Awesome Friends!

Jenna, Emily, me

      Jenna and Emily are my early morning running buddies and they are AWESOME!  The both competed in a Half Iron Man (Triathlon), lived and did great!  They let me come share in the experience with the excuse that I'd drive them home afterward.

      It became our girl weekend and it was so much fun!  We slept over at Emily's in-laws.  Friday we did their pre-race check in, had dinner, went on a little bike ride, chatted and tried to go to bed early because we had an early morning ahead.  Saturday was the big race and I was their #1 Fan!  It was really exciting to watch.  Inspiring and motivating.

     I LOVE watching races, so if anyone ever needs a fan to cheer them through, let me know!  Actually the swim didn't look too inviting, it was a little chilly in the morning and it looked so far. . . I was glad I wasn't out there, but then watching everyone run in off the beach, strip off their wet-suits and race to the transition was really cool.  I tried to read my book while I was waiting for Jenna and Emily to come through on their bikes, but it was too exciting, I never even finished a page because I had to yell and cheer everyone on as they rode by.  I actually thought my hands were going to have bruises from clapping so much.

      My favorite part was the run, because I got to do it with them!  First they swam forever, then they rode 50 miles on the bike, and then ran a half marathon.  They did the run in three loops, so I ran most of it with them, but I'd skip the base of each loop because I didn't know if I was allowed to go by the finish, so then I'd run it backwards until I met up with Jenna or Emily again.  So I got a lot of running in and I saw the same competitors so much, I made a lot of friends.  I'd make a lot of noise yelling, clapping, and cheering everyone on as I went.  I decided next time I'll take music and loud speakers, because I was running out of new things to say.  They really did fabulous, I loved running with them. . . It was so exciting and fun.  I full on decided I want to do one.  I want to be one of those guys crossing the finish line!

      Now its been a couple weeks and I'm not so sure again, the swim kind of scares me still.  Pretty sure I will drown.  But I have been taking swimming lessons, which has been great, and I feel a lot more confident in that area now.  I know the first Tri I do will be a sprint.  I need to ease in.  It makes me nervous, but it is also super enticing!

They finished!

Car picture on the way home! I got to drive Emily's Pilot, my future car, love it!