Who says kids don't like to go to Ironman Florida on Halloween??

October 31st is a tricky time for us IMFL lovers. We, of course, want to be at IMFL and either race or cheer on our teammates but, unfortunately, for the past two years, IMFL has seriously disrupted Halloween and trick-or-treating for our little kiddos. So this year, I developed a plan. I talked my Booger into the BEST Halloween costume EVER: an M-Dot. I told her that she'd get tons of attention and people would love it. She was totally into it so Derek and I made her a costume fit for a an Ironman Princess.

Little did I know exactly how much attention she would get!! I'm talking cars honking, people leaning out of their car windows to take a picture, at least 30 people stopping and asking to get their picture taken with her and even more asking simply to take her picture!!!! It was absolutely hilarious!! She was in heaven and kept saying she was a "pop star". At the end of the night she said this was her best Halloween ever. So, what's the lesson here? I suppose it's that Ironman and kiddies DO mix -- given some creativity and an easy-going kid!



So, as far as the race so far? I got in late this afternoon and only managed to touch base with the crew of T-girl sherpas and volunteers. Derek and I are reporting tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. to work as bike handlers and I'm hoping to get lots and lots of pictures!!! I'll try to give some updates and post some pics of our gals (and guys) kicking the crap out of the IMFL course!

Best of luck to Shawn, Kate G, Kate O., Sharon, Patty, Charlotte, Fred and, of course, the super-awesome Som!! More to report tomorrow . . .

So much to look forward to . . .

First of all, thanks so much for all of your well-wishes for Kelsey! She did an awesome job and I know it meant so much to her that you all were sending her some good mojo! :)

These next few weeks are going to be filled with so much excitement!! Honestly, I can hardly wait!

Okay, so, next weekend I get to go on my triathlon coaching certification weekend and when I return all that will be left is the exam. Gulp! Coach G and Coach B keep telling me that it will be no problem -- but, you know, when multi-Ironman athletes/ultra-marathoners tell you something will be "no problem" you tend to believe that maybe their idea of "no problem" may be a little different than your own! Either way, the butterflies and anxiety remind me of pre-race jitters which I miss so much this year!!!

Then what's next? A little thing called IRONMAN FLORIDA, baby!! I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. to get down to Panama City to be there with all the TRIgirls and cheer them on as they go after that Ironman prize . . . Sharon, Shawn, Kate O, Kate G, Patty, Charlotte . . . They have been training so hard and are going to kick some major IM-ass down there! I'll be working as a bike handler -- which I'm sure will be A LOT more fun than Lake Placid (aka Hurricane Ironman). And, after the Ironman, I cannot even imagine the party after the crew of teammates and others sign up for IMFL '09 (including this one handsome, tall guy named Derek something or other - go Big D!!)

With all the IM mojo going around right now, I pulled up some of my previous posts so I could re-read how I felt at this time last year. For those who are toeing that line in Florida, I'm passing this quote along. It meant so much to me as the time was ticking down and I hope it brings some peace to you, too:

"It is a comforting moment when we suddenly realize that our commitment to race, to participate in something so important to us - our dream - will be actualized. We have made it to the starting line. In this moment, the probability that we will do the event reaches 100 percent. The hundreds of things that can go wrong leading up to an Ironman have been cleverly averted, and the thousands of things required to get to the start are all now officially history."


You are ready, ladies. Now, let the fun begin!!

PS - to Frances: yes I'm a SQ mom! Our group is the BEST and I would love to talk to you about tri training anytime! I couldn't get your contact info from the comment you made on my blog so just track me down through SQ or leave me your contact info.