The Big Event -- Saturday

Saturday! Sherry let us sleep in a bit so we didn't meet in the hotel lobby until about 9AM. Everyone from the Alabama/Gulf Coast chapter of TNT rode caravan-style from the hotel to the park. Sherry (AKA Mama Duck) led the way. Occasionally she check on her ducklings by calling to make sure everyone was keeping up. I was the last one to get in her truck, so she told me I had to wear the 'dunce cap'. It was really a thermal swim cap. When I declined, SHE decided to wear it. Just then, her phone rang and she instinctively stuck her cell phone inside the cap. "Cool!" she said. "It's the redneck's answer to Bluetooth!" Gotta love her!





After a quick stop to McDonald's, we rode out to the park. We all picked up our race packets and then wiggled into our wetsuits for a practice swim. Sherry told us to swim out to the sixth buoy and wait there for her to give us sighting instructions. I made it to the first buoy when the cold water stopped me dead in my tracks. I mentioned this in my thank you email and a few people wrote back and told me "You should have been wearing a wetsuit!" Dudes! I WAS wearing a wetsuit, but not on my FACE! I've got a whole bunch of funky things happening with my head that were just revealed in an MRI that I had last week. Hey Geoffrey! I guess I forgot to tell you that part when I asked why my practice lake swim at Oak Mountain was so awful!! Oops!! In fact, my neurosurgeon refused to clear me for the race then said "But I know you well enough to know that you're going to do it anyway!" So, that cold water hitting my face just felt like a shotgun blast every time I stuck my face in the water. I even rationalized that if I took longer breaths, that would give me time to recover, but the longer I swam the worse it got. Our TNT coordinator, Molly, even got in with me WITHOUT A WETSUIT -- God love her! She had me practice swimming without putting my face in the water. That helped with the pain, but it was incredibly tiring. After weeks of 6AM swim sessions, I've perfected my stroke to a nice rhythm that feels very effortless. I was at a loss to find a reasonable substitute. I finally made it to that sixth buoy but the group was long gone so I decided to head back to dry land. Sherry and I had a good talk when she got out of the water and I felt better mentally, but I was unsure if that was enough to get past the physical problems. I was looking forward to getting back to the hotel to see Andreas and the boys because if anybody can talk me through a difficult issue, it's 'mein Mann!'



I got back to the hotel just in time to nurse my raging headache and wait for Team Rauterkus. After a quick reunion we headed downstairs to meet my brother Carl for the pre-race Pasta Party. It was great to see my big brother. We don't get to see each other much, but he's always been a huge supporter of mine as I have tried to be for him. The participants, families and friends loaded up on carbs and listened to inspirational speeches from leukemia survivors and family members reminding us of why we were there. It was a bit somber, but it helped put the race in perspective and remind me of one of the team slogans -- "If you think training is hard, try chemotherapy!" Looking at it that way, that lake felt like a piece of cake.





After dinner, we met downstairs for a team meeting with just our chapter. Sherry briefed us on every aspect of the race and answered all of our last minute questions. Finally, at about 9PM, Sherry asked if there were any more questions. I said "Yes, can I go to bed now?" She said, "No, all of the Birmingham people have to stay for one more thing." I groaned and did as I was told. I learned early on that you don't argue with Mama Duck. Sherry then pulls out a little bag of supplies and proceeds to paint all of our toenails purple and green (TNT colors)! She made Greg (the only guy) go first. It was GREAT! She said that she's been doing that as long as she has been coaching TNT. I just had to take a picture!





Finally, after putting our names on the backs of our jerseys, it was time to head upstairs to pack our race bags and get some sleep before the big day. The TNT shuttles were rolling out at 4AM, but since we drove, Sherry said we didn't have to meet until 5. It still stunk, but I'll take a 4:30AM wakeup call over a 3:30AM call any day! I headed upstairs to see my family one more time before the race and go over all of my last minute details. Andreas was anxiously waiting for me, but the boys had nodded off already. Mama Duck had given us all toy ducks at dinner and even gave the boys baby ducks. Joshua fell asleep holding a whole family of ducks to which he had quickly laid claim. I tried to capture them all in the picture, but I think they had fallen under the covers.




It was 10:30 PM. Time to catch the opening scene of Saturday Night Live, get my last minute pep talk from Andreas and *try* to sleep. I was right, Andreas said all of the right things and I had a new feeling of confidence about the race. I went over the course in my mind as I drifted off to a restless sleep. I decided to break tradition and not even set hard goals this time. I just reminded myself of one very important thing that Sherry said -- "Enjoy the journey." At that point, the final results didn't matter, I worked hard and enjoyed every step of the way. All I needed to do was go out and have fun. That was exactly what I planned to do!


Coming up . . . THE GRAND FINALE!