Ironman France - Monday

Jun 16, 2008

So I haven't actually left the country yet but I have begun my vacation and all my focus is on packing for the trip so you might call this the prologue...

My vacation started off as kind of a bummer. To become officially registered for the Ironman, I am required to provide a medical certificate signed by a doctor that states I am medically fit to compete in an endurance event. Seems simple enough. The other guys got their forms signed quite easily. Their doctors took their blood pressure, measured their heart rate, and signed their certificates. So I didn't give much thought to getting mine signed. Well, after a series of blood tests and an EKG, I had my follow up appointment today. He wanted to do more tests and, there not being enough time to perform said tests, he stated it would not be prudent for him to sign the form. So that bummed me out for awhile. I do have a backup in that there will be doctors available at the race to sign my form (for 30 Euros) but I definitely did not want to have to go through that hassle not to mention the expense.

Anyway, I've been going through the packing process the past few hours and that has put me in a decidedly better mood. While I'm not quite packed yet, I have a pretty good handle on it and I have all day tomorrow. I've made my check lists which is half the battle and I think I have everything I need, including a couple of books for some easy reading. Actually, more than anything, I'm looking forward to getting involved with a good book. With all the training I've done over the past 8 months, the only reading I've been doing has been my daily exercise log.

Tomorrow is a travel day. We leave Toronto at 6:25 pm, arrive in Heathrow Airport 7 hours later at 6:25 am (they are 6 hours ahead), stop over for 3 hours then take another flight to Nice, arriving at 12:30 pm on wednesday. Total travel time, including the stopover, is a little over 12 hours. I'm hoping I get in a run or swim or something tomorrow just to calm my nerves a little. I don't think it's anxiety about the race. I think it's just part of the taper process; I'm definitely on the hyper side.

Until tomorrow...

-richard