363 Days - But Who's Counting?

So the Ironman sign up is kind of convaluted. On race day there are three divisons of people signing up. By the way, they're all a little crazy.
1 - Current athletes. They can sign up the day before.
2 - Volunteers.
3 - Non-Volunteers

So to be sure you get a spot for the following year, it's necessary to spend the night in Madison, Wisconsin the night of the race so that you can get in line by about 7 or 7:30 am. By 9am the line to register for next year's Ironman is around the building.

So you stand in line chatting up the people around you, talking about how long the line is and stirring up all the rumors you've heard. "I heard that 1,500 athletes from this year signed up, so we're not going to get a spot." Or, "I heard there were so many volunteers this year we don't have a chance." It's all crap, but like any event where there is excitement and tention, people on nerve about getting their rightful spot. If you don't get a spot your goals and visions of crossing the finishline are crushed.

And no one wants to be crushed. Especially endurance athletes.

Then you get in the room and it's pretty anti-climactic. You sign a piece of paper and they tell you to check your email. So even after you stand it line and all that, you're still not really registered.

So finally, this morning, I hopped onto Active.com and registered for the Wisconsin Ironman! Brett Lamm, from Echo West is sponsoring me! Pretty amazing.