A small training vacation

Ahhh... the Outer Banks. Beautiful! Perfect for a little change of scenery in the training. Run on the beach, ride on islands.. if only I could have actually swum in the ocean instead of just play. Not that I'm complaining...
I was warned about the crazy drivers on Hatteras and Ocracoke, that perhaps it wasn't safe to ride there. Well, I just have to say, I'd much rather ride on Hatteras than in the suburbs of Philly. At least they have a shoulder. I felt much safer riding there than I do at home. Not to mention the fact that the scenery is so much better, the air nicer to breathe, and a big-ass swimming pool waiting for me at the end of the ride!

So how did I use this to my advantage? Morning jogs and walks on the beach, one 20+ mile ride to and from the famed Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 40 mile (give or take) to and from Ocracoke (with 2 40-minute ferry rides to cut it up), walking and playing soccer on the beach with my sister, coffee overlooking the ocean every morning, and dinner doing the same every night, fresh, homemade pineapple juice (yummy), perfect weather, no massive sunburns (a first for this fair-skinned, freckled Irish girl) and a wonderful visit with my big sister, Bridget!

And now I'm back in Philly.... yesterday was a semi-grueling 40 mile ride. I can't seem to catch a wind break, ever! Even on Hatteras. It feels like that, no matter which direction I am heading, I'm catching a head-wind. WTF??? A tail-wind one of these times would be nice. Please. Is that so much to ask?! I was hurting, but I pushed through. Even with the water, gels, and gatorade. Really, what else can you do when you're doing an out-and-back?!! I was happy to see my Jeep.

Gotta get my head together... What I've been doing on every ride and every run is envisioning the finish of a race, the race. Poconos 70.3. Streets lined with cheering people, (hopefully) family waiting at the finish to catch me, the thrill of accomplishing a dream. Positive energy. Positive thoughts. To steal a line from Bree Wee (winner of yesterday's Hawaii 70.3), "I struggled yesterday so I could win today"-Devlin. I know I won't ever "win" a race by timing standards, but I think that "winning" is what we make it to be. For me, it will be getting to the start line, then through the swim, then the bike and the run, and finally, crossing, or stumbling, or crawling across the finish line. I will have won for myself.