Final Pre-Race Message...

This is it. The next time you read a post from me, it should be after the race. Wow, that's even scary to write. Anyway, here's an update on the latest news...

*Latest figures have me around $500 for donations! Yay! Although this is far from my goal of $5,000, it is a start. I'm hoping I can make it to $1,000 by tomorrow. Anyone wanna do a $500 donation? Any takers? ;)

*Dropped my bike off at the shop and was pleased with the service. Later read a bad review about the place from a girl who, of all things, went in for a simple tune up like me. Jesus. I tried to think positive and picked up my bike today. Imagine a busted bike at 3:30pm before race day. So although it's raining pretty heavy, I tried it out some and found the breaks aren't squeaking any more and it appears to be working fine. The newest quirky thing was that the guy said he lowered my handlebars 1/2 inch because they 'weren't safe' and I'm hoping that doesn't feel to strange to me.

*Weather report changed from t-storms & high winds to just high winds. Yay. Winds: SW at 15 to 25 mph. That will do wonders on the ole confidence level as I ride into a brick wall of wind, but many people have reminded me that we will ALL be going through the same winds. That actually does ease my mind. Some.

* We had a 'Webinar' the other day to give us race updates. I fired out several questions at once (why not) and much to my chagrin, the guy running it answered all of them AND said our names with the question. So there was a lot of "Kristin asks: What about the weather? And Kristin again asks: Will there be changing stations?" Man. Anyway, I made it through that but came up with another new worry: Directions. You see, I'm a little directionally challenged. Our bike course has been rerouted and the guy running our Webinar said "Look, you have to learn the course. Don't rely on the Policemen or Race Helpers to guide you on the right path." Oh oh oh. Also, at least 3 people in the Webinar expressed concern about the running not being marked out well, stating that some of them have raced at Moss Park before and couldn't find the path to finish the race. I could be one of those people. Oh, oh, oh. I have given serious consideration to taping the directions onto my bike. I mean, since I don't happen to have a bike navigation system "Turn right here in 1.5 miles...." I could make my own. I know it's probably lame. Shut up. I might do it anyway.

*Now my goal (of course) is to finish the race. Within that goal are mini goals. To not be the DFL of the race, that's a goal. But get this...every age group for the My First Tri has the top 5 finishers getting awards. How many people in my age group? You guessed it: Six. Is someone playing a cruel, cruel trick on me? So you know that I can't come in 6th, right? My best hope is 5th or that a group of other people sign up last minute and then it doesn't matter if I got 6th in my age group...

(Man, this is getting long. Nervous rambling. Sorry. Last thing.)

*A friend sent along this video and I thought it was pretty funny. Tomorrow at about 8:15 a.m. this will be me along with 84 other orange-capped first timers:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U_6tOzt-nfM

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!!!
Of course I am still taking donations for AWB and you can always donate some love and good thoughts to me too.

Cheers!!!
xoxo,
Kristin