!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know what happened. I had it all figured out and I was fine. Heart was off floating somewhere, remember? I just said that. I just #@*&$ said that! I opened up my inbox just now and Heart sure enough came rushing back at warp speed only to pound in my chest and crowd my lungs. Crap! My fingers are freezing cold right now! I guess that Body is just trying to figure out what to do with this defense mechanism chemical spill – the sirens are too loud so I can’t hear any details. Mind is just gone, or passed out or something, I don’t even know.
$&@%$!!
"DEAR ATHLETE:
The Whirlpool Steelhead 1/2 Ironman Triathlon is only 9 days away...hope that your training is going well. Remember that the Steelhead Triathlon is also a fun filled weekend for families with the Fifth – Third Bank Kids Triathlon on Saturday afternoon as well as the great post race beach party at Jean Klock Park.
CUT OFF TIMES FOR EVENT
We will enforce cut off times for each of the legs of the triathlon. The swim cut off time is 1 hour 15 minutes from the start of the last swim wave. The bike cut off time is 5 hours and 30 minutes from the start of the last swim wave and the run cut off time is 8 hours from the start of the last swim wave.
If you do not complete each leg of the course within the designated cut off times, you will be disqualified from the race and a sag vehicle will pick you up on the course."
They will come and take you off of the course it says!! Did you read that?? It actually says that they will come and get you off of the course! Can you imagine that stupid vehicle (what can it even be, a big truck hauling you off with your bike?? OMG! Past everyone who is still riding!! They’d all look at you with that “tough break, dude” face…GAH! OK, I need to stop…)
Anyway, here it is. Shit. It’s here all right. What have I been thinking it was all of this time? I covered the ground, I was out there right? Right, VM and Shelley – I WAS out there!? So what is this burning up the back of my neck all about then? It’s not even hot here anymore and I can’t get a decent breath. Oh, this is just FABULOUS. Freezing fingers and a Mind on fire. Of course it is – of course it is.
Well, I’m scared. I hate that I’m scared but I’m scared! Like I’m going to cry scared. OK, hell, like I AM crying scared. This is so stupid and totally goes against everything that I’ve been doing all along. Man, I have to get a grip here. Those waves were bigger than this, right? I can’t believe the stupid sun is going to hitch a ride in a pick-up truck to try to come after me out there! Crap!! You must be kidding me. This must be how it wants me to feel, right? Right!??
OK, shut up – you’re ridiculous. I can’t even take it anymore. It’s a race. That’s it. A race. And you’ve already done 2/3 of it…twice! No one is going to die because of anything you do or don’t do out there. I seem to remember some much bigger dragons breathing in your face not so long ago – so calm down!!
No, but this is – crap, they’re going to come IN A TRUCK, and take you off of the course!!!!!!!!! That’s just…
What? Humiliating? A judgment? A “you’re not good enough” button that you can wear all day long, and polish it up nice and shiny-like with the “and you even paid money for all of this devastation, too!” cloth?
Uh, yeah, kind of like that.
Man, you don’t even trust yourself sometimes. One of these days you will learn that I don’t show up for them. I show up for you. You have nothing to prove to any of them. This is your first full season! Who else do you know that has the guts to sign up for two marathons and a Half-Ironman their first full season, and damn well show up and swing at all of it? THAT’S why I’m here. That’s why I’ve always been here, and if you think that I’m going to leave you out there for some truck to pick up, you need some more sleep.
I want this, and I wanted it before you pushed “enter” on that sign up screen. It’s just big enough to be scary, and so it must be just right…remember hearing that echoing around in there? Who do you think let that loose? So, damn it – relax. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got this, and I’ll get you through it, just like always.
So, now the whole thing is about trusting myself, huh? Man, it just keeps getting better and better. $&%@! I wish that I had a better seatbelt for this ride.
Deep breath then…
$&@%$!!
"DEAR ATHLETE:
The Whirlpool Steelhead 1/2 Ironman Triathlon is only 9 days away...hope that your training is going well. Remember that the Steelhead Triathlon is also a fun filled weekend for families with the Fifth – Third Bank Kids Triathlon on Saturday afternoon as well as the great post race beach party at Jean Klock Park.
CUT OFF TIMES FOR EVENT
We will enforce cut off times for each of the legs of the triathlon. The swim cut off time is 1 hour 15 minutes from the start of the last swim wave. The bike cut off time is 5 hours and 30 minutes from the start of the last swim wave and the run cut off time is 8 hours from the start of the last swim wave.
If you do not complete each leg of the course within the designated cut off times, you will be disqualified from the race and a sag vehicle will pick you up on the course."
They will come and take you off of the course it says!! Did you read that?? It actually says that they will come and get you off of the course! Can you imagine that stupid vehicle (what can it even be, a big truck hauling you off with your bike?? OMG! Past everyone who is still riding!! They’d all look at you with that “tough break, dude” face…GAH! OK, I need to stop…)
Anyway, here it is. Shit. It’s here all right. What have I been thinking it was all of this time? I covered the ground, I was out there right? Right, VM and Shelley – I WAS out there!? So what is this burning up the back of my neck all about then? It’s not even hot here anymore and I can’t get a decent breath. Oh, this is just FABULOUS. Freezing fingers and a Mind on fire. Of course it is – of course it is.
Well, I’m scared. I hate that I’m scared but I’m scared! Like I’m going to cry scared. OK, hell, like I AM crying scared. This is so stupid and totally goes against everything that I’ve been doing all along. Man, I have to get a grip here. Those waves were bigger than this, right? I can’t believe the stupid sun is going to hitch a ride in a pick-up truck to try to come after me out there! Crap!! You must be kidding me. This must be how it wants me to feel, right? Right!??
OK, shut up – you’re ridiculous. I can’t even take it anymore. It’s a race. That’s it. A race. And you’ve already done 2/3 of it…twice! No one is going to die because of anything you do or don’t do out there. I seem to remember some much bigger dragons breathing in your face not so long ago – so calm down!!
No, but this is – crap, they’re going to come IN A TRUCK, and take you off of the course!!!!!!!!! That’s just…
What? Humiliating? A judgment? A “you’re not good enough” button that you can wear all day long, and polish it up nice and shiny-like with the “and you even paid money for all of this devastation, too!” cloth?
Uh, yeah, kind of like that.
Man, you don’t even trust yourself sometimes. One of these days you will learn that I don’t show up for them. I show up for you. You have nothing to prove to any of them. This is your first full season! Who else do you know that has the guts to sign up for two marathons and a Half-Ironman their first full season, and damn well show up and swing at all of it? THAT’S why I’m here. That’s why I’ve always been here, and if you think that I’m going to leave you out there for some truck to pick up, you need some more sleep.
I want this, and I wanted it before you pushed “enter” on that sign up screen. It’s just big enough to be scary, and so it must be just right…remember hearing that echoing around in there? Who do you think let that loose? So, damn it – relax. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got this, and I’ll get you through it, just like always.
So, now the whole thing is about trusting myself, huh? Man, it just keeps getting better and better. $&%@! I wish that I had a better seatbelt for this ride.
Deep breath then…
posted by Wil at 1:38 PM
24 Comments:
Holy cow. Relax. You've got nothing to worry about. I hate to say it, but in your case this looks like the elephant that's afraid of the little mousie. Um... well, I mean... not to compare you with an elephant, it's just... oh forget I said anything.
In this case, fear is just your body using energy in a totally unproductive manner. Settle down, c'mon in off the ledge. You'll be fine. Cutoff times are for other people, not you.
You'll be fine, youll kick those time cutoff's *sses.
Okolo
You've done the work and those cutoff times are not even going to be an issue, so you might as well worry about a freak blizzard, a visit from the flying monkeys or a UFO attack. It'll be just as productive.
Deep breaths, hon. Why don't you go make yourself a nice cup of tea?
I agree with everyone above, you have done the hard work. The race day is the reward. I know you will make it. You have done your homework (a little school humor for ya) and we will all be with you. Have a great day, you've earned it!!!
Bunnygirl, did you have to bring up the Flying Monkeys? I bet she had not though of those yet, and now she has one more thing to worry about.
Calm down, little one. Everything will be fine. I know so.
Whatareya soft? No your not. Your a stong queen-of-the-universe. Youre going to be great.
Wil..you will be fine, you will rock this course, you know it like the back of your hand..in fact...no one except for VM and you know this course better. You are fine, you will do fine, we will be there to calm your nerves, remember it's just another race..you've done them before, this one is just a little itty bitty longer...you will be fine, you will be fine!!!
Focus on doing all the little things right and you will forget about the big cutoff issue. Concentrate on that and you will finish!
breathe. breathe, taper and hand it off to Heart. she's got you covered.
You should listen to yourself. You're right...you are incredible to do what you're doing in your first full season. You've already done most of the course and you know you can run a 10k. You've run a freakin marathon.
Breathe...breathe...just breathe. You'll do great.
chill!!!!! You're getting all girly on us.
Bet you could outsprint that damned vehicle any given day!
Take your race and concentrate on one section at a time.
Remember that the swim is the fun part of the race. Yes, it really is. You know how to swim and have been in open water. Get from A to B and move on to the next portion of the race. On the bike think about your pedal stroke and don't worry about others around you.
Same with the run. Take GU and water. Enjoy the ride.
You are your fathers daughter! You can do this. You are ready!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! calm down girl.....its all good. Stupid letter, come get you? How could those Pendehos send you such a thing, they must not know who you are. Once those arms are churning for the first two or three hundred yards and you got your breathing set and your rhythm going, you WILL be alright. DOE-NOT PANIC. That stupid letter is the last thing you will not be thinking about. That letter is only good for one thing but Im sure you will want to use your nice and soft toilet paper first. Eeeasy Grassoppa, Come get you?? LOL!!!
I just did the Muncie Endurathon Half Ironman and I don't think there was anybody in the race who didn't make the cutoff times. You've done a lot of training. You'll do great!
Don't worry! According to my calculations....
The swim cutoff = 3:33 / 100yds you can do that with one arm behind your back).
The bike cutoff = 10 MPH average speed if you maxed out on the swim (you can do that with one foot).
The run cutoff = 11:27 / mile - if you max out on both the swim and the bike -- you can do this walking.
..its gonna be ok!
Phil's calculations hopefully will provide a sigh of relief for you. Woman, you've got it covered!
Deep inhale through your nose....
Now exhale through your mouth...
Repeat 2345628356 times until you feel better. :)
Easier said than done, I know, but you've gotta try and relax as much as you can. You know you've done the work. You're far braver than 99.9% of the population out there. You're a hero to the people around you. Let whatever come of the day come, but be proud of what you've accomplished! Hold that chin up high, dear! :)
You'll be OK Will, don't mean to make light of the situation but for some reason some of the vehicles from "Mad Max" come to mind in how you are describing the "truck" that picks people up (that'll you'll never see anyway because you'll be way ahead of them)..
http://www.azimut2001.com/images/sfondi/film/mad_max_2.jpg
I can see why you would be afraid of that...haha...I guess some people's pain can be other people's pleasure (or at least a chuckle in this case)...no worries, you're going to rock Steelhead.
You guys ROCK!!!!!!!!
I think I can breathe, now ;) Thanks.
uhm, I know you're under control. I just double checked my calcs, and actually, the bike pace should be at 13.2 MPH.... everything else is fine.... just don't stop to feed the dogs :)
Oh dear. Missed this post and it sounds like everything is calm now. Glad you made it through. I think that's the first hurdle. Its not officially on the clock, but if you pass the "scary letter" portion of the course, you can continue to the swim.
15% of the participants have dropped out at this point.
Uh, and ditto on not stopping for the stupid dog (who I suspect will be hiding from you and your foot if he knows what's good for him!).
Just by the sheer number of replies to this post I think you can rest assured that you are going to be fine pet.
I've been there at the nine day pre-event nerves when you feel stuck in some kind of limbo.
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