Augusta 70.3 Version 2.0

Yes you read that correctly, I competed in Augusta 70.3 for the second year. I secretly started training for it at the beginning of the summer and finally signed up at the end of August. Lucky me, I signed up for the race just one week before it filled up.

Pre-Race

Similar to last year, Kenny and I decided to head over to check in and the Expo on Friday. I will say it again for the second year in a row, if you can afford to get to check in on the first day of an Ironman branded event, DO IT! The lines on Saturday are INSANE and you do not want to attempt to navigate what is left of the merchandise.

Check in went off without a hitch and before you knew it I was browsing shirts, jerseys and clearance racks. Disappointing this year, no race poster at registration. This year they sold the poster at the expo and it was a neat concept with all of the racers names in the shape of an M-Dot. Neat concept except all of the racers names weren't on it. Despite closing the race a month before race date, most of the Crazy Joe names did not make the poster nor shirt with the same logo. Lost sales for you Ironman because I totally would have been a sucker and bought both. However the race bag rocked and I enjoyed the women cut race shirt instead of a generic cut mens shirt. It was a bit different to have a different colored shirt for men and women. I am still undecided if I like this or not.

This year was no different than last, I left the expo with quiet a bit of schwag.

• New Bike Jersey
• Maroon Dry Fit Augusta 70.3 shirt
• A Clearance top from last year that happened of be in my size (Hello New Running Top)
• Black Women's M-Dot shirt that totally rocks!

 Awesome this year was various new vendors including 110% Play Harder. I had the opportunity to introduce a few friend to the product and actually even got to speak with the owner of the company. Love Love Love that Company. If you ever need some recovery gear, please check out 110% Play Harder.

Here is a group of us hanging out at the Expo.

 We did a big group dinner at Carrabbas for the Crazy Joes on Friday and then off to bed early.

On Saturday, we decided to drive the bike course as a refresher and then went to bike check. Aron grabbed this shot from on top of the hill (or berm as Kenny liked to call it) after we checked our bikes in.

On Saturday night we decided to try something new for dinner and I think this is my new favorite way to have my pre-race meal. We decided to go for Outback as our pre-race meal but we ordered it to go and ate in the lobby of our hotel with friends. Best Decision EVER!!! The food was just as good as at the restaurant. We didn't have the ridiculous wait of eating at a packed restaurant. People could leave when they wanted. No waiting on water glasses to be refilled. Love it. Definitely the way to go!

We headed to bed at 7pm for our 3:30am wake up call. Race morning would come all too soon and even though I had completed this race, I was still nervous.