Farce of Feeling Ready

Prior Preparedness Prevents Piss Poor Performance

We hear how you prepare will impact how you perform. I think of that often, I love it actually, and I talked to my kids about the importance of practice and training to improve at the things you want to be better at in life (sports, school, work, etc.). 

Lately I have heard more about feeling ready, to reduce anxiety, that your preparedness and that feeling ready to take on a task is important. I think that's wrong, if you have a truly focused goal, a first for you, that stretches you, that will be challenging... you should never feel ready. Why? 

First off, the thought of being ready means you have all details controlled (internal and external). In something new, something hard, that is generally not the case. 

Secondly, the notion that you can plan for everything is not possible. So you have to go in knowing that something that was unplanned for happened and that you just hope to react as best possible. I might cramp on the swim, my bike might break down, I could twist my ankle as I start the run... 

So why do I think feeling ready is a farce? I think that because if you really have a big goal... you shouldn't feel ready. Am I ready to get the mail? Yeah, I do it daily and get it done. I think all things in life that will feel like a major accomplishment, should make you never feel perfectly ready. 

Can I complete the 70.3 miles?
I don't know, and I won't know until I cross that finish line. 

What do I know?
I know that I followed a plan, I listened to expert advice, I asked for help for the things I don't do well, I sharpened up the skills I am good at, and I prepared to tackle things I am not good at. 

What do I know?
I know that I can't control external factors, bike issue, muscle injury, other competitors (kicked in face, crash into my bike, etc.), the weather, etc. 

What do I know?
I know I am going to face this 70.3 miles. I am respecting it, I prepared for it, I am anxious about it, and I am fine tuning goals for the day, and hopeful that I end the day with a medal around my neck. 

What do I know?
With or without a medal, I'll walk away, knowing I shot my shot. I tell my kids, I don't care if you win, I care that you give it your best. 

Here goes my best...

Barron Lake Number 4

Today was my 4th time taking on the Barron Lake Triathlon. I won't write a ton this year, wrote a longer blog in 2024 for my 3rd run (Blog Link). 

I focused my training this year on my Ironman70.3 coming up in three weeks. I figured I would to do better on the swim as I trained a lot more this summer on the swim, and I did and am feeling more confident and ready for the longer triathlon swim. 

I hoped to do better on the bike, some tech challenges getting my watch/timer working threw me off, and I think I need more time to get used to my new seat position and using the aero bars. My run was slightly faster, unofficially, the official time got mixed with my transition time, and no distance markings on course made me have to check my watch more often and delayed my final burst to finish strong. 

Anyhow... results over the years: 

	2019	2023	2024	Target	2025
Swim	12:21	16:39	15:17	12:00	11:24
Bike	53:32	54:18	51:20	50:00	53:17
Run	27:29	25:40	25:37	25:00	24:25
Total	1:37 (4/4)	1:40 (3/7)	1:36 (2/5)	1:27	1:33 (3/6)

    

So how am I feeling about it all? MY watch actually said I did the swim in 10:59 and went 492 yards... so slightly less than 500, but I assume that I ran more than 8 yards into and out of the water. So breaking under 11 minutes feels good, and I got lots of gas left in the tank... I think that 1.2 miles swim is feeling less and less daunting now. 

I do feel bad about the bike... I thought some new gear, more long distance training would help, but I honestly have not been trying to push myself faster. So I won't give myself too hard of a time, especially since my run broke under 25 minutes, so that is good! 

All in all... good day, and while I missed Cruz's first JV Football start (I didn't know he was starting!), this was a great tune up for my Ironman70.3 in September. Special thank you to Jennifer for being patient while I train, my kids and family for understanding on my scheduling and meals, to my triathlon helpers, Jason, Maureen, Ric Z, my friends at the Twyckenham Community Pool, and to my Pro Form Friends... I'll improve on this bike, that work was not for nothing (at least not yet). 

Some overall results break down:

Total Times

2019 1:37:31 for 47th of 65 (72 percentile) weighed 153

2023 1:40:04 for 35th of 60 (58 percentile) weighed 155

2024 1:36:29 for 21st of 50 (42 percentile) weighed 151
2025 1:33.22 for 26th of 62 (42 percentile) weighed 150

In 2025 I ranked 35th in the swim, 33rd in on the bike, and 11th (!!) in the run (adjust time, not the official time). 

The water was cold enough for wetsuits, so some of the swimmers who wore them had a major advantage and you can see it in the overall times getting faster. I also think the official swim length was shorter, at least according to my watch. 

Swim

2019 12:21 for 55th of 65 (85 percentile)

2023 16:39 for 45th of 60 (75 percentile)

2024 15:17 for 37th of 50 (74 percentile)
2025 11:24 for 35th of 62 (56 percentile)

Bike

2019 53:32 for 50th of 65 (77 percentile)

2023 54:18 for 39th of 60 (65 percentile)

2024 51:20 for 19th of 50 (38 percentile)

2025 53:17 for 33rd of 62 (53 percentile)

Run

2019 27:29 for 38th of 65 (59 percentile)

2023 25:40 for 20th of 60 (33 percentile)

2024 25:37 for 13th of 50 (26 percentile)
2025 24:25 for 11th of 62 (18 percentile)

I feel like I had more left at the run and didn't push like I wish I would have sooner (started my burst late). So man I really think I could have gotten under 24 minutes and been top ten in the run! That also feels good for this year. 

Anyhow, water confidence is up, bike I know I can improve on, so its on to the big(ger) one!