Starting off the new year...right foot, left foot, running

My first race of 2014 is just around the corner, tomorrow, literally. I'm doing something I've never done before, a half-marathon. Don't get me wrong, I have run 13.1 miles, and in a racing environment, but that was part of a triathlon, this time it's just the run. I'm thinking I'm insane, I'm a swimmer, not a runner, but that's how I'm starting off this year. I am doing this race, on Super Bowl Sunday of all days, with a bunch of friends, so it should be a fun experience.
There's a beer garden at the finish line, cool looking surfboard finisher medals, what's not to like. Well, there is that 13.1 miles of "running" I have to do before reaching that finish line. I, of course, put running in quotes, as what I do is a combination of running and walking, and my running isn't that fast.

Okay enough with the self doubt and negativity, I'm going to have fun!! My goals for this race are simple and few. 1. FINISH, 2. Goal time: under 3:20, preferably under 3:00, as my only I finished my only other 13.1 mile race in 3:21, 3. HAVE FUN with my friends or make new ones out on the course.

Pre-race activities: I picked up my packet Friday afternoon. It was a long line outside the expo tent, but what do you expect from a race with over 20,000 runners. Once I got into the tent, there was only one person in front of me in the bib line, and one person in front of me in the shirt line. Goody bag-- Surf City designed reusable shopping bag and women's long sleeve tech-t in bright pink. This shirt is the most bright pink I've ever seen, not sure it will see to much use except being worn under other shirts, as I am not the biggest fan of the color pink in general. Rode a portion of the course today, loosening up the legs for tomorrow. Being a triathlete, I think I "need" to ride before running, especially in a race environment.

Post race plans: Hit the beer garden, head home and shower, go to Disneyland. Why Disneyland, you ask?? Well in addition to it being Super Bowl Sunday, it is also my sister's birthday, we both have annual passes, and she wants to go for her birthday. I may end up tooling around D-land using my dad's electric scooter, 13.1 miles is enough for one day. Then I have a week to rest up before tackling my first century bike ride on the 8th...you think I'm a glutton for punishment don't you. The rest of the weekends in February are taken up with my nephew's baptism and a local reverse sprint triathlon and my birthday. I may just take the shortcut with a friend on the century.

Season wrapped...not quite yet...

Wetsuit Epiphany

Okay, so I have one more race this year. I am racing the Olympic distance triathlon at HITS Palm Springs on Dec. 8th. I have heard the water can be very cold, so I had a chat with Gayla at Tri-Zone, trying to figure out a wetsuit that would be good for me and for this race. 

My current wetsuit inventory: 2 surf wetsuits (one shorty and one full), 1 full sleeved (TNT) swim wetsuit, and 1 sleeveless (Xterra) swim wetsuit. The surf wetsuits are automatically out for swimming. I feel to constricted and tend to overheat in my current full swim wetsuit. I was concerned about wearing the sleeveless in the cold having worn it recently for a cold water workout, my arms/shoulders get stiff and cold. 

After my conversation with Gayla, she lent me a 2XU full sleeve suit V1. I had the suit for about a week before I actually got it put on. So on the morning before a scheduled swim/bike workout, I tried it on before I left the house, and it fit, though I didn't get it zipped. I headed out for my swim, got the wetsuit on again, though needed some assistance with zipping (as I always do). It initially felt good on the shoulders, lots of room, my main concern. I didn't feel constricted at all, though I was still worried about overheating once I got going. I hit the water at Corona del Mar and just got used to it for a while, letting the water seep slowly into the suit.

The swim 

OMG... I felt like I had nothing on, no restrictions on my shoulders as I pulled through the water and was able to recover without feeling like the suit was pulling back. It was amazing! I had never felt like this in a wetsuit before. The suit was so comfortable and there was none of the dreaded overheating. I felt faster, and felt like I was putting in less effort to maintain my speed. 

I swam just over half a mile in this wetsuit, and will be using it again in Palm Springs. 

The bike

So after the swim was a bike ride. Other than testing out the wetsuit, the other purpose of the workout was to also test the new Tri-Zone tri-top. We rode from Corona del Mar down to Laguna Beach, then back up to Corona del Mar and up through the Back Bay. The jersey performed like a champ. The pockets in the back were large enough to hold my iPhone in it's various cases, as well as my keys (one item in each pocket). 

Thanks 

Thanks to Gayla at  Tri-Zone, Raul-mechanic @ Tri-Zone & SBR buddy (swam and rode w/me on epiphany day).