I've spent much of the afternoon pondering this race - trying to convince myself that it was "just a bad race" and that next year I will be faster.   I'm not sure that I did a good job of convincing myself - I keep having nagging doubts that this is the peak of my race speed - and that it is a long downhill slide from here....  This is the first race, in almost 5 years that I have been slower than the previous year.  Today this feels like one of those "bellweather" life events - the first gray hair, or the first time you realize that by golly, no matter how hard you train and how much effort you put in - you are getting older and slower....

Sure, I can rationalize lots of reasons why I didn't break 22 minutes today - the glass of wine and Sierra Nevada beer last night, poor dinner choice, lots of long run and hill training recently (limited speed work), a poor race pace, etc....

Oh well, maybe I'm just thinking about this way too much - I probably ought to be damned happy with a 22 minute 12 second finish and just go have a couple of Corona's!!!! 

Rest day today - preparing for my "A" 5k race tomorrow!!!

Looking for an under 22 minute performance!!!

OK, I lied - not really a rest day - during lunch I had my first session with a swim coach.  I warmed up before she got there, and then she watched me swim 50 yards.  She was absolutely appalled by my kick (or lack thereof).  She had me use a kick board, and I warned her I have been known to go backwards with a board - and sure enough I did.  After about 15 minutes, I finally made it to the end of the pool (after kicking my arse off).

She told me the best thing I can do is throw the zoomies away, and concentrate on kick drills - start with 25 yards, and go up each week.  Also do the sideways swimming kick drills - anything to build my leg strength.

She looked and my stoke and made some minor suggestions there - but her biggest concern was the kick.

We decided to have me work on my kick for  a couple of weeks, and then get back together again. 

Wo HOooo - a new 1 mile time record - 6' 19" on the treadmill.  Pushing towards my goal of a 6 minute mile, looks like this may be the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't have to puke afterwards, so I must not have been pushing hard enough!!!

And, I found myself a swim coach - we start some one on one workouts Friday!!!!

This is going to be a great year of racing....