I'm not a kid anymore

So over the course of the past couple days it has hit me hard that I'm not a kiddo anymore.  On my way into work, saw my first gray hair.  Then when I got my wetsuit and dove into the water for something that I would have never thought twice about, I got a little panicky.  I have done open water swims before but it has been a long time.  When I got into the choppy water yesterday by myself and couldn't see the bottom, I panicked, didn't last in the water for very long.  I never dreamed that the swim was going to be a problem, but mentally, it looks like its going to be a little bit of a challenge.  I eased back into it today, got into the nice smooth waters of the lake and still couldn't see the bottom, but made myself relax and breathe and was able to get in a 20 minute swim followed by a 10 mile bike.

Age.  With Age comes Wisdom... and Fear.  There was a time when I never thought about consequences, I wanted to do something and I did it.  A quick open water swim by myself, no problem.  Now I get into the open water and think about currents and cramps and anything else that makes open water swimming by yourself a really bad idea.  I really think that during the race this won't be an issue, obviously there will be lots of other people there, lifeguards included and then there is always the adrenaline of the race itself to push me through.

In good news, I seem to have picked up the clip less pedals without too much excitement.  I have done three rides now with them and clipped in and out over 100 times on each foot, so my neuromuscular memory is being formed, I still think that in a quick instant if I had to kick off the bike I would be in trouble, but in stopping quickly and the regular movement on the bike, I'm doing pretty well.  Plus it really has helped my stroke a lot.  Its more than a little crazy that it isn't acceptable to rest on the upstroke, but that being said, a little force on the upstroke really does speed things up.  Curious to see what my time will be for my 12 mile loop.  Maybe I will do that Sunday before work.

All in all things are going well and I think I can definitely finish the race, and I am starting to plot out the rest of the summer and see if I have the time to train for a half iron the first weekend in October.  I'm hooked, we're all in trouble now! :)