Sunday, October 18, 2009

WOW!

Im really going to do this...... 3 years ago I watch a dear friend Tim W. do the Ironman. His wife and I watched him enter the water for the 2.4 mile swim and watched him take off on the 112 mile bike ride. While waiting we had a beer/rootbeer every hour of the bike per Tims request. Then we saw him start the 26.2 mile run. We sat, I dont know how long but we waited.... Tim impressed me and started my move towards Ironman. On each pass he would take the time to say thank you to his wife and to let her know how much he loved her.... she explained to me all the things that a wife/partner goes through while one trains for this journey to Ironman. Boy what a sacrafice. When Tim crossed the finish line and stood there like a little boy not knowing, what to do next..... "I had to know this feeling". The next two years I volunteered as a finish line catcher, which touched me deeper than I could ever know. To watch these, everyday men and women cross the finish line and collasp, to stop before the finish line and bow to the four winds, To watch that last runner turn the corner right at the stroke of midnight, and hit the ground because, he was so close, and then to hear the speaker say get up!... come on! everyone lets cheer him in....., because he IS a Ironman tonight. These moments will be stuck in my mind and my heart forever.
So when you ask what drives LaVerne to Ironman, all I can say, I want to know That feeling. That feeling that there isnt words to describe.... The feeling of seeing your new born baby for the first time. The feeling Of honor that I get every saturday, at the start of the Ladies ride, and the feeling of gratitude to you all for sponsoring and supporting me on this Jounery.