How much do performance do you lose....

probably this is not what you would like to hear but I spoted the info below a few days ago:

That been said, if you are gping to race I would approach it as a fun non-spectations kind of day, pace myself to go out at whatever pace allows me to finish (even if that means going much slower of what I know I could do if fit) and just enjoy the day. The experience will be tough for sure but it is what it is... good luck

One factor that effects how quickly you lose your fitness is how long you have been fit. If this was your first year you'll lose it quicker than if you have been training for 5.

Have fun...don't put pressure on yourself. You did what was important for your family..now a little fun for you.

I am unsure how much you will have lost in terms of fitness, but my guess is you need a shot of confidence right about now to combat the thought that you "don't know if you can do anything", as you say.  So, here are a few thoughts that might help you prepare for this race.  With any of this, take your training easy at this point, stretch and ice accordingly.  Pushing it now is not going to help you with the race.

1. Swim, bike and run each of the distances sperately just to show yourself that you can, in fact, still "do it".  Again - take it slow and easy.
2. With the swim, practice in open water now before the race concentrating on technique - not your speed.  Finish the distance and this should help build back your confidence.  You should not have lost much swim technique after this time, just fitness.  Since much of the swim is all about your efficiency, I think you will do fine for the typical sprint's 400-800 meter swim. 
3. Don't worry about the bike.  You might not average your normal speed, but you can certainly finish it without problem if your TT early in the year was 40mi at 18 1/2mph.  It helps me to complete a brick to make sure the legs get a chance to "remember" what the transition to run is like.  Remember that the run part of the brick does not need to be 5K to be effective. Make it a mile.
4. Assuming that the run is the typical 5K, do a 5k at a reasonably comfortable pace just to show yourself that you can. 

I like the idea of thinking of this race as a fun race.  That type of mindset can take a lot of presure off of you. 

Sorry - I just comprehended that your race is this weekend.  My fault for not paying attention. 

Change of plans then:

Do an OWS for the same distance - this is sometimes the hardest part of a Tri for a triathlete in their first year.  This might be your strongest part, though, in which case you will not have lost anything.  And, run 5k slow, just to show yourself that you can do it.  You should have time to do this before the weekend.

Good luck.  You'll do fine.  Let us know how you it went.

Thank you all.  Definitely not what I _wanted_ to hear, but in a way comforting to hear it now, and far better now that going into the race Sunday and feeling it before knowing it.  Barring a hurricane (uh, hello Hanna) I will be doing the race Sunday, but I will take it easy, and go just for fun...or at least try...I'm a bit bad at the 'taking it easy' part! 

To all fellow East-coasters, and especially those down in the Carolinas et al, good luck weathering the storm!!! 

Hi Folks,

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement.  I did my race (race report posted) and finished with flying colors.  I did NOT lose everything, though I wasn't precisely in top form.  I took it pretty easy (maybe a little too easy and had a good time, and that's what really matters.  So, for those of you others out there who might have fallen off of training for a while, do not despair!  You have not lost it all, just do what you can, and go to your races and have fun.

Now, to get back into training!