A week of excitment

So it has been a week since I have been to B2B. It seems like it has already been forever! I had such a great time enjoying the weekend with friends and family.
Val and I went down to the beach on Friday morning. We made a few pit stops on the way. The first one was for gas and then we stopped at the Duplin winery!! It was great. I had been wanting to go there for years. Every time I have the idea to stop there, its a Sunday and they are closed for Sunday. We had a good time learning about all the different wines that they make, etc. We only had time to taste and not take a tour or eat there. So maybe next time we go we can get a tour. We had to be at the beach by a certain time.
Off we went to the beach and checked into our room. We had enough time to relax for a bit and then get going to dinner. Before dinner Alex gave Val and me a little gift. It was a huge picture frame with pictures of her and me or her and Val in it doing various things from the past. LOVED IT!!! (Its at work sitting on my desk as I type) We met everyone at dinner that night and had a great time! Alex's mom kept calling Val's food an appitizer because it was so much smaller than everyone's pasta dish! That was funny.
Since we had dinner so early (530) we got back early too and went to bed at 730pm!! I felt like an old fart but knew that that was the best decision I could make since the following day was going to be so long.
The alarm clock went off at 640 and we were up and out the door to head to get some coffee at McDonalds and then to the transition area. Jan, Val and me went in my car, Ron was with Alex since the start and Mary and Kathy went by themselves. We hung around until about 815am at the transition area and saw Alex run past us and then zoom on the bike past us. Our time was done there and we all made our little groups again and went on our way until the afternoon. Kathy and Mary went downtown, Ron went to bed, and us girls went back to the hotel to grab some things and relax. We then got the briliant idea to go shopping!
We headed out to World Market, Michaels, and eat at Red Robin. At Red Robin, we met up with my old friend Matt. I dont see him but maybe once or twice a year. He hung around with us until Alex finished her bike at Ironman.
After lunch, we all headed to find Kathy and Mary downtown. Matt lead us into town and we found free parking!!! WOO!! We found Mary and Kathy right where we thought they were and then Ron came by. When it was getting close to Alex's transition time, we made the choice to get in line for the ferry. The line was extra long compaired to last year so we had to make sure we were there early. While in line this lady came up to Alex's mom and was huffing and puffing about the ironman and how she came all the way from Califorina to see the battleship and how dare there be a line as long as there was to see the battleship and how no one informed her of the weekend activites! Sheesh louise! Like we liked standing in line as much as she did?!
We found our way to the next transition area after getting off the ferry and waited. While waiting, we found some beer and looked around. It was amazing how many people were in the transition area who shouldnt have been. Alex's mom was getting a bit PO'ed because she felt that these people did not need to be there(they didnt) and that what if they were to make a runner slower.
After a while, Mary called me to tell me that she saw Alex coming in on her bike and to get ready. We were.. Here came Alex out of the tent and off to start running. I think we were all amazed at the good spirit she was in. All smiles! Off she went and so did we. Into the line for the ferry to get back. After standing in the line for the ferry for about 30 minutes someone said that the line for the buses and trolly's were shorter. What they failed to tell us was that the line was about a mile away! So we got out of line and went to find the buses. When we got there... guess what... there was a long line! ahhhh. And Alex's special needs bag was picked up and came with us! EKK!! I voluneteered to go return it knowing that I was the fastest runner in the group. So off I ran back to the special needs area. When I got there I double checked with a voluneteer on where to put the bag and they told me what I did not expect so I called Ron to make sure that what I thought was right and not what the other gal told me. I put the bag where it needed to be and ran back. Thank goodness they were still there. I rejoined the line and proceeded to wait with everyone.
We finally got back to the running area knowning that we had missed Alex on her first go round. We were cheering for all the runners. Some seemed less than thrilled of our peppy spirit but most were excited! When Alex came by at mile 10, she was running so well and faster than what we predicted that we almost missed her! She zoomed by and we cheered really loud. Then it was another wait for a while. We went to the car to get the blankets, jackets, hats, food, etc and returned until she came by at mile 16.
Since last time she came by we were surprised, we tried our best to do better. Josh stood in front of the group and called to let everyone know where he saw her. Then I ran about a mile down the road to marker 16.5 to wait for Alex. I figured with Josh being at 15.5, everyone at 16 and me at 16.5 it would boost her up in case she was feeling tierd. She was super excited to see me and chat with me for a little while. (remember she had been by herself all day!) So I gave her some of the best gossip I could and she went on her way after a while.
I ran back to the group and then we all went to get on the ferry to get back to the finish line. When we got to the finish, it was dark and some of us found a seat. Others had brought some chairs so they took them out and sat. It was cool to see people finish and get off our feet for a bit. Now it was time to just wait and try to figure out when Alex would be coming by. We all knew what she was wearing and she had a head light so it made it so much easier to know it was her.
She came in at 14:18! I couldnt get up as fast as I wanted because I was video taping everything. She of course did AMAZING! Everyone showerd her with love and congrats. She had so much to talk about. I have video of her chatting for about 20 minutes but Im sure it wont upload on this blog. :(
After pictures, talking, etc she started to get cold and was helped to get warmer and get some food. Off to get onto the ferry again!!
Once back on the mainland, people said thier goodbyes and we all headed back to our resting point. Alex, Ron, Val, Jan, and me were all in the same hotel so I got Alex some ice and Val got her some diaper cream. We all called it a night around midnight.
The next morning, Val and I got up and headed out to some early morning stops and then back to get everyone to go on the awards cruise.
They had all sorts of stuff there but by the time we got in line for food, there were no more eggs and the bacon was wimpy. :( We finally got some eggs near the end and after all of the awards everyone was ready to get going back home. We all were not excited about the drive back.
Val and I had to stop three times to stretch and get some food/drinks. I was so excited to get home after a long weekend. We all had so much fun and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! It is such an accomplishment to train and finish Ironman. I have been talking up a storm this whole past week when people asked how my weekend was.... it was amazing, thank you for asking. My best friend completed an Ironman and I went to help support her! :)

excitment

So this month I am pretty excited about a few things... All are in no particular order of excitment.
1. My half marathon
2. Alex's Ironman
3. Thanksgiving
4. Tanger outlet opened in Mebane
5. Day after Thanksgiving free for all
6. Duplin Winery ( I have been wanting to go for YEARS!)

IM BAACCCKKKKK

Ok so I am back.. back from my half marathon that I just finished. This is a recap on the whole race. Mile 0... I met this gal who was nervous and it was her first one and she had never run in the cold. I gave her a pep talk. Mile 1.5... started having cramps. I couldnt figure out why. I had done everything "right". I was hydrated, I had snacks, I was keeping my pace at an even level. I just did not know why. All I could think was (I hope this wont be like the marathon) I would run then walk a bit every .4 miles. By mile 3.5 I thought I had myself under control a bit more. Mile 4...I saw Alex. :) She was helping out at the water station and she knew EXACTLY what I wanted. I needed a refill in my water bottle desperatly. (Super helpful) Mile 4.5... I saw Daniel who took my jacket and gloves and told me I looked good. I shot him a smile. Mile 4.5 also, the cop at the intersection "didn't see me" and I had to WAIT on cars!! Ahhhh. Mile 8... I got my act together. I finally got those pesky cramps under control. I had a system down and I was feeling great. From mile 8-12 it was smooth sailing. I did walk this particually difficult hill but that was ok. Mile 12.. I paused for a second and boy did I feel that lactic acid in my legs. I gave myself a pep talk and finished. I told myself I had two choices. Walk and take 15 minutes or run and take 10. I chose to run.
Afterwards i had a massage from some guy with an English accent. Alex took pics. (she was also a great cheerer) We walked around and got some food. They had great food. Candy, sandwiches, doritos, moonpies, drinks, etc. Even though I was not really hungry as I normally am not after a race, I still forced myself to eat something. I chose half banana, 2 pieces of chocolate, part of a sandwich and then drove to cookout for a milkshake.
My time was what I had expected it to be. I did train for the race but not to the extent that I have in the past and I am happy with finishing with no injuries and no soreness (at the moment).
Now on to Ironman this coming weekend!