First Thing I Learned This Season

Here's the big reason I don't like racing; pre-race jitters. About two days before a race, I feel anxious. The night before a race, I cannot sleep. I will wake about ever hour to check the time. The morning of the race, I have a difficult time swallowing down food even though I need it. On the ride to the race, I don't feel like talking. Ten minutes before the race I can't decide if I need to poop or throw-up.

Everything I feel pre-race is opposite of who I am and what I normally feel. I usually sleep like a rock, I like to eat, I love to talk to Don and my poop schedule is pretty normal and I rarely throw up. Why do I change so much? I don't enjoy feeling so nervous! I don't even know what I'm so upset about.....

Maybe I'm scared of not know what will happen? Like at Kure Beach, I doubted I could even finish the swim. I stood on the beach watched the giant waves bring the buoys back. I was scared of those waves. What would they feel like crashing on my body?

My emotional relief finally comes when I jump into the water to swim. Whether it was in a calm pool or the violent ocean, I instinctively know what to do. Kick, pull, breathe. Everything becomes very simple and easy. My mind is free of chatter and I'm back to myself.

I learned this season that I am not a "seasoned competitor." I need a Prozac patch pre-race. Freas was one of the most fun people to race with this season. She would help me chill more and laugh pre-race. She is a natural athlete. She enjoys the competition but can still be fun. I'll never forget her waking me up on a few race mornings,

"Rise and shine! Wake-y, Wake-Y! Good Morning, sunshine!"

It was 5am and she didn't even have any coffee. That's Freas though, a real positive person. She deserves the be ranked #1 Athena in the NC series standings for 2006. Go Freas-y!

I need to learn how to not take triathlon so seriuosly. I work myself up about races and it takes the fun out of it.