When my children were little, they loved sploshing around on a rainy day.
One day, between then and now, they grew up.
It likely happened around the time they stopped wearing sparkly rain boots.
On this rainy morning,
when I suggested a run, I was given unenthusiastic, raised eyebrows.
“Isn’t it raining?” was asked in that teenager, my parents are idiots, tone.
My answer: “YES!” To quote my favorite track coach “You won’t melt.”
_________________________________________________
I love to run in the rain.
Some of the most laughter, best stories and vivid memories came from runs and races when I was drenched.
I needed to impart this joyful lesson.
First off, we ran naked.
Not completely naked. But free of any device that measures time or distance or speed. We just ran and ran, until we were done running.
Secondly, we played games.
Following the leader we skipped, jumped, hopped, and leapt along the sidewalks.
Finally, we spread the joy.
Our miles were run through a retirement community. I imagine that we evoked more than one smile in folks who were stuck inside because of the bad weather. How often does one see a parade of wet buffoons, skipping down the street?
The bottom line – once you get over being wet – it is a free reign to have fun.
We captured some of the post-run merriment:
rain run survivors (snapped through a window)
Post-run hydration
Still smiling
Here’s to getting some fresh air and exercise before Tropical Storm Andrea blows through!
Exhausted legs, blistered toes inside a pair of sweaty socks and worn running shoes with 26.2 miles of filth collected while pounding the streets of a major world marathon.
I am not nearly as fast as the qualifiers of the Boston Marathon, but, I too, am a runner.
With 19 marathon medals to my credit I have a fair understanding of training, toeing the line, and taking on every one of those twenty-six-point-two miles, step by step.
At some point, a few months ago, or a few years ago, or quite possibly a few decades ago, they committed to running.
Running long and hard and far.
They committed to running in the dark and in the rain and in the snow.
You see, the accomplishment of a marathon isn’t in the race day, but in the months of training runs when there isn’t anyone cheering, or handing out drinks, or giving out medals.
It takes a certain heart to make that commitment to something so crazy-hard-wonderful. And when you have that heart, you know it in others and you are the same.
And these amazing people are surrounded by people who love them. Friends and family who love them so much that after a long run, they draw them ice baths and make them friend egg sandwiches. And race after race after race, they stand on the sidelines with signs that say “GO MOM!”
When they tried to sleep last night, they worried.
They worried about not being able to fall asleep and not waking up in time.
They worried about nutrition and hydration and chafing and blisters.
They worried about that nagging knee or ankle or hamstring or the brand new injury that might make its debut.
They worried that they didn’t train enough.
They worried that they trained too much.
BUT NEVER ONCE did they worry about a bomb.
NEVER did they fathom that the finish line would be a war scene.
NEVER did they imagine that their loving family who stood for hours just to catch a glimpse of them and scream their name, would be put in life-or-death danger.
This morning I had a great workout. Let’s call it a Me-Myself-and-I Tri. 1/2 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run. No clocks, no competition, just the enjoyment of the process. With holiday baking and 8 days of cruising behind me it feels great to get back into eating simple, fresh meals. (Okay – I DO miss the abundance of fresh strawberries, and the linen napkin in my lap, and a full week of no dishes, oh maybe I am supposed to just live my life plump and happy sailing the seven seas.)
With a break from homeschool and the Thanksgiving/Christmas festivities passed, I have some open hours of time and I am delighted to fill them with physical activity. Good. Clean. Sweat. My recent workouts have been a great time to clear my head, mentally prepare for the year ahead and set some very specific goals.
While EAT, RUN and HEAL are three different topics on my blog, they are so intertwined for me that when setting fitness goals for 2013, I couldn’t separate them.
While I certainly can’t control the impacts of autoimmune disease on my body, I can make positive choices, that I believe help with the daily frustrations and implications. These choices are simply: good rest, good exercise and good food. It is a direct cycle: when I don’t exercise, I carry extra weight (hard on my joints), I feel sluggish and I don’t sleep well. When I don’t sleep well, I am unmotivated to exercise or eat well. When I don’t eat well, I gain weight (making exercise frustrating) and I have a hard time sleeping with too much caffeine / sugar / carbs in my system.
Instead of making severe mandates, or creating huge year-long-goals, I decided to take it month by month. With very specific, measurable goals, I believe that I will stay motivated, see results and can adapt based on races, illness and what ever the US Air Force throws our way. Putting these goals in writing for all the world to see keeps me accountable – AND, might garner some support, ideas, recipes, etc. from you.
I kind of feel like I should insert a hideous before photo here, and then later update with a lovely, tanned, made-over me. Since this isn’t really an exercise of self loathing, I won’t subject any of us to a pathetic mug shot. Instead, here’s a current shot, make-up-less and hair soaked in sea water and wind-blown. Placed beside my young, fit daughter just accentuates my age and sagginess.
Note: a need for better defined arms, no acknowledgement of shoulder blades, complete absence of abs, and a face and neck that are fuller than I like. I will try to capture some kind of visible progress in photos – don’t expect a bikini shot any time soon.
January fitness goals:
1) At least 30 minutes of exercise EVERY day.
2) Run/Walk total: 60 miles
3) Bike total: 50 miles
4) Swim total: 3 miles
5) Aim for 8+ hours of sleep a night.
6) Focus on real food – items that don’t need ingredient labels (fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds)
I have 2 races that I have registered and paid for. I know, from experience, that a race on the calendar has a direct impact on my fitness.
February 24, 2013: Disney Princess 1/2 marathon, Orlando, FL
March 17, 2013: VA Beach 1/2 marathon, Virginia Beach, VA
PLUS – my dear husband has a 1/2 Ironman scheduled for March 17th – so I will have a supportive partner in my aching muscles and need for early bed times.
Look for writing in all areas of health and fitness as the weeks progress – frustrations and accomplishments, as well as some healthy recipes that are fun for the whole family as well a few treats that reward all the hard work. (Seriously – if the promise of a chocolate cupcake gets me out of bed and through a ten-mile run, well – I will be making cupcakes.)
What are your fitness goals? Upcoming races? Successful recipes made from real food?
Twenty-three years ago I was on crutches, recovering from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction.
My injury was a result of my feet going in one direction and my knee going another while playing ultimate frisbee.
The rehabilitation was long, tedious, painful and frustrating.
To this day I am thankful that I had an excellent surgeon.
While there were days that I couldn’t imagine that I would ever run again, I did go on to run in college and rediscovered my love for the sport as an adult. Held together by screws, with a couple of good scars to document my journey, this rebuilt knee got me across many, many finish lines.
Tonight I can’t fall asleep.
It’s Deja vu.
Like mother, like daughter.
Tomorrow morning we are entrusting a surgeon with Caitlyn’s knee.
A few weeks ago she tore up her ACL and Meniscus playing soccer.
Thankfully the surgery has become more streamlined over the last two decades, but even if everything goes perfectly, she has a long road ahead of her. It will hurt and take time and make her feel like giving up.
She is about to embark on her first real marathon.
It will be a test of her physical strength and mental might.
While it will feel like an eternity, I know we will be running again soon.
And it won’t be long before she is leaving me in her dust.
I have the perspective to know that she will get through this, ultimately stronger in the end.
We have great confidence in her surgeon, but tonight I pray that come morning he has a clear mind and steady hands.
Yesterday afternoon I ran a really enjoyable 7 miles.
I had only intended to run 5 – but I have learned to take advantage on the days that I really feel it.
Yesterday I felt it.
Those miles were like a gift, an award even, and so I must give credit where credit is due.
I whole heartedly thank the following for my motivation:
My new Sauconys and the spring they put in my step.
My 3 daughters who kept me amused and distracted through the miles.
A delightful afternoon nap.
Many, many miles logged on the beach throughout August.
The $86.53 I recently spent registering for a November half-marathon.
Reading about Miss Allie Sinning – one of my favorite military kids – who went out and ran her first cross-country race in a new state at a new school and came in FIRST place with a PR! Love that resiliency, the self-confidence and her super fast legs!
Did I mention the nap?
So there you have it – a great run, and today I woke up with the perfect amount of soreness. Nothing aching or throbbing, just that muscular reminder that you did a good thing the day before. That lingering runner’s high that lures you to lace up those shoes again and again.
In 11 weeks I will tackle the Diva 1/2 Marathon in San Juan. Take that as fair warning that there will be a number of running posts between now and then.
Please tell me that I am not the only one who has been excessively active since the Olympic athletes paraded through the opening ceremony? For the last nine days, our hours have been spent:
1) glued to the television
2) googling Olympic rules and records
3) exercising a myriad of previously under-used muscles.
You see, my kids are greatly intrigued by some unexpected sports. Swimming, cycling and running are no big surprise, since we all have some extensive time invested in those sports, but it is the keen interests in Water Polo, White Water Kayaking, and Beach Volley Ball that are more surprising. This has not only meant some couch potato hours watching tv, but we have been treading water, dribbling soccer balls down the beach, and playing a lot of beach volley ball.
During yesterday’s miles down the beach, I was feeling the week’s workouts and made a mental note that Sunday would be a rest day.
But that was before I watched the Men’s 10,000 meters.
And before I watched the Women’s Marathon.
And today I couldn’t resist the urge to lace up my running shoes for a few miles. A few fast miles. Fast like the gold medal depended on it.
With my heart racing and my lungs burning, I couldn’t get the inspirational images out of my head:
Mo Farah crossed the finish line, but clearly his first thought was his training partner, Galen Rupp. Different nationalities aside, these two men are teammates in every sense of the word.
And then the Women’s Marathon. After watching the American women run in the olympic trials, I felt personally attached to this race. I longed to see them succeed. For such a physically grueling race, both Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan ran solidly. Even though a 10th and 11th place finish would not award them with a medal, it brought me to tears to know that they would be able to heal their bodies and their hearts together.
In a sport that can be selfishly individual, it is so awesome to see their team work.
I have been that lucky. I have had running partners who wanted my success just as much as their own, maybe even more. I have had friends waiting for me on that finish line. Memories of shared miles will always be more valuable to me than any of my personal records or awards.
While the end of my run today did not take place near Buckingham Palace, in my mind I retraced those same steps. The exact same steps that I ran toward the finish line of my very first marathon. (Side note – if you ever get to run the London Marathon, DO IT!) In the six years since that first marathon, I can only give thanks for the amazing gifts running has given me.
As I arrived home from my 3 mile “sprint,” my family joked that my all-out might be the same pace as the marathoners’ post race hobble. Perhaps, but today I was the fastest one out on the sidewalk.
And yes, there were a few other runners on the sidewalk.
This evening is the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
I am beyond excited for many reasons.
You see,
1.I fell in love with the summer games as a 4-year-old girl who practiced routines on a wooden balance beam in my back yard.
2. I am a complete running geek.
3. I became a rowing fan after spending two years in Henley-on-Thames, England. Big hats and champagne aside, the rowers are a rather impressive bunch.
4. My heart rate increases during the swim races as if I were churning through the water myself.
5. I tear up with every podium ceremony.
I just love the culmination of sport, hard work and a lifetime of dreams.
I could possibly be considered Olympian obsessed but I prefer the term extreme fan. This is about as close as I have gotten to some Real-life Olympians:
Caitlyn carried the torch for the 2010 North American Hershey Games. She handed the flame off to Olympians: Rafer Johnson, Sanya Richards and Carl Lewis. CARL LEWIS!!! Cait was unphased and unimpressed.
I caught this shot of 5-time Olympic Rowing gold medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave, while viewing the Henley Royal Regatta.
Here are a few shots of the Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials for the 2008 Olympics.
If you remember, I was in Houston this past January watching our US Olympians race for their spots on the Marathon team. Check out that race here. I can’t wait to watch these men:
and these women:
in upcoming days. I will be cheering loudly for my friends.
And in an effort to avoid complete stalker status, let’s get back to the food. Since tonight I will be indulging in some serious TV time, our dinner will be easy to make, eat and clean up.
When we moved to the UK, fast food took on an entirely new slant. Your typical fare can be found – McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken exist, but more so in city settings. When out in the country side for a horse show or a rugby match, the concession stands sell foods that I would classify as hearty British fare. In the span of 3 tears, my kids never fully appreciated the burgers and sausages served, but they became HUGE fans of the Jacket Potato Stands. What we Americans think of as Baked Potatoes, are served in their jackets (skins) with a wide variety of fillings (toppings.) As mom who is always eager to fill my kids up nutritiously, I was always happy to shell out a few pounds for a big potato bursting with meats and cheeses and veggies. Since my children began to associate Jacket Potatoes with a fun outing, it was seen as a special treat when I made them at home. For years now, we regularly rely on this simple meal to satisfy everyone, and little do they know, it is SO easy to prepare.
First: bake your potato until it is cooked through, leaving the insides light and fluffy. (400 degrees, for 60-90 minutes.)
Second: now for the fun part – the fillings. Tonight we will go British. I will start off with my girls’ all-time-favorite. I admit that I don’t completely understand it. But I win the Mother of the year award every time I serve it.
Jacket Potato with Tuna and Sweetcorn and crushed crisps (potato chips) on top.
Here are many more ideas for fillings.
Baked Beans
Broccoli and Cheese
Bacon
Taco – meat, cheese, tomato, sour cream
Ham and Cheese
Sour Cream and Chives
Cheese Steak – meat, onions, cheese
Prawns
Coleslaw
Chili
Marmite and Mushrooms
I was excited to see that the Olympic venues will have Jacket Potatoes for sale at their concession stands. It is kind of fun to think that the spectators will be eating the same meal as we are (minus the $3000 entry fee.) But sadly, their menu doesn’t include Pimms. Mine does.
So now, let’s get down to business.
Who will light the cauldron? David? Sir Steve? Paula Radcliffe? Or the future King of England?
Who are you betting on, Phelps or Lochte?
Tune in soon for more Olympic themed foods and festivities. I’m off to get a bit of exercise before planting myself on my bum for the next 16 days.
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep in your own bed.
Fresh from a solid 9 hours, I am working my way through a pile of dirty clothes and making lots of lists – groceries, appointments, and upcoming events. After 5 wonderful weeks stateside, we are gearing up for an exciting year ahead. In the next 12 months we will hear of our next assignment, pack up and head in that direction. In the meantime we will embark on 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades – plus venture into the world of a Virtual High School. There are runs and triathlons in the future, some great beach parties and a few exciting trips.
During the last few weeks I have picked up a number of new readers and I thought that today was a good day to give an update and an overview. As we are being welcomed home to our tropical island, I welcome you to Wind Inspired.
A year ago I started writing. This blog was to serve as a way of keeping in touch with family and friends during our assignment in the Caribbean and become a family record of stories, recipes, and photos. In the end it has been a wonderful connection. Living on a tropical island can be somewhat isolating. Reaching out to military spouses around the world and to those who share my loves of photography, ar,t travel and food, have made our distant location seem a little bit closer to civilization.
In an effort to keep everything organized and accessible all of my past posts are filed under the headings at the top of my home page.
ABOUT – Some info about me and my motley crew. It is also the location where you can look back on any posts that pertain to motherhood, marriage, and interesting perspectives on life.
CAPTURE – I am a photographer. At times professional – right now just playing, researching, and learning. Short assignments and different country’s tax laws mean putting the business on hold for years at a time, but the plus side to that means time and freedom to experiment and get better at what I do. See what I am working on.
CREATE – Painting, writing, sewing, beading, gluing…. I have an undergraduate degree in Art and my concentration was in drawing and painting. In a dream world I would be an illustrator, in the real world I always have projects on my art table that are “in the works.” Check out my completed creations as well as some fun stuff I’ve done with the kids.
EAT – This family eats with enthusiasm. I love to create recipes and cook. I enjoy having helpers in the kitchen. Everyone eats. The thing is – it has to be gluten-free. Join in on our quest for great recipes, restaurants and products that make our GF lifestyle more enjoyable.
EXPLORE – Travel. While my husband and I do get an occasional get-a-way alone, most of our travel is our children. Everything I write about is focussed on fun and exploration for families. Where to eat, what to do, times, costs and tween approval.
HEAL - Living with chronic illness is a daily challenge. We meet this challenge head-on. A healthy lifestyle, good information, and family support helps. So does a huge dose of humor.
RUN - From 5ks and sprint triathlons, to Marathons and Ironman races, we are an active bunch. This area will lead you to thoughts on training, events, and accomplishments.
SERVE – Service to others is a way of our military life. While our lives are dictated my husband’s service to the US Air Force, we are also passionate about volunteering and giving within our community. This is where I share the ups, the downs and the discoveries of being a military family.
CELEBRATE – I love a party. Whether the six of us are celebrating Chinese New Year or I am throwing a birthday party for 20 teenagers, I love the details that make an event special. Check out my ideas for food, favors and activities.
Into Pinterest? I have my boards organized under the same headings as my blog. I am often trying out a new project and recipe and I love to share my pinteresting successes and failures.
Thanks for stopping by. Take a look around.
Jackie
Need a starting point? Here are a few of my favorites:
Alright folks, this is a long one, but so is a year of training. And so is a race that consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run.
Registration was in May 2011.
To say that the year of training went without a hitch would be an exaggeration.
There were no flat tires. No rotator cuff tears. No IT band inflammation.
But, there was that peskey Gallbladder back in October.
And after the diabetes discovery there was a short debate as to whether or not to continue to pursue this dream. It turns out that having this race scheduled was not only a good motivation to remain active and nutritionally on target, but the training was a great distraction during a frustrating time.
Our Irondad was unbelievably dedicated, with early alarms, many 2-a-day workouts, and lots and lots of miles covered.
A great point along the training route was completing and cheering on the San Juan 1/2 Ironman.
Everyone was right on target with training and enthusiasm.
Heading to TX for this race was a family affair. At one point or another everyone participated in the training, and everyone was going to be there when Irondad crossed the finish line.
First I share the spectator point of view:
I had been part of a cheering team at one other Ironman a few years ago. I remembered that it was EXHAUSTING. With 4 kids in tow, I knew that we needed to be ultra organized. We had clothes laid out, signs made, snacks packed, noise makers, activities, sunscreen, cameras and phones charged, and a plan for drop offs, parking and spectating. We were ready to go when the alarm rang out at 4:15 am.
Off to the swim!
I dropped Irondad and the kids off at the Swim start, while I parked near the bike transition area. (Important for when the bike would be loaded back in the car hours later.) I made the 1.5 mile walk back to the starting line.
The time passed quickly and the sights and sounds were amusing.
Swimming lessons anyone?
And this was my favorite conversation: Irondude 1 says to Irondude 2: “Okay, so this isn’t like a 5k, we need to pace ourselves.” Good philosophy Irondude, hope you have a little training done to back up that stellar plan.
Back at the race start,
I met up with my gang. Everyone was marked up with Irondad’s number: 1979.
While the air was think with nerves and anticipation, the kids were swinging away, without a care in this world.
Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE that my children immediately come to a halt and put their hand over their heart with the first note of the National Anthem, Reveille or Retreat?
Time to get in the water – “Good Luck!”
The morning air felt great, but with such a warm winter in TX, the water temperature was reading 81 degrees. That meant that it would be a wet-suit optional swim. If you opted to wear a wet suit you could not qualify for Kona, you could not win any awards and you would take a 10 minute penalty. Since wearing a wet suit was part of his training plan, Irondad opted to wait the 10 minutes. As you watch the 7:00 start, you will see that waiting was wise, and he started catching the earlier starters in just about 500 meters.
The 7:00 am start:
7:10 Start
Let the games begin!
The kids and I hustled to the Swim/Bike transition. We could walk our 1.5 miles and still have time to find a good viewing location. Now, at about 8:00 am, some of us were a little tired.
With 2500 bodies swimming down the canal, I was regretting that we didn’t mark up his cap with an identifying symbol…. but the we were able to pick him out of the school of swimmers. How? With each stroke, he waved at us.
Strokes looked strong and smooth.
And just as I wondered “how are you feeling?” Irondad read my mind.
We all scrambled to be at different portions for the swim to bike transition.
Caitlyn saw him get out of the water.
We saw him grab his changing bag.
He went in to grab his bike,
And Harry and I watched him ride away.
A little motivation for the ride:
The next few hours were re-charging for everyone (including the phones.) We ate, we read and we ate some more.
Time to find our cheering place! Just along the canal provided cool breezes, lots of viewing and some distractions.
Harry kept cool in the sprayground. While the girls “rested their eyes” until Dad came by.
He has been spotted!
I love being out to support runners/walkers. As one who has been on the receiving end of many kind words, I know how much of a difference it can make. Being called by name will put spring in your step. A high-five from a kid is inspiration to continue on. A funny sign can keep you chuckling for another mile.
Harry’s shouts of “I BELIEEEEEVE! I believe in you and you and you! I believe you can finish this Ironman!” were met with many smiles. It also alerted me that he may have a preaching gig somewhere in his future.
Since the run course lapped three times, we came to recognize a number of runners. Aside from our Irondad, the kids got a kick out of cheering for Fireman Rob. He does numerous events dressed in his gear, raising money for charity.
At one point Harry had turned into a one-man-band. A cow bell, a horn, a sign and some more motivational words: “You’re looking GOOD! Actually, you’re looking GREEEEEEEAT!”
While the athletes loved him, I was waiting for some of the other spectators to offer to pay him to quiet down. Actually, his sisters were actually offering to pay him to stop altogether. We had all been at this for about 12 hours now, everyone was a little testy.
It turns out that Irondad planned to call it a day around mile 13 or 14 of the Marathon. Then he decided that finishing the race would be easier than actually telling me that he was stopping. While that makes me sound really mean, it was fairly true. I WOULD NOT HAVE LET HIM QUIT. Okay, if it were a medical emergency, I would. But pain that would pass? Losing hope? Lack of determination? Nope, I wouldn’t have let him. I had a few tricks up my sleeve. Words that I knew would get him to the end. But I never needed to use them.
The sun was setting, one lap to go.
With the bike retrieved and packed in the car, we were back along the finish chute. If ever in your life you have an opportunity to watch the finish of a marathon, or a half or full Ironman, Do It! You will be inspired beyond belief. All ages. All abilities. All shapes and sizes. Watching complete strangers accomplish such insurmountable goals will move you to tears. Watching someone you know and love is even more emotional.
The time had arrived. What we had waited a year to see. A year plus 15 hours and 47 minutes. That moment had arrived!
Now that guy who is usually a man of very few words shares his experience (I suppose 15+ hours gives one some time to for reflection):
Recap of Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas 19 May 2012.
I thought the air temperature (61 start; high of 89) was great. Training in Puerto Rico definitely helped my heat acclimation. Water was warm (81.3) so the race was wet suit optional. I wore one because that had always been my plan. The wet suit people started 10 minutes later (7:10) then everyone else. The swim has always been my best event so I was really comfortable and got into a rhythm despite being kicked, hit and pawed. I did the swim in 1:25 (actually 1:15 with the 10 minute “penalty”).
I got out of the water feeling good and started the bike. I thought the roads were really smooth and averaged 17.5 for the first half. Stopped at the special needs which I would recommend for everyone to do. Those 3 minutes off the bike definitely refresh you. As I started the turn to the south, I hit the 10 mph head wind. Miles 60 to 80 was the hardest part. The roads were rougher, a headwind and strong sun. After this the roads got better along with the crowds and shade. I finished the bike in 6:51. I felt good, but I was ready to get off the bike. My ”plan” was still intact. I walked the first mile (that was my plan) and my feet felt funny, but I just thought they were just asleep. I started running 1 minute, walking 1 minutes, but stopped at mile 4 to check my feet. I saw the blisters and covered them in vaseline, but by mile 6, I knew I would have to walk the rest of the way. The blisters on my feet were a big surprise. I had never gotten even a hot spot on my feet from biking before, but all the training I did here was very flat. I guess those rolling hills of Texas were enough to make them form.
In every section of the race there is a time when you will question if you can get through it. It depends on how you deal with that questioning if you will get through.
I knew I had plenty of time to finish but it was pretty demoralizing because my “plan” had fallen apart. Jackie and the kids came to the rescue though. Their cheering and positive attitude pushed me on to mile 13. At this point I had decided to quit. Then at mile 14, I dug deep and starting talking to myself out loud (not a single person looked at me like I was crazy), pushing myself, reminding myself what I did to get here, thinking of Jackie and the kids, along with a hundred other things. I saw my motivation team again around mile 16 and knew I was almost to single digits. All I had to do was NOT stop. By now the blisters on my feet were about 2 inches across and new blisters had formed on my heels from walking funny.
Stomach, legs, hydration, energy levels, all were really good. I just wanted to cut off my feet.
At this point the Ironman became a mental challenge more than a physical one. It is amazing what you can do with will power. The power of a child’s cheer or wife’s look of belief in you can be stronger than any drug. It can help you more than any piece of expensive equipment or training book.
The finish was outstanding and Jackie and the kids were still there cheering, making it that much more special. The Ironman is NOT an individual event, it takes hundreds of volunteers and it takes the sacrifice of family to ge t through the training and the event.
The Final words — “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” 15:47:58
Will I ever do another? — Maybe.
Will I ever volunteer at an Iroman event? — Definitely People make a huge difference.
A 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.
Yesterday the kidlets and I watched my husband complete this feat.
Here is the basic timeline of our day (from the spectator perspective.)
4:20 am. Alarm sounds.
5:00 am. 4 kids and 2 adults hit the road. With tri gear, lots of snacks, 2 cameras, books, sunscreen and multiple phones. It was still really dark out.
5:05 am. Prayers said that we will be able to sneak into the parking garage at the host hotel, rather than some random parking garage miles from the action.
5:15 am. Prayers answered. Good parking spot.
5:23 am. First of numerous bathroom stops.
6:00 am. We set up along the banks of the start and take in the sights.
the Caribe Hilton as the sun comes up
6:34 am. The Cool Ranch Doritos make an appearance.
6:40 am. Supply check.
Posters ready!
Swim cap ready! (note smiley face to help us spot him in the swim.)
6:50 am. Time to start heading toward the start. Final hugs.
To the swim area.
tall green head to the right of the Wave 11 sign
7:35 am. Husband begins the swim.
Once the swimmers make their way around the lagoon…
They pass under this bridge.
The kids watch the swimmers.
8:00 am. Spotted! Just coming out the other side of the bridge.
8:08 am. Caitlyn catches a glimpse of him during the swim-to-bike run. Yes, transitions aren’t usually this far apart – but the athletes had a good 1/4 to 1/2 mile run – barefoot in the street to get to their bikes.
8:20 am. The pedaling begins, sporting his TX jersey.
8:30 am. Snack time round II.
9:00 am. Time for Mass. Conveniently, every week we attend the Caribe Hilton’s English service. The timing worked out great. There’s not much to see during a 56 mile bike ride, so a few prayers sent out to the roads were perfectly fitting.
10:00 am. Time in the nature sanctuary. Alright, so we are veering off the Ironman details, but 3 hours is quite a lot of time to kill, so we spent some time in this beautiful location at the hotel.
10:30 am. Support crew refuel: chocolate for the kids, Starbucks for Mom.
10:35 am. Taking in the transition are, kids look hot and less-than-excited.
10: 36 am. Shade found. Sunscreen applied. Waiting to see our runner.
To lighten the mood let’s talk t-shirts. My favorites of the day: TRI SHERPA(I could use that one) or IRONMATE (I could do that one too) and the kids’ favorite: SWIM like there’s a shark behind you, RIDE like you stole the bike, RUN like you can see the finish line.
11:20 am. Runner spotted. The TX Jersey is easy to see from a distance.
11:21 am. He seems positive and feeling good.
11:30 am. We hydrated and headed to a new viewing spot. Before we spotted our athlete again, he had a scenic run.
The run headed uphill, just along the coast.
The run went by both Forts, you can see El Morro in the distance.
Just beside El Morrow
Through a tricky portion of the city of the on cobblestones.
An out-and-back along the fort’s wall
12:15 pm. We are set up and ready to cheer.
At this point, if you can hear the background soundtrack of “I’m tired, I’m thirsty, I’m hot,” just ignore it, I did.
12:30 Mile 6-ish we see him!
12:40 We see him again at mile 7 as he heads out to do the run loop again.
The kids are on their last wait stretch. Grace and Harry each find some shade.
1:30 pm. Here he comes into the final stretch. Can you hear the mathematics clicking away in his head?
Cruelly, there is an uphill bridge to the finish. (note – fellow Diva 1/2 marathon runners, does this look familiar? No boa, tiara or champagne on this one.)
1:36 pm. Heading into the finish!
So – if you aren’t already impressed enough by the amazing athletes that take on this challenge, I can’t fail to remind that this is his first endurance event since October’s surprising Diabetes diagnosis. So proud of this guy who has tackled the challenges of this disease, yet never missed a beat in his Ironman training.
Now, I know you would love a blog entry from the athlete’s point of view. He is a man of few words and even less writing. So let me see if I can paraphrase his words and thoughts:
I am pleased with the swim. My goal was 40 minutes. I expected to do 45 minutes. I was really surprised with 37:23. I hated the transition run from swim to bike.
I went out too hard on the bike at first, otherwise good.
The run was hot. I didn’t like all the cobblestones. I hated the out-and-back along the fort’s wall. The heat was just radiating off of it and there needed to be an aid station out there.
I am an artist. I married a pilot. I live in a hotel. On the beach. In the Caribbean.
Check all romantic notions at the door and join the chaos of this military family of six. From culture and cuisine to creativity and chronic illness - we've got it covered! My experiences in mothering, marathoning, moving and marriage are sure to amuse. Glad you're here, stay awhile!
