After this morning’s double whammy run it was time for a good meal. The group went to Gaido’s for lunch.
I cannot get rid of these crabs! Who says I want to?
We started with bread. It was very cake-like in consistency without being too sweet. I actually would have liked it either sweeter or a savory-er. Pick a side!
I got a salad for some greens and vitamins. The house made dressing was really good – slightly sweet and packed with pecans.
For my main course I ordered the mahi mahi grilled with asparagus. It was good, but better with the garlic butter sauce, obviously.
And I do have to note this mac n’ cheese. I always say I haven’t had good mac n’ cheese. Well, I finally did! This was magical and now I can finally understand why people call this comfort food.
Everyone* at the table got dessert (*except Ben who is on a high fat diet that intrigues Kelly & I to a point that probably makes him uncomfortable). I opted to just steal a few bites of Kelly’s ball.
And I tried a bite of crème brulee. I didn’t think I liked crème brulee, but this won me over. It’s still not “real” dessert, as that would have to include chocolate.
After lunch we headed to the Ironman expo and press conference. We have full media access to all of tomorrow’s events too!
The expo was pretty small by “big race” standards, but Ray said this was usual for triathlons. 
We walked around the expo, getting sunburnt 
. I didn’t realize the expo and press conference were going to be outside and I got FRIED! I’m a lobster blogging from my hotel room right now.
We spotted Chris Lieto’s dad enjoying the recovery boot booth. Have you guys seen this?! It’s compression for your entire legs that help with blood flow and recovery. It’s also $1000. 
Spotted this bumper sticker in the expo parking lot – Mariachi on board. I kinda want to wear a shirt saying this when I’m pregnant. What? Little Benica could grow up to be a mariachi!
It’s fun how something as simple as a bumper sticker can spark such a playful thought. Maybe it’s the way they grab attention and leave a little smile on your face, or how they often make a statement without needing words. They’re like miniature billboards for personality, humor, and sometimes even a little rebellion. I could totally see myself rocking a shirt like that, adding a touch of whimsy to the journey of pregnancy.
If you’re into cool, quirky designs, there’s a whole world of stickers out there to choose from. One of my favorites is the Keep Tassie Wild Stickers, which have this beautiful mix of nature, wildlife, and cheeky messages. They really reflect the kind of adventurous spirit I want to share with Benica. Whether it’s for your car, laptop, or water bottle, these little stickers offer a fun way to express yourself. Who knows, maybe one day Benica will be collecting their own, rocking a mariachi-themed sticker, and showing off their unique style!
Watching all the athletes set up their bikes in the transition area was exciting. There is definitely a very amped up buzz in the air!
The press conference featured three top female and three top mail contenders. 
There is a ton of buzz around Lance Armstrong doing the race and bringing more publicity to the sport. It was front page news around here!
Marino Vanhoenacker (in the green shirt) currently holds the record for the fastest Ironman time. He said this about competing against Lance Armstrong,”On Sunday if he beats me I won’t be happy but if I beat him I will be really happy, but all in all it’s good. He is fierce, he is competitive and everybody has told us he can still compete so it is a great thing.”
A reporter asked Lance Armstrong if he thinks he could win the Ironman and he said, “Oh I have no idea. To be fair and honest I don’t know. Obviously I have never done an Ironman, I have done one [Ironman] 70.3 race. When I raced 20 years ago they were much shorter events and the sport was much different, the fields were much different, I think even the level of competition was much different. It’s a big question mark and it’s the reason why I am here, I would like to answer the question for myself and probably for some others. No guarantees on my part but I am going to do whatever I need to do, train hard, be prepared and learn as much as I can because every one of these races is a learning experience for me and I will see and have a good indication at Ironman France if I can ever make a run for it.”
I noticed the ladies all came to the stage with their own water bottles. Perhaps they were filled with a magic concoction that helps them be to awesome? Perhaps they were just making sure to stay hydrated in this heat? You decide.
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After the press conference Refuel unveiled Chris Lieto’s new “My After” ad.
And I was about to turn into a grumpy bear when an apple saved the day! (I have started to notice my hunger cues first show up as feeling irritated or anxious. We’ll discuss at a more appropriate time.)
After I was sufficiently fried we headed back to the hotel for a bit of downtime before dinner.
We went to Landry’s a fancy seafood restaurant. I am LOVING all the fish I’m eating on this trip.
Garlic bread and salad to start…
Stuffed tilapia with veggies and a baked potato for the main event. (I ordered a baked potato instead of the rice, but they brought both. Maybe they thought I was carb loading for the race?)
No carb left behind!
I didn’t realize, but the fake dessert tray was right behind me the whole time and someone asked me to grab it so they could have a look. I might get a job as a waitress if this whole blogging thing falls through…
Traci’s dessert was key lime pie puffs. They are lime, so this just counts as a fruit, right?
Kelly got the banana bread pudding with chocolate chips. She mentioned something about not liking bananas and that hurt my heart a little. I don’t want to talk about it.
Okay, it’s 11:30p and I’m red and tired. I have a 5am wake up call tomorrow morning to watch the Ironman Lonestart 70.3! Good luck to everyone racing!!
Question: What is your least favorite fruit?
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Least favorite fruit? I honestly can’t think of one, I love fruit! I’m sure there’s some exotic fruit out there I haven’t tried that I wouldn’t like. Also, those desserts look amazing!
Your day sounds amazing! I can’t wait to hear about your experiences on race day. I read the live blogging on Ironman.com and was so excited!
Least fave fruit would be honeydue. I can’t get over the weird color. Looks like you’re eating some yummy food! I miss Texas.
My favorite is banana which makes me sad your friend didn’t like bananas.
I would say my least favorite is probably grapefruit. The taste has never been pleasant to me!
I would say grapefruit – just because I have to put about a cup or two of sugar on it to choke it down 🙂
Looks like youre having a fabulous time!! I want all that dessert! And I need those compression boots!!
OMG, Bluebell.. you have GOT to try some before you leave Texas.. its seriously the best ice cream I have EVER tasted, and one of the reasons I love living in the south so much.
That’s what the waiter said too!
Least favorite fruit is kiwi (because I’m allergic). And I love peaches but I HATE peach skins – blegh.
Those recovery boots look amazing, btw.
Made your bean fries. LOVE!
My least favorite fruit is definitely the banana.
Sorry you got sunburnt 🙁 I know that’s no fun. Looks like such a fun time though!
My hunger cues come off as anger and anxiousness at first too, I get nasty when i’m hungry.
It sounds like you are having a blast! Wish I was there!
Favorite Fruit, bananas.
Those compression boot things are pretty cool, way to expensive though, I wonder if I could find them on ebay for cheap?
Have fun on your trip. Sorry about the sunburn!
Least favorite fruit — cantaloupe. That junk can ruin any fruit salad with its cantaloupe-y juices.
I hate mangoes! I’ve tried hard to like them but to no avail.
I’m so jealous of your weekend!! Looks like your getting all the fun things in: travel, running, and FOOD 🙂
Grapefruit – waaay too sour for me.
I’m not a huge papaya fan, except when it’s green and in a thai salad.
I get in a bad mood/have a headache when I’m hungry long before I feel it in my stomach too.
Jeal of your trip!
I want a pair of those boots! Kinda creepy sidenote – but I saw that Dwayne Wade has a pair of those from Twitpics… I wish I had a free grand!
Your blog always makes me smile!
PS- i hate canteloupes and honey dew melons. GROSS!! I do like watermelon though, but only when they are in season!
Bananas. Definitely bananas
Your mahi mahi plate may be the saddest food presentation I have ever seen. And 4 spears of asparagus? Is that all you got? I am glad it was good, but wow.
You will have to update us on who won as I probably will forget to look.
I have seriously never met a fruit I didn’t like. And I LOVE watermelon.
It was an oddly sad presentation (and it was a super fancy place too).
I love all fruit, I’ve met a few vegetables I don’t like though!
My least favorite fruit is grapefruit. It’s just too tart…sweet..I don’t know but I don’t like ’em. I like everything else though. 🙂
Such a fun weekend!
I really don’t like mangos. I think they smell like stinky feet–did I just ruin mangos for everyone?!
I am all about finding the cheesiest jokes possible…so here’s a lobster one for you since you are sunburned:
Why did the lobster blush?
Because the see-weed.
Ha, Ha!
Okay, this food is killing me……..delicious!!
I would have to say kiwi, but only because they’re so much work to peel and there’s not much fruit to them once you actually get it peeled!
Pears. Definitely pears.
The Kidless Kronicles
I only like certain apple varieties. And I have no use for most citrus fruit, especially grapefruit.
Otherwise, I have never met a fruit I don’t like.
apples..I bit into a worm once
AHHHHH!
Soooo jealous, Lance Armstrong was there! 🙂
(But I have watched him racing in France several times, so I guess it’s okay…)
i love reading your blog- you crack me up. Enjoy Texas!
So jealous of your trip! The sun, the food, the athletes!