike, run. Go have fun out there--it's the best goal you could possibly have, and let the times take care of themselves this year. It's a rebuild/reentry year for you, so try to let the pressure off yourself this time!

I'm racing tomorrow. I weigh more than I want to and am not as fast as I was a year ago. I plan to have as much fun as I can manage! I will send surplus fun your way!

[Tri Girl]

Why do we race? To have fun. Because we love to swim, bike, run. Go have fun out there--it's the best goal you could possibly have, and let the times take care of themselves this year. It's a rebuild/reentry year for you, so try to let the pressure off yourself this time!

You know, Salsa- you are a genius!! You are exactly right! Why am I putting pressure on myself and letting me ego take control? I *do* love all three sports. I will go and have fun. And if I'm last, I'm last. Last place finishers at our club tris always get a special prize and the most cheers (since everyone else is already done and eating).

I'm racing tomorrow. I weigh more than I want to and am not as fast as I was a year ago. I plan to have as much fun as I can manage! I will send surplus fun your way!

Yay for you!!! Good luck to you tomorrow. We'll both have a blast!!!


Thank you for putting it in perspective for me!

[Veronica]

Yep, just go and have fun.

I wish it was going to be hot this weekend. I'm looking at 60s, 50% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms. We DON"T get that kind of weather in the late spring here.

Veronica

[salsabike]

So let me tell you a couple of things that will make you laugh.

Last year, Teigyr and I went to a race that had multiple options. I did the 5k, she did the 15k. She said that there were so few people out there for the whole 15k that she could swear she saw tumbleweeds blowing across the course towards the end. I thought that image was a hoot! (she wasn't slow at all--there just weren't many people doing the 15k).

So when I did my first two Olympic length races last year, I said, what if I'm last? Okay. DFL>DNF>DNS. I wasn't last in either race, but not that far from it either. My husband and I joked about looking for tumbleweeds. We laughed. I was pleased I did two Olys even though I would like to do them faster, and I figure that next year I will. This year, I crushed two finger joints and missed a couple of months of training while they tried to recreate themselves as joints (which they sort of have). So this is a rebuild year for me too. It took me several months to stop comparing my times this year to last year, so I know what you are fighting your way through. It helped a lot when my husband said a few weeks ago "This is a rebuild year for you. Let it be that. You'll be faster again later."

Tumbleweeds....laugh....it's all good.

[Tri Girl]

ha! I'll be looking for tumbleweeds!


V- brrr! I don't know whether I'd like to have 100 degree heat or 50's and rain. I think both are less-than-ideal conditions. Stay warm and good luck at your race!!

[Veronica]

Stay cool! And hydrate well.

I'm hoping it means chicks in my age group stay away.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

Why did I wait so long to race again? I had a BLAST!! It felt so good to be out there doing it again.
I got beaten up in the swim (loved it- the jostling and jockeying for position), the bike was great, and while the run was getting hot- I was faster than I thought I would be.
My times were nothing to write home about- and my transitions were slow- but I had FUN- and that's all that matters (I looked for tumbleweeds, but didn't see any, Salsa ).
1:34 total time. 11 min. swim, averaged 16.9 on the bike, and threw down a 34 min. 5K (I did the run at my IM pace, since that's the big goal this year).

SO much fun! Thanks for the support- I felt you guys out there with me!

Now tomorrow I will do the olympic distance. Twice the distance- twice the fun. On the run today I was feeling the heat tinglies, so I'm a little concerned about the heat tomorrow- but if I have to walk most of the 6 miles- so be it. As long as I finish with a smile on my face- it will be a success!!