Contemplating the Half

For the last 24 hours or more I have contemplated attempting the Ironman New Orleans 70.3. My friend Carolyn is doing it and it's the inaugural event, and it's a flat course, and there are still slots available.... It's insane in a way, since I've never raced longer than a sprint distance, but sometimes you just half to grab the ring. Steve has always said I needed to "go long"--a kind way of saying I'm slow!--so I'm about to find out.

I was confident until I looked at some free plan on the Internet, which had swimming over 3 miles per week and running over 3 1/2 hours!! (Never mind that there is also cycling involved, too!) I panicked and e-mailed Kami. She was the voice of reason about these "plans" and told me how she had altered her own cookie-cutter plan for her Ironman. So salved by this, I bit the bullet and signed up.

Even before I signed up, I could feel the anxiety start. What will happen when everyone finds out? What will happen when Jim finds out? Can I do it? What if I have a complete meltdown before the race even begins?? AIIGGHHH!!!

...but at the same time, the whole event is so preposterous, it's hard to imagine it's even real. It's so beyond the pale, for once the idea of success seems the ridiculous possibility and failure the norm. I imagine I will keep flipping back and forth, AC/DC, positive one minute and negative the next, from now on in. Let the neuroses begin!!