Wildflower Practice Weekend

This past weekend I met up with the Silicon Valley Team at Lake San Antonio for a practice run at the Wildflower course. It was an absolutely amazing weekend. Last year it was cold and rainy. This year we had sunshine, but it wasn't terribly hot. AND I wasn't sick and at death's door like I was last year. So, just by those two things it was 1000 times better than last year. Anyway, here's how each portion of the course went...

SWIM - 1.5k
We didn't do the actual swim course because it wasn't marked out, but we did an equivalent length. Unfortunately, I didn't think to time the swim. I got a new wetsuit this year and I believe it fits me better. It's a half size smaller than my last one. I think in getting used to the different wetsuit and not being very well warmed up, my triceps really felt the swim. I had forgotten how different it is to swim in a wetsuit. Anyway, the swim isn't the part that I'm worried about.

BIKE - 40k
It was really good to be out on the course and to get a refresher on what it all looks like. Lynch hill was about as bad as I remembered, but I think with some work on my quads I'll be able to fly up that hill. Ok, maybe I won't fly, but I'll at least be able to get to the top without getting off my bike. After Lynch I think I counted 3 or 4 good sized hills before the turn around, and the same amount on the way back. I felt pretty good on the bike, but I really need to work on getting my legs in shape. I think it took me about 2.5 hours to do the course with a few stops along the way. That was my time during the race last year, so I'm already ahead of the curve :)

RUN - 10k
Going into the run this time around I was in much better shape. During the race last year I was dehydrated at the start of the run. I had to walk a good portion of the course because of a side cramp. This time I was ready to go. I still hate running, but the course didn't seem so bad this time. I ran most of the way, stopping only to catch my breath or to stretch out some sore muscles. I finished the course in about 1:17. My race day time was about 1:30. I'm hoping to get some more miles under my belt in the next few weeks so I can get my body used to running.

Overall, I was quite pleased with my performance this weekend. I came back with a set of goals for the next 7 weeks until the race. My goal for the race is 4 hours. Hopefully I'll be able meet or beat that. I've just gotta stay healthy and get stronger.

GO TEAM!