It's Almost Time

Today (Thursday) I went down to packet pick up. I debated waiting until tomorrow but Tony was there working/volunteering and called around noon to tell me he had set aside a red back pack for me (a super slick back pack is part of the Silverman SWAG). They had red and black back packs and I wanted RED! Tony is always doing nice stuff like that for me so I figured I’d go down there and get packet pick up over with before many people got there.

The finish line was semi bustling with set up activities but not many athletes were there checking in. I got in, got weighed, signed everything and got my paperwork and SWAG. It took about three minutes. Then Tony and I went over to T2 (the majority of which has yet to be set up) and looked at the bike dismount line, the changing tents, and the run out chute. Tony introduced me to a couple of his buddies – he knows SO MANY people! The Expo was not set up yet.

Then I took a couple of photos:

 

I’ve been on this side of the arch for the past two years, watching athletes finish and getting inspired.

 

I wanted a preview of the other side for Sunday . . . . that’s Tony holding the British flag.

Then I went home.

And promptly proceeded to get antsy again.  During the past few days I’ve been more STARVING than I have EVER been in my ENTIRE LIFE. Fortunately for me Coach wrote a post on tapering which I read this morning and was grateful for. I know everything I’m experiencing right now is normal and I am very proud of myself for keeping things in perspective – I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!!  I have 100% confidence in my preparation and my ability to FINISH this race strong!

I have not devoted a lot of time or energy to thinking about a time goal, because I think a time goal is not where my focus needs to be for this race. I need to RACE THIS BITCH to the best of my ability. For me, this means staying in the moment, every moment, picking myself up out of the tough spots, and letting NOTHING get in the way of that finish line! 

It means swimming up to the capabilities I have shown recently in my race swim PRs and the open water practice swims.

It means attacking the down hills on the bike and taking advantage of the “flats” to go as fast as I can go.

It means reminding myself that I love the hills – I love the challenge of grinding up a long hill, I draw energy from being able to do that!

I want to ride faster than I’ve ridden out there before – on a good day this is totally possible.  On a bad day, I have all of those hard, windy training days in my bank to draw from. 56 MILES BITCH! Here I come!

It means running the entire run, no matter how much it hurts, no matter how slow I think I am going, and no matter how badly I want to stop and walk. How I handle the run will be KEY to my success. Once my feet hit the ground at T2 the race is mine to win.

All of that being said, I would love to break eight hours on this course. I would dearly love that. Regardless, though, of what my final time is, I will have done it. I will have overcome the low confidence that I started this season with and, with perseverance, a lot of work and quite a few ups and downs, I will have reached the pinnacle of my triathlon experience thus far, by completing one of the toughest damn courses out there! I have wanted this for two years. Only two more days to wait.

Also, I will be wearing this:

 

Thanks to the generosity of a lot of people, including a lot of YOU, I was able to raise $1,500 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation/Operation Rebound! There will be ten wounded military veterans racing on Sunday. I am so proud to have been a part of fundraising for CAF and to be able to wear this suit to race in! Thank you to everyone out there who has supported me in this endeavor, either by giving funds or by kind and encouraging words – your support has mean the world to me.

Special thanks to Sarah for taking the time to respond to my taper emails this week (who better than someone who just completed her first HIM a mere two weeks ago) and for being a guest blogger for me on Sunday! I thought it might be overkill along with Twitter, but guess what: I DON’T CARE!

Glenn will talk with Sarah several times on Sunday and hopefully provide some good details that can complement the tweets from Danielle (and BEB and WBG)!

Special thanks also to Wes who started commenting on every one of my posts about a year (or more?) ago. Once I figured out he was not a creepy stalker, I followed his example and started reading and commenting on his and other blogs and that is how I now have all of you as friends.

I feel pretty sappy and sentimental right now. I will probably start bawling at the swim start, between making it to the starting line, seeing the CAF athletes there, along with Dave Scott and Macca (Macca is racing, Dave Scott is not racing this year), and achieving a dream that I dreamed up two years ago that at many different times I wondered if it was even possible. But you guys understand. Thanks so much for reading my blog and for offering your support along the way.

Not sure that I will post anymore until after the race. If I think of something cool and/or random to say I will be back but this may be it until after Sunday.

I CAN’T WAIT!

Comments

[Molly]

I can't wait to hear how you do!!! GOOD LUCK! You've got a strong positive attitude and you will rock that course!

[Patricia]

YEAH!! Good luck!!!

[Teacherwoman]

Oh Stef! I am so excited for you and all your hard work you have put into preparing for Silverman! It sounds like a wonderful race!

Good luck... and most importantly, enjoy it! :) It's your race!

[Lisa Slow&Steady]

I'm really excited for you. :-)

[Calyx Meredith]

Oh yay for info overkill! I want it all!! Thanks Sarah and Glenn!! Stef - your confidence and joy are inspiring and exciting. You know exactly what this race means to you on every level and you will be 100% engaged in your race. You will make every bit of it yours. Race hard sister!!

[Wes]

I love this!!! Stef, you are going to have such a great day!! You and ELF have worked out a battle plan, right? The goal is to go at the best possible pace you can sustain for 70.3 miles. That is the key. Don't lose it in the first 10 miles of the bike. You will suffer the rest of the day!!

My work here is done. I really am a creepy stalker! ROFLMAO!!

I.can't.wait!!!

[cindy]

Stef...this whole post made me smile, but especially this line: I need to RACE THIS BITCH to the best of my ability!! I love it!!!

I'm so pround and excited for you. I'll be thinking of you on raceday. Enjoy it. You've worked so hard for this :)

[ShirleyPerly]

I think for your first half ironman, and particularly this difficult course, you've got totally the right attitude. Do your best and don't focus so much on time goals. I can hear the excitement in your post and I know you're ready to race. Make it your day!!

[ShirleyPerly]

PS - Congrats on raising so much money for a wonderful cause. That uniform is GREAT!!!

[Chad in the Arizona Desert]

Umm, wait, did you say Wes is NOT a creapy stalker. Are you sure? ;-)

You are going to do awesome in this race! Your mindset is perfect and you have done the training. Have fun out there and I can't wait to hear all about it.

[Kevin]

Good luck. Have a great race, make the course your BITCH!!! and most importantly have lots of fun!!!

You can do this. You will do this. Just keep pushing through! Have no fear, no doubts! Just do it!!!!

[Formulaic]

I love your enthusiasm. You’re gonna rock out there.

I like the perspective on the finishers arch.

Very symbolic

[RBR]

OMG, OMG, OMG!! I am so excited you would think it was my race. I want it to be everything you have been wanting and a time to show yourself that you are just as amazing as we all already know you are!

Go rock that bitch!

How did I know you were fundraising? If you are still raising $ just send me the link. I know some people do it year round.

[donna]

Go Stef Go! Sending you much strength.