The Road to Ironman 70.3 Florida

The thing about picking a race to do that is not near you means: Road Trip.



I was going to take a week and a half off of work. Between driving across the country, preparing to race, racing, relaxing for a day after the race, and driving back I needed the time off. Work was supportive, even if they may not have always understood what I was embarking on. They may not have understood it (and still may not), but they did literally pose me by our welcome screen that everyone saw as the entered the company.

Basically, I loaded up with my parents, racked my bike and we hit the open road from Lockport, Illinois to Orlando, Florida. The irony of how many miles I had trained for my race was not lost on me that in fact, we'd be driving fewer miles than I had trained.

I spent a lot of the time during the drive looking out the window. Listening to music. Texting friends. Thinking. I have a group of college girlfriends who are the greatest and the days leading up to the race continued to send me inspirational photos to prepare me for my race. 

Not to ruin anything for anyone reading, but Ryan Gosling was not waiting for me at the finish line. Just sayin'.

Our first day we made it to Chattanooga, TN where we'd be staying overnight. It was at this stop that it was decided I couldn't be in charge of things. I could not find my bike lock key. Nowhere. I emptied my purse. I called my grandma who was staying at my parents house; the key wasn't there. I tore through the backseat of the car where I had been sitting. And then it hit me!

I put the key in my empty coffee mug! Cause you know, that makes sense. I called that Ironman Brain. 

It was also that night that I learned pretty much everything on that side of Chattanooga was closed by the time we got there and I was pretty dang hungry. Alas it was pizza that was ordered, however the poor pizza delivery girl got lost and went to the wrong hotel so it was not exactly hot pizza by the time it got to us.

While I cared about everything else making it to Florida safely, let's be honest the most important thing was my bike. I could somehow manage to replace other items if I had to, but to bike 56 miles ... I needed my bike which was set up for me. Oh and dad still remained in charge of the bike lock key. Cause you know, Ironman Brain.

I've made the drive from Illinois to Florida before. It seemed to take so much longer this time around, and we stopped overnight. I've driven straight through before. But once we got there, I was that much closer to the race!

After we safely made it to our extended stay hotel and unloaded everything (mind you, my dad was still in charge of the bike lock key, cause you know, Ironman Brain) we were set! We spent the next day touring around a beautiful area I enjoy in Winter Park, FL hitting up the rose garden and local shops. 

  

I spent some time another afternoon wrapping my bike. If you recall, the OCR is on loan. That doesn't mean that I couldn't give it some more zest and frankly, some aesthetic appeal. 

  

My parents and I spent the next days being Florida tourists. We hit up the beach, saw a rocket launch, sat at bar as I dried out from swimming in the ocean. And ate at Tijuana Flats ... twice. You know, normal things.

And then suddenly before we knew it the time had come. We were bound for Ironman Village. And yes, my dad still had the bike lock key cause you know, Ironman Brain.