Ready or Not....

...here I come, Austin. Saturday morning I leave for my favorite Texas city to meet up with Jeanne at the Expo Center so we can rack our bikes, pick up our packets, get inspired at lectures, and go back to her house for plenty of rest after a carbo-load dinner at a great Italian restaurant.

I cannot believe the triathlon is only 3 days away.

This week has presented some challenges...I'm sick with a cold, all the kids have had a fever or hacking cough, and our nights have not been filled with restful sleep. Animesh, thank goodness, took the week off so that I could do my taper training. Can I just tell you how difficult it is to swim when you're stuffed up?

But, I cannot complain. I was sent this email from a friend...read this story:

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together.
Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's
join the Ironman together.'
To which, his father said 'Yes'.
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 km) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 km) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 km) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .

Father and son went on to complete the race together.


YOU HAVE GOT TO WATCH THE VIDEO. IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.

So, this is it. I've done all I can do. I think I'm ready. NO, wait. I KNOW I am ready. I have heard over and over and over that the race is 10% physical ability and 90% mental ability.

And, how can I not be pumped up and feeling confident when I've received SO MANY emails and cards in the mail...filled with messages of encouragement and love?

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Since most of you won't be there...and if you've never done a triathlon...watch this great video Jeanne sent me. It's just a taste of what I've gotten myself into.

I have a feeling that if you ask me afterwards what it was like...I'll have to tell you that you just had to be there.