Help Make A Difference triathlon tomorrow

My second triathlon is fast approaching. I am not nearly as nervous and adrenaline crazed as I was before my last one in August. We have been deluged by rain all week long, and I'm really hoping that the weather is clear for the race in the morning! The race is in Danville, KY, which is about 20 miles away.

My gear is packed and ready - I've checked and re-checked my packing list a few times. I had a simple dinner of spaghetti with marinara sauce, and I've got my breakfast all planned out. I'm going to eat oatmeal with a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter mixed in - it has worked really well this season as a pre-long run meal.

I think I am most concerned about the swim. I feel really confident about the distance - 300 yards. But I'm not too confident about the swim being in a pool, as I've heard they can be a little more messy than open water swims. I've really been working on my breathing and my stroke over the past two months, so I am excited to see how I do tomorrow.

I'm really looking forward to the bike and the run - I was convinced that the bike was 18 miles, but I found out this week that it's only 15 miles! So, that is a bonus, as I've been training for a fast (that's relative, of course!) 18 mile ride. The course is a 7.5 mile out and back, so I feel good about having a better idea of the course on the way back to T2.

I hope my run will be much stronger in this race than it was in the Lame Duck tri. I really didn't put in the run work I needed before Lame Duck, so I've made sure to really put in the necessary work this time around.

One thing I've been thinking about a lot lately is how happy I am that I was raised in such an active family. I am extremely thankful to my parents for this, and I hope they realize it. From the time Megan and I were in kindergarten, we were playing sports - basketball, soccer, t-ball, softball, lacrosse, and even a brief stint with roller hockey!

The other thing that we always did as a family was go on walks. We would leash up our trusty Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix Scout and hit the roads. We would walk down to the local lake, down to our elementary school to play on the playground, or just around the neighborhood. We would go to mass as a family on Saturday evenings, and then spend our Sunday mornings out at our local park with Scout and a mini-van load of skateboards, roller blades, and bikes. My parents would also take us to the local high school to play tennis and run around the track.

This was such a great way to grow up, and it has really helped me to appreciate and enjoy being active and spending time outside. While Chad and I are still a few years away from having kids, I am already looking forward to taking them to parks, taking them for walks, taking them to t-ball practice.

So all that to say, I will be thinking of my mom and dad and my sisters and niece tomorrow as I race. I am so thankful to them for all they have done to make me the person that I am today!

Ok...now I've got to go wipe up these tears and get my game face on!!!

Half-Marathon Race Prep

In just three days I'll be running my 3rd Derby Festival MiniMarathon, and my OCD is in full swing. I've got my manila folder labeled and filled with maps, registration confirmations, packing lists, and driving directions. Do I need all of these things? Probably not. I've made lists, plans, Word documents, and an Excel sheet or two. I know this is not all necessary, but my mind is at ease knowing that I am prepared. Here's a small collection of my current lists:

I've got my Friday night dinner planned at Bucca di Beppo:

• Potato gnocchi
  
• Salad
• Bread
• Dessert: peanut M&M's
  

I've got my breakfast planned and packed:

• Starbucks DoubleShot
• 32oz Gatorade
• Oatmeal Raisin Clif Bar
• Banana

I've got my race day outfit picked out and packed:

• Sporthill Pack Rat shorts
• Gray t-shirt
• Flying Pig hat
• Mizuno WaveCreations

And yes, bullet points and lists do seem to set my mind at ease and my heart aflutter.

But pushing all of my neuroses aside, I really am very excited about the race and getting to spend the weekend with friends. My dream goal is to finish in under 2 hours. The first time I did the Derby mini I did it in 2:22. Last year, my time was 2:02. I think that a sub 2:00 finish is definitely possible, but I will be happy to come in anywhere between 2:00 and 2:15.

I am really excited to spend the weekend with friends and to cheer Sarah on in her first half-marathon. I will put a post up on Sunday with my results and some pictures from the weekend. Good luck to all you other runners who are racing this weekend!