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We took a red eye flight Sunday night to get back while the kids were still sleeping Monday morning. I had to wake them up since I couldn't wait much longer to see them. It was a fun reunion and then I sent 3 of them off to school. What a great MIL and SIL I have.

Here are some pictures of the race. It was incredible.
Here I am on the wall waiting for the cannon to sound beginning the Ironman Comp.

Sea of bodies racing through the water.

After the swim there were ladies there with kitchen gloves ready to lather you up with sunscreen. Some also grabbed some new clothes and shoes for the biking. The pros have their shoes connected to their bikes and they stay in the same clothes.

The professionals getting to their $10,000 bikes. Notice the shoes hanging on the pedals. One poor woman ran to her bike rack and started to scream for help. Her bike was missing and she was acting like she was going to die. It sounded like she was the wicked witch of the west melting into nothing. One of the volunteers came over and found her bike two slots away from where she was looking. One minute sure means alot in this race.

From the 112 miles on the bike they went on to run a full marathon in the extreme heat and humidity. Most of the athletes that had done this world championship course in the past said it was the worst conditions because of the heat and wind. Marshall left me out on the street watching the marathoners run by. Since they went down the road 5 miles and then had to turn around about come back down the street I was able to see the front runners. I really just wanted to cheer on the female winner from last year, Chrissie Wellington from Australia. She won this time by more than 10 minutes! She won $110,000 cash and about $400,000 worth of stuff from the sponsors.

As soon as the top female came in at about 9 hours and 6 minutes into the race Marshall and I started our shift in the medical tent. We volunteered for 6 hours and it was eye opening. These poor athletes crossed the finish line and then collapsed or when into convulsions. I was a "runner" for 4 doctors including my Dr. Marshall Nickel. They gave the guys and girls IVs, chicken broth for the sodium through a straw, anti nausea medicine as some couldn't stop throwing up, blood tests and other things. I had to get supplies, make beds/cots/lounge chairs for the next patients to come in. I mostly loved sitting by the patients and hearing their great stories. They were all great and so appreciative to the docs and staff. I hope to get back there someday.