Part One: Happy Ironman Day!

This post is long overdue, but I was on vacation so give a girl a break, eh!? Yes, yes, I finally got some R&R up north with Mr. Fury. It rained most of the time we were there, but at least I wasn't at work. As I found out today, it was pretty eventful in my absence but my co-worker wasn't getting much pity from me as he left me all alone to run the show for a week not too long ago.

So I bet you're all dying to hear how my first IM experience was. Well, I'm dying to tell ya! This will probably have to be done in separate posts because it was a long day and I want to make sure I relay as much as I can.

Let's start the night before Ironman. Reservations were made at Tutto Pasta in Madison, great food by the way, for the family, The Fury, and I. I had been waiting for this night for 9 months and I was extremely excited it was finally the night before race day. I love race weekend, it's exciting to go to the expo, pick up your race numbers and all the things that go with race weekend. Love it. Love it. Love it. Race weekend means you get to race soon and I love. to. race. It makes me so happy. I digress.

On the way down to the restaurant, we were all chatting away. We came to stop when we saw all the people waiting outside of the restaurant and started to weave our way inside when I spotted two people that I recognized. You know when you see someone somewhere and you're not expecting to see them at that location because you know you shouldn't see them there? Yeah, I saw two people and did a double-take thinking, "No way, that can't be them..." Yes, yes, it is. Crash and Numb Toes came to Madison despite leading Captain Cartwheel and I to believe they couldn't come. I couldn't believe it. I was so excited to see them, I couldn't stop jumping up and down, and then I couldn't stop the tears. "Excited" really doesn't do justice to how happy I was they made the trip to Madison. Ecstatic. That's a better word. Crash and Numb Toes didn't think my reaction was serious until I started crying. Ok, you got me! Mr. Fury was in on the surprise too. He can keep a good secret! I was in shock pretty much the remainder of the weekend that they actually made it out to Madison for us. Thank you again guys, it meant so much to me to have you there!

We made it into the restaurant and dinner was delicious, as it was last year when we ate there before Mr. Fury's date with IM. After we were finished eating, my dad asked one of the guys at the table next to us to take a picture of the family. "Hm...I recognize that guy," I thought to myself, and I could tell "that guy" was thinking the same thing. "Jeff! Oh my gosh! How are you!? I can't believe we bumped into each other here!" I met Jeff in the pool at Lifetime about a month ago. He was wearing the swim cap from Chisago 1/2 Iron this summer and I struck up a conversation with him because I did the race too! I can't help myself, I'm such a chatter box, especially when I'm looking to avoid starting a workout. Ha! We ended up talking tri for about 25 minutes and then decided we should get on with our workouts. I didn't get a chance to catch up with him after the race, but I'm sure you rocked Jeff!

After we left the restaurant, I bid ado to my family and the Fury and I went back up to our hotel room. I felt amazingly calm for the night before a race and especially a race that is my first Ironman! I was too excited to get nervous. I had been working toward this day for so long and it was almost Ironman Day! I couldn't wait, and I'm getting a little excited just reliving it in words. The amazing thing about the whole weekend was that I never had much for nerves. The only time I recognized feeling nervous was when I had some down time in the hotel. I was just on the verge of sleep when I shot awake, stunned Mr. Fury a little, and said, "Oh! I think I just got nervous!" It was almost too funny to be serious. The feeling passed and then I took a little bit of a nap. And that's the end of my nerves story.

Finally it was sleepy time, and I couldn't wait to sleep the night away so I could wake up to Ironman Day. I slept like a rock until about 3:30 am when I woke up to use the privy. I laid back down and then I started thinking about all the things I needed to remember to bring down with me to transition to pack in my bags that I forgot yesterday, "...oh and don't forget bring Mr. Fury's inhaler to use before the swim. Don't forget the inhaler!"

Ok, ok brain, chill out. I won't forget all the things I need and I won't forget the inhaler!

Listen chicky, I'm reminding you now so you won't forget later. I know how you are about taking your inhaler. You're horrible at remembering. You'll thank me later for not letting you sleep an extra hour!

Right, right. I'm sure I will. Now let me sleep.

No dice.

Jerk.

So, I just laid in bed and waited for time to pass. Finally, I could feel a little sleep coming and then, ::BEEP::BEEP::BEEP:: I jumped out of bed, looked at red-groggy-eyed Mr. Fury and said, "HAPPY IRONMAN DAY!" He just looked at me and rolled over pulling the covers over his face. Yes, I am much more of a morning person than he ever will be. I went into the bathroom, heated up some water in the coffee maker and made myself some oatmeal, gnawed on a banana and drank some gatorade. I couldn't stop smiling. It is IRONMAN DAY TODAY! WAHOO!! After I finished up my oatmeal, I heard a knock on the door and went to answer it not thinking anything of the fact that I didn't have pants on. I figured it was Captain Cartwheel. We've moved past formalities with each other and this includes pants. I opened the door and found Dr. B instead. Dr. B and I have not completely moved past formalities so I hid behind the door. "Oh! Good morning! Happy Ironman Day! I don't have pants on, sorry!" She laughed and handed me a card wishing me good luck during the day ahead. It was a card that played music and there's nothing like hearing the hampster dance song at 5am! I loved it, but Mr. Fury not so much. It made me smile even more than I already was, thank you Dr. B!

After doing a little jig to the hampster dance song, I gathered my things, yes I grabbed the inhaler, and was off to the race site. Mr. Fury was not far behind me with the tire pump and extra snacks just in case. I met Team G, Marathon Laura (soon to be Ironman Laura) and Captain Cartwheel in the lobby of the hotel. I saw Marathon Laura and The Captain first and greeted them with a cheerful, "Happy Ironman Day!" and The Captain returned the greeting. (As you can see, I have moved Ironman Day up to the ranks of a National Holiday. Happy Ironman Day!) Team G showed up in their matching shirts and we all walked down to transition together.

We stopped at body marking first on the way in to visit our bikes one final time before the big ride. The woman who did my body marking had such pretty handwriting. She marked my numbers on both my arms and then asked me my age. "Uh...hm. Hold on a second, I know. I just need a second." Yeah, I blanked on my age. I had been so focused on my race number that I didn't remember how old I was. I could have spouted off the ages of everyone else I knew, my social security number, the year my parents were married, but I couldn't remember how old I was. I actually had to do the math. "Oh jeez, sorry. 26! I'm 26! Oh thank God! That's embarrassing." She got a good laugh out of it, and then I was off to visit my bike.

Everything was in order. I pumped up the tires, put my gazillion Luna Moons in my bento box along with some salt tabs, and strapped in my aero bottle. Good. To. Go! Crash and Numb Toes were on the catwalk just above our bikes taking pictures. I told them again how excited I was they made it to Madison:

...I even cried again this morning because I am still so excited you're here!

Oh honey, it wasn't for us, it's just the nerves!

I know, but I'm still really glad you're here!

I was done checking my bike and then I was off to meet Mr. Fury and my family. Team G, Marathon Laura, and The Captain all joined the huddle and then the four of them broke off to go down to the water while Mr. Fury and I waited for my family to arrive. Come on guys, remember when I said 6:15am! It's 6:30! FINALLY! I saw my parents rounding the stairs in the Terrace along with my sleepy eyed sister-in-law and brother. My mom gave me a big hug, followed by the rest of the family and then we chatted for a little bit. Mr. Fury got a call from Safety Bob who was on his way so I waited for him to arrive too. I got a big bear hug from him when he arrived and then he snapped a few more photos, told me how excited and fricking proud he was of me, and that I was going to have a great race. I agreed, thinking positively about the day, said I had to get down to the water and that I would see them all in a matter of hours. I stressed again how important it was to get a good spot to watch the swim because it is SO COOL to watch, and then I was off to trot down the helix to the swim start.

I have to leave you hanging here because it's sleepy time. Here are a few more photos from the morning though. Nighty, night!

Bob taking a last second pic before I took off for the helix.

My bike awaiting my arrival at T1. Oh, my trusty steed!