The countdown to race day is terrifying.

18 days. Oh em gee.

I am up in the air right now (literally… on a plane to Texas) and thinking about race day makes me want to grab the barf bag, order 8 or 9 tiny bottles of Absolut vodka and wallow in fear.  Okay so that’s a little dramatic (but really, just a little dramatic).

[At least Andy Potts is traveling with me.]

andy

The emotions are all over the place.  I feel ready. I feel like I won’t even make it out of the water on the first loop of the swim. I feel like a bike beast. I feel like I am riding a tricylcle. I am excited. I am sad. Happy. Tired. Manic. Starving. Controlled. Nuts. Up and down. Up and down.

Last night, I melted down into hysterics, crying about everything… really crying, and sobbing. It made me realize that I hadn’t cried like that in a long time. I needed to get it out of me.  I feel better now.  [Less likely to cry during cocktail hour at work conference now.]

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So yes… 18 days.

Now, if I can just stop eating everything in sight…  par for the course.

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Finally, many of you have asked for more 2013 Swim Bike Mom visors.  They are available for order now through Friday— with a 2-3 week turnaround time and then we ship to you.

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Go here: http://www.swimbikesell.com/collections/2013-swimbikemom-gear/products/swim-bike-mom-headsweats-visor

9 Responses

  1. I remember that feeling so well before IM Arizona last year! The anticipation is the worst. I remember sitting on the side before the swim start crying and shaking uncontrollably not knowing that I had gotten myself into! But then once I started the swim, all my nerves went away and I tried to just enjoy the experience. And I did. It is one of the best days of my life so far!! ENJOY and best of luck!

  2. Riffing off Erika: I remember that feeling so well just before I gave birth to my first child! God willing, this IM won’t cost nearly as much over the course of the next 18 years! 😉 Seriously though – you have so many prayers and so much support behind you. Even if you totally suck, I will be so PROUD of you! Like a proud Auntie! You got this!

  3. ahhhhhh!! I just got nervous for you… and for myself…because that means my first 70.3 is getting closer!!??? Seriously though, you are going to do this… you are ready! Nerves will slide off of you in the water and you will just rock right through those miles!

  4. You just described me about 2 days before my first Ironman. but wait, here is the crazy part…….. the up/down thing… well that is what the actual Race day will be. Im sorry to tell you this, but emotional roller coaster is fact. ( well at least that was me) your crying on the side of the water waiting for the start, then once you get out of water- your first high- like seriously i looked at my family and started to cry with excitement of being alive still, then the long bike, many up/downs along that ride, but once you get to last leg, your pumped your like i got this, then it just hits you- 26.2 miles??????? so then you make it to mile 13.1 another high…. woohoo, only 13.1 miles to go.. then mile 20 you will need to stop for a potty, realize if you do indeed sit down on that spot o pot, who is coming in there to get you up from the toilet seat?? your legs will not want to move, if there is a curb along the route you will wonder how you will lift your leg to conquer the curb?? but then another high….. all those signs your family has wrote on for you will be at mile 22 or so….. then the final mile, you just want to be done, you just want to see it, where or where is that finish line and your new love of life MIKE RIELY… gosh he is such a wonderful man to stand there all night and call out names…….. but there is will be.. you will see it. You will see expert, and swimbikekids, and you will have goosebumps, and YOU will become an Ironman!!!!!!! I know you will.
    you so have it in you. I can’t wait to watch Online. I have done 2 ironmans and i still have people come up to me and say I love watching you and others come across that finish line! YOU are a beast! but i think your feelings now, are so normal.

  5. Hey you know beating yourself up about the bad eating isn’t burning any calories, right? Stop it.

    You’re gonna be just fine. You’ve done the work already. That particular day is just about reaping what you’ve sown. So in the spirit of my triathlon club, I’m gonna lend you our mantra: JUST DO THE DAMN THING. It means quit letting it sit around in your head. Just get it done. You got this.

  6. Meredith you are so ready!! I have not done an IM but have several training buddies who have, and you are on par with all the training I have seen them do! They are all sizes, shapes and ages, so this CDA race was MADE for YOU! Your taper starts now so enjoy it and feel the calm that you deserve, knowing you put in the work to get there. I’ve been following you the whole way, and have the fullest of confidence in you! Good Luck!

  7. To add another mantra to your list, I’m going to give you one we use in my family: EMBRACE THE SUCK

    Yes, it sucks. It is going to suck. For the next 18 days and race day. But think about it, when will you do something like this again? Probably not for a long time (then again, who knows), so embrace it. Enjoy it. It’s going to be one hell of a ride.

    On a side note – you know how I found your blog? About ten days before my first 70.3, I was googling last minute advice, and found all these really superman and wonderwoman like blogs. People with times I could only dream of, with super amounts of confidence, and seemingly nothing else to do but train. Then I googled “Doing a 70.3 scared to death” or something like that, and found your blog, and loved it. Here is a normal person, whose life is crazy insane busy like mine, who does these things, but who is terrified and elated all at the same time just like me….you’re such an inspiration, just remember that the next 18 days!

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