2010 Oceanside 70.3

T-minus 14 hours until lift off for the first race of the year in California. All was well until a week ago I came down with a chest cold which leaves me in coughing fits all day & night—lungs feel “burned” from all the coughing. Slept with a humidifier 2 feet from my pillow yesterday just to ease the breathing. Funny how things can “tumble” on you all at the last minute. I’m not sure how this will affect my race aside from the fact any illness affects you—and being a half iron distance this is going to HURT! I’ve already scaled back my expectations from what they were a great deal. If only there was one more week to “heal” instead of only 3 days.


I’ve made some improvement today hitting the green tea all day long, hoping to loosen things up. On a bright side, my first race on the new bike should be a blast. Hopefully it doesn’t ride away from me because yes—it is that fast of a bike. Nothing like having its rider left behind! I should have some fun meeting up with my first cousin…he is now the head US National Surf Team head coach. He’s also owner of his own line of surf boards---and SURF Magazine has dubbed him “Lord of the Boards”. Just go down to the beach and talk to any competitive surfer and they’ll know who he is. Former US National Champion…ESA Champion & was also on the cover of SURF Magazine when he was younger.

It’ll be a nice meet up with a party Saturday night post-race as one of the original “Page Peeps” from Ironman California. This is the 10-year anniversary of it all but it has been downgraded to a half iron distance due to military/security issues on Camp Pendleton property post 9-1-1. Either way, the weather should be nice. Looking at some of the posts on Slowtwitch, there are a lot of “nervous” racers all ramping up for the first big race of the year. I had a fleeting moment of that a few weeks ago looking at the start list—that usually doesn’t happen. Part of that was I think because I knew who the contenders were after viewing the start list and I was excited in knowing the names & where I “could” place. Not so much an “Oh my gosh so & so is here—this is going to be rough” but more of an “Oh my gosh I could actually podium high if all goes according to plan.” Of course, now I’ve been clobbered over the head with a chest cold & it isn’t fun. This is one time I’ll have to depend on my “luck & karma” to not feel like death warmed over at some point during Saturday’s race. But remain optimistic & hope for the best—even though I already know it won’t be my best. Let the Guardian Angel guard me Saturday!