kerrylitka.com|small things considered

Andy: I’m wicked nervous about the tri, btw
me: why
me: is it the swim?
Andy: no, not nervous about the swim
more about the ride and the run
Andy: because it is much longer
me: the run is only 4miles
me: vs 3 and you ran 5 the other day
Andy: but it is 1/2 mile
and the ride is 14 miles
me: you rode 30miles last night
Andy: that’s true

me: trust me you won’t notice the difference
Andy: I want to do well in it, and the winning times from last year are freaking ridiculously fast
me: and the longer run/ride favors people who run and ride faster
(like us)
yeah well
Andy: the winning time was about 1h20
me: but apparently the sprint specialists do this race instead of Mooseman
Andy: the top 30 or so bike splits were all above 25mph
me: um
1:20 for men or women?
Andy: women
me: oh shit
that is fast
Andy: 1:17:13
me: the overall race is about the same as Tman
Tman is a 15mile bike/2.9 run
and a longer swim
this is a longer run
Andy: Tman is a shorter swim
me: Huh?
me: I thought Tman was 575yrds and this race was 500yrds
Andy: Tman is 1/3 mile
This is 1/2 mile
me: OH FUCK
Andy: LOL
me: I can’t swim 800m open water

So yeah, let me explain this. I signed up for a triathlon thinking it was a 500yrd (or meter) swim. I saw somewhere a “5″ and got 500 stuck in my head, because I am doing Timberman and Timberman has a 578 yrd swim (or something like that). So I think 500yrds, I can do this, open water out and back course. No big deal. I need to have my first open water swim at some point, might as well start now.

Then Andy explained it was a 1/2mile swim. Oh. Shit. That explains the “5″. I neglected to read the word “mile” after the .5 and was thinking I was swimming 500 yrds. The swim distance is actually 800 meters.

I’m gonna die.

No big deal, that’s 18laps in the pool.

I can do that.
In open water.
In early June in New England.
In my sleeveless wetsuit.

(deep breaths)