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.

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.

And Now, We Bring You…The Taper

Almost a year has gone by since sitting at the computer with butterflies in my stomach, waiting for my IMFL registration to go through.

Months have passed – so many incredible experiences and so many lessons learned – which may be good to reflect upon during blog entries over the next two weeks.

But right now, the taper is about ready to begin.

The IMFL athletes guide has been posted. Race numbers should be coming in the next few days.

I’ve ordered my nutrition for Florida – tried and true.

I’ve tested various training clothes to determine the best choices for each stage at IMFL. I’ll be completely changing for each leg of the race – being comfortable and dry will hopefully make up for the extra few minutes of dressing time. Still deciding on the bike vs. tri short option.

I’ve seen signs that indicate that I’m not too far off where I should be physically. Most of the last few workouts these past couple weeks have gone well. I’ve recovered from the super long weekend training sessions to feel pretty good during weekday workouts. I’m wishing there were a few more weeks of crazy distance bikes and runs.

And other than a generalized sense of “something big is on the horizon,” like Christmas when you were a kid, I am not overly anxious or panicking, too much...

Not yet.