We’re in Canberra. In less than eight hours I have to get up. In less than eleven I’ll be racing my first 70.3 distance. I’m scared. My body is sending out signals that I’m nervous. I’m trying to relax my mind but I’m still getting butterflies in my stomach, shortness of breath, almost like a panic attack. I don’t know what to expect. Ok, I do. It’s going to be tough. Physically, I can do it. Mentally, I’m not sure. If I can run for over four hours in a marathon I’ll be able to swim and bike in that time, once that part is over it’s just three laps of 7km on the run. No worries, right. Two extra odd hours added on. Sure thing. I’m still scared. I know that the fear will go away as soon as I start swimming. Then it’ll just be the adrenaline working. I know what I have to do. I’m not racing anyone but myself tomorrow. It’s not about finishing fast but about finishing feeling good. Whether that takes six and half hours or seven. Well, I won’t know till tomorrow. It’s ok to feel a bit scared. It’s not a walk in the park. But it’s going to be fun. Triathlons are always fun even if they’re tougher than anything you’ve ever done. It’s always good to finish grinning. That’s my goal for tomorrow, to finish with a huge grin on my face.
