Week 18 - Wednesday

Ryan, Paul, Brent and I met a Lucky Peak for our final open-water swim before the Big Day on Saturday. The weather was threatening thunderstorms again, as had been the case all week, but when we got there the conditions were perfect. There was no wind and the water looked like glass.

We had to start off from Turner Gulch instead of Barclay Bay because race officials were already setting up the transition area and had Barclay closed. We suited up and got into the water. It was cold at first, as usual, but after a couple of minutes to adjust we were off.

With the water so calm, it was easy to focus on technique instead of fighting to stay on course and breathe! I was in a comfortable rhythm, not pushing hard, but feeling good. We reached the dock at Barclay in no time. As we hung out there for a minute, a security guard came down the beach and informed us we couldn't even be in the water at Barclay and that we could be DQ'd. That was enough to get us on the move again.

We made the return trip to the Turner dock, which only took a few minutes. I wanted to make another lap, but we're in rest mode and had plans for pizza and beer at Lucky 13.

It was the nicest swim we've had at Lucky Peak, but in no way what we can expect on race day. Regardless, it was fun and ended our training on a high note.

I'm resting Thursday and Friday, so this is it! The next post I make will be to describe my race day experience! It's amazing to think back over the last 18 weeks with all its ups and downs. In some ways it seems like I've been preparing for this forever, yet in others it's hard to believe it's already here...