Ironman Texas 2012 Preview

The clock is ticking down on the start of Ironman Texas 2012. It's currently under 12 hours and counting down....

Packet pickup went well for me. I got there early and for once there were no early lines. I was able to make a quick trip in to the Ironman store to grab a couple small items and then to grab my packet. One great extra this year was the transition backpack that come with registration.

Unfortunately, this proved to be a busy work week for me. Although I was able to take off a half day Thursday to help get ready. Friday was filled with about 4 hours of work related phone calls and a lot of headaches (arrgghhhh!!!!). However, I still got tires changed, spare tubes bought, transition bags packed and my bike + transition bags dropped off before the 3 p.m. deadline. (That's my Orbea in the center.)

After the dropoff, I got some pizza and salad for lunch and walked around the new finish area. It would have been hard to believe, but I think this year the finish is even more spectator friendly than last year!. One small slightly unhappy thing is that the last run is uphill, but I am pretty sure that won't matter at that point when adrenaline carries you through.

I also enjoyed a treat from a bake shop on that final run--a cookie in the Ironman logo!

As for me, I have done the training and feel real good about my preparation. Unfortunately these last 2 or 3 days have just been awful from a work point of view and I am at a stress high point in my life, though maybe that might work for me with tomorrow being a chance to focus only the task before me and nothing more.

For anyone interested in tracking me, I have two links for you.
First is the Ironman Texas website where they offer athlete tracking: ironmantexas,com has a results link with an athlete tracker at: http://www2.ironman.com/events/ironman/texas/?show=tracker&race=texas&year=2012#axzz1NNlKA7YV

Second is a tracking chip at http://track.myathletelive.com/vemap.aspx?name=194261  This could give you an idea where I am on the bike and run portions of the course.

Finally, there is the issue of finishing time. Last year I had some problems I fought through to a 16:35:49 finish. This year my first goal is to beat this time, but I also really want to beat it by a lot and hope to get under 14 hours. It will be a long day but I will give it all I have.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement, my friends!