Do you ever feel prepared?

[Veronica]

No - I never feel prepared. I know I can swim the distance and the bike is no big deal. But I never feel like I've run enough or done enough bricks. The night before and the morning of EVERY race I wonder - WTF am I doing? But something happens when I cross that finish line. I don't know if it's an endorphin rush or what... but I'm happy. Not just that I'm done suffering, but pleased that I've accomplished something.

Veronica

[roadie gal]

No way. I always feel that there "was more I could have done". I get nervous the night before. I'm a wreck in the few hours before the race. But once I'm at the starting line I get focused and forget about being nervous.

Just keep plugging away at the running. Like others have said, many people walk all or part of the run. You'll be surprised at how well you'll do.

[sfa]

Sure I feel like I'm prepared all the time. Just never actually on the day or week of the race!

For the Iron Girl "dress rehearsal" a few weeks ago I felt great--I was wishing the race was that day. It was a beautiful thing. Now I'm wondering if I should even bother picking up my packet for the race. What's the point when I'm not even sure I can finish? Lousy workouts the past couple of weeks, dealing with stress like I've never felt before in my life and it's affecting my sleep, my resting heart rate, my eating habits, my ability to concentrate.

I seem to go in cycles like that, with my feeling of preparation peaking usually two weeks before the race, then uncertainty taking over.

The run is the only thing I DO feel prepared for this year--I really worked on my speed and endurance this spring, and it paid off. I never feel prepared for a swim. I just look at that as a part I have to get through. And I've had very little time on my bike this year--if I get out once or twice a week I'm lucky.

Sarah