PLMsbr (JD) Group - FULL (Page 21)

And zig-zag I did!!!! I went to what's called the clock tower pond this afternoon with my son. He was going to stick with me in the raft but when we blew it up it had a hole. I used a long stem thermometer to check the water...48 degrees!! It was a nice sunny day, about 67 degrees with no wind. I had my wet suit (full arm/mid calf), polar cap, and Orca booties. I wasn't even chilled...the water actually felt great the entire time I was in. Very wierd, as you all know, being in the wet suit and floating on top of the water. I felt like I couldn't get my head deep enough. It forced me to not only concentrate on looking down but looking back, which I read is a good thing. I kind of felt like I was swimming pretty fast...kind of gliding on the water. But when I looked up towards the next dock I wasn't as far as I thought I was! It takes me about 15-20 minutes to really get warmed up, my breathing under control and my arms really going. But the nice thing about the wet suit is that when I really felt like I needed a break I could just flop on my back and float with no effort. I did find out I "lean right", way right! I can see now how during a race a swimmer may cross your path!!!

Well that's my first OWS report...bottom line...I can see I need more practice!!! The long range weather forecast looks good for next Fri HIM race course and then the HM on Sat.
Have great week!!!!!!!!!!  Tom

I just checked out the weather for my upcoming HIM this weekend.  92 degrees with thunderstorms all day and serious humidity.

I don't know what I was thinking signing up for this, it is going to be brutal.

Orlando, great place to take the kids, but I am questioning my sanity in doing this race.

Well race 2 is in the books.  I had a great time traveling to Lubbock, TX and spending time with my dad.

I finished middle of pack which is what I expected.

The surprise was that I came out of the water in the top 5 (gotta love the wetsuit!).  Of course I didn't get to celebrate that long because the bike is where I struggle.  It didn't help that immediately out of transition was a huge (16% grade I'm guessing) hill which was followed by another (a little less steep but longer) huge hill.  After struggling over those I hit the flat section.  I was ecstatic to discover that the out was into the wind so the back would be wind aided.

I came off the bike pretty tired so I knew the run was going to be tough and it was.  My feet were numb from the cold temps on the bike so I felt like I was running on my ankles.  I managed to get up to my planned pace and held it for the first mile but I soon figured out I wasn't going to be able to hold it.  I kept thinking that I must have missed the turn around because I felt like I had been running forever.  I finally hit the turn around and gutted out the last half finishing fairly strong.

Overall it was an amazing experience (better than the 1st!) and the venue had some nice scenery around the lake.  The downside was that they didn't use timing chips so I don't have accurate splits.  I had my watch but was so caught up in racing I didn't remember to punch it every time I should have.

I am celebrating my great swim and the small improvement in the bike but me and my bike are going to become very good friends for the rest of the season as I struggle to make some decent gains.