Oriolepwr and QuincyF's Magical Mys-tri Tour "The Sequel" -On Tour!! (Page 32)

Well peeps, my feet hit the water tomorrow.  I'm nervous and excited.  My plan is to go easy on the swim, stay near the markers, and finish.  Then hammer the bike, 11.5 miles, and do my best on the 5K.  I would like to finish faster than 1 hour 40 min, 1 1/2 hours would be great for me.

TJ, As our awesome leaders have said, listen to your body! 

I'm IN IT, to FINISH IT!  (and not be last, LOL)

Tom

It seems pretty straightforward to me. You do the race. In case you haven't figured it out yet, if you ask me or Dave, the answer is always do the race (heh). But here's why. OWS is something you can get ready for fairly quickly. Just make the next two weeks an OWS focus...get a few swims in, because it sounds to me like it's not a fitness issue, just an experience issue. So go get the experience and knock the race out.

If you wanted to hedge your bets, you could wait a week to get a few swims under your belt, and then sign up for the race, but as I learned the all to painful way, races do sell out...

This way, you have two races and the first one is a dress rehearsal for your A race in October. So if something goes wrong, you have time to diagnose it and fix it for the second race...

Plus I can tell by reading between the lines that you really want to do it and just want one of us to slap you on the butt and say "go get 'em tiger!"

"go get 'em tiger!" (smack)

Oh don't listen to your body, that whiny beyotch will keep telling you to slow down. Flip the Jax switch and hammer it! (after the swim of course).

Oh, and sorry a bit late to the party here...congrats CONGRATS to our heroes from last week. Racine HIM is a NO JOKE race...it was hot AGAIN and I saw lots of broken bodies in the medical tent. I made a last minute decision to take my kids up to spectate and cheer BabyDaddy on. While it was a bummer to feel left out of the racing, it was fun to spectate (only a triathlete could enjoy watching a triathlon) and I got quite a workout hauling the kids everywhere.

I am sad I couldn't meet up with everyone but it was a last minute decision to go up there.

In other news I rode two loops of the IM wisconsin course (it's a hybrid out and back with loops in the middle and the loops are the "meat" of the course). It was a good mental exercise (as well as physical) because I have heard so much about how hilly this damn course is, I was starting to think it was a freakin' mountain stage. What I found out is that there are some climbs, so hillier by midwest standards but nothing I can't handle, and it's do-able on a tri bike. Actually I think the perfect set up for this course would be a roadie with a fast forward seat post (to change the saddle position) and clip on aero bars, but since it is not too far out from the race, imma do the smart thing and stick with what I know...

So that's it for deep thoughts.

Weekend plans? (someone said something about Doors, is something big going on this weekend, harhar)...

But I am inching closer to a new road bike, so keep an eye out for some new bike pjorn

OK, TJ...I needed some time to think about that one. I have to second Quincy here: I say race it! There is really no substitute to race experience. I know it's a "spendy" experience, but if you have the money, and the time, it's worth it...and you get to race, which is what I know you really want to do.

Also, if something "bad" happens that you think will discourage you, take it as a learning experience. It was likely to happen in October's race anyway. This way you can get the kinks worked out, and really figure out what you need to tweak for October.

I think physically you can do the race. You might be as fast as you would like, but just take it easy and really pace yourself so that you will finish. Unless you have an injury that really prevents you from finishing, don't even allow not finishing to be an option. I always keep Dean Karnazes' mantra in my head on really hard races "run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must...just keep moving forward."

Good luck ('cause I know you're racing)

Geez, guess you guys can see right through my thinly veiled plea for encouragement. 

I'm gonna swim there in the morning and them make my decision sign up for the race.

My preggo wife keeps baulking at the race fees. She goes on and on about the baby will need diapers, the baby needs this and that. WHAT ABOUT WHAT DADDY NEEDS? Sorry, got a little personal there. haha

Real question: This race is a USAT sanctioned race. They said there will not be an inspector there and I need to have the bike inspected before the race. What does that mean?  Inspected for safety? Will I need some certification that it was inspected? I have never done a USAT race.

Also Q, I didn't use a bucket in my sprint last week. I made a small transition setup. You'da been proud. 

Dave,

I know you're racing right now, but I think this is a good sign. I always do better during a race when my dress rehearsal is a disaster. I can't wait to hear how you and Mike did...keep us posted!!!

Awesome job, Tom!! Good for you on utilizing the kayaks and being able to complete the swim. I know how hard it is to keep going after a tough swim!! It will only get easier!!

Sarah, Thanks for your comments.

Dave, I feel your pain of a tight wet suit.  Hope the race went well.

What I didn't mention:

The scum bag who stole my inner tube and tools out of my saddle pouch while I was swimming.  When the second person on the course said my bag was open, and I finally understood what they were saying, I was pissed.  Reach behind me to find a completely empty pouch.  Some how, I exclaimed a few things, then went back to hammering the bike ride.  Guess I'm getting into this racing thing.  Thankful I didn't get a flat and didn't give it another thought until after the race.

Now for today, I volunteered for the Oly race of the NJ state Tri.  I had another great day guiding the cyclist out, then back into transition.  Now for the most interesting thing:  Turns out the first guy that came back into the bike transition, with #1 on bib, also won the race.  OR, so he thought!  Turned out he cheated!  He was found of course at point on the bike loop, then some how did something with the run.  Later found out that he was disqualified, USAT event.  His parents were there and trying for sponsers.  He is a professional, yea right, triathlete.  NO SENSE BEING STUPID, UNLESS YOU SHOW IT! 

Next item, some poor guy comes flying out of tranistion, areo helmet, disc wheel, and all.  Makes the first right turn and pops his rear tire.  Stops and replaces the tube.  5 minutes later he is almost ready to mount on his bike, and POP, the tire goes again!  Fortunately, he had another tube, started to change it again.  Pumped it up, said a prayer, and he was on his way to a great round of aplause from everyone near by.  NEVER GIVE UP. 

Then a 3 person bike crash, bruised and all got up and finished.  NEVER GIVE UP!

My Race Report for Racine is finally up. I needed a week to mentally recharge.  The good news is that I am already starting to think about what I can do next year!

I'm looking forward to some race reports from this weekend!

Rob

Today's Offer:

I received an email asking me to volunteer for the Inaugrial NYC Ironman Championship race this August 11th.

I signed up to work transition and gear bag organization between segments for the racers.  As a carrot,  I get a wristband to be one of the first to sign up for next years race.  Now we all know this "Orca" isn't ready for an Ironman; so, I am offering the wristband to my peeps.  The rub (no pun intended) is that you have to register in person on Sunday after the race; August 12th.  And there are a lot of positions left if you want to volunteer.

http://ironmanuschampionship.com/

May the Legs be with Us!

Tom

Upcoming races:

Aug 4      River Cities Sprint Tri- Shelly

Sept 8     Alabama coastal Oly - Sarah

Sept 9     Ironman WI - Quincy

Oct         Sugarman Sprint Tri - Shelly

Oct 7      Chicago Marathon - Quincy, Alicia, Dave

Oct 28    Austin 70.3 - Sarah

Looks like you're up next, Shelly!!! We're cheering for you!!