8 days?! Yikes.

Last night was our race prep clinic. It was super informative and a little overwhelming. When we walked in, we received a large envelope that had a couple of packets of information in them, along with our Team in Training 'top.' It's a tight spandex-esque purple and green top that we're encouraged to wear on race day. I'm not going to lie, I'm probably not going to go that route... spandex shorts was one thing, but a spandex top, too? Honestly. I'm pretty content with the dri-fit TNT shirt that I've been sporting. I like to represent Team in Training in these events not only because it's a fantastic organization on so many levels, but also because whenever anyone who knows about TNT sees someone else wearing their gear, it's almost instinctive to shout "Go Team!" Honestly, I've been running alone and wearing a TNT shirt and am serenaded with "Go Team!'s" the whole time, it's fantastic.

So at the clinic they kind of told us what to expect/do from this point all the way through the end of the race. Like, don't try new spicy foods until the race is over, get a lot of sleep this week and continue to hydrate well, FIX YOUR BIKE, get sleep Friday night because you'll be too nervous to sleep well on Saturday... etc. They talked about the race and how it will go from when we arrive (AT 4AM!!!) all the way through the end. I think that was the most daunting part. Until recently, the actual race has kinda been this mystical thing that was far away, so there was no point in getting too worked up over it. But, now it's eight days away. As they told us about the race step by step, I was forced to picture myself competing in it and it made my stomach knot. I think I become my biggest weakness in these things-- I get so nervous and worked up that it unfortunately takes away from not only me achieving my potential, but also from taking in the whole experience. But how can you NOT get worked up over the world's largest triathlon??? Especially when it's your FIRST?!?! Oy.

When they were talking about the swim leg, they made sure to remind people to do the "sighting stroke" (looking up every 8-10 strokes), then said "...just ask our wayward swimmer, right Kristin???" Ugh! All in good fun, yea yea yea. Then the room erupted in laughter (okay maybe it was an appropriately volumed chuckle...) and the people I was sitting near kept saying "you're never going to live that down." Aye carumba. What can ya do?

So today after work/working out, I'm hoping to make it to a bike shop in time to get some TLC for the Iron Horse. She is shot. I have to ride her to work when I work at the gym (it's 2 miles... a super long walk and an unjustified bus ride), but even that short two miles makes me nervous. I'll ride the 4 miles to Element Multi Sport which is a triathlon store that is run by Team in Training coaches and participants. I've been told that they will 'take care of me.' So we'll see what that means. Hopefully it doesn't mean I'll go bankrupt, I haven't much to spend. Wish me luck, though, and pray that I don't end up stranded on the side of some busy road.