Cindy Present | Get Out Girl

Lazy River, Splash Zone, Water Volleyball and Basketball, Waterslides, Rafts and Tubes, Bar and Grill, Mega-Jacuzzi...perfect for recovery from Dam That Cancer. Oh, but wait...I am here for the Lap Pool! I was given the opportunity to swim at Tech today while in Lubbock. Although totally inspired by this top notch aquatics facility, I feel like I am at a spa resort instead! It is 108 degrees here today but this place will keep ya cool and happy! The lap pool was awesome but after the jacuzzi and lazy river I am thinking that "recovery" mode is a lot more enticing than "training" mode. But that's why I am in Lubbock...to shift gears and get back to training for Vegas and Kona. Good thing this facility isn't in Austin!

Well, kind of thought I'd be focusing more on lake and family time for Summer 2011 - at least until I got closer to the September World 70.3 Championships in Vegas. However, ending up on the podium at IMTx kind of changed all of that. God's plans continue to surprise me - and keep my life quite full - but I wouldn't have it any other way than His!! I've had 2 weeks of minimal workouts, sleeping in and basically "no schedule" other than coaching and family commitments. I think that's been the nicest thing - none of that looming "head chatter" of what training needs to be done, how many workouts for that day and how to juggle them between other commitments. There are only so many hours in the day and many days leading up to IMTx, between kids, school, coaching and family commitments, I literally could have used a few more hours on several days. But summer is here and with that a "lighter" family schedule. I have discovered that the "...

Over and done. And kind of like childbirth, I'm not ready to have another any time soon :-) But mission IMTx accomplished, kind of. The swim was a "train wreck". It took me 15-20 minutes longer than it should have (1:27). The lake (which felt like a pool with its concrete sides around the entire thing) was so narrow that I swam armpit to armpit with guys the entire time - and didn't get anywhere. It was like swimming 2700 abreast down a pool then making an arching turn and heading back and then all funneling into a canal 1/8 the width of the lake. Nice. Kicked. Swam on top of. Goggles knocked off twice. Treading water too many times because there was no where to swim. But everyone's times were "off" unless you were a pro or a sprinter in the lead of the pack. Swimming in the canal was kind of cool though (unless you were one of the many folks walking it and getting goosed from behind by those of us swimming because the water was so murky you couldn't...

...now its time to kick back and wait. Steve and I got to The Woodlands yesterday afternoon and went straight to Expo. The check in line was HUGE, which I had guessed it would be since it was the last day of check-in and most "Texans" would enjoy the fact that it was a "back yard" event and didn't need to get there on Wednesday. After waiting in line we strolled through expo and then headed to the hotel to unpack and unwind. We opted out on the "mandatory" athlete's meeting and went to have dinner with friends who live down here. Pei Wei filled us up, and as it always does, brings back memories of a dear friend. After a "disrupted" night's sleep (because the A/C was on "auto" and not "on" it shook the walls every time it came "on" - an ongoing battle for Steve and I when we travel ;-) we woke up early and headed downstairs to breakfast and then over to the organized swim practice. The lake was picturesque...

Just did a 500ish swim practice on course. Water temp is awesome! Its NOT Lake Austin temp and its NOT St George (but its not nearly as clear either! Couldn't even see my arm in front of me underwater!) Great little warm up run and now off to ride and pack up the bags!