1. My first Ironman in 2010
2. Where Brian and I started officially dating (2010)
3. Racing with a whole group of friends in 2011
4. First sub 10 hour in 2011
5. Female 18-24 course record (2011, still stands)
6. First time being first amateur female (2011)
7. Qualified for Kona (2011)
8. Earned my pro card (2011)
9. Where Brian and I got engaged (2011)
10. My Iron distance PR (2012)
Ironman Florida 2010
My first Ironman, and I was pretty darn nervous.
yep rode a road bike, no race wheels even
Brian put this in my flat kit bag
Brian and our friend Lawrence made me an awesome sign because this is what Brian called me when we were training: the little engine that could
where our mini golf tradition started because Brian wanted to get my mind off the race the day before
yep I was "that" triathlete
38deg coming out of the water that year, I was very unprepared, had to buy arm warmers a day before the race and they only had size XL left
Before my awesome Zoot deal, just wore my trainers with lace locks
Adam was one of my best friends from high school who had passed away. It was a great feeling to be able to honor and remember him during the race.
an hour better than I had expected!
Brian asked me to be his girlfriend 20min after I left the med tent, I think he was banking on me still being loopy from the race :P
2nd in my age group! oh and that girl on the right (in first), she's pretty awesome and we're still friends
Ironman Florida 2011
For this race, we went down with a whole bunch of friends and we had all trained a bit together. My running buddy Meghan was racing and her husband and I had similar goals so there was quite a bit of good natured smack talk. Brian would be racing with us which made for extra fun.
Lots of underwater camera fun pre race and chasing sting rays around.
improvements from the year before, tri bike, aero helmet and race wheels!
still pre race mini golf, this time with everyone, including our Canadian friends the Keens that we met in 2010
Before I had my awesome Zoot prophet wetsuit
I was so excited coming down that finish chute
Accepting Kona slots
Recovery ride to Starbucks in board shorts and aero helmet
Post race five guys with some great friends
I was not yet aware of Brian's plans, we had both won the 18-24 division
The proposal!
and I said yes!
I didn't race IMFL in 2012 because we got married, raced Kona and then honeymooned on the big island
Ironman Florida 2013
This was my second Ironman as a pro and is also my current iron distance PR. I don't have a ton of pictures, but a few good ones.
I drove down with my friend Kristen, who was an excellent travel buddy (even though she ran out of gas on I-95), and made us some great travel outfits.
My travel companion and our travel shirts
Got tumbled by a big wave at the end of the first lap, collided with another female pro under the water, was a little rattled here
You gotta have a little fun! Making a funny face at my awesome Canadian friends, the Keens out on the course
Great picture from my friend Gord, it is always so great to catch up with him and his wife/family in Florida. I'm so happy I met them in the checkin line at IMFL 2010.
Final stretch to the finish line, picture taken by my good friend Jeff, who brought me donuts after the finish (he did my phys testing and claims I may be eating too many donuts :P)
One of my favorite parts of that day in 2013 was getting to see our good friend Robert finish his first Ironman with time to spare. Such a great guy
Our friends at Fat Frogs put on an excellent post-race dinner/party and it was fun celebrating everyones races (many first-timers)
I love this race because I have so many good memories. I will be thinking of all those great memories when it gets tough next weekend. I will cherish this race since it may be awhile until I'm back.
