Well, I said....

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until the Ironman race "popped up" on my Training Peaks schedule. Sure enough, three weeks ago when the monthly calendar changed to include my June 21 race date, I felt a few butterflies. But there was still plenty of time to go...No need to be alarmed yet!

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until after the Encinitas Sprint Triathlon. And that race was so short, so close, and over with so quickly, that I really didn't think about it. Though I did remind myself that the next race on the schedule was Ironman Coeur d'Alene. But there was still plenty of time to go...

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous after my LAST LONG RIDE. Somehow my legs, lungs, and (mostly) everything survived and I lived to tell the tale. I still had my taper to get through, though - so nothing to worry about! So there was still plenty of time to go...

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous last weekend, because really when you think about it - 14 days is a long time to go. So much planning to do, people to see, stuff to pack up... Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous this past week because I still had nearly fifteen hours of training on my schedule. Yes, it was most certainly busier in the beginning than it was in the end, but the rest did me good and I got a chance to catch up on housework. Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until I started folding the laundry and doing extra cleaning in the kitchen. That day came and went and the house (and our closets) look so much better for it. But at thirteen days out, there was STILL plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until I made my packing list. But I realized that was a necessity eleven days out from the race, as I was shipping my bike. Best to wait until after the bike shipped. There was still plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't be nervous until after I dropped off my bike and gear back to be shipped. But the Friday nine days before a race looks so far away on the calendar. Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I would wait to be nervous until after all the races this weekend. It was incredible to (virtually) support all my friends and fellow bloggers via Ironmanlive.com and the Book of Face. And I know I hit the "refresh" button more than I could count...And Nathaniel knew exactly when my friends would cross the line, by the HUGE CHEERS that would erupt from my person.

But now the races are over. My hat goes off to everyone out there who raced AND spectated (because we all know that is hard work as well!) - thank you for the lovely distraction. And congratulations on your race and wonderful accomplishment!

Because now...well, now there's no hiding. Rebecca summed it up best, in my opinion. I kept looking at the clock today, thinking (knock on wood!) that, "In this time next week I'll be swimming...I'll be on the bike... I'll probably be running the 'Ironman shuffle'...hopefully be finished and enjoying many tasty treats..."

But it struck me as I was prepping the turkey burgers for tonight's dinner...I contemplated briefly weather or not I would want to jump ahead exactly one week. It would be 8 pm local time, and I would (hopefully) be finished with my race... Would I trade where I was now for the future?

And just as soon as I had the thought, I struck it down. Absolutely not. I would NOT trade the pre-race experience, the travel, spending time with new friends, seeing my family, and my FIRST IRONMAN for anything. I rationalized that right where I was, is exactly where I'm supposed to be. And one week from today, I'm supposed to be doing my first Ironman.

But I'll still be nervous and jittery and...you get the idea.

Here's to the unexpected joys and pre-race jitters, and all that other madness associated with my first Ironman Taper! Cheers!