Three Things Thursday ...

Fired Up - Last night, I hit the pool for my final pre-race workout - 800m. When I got there the place was a zoo. A third of the pool was closed for swim lessons. Another third was open swim (i.e. creepy men standing in and around the pool). Then in the middle of the two were two lone swim lanes.

As I walked over, I noticed a man floating on his back down the lane. Once he drifted (very slowly) to the end, I asked if I could join. In broken English, he told me I could have the lane, he would leave. Awesome!

I started. Halfway through I knew I was crushing it. I was in the zone. With about 150m left, two 14 year old girls jumped in my lane. No biggie. I just started circle swimming. 35m later one of them was on my heels. She passed me, flip-turned and kept moving. Her friend, however, was standing at the end of the lane when I got there. As I popped up (no flip-turns for me), she threw me a "Oh, that swimming thing you are trying to do is so nice" look.

I nearly decked her.

Seriously, kid?

Who the heck cares that your 50m split is twice as fast as mine? Can you freaking swim 1.2 miles and then bike 56 and run 13.1? No? I didn't think so.

You're an athlete. I'm an athlete. Respect that.

Packing Worries - After I posted this picture yesterday, I got a slew of emails and comments with suggestions of things that I had forgotten.

I want you all to stop worrying. Although, I truly appreciate that you took time out of your day to help me out, I am fully prepared. Those bags already had things in them when I took the picture. I have 3 checklists that I am working off of. I have back ups of back ups. It's all good.

Oh, and I will be wearing my Team Tough Chik tri kit the WHOLE TIME. The swim suit is there just in case I get the chance to swim on Friday or Saturday.

Stalk Me - So, I have no idea whether or not Ironman has live race tracking, but if you want to attempt to follow me my bib number is 1066 and my wave starts at 7:45 a.m. Central.

You might also be able to find me under the name Honey Badger. OK, not really, but if you see a picture of Lance, look really far into the background and I'm probably there ...

Wordless Wednesday: Gear

And you thought you had a lot to pack for a marathon ...

nesting ...

I'm nesting.

And don't ask. I'm not pregnant.

But, I do have this unending urge to clean my entire house from top to bottom. To purge my already rather limited wardrobe. And to organize the heck of my life.

Apparently, taper is rather similar to the last weeks of pregnancy.

It hit me approximately 2.38 hours after I finished my final training workout yesterday.

And it makes total sense. Isn't scrubbing the bathroom the first thing you want to do after finishing a 45 mile bike ride and 10 mile run?

Yeah, I thought so. Sounds like a blast to me. (Note: That's really not sarcasm. Totally being serious here.)

I know my nesting is just a side effect of my anxiousness. When I feel uneasy, I need to create a sense of control. And how do I control things? I bust out my OCD hat and clean. Because in case you didn't realize, things just got real up in here.

Six days from now I'll be in the midst of 70.3 miles of pure endurance.

And there's not a whole lot to distract me between now and then.

This is going to be interesting.

Live Like the Honey Badger: Principle 7

This is the seventh in a series of posts entitled, Live Like the Honey Badger. Every Friday, I address one aspect of developing confidence, self-worth, a fearless nature and the like. Previous weeks are linked below.

Principle 1: Honey Badger Don't Care
Principle 2: Accept Yourself. Your Whole Self
Principle 3: Surround Yourself With Honey Badgers
Principle 4: Break the Mold
Principle 5: It's Not Selfish. It's Self Fulfilling 
Principle 6: It's Your Life. Take Responsibility

Principle 7: Find Your Strengths and Play to Them

Think back to your childhood.

Chances are you tried a lot of different things. Different sports, different games, different foods, different ways to "outsmart" your parents and probably a million other things. Over the course of many years and perhaps, sometimes instantly, you learned what you like and what you don't. And thus, those experiences and preferences shaped you into the individual that you are.

Now, think about the reasons behind why you like some things more than others.

With the exception of food preferences (i.e. flavors you like/dislike, not the food choices you make), your preferences are largely determined by how you view yourself in relation to the the activity or experience. Take school, for example. We all attend in one form or another. Yet, not everyone likes school. Now, why is this?

I would wager that the people who enjoyed school, especially as they aged, were the people who enjoyed learning, got the best grades and had a drive for academic excellence. In addition, individuals who experienced social acceptance and/or were not picked on, most likely enjoyed it as well.

However, this is not the case for everyone. What about the people who struggled to pass or were social outcasts? Chances are they hated school. And it makes sense.

Generally speaking, we like the things at which we excel and dislike those at which we struggle.

And there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, you'll be happier for it.

Everyone has something they are good at. And most people have lots of things they are good at.

• Maybe you have a endless drive and determination.
• Maybe you are a natural born leader. 
• Maybe you have the ideal body type to run or swim or whatever.
• Maybe you have a knack for organization. 
• Maybe you are creative and crafty. 
• Maybe you are mechanically inclined. 
• Maybe you have a potential you have yet to discover. 

Regardless of what your natural or learned strengths are they all do the same thing.

They allow you to feel good about yourself. They give you more self worth. And they show you that you have potential to be successful.

And the first step to being successful is believing that you can be successful.

So, try new things.

Challenge yourself.

Find your strengths and play to them. You won't be disappointed.

Three Things Thursday ...

Taper Madness - I've trained for a lot of races before, but I am pretty sure I have never really experienced taper madness.

Until now.

Ironman 70.3 Texas is 10 days away and I'm kind of freaking out. Not only have I suddenly been hit with seasonal allergies AND a cold, but I'm pretty sure that my right leg need to be amputated. It's awesome. But, at least with all of my obsessing, I have learned the following things.

I'm confident that I trained well enough to finish.
I'm confident that I am overestimating my abilities.
I'm confident that once I pack my bike, I won't be able to rebuild it. (Note: I only have to lower the seat, remove the front wheel and rotate the handlebars. But it still freaks me out.)
I'm confident that it's going to be freaking hot in Texas.
I'm confident that I am going to get stuck in my wetsuit.
I'm confident that I have no idea how to keep my water and Nuun from boiling in the Texas heat.
I'm confident that despite my notorious list making, I am going to forget to pack something.
I'm confident that I am going insane. For example, last night I had a dream that I accidentally released the air from both of my CO2 cartridges while setting up my bike in transition.
I am confident that I am going to cry when I finish.
I am confident that even if I have to crawl I am going to finish.
I am confident that even if everything goes awry and I am the last person to cross the finish line, I am going to still want to do an Ironman. I'm crazy like that.

Tattoo - Once I have survived Ironman 70.3 Texas, I am going to get another tattoo. The design has nothing to do with the race or my love of endurance sports (although I have considered adding something to it), but I am going to have to stay out of the pool for two weeks so I have to wait. I'm kind of excited. And bummed. I'm going to miss the pool.

Moving - So, in a little over two weeks, my little sister (the one who recently took up running) is moving in with us. We could not be more excited. J and I really want her to be successful with her new career (she just got her esthetician license) and we want to do whatever we can to help her establish herself. So, if you live in central Virginia and could use her services (facials, waxing, professional makeup application, etc), feel free to contact me.

Plus, having here with us will be a huge help to us. For one, I won't have to schedule my workouts around J's travel schedule. Score one for me. Plus, the girls love her to pieces. It's really a win-win.

a trifecta of letters ...

Dear Run, 

We've been together for a long time. You were the one who helped me lose the baby weight and the one that showed me just how powerful I am. You nourished my soul and strengthened my being. And I will forever love you for that.

But, I'm not in love with you. 

I'm sorry. It just kind of happened. For a long time, I tried to fake it, but you're just not my number one anymore. Maybe, one day you'll regain that title, but for now, I think it best that you realize that things have changed. You will always be in my heart. I hope you can wait.

Love, 

TMB

Dear Bike,

I'd love to tell you that you are awesome and that I can't wait to spend hours on end with you, but that would be a lie. You still freak the heck out of me. I like you a lot more when I visit you on my trainer, but even then you leave me wanting more. I mean, is it really too much to ask you not to crush my lady parts? No, I didn't think so.

All the best, 

TMB

Dear Swim,

By now, you may have heard about what is going on between me and Run. We are going through a rough patch and I just don't love him like I used to. And if we are being honest, it's entirely your fault. 

Sure, you make me look like a fool with those latex caps and tinted goggles, but you make me feel so free and strong. Rarely is there a day when I wish for our time together to end. Just this morning, I added 1000 meters to my workout just to be with you longer. 

I'm so sorry for all of the horrible things I said about you in the past. I didn't mean them. I just didn't know you well enough to understand your appeal. I never should have doubted you. Please forgive me.

Submerged in love, 

TMB

funk ...

I'm in a funk.

It's absurd. 

I'm a freaking Honey Badger who's in a funk.

And there seems to be nothing I can do to shake it.

It started a few weeks ago and little by little has been consuming me.

Yesterday, I gave in.

Feeling bad and facing mental demons, I started my long run. Two and a half miles later, I couldn't fight the negativity anymore. I stopped the treadmill. Took a shower. And slept for 12 hours.

I woke up feeling even worse.

It was a total fail.
 
I know exactly what's bothering me.

I'm feeling inadequate.

Not only compared to those around me, but compared to my self-imposed expectations.

I feel like I am doing a lot of things decently, but nothing superbly.

And I freaking hate it.

It's hard to be positive all of the time.

It's hard to always be "on."

And it's really hard to admit your weaknesses.

I know mine.

Now I just need to find away to eliminate them.