Ironman Videos

Here are two video series on YouTube that I think are the best. The first, Becoming an Ironman, is a great series. The entire video, all the parts, are about an hour or so, but watching it is well worth it. This is the best example I've found at to what it is like to compete in Ironman Wisconsin. The second is a great preview of the course, although the course this year is a bit different. Stu mounted a camera on his car and drove the course. This is a great method because it allows the viewer to watch the road and see how it pitches up and down, it really gives you a perfect idea of how steep each hill is.

Becoming an Ironman:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 (1)
Part 6 (2)
Part 7 (1)
Part 7 (2)
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10

SimplyStu:
Swim
Bike
Run

...And Again

I'm doing Ironman again next year. This morning I got in line early at the Monona Terrace in a special line for people who volunteered during the weekend who wanted to race next year. The athletes who raced this year were able to sign up Saturday, next came the volunteers, non-volunteers signing up in person, and people signing up online. When I got to the Terrace, there was a long line, which was very disappointing, but by the time I we went in, the line more than doubled (both lines were approximately the same length). Fortunately all volunteers and non-volunteers were able to sign up, to my knowledge, because my cousin Mark Rickbeil was able to sign up online today. Mark called Kathryn yesterday asking how I was doing, assuming I was racing this year. I told him I wasn't and he told me that he wanted to sign up for next year. I suggested he try to find a fast computer and internet connection just in case there were only a few slots available online. So now the two of us are signed up to race next year, Sunday, September 13, 2009. Hopefully some cousins, spouses and kids will also be able to make the trip. We'll update you with t-shirt information when it becomes available.