1. Make sure to warm up in the water so that you're ready to go when the gun goes off.

2. Don't go too hard too early on the bike.

3. Make sure to enjoy yourself out there.

I dealt with my 1st HIM swim anxiety (40 mins) by being practically the last one to start swimming in my wave. It took all of the pressure off and I was able to steer myself into as much/little of the washing machine as I chose to when I caught up to the stragglers. I guess this approach gave me a sense of being more in control. It was a much better experience than my previous race, an Oly, where I was pummelled into fish food. Your confidence will make all the difference to you & I'm sure you'll come out the other end saying something along the lines of [i]Hey - that wasn't so bad![/i] Enjoy the experience, and best wishes for a smile on your face at the finish!

Good Luck BrentyBrent18, I look forward to your RR, I will be doing my first Half the following weekend.

No expectations will lead to a great race! Youv'e done the training and it will show.

Building on Jarhead's comment, you have done all the hard work, now is the time to get out and enjoy the experience. Also, and I'm sure you know it, but mentally remind yourself not to go out too hard at the beginning. As my sister likes to tell me, the race isn't won in the swim but it can sure be lost there, and it's easy in the excitement and churning (and if it's a mass start, there will plenty of this) to forget. I'm several marathons and triathlons in, and I still every so often find that I've started out faster than I really wanted, and had to remind myself to slow down or risk having nothing left for the last few miles.

One more thing, and again, I'm sure you know it, but it's easy to forget--don't mess with your nutrition on race day and try something different than you've done in training.

I'm sure you will do fantastic. Best of luck.

It really all depends on the Choptank's mood that day. It can be quite rough or like glass and there is no way to tell in the days prior. Just get through the swim without trashing your self.
The bike can be great fun as it's flatter than a puncture but the wind can be killer.
It looks like it's going to be a hot day so drink early and often and dump tons of water on yourself.
Take it chunk by chunk and and race YOUR race.
Have a great day!

Relax and be in the moment.
Remember how lucky you are to be competing in a half marathon.
Remind yourself of the above every time you are hurting.
No that you have done the distances in training, so finishing is not in doubt. How you manage your race is what it is about.
If the swim is rough get in a rhythm and have a mental list of some memories of things that get you pumped up ready to get you through.

Good luck. You are going to have a blast.

[quote=rachapkis]1. Make sure to warm up in the water so that you're ready to go when the gun goes off. +1 !!!

2. Don't go too hard too early on the bike. +1 !!!

3. Make sure to enjoy yourself out there. +1 !!!
[/quote]

you won't find better advice than this!

i did my first half 4 weeks ago and if you have done the training and you stick to your plan (both effort and nutrition) it will be so much fun and an amazing feeling of accomplishment when it all comes together. my goal was to finish, enjoy the bike and run the half. my dream time was 6 hours. the bike was went by in a flash, i ran the whole 21.1k (my first half marathon) and i finished in 5.59.47. the only negative was i took too long in transition. i think because i had done the training it was fun and not a suffer fest. good luck and i hope you have the same experience i did. it was a total blast.