Just to make sure…

Today I decided I would swim 1.2 miles, or 2,000 yards, just to make sure I could.

A long time ago, August  17, 2008 to be exact, I bought my first road bike, a Trek, one month before my first triathlon. I rode my bike 13 miles just to make sure I could, then I swam a half mile in the pool, just to make sure I could. Then I went on a two and a half week vacation to visit friends and family. I came back from the vacation with about a week and a half until my first tri.  I went in to my first tri with no expectations other than to finish and to have fun…

It was not pretty…1/2 mile swim time-21.31

T1-7:42…I was not wanting to get on the bike. That is a ridiculous T1 time

12 mile Bike-1:00.59/11.81 pace

T2-2:36…much better but still not a great transition time

3 mile run-27.24/ 9:08 pace. I felt like I was crawling.

In the end it was FUN! I loved it! I could not wait to do another! With a finish time of 2:00.12 it was by no means a stellar debut on the tri scene. But I have since done two more and the lessons learned cut valuable minutes off of each race.  And I have yet to actually train before one, until NOW.

Tri #2-Seafair-2009

My second sprint tri (with a 3.1 run) was completed in 1:36.12. I cut my swim time to 16:56, T1 time 2:06, bike 46:35 (15.46 pace), and 5k run 27:42 (8:56 pace).

Tri #3-Danskin Seattle-2010

My 3rd sprint tri time was  1:34.43.  My 1/2 mile swim time was a bit slower at 17:24, 12 mile bike 43:13 (16.66 pace), and 5k run 27:27 (8:51 pace).

Looking back at those races I am actually quite impressed since the only training I really did was running and an occasional 1/2 mile swim. Which brings me to my point. Today I decided to swim 1.2 miles just so I could get over that mental block of never having swam that far. I set my timer, jumped in the pool and started swimming until I hit 2,000 yds. I had no idea where I was as far as time but when I hit stop on my timer it was 42:16. I’ll take it! I wasn’t swimming fast, I actually felt heavy and uncoordinated in the water today, it could have the spin class I finished minutes before. Or it could have just been an off swim day.  I was pacing myself since I had no idea how that distance would feel and it felt far but not impossible. Tackling the 1.2 mile swim was a huge boost to my race-esteem (not to be confused with self-esteem).

What have you done lately to boost your race-esteem?

Because I am super cool and have awesome self-esteem I sported this to spin today….it was amazing and I will be wearing one from now on…

And finally, I was able to snap that pesky cardinals picture!!! Isn’t he just so pretty?

Oh stop your worrying, this isn’t going to become a bird watching blog…or maybe it will….what kind of blog would you never, ever be caught reading???

Don’t forget to enter my CEP Compression socks giveaway HERE!