Under normal circumstances

I would be absurdly disappointed about this, but given the reality of recent lack of training (and especially lack of swimming and running!), I must say that there is a bit of a "saved by the bell" aura hanging over my head right now.

I was very sorry earlier this week to hear that the trails on which the Survival of the Shawangunks race is run had been very seriously damaged by Irene. They've now sent the new course details, and for once in my life I will say that I am relieved to have an insanely challenging challenge downgraded to 'regular' levels...

The original course featured 8 segments, bike-run-swim-run-swim-run-swim-run, with a total of c. 18 miles of trail running; the revised course still has the initial 30-mile bike leg, but then has one long trail run (12 miles - not sure how hilly/rugged trails are, which will obviously affect my pace a great deal) and then just a .7mi swim and the final .7mi run (or hike in my case) up a steep hill to the finish. It's still going to take me 5 hours for sure, but 5 rather than 7 and not nearly so many run miles (and none of the huge gear complexities that come from the frequent switching-back-and-forth bit) seems quite manageable.

Cue huge sigh of triaspirational relief - this seems eminently doable? I am so under-trained, I had already resolved that if I miss course cutoffs and get pulled I will resign myself to it & go and cheer on racers at finish line (my father was asking this morning, when I said this, how the logistics would work, and I said that I believed there is usually a vehicle to transport stragglers to the finish where they can reunite with gear, but I am not sure about how this would work on a trail run! Questions to ask at the pre-race briefing, that's for sure)...