8/3 Mini-tri night
Yesterday I found out I have an upper respiratory infection (on antibiotics to knock it out fast before Sunday), today I went to orthopedic doctor and got a cortisone shot for knee and headed straight to Oneida shores after. I was told I could swim and bike but to not run till Sunday. The weather today was rainy, rainy. Thoughts of not going were in the back of my head, but rain is an excuse…after all it could be raining on race day too. I do, however, decide after talking to a few friends not to do the bike just the swim. Thought is if the bike slips or I don’t clip in right due to the rain I don’t want to tweak my knee. It is cold enough for wetsuits and I am glad of this. I was beginning to not remember how it feels to wear one. Once in the water the tightness of the suit combined with the respiratory infection makes catching my breath tonight difficult. I have to really concentrate on my form to get into rhythm and control the breathing which is even more difficult given that it is raining and wavy in the water. This is the first real time swimming in choppy water and there is a definite difficulty in getting through the water without taking in the whole lake! A couple faces full of water and this is definitely a challenging swim. Once out of the water I feel as though maybe I should do one more loop of swim since I’m not doing the other parts tonight. Luckily I decided to take it a little easier, about ten minutes later there is some lightening. For those of us that are only doing the swim we huddle under the pavilion and get some nice chats in about our nerves and it really does help to know that this anxiety which has been sitting like a lead balloon in my chest is normal. I am saddened tonight too as this is the last weds night as a group. I have become so close to these women and I feel like after Sunday I might be lost without the group training and have concerns that I won’t push myself as hard.
Overall it was a good night. I just need to take it easy and relax before Sunday. I know I can do this.

8/5
Just some light walking today. I headed out to the Fleet Feet/Iron Girl night and had a good time learning about heart-rate monitors and chatting with some fellow group members. We have all grown so much since those firsts days at Le Moyne pool and the Carousel parking lot. We talk of what events we are doing next and getting together for more training. It was definitely a good way to start the weekend.
Sunday will be here before we know it!

8/6
Nervous/excited energy. Head out to the Oneida shores for bike check in and registration around 10:20am thinking I will be early. When I get there the line is forever long. Seems we all are excited to get this going! I see Coach Tina as I get out and we take our bikes and stand in line together. We see so many familiar faces coming and going and the excitement is just building! It’s finally here. I will be an Iron Girl tomorrow. Wow! The speed at which this date approached is unreal. I have been planning on doing this for an entire year. I get through check in and get my bike racked. We are having a fleet feet group meeting at 12:30. Brendan walks us through the changes (there are a few!). Transitions are longer now that we are set-up in the parking lot and not the grass. Looks like all that running on gravel at Jamesville will pay off. We are biking out a different way as well. There is a brief rise of fear at the changes but Brendan does a good job reminding us all that we know this stuff and we have got it under control no matter what comes our way! He has been the most amazing coach a person could ask for. He always knows what to say to inspire and calm. He makes me feel like with the proper mind-set and training I could do anything. So inspirational. After the group pow-wow I run over to put bags on my bike since it starts to rain and is projected to pour all night. From there I head over to meet my friend Maura from work for some yoga. There is a presentation of some yoga moves for athletes. I have been so tight since the knee flare-up that the yoga feels awesome. It definitely helps to calm and center me. I have been doing yoga for two years now and have been so busy with training that I haven’t been able to fit in the yoga classes in the last few months. I need to work them back in. My flexibility was definitely not awesome but at least I feel a little less tight. After the yoga I bounce around talking to my tri-friends. So excited and jazzed up that I don’t want to leave…I just want it to be Sunday morning already so that I can do this! I finally head home. My husband has taken the boys to spend the weekend at their grandparents and I take full advantage of the quiet and take a soak in the tub to further help the hip and knee along and actually get to read a little (something that has not happened too much this summer). I am still nervous but feeling much more calm. I get out and begin setting up my tri bag. I load the car for the morning and double check the check list! Eating has been a struggle. I have been trying to follow the nutrition plan for pre-race day. I don’t normally eat many carbs and have bought some gluten free bread and crackers to help get some carbs in for tomorrow. I eat chicken and sweet potato baked fries for dinner and I have hydrated myself all weekend. I think I am all set for tomorrow and finally head to sleep around 10pm. I have set the alarm for 3:00. I am planning on being there early tomorrow since I want plenty of time to settle in and feel as relaxed as possible before the race. I cannot believe I will be an Iron girl in just a few hours.