I had such a good sleep I had to get myself up, lying in bed or oversleeping I find can cause my back to hurt. I don’t want that.
I spent the morning in the lobby using the Internet. The
wireless isn’t strong enough to make it to my room. I sat for a couple hours,
did some work blog posts, cleaned out my emails and did the social media stuff.
Afterward I headed down for a light breakfast. I don’t want
to over-eat too much from now until the race. I want my body to spend more
energy repairing muscle than digesting. I also don’t want to load up on too
much food and have to deal with it during the race, if you know what I mean.
Breakfast was light. I met up with Lochlin again and met his
wife Debbie. We had a really good talk about some personal stuff he was
experiencing that I’ve experienced. It’s amazing how a chance conversation
turns into something very meaningful and unexpected. Afterwards he was thanking
me very sincerely for providing my insight from experience. It was a special
moment. I felt it.
Now this is wear the unbelievable happens. I head back to my
room and start getting ready for the race, two days before. That’s unheard of.
I started with my bike. I tried to get my broken speedometer working. Tried as
I might it wasn’t working so I had no choice but to take the new one I bought
yesterday out of the package and assemble it and put it on my bike. Easier said
than done.
First off I’m no mechanic. My ability to assemble things
from instructions never goes well, at least the first time. When I build
things, like a BBQ, I inevitably have left over parts and always misread the
instructions and have to disassemble and reassemble.
That happened today as well. Only difference was I was in a
calm Zen like state and nothing bothered me. I guess it was because I had
nothing else to do so I may as well enjoy putting the speedometer on and
together even thought he instructions looked pretty daunting.
To do it I had to adjust my front water bottle by taking it
all apart and moving it back. In the end I did it. Mission was accomplished and
the speedometer worked.
I also lost control of the bike and it feel into the bed
with the gear side out putting grease all over the inside of the bed spread. Doh!!!
Between that and dropping and losing screws and parts, it was even more of a
challenge.
The pre-race preparation didn’t stop there. I then took off
my two behind the seat saddlebags and removed some of the items and manage to
fit the remaining ones into one bag. I still kept my pedals and a wrench to
remove the old one. I got a bad feeling about the existing ones. Although the
lubricant helped, I’m still nervous that they will seize up. I’d rather risk
the extra grams of weight than have to drop out because my pedals broke.
From there I kept going. I washed my bike down with the
bathroom face towel, which was filthy afterward. I put the race numbers on the
bike and helmet. I prepared and packed all my transition bags. Prepared my
nutrition, put Perform in my water bottles, sans water. Then charged my Garmin watch,
even thought he charger had broken, I figured out a way to use my Steve Jobs
book to put weight on it so it could charge. Then I started organizing and folding
all my clothes, cutting tags of my new Ironman shirts.
I was in a major organization and clean up mode. When I was
done it felt so good, like I cleansed my soul. I was in no rush and it was
actually enjoyable in a therapeutic way.
Next was some more hanging out in the lobby using the
Internet, then a lighter meal. I found out that they have an a la cart menu in
the main area. I didn’t have to eat from the buffet. So Greek salad and pasta
it was, trying not to overeat.
By 5 pm I was back in my room relaxing and watching "Back
to the Future II". It’s amazing how bad of a memory I have. I know I
watched it years ago, but remembered basically none of it. It was like watching
a new movie, like it was the first time.
I think I have all this time on my hands because of the
Thanksgiving Holiday, normally I’m dealing with lots of emails, conference
calls and decision making. Who would have though going to Mexico to do an
Ironman would feel like a holiday.
The rest of the night was rest and relaxation and mentally
preparing myself to have fun on Sunday. I’m visualizing the swim, bike and run
with me staying in the moment, not wishing it was over, and enjoying it and
having it make me feel alive.
It’s all about attitude.
Rest Day – No Training – Pre-race Preparation.
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