Norseman: Swimming in the Fjord!

Today was athlete check in, plus the usual prescribed pre-race short swim/bike/run. It was a really good day...but of course the highlight was the swim!

I ran this morning in Kinsarvik and then we drove over to Eidfjord to do everything else. The very low-key athlete check-in was held in a small hotel conference room. The crew and athletes were friendly and the general vibe around the place was "savor it, enjoy it, have fun." I loved hearing that and feeling the positive energy. We spent some time in the Q&A corner with some very helpful crew members who had done the crew race last weekend - 8 members of the crew raced the entire distance last weekend! They were full of great advice and I'm really glad we stopped to talk with them.

Can't help posting more pics from my run today.

And another one. Gorgeous views EVERYWHERE.

After the very quick check-in where I received the usual stickers for my bike, bib, etc., and Robert received his support team shirt and a wristband that will let him into the transitions to help me, we walked over to see the swim start. I saw another woman wearing a wetsuit and asked her if she was going to swim. I then scrambled around quickly to grab my swim stuff so that I could hop in with her - there is always safety in numbers, especially when you're swimming in a fjord with 2 cruise ships parked in it.

Athlete check-in.

Ok, so this plus the wristband makes it really real.

There's a cruise ship parked right in front of Swim Out.

It turns out that my new friend Penny is a blueseventy ambassador, so she had all the same swim stuff as me - we were matchy matchy from head to toe in our wetsuits, booties, and neoprene caps. This made me laugh and miss my friendies back home.

I was surprised that the water wasn't as cold as I thought it would be (about 60 degrees today). Of course that can change in 2 days - but I was very comfy swimming in my wetsuit, booties, and cap. We swam for about 15 minutes and each breath I took, I was thrilled to see the mountains around me as I looked up from the water. When we finished the swim, we took a couple of pictures and then Penny suggested a practice jump off the dock! After we climbed out, we had to laugh, because at that moment several small children jumped into the water in just their swimsuits. I guess it all depends on what you're used to.

Penny = carefree jumper. Kris = cautious goggle holder. 

Tomorrow there will be a blueseventy swim in the morning and I can't wait to swim again. I am definitely savoring this and taking it all in. Then there's the mandatory athlete meeting at 3 pm...and then I'm sure time will fly by until the race starts on Saturday morning! You can track me here: http://www.nxtri.com/live/

A rare photo of the photographer - my hubby and support crew, Robert. :)

Norseman: Practice Swim in the Helix!

When I won the blueseventy Norseman contest, I knew that along with an entry to the race, a new awesome Helix wetsuit was part of the deal. What I didn't realize was that it would come along with a whole ton of other awesome stuff - blueseventy totally hooked me up for this race! Wetsuit, neoprene booties and gloves, neoprene cap, a tri kit, tons of goggles and other swag, and a giant fabulous bag to carry it in...I was floored when I opened the package that arrived at my door about a month ago.

Although I was really eager to try the Helix out, I didn't get a chance until this weekend. We headed out to Landa Park in New Braunfels this morning to swim in the Comal River. Ever since Brian and Orissa discovered this spot a couple of years ago, it's been our go-to place for open water swims - if you get there early enough, there's plenty of parking (although now you have to pay $10), and you can avoid the tubers and swim as far up the river as you like. Then you let the current carry you back down.

I wasn't the only one wanting to practice swimming in a wetsuit. Pretty much the only time any of us swim in open water is at races, and nearly all of us have one coming up. On June 29, Orissa and Brian are doing Ironman Cour d'Alene (cold water swim) and Shelly and Aixa are racing Buffalo Springs (usually wetsuit legal, but Shelly also wanted to try out my swim skin just in case).

A wetsuit swim isn't a wetsuit swim if Brian Loftin doesn't zip you in. Not sure what I'll do at Norseman without him; thinking maybe I can ask Macca for help instead. ;)

The lovely ladies ready to crush their races: Shelly, me, Linda (not racing, but 28-weeks pregnant and still crushing us all; also, the only one actually dressed appropriately for a swim in the Comal in June), and Orissa. Aixa is behind the camera.

Let me just say, this wetsuit rocks. I've had my share of disappointing wetsuit swims in heavy, too-tight longsleeve suits that make me feel like I can't breathe or move my arms. Not so in this one. It fits perfectly and was super comfy to swim in! I felt like I was able to keep my form and swim in the open water like I swim in the pool - strong and steady. I even tried a couple of sprints (with the current, on the way back - ha) and I felt completely unrestricted and strong.

I also tried out the neoprene booties. Not that I needed them (or a longsleeve wetsuit, for that matter) in South Texas in June, but I needed to know how they felt. They were weird, but not bad, and because I'm certain I'll need them at Norseman, I'm happy to practice in them. I did one out-and-back with the booties on, and then took them off for a second out-and-back with Shelly while she tried out the swim skin. And I have to say the goggles are amazing as well. A success all around!

Booties!

Shelly and I swam out like we always have - facing each other and breathing/swimming in sync; we used to do this to make sure neither one was in distress and now it's just habit.

Then we went out and ran. But first, let me take a selfie...finally one with Aixa in it!

Thanks Girls (and Brian) for the company and laughs this morning! And huge thank you to blueseventy for the awesome gear. I am so set for the race in August - now just gotta keep on training, training, training. 

Open Water Swim

Boerne Lake

Shelly and I joined a training group from Tri-Sition Area to swim at Boerne Lake this morning. It was the first-ever open water swim for both of us, and our only opportunity to try one before CapTex in 2 weeks (unless we want to try swimming in the Gulf of Mexico when we're in Corpus Christi for Beach to Bay next weekend, but that is not happening, sharks).

There were tons of people at the lake when we pulled up at 6:51 a.m. A Team in Training group was there, and at least 2 other groups were there. Everyone else had also brought their bikes to practice a swim-bike brick. But Shelly and I were just there to swim, and maybe to run.

We were both very nervous about swimming in open water. I heard from lots of folks about how, no matter how much you want to and know you should, you may not be able to stick your face in the water. How true that is! We swam 400 meters out to a sandbar and then 400 meters back, and in the first 400, every time I tried to put my face in the water, it bounced right back out. I guess I was afraid of not being able to breathe, not being able to see, not being able to touch the bottom, being surrounded by green water and nothing else...it was pretty impossible to swim with my face in the water.

But on the way back, I forced myself to try again because I knew I wouldn't have another chance to do it before the race, and managed to get my face in the water for a few strokes at a time. At least I know I can do it and not drown. Maybe I'll be better at the race.

Shelly did great. She was way braver than me about putting her face in, and she was able to swim much more efficiently because she did that. We were told that wearing wetsuits would help too, but it seems like a lot of trouble and expense for a little 400 meter swim. The water was warm enough, and I think we'll be fine at the race. Each 400 meter leg took about 9:30. And hey, we just swam double the distance of the race in open water!

After the swim, we put on our running shoes and went for a run. We meant to run maybe 2 miles, but the weather was nice and we were feeling good, so we ended up running 5. The people passing us by on their bikes were really friendly and supportive. We ran along the frontage road of I-10 and got honked at by an 18-wheeler, which made us giggle. Then we walked one mile back to the car as a cooldown and more time to chat. Talk about a confidence-boosting activity. We're both feeling much more at ease about the CapTex.

But before that, we've got Beach to Bay next weekend. Woo hoo!