This is my 5th year back into the racing world. My second year qualifying for the title of Triathlete. (My husband determined this based on the distance of the races and whether or not it allowed 2 women on "Townies" riding side by side, leisurely riding along in deep conversation, who blocked the other riders trying to pass them.) This title was awarded to me by my husband after completing the Esprit de She all women's triathlon in Naperville, Illinois last summer.
I am proud to say this year I am competing in the Esprit de She Triathlon in Naperville again. This year as a Founding Finisher. As of today, there are only 78 more days before the race. (I love the little countdown feature they provide on the website for the races. It's like a countdown to Christmas.)
Is 78 days enough time to prepare for this race?
First, let's look at the open water swim: Yesterday was the first day of Spring. It snowed. Where's my wetsuit? Honestly, I currently do not have one because the one I purchased last year was ruined due to smoke/heat damage. Put that on my shopping list. I have to practice swimming with the new one before the race. And I don't mean the day before.
What about my physical ability to go the distance? Well, I swam a mile Wednesday evening in 28 minutes. (Does anyone else question their lap counting? I tend to repeat a number if in doubt.) Not my best time, but I can do a 750 open water. Check.
Biking? I have been spinning on my bike, indoors, a few days a week most of the off season. Looking forward to riding with my cycling club beginning in April. A little late this year due to weather, but I'm not starting from the sofa. I can spin a constant hour; last year's 14.2 mile ride was finished in 42 minutes. I should be able to finish.
And the run? Okay, this is not my strength. In fact, I prefer to run outside and this Winter has not allowed me. In fact, I had just finished my second week back into running at an indoor track (2 miles at a time to start), when my life decided I needed some change (house fires tend to do that).
Thank you Self Magazine for the article "train for a 10K race in 4 weeks." I'm sure it was meant for someone who was ready for a 5k and just needed to up their distance, but this is helping me. I am almost through my first week of training (okay, I don't take the days 100% off as told to by the article, but I can't, I'm a mother). And by the end of the 4 weeks I will be racing in this year's first race, a 10K. 5 weeks later I will be fulfilling my dreaming of finishing an Olympic Distance triathlon in Carlyle, Illinois. Key word: Finishing.
So in 78 days, yes, I will be able to finish the Esprit de She Triathlon, but is it enough time to prepare to compete?
In four weeks I will be running a 10k race at Morton Arboretum. If you have ever been there, you are familiar with the hills. Last Spring it was flooded out. It is filled with hills. Fun, rolling, and steep at times hills. This is good training. It is also pushing myself above a leisure "just make the distance" pace. Then, there's the Olympic Distance Triathlon, relatively flat, with one hill to keep you honest and separate the dogs from the pups. My parents will be there watching. Something that doesn't get to happen very often anymore. I don't know when it will happen again. For this reason, I must push myself more. And then, the final race before Esprit de She, Leon's Triathlon. Again, Olympic distance. I questioned this one. It's the week before EDS. Should I even do it? I compared results last year and noted that the winner in my age group did it. Perhaps, that's my motivation. After a longer race like that, EDS is truly a sprint.
So, in conclusion, yes, I will have had enough motivation to keep pushing myself to do a little better. I will compete and I will improve on my time from last year. Because we are our toughest competition.
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