Off
Annabelle arrived from New Jersey last night around 11pm. We took a toll road to pick her up and there was no traffic at all. Easy peasy. We chatted for a while when we got back to the hotel and then fell asleep around 12:30. I slept like a rock until 3 am, when I got up to use the restroom. I couldn't really fall asleep after that-tossed and turned. But I stayed in bed until seven which was nice. Then we woke up and went downstairs for breakfast.
This was my breakfast this morning. Potatoes and a waffle with strawberry sauce, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.
Just kidding! That was Chris's breakfast!
Annabelle had a waffle with just maple syrup.
I had some orange juice, some oatmeal, some fruit, a cinnamon roll, and a bowl of fruit loops.
Annabelle!
After breakfast we went for a walk. Kristi reported in about the practice swim. Kristi and Bonnie are not wearing wet suits, Wayne is going to wear his, but he says he got hot after twenty minutes. Kristi said that water is really murky and that you can't see the person swimming right next to you. And when she changed out of her swimsuit/unitard, there was lake scum on her. Yuck. Here's a picture from their swim this morning.
I'm glad I didn't go swimming. We walked over there and saw everyone practicing. I feel like I may have gotten more anxious if I had swam.
We left the hotel and walked through Market Street on our way to the swim start. They were setting up what looked like the finish line. Here are some pics from our journey over to the swim start.
I think I'm going to petition the USAT to see if I can ride this donkey instead of my bike tomorrow. Oh no wait, I think Kristi already did that.
Looks like they have the finishers tent all set up for me. I will be crawling across the finish line anyway, so they have the tent at the perfect height! Hahaha!
Those crazy pro triathletes were out again today, they almost took out Chris just like Wayne yesterday!
piggie99?
Here's the Ironman Support Crew!
This picture was taken on the bridge over the swim start.
After we explored the swim start area we walked over to the transition area. We saw the swim exit again and figured out the path that we'll follow from the water to the changing tent. Then we went to the expo so Chris and Annabelle could look around. I found some Ironman coffee (Kona coffee in an Ironman package) that I got for my dad for his birthday. By the time we got to the expo the pups were hot and tired! We were walking for about two hours, and they were ready for some air conditioning!
So we went back to the hotel where I finished packing my gear bags. I made tons of bagels with the almond spread, baggies of goldfish, and baggies of cookies. I tried on my bike shirt to see just how much I could fit in there. Annabelle was laughing at my new big butt!
There are four bagels, five accel gels, and a big ziplocky filled with goldfish in there! I hope I don't fall over backwards on the bike from the weight on my back! Hahahaha!
At noon we met up with the crew and headed over to drop off our bikes and gear bags. I double bagged my gear bags because we're supposed to get thunderstorms tonight. I also put plastic bags over my handlebars and seat, just in case.
This is my designated row. My number is 370, so my bike is at the very end of this row. Right next to a huge speaker that is right at ear level. They decided to throw me my very own party in transition!
This is where we dropped off our swim gear bags. In the morning we'll come running (or walking) up this ramps from the far side of the photo, past the bags, grab the bag with our number on it, and head into the changing tent. I feel like it took a whole lot of faith to just leave my stuff there! I asked what happens if someone grabs the wrong bag, and the volunteer says they do their best to make sure that doesn't happen! I'm still not sure if we have to find it ourselves, or if a volunteer will have it ready for us.
This is the bike transition area. The tent at the far side is the changing tent. After changing we grab our bike and run in the direction of where I'm standing for the pic, out to the road, and then start the bike ride.
I have a small world story from today...while I was setting up my bike I was talking to the lady who was setting her bike up two away from mine. We were talking about the wind this past spring and she asked where I was from. I told her Austin and she said she was from Longview. I told her I had a friend from Longview, and that her name was Paula. She finished my sentence and said, "McKinney? That's my good friend!" What a coincidence! Paula had texted me to let me know she had a friend doing the race, but I never in a million years expected to bump into her-especially since I didn't know who she was! So we took a picture and I sent it to Paula!
As I was just typing the blog, Lisa called me and we talked for about 15 minutes. She is super friendly! She said that she has two friends that are going to be on the bike course on a motorcycle and that they're going to take photos, so she called to get my race number and my bike outfit details so they could see if they can find me and take photos! She plans on doing the swim in about 1:40-1:50, so she and I may end up at the bike transition at the same time! It was nice to talk to her, she's got a great attitude about the race and it was contagious! I'm even more excited after talking to her!
Here's me and Lisa. My bike is right behind me to my left.
After dropping off the bikes and gear bags we went out to eat. Chris, Annabelle, and I ate at La Madeline and everyone else ate at Potbelly's. I didn't want to eat there because I never have eaten there before and I don't want to try anything new today.
Here's what the police look like in the Woodlands. They wear red uniforms and they all ride around on horses. Pretty cool!
Here's my plan for the rest of the evening and for tomorrow morning. Kristi and Wayne are going to come over at five pm and we're going to cook pasta. Then I'm going to try to be in bed by eight. Even if I don't fall asleep right away, it'll be good to lie down. Oh yea, I'll set four alarms before I hit the sack. Then tomorrow morning my alarms will go off at four. I'll make my bagel and my smoothie and eat first thing. That will give me enough time to use the facilities a bunch of times before we head out. After I eat I'll double check my special needs bags. We're going to leave the hotel at 5:15 and walk to the bike transition area. I have my last minute list of things not to forget. I'll pump up the bike tires, get my number written on me, and put my special needs bag where they need to go. Hopefully we'll find out if it's wetsuit legal at that point. If it's not, I have to change into my one-piece swimsuit because the shirt I want to wear has a big pocket on the back (the blue one pictured earlier in this blog) and I don't need any extra drag! I want to leave transition at 6 am and walk over to the swim start, which is about a 20 minute walk. I want to have a good 30-40 minutes at the swim start before the swim starts so I can stand in the porto-potty line. Just like my magnet! Hahahaha!
Chris and Annabelle are all set up with where to go to watch and will do their best to make it to as many spots as possible. I hope I get to see them a lot!!!
Everyone has been calling/texting to send good wishes! My new co-workers all called me on speaker phone yesterday and Jenni just called me now. It's really motivating me to know that people will be sending me energy tomorrow! I'm getting more and more excited and less and less nervous! Yeah!!!
One of my biggest challenges for tomorrow will be remembering everything that happens so I can blog all about it on Sunday! One final blog! I can't believe it's here. I'm going to do my best to remember all the fun details, the horrible details, the emotions, the pain, and the triumph of crossing the finish line, so that I can have a really good final blog.
So how am I feeling? I can't believe the event is tomorrow. I feel like it's all very surreal. I'm very excited to get out there and just enjoy the day and everything that comes with it. I'm going to plan for the worst, but hope for the best. I'm going to keep my pace and nutrition in check. I'm going to try and enjoy the scenery of the bike route and the crowds on the run. When it's gets tough out there I will just remember how many people I have supporting me. I will try to relax and get through the mental and/or physical wall at that time. I've re-read the article about mental preparation and I feel like I've got a good plan in my mind. I'm not 100% confident that I will finish, but I am 100% confident that I will have fun trying!!!!!
M :)
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