Ironman Cozumel Goal Post

I cannot believe it is time to post my race goals.  I signed up for this race almost a year ago, and it does seem possible that race day is less than a week away.  #OhMyGoodnessIJustGotChills! Now it is goal time...

Swim Goals:

• Control my race nerves and fight the urge to go out to hard.
• Go with the flow and take in the beautiful scenery.
• Start preparing for the ride during the last 500 meters

Sunday is going to be a long day, so steady, yet strong swim is what I am going for. I estimate that I will be out of the water between 1:15 and 1:25.

Just keep swimming

Bike Goals:

• Nail my HR zones.  If I want RUN a marathon after I get off Miss Scarlett, it is going to be imperative that I stay in Zone 2. 
• Keep my head in the race! I have been told that it is normal to a few bleak moments during the race. So my goal is to remember that having a few negative thoughts is normal and not a reflection of my physical ability.  Being able to recover from negativity is going to be key!

I expect the bike to take between 7:00 and 7::30  

Go Miss Scarlett!

Run Goals:

• My goal only goal for the run is to space out my walking.  It is unrealistic to say that I am going to run every step of the marathon. However, I do not want to find myself in a situation where I have to walk 5 miles because I was an idiot during the ride.
• Keep moving forward!

I expect the run to take between 5:00 and 5:15.

Finishing strong!

Overall Goals:

Please note that the estimates above are just that, ESTIMATES.  My top priority for Sunday is to finish. Meeting my other goals will just be icing on the cake. I want to take in every aspect of the race and cross the finish line with a smile on my face.

Let's hope I don't look like this when I cross the finish line! :) (Don't worry, Duke is just sleeping)

This is more like it!

Wish me luck!! :)

Luray Goals

Geez, how is tomorrow already August 13th?  Where did summer go? How did Luray sneak up on me so fast? And why have I decided to race on a RECOVERY week?  Even though this is not an "A race"- I still have a few goals.  Nothing wild and crazy though.  Luray is a pretty tough course, so I am not expecting a PR.  If I PR, awesome, but that is not one of my goals for the weekend.

• Goal #1:  HAVE FUN! This is my top priority for the weekend. Racing on a recovery weekend is not really ideal, but I won't be alone. Over 100 Team Zers are racing on Saturday which means it is going to be a lot of fun! If you are in the area this weekend and happen to stumble upon a group of crazy people dressed up in silly costumes with cow bells and horns- DO NOT BE ALARMED! It is just Team Z. :)
• Goal #2: PR the swim.  I have only done one other Olympic distance tri- Rumpass.  Although Rumpass was a wetsuit legal race, I think I am in better swim shape than I was back in April.  Plus it shouldn't be freezing cold, and I hope I won't be super nervous.  I was a big ball of nerves before Rumpass. If I don't PR the swim tomorrow- no biggie!  I just want to swim a smart race.  The Luray swim course is a little tricky

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• Goal #3:  When it comes to hilly rides, I tend to get a little nervous and lose faith in my climbing abilities.   So my goal tomorrow is to remember to have faith in my biking abilities and ATTACK the HILLS!  Miss Scarlett and I have been spending a lot of time together, and it is time to show what those hills what I am made of! 

• Goal #4: Run a smart 10K!  I am not sure what I am going to have left the bike course, so I want to run a smart 6.2 miles.  I need to remember to watch my pace during the first 2 or so miles.  I tend to go out too fast despite having lead legs from biking.  I think it’s because I am always happy to get off of the bike.  No offense, Miss Scarlett! :) 

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend. I hope you all have a SAFE and FUN race.