I am officially nervous. My heart is beating a bit fast, my hands are shaking, and my chest feels a little twisty.
I am getting my gear together for Sunday. Sunday? What’s so big about Sunday? Nuthin’, really… except the biggest challenge of my life - gah! OK, with the exception of the epidural “incident” during the birth of my first child, but you don’t want me to go there… back labor… it was ugly.
Sunday I am taking on my longest triathlon distance (an Olympic distance - a .92 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6 mile death march run). I have done 5 sprint triathlons since 2001. Started doing them for baby-weight losing goals. The sprint distance is great, but I thought it was time to stretch myself, and today is the day I need to get my gear together.
As I debated which race number strap to wear, MEN came to my mind. Triathlon-y men! Competetive, prolly-gonna-be-knocked-out-by-a-MAN-elbow-during-the-swim-kinda-MEN! This is my first coed tri! What was I thinking? I’m gonna get pounded… or at least dunked like a poor little, sweet rubber ducky during toddler bath time. The horror!
Aaaaaand I have seriously undertrained. Fortunately, I have the sprint tri events to draw on for some experience, but I sure wish I had been able to train a bit more. I am sure I’ll finish, but I just went and looked at last year’s finish times in my age group… I’m gonna suck in the bike. I am not a huge fan of sucking. Unless there’s a straw, and a chocolate malt involved.
Plus, I participated at this venue 2 years ago for the sprint distance and the heat nearly took my life. During the last half of the run I got cold chills, blackness tried to overtake my vision, and… oh, it was DREADFUL! The split for my 3 mile run that year: 33:44. The 4 mile race I ran last week I finished in 33:22 - one mile more and 20 seconds less! Does that mean I am faster now, or should I expect to tack on an extra 3 to 4 minutes per mile after swimming a mile and biking 24 miles… at a probable pathetic pace - even on my precious Lollipop (Yes, I have decided to name her Lollipop). It’s not your fault Lollie…
No… It’ll be the fault of the bike store that didn’t get my clip/clipless whatever shoes I’m supposed to wear on a road bike in time. What’s more… What if the U.S. Olympic team has a scout there because they need one more female triathlete and I blow it? This could be my year! I am under so much pressure!
I can’t control HOW or IF I finish, but I can control how prepared I am… Look, I’m pretending to be a Boy Scout with all this “getting prepared” business:
Tri suit with handy-dandy pocket on the back? Check!
Trusty goggles that are ugly, but trusty? Check!
Extra hair-tie? Check!
Running shoes? Check!
Socks to keep stanky feet syndrome and blisters at bay? Check!
Glide, the elixer of the the anti-chafing gods? Check!
Sport bra so as to keep the girls in check? Check!
Hmmm, which race number strap - I’ll take ‘em both! Check!
2 transition towels - one to dry and one to put all my stuff on? Check!
Watch and heart rate monitor? Check!
Super cool transtion bag.. with special shoe compartment and airy-air area for the wet, stinky stuff? Check!
A hat - just in case? Check!
Lollipop and Helmet are spending the night together in the garage… so is Tire Pump. They need some alone time. I think they’re bitter about the shoes too.
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Keep up-to-date on the insane, the insightful, and the whatever…
Good luck!
I can’t wait to find out how you did.
Good for you!
Kerry I won’t wish you good luck because it isn’t luck that makes you a winner … that you already are.
So I wish you a fun & safe time scoring your personal best.
I’ll look forward to the results.
PS All that thick beautiful hair … does it create drag? *wink*
Good luck! I’m sure you will rock and not get too many elbows
Kerry, you’re gonna rock this race. It’s you vs you my friend - just ignore those other pushy people who are so rude as to pass you (rarely). Thanks for all the pics! NOW I have an idea of what to pack. And I didn’t even know I needed a race number strap - gotta go shopping (again!)
Stay in your zone girlfriend!
I am rooting for you! You will do GREAT! And know that no matter how you do, you’ll always do it better than I ever could! Have fun & be safe :)
Good luck, my friend. You’ve already won, since you’re trying ! I’m cheering you on tomorrow, all the way from Sac. I’m going to look pretty weird jumping up in chruch, screaming “Go Kerry!!!!”
Kerry; I’ll be thinking about you on Sunday; what an accomplishment and can’t wait to hear about the experience of an Olympic length TRI. I love the photos of all your gear. With all your experience from Danskin(s), I’m sure you’ll do great (even the co-ed part :)). When I did my one and only TRI, I carried a red lip gloss which I applied while getting out of the T-2 zone; it helped me on the last leg of the journey to “make tracks”; dumb, I know but you do what you gotta do.
Best to you! YOU GO GURL!
Oh man. Good for you, that is a heck of a challenge. I wish you well!
You are so prepared and you will do awesome! I’m so excited for you … all of your gear will be so proud :). The bike shoes are going to be sad to miss this great event (Lollipop, helmet and pump will cover for them for this one - they’re bitter now but by midnight - look out - they’ll be rarin’ to go by mornin’!).
You’re amazing to be doing such a big race - way to go! Looking forward to hearing all about it :)
You are going to ROCK this triathlon! Rock it sista! You are so inspiring! You’ll be in my heart all day!…and one more thingy… with all that you have going on, EVERYTHING that you have going on, the fact that you take time to brighten someone else’s day (me) is just so…..no words…just lumpinthroatness. Love you!
It has been said before but it does bear repeating…YOU ARE HARD CORE!!! Take that with ya tomorrow. Have it be your mantra (I am hard core, I am hard core).
You rock like no other.
GO JENNY!!
Honey, you never cease to amaze me! You TOTALLY ROCK! And I’m not just saying that. It’s the truth. I’m a truth-screamer. You’re gonna kick booty tomorrow - GO JEN!!!!!
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!
Wheeee! Good luck!!!!
I can’t wait to hear all about it! I was thinkign about you today and wondering how it was going. Will there be photos?
I’m thinking about trying a sprint distance tri as my very first one. It would be next month. The swim is so short and I’m a fairly strong swimmer so I’m not too worried about that. 3 mile run? No problem. 12 mile bike ride? THERE is the problem. I don’t bike much at all and only have a 15 year old mountain bike.
I’m thinking about checking off the marathon in October first and then trying sprint tris next spring. Any advice?