A veritible trifecta!

So, three days, three separate sports, each with a modicum of success!

Saturday: Joe pumped up my tires and around and around the court I went, clipping and unclipping. Clipping and unclipping. Dare I say it again? Clipping and unclipping. Finally, I set out down Lynn Lane. I was in a total panic at the first stop sign, slowed, unclipped, stopped, and successfully started up again. The tension in my my shoulders was not to be believed. If anyone had tapped me to say hello, I would have shattered into a thousand pieces. Eventually, we wound our way around to Seaman's Neck and I got up the gumption to hit 15 mph. We went over the parkway, a semblance of a hill, and I screamed all the way down the other side, tapping the breaks the whole way. Yes, I understand this is not a real hill. Yes, I understand it was no big deal. Tell that to my sweating palms and my fluttering heart.

Poor Joe is behind me, trying his best to stay patient. He is on his hybrid and he can still barely ride slow enough to not pass me. At some point he asks me why I keep on stopping pedaling. I yell behind me, because I don't like to go fast. No reply. No comforting words. Not even a reminder that I will be racing and the whole point is to go fast. He knows this is hopeless. BUT, I rode 5 miles with no tears and no mishaps. That, believe it or not, is progress. I will look to ride again towards the end of the week. Prayers are always appreciated!

Sunday: The Aspire 10K. One of my favorite races. It's got some hills. Most are not too steep, but one is very long. And one is steep right at the end. For some reason, there is never a start mat at this race, so the time recorded is the gun time. When a slow runner, there is a lot of time between the gun time and the chip time...so this annoys me greatly. In my case yesterday, there was a difference of 20 seconds. My chip time was 59:13 which was an entire 61 seconds faster than the last time I ran this race in 2011. Not my goal time, but a PR for the 10K distance, which earns me a pedicure! (Make the appointment Mindy!!)

Favorite moment in the race: When Janice yells my name as we ran up a hill just past the first water stop...she recognized the taped "sexy calf" from behind. I thought I would wet my pants laughing.

Worst moment in the race: When these two young women passed me up that final hill. I had worked hard to pass them THREE times. I actually groaned aloud when they passed me and said, "Not you two again!" They ended up beating me by 30-40 seconds. I looked up their ages. They are in their twenties. So, I've got 20 years on them...that made me feel a bit better. But not much.

Monday: swam 2300 meters, plus drills. Best moment: when I passed not one but two of my lane mates during a 300. And seeing Lisa cheering me on from the deck. It's great to feel like you're doing well. And that should be reward enough. But to have a witness makes it all the sweeter! And when that witness is Lisa, then I know I have done well!!! That made my week!

Worst moment: the last of the 12 100s where we had to do the alternate kick thing Lisa dreamed up for us. What a miserable exercise that was...My arms were so tired I could have wept! Where does she come up with this stuff???? I will say this though, I think it was somewhat easier to rotate the axis while not kicking. Even though it was harder to propel without the legs in play. Here's hoping that is what we were supposed to learn and that we all learned it and we won't have to do it again any time soon. :)