Taper hits!

Oh, taper!
Combined with reading some awesome race reports on Timberman!
Combined with some PMS

Yes, not a good combo. I AM NERVOUS!

What does that mean for me?

It means that I am rehearsing the swim (mostly), bike and run over and over in my head, and try to have:1 ) transitions become rote, and 2) everything that can possibly go wrong accounted for (as much as that is possible).

It means that it is only Tuesday but I am almost 100% caught up on work! I hope noone from work reads this, but wow, training does take a ton of time!!!!

It means that I wrote my race plan, decided what I am going to eat for breakfast that day, what I am going to wear. I decided I am going to listen to everyone and eat more than I think I need during the race. Why? Because you all have been there, and I did not. You know better. I am hoping my stomach will not rebel.

It means that I stressing about drowning (LOL), falling off the bike (possibility) and bonking on the run. Since I am a runner, and have been doing a ton of running in prep for my Fall marathon, I feel 1) pressure to have a good run and 2) pressure to run a lot this week so that I do not lose fitness for my marathon (no, I am not running more than 20 miles this week!).

It means that I am facing up to the uncertainty of the triathlon. It is very different from running. With running, I can have more control. With triathloning, I have little control: I can get my first flat, my chain can fall off (again), someone can (will surely) kick me in the head on the swim. Further, when I run, I know exactly what pace to go after. I have some idea about paces in triathlon, but not enough experience to really have a clear pacing plan. But overall this is good for me. Getting more comfortable with uncertainty can only make me tougher. And tougher I need to get.

Lastly, I am concerned about being mentally tough during the race. I've practice working through pain, I have pushed myself in training, but will I be able to hold on to "whatever"
the run will bring? Is that worse than the last 6 miles of a marathon? I'll find out soon.

Overall I am doing well. I am sleeping well (I always do, no matter what, sleep has always been my friend) and mostly I am decatastrophizing and accepting that anxiety before a race like this is normal, maybe even helpful, some say. I am trying to make friends with it. I think it is working for now. Will see!