Coach Patrick and Coach Rich of suggested that checklists, making them, checking them, repeating this process, could help to dissipate nervous energy and prevent blowing the taper. I liked Rich's suggestion too about using brown paper shopping bags, to keep things organized and accessible. I stopped by King Kullen this morning and offered to buy 10 bags; the checkout girl handed me 15 and a smile.
Next, I made up checklists. Six of them.
Bike Setup
□ Power bars
□ Jelly beans
□ Power shots
□ Tubes
□ Levers
□ Co2
□ Electrical tape
□ Rubber bands
□ Aero drink
□ 3 bottles water
□ Nuun
□ Bento box
□ Peanut m&m
□ Paperclip
□ Velcro straps
□ Plastic coverup
Race Morning
□ Wetsuit
□ Swimsuit
□ Earplugs
□ Goggles
□ Swimcap
□ Flipflops
□ Bodyglide
□ Timex Watch
□ Towel
□ Light jacket
□ Beanie
Swim to Bike Transition
□ Race belt
□ Bib shorts in plastic bag
□
□ Socks in plastic bag
□ Shoes in plastic bag
□ Sunglasses
□ Gloves
□ Bandana
□ Light jacket in bag
□ Helmet
Bike Special Needs
□ Pump
□ Socks in plastic bag
□ Bandana in plastic bag
□ Extra gloves
□ Power Bars
□ Jelly Beans
□ Levers
□ CO2
□ Tubes
□ Extra Lenses
□ Biofreeze
□ Nuun
□ Fig newtons in plastic bag
□ Electrical tape
□ Bandaids in plastic bag
Bike to Run Transition
□ Shorts in plastic bag
□ Short sleeve Shirt in plastic bag
□ Long sleeve shirt in plastic bag
□ Hat
□ Socks in plastic bag
□ Shoes in plastic bag
□ Bandaids in plastic bag
□ Garmin 305
Run Special Needs
□ Socks in plastic bag
□ Short sleeve shirt in plastic bag
□ Long sleeve shirt in plastic bag
□ Shoes in plastic bag
□ Bandaids in plastic bag
□ Vaseline
I printed 4 copies of each, stapled one to each bag, put two copies in each bag and then the last copy in a three ring binder. This Binder also included the Ironman Athlete Guide and an hour by hour schedule covering the drive up right through the day after the race.
Tonight I'll spread the bags out in the living room, along with every piece of tri gear i own, and I will sort it all out and make a shopping list for whats missing.
