Prepping for Ironman Waco 70.3: All. The. Things.
Clark’s at it again — gearing up for what I think is his 10th (maybe more? I’ve lost count!) 70.3 Ironman. And this time? We’re heading to Waco, Texas. Which means we get the joy of packing our entire lives into a suitcase. #Ironmantravelchecklist
Let’s talk about the list. Because it’s long.
Tri kits (plural, because choices are real - so are superstitions).
GU packets for energy. We need a sponsorship.
Carb powder for Gatorade. Again, we need a sponsorship.
Salt tabs — a lot of them, because Waco = hot.
Bagels + peanut butter = carb heaven.
Running shoes. Biking shoes. The actual BIKE. (American Airlines loves it when we check that, by the way.)
Socks. Soooo many socks.
Sunscreen (both of us) - big bottle, and fits in a carry on bottle.
Pre-race clothes, post-race clothes, shoes for all occasions.
Skin suit (water’s too warm for a wetsuit).
Throw-away Old Navy flip-flops.
Bib belt, scissors, marker…you get the idea.
Basically, bring the biggest suitcase we own. Thank goodness for my airline miles.
And then there’s me. Let’s be clear — being a triathlete’s support crew is not for the faint of heart. It’s hot. I get zero glory. I run around like a maniac trying to catch Clark for a grand total of 8 seconds at a time. If I see him more than 3 times in a race, it’s a win. Queue the party music, because that is my medal.
Oh, and food? That’s a race in itself. Book an Italian restaurant with 2,000 other competitors and families at the same time? Sure, no problem. Snacks for the plane, snacks for the 4.5 hours I’ll be cheering strangers on while melting into the pavement? Got it covered.
But here’s the kicker: Waco. Did you catch that? WACO. Home of Chip and Joanna Gaines. The Silos. Fixer Upper heaven. Shopping, shiplap, and inspiration galore. I can’t wait to sneak away between transitions and pretend I’m best friends with Jo. And of course, I’ll be making notes about what we can (affordably) bring back to Pound House & Gardens in our not-so-grand but equally passionate way.
Most of all? I couldn’t be prouder of Clark. He trains for hours, restores our 1860 house, cares for his family (and me), and still shows up ready to crush an Ironman. He’s amazing. Truly.
And don’t worry — the house will be waiting for us when we get back. Wink.