Twas the night before IMFL...

We'll get to my poem shortly. But first, what have I been up to these past days? MamaFL and I drove down on Wednesday and got settled into the hotel just in time to head down to the expo to meet Chloe. I didn't realize it, but MamaFL was totally going paparazzi on us when we finally tracked each other down:

I got all checked in (no line! Score!) and then headed over to the QR booth to check out their goods (I *might* just be a QR athlete next year!)

After catching up with Chloe we headed to dinner at the Boatyard and had some awesome seafood (MamaFL just couldn't stop with the pictures!) 

After dinner we headed to Publix to get all the pre and post-race food:

 Pre race food:

Post-race food: bring on the gluten (and wine! and beer!)

Our hotel room overlooks the transition area, which means no porto-potty lines for me! Score!

And it also means MamaFL can watch the swim from the warmth of her hotel room

Thursday I lounged around the hotel watching bad reality tv and then headed down to hang with the QR peeps some more. Their bikes are awesome. Really, really, really awesome. So awesome they'll get their own post in the future.

And then in the afternoon we had our big blogger/twitter meetup! It was so awesome to see everyone.  We had @trijon, @devoniain, @gardenTRI, Carolina John and his wife Kelley, @heidileeaustin, @mattscottaustin, @ChloeElfrink, @KristiMcE, @MacMcE and future superstar Sienna. It was awesome. It's @trijon, @gardenTRI, CarolinaJohn, and @mattscottaustin's first 140.6! So excited for all of them!

Today I did a quick s/b/r. The first two minutes of the swim were not fun. Big (at least for me) waves. But once you get past the two sets of breakers (damn sandbar!) it's actually quite nice. The water here is so clear, which allows you to see (and avoid) the jellyfish the size of my butt.  I also saw a stringray, which was oddly relaxing. Then I jumped on my bike for a quick spin on the course. It was certainly cold, so I will definitely take the extra minute to put on my armwarmers in transition tomorrow. I'll also be rocking calf sleeves. And toe covers. And iron will.

My quick run was also fun. So many athletes were out on the course and everyone was shouting "good morning!" to each other. Such great attitudes here. I am making friends everywhere I go. It's really, really nice to be staying at the host hotel. As far as my body goes, my knee feels better, but my calf started cramping last night. The calf is better this morning but my back seized after my swim and now my back is on thin ice. I have a massage in a few minutes to hopefully release it a bit.  But this is all part of the taper, right? You gotta go into a race with some worries and nagging "injuries" (which are really just mental biproducts of your body finally resting).

This is the last you'll hear from me before the race. There's no internet in the room (which is probably a good thing) so I will only have access to twitter on my phone.  Race day MamaFL will take over my twitter account (I am not held liable for anything she says; she assured me her mission is to embarrass me).

So, how's my attitude and mindset? Well, I'm ready. I have nagging aches and pains, which is all part of the process. I know that I will have ups and downs on race day. But I've done the work. I've put in the hours. I've suffered in the training. I have a solid pacing and nutrition plan that will help focus my mind during the race. I plan on doing a lot of reflecting for the remainder of the day. I know the possibility exists for me to flat or mechanical on the bike, have a debilitating injury, or totally blow up on the run.  I also know that the possibility exists for me to shatter my wildest expectations. But no matter what happens I will finish this race, and my goal is to have one hell of a time doing it.

Twas the night before IMFL

Twas the night before IMFL and all through PCB,
not an athlete was sleeping, as they anticipated the race with glee.
The tri bikes were racked on the bars with great care,
In hopes that a record bike split soon would be there.

The entrants were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of PRs danced in their heads.
When at 4am, the alarms made such a clatter, they sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
To their gear did they run, as they knew it was the time,
To go down to the race venue and get in the body marking line.

On goggles, on wetsuit, on tri kit and swim cap!
On GU Brew, on Brooks shoes, on helmet and Powertap!
To the front of the line! To the top of the hill!
Now dash away, dash away, go Iron will!

They jumped on their bikes, and the fans gave a yell,
And deep down the athletes knew all would be well.
And I heard them exclaim, and they soared at a pace,
Happy IMFL to all, and to all a great race!