pre Vineman 2010

I love to swim.
I love to bike.
I love to run.
I love to do things for a really long time.

This is the answer I give when folks ask me about triathlon. I am most definitely not a triathlete and I'm going to shy away from trying to convince anyone that triathlon is 'cool'. It's like arguing that Korn is a seminal punk band or that Del Taco really has Mexican food down. I'm glad people enjoy these things, but they will always just be what they are. And that's fine! I've been known to deviate outside of the norm (norm, as always, is relative here. It's normal in my world to not know anyone with health insurance or who eats at McDonalds. Or anyone who isn't pro-choice or who hasn't hung out with their favorite band). Like listening to Downset, paying for a mattress and working a job where I have to wear a button-up shirt (occasionally).
That's the long intro to say that tomorrow is the Vineman, full-iron (fuck you Ironman-TM for trademarking both 'ironman' and 'iron-distance' you money-hungry fuckers) triathlon.

2.4 mile swim
112 mile bike
26.2 mile run

I've watched two bloggers I follow each race their first this year- Punk Rock Tri Guy and Vegan Heart Doc. Their rightful sense of accomplishment is very motivating.

Yay! But I'm nervous. More than usual. I've swam 5 times this year. Maybe 2.4 miles total, but probably less! Since reading Total Immersion I'm confident in my theory that swimming is way, way more skill than fitness, but still! I haven't practiced that skill very much in the last two years (the last triathlon I did was Vineman 2008, which is also the last time I've worn my wetsuit).

Whoa. Deep breath. I won't drown. I just don't want it to slow my bike down! Running that half marathon July 4th was awesome, but I haven't run much since. Oops.

You know what is fucking awesome though? Vineman recycles everything-including a special process for energy bar wrappers-and composts fruit scraps. The finish is powered by solar panels. New this year- paper cup-free run! They are using Hydra-pouch refillable cups that each runner carries. So fucking awesome. When we rode through the SF marathon on Sunday on our way to Rough Riders there was litter EVERYWHERE. It was disgusting. So this rules.


Well, goal time....I'd love to beat 12hrs20min from last time, but I'm not sure how the swim will pan out and slow the rest of my day. Also haven't ridden my road bike much at all and I just put my aerobars on and haven't ridden them yet. Is a four-hour marathon possible? I'd love it, but we'll have to see. Holding back on the bike is near impossible for me.

Thanks to everyone who helped get me here and make this happen!