Lately

Ironman Louisville race report coming soon, I promise! But right now I am really sick, probably just from the stress of the past few weeks. Last weekend was crazy, and the race was the least stressful part! Seriously, racing for me is just fun. I am very focused, but when I get to the start line, my work is done and I just get to enjoy my fitness and race my hardest. Pushing myself to the utmost is not that difficult for me, to be honest. It hurts like crazy but I am used to that ;)

A quick recap of past events, race not included: Friday I flew out to Louisville, and 'cause I wanted to wait 'till I was out of class I didn't get in until 11:45. PM, that is. Rented a car, drove to my hotel and crashed...only I couldn't sleep properly due to excitement. Saturday I head to the host hotel to check in and hang around the expo for a bit. I decide to stop by an ATM to get some cash, since I don't like swiping my card multiple times a day if I can help it. Get the cash...but don't grab the card in time so back into the machine it goes! I didn't know at the time that the ATM machines will usually shred the card when this happens, so I spent the next three hours desperately trying to get SOMEONE to get my card back for me. No one, even the police (yes I was that desperate) could/would help. Finally, after I call my bank I realize that the card is gone for good. Yay. Order a new one and pray that the cash I have will last through the weekend. Nope...but I have the best Mom in the world and she sent me some money. By that time I have about 1 hour to get back to my hotel, pack my race day bags, pick up my bike and get everything down to transition. I get there literally 5 minutes before it closes but manage to get it all in place. Whew!

I was hoping to visit Churchill Downs (the racetrack where the Kentucky Derby is held every year!!!) but it was getting late, so I ended up stopping by Whole Foods for dinner instead. They had my favorite pre-race sushi (shrimp roll, cooked since I am paranoid before big events) and also some young coconuts which I grabbed for part of my breakfast the next morning. Then I went back to my hotel and just tried to relax. It was hard though, since I couldn't stop thinking about the class I was going to miss on Monday. Grad school is scary!

Race day came and went, and all in all I am satisfied with my performance. Gave my best, that's all I can ask of myself. The next morning I changed my flight so I could have more time to hang around the expo in hopes of getting a roll-down Kona slot. Nope. Head the the airport, where it turns out there was a mix-up with my flights. My mom and I proceed to spend the next several hours calling every single airline that flies anywhere near Lubbock, trying to get me home. I get to Chicago, where there are more flights available, and FINALLY am able to book a flight that will take me through Memphis, to Lubbock. Sweet relief! There is nothing more stressful than sitting in an airport far away from home, thinking that you are going to be stranded there for the night, having no idea how on earth you are going to get home without spending several hundred dollars that you really don't have. But it all worked out. I got home to Lubbock late Monday night, and ever since then I have been desperately trying to catch up on readings and assignments. Grad school does not allow one to fall behind, even for a day or two!

Now I am just praying that this sickness goes away fast, so I can focus entirely on schoolwork. Thank God this is recovery week!