In two days I make my third attempt at a half ironman triathlon -- 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, 13.1 mile run. The magic 70.3. (For those of you new to my blog, I have had two other rough attempts at the HIM -- Williamsburg 2013, Musselman 2014)
I feel ready. I feel amazing. I feel grateful.
I have put so many new things in place - biked more, ran more, strength training, physical therapy, weight loss (down eight pounds since last Olympic race on the same course I will do the half on Sat).
But the BIGGEST thing I have done differently is not pretend this isn't a big deal. It's a big deal. So I asked for a lot of help. I surrounded myself with positive people and positive energy. I trained with some of the best folks you can imagine.
We picked a theme song. It wasn't easy. I think the race will be easier than choosing this song was (here were the contenders; still working on building the full list -- there were 64 entries). But here you go... and we may have rain on Saturday, but TITANIUM DON'T RUST. I can't wait to be on the course with my Titanium crew. My race report will be simple. It will simply say I FINISHED, WITH A SMILE. That is the goal.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to loose. Fire away.
This will also be the first full race completely on the new medication (Gapapentin instead of Depakote). I feel great. I wanted to have lost enough weight to not compete in the Athena class (164+), but I am now PROUD to be competing with my big, strong, fierce triathlon sisters.
In these final days of taper, I will focus on me, myself and I. I will be selfish. I will do all things that make me happy and feel wonderful. I will relax. I will read a lot of Pema Chodron. I will listen to a lot of Pharrell. I will pray. I will talk a lot with my amazing training buddies.
Can't nothing bring me down.
Oh -- and I registered for Ironman Maryland 2015 by the way. Yeah.. so there is that. But I DON'T have to think about that at all right now.
I am the sky. Everything else -- it's just the weather. (Yep.. Pema. I am an addict).
Labels: 70.3, triathlon