Is it too late . . .

I always have good intentions, but often do not follow through on them. THUS: I have signed up for the 400 IM in 2.5 weeks (the 0.5 being critical) without really having trained for it. To put it politely. My team mostly trains freestyle, so I have a good freestyle base. In the last 4 weeks I have gone to the pool twice (woo hoo) on my own and done sets of 50s of stroke on 1:00. 8 x 50 to be exact, twice through, both times. Twice at practice in the last month I have made myself do fly instead of free for warmup, and once I made myself do stroke (IM) (100s) instead of free on the free interval. Yesterday we had a heavy stroke workout, rare. After yesterday's practice I did my second 400 IM in 7 years, with a wonderful time of 7:10. SO: What's the reality of any time dropped in the next 1.5 weeks? What tack would people in my position take (please be kind). I signed up as a dare. I *had* thought I would be *self-disciplined* and train on my own but *I have learned I am not.* Input appreciated! P.S. For those of you with kids struggling with college entrance essays, I think this would be a great essay if you changed all the "I didn't do it even though I planned to" to "I am so proud of my self-discipline," etc., etc., "my ability to motivate myself for my own high challenges," etc. etc. etc., "I pushed myself without outside coercion," etc., etc., "This is a trait I was surprised to see that I have, and I have become much more confident in this, my senior year, in my ability to meet challenges head-on." "Swimming has made me a better person." "I am a good person." "I am just who you want in your freshman class." Swimming has made ME a better person too but apparently I am still lagging in the self-motivation arena. I would like to break 7 minutes in the 400 IM. I would mostly like not to die in the fly, which is my fastest, after free, but in which I die after a nice brisk 50. Fast is relative. Please also keep that in mind with any comments. izzzzzzzzy P.P.S. I now know that real men swimmers and all men moisturize and use lip balm because they are now doing it on the T here in Boston. So the stigma is gone, dudes. You can lather up on public transportation. Swim on, excellent forumites!!!!!