I did not race this year and do not think I wil ever race an ironman, at least not until college is over. But I do love ironmen and everyone who can tough it out for the day and the days leading up to it. My respect for those people grows each and everytime I see them racing, training and chat with them about it. From the view of a volunteer/spectator and friend this is how the day went.
I set my alarm for 4:45 am so I could pack everything I need and get going in time enough to see the swim start. Unfortunately, this alarm did not go off!!! instead I woke on my own at 6am and hurried out the door without breakfast or any time to really wake up. Driving on the highway was easy, there were only a few cars out, but those that were out really annoyed me, they felt like they were moving too slow, or my mind was moving slow...either way, I may have been impatient. I made it to swim start last year and the year before that and I told people I would film it for them. I was desparate to get there. Unfortunately, parking was a bear and I had to walk a few miles to get to the start. Made it one minute late :( very dissapointing.
Got a good spot to watch people come out of the water. Took pictures of the lead boys and girls then waited to see Brian come out of the lake. Finishing the first part of the race in 1:04, he had a very nice swim. Looking strong he took off on the bike. Saw Dean Johnson come out of the lake as well and he seemed great...little did I know, he would not have such a good day out there. So after watching the swim, I headed out to the bike course where I could find the lead people and track everyone again. Since the course changed since last year, I was having a little difficulty finding a good place to position for photos. But alas, got some good photos of a few friends and ran into Erica Jones. She was all decked out it orange and yellow looking cute as ever. She may be my favorite triathlete lady!
After seeing Brian come around for two loops on the bike, I headed over to help at the Phoenix Triathlon Club Western Shootout Corral aid station. If you can call dancing, volunteering, than volunteering is what I did. We had a whole western town built from plywood including a saloon, a jail, a freight building and gallows. We set up the gallow with three feet clearance from the ground and angled so the athletes could see it from 1/4 mile down the road. With two friends, I turned the set into a dance floor. It definately cheered some athletes up. Brian came around for his first time running quickly and looked lively! Good News! Dan Beaver also was looking pretty strong and Mary had to make sure to whip him along using our PA system... haha. Well after Brian came around for the second time I went over to a close grocery store and bought some of his requested items. My only dillema was that I did not have a cooler to store these frozen foods in. I made a makeshift cooler with sponges and ice and a T shirt to keep it as cold as possible, however, by the time I found brian after the race, it was a chocolate milkshake :( sad!
At the finish line, I planned on standing right where the athletes get their photos taken and walk out of the finish corrall, but I ran into Patrick Bless and George who dragged me along to watch in the corrall where the finishers ran through. It was fun to meet George who does marathons and some triathlons and also lent me his sweatshirt..very nice! And Patrick told me to not listen to Brian about doing Ironman until later...uh oh! (we all looked for you Brian!) but he was no-where to be found for about an hour. Sadly I missed out on helping collect his gear and his warm clothes (so sorry)!!! Also sorry I can't drive stick shift....ha
So anyway, made some friends and am so proud of everyone who finished Ironman last night! It was a great day and I confirmed why I love triathletes so much.
Thanks for all volunteers and racers for sharing my passion.
Can't wait for next IM
-Claire bear
I set my alarm for 4:45 am so I could pack everything I need and get going in time enough to see the swim start. Unfortunately, this alarm did not go off!!! instead I woke on my own at 6am and hurried out the door without breakfast or any time to really wake up. Driving on the highway was easy, there were only a few cars out, but those that were out really annoyed me, they felt like they were moving too slow, or my mind was moving slow...either way, I may have been impatient. I made it to swim start last year and the year before that and I told people I would film it for them. I was desparate to get there. Unfortunately, parking was a bear and I had to walk a few miles to get to the start. Made it one minute late :( very dissapointing.
Got a good spot to watch people come out of the water. Took pictures of the lead boys and girls then waited to see Brian come out of the lake. Finishing the first part of the race in 1:04, he had a very nice swim. Looking strong he took off on the bike. Saw Dean Johnson come out of the lake as well and he seemed great...little did I know, he would not have such a good day out there. So after watching the swim, I headed out to the bike course where I could find the lead people and track everyone again. Since the course changed since last year, I was having a little difficulty finding a good place to position for photos. But alas, got some good photos of a few friends and ran into Erica Jones. She was all decked out it orange and yellow looking cute as ever. She may be my favorite triathlete lady!
After seeing Brian come around for two loops on the bike, I headed over to help at the Phoenix Triathlon Club Western Shootout Corral aid station. If you can call dancing, volunteering, than volunteering is what I did. We had a whole western town built from plywood including a saloon, a jail, a freight building and gallows. We set up the gallow with three feet clearance from the ground and angled so the athletes could see it from 1/4 mile down the road. With two friends, I turned the set into a dance floor. It definately cheered some athletes up. Brian came around for his first time running quickly and looked lively! Good News! Dan Beaver also was looking pretty strong and Mary had to make sure to whip him along using our PA system... haha. Well after Brian came around for the second time I went over to a close grocery store and bought some of his requested items. My only dillema was that I did not have a cooler to store these frozen foods in. I made a makeshift cooler with sponges and ice and a T shirt to keep it as cold as possible, however, by the time I found brian after the race, it was a chocolate milkshake :( sad!
At the finish line, I planned on standing right where the athletes get their photos taken and walk out of the finish corrall, but I ran into Patrick Bless and George who dragged me along to watch in the corrall where the finishers ran through. It was fun to meet George who does marathons and some triathlons and also lent me his sweatshirt..very nice! And Patrick told me to not listen to Brian about doing Ironman until later...uh oh! (we all looked for you Brian!) but he was no-where to be found for about an hour. Sadly I missed out on helping collect his gear and his warm clothes (so sorry)!!! Also sorry I can't drive stick shift....ha
So anyway, made some friends and am so proud of everyone who finished Ironman last night! It was a great day and I confirmed why I love triathletes so much.
Thanks for all volunteers and racers for sharing my passion.
Can't wait for next IM
-Claire bear
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