Top of the Key

Ok, now I’m ready…I keep saying that it seems.  Jess is probably really tired of hearing it, as it’s been about 3 weeks now that I’ve felt ready.  Today was a shortened typical Thursday.  Woke up at 5am, walked to the pool for a 6am Masters class.  Something about this morning had me thinking good thoughts about how far I’ve come.  Masters?  6am?  Training for over 12 months now?  Continuing to set new PR’s?  Could I be getting stronger?  As I stared at the full moon, with my iPod blasting some old Green Day, in the dark just me and the wildlife I can’t see, trekking like I’ve done the past few weeks, man…this is what it’s all about.  I’ve heard athletes mention that it’s about the ‘journey’.  I completely agree, only of course when you look back at where you were, and where you are now, granted it has to be a pretty good spot where you are now.  Otherwise, the journey doesn’t look too good.

I swam well, nothing great, just steady.  That’s how I roll.  I can feel my fitness kick in near the end of class.  I’m in the slow lane, and the people I’m with who are leading the lane, are soon fatigued and start to miss times.  But I just seem to build speed as the class goes on.  Is that the effects of Taper?  Swam just a little extra after class, and then walked home.

Waited till the wind died down, which never happened, but wanted to get outside and ride.  After a few miles, I bagged it and biked home to sit on the trainer.  It was way too windy, there were wind advisories in Boulder.  Getting blown off my bike less than 2 weeks out from race day…not a good option.

Ran 6 miles at race pace off the bike.  No camelbak, ran in the Lunar Trainers, felt awesome.  Kept visualizing IMAZ…Can’t wait to get on that run course.  I’m not afraid this go around of cramping, or feeling ill, or whatever the day brings.  I will get through it, might take some time, and that’s fine.  But I will get through it.

We leave 1 week from today!  It’s here and so close I can taste the desert sand of Arizona.