PC BOUND

"For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going." Forrest Gump

It's funny how no matter what, time doesn't stop. It's hard to believe we are three days and a wake up away from Ironman Florida. Karen, Robin, and I are going to Panama City today so that we have plenty of time to focus on US and the race. No husbands, no kids, no responsibilites...only what WE want to do when we want to do it. We use this time to reflect on our year of training and friendship. I know I've mentioned how close we are as friends but this particular training year has brought us even closer. We have poured out our souls to each other. We are going into this race more prepared than ever. We feel strong.

I got an email from Maggie about how excited she is about the race. I think it is one more thing that helps keep her connected to Mac. She also said she has asked God to allow us to be strong mentally and physically and to allow Mac to be with us on race day. WOW! How powerful is that, how could we not have a perfect day? No matter how bad it hurts on race day (and it will hurt), I will just think of Maggie and Charlie and know my pain is nothing compared to thiers.

We are racing in our "IRONMAC" jerseys and everyone coming over to watch us has "Girls Gone Iron Support Crew" t-shirts with the IronMac logo. I'm really excited and nervous and can't wait to get to Panama City today.

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.

The Race

Traveling to Augusta with Karen, Robin, and Barbara was a riot. We laughed until we cried many, many times during our trip. It's amazing how close we all are and how we share everything with each other. Even things we would never, ever tell anyone else. And somehow those things always end up being funny, even if they are serious things. We went to Augusta for a training race but Karen, Robin, and I all had PR (personal record) times for the race which could only mean we are getting stronger. Barbara was unable to do the swim portion of the race because she had mouth surgery and on the Thursday before the race her dentist told her she could not swim in the river for fear of infection. But Barbara went with us anyway (like she would miss a road trip) and we came up with plan B. I called Karen Allen, she was in Augusta with her son, Colby, who is seventeen and was doing his first half-ironman, to see if she or her husband, Jeff, might be interested in doing the swim for Barbara. While I was on the phone with Karen I remembered her daughter, Brittany, was coming to watch Colby race. Brittany is a collegiate swimmer at Western Kentucky (I think that where she goes to college). Brittany drove seven hours on Saturday and gladly swam for Barbara. Brittany rocked that swim. She even beat some of the pros.

Race morning started out cool, cloudy, and misty. Mine and Karen's wave was wave 25, the very last wave at 9:06 am. We've never started a race that late but I think there must have been a reason why. It was still cloudy and misty at 9:06. But when we got in the water and I took about three strokes, the sun popped from behind the clouds and right then I knew it was Mac. I've talked before in this blog about starting our training before the sun rises and when I see the sun come over the horizon I always know it is Mac saying, "Good Morning." Mac was definitely with me throughout that day. I had an incredible swim, good bike, and incredible run. I talked to Mac throughout that race, knowing the whole time he was right there because I felt so strong. When I crossed the finish line, I blew Mac a kiss. After the race, Karen and Robin both said they also felt Mac's presence and thought about him a lot without me mentioning a word. We asked for another finisher's medal to give to Maggie. We know Mac did that race with us!!

Augusta 70.3

Track us Sunday online at augustaironman.com; live coverage of the race.
Sherrie Peavy
Robin Safley
Karen McBroom
Barbara McNeal

Road Trip

Look out Augusta, here we come. Robin, Barbara, Karen, and I are leaving Friday morning to go to Augusta, Georgia to race the inaugural Ironman Augusta 70.3 (1/2 Ironman). Well not really, we are not actually racing since we are in high volume weeks training for Ironman Florida. We are hoping for slow times which means we did what we should have done and will be able to continue to train next week. No doubt, this trip is more about a girl's road trip. We are going to have sooooo much fun. I just can't wait.

My daughter, Lauren, will be taking her first road trip without a parent. She is going to Orlando for a swim meet with Charlene and her daughter, Lauren. Charlene is a great friend and a blessing in my life. She is like Lauren's second mom and is the only person I would consider letting Lauren go somewhere with for the weekend. I will not worry at all about Lauren. Charlene always has my back when I need her. I can always count on her to help me with Lauren when I have long Ironman training days. Charlene gets it. She understands what I have to do to adequately train for Ironman. And I never feel bad asking for her help as she is always more than willing to help me out. I so appreciate her friendship more than she probably knows.

Lauren has been on one other out of town trip without me but Paul was there. I had gone to Mexico for a half-ironman race with my training girls. Paul and Lauren were going to Orlando for the Athletes For a Cure Race at Disney. I made sure Lauren's suitcase was packed and she had everything she needed before I left. All Paul had to do was pick up her suitcase and put it to the car. I'm sure you know where this story is going. You guessed it, Lauren got to Orlando with no suitcase. No race clothes, no regular clothes, no bathing suit, and no Halloween costume. They had also planned to go to Disney's Not So Scary Halloween Party so she needed a Halloween costume. Thank goodness they were meeting Charlene and her family in Orlando. Once again, Charlene had my back and took Lauren shopping for everything she needed. This trip became way more expensive than it needed to be....

Lauren and I have a great, great relationship. She is so cool about all my training. She gets it!!! She understands that I have to spend a lot of time training but she also knows that when I get home that is her time. She has never made me feel guilty, not even once, about training or racing. She is a competitive swimmer so she understands the time commitments. I so appreciate her understanding of what I love to do. And she is very proud that her mom is an Ironman. This will be the first swim meet I have ever missed but I know she will be in excellent hands with Charlene. I LOVE YOU GIRL!!!