T'was the Thursday before Iron

It's Wednesday night.  My sneakers are sill on and I am sitting on my bed in Florianopolis, Brasil.  (I spell it with an "s" because that's how they spell it here).  My bike is still disassembled and my bags are unpacked.

I will only stay here for one night.

I had two mini-moments of stress today.

1.  I never confirm flights.  Today was different.  I hopped on the Rio International website to check the status of my flight leaving at 2:19pm.  No flight scheduled.  I didn't receive a confirmation mail for my flight, just the one confirming the reservation and asking to confirm payment.  My mind started to diarrhea.  Did I pay.  Oh my God!  I hopped on my online banking and tried to retrieve a credit card statement from February.  No luck.  I frantically started searching my mail.  No confirmation.  Scene in my head: Diane hangs head at airport and cries.  She calls everyone she knows and asks for help.  I am sure I paid.  I have a reservation number.  I hopped on the Tam website and was relieved to see my name, with a flight time; 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.  I was happy that I edged on the side of caution with my pre-scheduled taxi.  (I never pre-schedule taxis either).

He was to arrive at 11:30.

2.  At 11:05, 11:06, 11:10, 11:15, and then 11:20 (when he finally picked up) I called to confirm.  "Estoy chegando"  (I am arriving) he said with trepidation in his voice.  I asked how long he would be and he replied, "15 minutes."  I have lived in Brasil long enough to know that 15 minutes was a crock of shit.  I made my way downstairs about 20 minutes later and waited on the street.  No taxi.

Traffic in Brasil can be really bad.  I have already missed one flight on my way to a race.  Observing the street clock, I thought (to be nice and give the late driver a chance) I'll wait until 11:50 and then I am taking a car off the street.  Guess what?  He didn't arrive.  I hoped in a taxi, and tried not to clench my jaw (as I am doing right now unconsciously) as we made it for the highway.  I had 45 minutes max. to arrive.  That little voice in my head said, "Don't worry Diane, you will make it on time."  Worry needs to stop when events are out of your control.

I made it on time,  check in was a breeze and once again, I didn't have to pay extra for my bike, or my 14kg of access weight.   Thanks TAM.

Here I am.  Sneakers now on the floor.  I think I am off to get some peanut butter and dinner.

Tomorrow I get my race kit and change hotels.

I feel pretty good.  Really good actually.

Peace and Grit,
D. Time to race (2 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes)