IRONMAN LOUISVILLE

We are ever-so-proud of our Iron Man!! He did it, and with his usually steady grace. I love the way Mark challenges himself, but then is able to take it lightly enough to not let it rule his life, but seriously enough to follow through. This was probably his hugest challenge yet, and he did it, and that is an amazing thrill for all of us to witness!! He was hoping to finish this race in 15 hours, and his time was 13:41:42. He ranked 1641 out of 2435 finishers. It was a grueling day for all of us (for different reasons, obviously). I learned a lot about being a spectator at an event like this, and there is a lot I could have done to be more prepared. We were all physically and emotionally exhausted at the end of it all, but it was so worth it. The emotional rush that something like this brings about is so unique.























































































He finished with an outpouring of joy and relief and pain and exhilaration. Take all that emotion and multiply it by thousands and thousands of people in one place, and it really changes the place. It was so amazing. We are hoping to get a better picture of the finish from the race photographers, but for now, here are the ones I snagged.




And finally, a few things I learned from this experience:

*Ironman triathlons are for anyone who has the mental discipline to do it. Physique or body type has much less to do with it.
*Crowds and noise really stress out my eldest (which is not unlike myself!)
*When attending an all-day event like this with 3 small children, there is never too much water or snacks to be had.
*One-to-one kid-to-adult ratio is a must, and my parents made this possible
*Yes, Mark is very strong, but what is most impressive is his mental strength and his attitude (I know for certain that he would have done anything in his power to help someone else cross the finish line before crossing himself)
*Next time, study the course map in advance, and have a plan for where to watch
*Ice is better than heat
*Grandmas and Grandpas are one of the greatest gifts in the world
*Bring water and sunscreen everywhere
*There is no such thing as over-preparedness with something like this
*Next time, wear something that sticks out in a crowd

This is only a beginning list. I am sure I will be adding to it in the coming days and weeks.

PS - Life University sponsored Mark in this race, which I wanted to mention, because I thought it was a very impressive way for them to show their support. There were three athletes from Life, and Life paid for their race attire and entrance fees. This was huge!!! They also announced it to the University and Mark got several calls and text messages from professors and students congratulating him after the race.