The last time I was here was in 2020 - reminiscing about my adventure in IRONMAN Cozumel 2019. I have several unfinished blogs written about that race that I may publish later in December. But, first, I want to write about this year’s race.
One of the things that I love most about this space is looking back on my adventures and remembering the little moments and lessons learned. I wish I had kept a better journal of all the summer training days. Again, I might reminisce about a few of those hot, windy days later this month.
But, first, a little about IRONMAN MEXICO 2021. I like to write about the set-up of the race because I know that many people read this race report to prep for their own trip. This is the second time I’ve raced in Cozumel so some of my review reflects a little compare and contrast.
First, I cannot say enough about booking this trip with Ken Glah’s Endurance Sports Travel. His team makes the event special and easy for the athletes and spectators. He met us at the airport with a big hug and a shuttle to our hotel. He took time to ride with me and another athlete on Wednesday after my bike was prepped. He planned daily trips into town, swim and bike sessions and helped all athletes with the point-to-point-to-point logistics. And on race day, he took care of athletes and spectators. I can’t wait to book with him for my trip to Kona. I HIGHLY recommend traveling with him.
We arrived in COZUMEL very early. American Airlines switched our flights twice and extended our trip on both ends. Of course, in the end, we could hardly complain because…..Mexico. Ace and I landed on Monday evening in a thunderstorm that was a harbinger of things to come. We stayed at Secrets Aura about 20 minutes south of downtown. It’s an all-inclusive for adults and included everything we needed for race week. The adjoining Sun Sabor was a family friendly hotel and was the meet-up spot for EST (and the Towne family once they arrived on Friday).
Flying in early gave us a chance to relax those first few days before the rest of our crew arrived. We set up our home in the villas at Aura, went for a swim in the roped-off area at the resort, I put my bike together on Tuesday and went for a ride with Ken on Wednesday. I was also able to get my pre-event Covid test at the hotel. A negative result was required within 72 hours of packet pick-up. I did my streak mile each day, too. The first mile the night we arrived was on a treadmill in the gym. The other miles were on the multi-use road outside of the resort gate.
Jen arrived on Thursday and Ace and I met her downtown at the Convention Center for packet pick-up. This was the most stressful part of the entire trip. I was trying to find gluten-free bread (never did), coordinating with Jen’s flight and her Disney-like wait through customs and attempting not miss the last shuttle to the hotel. Plus, I almost got arrested for shoplifting (not really, but caught with a bag in one of the grocery stores). Oh…and it was raining off and on.
Here are some tips on getting set up in Cozumel:
Fly into Cozumel if you can get a flight. The first year we flew into Cancun. Even though Ken’s team was in charge, it was hectic getting out of that airport, we took a shuttle (45-minutes) with a few other athletes to Playa del Carmen, boarded our luggage (and bike) on a bike taxi, walked through a ferry plaza/mall, boarded a ferry for a 30-minute trip to Cozumel, got in another shuttle and then headed to the hotel.
Bike bags are the last to come out onto the luggage carousel. By that time, the line to the customs bag scan is (a) full of regular tourists (not athletes) and (b) makes no sense. It is as long as a line in Disney without the organization.
Bring a raincoat. It is the rainy season.
