Top 70.3

My first triathlon season has officially ended, but I know another one is just around the corner.  The pinnacle of the season has certainly been training for and completing my first half Ironman.  Here is my top 70.3!!!!!!!!!

.3.  70.4 miles would have been too much

70. Carbs

69. The feeling of excitement when I filled out the registration form and hit send.

68. Unique tan lines

67. Recovery chocolate shakes

66. Recovery weeks

65. My coach

64. Racing with pros.

63. Race wheels

62. Discovering the Bobcat Kuntry store in Celina.

61. Recovery days

60. Compression socks.

59. Honey Stinger waffles.

58. My Austin roommates: Jeneen, Rebecca, and William

57. My students think I’m cool.

56. The sound of bike shoes clicking into the pedals. 

55. Improving my swim

54. Not worrying that I’m eating too much salt

53. Salt stains  

52. Spandex never needs to be ironed

51. Glide...oh thank God for Glide

50. The feeling of new running shoes.

49. Windhaven Hill no longer kicks my butt 

48. I don’t need Ambien anymore  

47. It was a good excuse to buy a new bike  

46. Riding in aero

45. Free swim cap

44. My grandfathers would have been proud

43. The smell of chlorine in the morning

42. Discovering I still I haven't found my limits  

41. Other triathletes 

40. Sunday long runs

39. Calling a bunch of sugar my “nutrition”

38.  Burning thousands of calories in a single workout

37. Tapering

36. Out-pedaling dogs

35. Compression boots at the chiropractor’s office

34. Pre-race breakfast

33. Sponges on the race course

32. Drag queens on the race course

31. Four hour training rides in Celina

30. Running over grasshoppers

29. Wetsuit strippers

28. Watching Michael Raelert run out of the swim

27. Post swim practice oatmeal

26. Long run in Eunice

25. Writing a blog

24. I get to wear 70.3 shirts

23. Getting Roxy an Ironman leash…she earned it

22. Finishing the 1.2 mile swim

21. Volunteers on the race course

20. Seeing my mom and dad on the race course.  

19. Pre-race workout at the race site with my friend Roger

18. Discovering that half the triathletes in Dallas were in Austin for the race

17. Orange slices on the run course

16. Water stations on the bike course

15. Down hills on the bike course

14. Seeing Penney in T1

13. Body marking

12. Training with Jeneen

11. Spray tents on the run course

10. Hearing someone else’s story during the race

9.   Running by the NTM tent

8.   Racing with so many of my friends

7.   Finishing the 56 mile bike course faster than expected

6.   Not caring when the wind kicked up on the bike

5.   Seeing the mile 12 marker on the run

4.   Rounding the corner and seeing the finish line

3.  Hearing the announcer call my name

2.  Crossing the finish line!!!!!!!!!!!!

1.  Having my friends and family there with me in Austin

Man, this was fun!!!

"I'd rather have more heart than more talent any day." Allen Iverson