"I Woke Up This Morning with the Cold Water"

Well, in true Tom Waits fashion, we just got back from the Liquor Store.

I don't think the guy sees to many dudes with Ironman wristbands moseying through there that often. Tanqueray, Don Julio Blanco, Tonic and Roses Lime juice. It is going to be a good week in Priest Lake next week.

It's Fine Once Your Face Turns Numb

Tommy and I woke up late (7:30 ish), ate a light breakfast in the room, geared up and drove down to the race start area for a swim.

Holy cr@p it is cold. I haven't had a swim as cold since 1999 at Pacific Grove (in the Pacific Ocean) in California. It's about 54 they tell me.

This guy doesn't like to be cold.

Just before the swim, we ran into Tommy's buddy Drew who is doing his first Ironman here. Right after, Tommy nudged me and said, "I know that guy." It turns out he knew two of the guys: JC, a Pro from Mexico who Tommy has been helping to coach swim and the one, the only, Clint Lien from Victoria, B.C. Turns out Clint has a few athletes he is coaching doing the race here and he's here to support them (JC Ramirez and a Pro gal named Heather Wurteli).

I haven't seen Clint a couple years, but we've emailed a couple of times. He knew I was racing out here and hoped he would see me. Totally good to see him.

It's a small, strange, world after all. Just out of the swim, checking his BlackBerry.

After our swim, we headed out on our bikes to see part of the run course. We headed out of town and caught up with some other like-minded folks. They knew where they were going, so it was good we ended up on their wheels for the first part through town.

Once you get out on the trail along the lake shore it is A) Beautiful and B) pretty flat. There is one decent hill that includes the run turn-around. We are going only part-way up the hill though, and I hear the distance up the hill was shortened a bit from last years course.

There are a couple more hills through town and it is a two-lap run course, so I'll probably change my tune a bit come Monday. ;-)

We luncheoned outside at the what I'll call The Burger Pit. I spied it last year, as it is a hot-corner for bikes coming in and out of transition. It has a great selection of beer (we had water) and live music on weekend evenings. Total dive and a hoot. Saw that Germany had just gone up 2-0 on Portugal and devoured my Jamaican Jerk Burger and potato salad. Nummers.

After lunch we picked up a couple of souvenirs and had some ART work done. We cruised back up to the hotel, had a quick snooze and headed back out to the registration tent for our mid-afternoon, non-hectic registration.

A nice older dude named Terry helped me out. He has Pro Heather Golnick staying at his place for the week. My wife would kill for Heather's bike. I'll see if I can grab and post a picture of it before the weekend is over.

The Resort is tall and, during race week $500 a night

There are a few folks that get wayyyyyyyyyyyyy keyed up for an Ironman as you might expect. Cases in point: The Guy from Chicago who was walking with us to the swim area and could barely communicate he was so geeked up about the water temp. The lady with the #2 buzz-cut and pink shorts yelling at her comrades about how "the 60mm one is TOO SHORT!" and that she'd have to take the bike back.

She goes lope-jogging off, bike over her shoulder, toward the bike support area, while I look at Tommy and say "Dude, it's Thursday." He looks back and says, "Yeah, I know. It's going to be a long few days for her."

Just in case you were wondering, the song for the week is "Handlebars" by the Flobots. I guess it is getting some play on The End of late. Hadn't heard it until Tommy played it on a CD he made for the drive.

Finish Line

There are 407 guys in my age-group, roughly 20% of the race. 2390 total athletes in the guide.

It's in the upper 70s currently, but feels kinda hot given we've been sulking around in 55 and rain for the last forever.

We're gonna hit the hot tub, shower up and go to dinner here at the Hotel. Prolly read some David Sedaris after that and hit the hay early. That's just how we roll.