September 10, 2009

Tic Toc


As is the case with most important, exciting or highly anticipated life experiences, time is absolutely flying during Ironman week. I got here so early yet feel like it's been a minute and we're already just two days from show time. The official activities kicked off today with the Gatorade practice swim in Lake Monona. I met friends there at 7 and braved the blue-green algae to enjoy an hour in open water. Despite the algae, the swim was great. We spent some time treading to prepare ourselves for the mass start and we took a couple breaks out in the middle of the lake and just bobbed around and chatted. We were the only people on the course playing Marco Polo and chatting. Some of the athletes are just way too serious. I think our approach is much more fun.


After the swim I went through race registration and it was the first thing this week that made me feel sad. I think it's because I was a volunteer there last year and saw how excited and nervous everyone was, and imagined myself in their shoes a year later. I'm excited, but not in the same way I should have been and I know I may not be able to finish. Most of the time I don't even think about it, but the check in process made it feel very real for a moment.

The rest of the day was a blur. I had a long lunch with friends, retrieved my bike from Tribike Transport, dropped it at a bike shop, hit the expo for some IMWI gear (yes, I bought branded gear BEFORE a race... I'm a risk taker) and met more friends for dinner.


If my goal was to come here, experience the Ironman for everything I possibly could, have fun, visit my family and enjoy my friends, I'm hitting it 100%. I'm looking forward to the final two pre-race days before the big day on Sunday.

Swimming
Time - 1:00:00

4 comments:

  1. I'm just gonna say it, I have a good feeling about this race...

    I'm glad you bought the gear!!

    L

    ReplyDelete
  2. good luck on sunday! Whatever happens even starting an ironman and getting through two thirds of it is still a super human feat to me.

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  3. From Hawaii... just wanted to wish you a great race on Sunday!!

    Maybe Kona is in your future :) Hold your head high... you are already a winner!

    ReplyDelete

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