New Swag

          So Wednesday was my birthday. It was awesome, but bittersweet. I am no longer a child- instead, I can now legally vote, buy porn, cigarettes, and a lotto ticket, and (what I am most excited about) sign up for races without parental permission!!! I lifeguarded all day, and looking at the kids in the pool, I envied them their childhood innocence. They didn't know about SATs or college applications or careers or any of the worries that are either in my recent past or near future. All they had to worry about was what type of jelly they wanted on their PB&Js.

   Luckily, a 90 minute bike ride was on the schedule for that night, so I got to give my inner-child some play time as I sped down the hills in my neighborhood, riding through sprinklers, going both too fast and too slow. It was probably one of the best rides I have ever had. Distance didn't matter (well, it did, but I just didn't keep track of it until I stopped my watch), pace wasn't an issue, and all I had to do was just enjoy the wonderful summer evening weather.

     My parents, ever supportful and sensitive to my interests, gave me a ton of triathlon stuff for my birthday. I nearly peed my pants with joy. New breathable, blister-resistant socks? CHECK. Race number belt so I don't have to continuously poke holes in all my race clothing? CHECK. Gift card to the local running store for all my fuel needs? CHECK. New bathing suits for Masters practice? CHECK. New goggles? CHECK. Plus, my Mom got me flip flops I was in desperate need of, and a gorgeous pair of earrings that look like globes because, as my parents told me, right now, I have "the whole world in my hands." Best birthday ever!!!

   The rest of the week was filled with the usual work and training, and the weekend brought a BIG BRICK on Saturday and a long run on Sunday. First 2:30 ride on Saturday followed by a half hour run went perfectly- my legs felt great afterwards, and the fueling talk my Coach had given me on Friday really helped me strategize how to properly take in calories so I had enough energy to kill it on the run. Yesterday's long run was HOT HOT HOT and the first 4 miles were torture. It felt like someone had replaced my legs with leaden sticks- they were heavy, tight, and creaky, and only after mile 5, when my friend Jon started slowly picking up the pace, did I actually get my a into g and go for a solid 8:00 pace. I know I need to get used to running in the heat, because Diamondman is smack-dab in the middle of Indian summer here, but I realized I will be doing AT LEAST SIX STRAIGHT HOURS OF CARDIO that day. In the hot sun. Um...