It's getting close to the second Ironman Lake Tahoe, and to help those that are putting in the volume to prepare, I thought I would put some quotes from what I heard while I was there.
Day before
"Can I borrow a garbage bag? My stuff is gonna get wet."
Early morning
"The wife is parking the car, I can't believe how bad the traffic was."
"I took the early shuttle, no problems at all."
"Where am I supposed to put my swim bag?"
"You can crap in a cold outhouse, I'm gonna warm up at the rec center over there."
Pre-race on the beach
"I wish I brought my flip-flops...this sand is freezing."
"Dude, what was I thinking wearing this sleeveless wetsuit?"
"I can't see the buoys through the fog."
"Who would have thought the water would be warmer than the air."
"God, that's gorgeous."
Swim start
"The water is so clear."
"Ouch....stepped on a rock."
"I'm just gonna follow the guy in front of me."
Swim finish/T1
"My hands are numb."
"Yes, really, I'm here to help you take off your wetsuit."
"Goddamn I forgot my towel."
"There's no room in that tent, you gotta be kidding me."
Bike Start to Tahoe City (1st Loop)
"Yeah, this singlet tri-kit was a mistake. WHERE'S MY JACKET!"
"You know, it wouldn't feel cold on my fingers if I weren't going 20 miles an hour."
"This Dollar Hill is a bump, not a hill."
Tahoe City to Squaw (1st Loop)
"Watch out for those drains!"
"Man, those trees are awesome."
Squaw to River Road (1st Loop)
"WHOOO HOOOO!"
Truckee Trail to Martis
"Man, that path is not big enough for a race like this."
Martis to Brockway Summit (1st Loop)
"I keep looking for one more gear, but it's not there."
"It's not the altitude that's getting me, it's the change in altitude that's getting me."
"Damn it, if I had just one more gear."
"No drafting there, boys."
Brockway Descent (Both Loops)
"ON YOUR LEFT!"
Bike Start to Tahoe City (2nd Loop)
"God, I'm kinda hot. Where can I drop off my jacket?"
"This Dollar Hill is a a bit tougher than I remember."
Squaw to River Road (2nd Loop)
"WHOOO HOOOO!"
Martis to Brockway Summit (2nd Loop)
(gasp)
"Kill me, please. Make this end."
Bike Start to Tahoe City (3rd Loop)
"This Dollar Hill is a nightmare, but it's my last nightmare."
T2
"Whoa man, my Garmin's still there, but thanks for racking my bike."
"Now this is a transition tent."
"I'll do my best to enjoy my run. A marathon. In the dark. In the cold."
"Where's my jacket?"
Run (Loop 1)
"That bike ride was f**king cruel."
"They kept saying 'relatively' flat. I do not think they know what this word 'flat' means."
"Mmmm, chicken broth."
"Share the path, guys."
"Man, that crowd pumped me UP!"
Run (Loop 2)
"Dude, I only have 8 more miles. EIGHT MORE MILES""
"This tri-kit was a big mistake. I wish I brought my arm warmers."
"I wish they told me about the required headlamp before I got to Tahoe."
"YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"
Next Day
"I'm so glad I got that massage..."
Day before
"Can I borrow a garbage bag? My stuff is gonna get wet."
Early morning
"The wife is parking the car, I can't believe how bad the traffic was."
"I took the early shuttle, no problems at all."
"Where am I supposed to put my swim bag?"
"You can crap in a cold outhouse, I'm gonna warm up at the rec center over there."
Pre-race on the beach
"I wish I brought my flip-flops...this sand is freezing."
"Dude, what was I thinking wearing this sleeveless wetsuit?"
"I can't see the buoys through the fog."
"Who would have thought the water would be warmer than the air."
"God, that's gorgeous."
Swim start
"The water is so clear."
"Ouch....stepped on a rock."
"I'm just gonna follow the guy in front of me."
Swim finish/T1
"My hands are numb."
"Yes, really, I'm here to help you take off your wetsuit."
"Goddamn I forgot my towel."
"There's no room in that tent, you gotta be kidding me."
Bike Start to Tahoe City (1st Loop)
"Yeah, this singlet tri-kit was a mistake. WHERE'S MY JACKET!"
"You know, it wouldn't feel cold on my fingers if I weren't going 20 miles an hour."
"This Dollar Hill is a bump, not a hill."
Tahoe City to Squaw (1st Loop)
"Watch out for those drains!"
"Man, those trees are awesome."
Squaw to River Road (1st Loop)
"WHOOO HOOOO!"
Truckee Trail to Martis
"Man, that path is not big enough for a race like this."
Martis to Brockway Summit (1st Loop)
"I keep looking for one more gear, but it's not there."
"It's not the altitude that's getting me, it's the change in altitude that's getting me."
"Damn it, if I had just one more gear."
"No drafting there, boys."
Brockway Descent (Both Loops)
"ON YOUR LEFT!"
Bike Start to Tahoe City (2nd Loop)
"God, I'm kinda hot. Where can I drop off my jacket?"
"This Dollar Hill is a a bit tougher than I remember."
Squaw to River Road (2nd Loop)
"WHOOO HOOOO!"
Martis to Brockway Summit (2nd Loop)
(gasp)
"Kill me, please. Make this end."
Bike Start to Tahoe City (3rd Loop)
"This Dollar Hill is a nightmare, but it's my last nightmare."
T2
"Whoa man, my Garmin's still there, but thanks for racking my bike."
"Now this is a transition tent."
"I'll do my best to enjoy my run. A marathon. In the dark. In the cold."
"Where's my jacket?"
Run (Loop 1)
"That bike ride was f**king cruel."
"They kept saying 'relatively' flat. I do not think they know what this word 'flat' means."
"Mmmm, chicken broth."
"Share the path, guys."
"Man, that crowd pumped me UP!"
Run (Loop 2)
"Dude, I only have 8 more miles. EIGHT MORE MILES""
"This tri-kit was a big mistake. I wish I brought my arm warmers."
"I wish they told me about the required headlamp before I got to Tahoe."
"YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"
Next Day
"I'm so glad I got that massage..."