One of the major differences between Triathlon and most other sports is that we get to compete against the professionals and the best of the best. They set their bikes and running shoes up in the same transition area we do and are usually pretty welcoming when you go to shake their hands. Could you imagine playing one on one with Michael Jordan? Playing street football with Brett Farve? Every race, we are racing in the same conditions, on the same course, and can potentially beat the pros. OK, so there are only a few out there that can compete with them at that level but still... It isn't the exclusive club that the NBA, MLB, or NFL is. Once I started doing triathlons I knew that I would eventually attempt an Ironman. Once I completed my first Half Ironman I knew that it was a real goal.
During the week and in the winter, triathletes and cyclists do their bike workouts on a bike trainer. You place your bike on a contraption that locks your rear wheel in place and applies some pressure to it in an attempt to simulate riding. It's not a very accurate simulation but better than nothing. While ridding on the trainer I usually put on a movie or watch a little TV. One time in particular I had recorded the coverage of the Kona Ironman. I wanted to sign up for one right then and there. If you have ever seen the Kona broadcast you know what I'm talking about. Once I calmed down from the workout I made a deal with myself: Finish my degree and the reward will be an Ironman. Some reward, eh?
The plan was to start school again in 09 but things didn't work out the way I planned. I work for an investment firm and with the down turn in the market and eventually the economy I became nervous. Last November the future was a little too blurry and I wasn't in a position to risk losing my job in the middle of the semester. There were a few friends that were planning on doing Ironman Arizona and the timing of everything looked right.
Despite the insane distances you have to travel and that it's up to 17 hours of continuously working out, these races still sellout the first day registration is opened. Seriously! In a nation where obesity is on the rise, where are all of these athletes coming from??!? The day after the 08 race registration opened and I was ready to sign up. At just before noon I started to click on the website to register through and not even a minute into the process it was down. It took almost 30 minutes to get into the portion to register and another 20 to get through that. That's a LOT of web traffic to cause those problems.
After registering I called my friend, Ron, who was supposed to do the race with me. I forgot he's a teacher and wouldn't be able to answer the phone. Got a call from him later saying that he wasn't able to get in to register because of problems with the website. Typically these races sell out in hours and an hour and a half passed from the time registration opened. I was getting nervous that he wouldn't be able to sign up and I'd be doing this alone. I missed his next call about 3:30 and he left a voicemail saying "Hey this is Ron. Give me a call". For those who don't know Ron, you can't read anything from him one way or another. I had no idea if he was able to register or not and started to think that he wasn't able to sign up.
It wasn't until close to 5 that I was able to call back and fortunately Ron was able to register. Rather than leave that bit of information on the voicemail he decided to let me sweat. Thanks Ron.
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