Soma Triathlon (Page 4)

Pre-race Report: REVENGE on SOMA!

My race report from last year: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=29458

I'm still embarassed to even post the link to that report. Last year's SOMA was my first HIM. But that race didn't end up as I had planned. After the race, when everyone asked how it went, I would usually look at the ground, shrug, and say "Well, I finished." I wouldn't offer up my finishing time unless I knew the person really well and knew they wouldn't be critical of my time.

You see, my first HIM didn't go as planned. I learned just how much the mental side takes over in these longer distance races. Everyone always cautioned about going out too fast. "You can never go out too easy." Well, I'm here to say, "Oh yes you can."

I was full of so much self-doubt before the race that I was completely scared of the distance. Sure, I had trained and followed a training plan. But linking all 3 together in a HIM? The thought completely freaked me out. The tell-tale sign was as I headed towards the swim start. I wasn't excited or anything. I was completely unsure if I could do the race. And that feeling of being unsure stuck with me all day long. I was way too conservative, not pushing myself like I needed to in the swim. That set the tone for the entire race. Throughout the day the course cut-off times loomed behind me. On the run, I was to the point that I was paranoid that I wasn't even going to finish. But I did cross the line and "finish", but it wasn't anything I was proud of.

Last year's SOMA was a test for me, as I wanted to do IMAZ in 2007. With such a horrible first HIM, how was I going to do IMAZ? A few months after my dismal SOMA race, I decided to try again, and signed up for Barb's Race, held on the Vineman course in August. This time I was much more confident, and attacked the course. It was a much more difficult course with all the hills than SOMA, but even with that I took of 50 minutes off of my SOMA time. This gave me the fuel to move forward with trying to fix the unfinished business I had with SOMA.

So this year I'm going to be one of the first people in my wave to get in the water. I'm going to swim with my arms burning the entire time. My legs are going to hurt on the bike. My legs and feet are going to hurt on the run. I'm still going to be smart and pace myself. But this time I'm going to leave EVERYTHING out there on the course. I am going to attack the course and not stop and that will be my revenge. I'm going to beat SOMA this year!

Sorry...I just had to get that out. Good luck to everyone this weekend, and BEAT SOMA!

Pirate Girl- you are gonna own that course!! Great advice and you should be proud of your first HIM, no matter what!!

Now, you can tell me that when they are pulling up the cones behind me.

Thanks everyone! Hopefully I'll see some of you out there. I'll be wearing a purple Tucson Tri Girls top and BT tattoos on my left shoulder and back of left calf. If I have enough room, I'll write "PirateGirl" on my left calf. I can't wait to read all the race reports and hear how you all found a way to beat SOMA!

Just a few "don't forget" items for this weekend (feel free to add your own):

• You can never have too much BodyGlide!
• Don't forget to wear your number belt on the bike with your number on your back.
• Re-apply sunscreen in T2, especially if it's sunny. I just picked up some Kinesys spray for my transition bag.
• Bike rack spots will be assigned by number, and it will be very cramped. The handlebars are literally right next to each other. BUT, you can rack on the extra racks that don't have numbers. Very few folks took advantage of this last year (I wish I had!)
• Scope out the porta-potties on the bike & run course ahead of time.

There's a time limit?  Anything to look forward to so the swim mwill go faster. 

oh wait, let me dig my hand out of the cookie dough to answer this question! Haha

Yes, my diet has gone crazy this week. I think it's stress, nerves, and the body saying wtf!!

Do I really have to wear my number on my back for the bike?? I have never had to do that before. I always just put my race belt on for the run. I'm gonna have to stick it in my bike helmet so I don't forget.

Weather update.... anyone in Phoenix???? I heard 87, I guess it's better than 97.