It's fun, no, I should say, it's imperative that one step outside one's body and/or life and take a look around. It's kinda like putting life on hold, taking two steps back, breathing in a deep breath, and looking around to see what the hell is going on.
As my first A race of the season quickly approaches, I was curious as to how the focus of my mind shifted as the day got closer and closer. Back in my early days (can I say that?), my primary focus was two fold. First, I wanted to stay injury free. The thought of missing out on a race due to injury was painful. I wrote quite a few posts about little aches and pains, only to have hardened and wise veterans come by and tell me to knock it off. Second, as my workouts shifted from max hours and peaking to taper, my posts transitioned more and more to the philosophical side of my endeavors. You do know I like to wax philosophical every once in a while.
Realizing this has given meaning to these last few weeks. I am in truth not a rookie anymore. I know what to expect. Been there, done that so to speak. Yet, I let the thoughts of swimming 1.2 miles in open water, sans wet suit drift back to the forefront of my consciousness this week. This wasn't helped by the fact that I learned there would be no pre-race swim warm up. It's not allowed. Just damn. I've preached and preached about a proper swim warm up to you guys, and now? I can't even warm up on the swim before the biggest race in my life. Somebody shoot me :-)
But, I got to thinking. The distance does not scare me et al. I grasp the cycle of how an open water swim affects my mind. As a matter of fact, I practiced in the pool today. The first hundred meters, I am working strictly on breathing, wondering how the hell I'm going to do this for 1500 meters (or 1.2 miles). Then my arms start to feel fatigued, and I worry that they will give out, and I'll drown. (In the meantime, my nose may or may not be trying to choke me.) Then, at about 500 meters, I feel the strength in my arms, the soreness and achy-ness flee. By one thousand meters, I'm cruising at my race pace.
I know me. I know this cycle. Now, I'm just excited.
True to yet another cycle, I'll be back tomorrow to say fare thee well...
Wes
ORN: 3 miles, 30 minutes, 10 mmp
OSN: 1000 meters, 20 minutes, 2x500
About Me
- Wes
- Woodstock, Georgia, United States
- A Neo Southern Gentleman from the Heart of Dixie, navigating the silver waters of the IT industry, restaurateur, IT Consultant, family man, marathoner, triathlete, future Ironman. Come dance with me as I train for Ironman Florida 08 on Nov 1, 2008.
My Coach
R-O-C-K-I-N Blogs
Race Reports
- Callaway Gardens Sprint Triathlon
- Ironman Florida 70.3
- Langley Pond Int'l Triathlon
- Shamrock n Roll 10K
- Walt Disney World Marathon
- Rocket City Marathon
- Atlanta Half Marathon
- Chickamauga 10 Miler
- Cohutta Springs Triathlon
- Two Bridges Triathlon
- Hot Lips Hustle 5K
- West Point Olympic Triathlon
- Hiawassee Summer Sizzler
- Callaway Gardens Sprint Tri 07
- My First Tri
- Brad Koster 5K
- ING Georgia Half Marathon
- Chattahoochee Challenge 10K
- Frostbite 5K
- Sleighbells 5K
- Awesome Alpharetta 10K
- Hot Lips Hustle 5K (06)
2008 Race Schedule
Personal Records
Personal Stats
Lactate Threshold Testing
Blog Archive
- July (2)
- June (19)
- May (18)
- April (19)
- March (18)
- February (22)
- January (22)
- December (15)
- November (23)
- October (16)
- September (16)
- August (21)
- July (21)
- June (18)
- May (23)
- April (22)
- March (23)
- February (17)
- January (22)
- December (17)
- November (21)
- October (24)
- September (24)
- August (35)
- July (23)
- June (4)
- May (1)
22 comments:
I seriously thought this post was going to be about a BICYCLE.
You're going to do great. Awesome. Spectacular. Sans wetsuit and all.
:)
Visualisation is the way to go and you look like you're doing it fine!! :o)
I also thought the post would be about a bike/ bikes... !!
You? Wax philosophical? Naw. ;)
You've done the time, now it's time to enjoy the prize. We all know you can do it, and maybe you can do a pre-race swim in your bathtub? Does the hotel have a pool? Ha. Just kidding.
Go get 'em. And take notes because I think I'm going to do this race next year.
You have done well oh wise one. You have trained hard and are ready to rock the race. No warmup, that really sux.
Oh yeah!
Sounding great Wes! You will just have to use that first 100-500 as your warm up that will be perfect, just has you have written here.
Go get em!!!!!!!!!!!
I am soooo excited for you Wes!
No wetsuit? Why....did I miss something? I'm a true tri-idiot ;)
You are going to be FANTASTIC!!!!!
Wes, you are going to do so great! I'll be cheering you on again this weekend - on your actual race day, this time. : )
I can't wait to hear how it goes!!
Is it official the the water will be too warm? FL prolly so. Well, the great news is that you so got this thing under your control!!
don;t be jumping in some crazy canal in FL trying to get a warm up with the gators ;-)
I am really so super excited for you!!
The IM70.3 is like my dream race. So, I am living vicariously through your experience sans the training.
The no warm up thing would bug me. I think I would jog around a bit to get my heart rate up and then hope for the best when I hit the water. BUT you KNOW that and you can do it. Do you have a mantra for the swim? I am still trying to decide on mine but it's good to keep ye mind occupied while you are in the water, ya know. What time do you start? I will be sending you fishy vibes!!
ROFLMAO I was going to say the SAME thing as Lauren. I was expecting bike talk!
Keep those "Rules Of Engagement" in the brain and you'll be fine :-) (I know I'll keep them in mind too ;-) )
I think that way about those long swims at about 100/200yds into it. How do I expect to do 2000yds today? etc. but it's all about getting into your groove and it will happen this weekend too. You know that!
I'm so excited for you and know you are going to do GREAT!!!!!
I know you are going to kick some serious boot-tay! To quote you back you "cuz that is what we do!" we race, no warm up? no problem we race! I actually thought of you during my race last weekend, and what you wrote and I smiled so big, actually chuckled to myself... cuz I was doing it!
Can't wait to hear all about your race!
kick butt..take names...
sorry no swim warm up...
you'll do well...
wheres the bike stuff LMAO!!!!
Yeah, you are FAR from being a rookie. You're going to kick butt, and I can't wait to read all about it!
You've put in the miles - cycling, swimming, running - you are so very ready for Ironman! You will do well... visualize it... you will achieve greatness. :D
You are going to have an amazing race this weekend! I'll be thinking about you and sending you good, fast vibes!!
wax philosophy?! I love the phrase! But yeah, I thought you're talking about bicycles for a second.
My early days.. all I am thinking of is finishing :) You'll do great!
hee hee wax philosophical. I love it. I'm catching up. :D
Can you at least warm up out of the water? Just tell me to shut up if that is like, duh.
Love hearing about the inner workings of Wes' mind! It's so encouraging to know that someone as good at swimming as you are has had to work through the doubts too! I can't wait to hear about the race. Go Wes Go!!
Oh - and the Stick thing that Kevin uses says it's a tool for warming up muscles. I know that's not the same to help your mind get in the game - but do you ever use things like that if you're kept from the warm up you prefer? I'm so interested in what people do for their Plan B! (Mind you - I'm still trying to figure out what my Plan A needs to be!) Did I already say GOOD LUCK?
Would you recomend I do the Atlanta marathon in November or the Huntsville marathon? I want a fun (not too gruling) course for my first marathon experience. Ashkaye said I should ask you.
Pre --
I would definitely pick Huntsville or even Chickamauga (near Chattanooga) over Atlanta any time for a first marathon. With that said, Atlanta wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't concerned about time...
Wes
Me too, thinking this was a post about biking :)
You will do well...you are the Yoda of triathlon!!
Post a Comment