Well this is long over due and with crazy training I just didn't blog what so ever.
Well it was race weekend if I was ready for it or not. I am not sure if you ever feel satisfied and ready the weekend of a race. You know you put in the work but was it enough?? Did I do enough hills did I open water swim enough did I tapper too much. Then you breathe and say it is here anyway and I am going to do this.
With my Mom and sister by my side we went to check in to the hotel, and to Ironman Village. I must say they know how to put on a race and it well worth 360,000 pennies it cost to get into the dang thing. My sister Keri happens to be a photographer and she has graciously shared her photos of the day with me. I will let them do most of the talking. ENJOY
Race day started early.
A good luck card from my nephew Ryland so cute!!
The pre race schedule so people would know where I was on the course if all goes well.
Preparation
Body marking in the morning I will tell you this once those markings are on you it seams like you blink and you are in the water starting the race.
transition before the race begins
The swim course, thank goodness they have a line under water you can follow because it stayed this foggy the whole time during the race very hard to see. I guess I didn't need those polarized swim goggles after all.
Wetsuiting Up.
Practicing the swim stoke on land.. Or hamming it up for the camera??
Thats me ready to go giving the thumbs up.... It must be because ignorance is bliss.
Well I made it out of the water and it is time for a 56 mile ride.. Lets do this.
Riding off a blistering speed.
NO WHITE FLAGS. This is what started this whole journey. My step brother was Diagnosed with ALS 2.5 years ago and was living life with a do not give up attitude and I thought I can do that too. So I am going to do a half IRONMAN. He started Team Gleason bringing awareness to ALS. The theme and Mantra is NO WHITE FLAGS. And if you have followed my blog you know this race was supposed to take place last year, but with my Mom in the hospital fighting for her life (and that she did) it became a 2013 Goal.
Here is a picture of what all of us are chasing today.... a piece of metal that says you did it, that same piece of metal goes to the person who finishes first and to the one who finishes last. A true family that shars a common goal... The Finish line.
There they are again, a symbol that means soooo much.
The run. Here is where my tears started coming into play. After a few steps back on the bike like my chain falling off twice and in that process crashing. I was beginning to worry I may get pulled from the course. You see this is a a shuffle-run-walk for 13.1 miles and that shuffle-run-walk was not looking like it was on pace to hit the cut. I looked at my family on the end of the first loop in tears pointing to my watch saying I may not make the cut. They just stood there and screamed and yelled and said that I could do it and to just keep moving on. That is what I did. Shuffle-run-walk. N.W.F.
There is it the end the finish a goal accomplished. The folks on the left side of this picture I met on the course and if you can see are wearing Team Gleason shirts. They finished 3 hours before me and when they heard I was still out there, they wanted to stay and watch me finish. At this point there is only one person behind me on the course.
2nd to last is what I finished. But I have a mental I have crossed the same finish line as everyone else and I completed the same course as everyone else I am now apart of a family I will never forget. IRONMAN 70.3 FINISHER!!!!!!!
Team Gleason Ladies:)
Anthony who I raced beside the last 6 miles. awesome man!!
Me and My Dad.
The support crew. I can't say enough about these people they made the day what it was meant to be!!!! Oh and if you were wondering the woman on the far right is my MOM, A walking miracle.
THANKS YOU EVERYONE!!!!!
