August 7th - Swim and Run

This morning I had my last training session with Derek Garcia before the triathlon. Derek got a bee sting and swells up like I do. So he took an inflammation pack and will not have recovered enough by Saturday to do the race. He’ll be there to cheer me and others on. 

More than tips about sighting, knowing where you are, and breathing, the best thing a coach can do is encourage you to keep striving, knowing that you’ll get there at the right time.  He said that I should probably do the sprint, but by the end of the season could do an Olympic distance just fine.  I just had to get used to swimming longer distances. My stoke rate was okay for now, my breathing was starting to come, my form was not that far off that he thought I was at a 45 minute mile pace which is great for me.  It means a reasonable swim time which is the weakest link in my triathlon. 

He said I had improved a lot during the week, but I knew more could have been done. I didn’t train much after Saturday when my Dad passed away. It just seems like other things occupy your mind for while before you can spring back to training. I have been imagining the reunion between my Mother who died in May and my Father Aug 3^rd. My Mother had MS for over 40 years and it’s been that long since she could run and dance. My Father became almost immobile the past year. I can imagine my Mother taking him around to see his Dad that died 50 years ago and his Mother who died about 25 years ago and other close friends and then suggesting that they go on a run together or to a dance and float around a bit. 

In the afternoon I went to the CDA Chamber and worked on the final article to print off for all participants about my journey into the triathlon. Katherine has been a good supporter all along and Diane took the pictures. One standing next to a tree in my running clothes is on the participant handout. 

After that I ran the sprint run course and a little bit more to get a feel for it. I was a steady gliding runner but happy to end it in the afternoon 90 degree heat after about 4.5 miles.  That should be my last run of any consequence before the race.