The training and racing continues!

I wanted to update with a few of the highlights of the last few weeks of training. Things are going pretty well... there's ups and downs, for sure...but I feel good about where things are right now. 1st...I guess a word of warning for those out there that might be doing some training &/or bike riding of their own... LOOK OUT FOR DEER!!! I was out for a solo ride about a week or so ago and I was heading back for home after a nice ride, and I see 3 deer off in a corn field to my right. 'Huh', I wonder to myself...'what will they do'? I was a bit afraid that they might charge at me (not sure why they would do that.. but ya never know!)... But they seem to get a little spooked and start prancing along beside me...and then they DART out in front of me to cross the street?! So 2 of them were far enough ahead to make it safely across without any issues... but there were 3 of them..and that 3rd was not looking too promising.. So I slow, he slows (I'm assuming it was a 'he')...I scream (just a meek 'ah'! type scream..nothing too dramatic)..and he darts off behind me.. WHEW!! Pretty scary moment, seeing as how that deer would have made a significant dent on lil ol me and my bike. So that was that. We've had a couple of rainy weekends here lately, which means rainy saturday bike/run trainings with the team.. Which is actually a good thing because we have to get used to the idea of racing in whatever weather that day has to offer us. But this, too, is new territory for me (just like bundling up all winter to run!). I've found I really like it! We had a rainy 28 mi ride and 6.5 mi run (which..for those keeping track is HALF of what race distance will be) one day; then the next saturday was an hr ride followed by a hilly 9mi run. Believe it or not, I felt pretty good during both of those, but I DO realize that I need to start taking my nutrition and hydration during training times a little more seriously. I always plan well for races (and notice the time improvements for sure!), but as trainings get more intense and lengthy, I need to start fueling myself appropriately. So I will. Live and learn. This weekend was another race weekend. We had the Mini Marathon here in Indianapolis and a lot of us on the tri team were either running the race or there to cheer the rest on. I ran (under the alias of 'Andy Comer' due to some last minute issues w/ our race entries) and pushed hard to get my PR (personal record) of 1:45:05! I felt really good through the race and only felt 'pushed' during the last 1 or 2 miles where I was picking up pace to get to that finish line. I also must add that this was the 1st race that I had done 'officially' for Team in Training (TNT) and was wearing the famed purple jersey and all...and it was great! The support out there was really, truly amazing. Everyone talks about it...I had heard about it from TNT alum, but this was the 1st I had actually experienced it and it was fun! There were 2 gatoraid stops along the coarse that were manned by TNT folks, so that was a wave of 'Go Team' and some individual shout outs (from those who knew I was Sara, and not, as my bib proclaimed, 'Andy'!). But not only that, there were other runners and spectators along the way that would make it a point to say 'go team' or 'go TNT', 'go TNT, you're awesome'...very nice to hear as you're pushing along those 13.1 miles! So that was a good eye-opener to what this organization is all about. And today, Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day, Mom and all moms out there!!), was full of training, as usual. I met a couple teammates early for a bike/run brick workout on 'Fishback hill'...good times! Then, after a delicious brunch with my family, I met up with some teammates again to do a 30 mi bike ride! So...that's it! This week should be a normal week of training. We start our open water swim trainings tomorrow, which should be an adventure! So I hope the weather holds up for some more great trainings!!