9 Days and Counting

WOW!!! Nine days until Ironman Florida. I can't believe we are in the single digits. I honestly don't have words to express how I'm feeling at this point. Nervous, excited, anxious, happy, proud..... This year has truly been a different training year emotionally for me since I am racing in memory of Mac. He was 12 years old when he died. My daughter, Lauren, is twelve years old and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain Maggie, Charlie, and Savannah feel. I think about him and talk to him often, especially during those long training days. I didn't even really know Mac when he was alive but I must say he was a beautiful child, both inside and out. God brought me into the Crutchfield family for a reason. I immediately bonded with Maggie when I met her and knew I was going to do something to help keep Mac's memory around forever. So here we go....Ironman Florida.

15 Days To Go!!

WOW!! It hardly seems possible that we only have 15 days left until we stand on the beautiful white sand in Panama City Beach. It seems like just yesterday we were excitedly standing in line to sign up for the race. In some ways I'm ready to just be DONE but in other ways I'm not. Ironman is not just about the race, it's about the journey. The race is just the reward. I love training, I love long rides and long runs, and honestly, I hate long swims. I love being with the girls I train with everyday. So when I think about the weeks after Ironman, it kinda makes me sad. As much as I want it to end....I really don't. I can't remember what getting enough sleep feels like or not having to juggle my day to fit in my training, work, and Lauren's busy schedule. But somehow, I've made it work and I wouldn't trade this year of Ironman training for anything. It's been the best. We've never done back to back Ironman races but this could be the year. Looks like Robin, Karen, and I may be signing up for Ironman Florida 2010!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO! (But don't tell anyone)

The 130 Mile Bike, 3 Mile Run

On Sunday, our training consisted of a 130 mile bike followed by a three mile run. This was after a brutal week of training and one week after racing Ironman Augusta. Karen, Robin, and I expected this day to be hard but to our surprise this was one of the best 130 mile rides we have ever done. The three of us just kept saying, "I can't believe how good I feel." These kind of training days are always a blessing. However, there was one hiccup in our day. I crashed at mile 112, my first ever bike crash. I hit a small rock and lost total control of my bike. I went down a ditch, crashed in the woods, went over my bike and landed on my back. It definitely scared me but I think it scared Robin and Karen even more. I was told I looked like "Barbie on a bike rolling downhill crashing in the woods." I have lots of scrapes and bruises but no major injuries. I did finish the 130 miles and ran three miles off the bike. I think I landed in a "briar patch" because I look like I got in a fight with a cat. Besides the crash, it was one of my best bikes ever and best runs off the bike. I definitely feel it today. I'm very sore, scraped up, and bruised but I feel very blessed that I will recover. No doubt Mac was once again with us on this training ride.