get me a GPS!

Tonight I went to Oneida Shores to swim the actual 800 meter course. I was really surprised by the amount of seaweed and gunk in the water!! I know there's a bunch at Jamesville Beach, but this lake was wayyyy worse!

I was also frustrated, more than any other time I swam, with the number of people that were kicking me during the swim! I actually got kicked right in the gut at one point! (She apologized, which I appreciate, but I was too focused on moving forward to say 'it's okay!' back to her!)

But I finished in about 18 minutes, which is about my average, so that was good. I didn't get any cramps. Someone told me if you eat potassium-foods before you go out there it can help prevent cramps. So, bananas it is!!

Then I decided to do the bike course, which is 18 miles. That was HORRIBLE!! But I'm glad I did it so now I know what to expect. The rides at Jamesville Beach seemed to get shorter each week, so maybe if I do this course one more time before race day it will help.

I'm a really slow biker, and having a heavy bike doesn't help. I lost the woman in front of me after about 5 miles and ended up getting lost! I know there's a loop to it, but when I passed by a road I knew I'd passed by before I wasn't sure if I was supposed to turn or keep going straight. I'm very easily disoriented, and I'm not particularly observant with landmarks. I decided to stop and think things through, in front of a house in case I needed to go in and ask them for directions!

I turned around, checking to make sure there weren't cars about to hit me, and I saw a biker!! As he approached I asked if he could help me with directions. Turns out his wife is doing Iron Girl so he was doing the course and had the course map with him. He said I was going the right way and let me keep the map (which I later referred to twice!)

It took about an hour and 20 minutes for me to complete the course, and it was a painful 1:20. I'm pretty sure my posture on my bike isn't correct, but I'm not sure what to do. I think I'll ask someone at the CNY Tri Club next week for some pointers.

I'm really tired now, so we'll see if I have energy to do some working out tomorrow!