Lessons learned today

1.  Pinning GU to my waist line is a terrible idea when wearing shorts that ride up during the bike ride, leaving me with cuts all over my upper thighs.  This is why you are encouraged to pratice in the clothes you will race in.  Have I admitted yet that I have no idea what I'll wear come race day?

2.  It is just as easy to fall out of cleats and straps as it is clips when you are daydreaming and miss your right onto Lexington and try to take the turn too sharp.  Luckily no injuries were sustained.  Can't remember what I was thinking about.

3.  I'm anxious about this race, that anxiety isn't going to go away.  I have to accept it.  I will freak out before the start and during the first part of the swim.  Today it took about a half hour to settle down when I started my ride, and my heart is still racing after hitting "confirm registration" on the active.com site.

4.  I'm going to have to pee.  Not sure I have it in me to let it all go on the bike, thinking about researching the porta-potty layout for race day.  To get off and get back on the bike will be terrible, can I make it to T2 and pee there?

5.  The run is going to hurt.  It's going to be hot.  There is a b*tch of a hill that has to be tackled twice.  There is not much shade.  Did I mention that this will be after surviving a 1.2 mile swim in a dirty lake and biking up and down 56 miles hills all over RI?  So I'll need some real crowd support, since I can't have an epidural to make it easier.

5.  I'm a mediocre swimmer, middle of the pack runner and suck on the bike; not meeting cut off times is a real possibility.  I've trained and will do the best I can. That said, how many other competitors can say they will have a 13 month old waiting for them at the finish line?

6.  When registering for the 2012 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island, I was asked for and provided my health insurance information.  Jesus, what did I sign up for?

Trained for 55 miles on the bike followed by a 5.5 mile run.