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

[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.

[HillSlugger]

The OWS.

[Running Mommy]

Hmm...
Well it used to be the swim because I'm slow, and worrying about flatting on the bike. I still worry about that in IM, and everytime I pass someone on the side of the road with a puncture I say a little prayer- one for them, and one for me that I don't get one too.
But I really don't stress about either things as much anymore. I guess over time I've gotten to trust that my bike is sound mechanically, and I roll strong tires. I figure if it happens, it happens, but I don't obsess about it the whole ride like I used to.
I think anymore the stress comes pre race with the jitters. Once the gun fires and I go into "go mode" I'm fine. But before that I have a ton of nervous energy. Maybe it's seeing everyone around me being nervous as well? I dunno??
I'm racing next weekend for the first time in a good while, and my mom and dad will be there for the first time, so I'll let you know next week around this time what my stressor was...

[rocknrollgirl]

The run.......I had a bad one this summer and I have gotten it in to my head that I suck at running and that every race is going to be that awful. That is why I am trying the walk run thingy that I dicussed up in the running forum. I will try anything to make it better, or to remove that notion from my head.

[teigyr]

Thanks

I'm just curious cause my stress parts are from the areas that I feel I have expectations in. Other than that, I'm thrilled to even finish the other areas.

I think I will have to have amnesia with the bike and pretend that I don't know what I'm doing. I feel I'm doing it a disservice by dreading it so just because I think I should do better.

The mechanic at the tri was awesome! He fixed it and I think I might have found a new bike shop. He was able to diagnose and repair within 10 minutes and as much as I like my other bike shop, my bike has had drama since they've started working on it.

[Tri Girl]

Glad you were able to get your bike fixed before the race! One less stressor.

For me, the run is the most stressful part. Partly because I used to be soley a runner and could bang out 9:30-10 min/miles easily and now I can barely do a 11-12 min/mile without feeling like I'm dying.
It's why I'm changing my HIM to the Aquabike this weekend. I just haven't put in the miles running and I'm afraid to go out there and suffer for 13 miles. Stinks because it was my A race and now I'm dreading it.