Luray Olympic: The Goals Post

Well, this race totally snuck up on me. I registered for it many moons ago and now it is this Saturday! This is not an A race- just a training session with a timing chip and a bib number. Don't let the lax 'tude fool ya- I still set some goals for myself for this race. Just nothin' crazy.

This will be the first race I have done where there are some more technical aspects to the race: a million turns on the swim, hills and sharp turns on the bike, and a gravel path for the run. While I know this most likely means I won't be able to set a PR, I am pretty excited for the new challenges. Especially the hills on the bike because my last two long rides have been pretty hilly and I have done quite well climbing! I am leaving Pink Lady (the tri bike)at home and taking my road bike for this race.

lots of swim turns!

So without further ado, my goals...

1. Don't hang back when the gun goes off. After getting kicked in the face at Rumpass I have been scared to begin to swim when the horn blows. I hang back and let everyone else go and then I wind up swimming over people because apparently I am a faster swimmer than I thought. Saturday, I start to swim with the pack. I am just going to place myself strategically- as in to the left hand side instead of front and center. I may not be a bad swimmer but I am certainly not great! ...yet.

2. Perfectly execute the hills. I feel more comfortable on my road bike than my tri bike so I am hoping that by racing on my road bike I have the confidence to hammer down hills (the way Phil taught me last week) and anticipate the uphills, thus executing a damn good bike split. I hope to maintain a decent MPH even with the course elevation chart that looks like this:

 

hills hills hills

3. PR my run split. I always have a hard time holding a good pace off the bike. It's annoying. Really annoying. The fastest pace I have been able to maintain for the 10k after the 40k bike is 9:40 minute miles. Most of my long runs are faster than that! This Saturday, that all changes. Sub 9:15 or bust.

4. Continue to take awesome race photos. I can't help but smile and wave when I see the race photographer. This weekend I think it may be time to give up the old "wave and smile" routine and change it up by sticking my tounge out or making some other goofy face.

5. Have a ton of fun. A TON!

I think that about covers it. What are you up to this weekend?