A Few More Reflections

Things keep surfacing as I get back to "regular" life.  Here are some pictures and thoughts to go with:

John is a really amazing sherpa.  I guess he's used to having to deal with us, but to deal with both of us racing?  All I can tell you is that if you ever have the chance to vote on who's going to be the next saint, you should definitely put a check next to John's name.  That's my plan anyway. 

I don't have a picture for this thought - but I realized during this race that while parts of being a Fasty Mcspeedypants would be fun, I have no desire ever to be at the front of the pack.  I really like the supportive atmosphere at the back.  Women especially seem to be good at cheering each other on, but there were plenty of guys at the back calling out encouragement to me and each other.  When the front of the pack catches up or loops those of us at the back - that is when the congenial atmosphere is gone.  Gone!  What is with the spermheads (ie the aerohelmet-wearing jerkwads) who can't be bothered to say "On your left" much less say something nice?  I totally get being in your own head and having to race your own race - but seriously?  There's a middle ground that involves not glaring at me because you have to go around.  I know I'm slow but I stay very far over to the right.  Always.  Besides, the fastest guy in the whole race at least smiled as he went by so I know it can be done.   (You know, I bet the lead guy is a blogger.  Blogger guys - even the ones who wear aerohelmets - seem nicer.  DC Rainmaker and Steve In A Speedo, can you please teach those guys up front to be more like you?!)

In other news, I finally finished unpacking all of my bags. Here is more random swag from the race.

They let us keep the anklet that holds the timing chip.  Don't know what I'll do with it, but ok. I thought it was cool to get a sample pack of endurolytes.  I think I need to figure out how to use these or some other salt tabs. (More on that in another post.) The little wooden key chain fob I bought from kids in this totally cool program.  The cowbells we bought from athlete3 because not only did they come in great colors, but these had that beautiful, deep sound.  I <3 COWBELLS!!  The Navy was a sponsor of this race (which as a Navy vet, I think is pretty cool).  We talked to the Navy recruiter (who gave me the lanyard) for a while.  He was nice but bored.   He told us the recruiting prospects were pretty much nil because everyone in the race was too old.  Ha!

And now that I'm all the way rested - I'm sorry I was such a lame-o that I couldn't go back to the finish line and cheer for the iron finishers in that last hour.  I absolutely meant to - but waiting 2.5 hours in the cold to get back to the hotel before getting a hot shower and food took away what little reserve I had.  I was asleep in my plate and couldn't think about staying awake another minute, much less getting across the river and back again.   Lame, lame, lame.  I have so much more respect for how much endurance it takes just to stay conscious that long - forget the part about continually moving your body through space for 140.6 miles.  Sheesh. 

This picture was taken about two minutes after I crossed the finish line.  I notice a couple of things about this photo - the sunburn, the crazy grin, the death grip on the water bottle - but the very first thought that crossed my mind was, "Holy shit!  Do my boobs look that big in real life?"  I mean, I see them every day but this picture made me wonder how on earth I manage to run with those suckers.

Did I tell you how Donna kept getting stronger and stronger on the run?  If she knew how to do a backflip she'd have done one at the finish - that's how jazzed she was.  I love this picture of her.  Speaking of pictures.  Here's a video of us getting our picture taken - which is a weirdly fun thing to have a video of:


What is totally awesome (besides showing you how calmly John puts up with me when I'm not functioning on all brain cylinders) - is that I remember that moment.  I remember wanting to make sure I had a way to connect with Tracy after the race - and then I remember wanting to stop and remember it all - the feeling of having finished, the music, being surrounded by friends who love me, the joy of being there in that moment.  It's so strange to see that moment from outside of me - that moment at the end of the video where I take it all in.  And had the video gone on about 10 seconds longer you would have seen my face light up as my buddy Duncan there offers me a sip of his beer!  We didn't know that Dave was taking videos - we thought it was a regular camera.  I probably would have made him turn it off if I'd known, but now I love having these little live snippets of the day.

The battleship was really cool.  I love that ships wear their honors painted on their sides the way I wore my service ribbon bar on my uniform.  Yay for the USS North Carolina.

And finally, this is my favorite picture from the day:

I can't wait to feel that way again.