Rock n' Roll Girl...

[Wahine]

At risk of opening a Pandora's box...

How ya feelin'?

It's almost time, I'm dying to know how things are going this week.

[rocknrollgirl]

I have not been posting much this week for several reasons. I have been under tremendous stress and I am alomost afraid to talk about the race.

As some of you know, my Mom who lives in CO has cancer. Well we got a call last Friday night that she had been hospitalized and was in ICU. Well 5 days, 100 phone calls, and 9 million emails later, they have discovered that she had a DVT that broke off and is now in her lung. She is now stable, and is getting excellent care, but it has been very stressful.

And then Tuesday night a forest fire broke out, you might have seen it on the news. Well that was my area and my school was the evac site. The smoke at my house was so thick you could not breathe. It rained last night so they have it 70 % contained today. The DH was trying to pack important documents to evac, I was packing tri gear.....

Now...how is my taper going?

Well, last Saturday we did a TT on my mt bike and I posted my fasted time ever. DH was amazed. Got off and did a 2 mile transition run in 17 mins.

Rested Sunday and Monday

Tuesday- pre fire, I went out to the lake to practice transitions. Swam 10 mins, got out of the water ran to my bike, off with wetsuit...ride 10 mins, change shoes run 5 mins. Did that twice. Felt a bit flat, but that is ok.

Wed-pool workout -did some hard short intervals with lost of rest. Could not bike or run due to fire.

Today I am heading out to the woods for a hard short brick.

UPDATE
felt pretty good today. Did 40 mins on the bike and a 20 min run. My legs were heavy to start, but they always are, and then they loosen up.

So that is where I am. I am nervous about Sunday, but physically I am ready. I just hope I did this week right and that the stress did not throw a wrench in it.

[Wahine]

It sounds like you got all the key components in. You're totally ready.

It sucks that you had such a rough week. I'm glad your Mom is doing OK. Realize that your ability to hold it together and get the necessities done this week proves how mentally tough you are. That should make you feel better going ito the race.

Spend the next couple of days visualizing. Think about the start, the transitions, the technical parts of the bike and the strong finish. Imagine them happening from the perspective of being in your own body, not on the outside watching yourself and visualiz success.

Good luck.

[rocknrollgirl]

For the record, body glide helped with wetsuit removal.

[KSH]

What a rough week.

I hope your Mom is going to be OK. How scary. That, and then a forest fire? WOW! Great job on getting any kind of workout in.

You are ready for your race. Have faith in your training.

I know for me, my first 2 years of tri's... I would do nothing but think about my upcoming race for a good week ahead of time. Then the night before I would focus on it, and think about it. This resulted in no sleep. Then the day of the race, I had to sit down and think about the race and visualize what I was going to do.

This year... I have tossed all that out the window. I tell myself that I trained for my race, and thinking about it doesn't make me perform any better. In fact, it just stresses me out and keeps me from sleeping.

Before my 2 races this year, I slept like a baby the whole night through. It was heavenly. The day of the race I got there and just did it. And the races were fun!

Moral of the really long story: You are trained and ready for this. Know that. Good luck.

[Kimmyt]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom!

I'm sure you're gonna kick *** on the race!

K.

[alpinerabbit]

Best of luck to you - you'll do great - and energy to take care of yourself and your mom...

[Tri Girl]

Wow- you've had one heck of a week! I hope your mom gets better, and I hope things are stable at your house. I'm sorry it's been so tough!!!

Have a GREAT race this weekend! I can't wait to hear all about it! You're going to do sooooo well. We're all here cheering you on (you'll hear us in your head).
Good luck!!!!!

[Running Mommy]

RNR-
Give mom our best. ANd then go out there and kick some asz! Make mom proud- not that she's not already!!
When you feel that bit of fatigue, think of her fighting in ICU and you'll get the strength of a million butterflys pulling you along.
Have fun! And like I said give mom our best.
Denise

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks guys....

[HappyAnika]

I'm sorry you've had such a tough week. A forest fire? In May? I hope things are settling down around your school and house. Healing happy thoughts to your mom. And rock 'n roll vibes to you on race day. Like KSH said, you've trained for this, you are ready, go kick some butt!

[tattiefritter]

I don't normally wander into the Tri forum but I did cos I saw your name was the title of a thread. Good luck, you've worked hard and deserve to do well. If you can cope with the stress of this week you can cope with anything.

[btchance]

I hope everything is going well with your family now, and of course, best of luck this weekend. I know you'll do great! And remember, rush back with a race report and photos, cause we all want to see!!!

[crazycanuck]

RNRG..YOu will do amazingly well this weekend!

I wish you all the best in your race & may you reach your goal!

C