‘Twas the night before Collegiate Nationals, and I wish I could rhyme;

but it wouldn’t be worth it, and I haven’t the time.

Seriously, I am staring straight into another awesome day for the Naval Academy triathlon team.  I have been having a hard time sleeping leading up to this race (a race I will just coach from the sidelines). I sleep better when I am racing, because I have it under control. I know my athletes are ready, but I am nervous nonetheless. I also missed my long run today because the roads were pretty much impassable.  Lubbock has been an interesting weather experience over my two visits.

Tomorrow is really supposed to be a shitty (yup I used a bad word) weather day.  It might get above 50 and it should be raining most of the morning.  These are not ideal triathlon conditions.  When I first learned about the sport I was watching Hawaii with its sunny, hot, and humid tests.  I loved the idea of training long days in the saddle with the sun on my face and swimming thousands of yards in the clear ocean.  Now, I am trying to get 21 athletes to not necessarily stay dry, but stay a wet-warm for two plus hours.   In some ways, this does not seem right.

However, the spirit that I have when training and racing is here. I could not be prouder than with this fearless group of athletes.  The pasta has been devoured,  some are riding their bikes up and down the halls, and others are securing their numbers to their race belts.  The weather is an afterthought. I worry that things could go wrong out on the road, but the coach in me is confident that whatever happens, the team will overcome the obstacles of the day. On a not so ideal triathlon day, triathlon will be alive in the bellies of at least 21 athletes only a couple years into the sport at most. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and I could not be happier to be a part of any other group.

In the coming weeks, some will have to move away from the sport to prepare for their military schools, but I am pretty happy that this race will not be their last no matter a senior or a freshmen.  Perhaps one of the neatest (crappy word, but appropriate)  e-mails came from a graduate earlier this week when she told me she had signed up for an ironman. This is me, the proud coach of a uber successful collegiate athletic team, that will compete to the best of their abilities and likely shine bright in the cloudy day.  I am even more proud of their work ethic, drive, and passion for a sport that will bring them fun tomorrow in the rain and into the future, perhaps even on a sunny day.

Go Navy!  Beat Everyone! (tomorrow and into the your long triathlon lives…)

 (yeah ladies, it will be a good one!)