Ironman Cozumel 2010!

I did it! At 11:00 pm on Dec. 9th I signed up for Ironman Cozumel! And I'm excited! It's Sunday November 28th 2010, so I have 49 weeks to get ready! This also means we'll be spending Thanksgiving 2010 in Cozumel...Turkey Tacos as Ingrid says!

When Ingrid first mentioned it to me, I said No Way, I'm waiting until 2011. But when I really started to consider it and talk with some friends about it I realized the only reason to wait was fear, and waiting a year wouldn't make the fear go away anyway.

I have a lot going for me this year. I have 2 full years of half iron training. I have an amazing coach and an awesome team to train with. Some of my teammates are doing Ironman Florida 2010 so I will have lots of training partners. Jeff is 100% supportive, I kept telling him "I won't have a free weekend all summer and fall", "I'm going to be tired all the time", "Ironman is going to be our entire life for a year if I do this" and I got responses like "that's fine" and "I know, it'll be worth it" and "that's ok" from him. And considering how great he's been during half iron training I don't think I could be in a better position there. Interestingly, when I told Coach Jen I signed up the first thing she said was "how does your hubby feel about this?" I think that may be the best testament to how important it is to have a supportive family going into an Ironman. Plus Ingrid, Kim, and Del are doing Ironman Cozumel too, so I'll get to train and race with them!

My only concern was that in Cozumel I wouldn't have my Tri Zones More Cowbell Corps. I love them and appreciate them so much! It's pretty tough to feel anything but joy when you run or ride by and all your friends are screaming and cowbelling for you! After I signed up, Kristen decided to come, and Kendra and Nicki may come too! So I actually will have a Tri Zones More Cowbell Corps! WOW! Thanks guys!! That means so much to me!

And then there's the fact that it's on Cozumel. Jeff and I love Cozumel, we've been there 6 times to dive, it's just beautiful and the people are so nice! I wasn't at all suprised when I read race reports saying that the entire island shut down for the race and EVERYONE was out there spectating from early morning until after midnight and it was the best race ever as far as spectator support- that's my kind of race! When Cozumel was brought up as a possibility, Jeff was 100% for it, he didn't want to hear about the pros of Florida or Lonestar (if it happens). And honestly I didn't either, the only Florida pro that mattered to me was the Tri Zones More Cowbell Corps. Even though I know it will be windy and tough I just can't wait to ride along the far side of the island and watch the waves crash into the shore and then ride into town with all the locals screaming and cheering in Spanish! It's going to be awesome!