It is 24 August 2009. I am gearing up for my last triathlon of the season—the Finger Lakes Triathlon on 20 September 2009. I am struggling to want to run the last few weeks. I have been doing some short 4 and 5 mile runs, with nothing longer than a 10k. This is far different than the three half marathons I ran in the months before The Musselman 70.3 in Geneva. I just have not felt that motivated to run lately. Plus, we have had a unusually cool summer in western NY and my body has been so use to going out for runs in cooler weather with far less humidity than we are currently experiencing. It has gotten much warmer, with humidity around 90% every morning. Running has been a real struggle. I have wanted to get in the pool and work on my swimming and ride my bike. However, this morning I decided that when I hit obstacles in my training, I just need to find ways to mix it up a little bit. So, this week I am going to try and get some lengthy trail runs in—6 to 8 milers. I think this is exactly the kind of thing my psyche needs to rebound from my running slump.

I ran an uncomfortably hot 48.38 and 51:50 10k last week. I will rebound soon!

Cayuga Triathlon Skinny

First, let me say that I would never suggest that anyone ever attempt a ten hour car ride straight through the night to race the following day. This is exactly what this "braniac" did. The first 200 meters of the swim were brutal—the lake was really choppy and I was tired from lack of sleep. I also went out way too fast. I almost... ALMOST, turned around and headed back to shore. Then a little voice in my head said "C'mon, you've trained for this.. you just ran a half-Ironman. Get going, slow and steady."

I was happy with my bike and run:

1:13:00 (20 m.p.h. average) and 53:46 (8:40). This was the first triathlon that I was able to run the whole run leg without stopping.

Looking forward to see what is possible with adequate rest the week of a race. Look out Canandaigua!