OK ouch. Wow. Yes. It was a hot day. Not sure I would have made it without the iced towels they offered at the mile 1.55 and 4.6 mile turnarounds.
Actually what? Of course I would have made it. I would never have thrown in that towel. YES the heat index reached 120 that day. YES I thought the night before that I was in over my head and WHY WAS I DOING THIS!?!?!?. But as the race went on, I chilled out more and more, and never once did I question if I would get there. I took time off of my swim. I improved on the bike. In fact, even though at mile 20 on the bike my knee screamed, "you will never do a half Ironman!," I never EVER questioned whether I would make it through this race. The babies' voices are now a part of me. A triathlon is nothing compared to a minute of their deserted lives.
There was a guy whom I passed on the bike, then he passed me, them I passed him, etc. We ended up calling each other "yo-yo." He finished a minute or so before me on the bike (tip of the hat: I averaged 20.3 on the 24.5 mile ride which is FINE by me!), yet there I was, encouraging him on the run. I was there to yell "yo-yo" as he finished. Me. I am doing this and I am doing it right... I'm doing it with a smile.
The joy of being the last to pull across the finish line after the group of pretty impressive girls I have come with is the best part of the day. I have a HUGE cheering squad and it feels like nothing I've ever experienced. I don't think I'd trade it for a podium age-group medal. But in the 35-39, I'll never know! My Pink comrades are fast, not to mention ladies from other places!
FS Series's Little Washington is a great race. There are many uber-athletes. I love to see them, and many are actually my friends. Their bodies are beautiful and their times are fast. One uber-man in particular was heading into the finish as I was heading out on my first of two loops of the 10K. He was cramping. (>100 degrees!) I offered him the rest of the water from my frozen-the-night-before-do-anyting-to-make-it-easier-to-run-transition-bottle-of-water, and I have never seen a more grateful face. We are the same in some way. YES I totally admire that breed- the podium finishers- more than you can imagine.
YEt I am also so proud, SO EXCITED to be me. I am there, too. With a smile, I'm finishing a mile swim, a 24.5 mile bike, then a 10K, and all the while knowing I am doing it not only for me and the example it sets for my children, but for the wonderful people who support me in my quest to raise money and love for those darling, innocent babies in Kenya who need a chance. It is tougher there now more than ever. Can you help? I'm not stopping. One more triathlon this year then...............
