Ironman Wisconsin Part 1 - Pre-Race Week

The week leading up to the big day...

I literally felt like I was going crazy.  Did I run enough?!  Will my bike be ok?  I hope my nutrition is going to work...let me check the weather again.....

That sort of thought stream was typical from about Sunday-Tuesday.  It seemed like the only thing my brain could focus on were things that could go wrong.  Regardless of how much work I had put in, its tough to not doubt yourself when it comes to something like your first Ironman.  However, once race week events started to roll around, I calmed the f*** down!  Getting the official athlete wristband was a quick relapse moment, but after I ran into some friends on Thursday also doing the race, I relaxed and started chatting away about...what else?  More race stuff : )

Chris Schelm, Jeff Sweet and myself after getting our race packets and AWESOME gear bags!

Friday morning I met up at the swim start for a group swim, which went really well.  My swimming was feeling really solid leading up to this race, so getting in one last solid swim was a good feeling.  Afterwards, we headed to Marigold's for breakfast.  If there is one thing I have learned through training for a race of this magnitude, is that Iron distance athletes can EAT!  Marigold Kitchen has some of the best b-fast in town.  I recommend the sandwich or blueberry pancakes.

As a side-note, I'd like to mention that the 3 things I focused on during the week are as follows: get plenty of rest, watch your diet, and don't over do it.  All of the work is done at this point, but you can blow it by doing too much and not being careful with what you consume.

Anyway...the last couple of days were uneventful for the most part.  I spent a fair amount of time at the expo, checking out the Recovery Pump boots (which are amazing) and just trying to stay off my feet.

The night before the race was really special to me.  My roommate Sean and his good friend Nick who was in town (both IMWI finishers) joined me and fellow training partner Mike Thompson at his parents restaurant, the Hilltop, in Crossplains.  Thompson also had his closest friends there...Fenner, Killebrew and Juice, all previous IMWI finishers.  It was really humbling to be with a group of guys who have all finished a race you have been dreaming about doing one day.  To share the night before the race with them was an honor and more awesome than words can describe.  Also in attendance were friends Pete, Jess, Scott M and Julie, as well as a bunch of girlfriends/wives of the guys in attendance.  Oh, I don't want to forget Clint from Focal Flame.  The guy takes some amazing pictures and documented Thompson's entire race!

I can't recall exactly when this happened, but at some point during dinner the mood turned...in the best way possible.  One moment it was cheery, chatty, everyone was loving life.  And, one by one, the experienced athletes in the room, almost as if on queue, had something to say.  Awesome.  Perfect way to end the night.

As we left dinner, it was absolutely pouring out!  I knew the weather Sunday was supposed to be near perfect, so I didn't stress.  Relaxation was my primary focus.  When I got home I did one last gear check and was off to bed.  Tomorrow had finally arrived!!!