Happy Tri Eve!

I really appreciate all the concern about my amazing experience on Thursday, where I claimed a truck gave out free ice cream, massages, and manicures.  Despite how much this sounds like a kidnapping waiting to happen, it was true.

 We got there about ten minutes after it started and they were about to close up shop. We were the last lucky "customers". I got the last ice cream, so I fed some to my friend Andrea while she got a massage, which actually sounds like my version of heaven.

 The massage was quick and the manicure was actually just getting our nails painted, but I still think it was a pretty good way to spend 20 minutes of my life.

This morning I was up at 5:40 to do my long run with my group, and then do all the required things to participate in my first triathlon tomorrow! Which were: pick up my packet at a hotel, drive to the park where the triathlon will be to rack my bike, and drop Lily's bike off to her at another hotel (long boring story why I had to do that part). Which left me trying to bring two bikes down three flights of stairs at 6am. I don't recommend it.

I got to the running store at 7am and knocked out 18 miles with my friends Jill and Jackie. Jackie was fighting serious calf pain, but she fought through it like a champ. We kept the pace nice and easy so she wouldn't aggravate it even more, and most of the run I felt like I could have been going a bit faster (except on the hills), which is good the day before a big race.

I had this crazy idea that by bringing a banana I could drive around doing all the bike stuff and not eat until I got home. Good thing our coach got Dunkin Donuts bagels for us, since I didn't get home until after 2pm and I was starving even WITH the bagel. DD was rather pathetic after last week's amazing bagel in Queens, but after 18 miles, it hit the spot.

Chocolate milk and bagel in the car - breakfast of champs

After getting my packet at the expo, I headed over the race start to rack my bike. Seeing everything set up for tomorrow's race got me really excited. It's a women's only race, so everything was pink, my favorite color.

Look at all those bike racks!

Even the porto-potties were pink!

Bike officially racked!

 Irongirl is all fancy with my name! The last almost triathlon you just put your bike anywhere you wanted when you got there that morning.

 I got a compliment from the volunteer on my mad skills putting my sticker on the bike. Six years of teaching has not been for nothing!

 

I'm in love with the pink race shirt.

After all that, once again, my ice bath attempts were thwarted.

 No worries though, I just went to another store, which turned out to be a dollar cheaper. Score.

 3 giant pickles, cherry juice to reduce inflammation, and water.  Completely normal ice bath requirements, right?

Packing for a tri is so complicated, but everything on the checklist they gave me is checked off. I have to be at Lily's house at 4:30 am tomorrow, so good thing I'm exhausted and ready to pass out at 8pm tonight. Hopefully.