IRON (WO) MAN 70.3

After months of 2-3 hour workouts, more sunrises than I've ever seen {and sunsets for that matter}, sore and stiff muscles, and needless to say- countless hours spent (training) with my family... my Dad, Jessica, and I completed our first Half Ironman.

A Half Ironman is 70.3 miles of swimming, biking, and running. As you can tell in the sentence I wrote above... it's a lot of work- both the training and the race. But oh... it is so worth it. {Well, we think it is.} Jessica and I say Julie is normal in that she chooses not to partake in such grueling events!

Shall I recap the race for you?

The location of the race was in Miami and last weekend just so happened to be when Tropical Storm Rina decided to mosey on over and produce torrential rains and floods, and not to mention gale force winds. I don't think I've ever prayed so hard about weather in my entire life.

Besides the downpour that occurred before the swim started, it may have drizzled, but it did not rain the entire rest of the race. It was literally a MIRACLE.

There were 3100 athletes racing so we were all divided up into age groups (18-29 and 50-55) and started the swim in waves (pardon the pun!). Jess and I started at 7:20 am and Dad started at 7:28 am. Thankfully, we were all close together.

The announcer man kept asking the crowd if there were any father/son duos racing and I yelled, "What about father/daughter?!?!?" He didn't hear me because I was already in the water but still, I had to say it.

We swam 1.2 miles actually more like 1.5 thanks to the current in the bay and besides the current and the choppiness of the water, the swim went great.

Evident by the smile on my face when I came out of the water! Next up, the bike.

We biked 56 miles in a down and back course through downtown Miami and a wide open highway that I don't know the name of. The downtown part felt more like an obstacle course in that we were constantly dodging potholes, crossing railroad tracks, and I even had a three person bike wreck happen right in front of me... one would think biking 56 miles would be boring... uh, not exactly!

I would say that about 40 miles of the bike we were pushing through headwinds and the occasional gusty crosswind would try to blow me off the road. Every time I would get frustrated I would remember how hard it had been raining before the swim and I quickly turned my frown upside down!

After 56 miles of biking, we started on the half marathon. We were happy to be 2/3's of the way DONE!

Obviously it was windy on the run too... me and homegirl both had to turn our hats backward.

The run was two loops and surprisingly, hilly. I had more energy than I thought I would have on the run and I think it was because of all the gatorade and Coke I drank at every aid station! (and we were eating and drinking the entire race besides the swim- power bars, power gel, gatorade, etc.) Thankfully we all had the energy to complete the 13.1 miles and FINISH the race!

As you can see, Jess smoked me. She's a beast.  It's ok though, if anyone's going to beat me I would want it to be my little sister!!

No, these are not our official times because the clock started long before we ever did (especially Dad).  My official time was 6:17 and I was pleased, considering the conditions. However, I hope to do the next one much faster. We will see!

Aaron and my mom were our photographers and cheerleaders. It's amazing how hearing someone cheer for you gives you such a boost! Isn't Aaron the cutest photographer? He's such a trooper!

Well, it was long.  It was grueling. It hurt.

... but not enough to stop us from completing our goal. 

It may have been hard, but we really did have so much fun... and I'm not just talking about the race.  

We spent hours... upon hours... upon hours training together (my mother and Courtney included, and Aaron when he wasn't post op) and I will always look past the 5:30 am alarms, the bike wrecks, the freezing cold pond water, and appreciate the beauty of the area we live in, the stamina and strength I didn't know I possessed, the work ethic and self-discipline I learned, but most importantly, quality time with my family. That was the fun part.  

Now we're onto marathon training. We're on a roll. No rest for the weary!