2010 Ironman Wisconsin Part 3

Saturday dawned rainy, windy, overcast, and downright gloomy. Totally the kind of weather you would HATE to have to race in. I was ecstatic! It meant the garbage weather would be moving through today and race day would be spectacular! However, there would be no hiding in the hotel room for us that morning. Jr. P was excited to participate in the Kids Run event put on that morning.

This is what would happen to my glasses when facing south. Just enough light rain being blown in to make them unusable. And it was cold too! Fortunately we packed a variety of clothing just in case, and were able to be comfortable.

Standing on top of the Monona Terrace, we took the brunt of the wind and the chill.

Jr. P posing with the mascot from Edgewood College, whose student athletes were volunteering to help out with the kids' events.

Jr. P lined up in the front row for the start. Note the boy to the right taking some last minute nutrition from his finger. Hmm...

START! Jr. P is on the left side just above the orange marker. The kids ran one lap around the State Capital building, which is no short distance. Plus there's just enough of an uphill on the one side to make it a challenge, especially if one were to go out too fast. But kids wouldn't start out too fast, would they?

A look at the finish line with the Capital rising behind.

Jr. P on his way to the finish!

All the kids received their very own M-Dot medal!

Funny thing: After Jr. P finished, I turned around and there was Humpty Dumpty!

After the run was over, we headed back to the hotel to get all my "stuff" together. Today we needed to put our bikes into the transition area and drop off our swim-to-bike and bike-to-run transition bags. I needed to make some decisions like what I would be wearing on the bike (based upon the hour-by-hour weather forecast for Sunday), what nutrition I would carry with me on the bike vs. what I would put in my Special Needs Bike Bag, and what I would need for the run. I also needed to make sure everything else was placed in the appropriate bag: bike shoes, socks, helmet, glasses, gloves, and running shoes, socks, hat, and hand bottle. Once each bag was at least triple checked, we were once again heading the few blocks over to Monona Terrace.

Dropped off the bike, now heading in to drop off transition bags and scope out the rooms.

I thought Men's Get Naked Room was a very appropriate title!

Swim-to-bike bag drop room.

AKA the Men's Get Naked Room!

Nice and neat today, but come tomorrow a very different story! I'm sure there are times when every seat is taken, but when I would be coming in I wouldn't have to worry about finding a seat.

Bike-to-run bag drop room.

Surprise!

We had until 4:00 Saturday afternoon to get our bikes into transition or no race. This was still early in the day, about lunch time, which is where we were now off to!

My last "real" carbo-loading opportunity was lunch. We ate at Noodles Inc. on State St. I had found this place on-line and definitely wanted to check it out. Noodles Inc. is a quick serve restaurant specializing in pasta three ways: American, Asian, and Mediterranean.

I chose a regular order of spaghetti and meatballs. It was so big! I didn't think I would be able to finish it and earn yet another clean plate award, but it tasted so good I emptied the bowl. Jr. P also enjoyed his mac and cheese and ate nearly all of it.

I was stuffed! Sometime while we were eating the clouds moved out and the sun came out so the walk back to the hotel was pleasant. I think I took a quick nap, then as Jr. and Mrs. P were heading down to the pool, I commenced with the final shave down. Face and legs were to be nice and smooth by the time I was done.

Later, in the early evening, we decided to walk down and check out the race venue in detail and try to get an idea of where they would like to position themselves during the swim.

Running out!

Sign at the top of one of the helices. The bicycle riding part would not be enforced on race day.

Walking down the helix we would be running up after the swim. What a difference in weather conditions from the morning!

This would be lined with spectators the next morning.

And they would be lined up on every available piece of real estate to watch the swim.

Where the swim entrance and exit will be located. There were a few swimmers out taking advantage of the most ideal swimming conditions since our arrival.

Boaters out enjoying the weather.

Back on the top of the Monona Terrace with not a cloud to be seen.

The full transition area looking one way...

And the other.
Demo bikes all lined up.

Walking past the State Capital on our way to dinner.

We were getting some fantastic late afternoon light.

A look from the Capital west down State Street.

A statue at the Capital near the State Street intersection.

For my last meal, we returned to The Coopers Taverne for more Pretzal Bread Sticks and Fat Tire! Again we just ate off the appetizer menu, as we weren't overly hungry and the main dishes were gigantic. This time we tried the Mini Burgers, which were truly mini, but VERY tasty!

And so ends our Saturday. We hit the pool one more time. I wanted to burn off some nervous energy and help me relax so I could sleep well. I ended up tossing and turning most of the night with my deepest sleep coming in the last half hour before my alarm was to go off at 4:30.

Race Day Part 4 coming soon!

2010 Ironman Wisconsin Part 2

Friday morning dawned clear and bright. There was rain on the way, but it wasn't here yet. For once, I had a decent night's sleep in a hotel. Usually I'm very uncomfortable that first night and toss and turn. The Hyatt and our neighbors were very quiet all night. Might have something to do with there being a hotel full of nervous IM athletes! Although our neighbors in Boston this April were a little on the loud side. Is there a difference between runners and triathletes?


After breakfast at the hotel we walked past the Capitol to Monona Terrace for packet pick-up and athlete check-in. This had to be done by 4:00 Friday afternoon or NO RACE! Since we were up, we headed out a little early.

Sunny, but a little chilly.

My space in the transition area.

It was right by THIS building... and a light post. Those would be my visual clues on race day.

The look down transition from my bike rack. As I've read elsewhere, it was absolutely the longest transition area I've ever been in.

A view of the "bike" Helix. We would ride down this to exit transition heading out on the bike and then ride back up 112 miles later. There was an identical Helix on the other end of the building which we would need to run up (barefoot) after the swim heading into T1.

The Monona Terrace had some very nice details. Most were subtle. This area was one of the more eye catching Frank Lloyd Wright gems.

After touring the inside of the Monona Terrace we did some shopping in the Ironman Shop. I picked up an IM Wisconsin running hat and a sticker, a spare tube, and a newer version of the Profile Aerobottle with a "spill-proof" cap. The prices for supplies weren't inflated too much over a LBS.

After shopping we decided it was time to get in line for check-in. The lines were already forming so it seemed like the right time. We got in line not too far back. Unfortunately, we were in the wrong line. I needed to be in the line for USAT members. The back of that line was a little further back.

Waiting in the wrong line.

The view from the correct line, about twice as far back as the other.

Fortunately the line moved well, and we were soon at the USAT member check station.

Checking my membership card and photo ID.

After that Mrs. and Jr. P left me in another line. I didn't know what the line was for, but everyone else was standing in it, so I did too. The people behind me didn't know what the line was for either. It turned out it was to sign our lives away: the liability waiver line! Sign and date here, check that this information is correct, supply an emergency telephone contact, read and sign here, yadda, yadda, yadda... Basically just fill-in and sign everything or you can't race.

Then I was off down the stairs to an athletes only area.

The ballroom in which the banquet would be held that night. I could still just walk in, but we'd have to pay for Mrs. and Jr. P to attend so we decided to have dinner elsewhere and arrive for the athletes' meeting.

After filling out the forms we got into another line for a pre-race weigh-in. This baseline weight would be used on race day if we got into trouble. Too high a percentage of weight loss and medical staff can make you stop.

After weigh-in it was off to the race packet pick-up tables where we received our numbers, numerous bags, color appropriate swim cap, and plenty of encouragement from the volunteers working everything.

It was a lot to take in!

NEVER!

Once we were through with all my stuff, Mrs. and Jr. P found a big tent for loved ones to make motivational signs for race day. The big one would be put out on the run course, lined up with everyone elses signs. The other one they would carry around on race day.

I found a nice shiny wheel and occupied myself.

After a quick stop at the hotel, we were off to State Street to find some lunch. State Street as an interesting mix of college shops and restaurants. If you wanted anything, you could find it on State Street. We ate lunch at a little place on a corner called Tutto Pasta Trattoria.

I nearly cleaned my plate! I was stuffed when we went back to the hotel where I crashed out for a little while. After waking up I decided to head out for a short run. Nothing hard or fast, just something to get me going. I ran down to the Monona Terrace along the bike path. There were TONS of people out and about, and not just athletes. What an active city Madison is! There were a few people out trying to get a swim in, but it was very rough water for swimming. The wind was blowing from the south, really kicking up the waves on this side of the lake. Upon reaching the swim exit arch, I turned around and ran back along the lake following the bike path. I managed to find myself a little park with boat launch ramps and a hill. Of course I needed to run up that hill! The view of downtown Madison from the top was very scenic. I returned to the hotel for 4.3 miles. I felt good, pain free, and was in good spirits about the marathon I would soon be running. I just needed to make sure I lasted long enough to make the run.

We caught an early "light" dinner (appetizers) at a place across from the Capitol called The Coopers Taverne. What a great place! Mrs. P selected it because they had Fat Tire on tap! We ordered their Beer Cheese Pretzals and Belgian Frites (fries). The dipping sauces were amazing! And the Fat Tire tasted wonderful! We had two!

After dinner we headed back down to the Monona Terrace for the "mandatory" athletes meeting. As they weren't taking attendance, I don't know how mandatory it was, but they had some good information and presented it in very entertaining ways. We also caught the end of the banquet in which they were bringing people up on stage like the youngest and oldest competitors and a local challenged athlete who was competing in 8 Ironmans this year to honor the age he was when he lost his leg in a farming accident 30 years ago. He was very motivational!

And so ends Friday. I still wasn't overly nervous, but hanging out around all the really, really fit people was somewhat disheartening. I just tried to remind myself I wasn't competing against them, just myself and the clock. Back at the hotel we took an order of nachos back to the room and retired for the night. Saturday would be here soon enough and I needed as much sleep as possible before race eve.

Part 3 coming soon!