And then I wake up, startled to find that I'm not in the Ocean

I'm less than two months from the Mermaid, and earlier this week I had my first race dream. I was swimming and struggling and was the last person out of the water. And I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. In the dream, I thought I was going to drown. And I woke up concerned about having taken on this race. Will I be well enough prepared? Can my body handle two thirds of a triathlon? Will my relay partner DNF on the bike? If we don't finish, do we still get the swag? And can we stay for the afterparty?

I emailed my partner on Monday morning, asking her if registering for the newbie triathlon clinic might help. She thought it would and assured me that I will probably not drown. And she even offered me an out. She said we could bag the race if I thought I couldn't make it through the swim.

I haven't been swimming much, though I am getting back into my routine. I'm not really in super shape. I'm carrying around seven extra pounds, and they do slow me down a little. Maybe she has a point. I thought about all the other reasons I could, just seven months post-mono, take her up on her offer to back out.

And I told her absolutely not. I'm a strong swimmer - even if I haven't been swimming in the Ocean in about a decade. I'll learn how to get into a wetsuit. I probably won't become hypothermic only swimming a quarter mile. And I'm stubborn. I've paid my registration fees and I'm ready to race. Kinda. Or at least I will be by Sept. 27. Probably.

This will be fun. What better way to do a triathlon than by splitting up the race? I'll swim, my friend will bike, and then we'll walk together. And really, she has to ride 11 miles up the Hill of Doom. My whole little quarter-mile swim and 2.5 mile walk is definitely the better end of the deal.

I have no goal to finish fast. I definitely won't be at the front of the pack. But we will finish this race.

And did I mention there'll be beer waiting for us at the finish line?