I just got this Xlab Wing for my bike. It is in about 50 million pieces but I am excited to get it put on Sugar.

Speaking of Sugar- Friday when I was riding, I hit something hard when crossing a bridge. My front tire immediately went flat. I replace the tube and rode on Monday night. It went bump-bump-bump in a nice rhythm . My wheel is bent. Great 10 days before the race. I hope this is not a sign. I am lucky to have several friends offer me replacements so I will be OK.

It would be so nice if things would go smoothly now.

Update: Steelhead

Triathlon Cut-off times

Swim: 9:47 AM Bike: 1:02 PM Run: 4:32 PM

Athletes will NOT be allowed to continue on the course after these times!

Waddling and bumping along.............

TAPERING

According to my traing plan, the taper has begun. The problem is that I am not quite ready to taper. I did not complete my last long bike ride. I think 1 more long run would be good also. Besides maybe another swim in Lake Michigan and I might be ready.

I am trying to figure out what I need to do this weekend. How many miles to ride and how many miles to run? Is it too late for 1 more long bike? Is 50 too much to ride or back down to 30 with a run? My marathon training this week calls for a 12 miler but I was thinking of tapering to an eight. Am I making your head spin because mine is?

I found this quote on the web:
The Perfect Taper by Mark Allen
"By race day you should be so bored with sitting around that you are bursting at the seams to get out there and be with 1500 other people racing! "


This is my dog Jerry. My plan is to be just like him most of next week!

Waddling and trying to taper...........

PLAN B

Again the weather changed the plans for the weekend. Saturday I awoke to lightning and thunder at 4am. I popped on the TV and checked the radar. It was going to be raining for a long time I could see. I fell back to sleep until the alarm went off at 6am then rechecked the radar. Game over for the biking this AM. I fell back to sleep again.

I did things around the house for most of the day waiting for a break to ride. It never came so I headed to the trainer and rode with the Tour again for 90 min. Not the ride that I wanted but a good workout.

Sunday's game plan was an open water swim at Ohio Street Beach. It has a marked one mile course. Again during the night, I awoke to lightning and rain. The radar was turned on to see a quick moving storm. I met with Iron Snoopy, Moose and Ronda at 7am and we headed to the city.

Ohio Street Beach

As I was putting on my wetsuit, my nervousness kicked in high gear. Ronda explained where I needed to swim and sighting. The water was cold (63 degrees). Thank heaven for wet suits. As I waded into the water, my heart was bumping 100mph. I began to swim and was surprised at how clear and calm the water was. There was no panic for me. I got into a rhythm. My sighting was bad and found that I was heading toward a boat out in the lake with no one around me. I corrected my direction and tried to pay more attention to where I was at.

I knew that I was swimming slow but I felt confident. So I looked to my left and saw Snoopy who told me the turn around was just ahead. I went around the 1/2 mile buoy and headed back down the shoreline. I was met at the 1 mile mark by Snoopy and Ronda. What a great feeling. My longest open water swim and great friends for support.

With less than 2 weeks until Steelhead, I guess it's time to start trusting in my training. A few more big workouts then the taper begins.

Waddling after the weekend............

GOOD LUCK TO:

At Spirit of Racine:
Trihardchik
RunningJayhawk
IronPol

At Vineman:
21st Century Mom
SWtrigal

At La Scorchita:
Geek Girl

At El Scorcho 50K:
Sweet Baboo

At Marble Falls Triathlon:
Tritobefunny

Waddling and wishing you a great time..............

RACE PREP WEEKEND

This is my last big training weekend before Steelhead.

Today:
Brick= 30 min bike transition to 12 mile run
Bike was good except for flat tire. G2 and gel during trainsition.
Run was a challenge. Used water and Nunn to drink. Shot blox every 4 miles. I was good until mile 8 when I ran out of water. God helped me out and turned on a sprinkler system. I was able to get wet and fill up my bottles. I made it to my 11 and was running out of gas. I looked up and saw the temperature on the bank to be 95. I walked the last mile home. I wore Tyr Tri suit. No problems.

Saturday:
Brick = 40 mile bike & 30 min run / Profile design Tri outfit.

Sunday :
1 mile swim in Lake Michigan then run later. Water temp is 56.

Waddling into race prep mode............

TOUR DE WOOLEY

Tonight, I was lucky enough to able to get together with Iron Snoopy and Ronda for a workout. We had emailed each other today and arranged a time and meeting place. This is special for us to match schedules.

We usually ride the same route. I actually enjoy it except for 1 certain hill. I was getting ready and decided to map out a new ride. It looked good on paper and would get us the miles we wanted. Sounded like a great plan.

When we got there , Snoopy and Ronda looked over the map and we make a few changes then off we went. The first road had alot of traffic. Damn. Not off to a good start. Finally after 3 miles we turned off to a quiet road with horse farms. This was better. Next was a right turn onto Wooley Road. I started off good. I felt like it was windy. Then came the bad part. We hit the bumpiest road that I have ever been on. It almost became a rhythm as we bumped along. We reached the end of the road and realized we had no idea where we were at.

I pulled the map out of my back pocket. I never looked at it before we left too hard. Some roads were not labeled or missing. Also the writing was very small. I tried to read it but did not have my glasses on and could not make anything out. Snoopy and Ronda tried to figure it out. I promised at that point that I never would map us a new route. We were all laughing and looked like the 3 Stooges working together.

We got the ride done and switched to running shoes. We ran a 1.25 loop twice. It was still around 90 at 7pm and very humid. I truly appreciated having people to train with tonight. Because of them I did get my workout in and had a great time.

Waddling and promising that I would never plan a new route again...........

One of my favorite bike rides has a turn around point in a cemetery. I also stop there for a drink and read a few tombstones. It may sound stupid but I feel so alive there and appreciative of life. It drives me further to enjoy every moment and make everything that I do count.

Tonight, it was a perfect evening as I rode to the cemetery. While there, I thought alot about my mom who passed away in 1991. Her sense of humor was amazing. She never did understand why I always wanted more out of life and never was satisfied. I guess I see now that it wasn't that I was unhappy with things. It was a lack of confidence in myself and what I believed was good enough.

In my journey over the last 5 years, I have returned to running, done 3 marathons, duathlons, and now triathlons. I keep reaching farther in a way never satisfied expecting more. When will it end? I hope never because with every challenge and new experience- I grow and become a better person.

Waddling through a wonderful life................