Racing for Dad: 4 Weeks to go!!!!

This has been a week of extreme ups and downs!! Damien and I went to Kelso for my 2^nd open water swim last week on Monday. I was feeling pretty good about it and we got in the water and just started swimming. I can always see the many years of ocean swimming that Damien has under his belt. He is so comfortable in the water and I can tell he enjoys it. I was trying to find my rhythm but I couldn’t seem to control my breathing. I think I had a mild panic attack in the middle of the lake. I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and suddenly felt like my wetsuit was way too tight. I kept thinking that I can’t do this! I can’t swim 200m – how am I going to swim 3.8kms??!! I managed to get through 2kms of swimming but each time I reached the other end I would be gasping for air. I left that swim session very panicky. I wasn’t worried at all about the 180kms bike ride or the marathon run – it was 3.8kms that might stop me from doing this.

The next day we had a 120km bike ride in the hills. Tuesday was the hottest day of training so far – temperatures in the 40’s!! Between the heat and the headwind my hilly ride was shortened to 90kms and I was spent!! Again – not a great confidence builder. I think after the last few weeks of heavy training my body was really starting to get tired. We listened to the coaches notes and took some time off. Damien and I skipped the night of hill repeats and relaxed instead! Very very needed!!

Thursday night my sister had the boys for dinner and Damien and I headed out to Kelso again! I had spent the past couple days reading about open water swim anxiety and felt I had a few tricks up my sleeve!! Damien also told me that he changes his breathing technique in open water compared to swimming in the pool. Instead of breathing every 3^rd stroke I was going to try breathing every 2^nd. Realizing that it was panic that I was experiencing and not a lack of fitness made me feel better. We hopped in the water and off we went. I kept counting my strokes to keep my mind off things. I breathed every 2^nd stroke and I was so calm. I did it!! I swam 2kms straight and felt awesome!!! It was only 2kms of swimming but for me I felt I had conquered the whole race – I can do this!!! I will still be the happiest person in the world when I get out of the water on August 19^th!!!!

Friday was another huge win!! Damien and I rode 180kms and finished the ride with a 35min run!! It felt so good to complete the 180kms and know that I can do the distance. I ran 6.5kms off the bike and felt pretty good. Not sure how 42.2kms will feel but I’m expecting some major ups and downs!!!

With all this training we have been relying heavily on family to look after our boys!! At the start of the week we’ve been sending our training program to my Mom and my sister and we work out between the 2 of them the days that they can help. We could never be doing this without them and they are as much a part of this race as we are!! A huge thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help guys!!! You are amazing!!!

On Friday while Damien and I were doing our bike ride my sister had all the boys at my place!! They put up their lemonade stand to raise more money for the Brain Tumour Foundation!!! A big shout out to the boy’s first customer who only had a quarter on him for a drink but came knocking at the door later in the day with $20 for the boys donation jar!! He thought it was a great cause!!!