Half the man I used to be : OMG 70.3 miles....

I've seen the sun come up in New Orleans before but usually because I was STILL up. This past Sunday morning, at 6:30 am, Kay and I were driving into an industrial area of New Orleans East. Over rail road cars, past a small airport and into the Southshore Harbour Marina for the start of the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans.

This is the race I am in training for... next year. I wanted to take a look first hand at what I was getting into. I am more motivated than ever. And a little terrified.

The scene at the harbor was surreal As we drove past barricades and cones and morbidly obese police officers we saw something we'd never seen before in New Orleans. A shuffling parade (all large moving groups are "parades" in NOLA) of wet suits in all shapes and sizes was headed past us toward a huge inflatable gateway erected in front of a dock leading out into the harbor. A bipedal seal migration, some hopping in bare feet, others well clad in fancy water shoes; some stopping to stretch; some with a family support team, but most walking alone. Ironman Racers headed for the water. I was transfixed.

We parked and shuffled with the seals to the start gate. We picked up snip-its of conversations.

"My wife said I was crazy to do this, but I'm gonna show her, I'm gonna take a break and rest, maybe eat a po'boy, as long as I finish"

"The water looks cold, how cold is the water" "64 degrees.. Fahrenheit" "That's cold"

But mostly stony silence and reserve.

I found a disused scaffold and climbed up to grab a panorama picture.

Note to self: if still chubby by race time next year, don't wear a wet-suit with ORCA stenciled on it....

Frankly I was shocked at the lack of security. Not a bag checked and many racers used big strollers to cart their gear, the places to hide explosives were too many to contemplate. Our surprise was more about the lack of OVER reaction by race officials and NOPD personnel just 6 days after the terrible bombing at the Boston Marathon. We were not really worried about something like that happening in New Orleans. A fitness event in New Orleans would not even be the big draw that day in the city. There would be more people on Bourbon ST in the French Quarter than at the Finish line of this event.

There were announcements. The Professional men and women were called over to the start. A prayer was offered (pointedly Christian, awkward and a little rambling, strangely enough) and then a moment of silence for Boston was observed. Then the acapella singing of the National Anthem. Funny, the singer asked us all to sing along then proceeded to syncopate his phrasing so that singing along was impossible. Then finally the air horn and it began.

You start in the water, a flight a time, treading water behind the start line. Each group with a different colored swim cap. The swim is 1.2 miles, 1931 Meters, 2112 yards; racers are guided by buoys and staff in kayaks and on jet skis. I'll be in the 50+ flight next year.

We watched the pro men start and then wandered over the the transition area where $10,000,000 worth of bicycles were parked.

I had a little bike envy as we scanned the gear. The Cervélo P5, the lightest and fastest bike in the world, just the frame is $5,000. a P3 Dura Ace will set you back about $3500. My little Schwinn will make it work next year.

Kay by the bikes

We had only been there a moment it seemed when a tall, thin, barefoot dude in blue ran by us talking off a wet suit as he ran.... the leader, Andreas Raelert from Germany had completed the swim in 23 minutes. Right with him was Brandon Marsh (USA) The leading duo quickly established a minute lead on Mitch Robins (AUS) and Ben Hoffman (USA), and a two-minute lead on Tim Berkel (AUS), Santiago Ascenco and defending champion, Trevor Wurtele (CAN).

It was a blur. they ran past us to the distant end of the transition area and we started walking down to catch them switch over to start the bike portion.

By the time we ambled on down there ALL the Pro men were gone. Off on a 56 mile bike ride.

We caught a few of the women pros start their bike ride including the leader, in her first year as a professional, Haley Chura from Atlanta.

The cyclist would do a 56 mile loop and return back to the transition area, don running shoes and start a half marathon....13.1 miles.

The bike area was filling up so we headed back to the car and down town for breakfast and hopefully a good parking space for the finish line at Armstrong Park.

I remember thinking as we walked to the car that I picked a good spot to park which wasn't too far away.... It struck me as funny, training to move my big ass 70.3 miles and still indoctrinated to avoid an extra 100 yard walk. I now need to park as far away as possible every where I go.

Breakfast was at Whole Foods on Magazine in the lower Garden District of New Orleans. Sprouted Wheat Bagles, Vegan Cream Cheese and watermelon and French Roast Coffee, black like my ex wife's heart.

We then moved out for the french Quarter and Armstrong Park.

The Finish line was all jacked up. There was a 3pc Dixieland Jazz combo playing and Medallion/Medals on ribbons like cool Mardi Gras Beads waiting for each finisher. I did some shopping at the Ironman Store and set up on a hill overlooking the finish line.

Starting to feel like I could do this.

Also there was Popeye's Chicken at the "Fueled by Popeyes" tent.

And of course at the Ochner Hospital (the event sponsor) tent had two kegs of beer, cause it is New Orleans after all.

A race volunteer told that there were nearly 2000 entrants in this year's race. 2,000 people, I'm am so excited for next year.

We were there when Andreas Raelert put on a burst of speed in the last mile to win by 5 seconds over defending champ Trevor Wurtele. In a great moment of sportsmanship Andreas demanded that Trevor share the spotlight and a finish photo.

The first prize was $3,000; 2nd $2,000. They do it for the love if it, obviously.

Andreas Raelert had a total time of 03:46:54

The woman's winner Haley Chura (USA) with a time of 4:18:20; had just turned Professional and this was her first win. She was crying as she took down the tape.