Race Day Checklist - Triathalon Edition

For those of you who know me IRL, you know I like a spreadsheet. I use them not only to track important information, like work stuffs and Christmas presents but also to help with anxiety. How does a spreadsheet keep anxiety at bay, you may ask. Well, if I have everything in order on race day, I won't be worried I've forgotten something. Race Day nerves are much less. This is where a spreadsheet comes in handy, in the form of a race day checklist.


I have one for half marathons that I've used multiple times and never fails me. Now, that I am dabbling in triathlons of course I need one tailored for triathlons.


And now that I am 4 days out form the Tarpon Tri, I need to start packing and planning.
With the help of my darling coaches and the internet this is what I have come up with:
  

Swim:	Goggles	Swim Cap
	Timing Chip	Towel
	Swim, Bike, Run shorts	Flip Flops
Bike:	Bike	Tire Pump (leave in car)
	Spare Tube,	CO2 (2), co2 tool
	Tire tool,	Helmet
	Sunglasses	Spare water bottle for bike
	Bike Shoes	Shirt
	GU (3)	Make sure bike is in the correct gear
	GPS
	Inflate Tires before going to transition area morning of race
Run:	Running Shoes	# Belt with # attached
	Water bottle	Running Hat
	GU (3)
Additional Items:	32oz. Gatorade	Lens Cleaner
	Powder	32oz. Water
	Change of Clothes	Comfy Sandals
	Food & Drink	Chairs from Kayaks
	Spare Contacts	Prescription Glasses
	Lip Balm	Eye Drops
	Small ice chest	Safety pins

A few other tips I was given:
Things to do the day before:
Packet pickup,
Remember your chip
Eat on schedule
Survey course and transition area


The Morning of
Survey the transition area, swim in, bike out, bike in and run out.
Do a quick bike mount where the bike mount area is.


If there is anything you can think of that I have left off, please let me know.


By the way, if you were wondering why I posted my list, because I lost the one I had for IronGirl and had to make this one from scratch.

Gonna Tri

Am I seriuosly doing this? Guess I am. I signed up for the Iron Girl New Orleans Triathalon for this Sunday.

Not sure what I was thinking when I signed up. Actually, I know what I was thinking. I’ve wanted to do a tri for a while. The Iron Girl is a sprint tri, 1/4mi swim, 12mi bike, 3.1mi run. The bike and the run distances (and longer) I do multiple times a week. And we’ll chalk the swim up to being an over confident, pompous ass. Yep.

With two small girls and limitied pool access, I don’t really have time to train for the swim. But it’s only a 1/4mi and I’m strong. Or at least that’s what I thought until my first training swim. That swim did not go well. I struggled to get thru one length of the pool. After a few coaching session, my stroak is by no means perfect but it’s unlikely I’ll drown. My plan it to get in the back of my my wave and go slow. This will be an ugly, ugly swim but I’ll finish.

This will be my first time racing on my bike, Blue Betty. Because of my early morning training sessions, I rarely even ride near other people. I’m a little nervous of being close to other people on bikes. Again, I am no skilled cyclist. Oh, and I mount and dismount like an old lady. The running mount is way beyond my skill level. One day maybe, but first I need to work up the courage to get clipless pedals. Master that and I move on to more advanced stuff.

The run is the only thing I am not worried about. Who would have though that running would be my strong suit?! But it is. I may not be fast but I can do it forever, thru pain, with the wrong shoes and any other thing that can go wrong. I know that I will finish the run on my hands if need be. This is my comfort.

Hopefully, with smooth tranisitions and decent a decent bike and run I will put up a not too embarrising time. All I want is to finish. To finsih and get a medal.

Note: Due to the opening of the Mississippi River Spillway and the high winds we’ve been getting. There is a possiblity that the swim will get cancelled. The swim was cancelled for last weeks 5150. I will disapointed and relieved if the swim is cancelled. But mostly disapointed.