Finished....

Completed 200m swim, 6km bike and 2km run/walk.... I mostly walked only because I strained that silly hamstring again --- Still I did it... WE all did it and WE were ALL smiling at the finish line...

And the weather really wasn't that bad... the wind picked up - typical spring... worst part -- wet crotch!
good thing it was the short course and not the long one!  :-)

next adventure.... hmmmmm what could it be... stay tuned!

Race DAy ...

Sunny. -2 feels like -6. Sunny. Chance of isolated showers. Sunny....

1st start time 8:15am -- mine 8:45am ---  Finish time -- unknown -- I will finish though...

Wishing all the JTI ladies a successful - Happy Day.... see you at the end!

getting closer

Monday evening we all met at Lakewood Civic Centre to ride / run our course for Sundays event. It was good to see the routes and sort of learn the how to/ what will happen when/ and sort of where things are....  Clear as mud right !  LOL... ok Some things still need to be ironed out or communicated -- I have faith it will all work out... no seriously it will be fine ;-)

Thursday we'll have our Pep Rally - and get our start times and maps for Sunday.... that evening will be a mixture of excitement and sadness.... as we get ready for OUR Triathlon...

Big thank you to the volunteers that come out to guide us every week ----

It must be a challenge sometimes to deal with so many different personalities... :-)   

and yet you continue to come out! good on you ....

Last run/walk before May 11, 2014

WOw -- Jennifer Sparks is sure inspiring and just plain old wonderful.  She had me tearing up a bit with sharing some of her stories (yes I am a sap too!)   Will definitely go out to buy her book - WTF to OMG --- there will be something in there for me, as just this week I've been feeling lost and unfocused and without purpose. Love it when the universe talks to me and when I listen :-)

Anyways back to run/walk night --- I decided at the last minute to walk instead of run... I strained my right hamstring again so decided to take it easy..... WELL easy is relative, lol, however  I met 5 new women (although I had spoken to Debbie the day before at bike) and we walked 4.6km and took a route I had never been on before -- across train bridge and on the OTHER side of the river. It was wonderful, new scenery (which I will HAVE to go back with my camera!) , awesome conversation learning we all share similar concerns and anxieties and we found some pussy willows....  We took longer than the others but that's ok -- it was so worth it...
My legs were still sore-ish, we walked at a good clip - heart was pumping - and yet I felt Great! thank you ladies... wacko's? ;-)

Another BIKE to transition run tonight for anyone who wants/needs it -- same place, same time.!!  Jennifer will be at swimming sunday...

*** And I am also excited to be running in the Dirty DOnkey Run in July with Jennifer and Michelle and Louise and Cindy? .... not many people you meet the first time will hug you .... she did and it was nice...

Happy FRIDAY every one....

mini bike to run transition evening ...

Biking was thankfully postponed on Monday until tonight (weds) because of the lovely large amounts of snow and slush someone ordered...  I was so grateful, as I would've been miserable biking in that yuck... I am NOT a bike enthusiast - yet... more of a leisurely looky loo...although I do on occasion enjoy going fast :-)

 

Tonight's session was full of more information. Another great review of what our TRANSITION area with bike will look like, towels, hats, more water and running gear etc... and we were sent a whole LIST of things we need to have and do before and on race day.

 

 I love being informed!!! ahead of time-- THANK you M&M ...

 

We road the route that the Duathloners?  will be riding on Saturdays race  - and except for the hard part riding UP Ravine Dr... it was still a good ride.  AND we tried out our chicken/rubber/brick legs -- what your legs may/could/will feel like when you transition from bike to run. OK mine were definitely wobbly , but it was my lungs that had more problems ... still figuring out how to breathe out there... lol.. maybe one day I'll figure it out...

 

Will be SOOO happy when the CITY sweeps all that nasty gravel off the roads... maybe I should speak with someone LOL...

 

Another ride Friday May 3rd, 1 more swim on Sunday, 1 More Bike on Monday (riding the actual race course -- nice !) and we are almost to the end of this adventure.

RACE day -- MAy 11, 2014  

swimming with a sports bra..... and learning transition

Swimming with a sports bra this morning was , well weird at first and then you kinda forget about it... until you have to take it off....

Good swim today !! -- 8 laps in a 25m pool = 200m... which is what we need to do on race day.... I discovered I feel more safe and comfortable and stronger doing my version (lol) of  the breast stroke -- than doing the front stroke... maybe one day I'll learn how to do that one?!
I am not graceful... but I will get to the end, hopefully without drowning... cuz That would really suck!

Michelle also provided a discussion regarding the transitioning from water to bike on race day -- A LOT of valuable information. THANK YOU Michelle --
Another weird part (only weird because I've never thought about it and it's different and I'm learning) ... we'll be wearing our swimsuits to bike and run.!
OK good to know as I was freaking out about taking the swimsuit off without offending anyone... lol... yes I have strange thoughts sometimes.... so this information was awesome.... guess who's wearing her swimsuit to biking?

Tomorrow evening is bike and small run to learn how to transition from bike to run.... That could be interesting too... hopefully my legs don't feel too jiggly or heavy ---- guess I'll know tomorw night :-)

two week Countdown begins ....

Sometimes I wonder where my head is at.... I am pretty sure others do as well... lol

for some reason I thought our Triathlon was June 1st -- that's the BIG ONE !!!...

ours is "Making it Happen" on Mother's Day -- May 11th ... in two weeks.... TWO WEEKS.... AND it's no longer at Shaw Centre it's at LAKEWOOD... I've only been there to use the washrooms (I work for the City -- I don't randomly use civic washrooms)   Regardless... I am unfamiliar with that location... which means in less than 2 weeks, I need to be...

Unfamiliar events or sudden changes occasionally make me anxious....good to be self-aware yes :-)

 OK so good thing I learnt this new stuff early enough to prepare, mentally and now I need to really push myself physically and find some motivation .... up until recently I've been thinking... 'we've got plenty of time', 'what's the rush', 'why are they pushing me so hard'.... NOW I know why... ha ha

Monday during bike training, we will do a 'learn how too' transition from bike to running... that will help a lot ... the swimming to biking could be tricky and I have every confidence we will be shown that one too...

In TWO weeks... I'll be there, I'll finish - even if I finish last... I will finish... that's just me -- stubborn that way :-)

*maybe I should've ran on Thursday -- however that morning for 4hrs - we inspected the new trees at Hyde Park (over 1,200 - check it out on City of Saskatoon website, parks, parks, current park construction, Rosewood, Hyde)  and walked over 4km, in the cold and mud ---  I think though if I ran I may have broken my legs -- and that just won't do.... so this week extra workouts....