FUCK LUPUS TRI

Yesterday, I woke up and shortly started having the runs and puking.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get out of bed to greet my visiting family, let alone compete today.  I woke up and went to packet pick-up and the newbie meeting.  The energy in the air was incredible.  It made me want to do it so badly.  After a nap, my family started arriving.  It was various degrees of cousins.  Last night there was a lot of bike talk and switching pedals.  Plus, for three of us it was our second tri and our first with some really distance.  We also did a lot gear getting together for the youngest in the group who doesn't have gear and didn't train.  He is a college athlete and just went for it.

This morning we woke up at O'Dark Thirty, assembled the troops, and were at the transition area by 5:30am.  I brought a bucket to carry my stuff and to sit on during the transitions.  I had decided that I was going to take my time and be relaxed through the whole event, especially since I was so sick yesterday.  It was quite cold this morning.  My toes were numb.  The water temp was really nice so no wetsuits allowed.  As soon as I got in I started wiggling my toes to warm them up.  The men had an in-water start at 7:30 and we joined them  on the course at 7:35.  The water was calm with little/ to no current.  My swim time was 26:12 for 750 meters.

The bike was really hilly.  It started off rough but then got really fun.  At first I was paranoid because there weren't other bikers near me.  I thought I had gone off course.  Once we turned into the back roads and I knew that I was on the right course, I started to have some fun.  The downhill parts were great and the ups weren't too bad.  I was able to drink from my water bottle for the first time on the bike.  I did it three times.  I also got out of the saddle for some of the hills.  My bike time was 1:18:36 for 17.7mile ride.

When I got off my bike I couldn't feel my feet at all.  I got off and started running and almost fell over, so I walked the rest of the way into the transition area. The run out was spotty, I did a lot of walking but I ran most of the way back in.  My run time was 31:58 for a 5k.

My overall time was 2:21:41.  The three men in my family all placed in their age groups and the woman finished with smiles.  It was a great day.  We had six other family members in support and then had a great cook out afterwards.

After a few burgers and beers I'm getting ready to drink a cup of tea and relax into the evening.

Tri-ing hiatus

On July 13, I did a super sprint.  It was 1/4 mile swim, 8 mile bike, and a 2.4 mile run.    Three things I learned, I need to swim more in rough water, bike more hills, and run when I'm tired.  My bike chain was slipping during the bike portion.  I need to take it in and get it looked over.  I haven't done much training since.

The Wife joined a gym a while back but doesn't go.  I told her that I could meet her after work, so I joined as well.  The two weeks after the tri we went regularly which was good, but it was all that I was doing, now we don't even do that.  I've swam a few times.  I've really been struggling with the Lupus.  The heat just drains so much out of me.  I wake up after a full night sleep, wak
L the dog and then have to take a nap.  The fatigue that comes with autoimmune diseases is just awful.  Plus my joints are hurting.  I know that if I excercise I will get more energy and my joints will hurt less, but I can't stay awake long enough.

Today is Aug 1st.  I have 25 days until the race.  I rededicated myself  to training and my goal of completing the tri with a smile on my face.  Today I ran/walked somewhere around 3 miles.  The garmin is dead and I can't remember where I put the cord to charge it.  So I just went and will just go again tomorrow.  I'm visiting a dear friend in New Jersey for the next few days and will run around here a bit.