Show us your Ghoulies - Halloween Run Challenge Page #2 (Page 48)

dont know about you Melissa...but would be fun to see these guys on their bikes, too! whatcha say boys? you up for the challenge!? well?????????? are you? are you???

hope you had lots of good zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz time! did you make it to bed early as planned??

ok...here is my reflection...for my 6000th post!

Early November I was fat as a tick...happy and fat  and doing lots of movie watching and crafts....and was smoking those nasty cigs!!! then I get a call noone would want to get...my sister n law who was racing with my brother in Florida Ironman...was in grave condition and had just been rushed to the hospital...after 5 days of roller coaster rides...family telling me she moved...no that was just nerves -shes brain dead...she may live...no looks bad!...wait they got some brain movement...then on the 5th final day...her brain swelled and after much unsuccess in surgeries...they donated her organs. My husband and I drove to Texas we celebrated Dorothy's life. I vowed at her funeral to do a triathlon....drove home...tore up my cigarettes and began to train... I signed up for my first triathlon in Moraga and got 4th out of 15 in my AG...I was tickled to get my finisher medal..and immediately held it to the sky and my husband and I embraced and both cried together...was very emotional...but not as emotional as watching my brother race the IM in Arizona last year....he was unable to finish in Florida because he had to go to the hospital...could you imagine being on your bike and having police chase you to tell you your wife is in the hospital..he kept trying to tell them they are wrong it must be someone elses wife!?! My brother Mike called me in January to say he really wanted to do the IMAZ but they were full...I told them they would probably let you in...and he tried and got in...then he called me back and asked me to try and help him book a room...I called the host hotel and they were full..spoke to the manager..and NO GO..full! but being an event planner I know they have a sales department that saves blocks of rooms for their high end clients and regulars...well I called the sales department...told them my brothers story..gave them links to online stories and then asked if they had a few rooms they could spare...within moments she called me back and said she had two rooms...yay! My brother will soon get to go do the IM for both he and Dorothy! as we get closer to the race..my brother calls me again and said he wants to fly my mom and dad out and wanted to see if they could get a room, too...I MEAN REALLY! I love you MIKE but this is ridiculous...but I did call and she did give me one more room...we were a block from the venue and had everything we needed within walking distance. So my daughter works for Active and knows the announcer...he gets us VIP passes and we get a back pack full of IM gear and garb and passes to sit in the area near the finish complete with food and drink....we were tickled pink! my mom, sister, daughter, niece and I had a ball! and at the first of the race...Mike OReilly the announcer is about to start the race....we are trying to find mike among the thousands of swimmers....just then we hear the announcer...say MIKE GRIFFIN...I know you are out there...and have qute a long and arduous adventure....but today...YOU WILL BE AN IRONMAN!...I looked over at my mom whos jaw had dropped and she said did he just say Mike Griffin??? and I said he did! and we both hugged and cried....my brother swam it in 45 min...he was on fire! the bike ride he looked amazing even in the gale force winds...and he ran...and walked...and now my brother is an IRONMAN...and I am sooo proud of him!

I would never have found BT if it werent for Dorothy...she was on this site...not sure of her user name...but I remember coming here and seeing all the talk about her...was really hard for me to see it and think about joining in....the reason my name is girl passing on left is because it was her favorite thing to say....she was a very strong rider and loved to pass guys and say GIRL on your left. I am honored to race with and for her! I will never forget her and will thank her over and over for getting me up and going again! I have always been active...raced mtn bikes for 15+ years, played softball, basketball, volleyball, and played on a coed ultimate team that won 3rd in Germany a few years back....ok 8 years ago! I feel I have made many friends for life! and I thank you all for all you do to keep me motivated and moving forward! I really would like to say that one day I will race an Ironman for Dorothy...but at this point and time...it just doesnt even sound fun! or doable!!! so I will see what time brings...I will say this....I LOVE BT and wonder how long it will take me to get another 6000 posts!!! at the rate this challenge is going...I would say next week you will all have to suffer thru another long and drawn out saga!!! ok....nite all!

you all be good ghouls and runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!