Thursday, September 07, 2006

Butterflies? Really?


BigKahunaLogo
Event logo from the race website.


Serena: So how do you feel about Big Kahuna on Sunday?

Rick: Unexcited. I could do it, I could not do it, I don't care. Not into it.

And that's how it's been this past two weeks. I have been so unexcited about the upcoming race. People ask me and I just shrug my shoulders. Yet, yet I've tapering, making plans to clean the bike, switching out to race tires tomorrow, and this morning thinking about the race - butterflies. Someone inside is lying. Can you sandbag to yourself? I guess only if you truly have multiple personalities:)

The nagging thought in my head is that I'm not prepared for this race. Which is crazy because the two triathlons I did last year, both half-ironmans and one of them this very race, I was not prepared. Ralph's Half on March last year I went in still on the heavy side of my weight with only a handful of swims and bike rides. Big Kahuna last year I did the race two weeks after the Cascade Crest 100-miler with legs still not fully recovered from the run. I think....just a theory for the moment, it's because I know what it's like to be properly trained for a race now. The first half of this year I enjoyed the best season of training and racing. I trained well and ran excellent races. I can tell the difference now from being really prepared and just sort of prepared.

Well screw it, I'm jumping off this cliff Sunday morning. Thank God I have some endurance, barring any injury or accident I should cross that finish line one way or another. Ahahahaha...thinking like an ultra-runner. Last year I caught 70+ people on the run section and smiled every time I did it, damn the fast swimmers and bikers. I did however get passed by 3 people, all women and in their mid-40's. One of them smiled at me on her way back from the turnaround, now that's Aloha.

8 comments:

  1. Oh, stop sandbagging, you're not hiding from us:) You've dome more than a share of bike rides and swims this time, and you have fresh fast legs with endurance lingering from WS training. I challenge you (wish I knew anything about tri times) to beat your last year's time by over 30 min (hope I am close at estimate).
    I think I feel pretty much similar for RDL. I am ready to stop or have a mediocore but safe run yet I have butterflies of anticipation and am getting excited.

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  2. 30mins!!! you give me too much credit. Half-Ironman's are short events...relatively speaking, the margin of improvement is smaller. But I'll do my best. It's all training for pacing you at Rio 100.

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  3. Anonymous9:48 AM

    Oh..Thats right your Tri is the weekend. Have fun out there in Santa Cruz!

    Every time I feel unprepared for an event ( which is most of the time), I end up setting a new PR...

    Compared to your other accomplishments ,this sounds like a piece of cake.

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  4. Don't use me as an excuse:) How about 5:30? Now - I have no idea what your last year's time was. So take it with a grain of sault.

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  5. 5:30, now that's more like it. My last one was 5:38:)

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  6. Good luck at Big Kahuna. I did not know you were a triathlete as well. One of these years I will give it a try.

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  7. Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog. I've been looking yours over - dang, you and I have a lot in common. I'll definitely be back.

    Have a great time at Kahuna - we may very well be bunched together at some point.

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  8. Thanks guys. Will have a great time out there. Santa Cruz is a great place to race.

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