Countdown.....2 days

This morning I volunteered in the registration tent.  It was energizing......so inspiring to see many of the athletes.  It reminds you how unfair it is to judge someone from their looks.......athletes of all sizes, shapes, ages and abilities will compete.  Incredible!!  I love to hear each person's story......because there is usually one of perseverance and strength.   I saw an older gentleman who was being pushed around in a wheelchair and was told he does many Ironman events.  His bib is #2994.   Saw another guy with a prosthetic leg from knee down.  He's done 8 Ironmans this year to celebrate his strength since losing his leg.  He is #1600.    Talked to a guy from CA who had a training buddy who was hit by a car on his last training ride this week.  He is still in the hospital.  So heart breaking.  That is my biggest fear for Mark......simply not making it to the starting line after 6+ months of training.  I believe this is a race of mental strength & discipline as much as physical strength.......true of any endurance event. These athletes will be digging deep and their mind will give up before their body.  One thing that struck me today as I helped register the athletes was their excitement and positive, friendly attitudes.  No complaining or grouchy grumps in this crowd!   They are happy to be alive!  Love it!

 Mark registering.

 This is the table I worked at for 4 hours today.

 Photo op!

 Bike transition where all the bikes will be racked. 
Only bikes allowed...no gear.

Mark has to take his bike down on Saturday afternoon.

 This is the changing tent where he will change clothes to prepare for the next leg of the event.  There is a men's and women's tent.

 With all the names of the athletes, they created a "M dot"....the Ironman "M".   They sell everything Ironman including this as a poster or on apparel.  Consumerism at its best! 

5 transition bags....green one is for "morning clothes".  Two blue ones are for stuff when he's on the bike.  And the two reds ones are for the run.  It's a huge effort to make sure you put all the right stuff in the right bag.  Mark has to fill them, label them and turn them in on Saturday.

The bib

Bonus......beautiful jewelry!  He has to keep this tag on now until the end of race day to ID him as an athlete who has paid and registered.