Olá from Floripa!

I knew this trip was going to be special before I even set foot inside the Atlanta Airport.
My friends and Dynamo Multisport teammates Betty and Micki were actually standing outside the international terminal, jumping up and down with amazing good luck signs, when Betty’s husband Ernie dropped me off!! It was the greatest send-off and it just reinforced that I really do have the best support crew EVER! Thanks guys!!

The eight hour overnight flight to Brasilia was super easy. I actually love red-eye flights because I sleep great on planes and I love watching the sunrise from 30,000 feet!
The airport in Brasilia was very cool. It had a gorgeous open-air terrace and was really easy to navigate. I also quickly learned that Brazilians are exceptionally nice and always willing to help an inexperienced traveler in need! Within no time, I’d collected and rechecked my bike bag and I was on the two hour flight to Florianopolis.

Flying into Floripa, I definitely had the theme song from Jurassic Park playing in my head. It’s just so exotically beautiful!
I arranged all of my travel and accommodations through Ken Glah’s Endurance Sports Travel company and OMG – I am so impressed!!! Shuttles, meals, hotels, race logistics – EVERYTHING is super well organized. I am not exactly well-traveled (yet!) but the EST crew has made everything so EASY!

Traveling with EST has also been a great way to meet people. Last night at dinner I asked the nice man I was sitting with how many Ironmans he’d done. “I’m not really sure,” he answered, “but I think last year I did 14.” FOURTEEN IRONMANS!!! Lightbulb moment!!! Yes, I was unknowingly sitting with pro racing machine Petr Vabrousek!! (And if you want to know about a course, he’s the guy to ask! He’s already raced Brazil six times!)

In just over 24 hours I’ve met Ironman legends, rookies, had a half English/half Spanish conversation with an Argentinian photographer on the beach, and even ran into my fellow American friends Sonja and Troy. I’ve ridden in the rain, run past dogs on the beach, and swum in some of the most beautiful water ever. I may not race until Sunday, but I am already feeling GREAT about my decision to be here and I am so ridiculously thankful for everyone who encouraged me! Because so far, I am LOVING IT!!