Gearing up

I love the final weeks before a big race.  The nervous anxiety is almost palpable in our house.  I am so rested that waking up at 4 am hardly seems difficult and I can't imagine why, for the last few months, I've struggled to get out of bed when the alarm sounds.  I know "they" say that during taper one becomes grouchy, irritable and suddenly doubts everything about their last 6 months of training.

Not so.  Taper is my time to go easy or not at all.  Taper is my time to prepare mentally for what I'm about to face.  Taper means sleeping in when I want to, skipping a workout if I feel like it.  Taper means getting that massage and pedicure.  (I can't be the only one who gets pre-race pedicures, am I?) 

This month I am gearing up for two events that I have looked forward to for over a year.  After months and months and MONTHS of preparation, long bike rides in the cold, long bike rides in the wind, long bike rides in the heat, long runs on the trails, long runs on the roads, long swims, fast swims, tempo runs, track workouts... it's all about to pay off.  No matter what happens out there on race day, I know I've prepared as best as I can.  And this is not my first rodeo.  Ironman #7 is upon me.  Feels lucky, don't you think? 

I hope the weather is beautiful, cool with the wind at my back.  I hope I crush the swim (come on sub 1 hour!!).  I hope I smile through the entire 112 miles of the bike ride.  I hope I PR the IM marathon.  I hope we all make it through safely.  I hope they have plenty of huckleberry beer and pancakes (not together, of course).  I hope the air smells like pine trees.  I hope the water is cold and crisp and takes my breath away.  I hope I feel that exhilaration during the race when you can go forever.  I hope I get to high five my friends out on the race course.  I hope people yell my name.  I hope I feel that wonderful whole body tired afterwards, with muscles aching and brain cleared of all cobwebs.  I hope my husband greets me at the finish line with a medal and a kiss.