this is probably a bad idea.

Me. Doing a for reals outdoor Triathlon next week. Don't worry, it's all of about 12 people 'competing' in this Tri. I got an exclusive invite thanks to my training buddy. I guess this means I should head to the pool and give swimming a shot for the first time in.... oh, you know.... FIVE MONTHS. Oh, and ride a road bike for more than 20 minutes (did that for the first time yesterday).

This may be a bad idea, I know I'm a slow swimmer, yesterday showed me I'm a very tentative and slow road biker. Mostly because I am not coordinated. I am terrified of falling. Because you can't fall off a bike in the gym.... well that made those indoor tri's much easier.

But this is the real deal. Saturday I will be lining up at 6:30a to swim in a lake, ride a road bike 10 miles and run.

With such a small field of competitors my greatest athletic fear may come to fruition. Which is that I come in last. Yeah, yeah, all that matters is that you finish, blahblahblah. I wish I could think that way, still working on that one.

After my last indoor tri, I am keeping my hopes and goals low. Because that thing was a big 'ol hot mess that sent me into a downward spiral of childish 'I WILL NEVER SWIM IN PUBLIC AGAIN' fits. There may have been a few tears. Mostly just because I cry a lot. That still doesn't mean I'd be happy to come in dead last this weekend. I hate being last in ANYTHING, it's called youngest kid in a big family syndrome.

The only upside here is that I will have my training buddy by my side, and I am far more comfortable in lakes than pools. I think what I discovered is that I like personal space, and in a lake, I can get away from other swimmers (even if i get off course and it slows me down a bit) if needed. Personal SPACE. I like it. A LOT. Unless it involves smothering my dog with snuggles and kisses. He gets no personal space. I mean, his paws smell like Frito's, can't resist smothering that boy.

Off to see if I can manage a 30 minute swim. Because I have no doubt that's how long it will take me to swim 600y in that lake next Saturday.... Floaties blown up, flippers on.... and GO.