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This coming weekend is my last, scheduled triathlon of the season. That doesn't mean I won't bow to peer pressure and end up doing another one but it does mean that I have no plans to do another one. This one is my "A" race - the place where it all started for me in 2000.

For those new to my life, in 2000 I was a first time marathoner (did the San Diego RnR marathon with Team in Training in 1999), a rookie swimmer (my son's coach started a masters program) and I had a bike in the garage that I had paid $10 for at a yard sale years and years ago. I got the bike tuned up and put new tires and tubes on it and rode it about 3 times. I got some friends from work to sign up with me and they showed up with rented cruisers complete with wicker baskets on the handle bars.

I raced in a regular bathing suit for the swim, then I pulled on some bike shorts and a t-shirt (I guess) and did the ride and run. This sprint distance race (700 yd swim, 18 mi bike and 4 mile run) took me 2:31 to complete and I was very nearly DFL, but not quite. When I was done I swore I would rather run a marathon every day of my life than ever do THAT again! Sadly, I have no pictures.

Fast forward to 2006 when I had been swimming for 6 years, 3 with a US masters program, had spent a summer cycling and was still a runner. I had started blogging and then bumped in to running blogs and then triathlon blogs and I got the itch to give it another go. By then I had a hybrid bike and a little more spandex in dresser and possible a little bit better idea of what I was getting in to. I did the swim in a regular bathing suit and then pulled on bike shorts and bike jersey and then changed shirts for the run - so I guess didn't really know what I was doing but I felt like I did. I even had spd pedals by then. I cut my time to an official time of 2:08 but I think it was 2:11 (not chip timed and they didn't have my time for days and had to kind of make it up).

I looked like this:

The biggest difference between race 1 and race 2 wasn't how long it took - it was how much fun I had. I LOVED it the second time, contrary to what you might think from looking at those pictures. Also, the course volunteers were mostly from Forward Motion Race Club and I thought, "wouldn't it be fun to train and race with real people instead of getting all my support on-line" so I joined the club.

Last year I did this race on my sex-ay carbon bike in a tri suit and had great plans to smash my time from 2006. No such luck. I came in at 2:06 which was better but not better enough. I did have a great time, though, racing withy new friends from FMRC in my FMRC team kit. This race is special for everyone because we get our own rack and our own wave start and we dominate!

I looked like this -

This year I have a new goal and I have reason to think I'll make it. The goal is to finish in under 2 hours and I am just so much stronger than I was last year it seems very attainable. Having goals like that puts some pressure on the race but I'm feeling confident and I have most definitely trained way more. Let's look at the rough numbers:

Think those extra 1000 miles on the bike will help? Me too. Just look at the profile pic up above compared to my finish picture from last year.

So that's the state of affairs as I spend the week training a bit at the beginning and then resting at bit at the end and then racing. In next weeks edition of Monday Monday I'll tell you how it went and what's up next.

How not to prepare for a race:
1). Freak out that you didn't spend enough time on the bike
2). Freak out on Thursday that you haven't run since ...what? Monday? Friday? I CAN'T REMEMBER.... OH NO!
3). Look up all of your competition on Athlinks to see how you might place (actually.. this isn't such a bad idea and had sort of motivated me but there will be no podium finish).

How to Prepare for a race:
1). Go for a 45 minute bike ride on Thursday and find yourself going 15 - 16 mph holding back. Not that it was easy letting those people pass you but you're tough. Hold back
2). Go for a short brick run and find that even though you held back you were doing 10 minute miles
3). Swap out old 'bug eyes' Body Glove sunglasses for new, hot, sexy Rudy Project Rydon II's

It's Hump Day Miscellany time and of course I have my own Olympic tidbits to share. I've mostly focused on the swimming for obvious reasons.

1). If you are having stroke issues try watching this all underwater version of the spectacular Mens 4 x 100M come from behind relay. Watch how these guys grab water and pull themselves through the pool while rotating their bodies. Beautiful

2). That particular relay was especially exciting for me as my son was the Jason Lezak of his relay team at the All City Meet the summer after his junior year in high school. This meet is second only to the end of summer conference and features about 20 swim teams. He swam anchor and when he went off the block he was close to a body length behind the leader. He had only 50 yards to work with. After his streamline following the 25 yard flip turn he was at the guy's ankles. After that he pulled himself forward, centimeter by centimeter to take the lead in the last 10 feet. Everyone at the meet was on their feet screaming and the boys set a new meet records with that race. It was a glorious day in my son's life and an incredibly proud Mama moment. I have some idea of how Debbie Phelps must feel.

3). There's a guy on the Olympic team named Ben WildmanTobriner. My son raced him for 2 years at the high school regional championships. Although Travis couldn't beat him in an individual event, his relay team took first at least one of those years, possibly both.

4). Am I the only one who gets a little sad every time they play the VISA ads with Morgan Freeman's voice in the background? The poor man fell asleep at the wheel recently and had a bad car accident. He's going to be okay but I'm sure it was terrifying.

5). Worst ad award goes to Hotels.com for that awful thing with the guys blowing bubbles into some man's bath. EW! That's just creepy.

6). Most idiotic commentary goes to the guy who when describing an incident in which Kerry Walsh lost her wedding ring in the sand prompting an all out hunt with metal detectors and an army of volunteers remarked, "I'm not sure what's so special about this ring". Hmmm... maybe it's because it's her wedding ring that her beloved husband gave her and that is inscribed with a special saying. That might make it special, don't you think?

7). I am 100% hetero but I have to admit to loving watching the women's volleyball. Oh those incredible bodies in those teeny little suits! What's not to love? Oh- and the winning. We LOVE the winning!

So to wrap up HDM on a positive note I give you this:

Whether you are doing an Ironman for your first or fifth time, running your first marathon (Steve in a Speedo ) or your 9th (his lovely wife IronPharmie) or doing your first ever triathlton (Go Jeanne!) make this your day! I hope everyone has a great race and remembers this day as a fabulous achievement.

REMEMBER YOUR REASONS

REMEMBER YOUR ONE THING!

It's all about you, baby! You and the things you care about.

Today's Hump Day Miscellany celebrates - Canada! That's where I went last weekend. Toronto, to be precise. I had no idea it was just a big, bustling city. Frankly I'd rather drive in either San Francisco or Boston than Toronto because they have wicked traffic and tons of people on the street and they have signs that tell you you can't turn right OR left. It was tres difficile as some of the people up there would say. Here are some random things about Canada

1). The squirrels are black. Ebony black. Other than that they act just like squirrels
2). Canadians are VERY aggressive about making left hand turns. Right of way? Yield? No way, eh?
3). They call Dunkin' Donuts Tim Horton and they call donut holes Timbits. We confused the lady at the counter pretty badly.
4). The weather was most unpredictable. One minute sun, the next a wicked thunder storm. It wrecked our play day. I did manage to run 6 miles and swim 920 meters (the pool was 23 meters, eh?)
5). Toronto caters to the homeless and my brother in law's van was broken into by a crack head on a bicycle. Fortunatly the van had a great alarm system and they were sitting outside having coffee but still - it was a bummer.
6). My daughter picked up a map that showed where all the gay people live by having a drawing of rainbow flags flying in that neighborhood. It was adorable.
7) Gay marriage is legal and that's why we went. My niece got married to her girlfriend in what was both a traditional and non-traditional wedding. It was lovely and I cried - several times.
8). I learned on this trip to Canada that my little Pookie, having been accepted to the University of Cape Town, SA got a new tat on her wrist that says "Be Brave". I want one, too.

Photobucket is broken right now but I"ll post pics when it is fixed.

I was so hoping for 2 swims from Alcatraz this summer but alas, I did not get picked in the lottery for the Escape from Alcatraz - WAH! What's worse is I told a friend to sign up and she did and she got picked and she registered (for $320!) and now I can't do it with her. Gulp. I will still be swimming with FeLady and her husband at Sharkfest so all is not lost.

Oh - and I DID sign up for this:

(Yay! I finally have a reason to run! hee hee... I'l bee running a 5K before that!)

So get your tutu (after getting your color approved by Ms. DPR) and get registered and get ready to rumble run!

Today I once again entered the ranks of the employed - YES! I am on contract which has some distinct advantages and some disadvantages but no matter how you paint it, it results in money flowing in to my account, instead of just out and that's a good thing.

You know what that means? It means I can finally sign up for an event! I'm not 100% sure which it will be. Either Wildflower Short Course or this revived one called The Golden Bear which is more local but no less challenging. I'm going to give it a few more days before I pick.

It also means I can book a flight to go visit my kids at school and then I can arrange a visit with Humbly Anne.

And there's another thing I realized tonight that I had forgotten about. I have to find something reasonably nice to wear every Monday Monday and all the days thereafter until Saturday when I can go back to swapping in and out of jammies, spandex and jeans. I haven't had to do this for 4 years due to either unemployment or working from home - however will I cope? I guess I'll work that out but for now I have to get to bed because at long last - it's a "school night"!