2366, 2366, 2366..

That is my race number! I am trying to figure out some significance to it but so far all I have come up with is that the really high numbers are the "old ladies" That's OK..(I say through gritted teeth)...

Am I really doing an Ironman in 10 days, 29 minutes? I can't believe the day is finally approaching. I feel excited, happy, grateful that my body has held out after all this training. One lucky girl is who I am!

Yesterday I went for my final open water swim with GeekGirl, Cindy, Kathy and Maria to Cochiti lake. Now Maria has a good shot at Kona so I am pulling for her! Her very warm, precious Thermal Shirt had not arrived yet so I let her borrow mine. She loved it!! I also got to see the difference without it and yes, there is a noticeable difference. The water was supposedly 60 degrees but it sure felt colder as we swam for approx 2000 yds. There were some small waves lapping at our faces going out. All in all I felt very comfortable-this was my 3rd OW swim so I feel confident I can do it as long as the water gets up to above 55 degrees in Lake Coeur d'Alene (right now is 53 or something). The weather is expected to warm up over the next week (oh please God)...

I just checked-the water temp is down to 51 degrees. Holy Sh$^&*^t!

Afternoon found me at the track in the 30 MPH winds doing a speed workout. Not my best effort but got it done. Feels very funny after all these months to get the little feet moving faster. I downloaded all this soothing music on my Ipod Shuffle to listen to before the race. Yesterday's run was done by "dolphin noises" (I love dolphins) I visualized myself on the run at IMCDA, just sailing along, the dolphins carrying me. I know, cheesy-but whatever works!

Then came the "speed" workout on the bike. My bike is still at the shop (the new, "new" bike). That is a long story but the short version is I am suppose to get a new Dura-ace crank set on it but as of yesterday they had not arrived...Trying not to stress there..So did my "speed" session on a spin bike at the gym. Could not get my HR up for anything but did the best I could for 35 minutes.

Getting down to the wire. I am packing today and tomorrow. The lists are too numerous to delineate here and believe it or not, packing stresses me out more than the race. Here comes my "packing anxiety" The closest phobia I could find is "Hodophobia", fear of road travel, which doesn't quite capture the essence. I will call it "packophobia". Drives me nuts and I get paralyzed when thinking of starting the process. Just need to suck it up and do it. It is not rational, this anxiety...

Today is waxing and massage day (I know-rough day). These training days off are really confusing me!

I know-2366 is the number of times I have thought about packing without doing it! Or the number of times I have checked the water temp at Lake CDA...