I'm Not the Man They Think I Am At Home

She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour, nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much, I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

So, after several months of training, it has finally arrived: Rocketman Florida weekend. My first tri of the year. My "B" race.

It certainly didn't get here the way I expected. 

Maybe I should stop doing races with the word "rocket" in them.  Before the Rocket City Marathon I had the exact same experience: came down with an upper respiratory bug from hell and had a couple weeks of crippled training.

On the plus side, I have prepared more for my "A" race (in 2 weeks) than in years past.  I've completed 2 5ks , and this race will be my first prep tri. Last year I just did one 5k and no prep tri before Baldwin Park.  My swim is stronger than it's ever been.  My run is more consistent.  I've been hitting the weight room more constistently.  The only thing lagging is my bike - which is sad, because this is a sprint with an extra-long bike course, and the bike is usually my strength. And it looks like rain for the race.

But, as I once said before Rocket City, you race the conditions you are dealt. I certainly didn't expect to be facing what I have faced less than two weeks before the race.

I have decided to see this as another opportunity to demonstrate to myself that I am greater than my physical limitations. No matter how short or heavy or stressed I am, how ill or uncertain, not only can I overcome it, but moving my body will always make me feel better.

So I am gonna get out there and move it. 

I'm just lucky enough that the setting happens to be the Kennedy Space Center.

And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no, no, no, I'm a rocket man

-Elton John, Rocketman