Overwhelmed. Undertrained. And ready to get to the finish line with a little help.

I think faith is incredibly important because you will become overwhelmed with what's happening and you will have waves of grief, but when you turn to your faith, I believe God will give you waves of grace to get through it. -- Joel Osteen

It is 10 days until IM Maryland and I am feeling appropriately freaked out.  I know I am undertrained due to mishaps and occasional mental funks.  I know I am overwhelmed, but that's pretty much a normal state of mind for anyone going into an Ironman.  This year it feels more like a burden than last year, when the overwhelm was mingled with excitement.  Don't get me wrong, I'm excited, but it's a different type of excitement.  An oh-my-God-I'm-going-to-throw-up kind of excitement, not a jump-up-and-down-in-a-giddy-manner type of excitement.

It's going to be OK.  I'm going to enjoy the day.  I'm going to look only as far as the minute and mile in front of me and ignore the big number of miles that lay ahead.  I'm going to smile.  I'm going to make friends.  I'm going to finish before midnight.  And it will all be OK.

I'm not usually very religious on my blog (or in person); I keep my faith and feelings under wraps.  Yeah, I know - you're not supposed to put your light under a bushel and all that, but I gotta say - right now, I am relying on my training -- as it has been -- and on God to get me through this.  It will take everything I have and more to finish this...and the more has to come from somewhere.  I am certain He will give me the power to dig deep and the grace to get through.

I probably won't say much until after the Ironman.  I'm not much for talking right now.  But I look forward to posting in early October with a medal around my neck, a finisher jacket on my body, and a tattoo on my leg.  Because I can do all things, with God who gives me strength...I don't have to be...strong enough.