Remembering

With today marking the "one week till race day" milestone, I've been immersed in all things Ironman and Placid, from pre-race gatherings to packing preparations.

I've also been trying to remember how it felt before IMFL. How nervous was I? How prepared? How trained?

And while this season has been almost bipolar in serveral ways, I can see some similarities. Which I hope is a good sign - because, other than a few rough spots here and there, IMFL was incredible.

Oddly, the biggest difference may be "the knowing." The week before IMFL I was winging it on faith in the unknown. I'd never done an Ironman nor been in Panama City, let alone seen the race course.

Going into IMUSA, I know I should be able to do the distance. I've experienced the swim and run loops once - and biked most the course four times - if you include last year's pre-registration ride.

Which seems to have resulted in a mixed blessing. Knowing what to expect brings familiarity - the good and the bad.

Maybe, for now, I need to let my mind forget - and my body remember.

Return to White Lake

The Barricudas and I arrived in White Lake late last night.

There is more to tell about our accommodations, but long story short, all is fine and we have a shorter walk to the lake and race site. We have a lovely porch and boat deck to enjoy the views of cypress trees and sunsets.

We swam for about a half hour today. Just as beautiful as I remembered. Somebody needs to create a 2 to 6 mile swim in this gorgeous body of water.

We drove the bike course. Just as flat (and sometimes boring) as I remembered. It is only one loop and I shouldn't get lost. Somebody should create a century ride on these roads.

I ran for a bit. This is a training race for me, so not much of a taper. Even in the low 70s it was hot. The run was not easy, but better than a few recent attempts. Race day should be even hotter than today - maybe warmer than I remembered. Somebody should create a half IM that starts at 4:00 pm and takes advantage of the shade and breezes of White Lake evenings.

We had a great carb loading meal tonight - of Barricuda BL's pasta, meat sauce and salad. Somebody should open a restaurant around here half as good.

I am content and happy. I may not be ideally ready for this race (this run), but am happy to be here - and looking forward to race day, starting with birds chirping nervously and ending with limbs cooling gratefully...

oh, and some half IM race in between.

Two Weeks

It is two weeks (and a few hours) till White Lake.

Buzzing around me, I can sense the charged atmosphere – the apprehension, anxiety and excitement - of some of my team mates.

I can so relate. As crazy as it may sound, I was more nervous for my first ½ IM than I was for IMFL.

Sometimes I think it was because IMFL was incomprehensible – that I just sunk into a “one stroke/pedal turn/step at a time” mode.

Other times I wonder if my nerves were somewhat calmed before Florida because I had an inkling of what to expect from doing two ½ IMs.

A bit of a paradox, eh?

I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been a few twinges of uncertainty as the clock ticks down to White Lake. Didn’t I swim harder, bike further, run more for Eagleman? After a couple of deep breaths – and checking my logs – I am reassured. If anything, I’ve actually trained a little more this time. Barring extreme or unforeseen circumstances, physically, I should be ready. I am…for the most part…calm.

When it comes down to it, I can’t pinpoint why I was so stressed for my first half IM. And I don’t know what, if anything, could have calmed me. Seeing the questions and worries surrounding my totally trained, strong and ready training buddies, I wish I had the right words to quell their fears and doubts – (Check out some great nuggets of wisdom, though, from TRIgirl CD).

In retrospect, I can say that my Eagleman fears had little to do with the physical – my body was trained.

As it is now – along with those of about thirty other girls ready to turn White Lake pink.

Ironman Eve

And so, Ironman Eve is upon us.

• One last swim completed in the Gulf.
• Packed transition bags.
• Enough nutrition prepared for two racers.
• Patriot Sangria tucked away in Ironman Village.
• Family and friends (aka TRIgirl Support Crew and Super Sherpas) all safely arrived.
• A belly full of the day's good calories and lots of hydration.

In a few minutes, I'll be heading off to bed. To try to sleep.

I am feeling fairly calm - though I think I still can't quite comprehend what tomorrow will bring.

• The exhilaration.
• The challenge.
• The tough moments.
• The cheers and support.
• The pain.
• The camaraderie.
• The rising above obstacles.
• The tears.
• The joy.

It is all our there waiting for us - ours for the taking.

Sleep well my sweet TRIgirl IMFL racers.

IMFL - Pre-race Happenings...

So many great stories so far - not sure how I can write about them all and do them justice.

Tuesday, I drove down with Coach B and TRIgirl TB - caravaning with Guppies JW and SW. I planted myself in the back seat and had some of the best sleep I've had in awhile. Woke up to a very hot car at one point as TRIgirl TB and Guppy SW were watching the miles countdown before we ran out of gas. We made it to a gas station with less than 1 mile left!

We crashed Tuesday night at the Chateau Guppy, TRIgirl TB and I sharing the bunk beds. The next morning, we woke up to a fairly quiet looking Gulf and headed off for an open water swim. The water was a bit cooler than I thought it would be. Not too salty. So clear - you could see the little sea urchins in the ocean floor until the second buoy. Out in the deeper sections, the water darkened, with beautiful plankton snow - but still clear enough to see the swimmers around you. I exited the my first swim in Panama City feeling relieved and a little bit excited.

Then it was on to IMFL registration. Excitement was in the air. Coach B. told me about the ins and outs as I waited on line, got weighed, signed my life away, and left Ironman Village with my first Ironman logo item.

After a short run, it was time to help TRIgirl TB with preparations for dinner - and Coach B's birthday. An evening full of TRIgirls wearing pumpkin costumes and cowboy hats.

Wednesday morning, the TRIgirls woke up early for a practice swim at 7:00 - the same time IMFL should start on Saturday.

TRIgirl TB braved her fears for her first open water AND wetsuit swim. She was terrific and is already a natural in the Gulf. I think I need to find out what she is doing on November 3rd.

TRIgirl DL and I took a very easy and slow bike ride around Panama City - which can be quite blustery - especially with the wind tunnels created between hotels. Then it was onto a fun evening with her family for dinner and to meet up with the rest of the TRIgirls. Coach G gave an incredible inspiring speech to remind us of what we've accomplished this past year - even before even hearing the start gun. Supposedly the hard work is done.

Other than one long day coming up Saturday.

.

We are HERE!

And we'll all float on alright!

(Promise to try to post more details and photos tomorrow. Things are going well, so far. And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Coach B!)