The weekend

Well... White lake has come and gone. It was a bunch of fun and a lot of exercise. Saturday was Alex's and Kathy's race of the half ironman. As Ron puts it the weekend was filled with hurry up and wait. You hurry to get to some place by a certain time and then you wait around for a good long while and then the same thing over and over again. We happened to score some awesome seats right by the lake and close to the transition area too. So we had some chairs to sit in for part of the day. Alex went out first in the water, and then Kathy. Kathy could only complete the swim due to a thumb problem. Both of them had good times. Close to the end of the race, I was getting really nervous about Alex. She wasn't there by the time Ron had thought and then it passed my time that I thought. I knew something wasn't right. Kathy went walking to find Alex on the course and did. Walking was in the cards for Alex on that day. Still less than 8 hours for half ironman is amazing and just a huge accomplishment to even finish it.

That night we went to dinner. It was Kathy and JT's anniversary. We had a good time but we were all starving and tired. Racing and spectating is hard work. That night Mary road the bike course and claimed it to be kind of iffy in places. There were some places where the road had major cracks in it and bumps too. I was so thankful that she warned me of this. It gave me some peace. My parents and Daniel came in late that night after Val, Mary, and I went to pick up our race packets. We all ended up going to be halfway early. We were all a bit sunburned and tired.

Race day..... 530 rolls around and I don't want to get up. I'm so tired but I know that I have to hurry up and then wait. We got packed, ate something and all of us out the door by 550. We had to get to the gates by 6am so we could be ensured a parking spot. We did make it and were all thankful for that. We unloaded our stuff and Alex was so nice to help me set up. I believe that this was crucial in my transition time from swim to bike and bike to run. Mary, Val and I went and got all marked up and got our chip and waited til 750ish. We all got to the deck and I would say that most people were wearing a wet suit. Mary and I were not. The water was a bit chilly at only 75 degrees but we managed to get through it. Val's and my wave went out at 817 and Marys a few minutes after. I was a bit nervous at the start. I didn't know how I would handle open water swimming. I'm a pro in the pool where there are lane lines and walls but I know that in the ocean I have freaked out in the past. I kept telling myself to stay cool and calm. I knew there were no sharks or jelly fish so I was relieved by that. Alex had told me that she did not see any fish the day before. The swim was a good one in my eyes. I had times for myself to hold onto and I definitely kept them or beat them for the swim and run. My first transition was the hardest as I felt so winded and out of breath. I managed to finish the bike part but not without a few tough love words to myself and the road below me. Off the bike, I ran to transition and was in and out within just over a minute. I started running and just felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. I had a watch on me so I just kept telling myself only so many more minutes now and you will be done. The course down to the halfway point there was some sand. I got a bit freaked out because Alex and Kathy both had to take off their socks during their races because of gravel and stuff in their socks and shoes so I did walk across it the first time. After starting back up I told myself I wasn't going to walk anymore. I knew I could do it.... heck... I have run a lot longer distances without stopping. I got past the halfway point and saw Val. I told her it wasn't too much longer til turn around then I got close to the finish line and all I could hear were people cheering for me. I didn't see anyone. I was focused on the finish line and crossing it. I didn't even know what my time was because I was so focused. (I found my time late last night at one hour and fifty one or two minutes) I felt as I gave it the best shot I had and I was proud of my time. I knew I couldn't have done any better and I was proud of every decision I made.

After finishing I got a drink and took some pictures and waited on Val and Mary. They both gave it their best shot too and I am very proud of them.

My plan was to stay at the lake after the race but everyone just wanted to go home including me. I took a shower and packed it up. I was wiped out along with everyone else.