Pre-Race

Saturday: I got up and went out to the Terrace to run for 15-20 minutes. I ran into some of the girls who were at the Gatorade swim and/or spectating - including Kat, who we met in August on our training ride (she is from Chicago), Val & Jen (a.k.a. "Team"). 

 

Me, Kat, Val & Jen at Lake Menona
After the run, I took Pink Lightning out for a spin to get her gears all checked out. I was still fretting about the valve extender and thought I'd just replace the tube/extender when I got back to the hotel. Well, I couldn't get the air out of the tube (no tool) and decided I'd need to call my personal mechanic (Jonny) to assist or I'd go insane thinking about this issue all night before the race. I got all my bags packed up for transition and special needs and Jake and I headed to the Terrace to drop off Pink Lightning (& get 'er fixed up) and the bags. Jonny met us and looked at the situation - said it looked like it would be fine to race on...then looked at my worried face and said "OR...we can just change it". That's what we did, and got P.L. all checked in and bags dropped off.

My bike rack spot

Bikes set up in transition
Mom, dad & Stacy got into town and so had "the girls" (Heidi, Maggie & Andrea). The girls were the sweetest things - they had delivered a huge pink bouquet of flowers to the hotel and a good luck note. Of course I started crying...they are the absolute best!

I took my sleeping pill that night and tried to sleep - I got about 4-5 hours of sleep (I think) and then Cindy and I headed to the race site Sunday morning at 5:00 AM. Sunday: At the Terrace, we met up with Noelle at the bikes and got them all checked over. I put in air to P.L.'s back tire again and I SWEAR air was leaking out a bit still. Slight Panic!!! Called Jonny quick (as he was there) and then just decided - screw it! The air wasn't leaking out now and seemed to be holding fine. It will be just fine for the race. I got body marked (I told them to mark over my bruise on my arm from Jake's tailgate incident - so I didn't look like a battered woman) and went into the Terrace to do a quick bag check and chill out in the hallway until we got shuffled down to the swim start. My Cheering Crew: The girls and Jake showed up and met me in the hallway - again, the girls teared me up with their display of support via their 'custom' Team IronJen t-shirts they had made up the day before and their IronJen visors! And Jake sported his custom shirt we had made stating: "I don't do triathlons, I do a triathlete" (with "Go IronJen!" on the back). They are the best!

Noelle, Maggie, Andrea, me, Heidi, & Cindy

We went down to the start via the helix (parking ramp spiral) and I ran into Mom, Dad & Stacy in their "Team Pink Lightning" apparel and signs - which teared me up AGAIN! Man, you'd think I was PMS-ing or something!

Mom, me & Stacy (Dad taking pic)
And last but not least, I ran into the TCMC crew on the way down...Ironman Jim gave me a great big hug and told me to have fun. Of which, I again started to lose it. So I had to keep moving towards the swim start before I totally was a puddle. I then dropped my clothes bag off and stood in line with Cindy and Noelle to enter the water. Cindy seemed calm and happy, I started to calm down and threw a smile on my face, and Noelle seemed a bit tense but strong. Man...we were ready to get this thing done with! The swim was about to start!

Cindy, Noelle & Jen