Triathlon! (just saying it makes my stomach shaky)

Yikes! I just registered for the SML Appalachian Power Triathlon. Scary. The events themselves don't scare me. Just the unknowns involved with something that I have never done before. A lot goes into a race that includes three very different sports requiring different equipment, clothing and accessories! The physical preparation is only one side of the coin. Here is a rundown of last weeks training:

Mon AM: Run 4 miles
Tue AM: P90X Shoulders/Arms DVD
PM: Swim 60 minutes (1600 meters!)
Wed PM: Run 4 miles
Thr AM: Slept in
PM: 9 mile bike ride (Ryan came with me--Yay Ryan!!)
Fri AM: Run 4 miles
Sat AM: Yoga

Besides only getting on a bike twice so far and only having time to swim once a week (maybe I can train for real when kids are grown up?) I am excited to get out there and see what I can do. The parts that worry me are a little more shallow, I guess:

1. My hair. Swim cap to bike helmet to...Yuck! Gonna have to do a dress rehearsal on that one. French braids? Bun? Cut it all off? Sigh. My hair.

2. What to wear. I don't feel like paying $30 for a pair of tri shorts, but I think that is the route I will have to take. They dry quickly so you just wear them under your wetsuit (that will be #3), they have some padding in the behind to help out with the bike ride, and they are long enough that I won't have to worry about chafing during the run. Fun.

3. The wetsuit. Enough said.

4. Transitions between events. They have to be fast so I need to practice them. Will I be too numb after the 60 degree swim to tie my shoe laces? How long will it take to reapply my mascara and check my hair? How in the heck am I going to get out of my wetsuit quickly????? That just doesn't sound easy. Must practice.

5. Eating and drinking. I think people use the bike ride as a chance to refuel. Will my coffee cup fit in the water bottle holder? Will my coffee still be hot after the swim? Oh wait. Gatorade. yes.

6. What if I have to go the bathroom? Let's hope it is while I'm still in the lake.

Hmm, there are lots more little things that keep me up at night, but hopefully I'll have time to sit down and research before the race to get some of these questions answered. Especially the mascara thing. Better go practice.