Okay, lots to cover and not a lot of time.

So let's get started..

Okay, my motto at the top of this blog is "Do or do not; there is no try" Yet, I am the queen of rationalization and justification. I did not get up and workout yesterday. My excuse was I stayed up too late the last few nights. Now while technically that is true, that is no reason not to get up. One is not necessarily related to the other. Especially when you consider I was only staying up 1/2 to 1 hour later. Not the end of the world if I got up on time. I would just be tired later in the day and probably go to bed on time.

I didn't get up this morning either and that's really where this whole post began. I knew I wasn't getting out of bed and I knew I didn't have a good reason to stay in bed. I started thinking how things go in cycles. I do really well at training for awhile then slack some, then pick it up again. It's definetly a cyclical thing.

Then I started thinking about my race this weekend. It's a small race, 100-150 people, and it's a good place for me to really see what I can do. I have a goal in mind for this tri. My very first one I did in 1:50; for this one I want to break 1:30. That's going to really push me. I would need to do a 12 minute swim (500m); a 40 minute bike ride (13 miles); and a 30 minute run (5k). Now to many of you that is probably easy. To me it is a huge stretch. My fastest 500m to date is 13:46 - I need to take 1:46 off my 500m - that's a lot!!!! The bike I can do if the course is not too hilly which I don't think it is. The run. Ah, the run. I would need to do just under 10/minute miles to make this - tough for me. 11ish is closer to my time. The only thing I've got going is that it's all short.

So, by staying in bed the last 2 mornings I'm not ensuring I will meet my goal time. On the other hand, rest does help me a lot. I always have amazing swims after not swimming for a couple of days and my running is good after a day or two rest. So, resting may be the best thing for me right now. I just don't know.

Now, my last tri effort was a total disaster. I completely freaked on the swim and I do not want that to happen this time under any condition. I've begun doing the race in my head and the swim I'm envisioning is strong and fast. I am a pretty good swimmer now and I don't see any reason why I can't do well and finish near the front of the pack. Okay, that may be a little ambious but I find that wherever I picture myself during my mental rehearsals is generally where I find myself during the race.

Okay, here's what I think will happen. I will go for a short run tonight, 30 minutes :) and I think an easy swim is in order for tomorrow morning. Then that's it. Rest until race day Sunday. But meanwhile, I will be running the race over and over and over in my head.