Hm. So I mentioned that I'm simmering on plans of concocting a Do-it-Yourself Ironman. No $700 registration fee-- just mark a date on the calendar and do it on home turf.
My Prerequisites:
- The route has to be fun. Good scenery, no boring laps.
- The route has to be convenient. Start and finish close to home.
- The route must be efficient, so as to not take too long.
- The route must incorporate awesome food stops.
- Transitions between legs should allow for an unhurried, complete change of clothing. I'm going to wear socks, dammit! And an actual chamois.
- Incorporate 'checkpoints' so that friends may join in for a portion and to keep on schedule.
- I should be fairly self-sufficient, and not overly relying on car support.
- It should be FUN!
So here's what I came up with; I think it achieves everything except efficiency. Riding in the city just takes longer- more stops.
My Projected Timeline:
5:00a - Start SWIM @ Lake Sammamish State Park.
6:30a - Finish swim, TRANSITION into bike kit.
7:00a - Start BIKE toward Seattle.
9:30a - EAT BRUNCH @ Portage Bay Cafe in Seattle.
10:30a - Continue BIKE.
pm - Late LUNCH stop @ Black Diamond Bakery.
7:00p - Start TRAIL RUN @ base of Tiger Mountain.
Midnight - FINISH! With a bonfire. And MORE FOOD.
The kinks that I see in the plan are these:
- The bike will take so darn long because of all the city riding.
- Running in the dark in the woods sounds spooky, even with friends, headlamps and a 5 mile loop.
- I'm concerned that I would be too reliant on outside support to pull it off.
- There are some trail running adventures (my most recent love affair) that I could plan instead that would have far fewer logistics!
Hm. Still stewing..
