*Go wish cathrone a Happy Birthday...http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/view-profile.asp?action=view&uid=20120
*Great open water swim at Nokomis this morning.  Didn't get there until 6:43am.  Need to get there earlier.  Was really pushing it as far as getting a shower in and getting into work before 8am.  Saw 2 other triathletes training.  Asked and they were training for Lifetime.  I have a feeling it's going to get more 'crowded' from here on out.  That's actually a GOOD thing (requires more sighting).
*Definitely felt a whole lot more comfortable in sleeveless.  Could get much more reach and could concentrate on shoulder touching ear.
*Warm up: 2 lengths.  1 length = far east buoy to far west buoy = 122 of Sal's paces = 260 ft = 87 yds.  Still struggled during warm-up with getting my breathing cadence right.
*Main set: 4 x 1 length on 35 sec rest.  5 lengths continuous (about 435 yds).  This felt good.  Was able to relax.  2 secrets for me to relax in open water: 1. get a good warm-up in (important to remember at the race), 2. exhale--A LOT, more than I think I need to.  Helped my breathing.  Sighting was good.  For sighting, instead of keeping my head down and exhaling, I would look forward with my goggles just above the water line and REMEMBER to exhale, turn my head to the right and inhale...It was sunny this morning.  Glad I had my tinted goggles.
*Cool down: 3 lengths.  This felt good too.  Even got some speed in the middle length.  Public restrooms ARE open.  Beats changing in the port-o-potty. :) Hope to get in another OWS early Saturday morning...

Quick spin on the trainer at lunch.  15 min WU, then hills--with SPRINTS UP the hills, race pace (~18mph) down the hills and on the flats.  BRUTAL workout.  Shouldn't be pushing it too hard this quickly after a marathon, but my body FELT like it could handle it...Early morning swim at Nokomis tomorrow...
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No workout this morning.  Was planning on a ride...I think today may be a rest day...

First OW swim of the season.  35 min swim in Nokomis in full wetsuit.  Water temperature was actually warm, but wanted to try out the wetsuit.  Nice and relaxed for about the 1st 150 yds, then I felt like I couldn't breathe (wetsuit restricting chest expansion).  So reverted back to all the TI stuff I trained in the pool--lowered my head, tried to make sure I reached out so that my shoulder touched my ear--a lot more difficult to do in a wetsuit.  I REALLY have to reach to get my shoulder to touch my ear.  Also, with having to sight, it seems to throw my breathing cadence off kilter.  Goggles didn't leak, and swim cap was nice to have (no water in the ears)...

Was totally exhausted, but I didn't know if that was from having been away from swimming for a week, or the fact that I just ran a marathon 3 days ago. :)...

Thought about swimming without the wetsuit, but ran out of time before I needed to head to work to use the gym shower.  No problem with getting the wetsuit off...I would like to get in at least 9 more OW swims before Minneman...

Spent the morning before work getting the Race Report up...