Saturday, December 20, 2008

TIMEX / TRISTAR SHOWDOWN!

A few weeks ago our little training group of Billy Edwards(www.billythekidtriathlete.com), Carole Sharpless(www.carole-sharpless.com), Joanna Zeiger(www.joanna-zeiger.com) and myself were at the pool doing our Saturday AM swim workout. Usually it is some form of torture that JZ has come up with. Anyway, I am not really sure how it came to be, but a swim challenge between Sharpie and myself developed. I think JZ said that Sharpie could "kick my ass" in a 1500 meter swim. I love it when my coach has 100% faith in me! Probably pay back from when she was drinking something out of an Ironman Arizona glass and I said; "Sure ya can finish that?" Clearly you have to have thick skin in this group.

Anyway, the TIMEX/TRISTAR challenge is set for the second Saturday in Jan. It will be a 1500 short coures meter race at altitude in Boulder! I am calling it the TIMEX/TRISTAR Challenge because Sharpie races on Team Timex(www.timex.com/gp/node/n/242470011and) I race for Tristar(www.tristarathlete.com).

My background is running and Sharpie is one of those "fish" people. In 2007 she came to support in Kona (she is the worlds best cheerleader!) and was out for a ride with Billy and JZ and had a horrible crash. Broke both wrists and and really busted her already "not so great" back as well as some other stuff. Basically she was messed up pretty bad. Long story short she is on the mend and as the rest of us proceed to get fat in the off season, Sharpie seems to be getting fitter as each day goes on!

Right now we are very similar in the pool. I know she HATES that I can keep up right now! However, with her swim background, I could be totally screwed by the second weekend in Jan. Swimmers don't loose their mojo. They just put it away for a while and with her new found motivation to humiliate me at the Flatiron pool, it is clear she is polishing up the swim mojo to be nice and shinny!

Lets not forget to mention the fact that I think both her and JZ are trying to sabotage me. First, I show I up to our lifting session and Sharpie is all bubbly and hands me a loaf of pumpkin banana bread that weighed around 12 pounds. "Happy Holiday honey!" Then I go over to JZ's for one of our group training rides because it is as cold as witches fart outside and JZ hands me a basket of homemade chocolate truffles. I know what's up. They know I have no self control and they are trying to fatten me up before the race. Clearly it is working because I ate both treats in one sitting. JZ called to inform me that she made more but this time I stayed away from the house! I'm on to you both!

Regardless of how fat I get from now until the second Saturday in January the race is on. I really think that a swim race is a wonderful idea for triathletes. We rarely do that and in my mind you NEED to race to get better. I think we should race once a month in the pool to get that burn and use it as a marker for where our swimming is. Plus, the race has been a great motivator for the both of us. Sometimes in the winter months (I have been in summer for the last 3 years so I am talking out of my ass) you need that extra motivation!

This race is not just for bragging rights. If I win (which I will!!! OHHH!! YEAH!!!) Sharpie has to scratch my head for 30 min while I lie back and make uncomfortable sexual type groans. If she wins (Whatever!) I have to clean her car inside and out. I might just do it for her anyway cuz that is the kind of guy I am....Awweeeeeee. NOT! Take that shit to the car wash and get back to scratching my head! Haha!

Seriously though, both Carole and I have been working really hard at our swimming and general training. We have the best crew and are so fortunate to be living in Boulder. I think we may film the race so I will try to post some clips if we do that. Even if I get my ass (and mouth) handed to me, I know the effort will ultimately help both of our swimming and that is the real goal at hand.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday. I will be sure to post a blog after the Beer Mile and New Years party at JZ's. I have a feeling there will be plenty to write about!

Cheers,
bdc