IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships: Getting to Know Mooloolaba

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Upon arrival in Mooloolaba, and post-shower (ahhhhhh!) and telling the family I arrived safe & sound, I ventured out.

I spent some time walking by the beach, meeting other athletes, and taking pictures of wild iguanas sunning themselves on the sidewalk.

I wasn't feeling jet-lagged, but didn't want to do my easy 3-miler during the hottest part of the day. Figuring I was due for a short siesta, I returned to my apartment and laid down, not sure I'd get much sleep due to the jackhammers from ongoing construction. I was confident I wouldn't be able to sleep long (or at all) so I didn't set an alarm.

I think we can all figure out what the mistake was.

I woke 8 hours later - at 9:00pm. I looked at the clock. You've got to be kidding me!

Mooloolaba reminds me a bit of Puerto Rico and a bit of Martha's Vineyard. Kind of touristy, in that restaurants and shops are on the Esplanade looking towards the ocean. I ventured out in search of dinner.

You've got to be kidding me! (again)

It was dead. Completely. Dead.

9:15pm on a Wednesday night, and all the restaurants and shops were closed. Seriously?! Maybe because this is their winter/spring? That is not what I expected. Only a handful of other souls out. Where did all the athletes go?!

Let's just say I was forced to forage for dinner at a 7-Eleven. Haha. Eggs salad on white = not exactly a dinner of champions, but it'll work for tonight. 

What I Learned in Australia - Day 1

* Aussies are incredibly friendly! I mean, quite possibly the friendliest population I've met throughout all my world travels. :-)
* I should never take 10pm (or later) closing times in America for granted...they are a privilege.
* There is shark netting at the beach! A fellow American athlete (Laura from Oregon, 55-59, qualified at Hawaii 70.3) told me that during her swim this morning, they informed her that there is shark netting at the orange buoys (pretty far out) to keep the sharks out of the swim area. Good to know!

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