Chitter-Chatter

Chitter-Chatter Chitter-Chatter.  Hear that?  That's my teeth.  Chattering because I'm STINK'N Nervous!!  The scary dreams have started!  The other night I dreamed that I was late to the Iron Nut, didn't know where to go, didn't have my stuff together and didn't know what to do.

Yesterday, I took a quick swim in the 50-meter pool that I'll start in at Iron Nut.  It just opened Saturday.  I knew.knew.knew that the 50-meter pool was going to be tougher than the 25-yard pool I've been working out in.  BUT GOLLY!  I forgot just how much more difficult it is.  Not to mention that I was dodging a gazillion kids that.aren't.supposed.to.be.in.the.lap.lane.anyhow.ahem and had burning eyes from all the chemicals dumped into the pool, no doubt in preparation for the grand opening just days before.  Long strokes will be key for surviving the swim.  It really stinks that the 50-meter pool was only open one week before Iron Nut.  That doesn't allow us to train in that distance pool.  At least most people in the tri should be on equal footing there because I don't know of another 50-meter pool within a two hours drive.

I still haven't driven over the bike course.  I hope to do that tomorrow just so I'll know where I'm going and hopefully won't get lost on the bike route.  I started packing my bag tonight so hopefully my dream from the other night Won't come true.  At least the part about not having my stuff together.  I washed my race suit, picked out my shorts and shirt to wear during the bike and run, dug out my ultra-glide to help prevent chaffing, packed my sunglasses, just-remembered-to-pack-my-sunscreen, and packed a change of clothes for after.  And my tennis shoes!  Which reminds me to go pack some socks.....

Tomorrow, I will pick up my race packet.  I have no idea what will be in it.  For running races, the race packets usually include your race number (bib number), some coupons from sponsors, a race chip if they use those, and a t-shirt.  I don't know what comes in a triathlon packet!  Have I mentioned I'm nervous?  As if the physical aspect of this challenge isn't daunting enough, I feel like there is all this technical stuff that I don't know and am not prepared for (such as transitioning from event to event, etc).

Shew.  DEEP BREATHS!  Super-Athlete Kevin recommended we get a good night's sleep tonight since tomorrow night our nerves may keep us from getting really good sleep.

DEEP BREATHS!!