149: Last night on Earth

The workouts are done, the taper is done, and now the cabin fever has set in...2 days until Eagleman 70.3, the first A-race of the season.

I've spent the day shopping for basic race items and packing my gear, which has been a welcome distraction from the task at hand. I haven't slept well for a week, and my focus has been shot at work and at home. It's time to go.

With each activity I've completed over the past week, the thought runs through my mind that "this is the last time I'll do ____ before the race." Maybe that's a little morbid. Or maybe it's appropriate...the forecast for race day is mid 90s with 75 percent humidity, 15mph winds, and not a drop of shade on the run course. Most likely, it just shows how narrow my focus has become after 6 months of training for a single day. Everything is about triathlon now. Just don't tell my fiance.

I didn't sign up for this expecting a cakewalk...attrition is the name of the game. As Chris McCormack says "It's Ironman...if it was easy, everyone would do it." In this case, it's a half-Ironman, but it also marks the halfway point of my journey. In another 5 months, I will be stepping up to the line in Florida, with a task that is twice as daunting: 140.6 miles. So maybe I'll keep that in mind on Sunday, and run with a smile on my face no matter how bad I feel. The finish line is calling.