1 Day before the race

Yesterday I went to buy a "brightly colored swim cap" as required by the race and ended up stopping by a bike shop or two.  Well to be honest I went to four bike shops (OCD).  In conversation with the different bike junkies they all asked the same question, "aren't you nervous to swim in open water"?  This is something that I have heard from multiple people.  It has started to make me think that I should be nervous.  So I am nervous that I am not nervous, what the hell?  I have debated about doing a lake swim today just to get out the jitters, but I think that if I do get spooked I would rather do it in a race environment where I can't back out.  After all I am going to get a T-shirt, and I would feel stupid if I didn't finish. 

I am going to make a change to my gear today.  It goes against my master plan of not changing anything that I normally do, but my wife asked me last night about what I needed for the race.  I told her that now that I have the swim cap I didn't need anything.  I then went into what I want to buy someday as I progress.  I mentioned things like a wetsuit, trisuit (suit that you can use for swimming, biking, and running) and of course all my new bike gear including a bike.  It got me thinking that the suit I have now, a drag suit, perhaps isn't the best suite for a race. The purpose of a drag suit is to slow you down.  So back to Poco Loco I go for a new suit today.  I buy all my swimming stuff there because my former coach owns the joint and they are a great swim shop. 

GEAR-
Today I am going to go and buy a "jammer" swim suit.  I have never used one and I hope that it works out.  The one I am looking at is a  TYR Alliance Team from Poco Loco.  I will give it a review after the race.

HOW I FEEL TODAY -
Today I don't feel as stiff as I did yesterday.  I decided not to swim at all yesterday and do lots of stretching instead.  I think it helped a lot. I do have a small grinding feeling still in my right shoulder and my forearms still feel a little weak.  I distinctly remember what felt like a tear in both of my forearms on Tuesday during my long set of 100's.  If I were to guess I bet they will be ok tomorrow during the race, but will be in some good pain by tomorrow night.

TODAY's OCD -
I am getting a new suit today, and yes I have to stop by a bike shop.  I think that I have narrowed it down to the Specialized Roubax elite. It is a fully carbon fiber bike with shimano 105 components.

I have done a lot of research about the best bang for buck and for a major brand this bike seems to fit the bill.  That being said it is $1,700.  Wow, I get goose bumps even typing that amount of money.  It's more expensive than my dirt bike and it doesn't even have a motor.  I guess I really need to sell my motorcycle stuff to justify buying a bicycle. 

2 Days before race day

It has been 13 years since the last time I had a swim race.  It will also be the first time I have ever swam in open water.  Also, to top it off it is also 3 times longer than any race I have ever done.  Why am I  doing it?  I guess to prove that I can. It is the start of a long journey into multiple long distance races. 

The water in Deer Creek Reservoir  is going to be cold, but when I swim long distances I get really hot so hopefully it won't be that bad.  My friend Greg Joyner owner of Cold Water Company will be accompanying me with a paddle board or a kayak. The Deer Creek Open Water race is actually 4 different races, a 1 mile swim, a 5K, 10K, and 10 mile swim.  I really want to try the 10 mile swim but I am pretty sure after 5 miles my arms would fall off and I would sink to the bottom, so for safety I am going to start with the 5K.  I think that by this time next year I will be in good enough shape to swim the 10K.  Then maybe the following year the 10 mile.

GEAR-
I have 1training suit that I bought a couple of months ago and 2 pairs of Swedish goggles.  Today I am going to go and buy a swim cap because it is required.  Personally I can't stand caps but what do you do?  The race allows for wet suites but I am going to brave the cold without one. I have 2 choices in colors for goggles, my dark brown ones I use for swimming outside and my red ones.

HOW I FEEL TODAY -
Today I feel stiff.  I know I pushed it too hard earlier this week and hopefully it won't come back to bite me on race day.  I am going to do about a 40 minute swim today and do about 1500 meters with  1 set of 5 100's on 1:30 to maintain my pace.

TODAY's OCD -
Still looking for a bike.  I am in the process of selling 2 motorcycles and all of my gear to buy a decent road bike.  I don't want to race in a triathlon without a road bike.  Yes, I can use my mountain bike but that would be like taking a VW Jetta in NASCAR race.  Sure, it will make it around the track, but it isn't the right tool.