My Ironman Tattoo

I wanted to get my tattoo right away so it could heal while I was recovering from the race. And it was so cool that Lululemon was hosting an after party and invited Superchango Tattoo Studio to come give out tattoos!

Hubby pointed out the grown men wincing before me, but I thought they were being dramatic. Lol! But it sure did hurt! And it bled a lot! But I just did a freaking Ironman!!

I love it! And I wear it with pride! It represents all the trials and tribulations I went thru to earn the title of Ironman!

My Family - My Biggest Fans

This was a journey and a finish that is credited to my family! I certainly couldn't have done it without their support and encouragement! And I sincerely believe my family is as happy for me as if they crossed that finish line themselves! To hear how they announce to perfect strangers that I am an Ironman with such pride in their voices makes me tear up every time! Thru this journey they made many sacrifices, stepped up their responsibilities, were my cheerleaders, my entertainers on long trainer rides, my partners on runs, my support crew, they even helped nurse me thru my injuries! They were such a big part of my journey and huge contributors in getting me to that finish line!! This medal is as much theirs as it is mine!! 

My mom and dad helped so much with my training! And as always they move heaven and earth to make my dreams come true! My poor mom, I think she was almost more nervous than me!!

It's hard when you are held back from doing what you love. Rheumatoid Arthritis and injury kept me from performing like I know I am capable of, but it wasn't going to stand in the way of my dream! I wouldn't let it rob me of my victory or steal my joy! #noexcuses

It's moments like these on the run that kept me moving forward and got me to that finish line!

I can never thank my boys enough for helping make my dreams come true!

This guy right here couldn't have been more proud of me! I know he doesn't get my passion or as he calls it my crazy, but that doesn't stop him from supporting me no matter what! The time commitment, the financial investment, the illness and injury, thru it all he is by my side and I love him even more for it! I credit my medal to him, my boys, and my parents because I got it done for them and because of them!

Fantastic Friend Support

There are so many advantages to doing a race at home. I was so fortunate to have so much support out on the course! There were people I grew up with and graduated high school with, there were teachers I taught with, old friends and new friends, friends from Instagram, etc. I couldn't have felt more blessed to have so many cheering me on!

My best friend Lucinda couldn't make it because her dad has been very ill. But even still she cheered me on from afar!

My friend Tammy sported her Iron Will Iron Jill shirt and cheered me on!

My sweet friend Jackie was such a great support! She worked an aid station on the run, and it was great to get hugs out there where the crowds thinned!

Brian, my Tritats leader and friend, was there for me bright and early in transition! He helped fill my tires and calm my nerves! My friend Sarah was there too, and I swear we took a pic, but I can't find one!

Susan was amazing thru this entire journey! I cannot begin to explain how much it meant to me to have her by my side and to complete this journey together!

Jess not only had to listen to my training woes daily on the phone, but she came down and led my support crew. She did an amazing job!!

It was so wonderful getting out of the water and seeing Donna's smiling face! She was a sight for sore eyes on the run too!!

Everett was loving hanging out with my gorgeous support crew all day!

Could these cheerleaders be any cuter?!?!

My friend Sarah, who I taught with, brought her daughters out to cheer me on during the day and hung out with friends to watch me cross the finish line!

I am sure I had the hottest support crew out there!!

And by far the best cheerleaders!

I found a fellow Mind Over Matter triathlete out there and it happened to be Mike Rocco, a guy I graduated high school with twenty something years ago!

I was so excited to see these beautiful ladies waiting for me at the finish line!

How incredible it was to see these three beautiful smiles cheering me on!! I taught with Sarah, Brandy, and Jennifer! And Brandy made my sweet team shirts!

Kathryn was so excited for me and I appreciate her genuine pride and support for me so much!

Amy is the best! She had these cow bells made for me!! I love her and them so much!

Such a sweet family!! So happy to have them there for me!

There thru thick and thin Jess was cheering me on! She was born to be a cheerleader!!

It was great racing with my friend Matt! He crushed it out there!

Jess came by bright and early the next day to give me hugs and have some breakfast before heading back home! So grateful to have had her here with me!

And this girl right here! We did it Susan!! Now to talk her into doing my next crazy adventure with me!!

Thank you so much to all those near and far who cheered me on along this journey. There were so many more people there on the course and around the world cheering me on! I wish I had pictures of everyone to share! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Best Coach Ever!

I get asked all the time if getting a coach is worth it. The answer is most definitely YES!! I was so blessed to have Gena Alvarez as my coach and friend. She has been with me from the beginning of my tri adventures and seen me thru so much! She has given me a plan to keep me healthy and make it to the start line which is no easy feat, she has held me accountable, she believed in me when I said I know I can do this, and she was there for me at my finish! 

I am forever grateful for her support and encouragement! 

I don't think she had any idea what she was taking on when she became my coach. Heck, I didn't even know! Shortly after I began training with her I had a bike accident that required two surgeries and months of PT. I got back to training and a week before my first triathlon I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since then I have been plagued with injury and illness related to my auto immune diseases, and she has been there every step of the way! She's not afraid to tell me I am crazy, but she supports me anyway! That is a true friend and an amazing coach!

My PT Support!

I would not have made it anywhere in this journey without this guy!! My physical therapist, Andy Cox, is really the best there is! He fixed me when I was broken, he encouraged me when I had doubts, and he was there at the finish line to give me my medal!! I am forever grateful for his support!

He knows me well! He had my stats pulled up for me right away! Ha! 

I can't tell you the number of times it came into question whether or not I could even do this race! And Andy never doubted me for a second! 

It was a hard race between my Rheumatoid Arthritis and old injuries. Of all things my shoulder injury from a bike accident a couple years ago gave me a lot of trouble. It was this injury that initially sent me to Andy. He took care of me and got me wrapped in ice right away!
I'm not sure Andy will ever know how much I appreciate him supporting me from the start to the finish of this journey!

IMTX 2017 The Finish

I could hear the finishers being called and I wanted to run, but I just couldn't. I couldn't run a single step. I couldn't budge my arm. I was in pain. And then something special happened. I hit the beginning of the finisher's chute.

Suddenly something washed over me and I didn't feel anything but pure joy. I was smiling, waving, high fiving, and I was running! And I was lifting my arms over my head and cheering! And I was crying! And I was laughing! And I was feeling that everything I went thru to get to this point changed me. 

The girl who began this journey was not the same girl who was crossing the finish line. And she never would be again.

It wasn't just a race. It was a fight. It was a struggle. It was the reward at the end of a long journey. It was a dream come true. 

It was a new me. This is a girl who is strong and fierce. She can face any obstacle and overcome it with strength and dignity. This is a girl whose determination saw her thru what felt like the impossible.

I did not fall. I did not fail. I did not disappoint.

I can. I will. I did. I am an Ironman. I am strong!

IMTX 2017 THE RUN

I knew on the bike that the run was going to be a challenge for me. I had forgotten my RA medicine and I was in a world of hurt. But I was going to do this ya'll! 

My shoulder was nagging on the swim, but after the winds and struggle on the bike it was really bothering me. I had two surgeries from a bike crash previously - a clavicle repair and surgery on my shoulder. When I was in transition I got a really hard high five and it sent shooting pain from my shoulder down to my fingers. And that was it. It only got worse from there. But I was so freaking happy to be off the bike and one step closer to my dream!

In transition the volunteer was amazing. She took my bike shoes off and put my socks and shoes on for me! She put vaseline on my raw spots. I offered to sell her my bike! Lol! I was able to go to the bathroom which was a relief because I hadn't urinated in over 7 hours and I was worried about dehydration. I shuffled out of  transition, screamed thru some sunscreen (no fun with chafing), and set out. 

I was slow going, but I was running at a super easy pace. Every step hurt every joint. I went a little way and had to urinate again which was so exciting because that meant I wasn't too far behind on my hydration which was such a huge concern for me. I didn't stop to refill on the bike and I was empty the last hour. Not a smart play I know, but fortunately it turned out ok. I saw my coach and told her I was not in a good place and needed my medicine. She told me I had plenty of time and to walk as much as I needed. I ended up behind a girl named Meredith doing a run 2/walk 1. I followed her for awhile and then approached her. We did the first loop together. She lives in Waco and teaches at Baylor (where I went to college). She also has four boys roughly the same age as mine. I was grateful she got me thru that first loop.

At every aid station I drank water and Gatorade. Twice I even had coke for the first time in 12 years! I ate bananas and grapes. I tried a cookie but didn't love it. But then I saw WATERMELON! I was ugly eating it. I just could not get enough! Nothing has every tasted better than watermelon tasted that day!

Rick was able to get me my medicine thank God. The second loop I took off and tried to run more than walk. Each step rattled my joints. And at this point my right arm was glued to my side and I was worried it was really messed up. My foot that I broke just 5 months ago was giving me trouble. During IM training my longest training run was only 10 miles due to my broken foot. In fact the last long run I had was 13.1 miles a year before at IM 70.3 Texas. I had already run further than that at this point. 

I had so much support on the course and I was so grateful! It's moments like these that kept me going! My family, friends, Zoot teammates, Strike Force Racing teammates, Mind Over Matter Triathletes, TriTats team, Conroe Triathletes, physical therapists from the Memorial Hermann Ironman clinic where I go, people I graduated high school with, people I used to teach with, IG and FB friends, volunteers, and perfect strangers. What a blessing to have so many people rooting for you! And all of these people are why I made it thru this run! It really was a lot of fun!!

I couldn't stop smiling the entire time! Don't get me wrong, there were some smiles to cover grimaces in pain. And there were a few moments in the back of the Woodlands that were lonely stretches. But I was doing this when I was told I couldn't and that I shouldn't. I wasn't going to let anything stop me!! 
By the third loop I was walking. I kept trying to run but I couldn't run a step without being in excruciating pain. And it was frustrating because I wasn't feeling tired, my muscles weren't feeling fatigued. I wanted to go and I couldn't. In fact the muscles that hurt the most were my cheeks from grinning so hard! I am a runner and everything in me wanted to run.
When I made it back around my crew was already at the finish line. I didn't see anyone. Then I heard my hubby call out my name and he told me to keep going and that I could do it! He had stayed back to see me one last time! It was just what I needed! I only had a little over a mile to go, but I was so slow I knew it would take me awhile. I still kept trying to run, but I couldn't go a step without intense pain. I could hear the finishers being called across the finish line. And then all of a sudden the chute opened before me..........