Malibu, California United States Michael Epstein Sports Productions, Inc. 71F / 22C Overcast

Total Time = 2h 47m 12s Overall Rank = 360/ Age Group = F 25-29 Age Group Rank = 10/48

Slept remarkably well until 3am. I woke up and felt like I had forgotten how to swim. I knew I could bike and run but swimming in an Ocean felt like something I was definitely NOT comfortable with. I squeezed my boyfriend's hand and managed to get back to sleep for maybe an additional 15 minutes. I've ocean swam plenty of times to practice, even did the course swim a bunch. Still, I was freaking out. This race meant so much to me because it was my second Olympic. My first one I was doing just to do, to finish strong and have a good time but mainly just to finish. I ended up feeling like crap for that one! But this one, MALIBU... I wanted to actually do well this time, and that's where all the nerves were coming from. I signed up for this race almost 8 months before today. I had completely amped up my training. I did my first plan that had two a day workouts. I did my hill climbs and intervals and thresholds and tempos and reached a point where I thought I was breaking down but ended up breaking through. I had a good taper. I focused on my nutrition way more than I ever have. I wanted to kick ass and I knew I was ready to but was almost afraid to. It's so easy to go easy.
Alarm went off at 4. Right out of bed, starbucks was already in the fridge from last night (iced latte). ate oatmeal and got my race suit and morning clothes on. I have my routine down but my extra nerves this morning kind of threw my focus around. My boyfriend does the most amazing job of amping me up yet making me feel relaxed at the same time. He played good race day songs for me while I drove and told me it was my course, my race. Maybe it's because I'm newer to the sport, but race day mornings are some of the most memorable lapses of time to me. I remember the song played and all the conversations and have such visuals of each morning before a big race I've done. One day I'll start to forget, once I have 10 Ironmans under my belt. But for now, I really soak it up. Once we parked I found a good spot for my bike and felt comfortable because I had already checked out the bike out run out etc the day before and knew my rack was 5th from the end. Didn't talk to anyone this time besides Doug on the other side of the gate. I really took my sweet ass time setting all my stuff up. I think I was trying to hold on to the pre-race because I was deathly afraid of the race. In the pictures Doug took of me, my face looks like I had just seen a ghost. Ate my powerbar energy fruit smoothie bar like planned and got my wet suit on. headed to the mandatory meeting.

walking to the swim start, wanting to puke, and there was Doug. Here to relax me again! Who knew he was coming to come to the swim start all the way down at tower 9!
I got in the water and instantly felt better. It felt warm and I swam around a bit, went past the breakers, felt my stroke out. I was feeling good. Watched the first wave go out. went back to shore and anxiously awaited my wave, 30 minutes after the official start!