On to Friday, October 11th
The Friday before the big ones are always a day filled with some crazy mixed emotions for me. As this was my fifth time racing the distance, and second time doing it on the Big island, I think that I can say that I was a little more in check this time. When I was in Kona last year, all I wanted to do was have a good time and enjoy being in my favorite place on earth - Hawaii. I wasn't able to fully do that as I was kind of blown away at what the World Championships was all about. But this time around I was more content knowing that I had just come off of a broken foot, had done the race before, and had thrown all real expectations/goals out the window.
In the am, I woke up early as usual and waited for my father to wake so we could go grab a table at breakfast. Sitting for an hour or more at a breakfast table in Hawaii is something that I have done since I was a little kid with my dad. When we started coming to Hawaii every year or so as a little kid, my dad and I always got up early and went down to sit and read the paper/talk about whatever for a while.
After eating about 3 lbs of eggs, Mom and Dad took Aiden on a bit of a walk while I started to get myself organized for the following day. I have developed a process for packing my bags at IM races. Lay the bags down, then start to place all the things I could possibly EVER need on top of them. When I'm done, I fill the bags and that's that. Time for check-in. Check in for the 1-1000 numbers was at 12:00-2:30 this year and check in for 1001-2xxx was 2:30 - 5:00. This gave me plenty of time to do what I do best. Procrastinate.
This is my typical layout of bags. I always line them up then start filling them when all essentials are there. A quick run-through of the race is done before I am complete. The 3 Redbulls were the first to be placed this year.
This is how I do special needs. I have a red bull with everything I could need taped onto it so I can grab it and drop the bag. The extra salt is taped on the bottom, food on the side, some band-aids taped somewhere, then some anti chafing stuff on there too. (pic from IMKY 2012)
After finishing the packing, I was able to take a quick 30 minute nap then go down and find Beth, Aiden, and fam all by the pool. Aiden went up for a short nap, then we went down to Kailua Kona Town for bike check in.
I wanted my mother and father to see the bike check in this year because they missed it last year. At Kona, it's a bit different. It's a place to watch for all of the big kids, and to see and be seen... There is a huge line of people from the bike/run/swim companies that are taking tallies as to who is using what gear. They do this for advertising claims. You will often see a bike advertisement with something like "#1 brand in Kona." So this year they would mark me down as using a Rudy Proj. helmet, Cervelo bike, and Hoka running shoes. I was damn nervous about that last one (hoka), but I'll get into that later.
Can I pause and tell you how damn hot it was at check in? Okay - It was damn hot.
So walking into transition with the bike, I saw the one and only Hines Ward and was able to stop and shake his hand. The guy looked at me and I told him that he was the only one I really cared to see at this race. I told him good luck and that I have been following his journey to this race all year. I think this was good luck for me. I was then given a volunteer to guide me through the whole thing. She took me back to where I racked my bike and walked me through the whole thing again. Because this is Kona, and everyone is so crazy fast, there is not as much attention for each athlete. You are responsible for grabbing your own bag and bike due to the fact that everyone is so close together.
Getting to the pier for bike check in. I was very happy to have my parents see it this year.
My spot. This was out towards the end again like last year. The runs in transition are a few hundred yards I would guess. I was scared about running barefoot as it still hurt pretty bad to walk with no shoes.
Hines Ward at bike check in
Where the bike bags go. You need to know what row/how far down you are. At the big one, you grab your own stuff.
The volunteer who gave me the tour. Lots of bags - know your place.
This was my general attitude towards the 2013 race.
Bike check was done and all that needed to happen now was eat, sleep, and set the alarm. We went back to the hotel and ate at the "Rays on the Bay" again. I had Poke, edamame, and a fish dish - with a glass of wine followed by a beer. The wine/beer combo the night before an IM is a tradition and is a must have for me. I was up to bed and in bed by 8 or so and slept fairly well. The only time I have slept like crap was before IMKY last year - I am usually good about sleeping with the exception of when I get up to pee in the middle of the night. When I do that, I am usually thinking like "holy shit, I am racing and IM tomorrow."
Beverage #1
Beverage #2
My alarm went off at 3:01am and was up without a problem. I had two monster energy drinks and hit the bathroom. With a bit of success, I was then off to stuff my body with about 1500kcals worth of whatever we had in the suite. I had a few bagels, some pretzels, a cliff bar, and various other items. I was ready to go. The rest of the family was up and ready to go on time (unusual) and we were headed down to the minivan at around 4:45.
It was almost go time!
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