Running Toward Myself

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock....Time is Running Out


Iron Girl Atlanta is less than 48 hours away, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a wee bit nervous. Not "running around talking to myself crazy" nervous. More like "time to get this done" nervous. I suppose a lot of that is the tapering...the lack of physical activity as a means to de-stress and disconnect. Work right now is at its busiest with awards ceremonies, rehearsals, and graduation, so not being able to take out that pent-up frustration and counteract all the sitting, clapping, and socializing with my daily run has added to my already nervous tendency. Top that off with my rather asinine idea to take a pair of Nike Free's out on a test run during our group run...the LAST run before my taper...and you have a grim scenario which resembles something kind of like this:

I guess I taper like everyone else...even like Fast At Forty 

See.....Pretty!

The aches and pains denoted by the upward trending axis would be mostly related to the epic pain in my bum ankle from the non-existent cushioning of the Nike Free. Truly, I knew it wasn't the wisest idea, but everyone else was doing it so, my thought process went something like this: "It's a short run. It's an easy three. It's not gonna kill me. It'll be fine. I can stop and walk. All the cool kids are doing it. They are pretty. They make me look fast from the knee down. Ooohhhhh. They GLOW!" Yeah, so you can see the error with my thought process from the start. I knew about halfway into the run that these shoes, although awfully comfy and responsive and a perfect experience for me right foot/ankle/leg, were a terribly awful idea for my LEFT foot/ankle/leg. However, that flourescent pink was swooning me into thinking I should give them just a little farther. And so I did. For the entire three miles. So much for the, "I can stop to walk," theory. 

Now, here I am, two days away from the start of my very first triathlon with an aggravated ankle and nothing but time and energy to dwell on it. I know I can complete the distance, sore ankle or not, but it's just something to think about and worry about nonetheless. Along with the ankle worries, the to-wetsuit-or-not-to-wetsuit conundrum has been bothering me as well. I know that I can swim without it, although I'll be cold, less confident, and not as floaty  buoyant. I used it during the open water swim of last weekend, and I felt confident and fast  didn't drown. I am certain that I am not going to win any transition awards anyway, so I'm wondering if they time and strength the suit will save me in the water will be worth the time and embarrassment it saves me when I try to get out of it. As of right now, the jury is still out. I plan to take it with me and see what all the other REAL triathletes are doing then copy them. Always the best plan if you ask me (because, obviously from the shoe fiasco, I know SO much!). Of course, I can always fall back on Plan B:

Look for me....I'll be easy to spot!

Tomorrow the fun begins. Unfortunately, The Husband is racing tomorrow, but I can't go as work commitments get in the way of traveling to Peachtree City to see him in his first Oly of the season. I am however, sending along The Best Friend and Her Husband to send reports and assure his safety  cheer for him for me. I will be off in the afternoon for bike check-in, course talks, and the general merriment of pre-race day festivities at Lake Lanier. I hope to meet up with some other Tough Chiks and all-around pretty awesome ladies, while I stumble my way through all of the triathlon shenanigans for the first time. Even with a bum ankle, a boat full of nerves, and much too much pent-up energy, I am SO EXCITED to hit the water!