Vicarious Ironman

On Sunday, I followed along on Ironman live as Pirate Girl tackled IMAZ. I've never met her. I don't know anyone that knows her in real life. I haven't even talked to her online! I've merely lurked on her blog and gotten caught up in her story. Yet, I thought about her doing her swim in the time I did my brick. I had a busy day that involved a play date for my youngest son at the science museum, lunch at Foster's, yardwork, homework including play practice, and supper for eight. She was on her bike that whole time. That brought it home to me. I thought, "Even after she finishes the bike, she still has a marathon to run!" I kept waiting to see her finished bike time. It didn't post. And it didn't post. Oh no. You see, she had attempted IMAZ last year - and missed the bike cutoff time by SIX MINUTES. I watched the cutoff time come and go and still no time posted for her last leg of the bike. I was sooooo sad for her! We all were, because of course I'd been talking to the family about it all day. I kept reworking the math trying to figure out if I'd missed something. AND I HAD! We are three hours ahead of them, not just two. She had another hour. She finished the bike - woo hoo! She was running. I finally had to go to sleep but (you're going to laugh at this) I woke up once and checked on her. She was still running! I was a little worried because it seemed she should have finished that third leg of the run and be in the home stretch, but I didn't trust my math. Do you see how long an Ironman day is?!!! I had gotten up, done my long workout, done all that stuff with my family, written, stayed up late checking in on her, fallen asleep, woken up to check on her - AND SHE WAS STILL GOING!! When I woke up on Monday morning I saw that she'd finished - with 95 degree heat and incredible winds added to the inherent challenge that is Ironman. Pirate Girl is not a twenty something pro. She's a thirty something woman with a job and regular life. And bragging rights now. She is IRON. She is my new hero. Can't wait for her full race report.