A Few Minor Differences

I never got up last night. I meant to get up and go get some dinner or something, but I just was out cold. When I did wake up I was more than ready for some food. I went down to the lounge area of the hotel with my computer to enjoy breakfast and wifi. Unfortunately I couldn't get the wifi to work, so the hot triathlete I had been sitting/talking with offered to let me use his computer and he would try to get mine to work. It took Shay a few minutes but he did get it to work. Turns out he was in the room directly across the hall from me (and he's from Israel while I live in Lebanon). Made for some interesting conversation. I walked around the neighborhood a bit and got my bike all set up then I met Shay and his buddy to ride down to the starting area for the race debriefing. 

We rolled up a little late, but didn't miss much. There were so many people there! So many fit (crazy) people. Friendly people. It was great to be surrounded by people who "get" what triathlon training is (and are as crazy as I am). From all over the world. 

I knew I would feel like a newbie. And I did. Fortunately there were a bunch of other first-time-Ironmaners in this race as well. Shay was one of them. I definitely felt like the country-bumpkin rolling up to the big city fashion show. Pretty much every single person in this race is a part of a triathlon club and trains with a team or at least a partner or two. I researched and mashed up a number of training programs to create my own, workout out my own nutrition plan, and trained by myself. It was so nice not to be alone anymore.

I walked around the expo area and was amazed by all the gear being peddled. I was just a window shopper. I would have registered except in an epic fail the thousands of dollars in my bank account were not available electronically. I was able to convince the people at registration to give me the wristband that would get me in to the welcome dinner tonight. I really hope the bank sorts itself out and my money is available. If not I am not sure how I'm going to register but I will make a way. I didn't get this far just to let something get in the way.