The alarm was set for 4:45 but I was definitely awake long before that. I got out of bed when the alarm went off and started drinking my yummy slim fast and packing the rest of my bags. 
Elizabeth braided my hair and I felt like I was in first grade again because she always used to do my hair when I was little. Ok, maybe not first grade, because I still had a bowl cut in first grade and not enough hair to braid, so maybe like third grade or something. Anyway, you get the idea. I ceremoniously dawned my Team W shirt, grabbed my stuff, and headed out the door. Our hotel was awesome and had a shuttle to take athletes to the race so our lovely family members didn't have to leave with the rental cars quite as early. I met Robin, Josh, Randy, Shellie, and Laurie downstairs before we left. Robin, Laurie, and I hopped on the hotel shuttle and I was pleasantly surprised to learn the person sitting next to me was Michael Lovato - a pro. He wasn't racing, but was there working and Robin talked to him the whole way to the race. Apparently she had met him 2 weeks earlier at the Lonestar Triathlon.
Robin and I then tried to find a short bathroom line and none were to be found. We waited a good 15 minutes and were freaking out because it was very close to 6:30 and we still had to put our wetsuits on and pump up our tires before leaving transition at 6:30 when it closed. We did mange to take care of it all in time and I also saw my family at the last second. I was very glad I saw them. It would have been unsettling to have to take off without seeing them. Robin was also able to see her husband last minute as well which was just what she needed. She was very nervous and weepy as we were walking out of the bike transition area heading to the swim start. I just held on to her and tried to calm her down the best I could. I told her we were about to go have the time of our lives and that this was the fun part we had worked so hard to get to. 
We found Shellie, Randy, and Laurie just beforehand so it was good to see more familiar faces. Chad and Michelle also joined us. We all jumped in the lake hand-in-hand and began the short swim to the start line.
We ended up treading water for about 10 minutes before the cannon went off and that is when I started getting agitated. People don't know how to calmly tread water and I was already getting punched and kicked and we hadn't even started yet! When you are in a freakin' wetsuit you basically float without trying. Aggressive life-saving water treading is NOT necessary.
Elizabeth braided my hair and I felt like I was in first grade again because she always used to do my hair when I was little. Ok, maybe not first grade, because I still had a bowl cut in first grade and not enough hair to braid, so maybe like third grade or something. Anyway, you get the idea. I ceremoniously dawned my Team W shirt, grabbed my stuff, and headed out the door. Our hotel was awesome and had a shuttle to take athletes to the race so our lovely family members didn't have to leave with the rental cars quite as early. I met Robin, Josh, Randy, Shellie, and Laurie downstairs before we left. Robin, Laurie, and I hopped on the hotel shuttle and I was pleasantly surprised to learn the person sitting next to me was Michael Lovato - a pro. He wasn't racing, but was there working and Robin talked to him the whole way to the race. Apparently she had met him 2 weeks earlier at the Lonestar Triathlon.Once the van pulled up and kicked us out there was no turning back. Robin and I went to our 
bikes and then to drop off our special needs bags and to put more stuff in our transition bags. Your life during the race and the days surround the race consists of 5 bags: morning clothes bag, transition 1 bag, bike special needs bag, transition 2 bag, and run special needs. It is almost like a pop quiz or a test to make sure you got everything in the right bag. If you failed, you really failed, and don't necessarily know you failed until hours into the race when you get to one of the bags and what you thought was there wasn't. This year I did put hot pink lists on the outside of each bag to keep me more organized. I think it worked very well.
bikes and then to drop off our special needs bags and to put more stuff in our transition bags. Your life during the race and the days surround the race consists of 5 bags: morning clothes bag, transition 1 bag, bike special needs bag, transition 2 bag, and run special needs. It is almost like a pop quiz or a test to make sure you got everything in the right bag. If you failed, you really failed, and don't necessarily know you failed until hours into the race when you get to one of the bags and what you thought was there wasn't. This year I did put hot pink lists on the outside of each bag to keep me more organized. I think it worked very well. 
Robin and I then tried to find a short bathroom line and none were to be found. We waited a good 15 minutes and were freaking out because it was very close to 6:30 and we still had to put our wetsuits on and pump up our tires before leaving transition at 6:30 when it closed. We did mange to take care of it all in time and I also saw my family at the last second. I was very glad I saw them. It would have been unsettling to have to take off without seeing them. Robin was also able to see her husband last minute as well which was just what she needed. She was very nervous and weepy as we were walking out of the bike transition area heading to the swim start. I just held on to her and tried to calm her down the best I could. I told her we were about to go have the time of our lives and that this was the fun part we had worked so hard to get to. 
We found Shellie, Randy, and Laurie just beforehand so it was good to see more familiar faces. Chad and Michelle also joined us. We all jumped in the lake hand-in-hand and began the short swim to the start line.
We ended up treading water for about 10 minutes before the cannon went off and that is when I started getting agitated. People don't know how to calmly tread water and I was already getting punched and kicked and we hadn't even started yet! When you are in a freakin' wetsuit you basically float without trying. Aggressive life-saving water treading is NOT necessary.
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