Ironman France - Saturday

Jun 21, 2008

Today has been comparatively uneventful. But that's probably the way it should be the day before an Ironman.

I've never done one of these events before. One thing I can say is that I'm extremely thankful I'm not doing this alone. Left to my own devices, I'd be freaking out doing last minute power rides along the bike course or doing speed work up and down the Promenade d'Anglaisse. For the past 3 day, you could walk anywhere along the Promenade and see hard, toned, muscular, hairless, steely-veined, superfit athletes either cycling, running, or squeezing into their wetsuits. Just watching them, I feel like a slow slug.

So what did WE do this morning? We went for a 35 minutes 12k bike ride. That's it! Watching these guys, Bill, Jim, and Brian, you'd think we were on holiday or something. The bike ride was merely to "make sure the wheels don't fall off" was how Bill put it. We went down to the start-finish line, checked in our bikes and transition bags, and then went to the beach. Did we swim? No! Did we run? No! Did we bike? Well, I think you're catching on...

After the beach, we came home and between the 7 of us, made a magnificent chicken-pasta dinner complete with choice of red or white wine and vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Maybe those guys doing the power-cycling, or speedwork up and down the promenade know something that I don't. But all I can say is I feel more relaxed prior to my first Ironman than I have a right to. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.