Reflecting on Racine

Where to start - I can hardly believe it's over.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was wondering how I would manage several months of training and then feel strong enough to take on a 70.3-mile race. But despite all the nagging thoughts in my head that perhaps I wasn't ready, or maybe the waves would be too rough, or maybe the combination of all three events would completely unravel me, things worked out better than I could have hoped.

I originally started a blow-by-blow account here of how the day unfolded, but I decided it might be better for my train of thought, and for a reader's sanity, to simply list the things that I will never forget about Sunday's half ironman.

• the text I got from my mom while I was prepping my transition area around 6:30 am

• actually chuckling to myself during the swim because I was so comfortable in the water, wondering why I had let myself freak out in anticipation of the lengthy lake swim

• the elation of getting out of the water feeling so good

• suffering more than I thought I would on the bike leg (I underestimated how tough it would be to be on those aero bars that long)

• the camaraderie of heading out of the bike leg and onto the run with Gary

• the pleasant surprise of feeling my legs come back around after the first 3 miles of the run

• remembering to enjoy what I was doing as I finished the last couple miles of the run, thinking back to all the training and time logged preparing for it.

• seeing my family as I came around the bend to the finishing chute.

• taking what seemed like such a monumental task and preparing adequately for it, and running a smart race in terms of pace and nutrition.

• knowing that I was feeling not mine, but a God-given strength throughout the race.

• and most of all, finishing strong after 70.3 miles of swimming, riding and running.

Now I'm planning to spend the rest of the summer staying up a little later, drinking an extra beer here and there that I didn't over the last few months, and seeing much more of my girls. 

Life is good.

Actually, it's fantastic.