What's your "stress" part of a tri?

[teigyr]

You know, I am thinking tons about it. I have a bike right now that is NOT shifting and I have the tri tomorrow. It's ok, I can only do the best I can do. DH, bless him, cleaned my chain and gears. My bike is difficult sometimes.

I was thinking about it though. I'm not a swimmer so each accomplishment seems wonderful. I like the swim segment though I worry a bit. I'm not a runner so again, I am SO proud when I can waddle through at a 12 minute mile. I was a cyclist before all this so there is the most pressure there. It is THE only section I can make up time and I have too high of expectations. I am almost (sadly) relieved that my bike isn't up to par. I'm stuck in the close-to-granny gears so if I can't make it work, at least I'll do the hills ok

So to those experienced, are your stress segments the ones that you know you can do well in? Or are they the ones you are still working on? Do you judge yourself on improvement or how you are in relation to other people?

[RoadRaven]

Teigyr... have you fiddled with your deraileurs???

[Wahine]

T - I stress about it all. Especially if the night before I know that something is not right, like your bike. Worse tho is the way I analyze every little part of my race and compare it to those around me. I really stress about that. And what I hate is that I spend a ton of time on my bike and that is still my weakest event relative to the crowd.

So yeah, we all have our stressors. But you'll get through tomorrow and it'll be great, what ever happens.

Good luck!!

[teigyr]

RR, the less fiddling with that bike the better. It's the front derailleur and I'll make do. There is support tomorrow and I'm worried that it could be made worse but we'll see. Honestly, I'm not stressed about that! I'll be in my smaller front gear if we can't resolve it.

I was just wondering though because last week the bike part was the easiest but was the most stressful. I hate expectations

[light_sabe_r]

Geez Teigyr. Sorry bout your bike. Check your cable tension as well. All the tri's I've been too have had a mechanic from a local bike shop there onsite for any last minute "emergencies" so get to the registration as soon as you can on the day to get him/her to check it out. (Oh just re-read your last post... ^_^ Yeah... Get support to check it out...)

As for stress?

I stress out in the first 25m of the swim... I full on panic the minute the hooter goes off! My mind races at a million miles a minute... Here's an example of my panic atack thoughts...

"ARGH!!!!! THEY'RE LEAVING ME BEHIND!! DON'T LOSE THEM DON'T LOSE THEM DON'T LOSE THEM! CRAP I LOST THEM... NOW WHAT??? DO I GIVE UP? NO DON'T BE STUPID, YOU can do it!!! BREATHE ONE TWO... WHERE THE **** IS THE BUOY? ONE TWO...."

Then I kinda get into a rythum and I am enjoying myself for the rest of the race.

[roadie gal]

The swim psyches me out every time. I'm a pokey swimmer so I get myself competely wound up trying to go faster.

[alpinerabbit]

ermmm.... making it to practice on work days, and transitions.