Crunch Time! Have I done enough?

As I am sitting here typing this, I'm having a hard time swallowing the fact that the 70.3 is almost here.  I'm running out of time.  Have I done enough?  This training started way back in March.  Many yards have been swam, many miles have been biked and run.  I have had to make sacrifices to fit the training in, my workouts have consisted of either biking, running, swimming or lifting.  There have been times when I have had no energy or desire to get a workout in, but have done it anyways.  

People have asked me if I'm ready to be done with this.  That's a hard question.  Being done with it means Race Day is here.  One moment I feel ready, the next I don't.  One moment I think I have done enough, the next moment I panic.  I know I am not going to win my age group or even come close to it.  I know I'm not like those people that are on the Women for Tri Facebook group.  When I read what they are doing to prepare, I panic.  I wish I would have had the opportunity to do an Olympic Distance Triathlon.  I think that really would have helped me mentally.  But I have done everything I could do.  There are days where I am just exhausted and I start to worry that if I'm feeling this way after a long bike, how am I going to finish a distance twice that with the swim and the half marathon on top of it.  I'm hoping that the adrenaline of that day will propel me to the finish line.  I hope that my mental toughness that I have acquired through all of this will help keep me focused.  

This week I'm looking to do an open water swim that is the distance of the 70.3, in open water, in my wetsuit.  I have done it in the pool many times, but having a swim under my belt will help.  I'm hoping to get some longer runs in, but really trying to take care of this nagging hamstring.  I'd like to get a 50 miler in on the bike. The worst thing now would be to push it and injure myself.  These next two weeks are important.  I have to get a few more long swims, bikes and runs in and then I need to start to taper. The taper frightens me.  I feel like I need to do more, when really I need to go much lighter that last week to conserve my energy for the big day.

My friends are making plans to come watch.  That's so exciting.  Joe and I have talked about our plan for that Saturday.  We're going to head down to the Ironman Village and get our bikes checked in, figure out the transition areas and even take a practice swim in Lake Michigan to calm the nerves a little.  Then we're going to hopefully have dinner at the Olive Garden with those that are there to watch.  

So, am I ready to be done? Yes and no.  I'm ready to run, bike and swim because I want to, not because I have to.  I'm ready to give my body a rest.  I'm excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time.  I wish I believed in me as much as so many of my friends do.  The 70.3 is less than three weeks away. It's Crunch Time! Have a done enough?