"Oh The Anticipation!"

It builds every day. Right now I just want to get to Penticton and get organized. I think(hope) that once I can see the course and test the water I will start to feel in control. It's not that I'm overly worried about anything in particular, it's just fear of the unknown. Driving through the low mountains of Montana today was a good experience as I expect the course to be similar types of grade even though we were quite a bit higher overall today (2000 metres). The highest Ironman point is about 800 metres.

We only have about 800 kms to go so our tentative plan is to get to the border tomorrow and then on saturday finish the last leg by taking the long way to Penticton. Which coincidentally follows the last 120kms of the bike course...all the hard parts!

I'm paranoid that I'm gonna stub a toe or get a cold over the next few days, even though I haven't had any kind of minor illness ever since I started training. I suppose that's why they call it paranoia eh?

A part of my mind is also back home with my kids and my grandchildren. I know I need to focus and try to forget about them for a while but I just can't see that happening. The best I can do is try to kep it in perspective and use my love for them as a source of energy as opposed to letting it drain me. Maybe if I think about how much they love me and the good things they wish for me it will help. Yup...that's gonna be my strategy.

My wife has been doing her best to keep me distracted but I don't know how much more of that I can do either. After all I am 53 years old and I need to save my legs!! Then again I say screw it...no pun intended...life is short!

I'll tell you one thing I don't regret is taking the RV. It gives us such independance which will be even more important in the week leading up to the race. The very best part about a motorhome has to be taking a dump while riding down the road! I've even taken a shower although that's a bit more adventuresome. And I have been very surprised by the facilities that cater to RVers as we moved across the country. Other than the first night we have easily found RV parks, everyone of which has complete water, electricilty, and sewage hookups....not to mention wireless internet! Too much! Can you imagine the advantage when I get there, over people who have to stay in hotels. Hell, I'll probably win the race!

Today's workpout was a weird kind of thing. Thirty kms on my bike followed by a 15 mnute jog. It hardly seems worth putting the wheels on my bike but that's what they tell me I need to do. After all it would be hard to ride without them...man I kill me!! And it was a beautiful day with beautiful scenery. Here's where I rode.



I actually stopped and took a picture with my phone which explains the low resolution, but you get the idea. A guy could ride all day here.

Tomorrow will be a complete day off so I expect to be totally stir crazy by the time we arrive in Penticton on Saturday. Fortunately my first order of business when we do arrive will be a 60 km ride with a short run. The reduced trainig also allows me to have a few beers. I really like Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale if you've never tried it. It is one of the few that I've tried that don't seem to burn my throat. I'm on my third tall one! Good for me! No booze once I get to the Okanagan!!

I wish to dedicate day 336 to Wanda, the lovely, gentle, humourous lady who gave us the "special" rate at the park tonite. If the whole world were like her there would be no war!

And after 336 days of finding quotes I found one written just for me. This one is brilliant in it's simplicity, and I need to wear it around my neck. I will resist my normal temptation to find a few others...this one stands alone! I'm going to sleep with it, and I'm gonna wake up with it. Maybe it will hit you like it hit me.

“If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of troubles"---Elbert Hubbard

love
peter