Lise... what is your first tri this year?

[tprevost]

Hey Lise,

When will you be doing a tri this year? Come on, tell us what you're up to!

Tracy

[Lise]

Have I been holding out on you? I thought I was blathering on and on!

My first tri is a sprint on 5/21. As usual, I am undertrained, but using this opportunity to scare myself into the pool! Swim! Swim! Swim! The tri is at the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles, IL. With an actual reproduction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa out in front of the Y. Including a fountain and piped Italian music. Last year I rode my bike up there (9 miles) to check out the pool a few weeks before the race. I sat and ate a Cliff bar by the Tower after my swim. I thought I was hallucinating the music for a second, until I looked up and saw the speakers hidden among the columns.

The tri has nothing to do with the Tower, but I think it's so funny that I had to mention it.

It's a 400 yd swim, 11 mi ride (5 loops around a fairly industrial area out back of the Y), and a 5K run. Last year I put 5 strips of tape on my handle bars to help me count loops. I'll be darned if I get DQ'd because I can't count bike laps!

Last year it was about 51 degrees out, and I made the strategic error of not putting warm clothes over my dripping wet tri suit and sports bra. I nearly froze to death on the bike. This year, either it'll be 68, or I'll be wearing a lot of Capilene over my wet clothes!

Thanks for asking--I'll keep you posted! L.

[tprevost]

YES, please do! AND we're gonna want pictures too I'm going to need a lot of work in the pool. I used to compete when I was very young but now I have to rest at the end of each lap My strategy is to add one length to what I swim without resting until I can go the whole way; then add some other aspects. So right now I go a lap (50 yds), rest for about 30 seconds then do another; next time it will be 75yds then a rest. Not sure if that's the best way to do it but that's what I worked out.

I think you may have posted about your first date (it looks familiar) but you haven't said anything for a while and I think I just forgot!

Looking forward to hearing about your training!

Tracy

[KSH]

Sounds great!

Keep us posted... and stay WARM on the bike!

[Lise]

Seriously! You know about that, KSH! L.