I started my watch and then dove right in. The water was pretty warm especially considering how cool it was outside and I started swimming.

Breathe, Long Relaxed strokes, I am a stupendous swimmer, feel the waves and try to roll with them.

Breathe, follow the masses, protect your head, watch out for wild breaststrokers.

Look for buoys, OMG I can't see anything, the waves are too high, think Leopard!!!!! Look for caps and follow them.

Breathe, ACK huge gulp of water. Cough, Cough, Breathe, Breathe, don't freak out, try to tread water, DUDE seriously treading water sucks when the waves are hitting you in the face because you can't bob high enough to get over them.

Long relaxed strokes, protect your ribs, watch out for breaststrokers, Why are we stopping????

WOO HOO - the buoy! We're at a complete standstill and there must have been like 300 of us all treading water moving very slowly around this buoy. We're all chatting and laughing about the conditions and how no one is swimming and I'm like "I thought this was the Ironman, not the Dog Paddle man."

A few people thought that was funny and then we were off again.

Repeat all of the above and next thing I know I'm touching the sand and heading through the turnaround to start loop 2.

47 minutes - WOW, in spite of the waves I'm kicking ass!

Realizing I am wearing a sleeveless black wetsuit and look exactly like a million other athletes I yell "GO SPEED LEOPARD" as I go up the beach and dive back in.

All of the above, 3 times worse for round 2. I could not see the buoy to save my life. People were hanging onto kayaks and surfboards and I was getting tossed about every stroke. I started seeing particles that looked like puke in the water, oh geesh.

For some reason I started thinking of lines from Napolean Dynamite and started laughing underwater. Hehehe, at least I could still crack myself up. Finally, finally found the buoy and made the turn. Went way off course as I was trying to get back to the beach but eventually I was kicking hard to warm up my legs and staggering up the beach and across the mat.

WOO HOO - 33% done with Ironman. I survived one of the worst swims ever. I felt fine I yelled WOO HOO as I was starting to wog up the beach.

KICK ASS - I did that swim in just over an hour and 40 minutes. I would have rocked my best super secret time if not for those waves. I was just shocked.

Actually feel like I was swimming in a lake not the freaking ocean during a hurricane :)

As I stripped the top half of my wetsuit off I could hear my family and friends yelling for me and I was yelling and waving right back at them. HOORAY - I was moving on to the bike.

I wogged up to the wetsuit strippers dropped onto the ground and in 20 seconds my wetsuit was off and I was headed for my bag. As I said before it was so easy to spot because of the boas. I grabbed the bag and wogged into the changing tent where it was mass chaos.

Apparently like nearly all of the women in the race came out of the water at the same time. I saw my friends Amanda and Joanna and wished them both great rides and finally found a spot at the end of the tent. I dried off, pulled on my top and dried my feet and then DonnaLee found me and helped me get my sleeveless jersey on and helmet, shoes, pockets filled and I was out the door.

Got some additional sunscreen and headed towards my bike. My support team was going so crazy - it was awesome!!!! I smiled and cheered and grabbed my bike and wogged it to the bike mount line.

Not put so much extra stuff in my bag.

I checked the clock as I mounted my bike and it was 8:51 am. Sweet right on schedule. I smiled and started pedaling.

The first part of the bike course is a gradual uphill past tons of spectators. I took it easy up the hill, waving and smiling and trying to settle in for the first loop. As I pedaled I was also really keeping an eye out for other racers and trying to make sure I took the turns easy since I'm not super comfortable riding with a ton of other people.

We hit the first big hill on the way to Higgens Point and I just spun into my lowest gear. At the top of the hill we passed the first aid station which was coming back in the other direction and there were tons of flags, cheerleaders cheering us and lots of people clapping and ringing bells.

I had opted not to put armwarmers on and I was glad for that because I wasn't cold at all on the fast downhill to the turnaround. Through the 1st aid station and sweet! managed to grab a bottle of water and not crash. That was good news because it was one of the only things I hadn't really practiced in training.

Back through town and all the screaming people and we were off. Probably one of the biggest mental benefits going into race day was knowing the course from a bike. Not just driving it in a car but actually pedaling each hill twice :) Prior to the race I had set some checkpoints for myself. I was planning to ride from checkpoint to checkpoint. I had already gone from T1 to Higgens Point, then from HP to town. Now I was on my way to the high school.

Followed my plan and spun easily, waving at spectators, smiling and sipping water. It was kind of cool to have mile markers since I can't see that on my bike computer.

In case you don't know I'm a little obsessive about numbers so early on in the training season I decided to put a piece of medical tape over my speedometer so I couldn't see speed or distance only time. I kept it on there for the race because I wanted to stay focused on going easy.

Past the high school and there were so many people at this roundabout we had to go by. WOO HOO!!!! I waved at them all and chatted with a few cyclists as they passed or I passed. Now we're headed out for a long flat straightaway through Hayden.

OMG - there is a man in a giant Elmo suit on the other side of the road. HEHE - that is awesome. We pass all the festivities around Hayden Days which the town has scheduled to coincide with Ironman and there are people all over in lawn chairs, with signs, with bells, blasting music from their cars. It's amazing the difference it makes when there are people cheering you on.

Hi people, thanks for coming out! WOO HOO!!!!

Hit another aid station and got more water. My plan was basically to sip my cocktail which consisted of:

2 scoops CarboPro (calories and carbs)
1 scoop GU20 (electrolytes)
1 packet Crystal Light Lemon Electrolyte drink
1 packet Crystal Light Lemonade
600 mg salt
1 packet Sweet-n-Low

I had 2 bottles of this drink on my bike (one Lemonade, one Peach Iced Tea) and then 2 more bottles in Special Needs.

So I'm sipping my cocktail, watching the road, taking a GU, here comes an aid station, grab some water pour it into my aero bottle. Smile, wave, thank the volunteers, repeat.

We make the turn and here I am at the next checkpoint - the golf course :) I say to a volunteer that I think I might stop and play a round of golf and he just got this blank look on his face. Hehe! As soon as we hit the golf course we hit the hills but I'm ready.

Downshift, slow and steady, nice circles, nice cadence. Breathe deeply, no waving here, don't take your hands off the handlebars. Easy does it Leopard. Watch out for cyclists weaving up the hill. Very interesting, I'm actually passing a few people. Wonders never cease. I finally get to the top and then I'm cruising past lots of residents in lawn chairs cheering and clapping. Awesome!

I can't say enought about how wonderful the crowd support is here in CDA. The people are just amazing. Nearly every neighborhood had people with music, signs or even posters telling us we could use their bathrooms if we needed to. Thank you all!!!!

A few more up and down climbs and I chatted with the oldest woman doing the race for a few minutes then we headed for the steepest climb of the day. WOW - it was tough but I talked myself up it and actually talked to a few other ladies who seemed to be struggling. They were happy to hear this was the worst hill on the course.

More cocktail, another GU, more smiles, thank yous and hills. WOO HOO, I was now on my favorite part of the course which is a goregeous climb directly overlooking Hayden Lake. I sang songs at the top of my lungs as I zoomed down the other side of the hill.

Before I knew it I was nearing the Llamas and horses and heading up Rimrock Rd which has the most hills in a row. I ate my Uncrustable (portable PB&J sandwich) and as always it was delicious. I followed it with a salt tablet and more water. At this point I had seen several of my buddies from camp (Amanda and Joanna) since we were on an out and back stretch.

I hit the turnaround and headed back to finish my 1st loop.

After spinning easy for the first 50 miles I was really bummed that we were going right into a headwind on the downhill back to town when we should have been able to get free speed. Oh well. I had decided at the 40 mile mark to take a 2 minute break to pee since I seemed to be right on schedule and really didn't want wet shoes and socks all day. A very nice volunteer held my bike while I dashed into the portolet.

As I was about 2 miles from the start of my 2nd loop the race clock and media motorcycles zoomed past. Sweet, the pros were about to get off the bike. I looked for Michael (refer to the nice picture from IM camp) since we were all hoping he'd win the race but I didn't see him.

Saw the signs for finish or 2nd loop and said to myself "Ready for Round 2? HOOYAH"

Almost as soon as I started the 2nd loop I saw my family and friends and I was waving and yelling and smiling like crazy!!!!! WOO HOO I'm more than 1/2 way done with the bike.

Back up to Higgens Point and it was easy to find my Special Needs bag. It took a little longer than expected because my bag was heavy and had way to much stuff in it to sort through. Oh well. I ripped open my bubble envelope and low and behold my bottles of cocktail were still cold. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is amazing. I am so glad I did that. Prior to IM I had heard about someone freezing their bottles and putting them with an icepack into a bubble envelope. My friend Katherine tried this at IM AZ and it worked well so I was thrilled it worked for me too.

I'd gone through almost both of my cocktail bottles on the 1st loop so I put 2 new bottles in my cages, stashed my delicious Peeps and a still frozen Uncrustable in my back pocket along with a tube of Bodyglide before filling my Bento box with Baked Cheetos and Taco del Mar tortilla chips. Yummy!

I thanked the volunteers and headed a few hundred yards up the road to a bathroom on the trail since the portolets were behind me. I peed again and reapplied my BodyGlide. I was off and headed back to town.

Hello family and friends - WOO HOO!!!!!! I'm on my way to the hills for the last time. More waves, smiles, thanking the awesome traffic control volunteers and I was off towards the hills for the last time. As I headed up Government Way towards the High School I reapplied Chapstick, drank water, ate some cheesy Cheetos and salty tortilla chips and continued to enjoy the day.

I cheered other racers when I could, talked to myself, sang songs, smiled and waved so much and then before you knew it I was past the Elmo (OMG - he's still out there????) and into the hills.

After spinning up the first set of hills and rounding the corner I could see there were numerous people walking their bikes up the steepest of the hills. Come on Leopard, dig deep, slow and steady, you've done these hills the 2nd loop before, remember that a-hole from training weekend who breezed past you and told you how hard these would be on the 2nd loop and how t-o'd you were when you said "THIS IS MY 2nd LOOP" - Channel that feeling, you can do it, deep breaths, gut it out, keep going, there's the top, you can do it.

WOO HOO - the top of the hill brought several fun conversations with a few girls who recognized me as the Biggest Loser from the banquet and as we climbed the next set of hills we chatted about weight loss and motivations for IM, where they were from etc. I ate my next Uncrustable and salt tablet saw many many people I knew (JR from Portland Fit, Stephen from PDX, Amanda, Joanna, Jared from BT) and made a few new friends with various people as we slingshotted back and forth on the climbs and descents.

Hit the turnaround at Ohio Match Road and it was on - Yes I was headed for home. Another quick pee stop at an aid station, more waves and cheers and cocktail and tortilla chips, a few sticky marshmellowy Peeps and I was cruising back down 4th towards home.

ELMO!!!!!!!!! Finally I was on the right side of the road and OMG this guy in the Elmo suit was still there. He must have been burning up in that suit. He was accompanied by an older woman in a housecoat ringing a bell and even though I normally despise Elmo, he cracked me up the entire day so I tried to get a high five but barely missed :( Oh well, thanks Elmo you made my day!

With just 6 miles to go I had to pee again so I decided to hit the last aid station so I wouldn't have to go in T2. A quick in and out and I was in my big ring headed down the home stretch. As I hit the last downhill on NW Blvd I saw Preston - PUP!!!!!!!! I'm almost done with the bike and I'm having fun - HOORAY!!!!!!!

2 miles to go and I was at about 7:52 on my bike computer so I knew I'd end up just over 8 hours on the bike. AWESOME. As I'm cruising for the final turn there's a guy on the side of the road with a sign that says If I blow this horn I think you're HOT! so of course I'm thinking he probably won't blow the horn for me but just as I pass he blows the horn and yells "BOOTYLICIOUS" - OMG I almost crashed into the curb I was laughing so hard. Nice!

I see the sign 2nd loop straight, finish turn right and I'm like Oh yeah finish here I come!!!!! My family and friends are there yelling and cheering for me and I'm down the chute and there's the dismount line. I hop off and a volunteer grabs my bike.

WOO HOO I am off the bike and I loved it!!!!! I had a great time, I was right on pace, my stomach felt great and I was heading toward my beautiful pink and green boa tied bag for T2.

Nothing, including stops and factoring in the headwind I was right where I wanted to be :)

I grabbed my bag and jogged into the tent. As I hit the tent I yelled "Susan, DonnaLee" - WOO HOO, I was here! I got lots of hugs from my buddies in the tent and then it was like let's get me off and running. DonnaLee and Susan dumped my bag and I started giving instructions. Since I hadn't peed on the bike I didn't need to change my shorts. I need the bottles from my frozen bag into my fuel belt. I need to get my cycling shoes off and find my vaseline so I can get my running socks and shoes on. Please spray my legs and body with sunscreen, can someone pour water onto this washcloth so I can wipe my face? I want my chocolate covered cinnamon bears in my pocket, WOO HOO I finally get to wear my cool running top that Preston designed from RunningBanana, visor on, nope please don't help me with my shoes and socks, I want to do that myself. Apply vaseline and get shoes and socks on, read my motivational cards while getting BodyGlide on my inner arms and thighs.

Chapstick in pocket - Check!
Race # on - Check!
Fuel Belt with cold bottles of GU20 - Check!
BodyGlided - Check!
Feeling happy and ready to run - HOOYAH!!!!!!

More hugs and cheers from inside the tent and I'm off and running. Turn my interval timer on as I exit the tent. It's set for 3 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking. Check the race clock as I am heading out, super sweet it's 5:05. Just 5 minutes behind my projected plan. WOO HOO!

Again so much stuff in the bags, next time I'll put all the just in case stuff in a huge ziploc so it doesn't get mixed in with what I really need.

Almost as soon as I crossed the timing mat I saw my mom and Carol P :) Hugs and shrieks as I can't believe I am running. WOO HOO!!!!!! I do the out and back on the Dyke Road and hit the portolet just before Mile 2. Quick in and out to pee and I'm running again. This is a really fun part of the course because of all the people and I'm finding that unlike the bike where I can only wave or cheer I can actually hug or highfive people now that I'm running. TOO COOL!

After heading through town I take an inventory. I'm doing my 3/1 intervals, my legs are feeling good, I have no aches or pains, I'm still smiling and my stomach feels great. I eat a chocolate cinnamon bear and drink some of the salted GU20 in my fuel belt. I see BT friends, camp friends and various others from my town and we wave, high five or smile as we pass. Since most of us now have our Run # on, it has our first name so I try to encourage people as I see them pass me in the other direction. "Nice job Heather, Way to go Anne, Looking good John"

This course is absolutely perfect for interaction amongst athletes and spectators and then between the athletes themselves. I saw everyone multiple times :) I was just about mile 4 still smiling and happy, eating pretzels and taking some water at the aid station and getting ready to make the turn onto Lake Coeur d'Alene drive when who do I see?????

ELMO!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!! This Elmo is awesome. He's everywhere and now he's here. I run past and give him a great big high five and thank him and his older companion with her bell. This is so cool. I'm laughing all the way to mile 5.

Another cinnamon bear and a GU at the next aid station and since I'm running I can actually read the signs on the side of the road. WOO HOO - there are a few for SpeedLeopard. Yeah, that's me! I love reading everyone else's signs too when I'm not seeing people I know or smiling and thanking volunteers.

Mile 6 and 7 pass quickly and I walk up the huge hill to the turnaround and then run the entire way back down. I'm able to see Amanda and Joanna and I know they are doing great. You go girls! Miles 8 and 9 come and go and I'm still doing my run/walk and chatting with various people as I go. Several groups were like we're walking this thing if you want to join us and I was like thanks but I'm doing my intervals for the entire 1st loop if I can.

Mile 10 and I eat my Sport Beans, yummy! I swear they are the best invention and for some reason I always eat them at mile 10 during any long run or race. The sun was really shining and it seemed warm to me so I was getting a sponge each mile and putting it down my sports bra. It wasn't hot enough to warrant ice but the cool water did feel good.

Mile 11 and I decided to try a chocolate chip cookie from the aid station along with the water and GU20 I was drinking. Hmmmm.... it was pretty crunchy and anyone who knows me will know my thoughts on crunchy cookies :( Ah well, I'm still cruising forward.

Smile, wave, thank the volunteers. Sweet - this house is playing the Rocky theme. Nice! Next neighborhood is playing MC Hammer, do a little dance, drink some more GU20. Walk up the last hill on the way back to town and see Shannon from BT - WOO HOO girl I'm having fun!!!!!

Mile 12 passes and I'm passing the split where the volunteers say left to finish, straight for 2nd loop. I was like "I'll be back", this cracks me up and I keep running. Back on Lakeside and there's my crew cheering just before the park. I stop and give my dad and hug and tell him Happy Birthday!!!!! I shriek when I see Carole and tell her I'm still running and I feel great. This is awesome :)

I hit the park and pump my arms as I start my 2nd loop. Mom, Carol P and Cathy are on the other side of the street so I yell "I'll see you guys in a few minutes". I see Karie and Ruthie and give them both hugs. I keep running and see my best friend Siani who looks ADORABLE in her orange running skirt with matching socks. I give her a huge hug and she is choked up which in turn choked me up because she's just amazing and has been an absolute rock for me my entire adult life (Girl - I love ya!!!!).

Out and back on the Dike Road along the lake and I run/walk along with a group of 4 very nice ladies and 1 guy all of us doing our first IM. We chat for a while and I kind of leapfrog them since I can't keep up with their speed walking but I pass them when I'm running. I keep looking for a timing mat because I figured they'd be posting our 1/2 marathon splits and I know I'm past mile 13 by now. Sure enough here comes mile 14. I take a quick look at my time and see I've been running for 3 hours exactly. AWESOME!!!!! The sun is still up and as we ran this section on the first loop I told a Team Z girl named Julie that if we saw mile 14 with the sun still up we'd make it to the finish for sure :)

12.2 miles to go and just under 4 hours to do it. I know I can finish this thing. WOO HOO!!!!! Every step I took I was smiling and as I hit the turnaround on the Dike road I felt so happy. Throughout the day I had set incremental goals and I had just checked another off the list. I was still running and I was on my 2nd lap.

Having won the Biggest Loser contest Friday had its advantages and as I neared Special Needs the main Ironman official there was cheering and going crazy telling everyone "this girl lost 170 lbs, isn't that amazing?" I appreciated her enthusiasm but I was just another racer out here on a long day. There were 2200 other stories just as worth telling :)

Again super easy to spot my bags! I grabbed my Motivational Menu and read my quotes while the volunteer was opening my cold pack with new (amazingly still cold) Fuel Belt bottles of GU20. I took my mini-pack of Chocolate Cinnamon Bears for later and grabbed my baggie of Mike & Ikes. This was a good decision! Thanked the volunteers and kept on running. I felt like I was Forest Gump at this point. As I headed back through the park into town I see Preston's hat peeking through the crowd.

PUP!!!!!!! I practically sprint to the barrier and throw my arms around him. I love you!!!!!!! Everytime I saw Preston he had a smile on his face and that was just awesome. I could not have asked for a better, more amazing husband. Check out the great picture of the moment.


Back up through the crowds and back into the neighborhoods. I'm nearing a milestone. There it is, at the top of the hill. Mile 16. For most people on this day it's just another mile but for me it signified the furthest I've ever run in my life. Each step moved me into new territory and man I was loving it!!!!

I hadn't taken my 2 Tylenol as planned in T2 cause I didn't feel I needed it and I still didn't need it but once I passed that magic mile I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. I was still within shouting distance of the speedy walkers and we walked/ran some intervals together through mile 16 and 17. After that mile marker I decided to try the Coke.

BLECK!!!!!!!!! I don't drink regular soda. I haven't in 5 years but I was looking forward to some yummy crisp cold Coke. What I got was cool generic cola and it was not the same. I took 1 sip and knew it was a no go. Fine, that's fine (said in my best Cartman voice). Next year IM can you please have the real stuff? :)

I was taking water and had started snacking on my Mike and Ike's and I have to say they were so delicious! I had used them as a treat on the bike but I thought they'd be a good portable snack for the run and I was right. Unfortunately as I was trying to eat and run I lost like 20 of them out the side of my bag. Oh well, I would just have to ration them for the next 9 miles.

At mile 17 the sun has set and it's getting past dusk and up ahead I see the truck with the glow sticks!

WOO HOO - We're getting our GLOW STICKS!!!!!!! I'm so excited about this but the people around me didn't seem to be that excited that they were out here past dark but for me I was like Super sweet, I'm getting another part of the IM experience. The volunteers fastened them around our neck and off we went.

It was about this time that I was starting to get a little cool and I was also getting kind of tired of the GU20. Hmmm...... I wonder how the Chicken Broth tastes? Got a cup of steaming broth and holy mackeral that was some yummy goodness. I was still doing my intervals although a bit slower than before but I did walk the length of the aid stations with my broth. OMG - it was the most delicious thing. I ran with my friend Jeff from BT for a while before we made the turn for the final time onto Lake CDA drive. And I know you're all dying to know...... was Elmo still there?

Too funny! He must have had to go to the bathroom or something, poor guy but when we rounded the corner there was the woman and she was waving a stuffed Elmo. This just struck me as hysterical at this point. Next aid station brought more chicken broth and water and I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe. I knew I had time to make it before midnight so why not be comfortable.

Between aid stations I encouraged other racers, scanned the horizon for my buddies on their way home to the finish line and I ate Mike & Ike's. Mile 19 came and went and as I hit the 20 mile mark I gave the mile marker a little kiss (via my hand) because I had run a 10k tons of times and I knew I was home free and I was still running and smiling.

I ate another Chocolate Cinnamon Bear and decided to get a space blanket because it was now dark and I was getting cold. Run, walk, thank the volunteers, watch the road in front of me because it was dark and all that could be seen were these glowing green halos around peoples necks and hats as we moved up the last long hill to the turnaround. Now that I had the space blanket I was making jokes about being Superman because it was like a cape around me as I ran the whole way back down the hill.

I saw my camp friend Joanna and it seemed like she was keeping a good pace and would make it before midnight. I also saw my buddy Amanda and I was worried she might not have enough time but with a broken toe and mechnical issues I know she just wanted to beat the distance and time wasn't the driving factor for her anymore. She looked determined and was pressing on with a smile!

Mile 21 and 22 brought more chicken broth and Mike & Ike's and I still felt great! I was doing my intervals going from group to group although by now there wasn't anyone running toward us because the final finishers had started up the hill behind me now. I had a bit of gravel in my shoe so I stopped and got it out because again, no reason not to be comfortable right?

At mile 23 I decided to dump my fuel belt. I wasn't doing the GU20 anymore because I was hooked on the chicken broth and I needed a new one anyway and I sure didn't want it in my finishing photo (vanity I know). So into the trash can it went along with my space blanket because now I felt like I was burning up. I met up with this guy who'd had stomach issues and done 5 IMs before but was convinced if he started running again he'd puke. I was like "ok but I'm not running very fast, I'm more jogging and I'm only doing it for 3 min so try it and see how you feel". He said we could keep walking and we'd make it before midnight and I was like "dude, we can walk 30 minute miles at this point and still make it". He ended up coming with me for almost .5 mile and then smiled, said thanks and off he went jogging into the darkness.

About this time I met up with a man and a woman who were run/walking. They recognized me from the banquet and we started chatting about how I'd lost the weight. The woman had done Kona and was telling the man (a first timer) and I about how she thought the CDA course was tougher on the bike than the Kona course. Well, that'd be AWESOME since I do hope to do Kona someday. We chatted about her daughter and how she works at a medical clinic as a nutritionist and she would love to have my story as an example to all the people getting surgery especially since she was from Texas and a lot of people are getting the surgery there. I gave her my web address and told her to email me because diet and exercise is the only way to go and I was happy to share my story.

Mile 24 and we were into the neighborhoods again. There were still people out here with tiki torches and music. One house was having a lawn party and played the Macarena as we went by. I did a little leopard dance and they all cheered. With every turn we got closer, I hit the aid station just before Mile 25 and drank my last chicken broth and ate my last Chocolate Cinnamon Bear. I was feeling good and I knew I was almost home.

I turned towards the final hill and I saw my friend Doug who had already finished but he came out to cheer me on! It was great to see him and Shannon and he said "You're an Ironman girl, Enjoy it". I hugged them and walked up to the top of the last hill.

As I crested the hill and hit the mile 25 marker I thought I saw Preston. I was like "Preston?" no response....., "Pup?". It was so dark and I looked so much like the other athletes in terms of size he almost didn't recognize me. I hugged him so tightly and we started walking.

During my 1st triathlon and my 1st 1/2 Ironman Preston had walked out to bring me in the final mile and here he was just after 11pm and it was like old times. We held hands as we walked and talked. How was my day? How was his? We both got choked up as we enjoyed the quiet moments before we made the final turn.

Getting to this place was a team effort and to be able to have this time together was truly priceless. We hit the split where the volunteer was directing us to turn onto Sherman and I hugged and kissed him and said "Thank you for everything! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you". I saw my best friend Siani at the corner and we shrieked and hugged and then I started running.

The last 8 blocks to the finish line are all downhill and once I was on Sherman with Preston and Siani running ahead of me I just wanted to enjoy the experience. I'd been thinking about it for years and I remembered how I felt as I crossed that first finish line at the Danskin 4 years ago. There would never be another 1st Ironman experience. I high-fived every kid, the streets were lined with people and I was smiling and high-fiving other athletes who had returned to cheer for all of us finishing in this last golden hour.

Our dear friend Larry ran up next to me and I was like WOO HOO Larry, I'm here and I'm still running. He ran behind me a few paces (I didn't realize why at the time but he got some great pictures) :)

I ran under the arch and I could hear Mike Reilly's voice up ahead, I could see the finish line now. People were cheering and screaming and having a great time. I was pumping my arms and smiling and cheering right along with them. I had been on my feet for 16 + hours and I was still having fun. It had been a wonderful day and now here I was about to enter the finishers chute.

I've heard people say that it's like you're floating once you hit the chute and I definitely agree, I could feel the crowd carrying me forward like on a wave of cheers and high fives. Over the absolute mayhem of the crowd I could her the song "YMCA" and I laughed out loud because what better song to finish to then one that is just plain fun and happy. I could see the tape and the actual finish line and I put my arms in the air and jumped through the tape.

Not a whole lot since this was my 1st ever marathon and I'd never gone further then 15.8 miles in training. I'm sure I could go a little faster but I felt great and had fun the whole time.

Even better than just finishing, I felt AWESOME!!!!!! I was shrieking and smiling as I was scooped up by my buddy Susan who was working the finishing chute. She wrapped me in my space blanket, gave me my finisher medal, finisher hat and finisher shirt (I'd heard lots of late finishers get XL or XXL shirts cause they run out of the correct size, but WOO HOO I got a size L, which was a big deal cause I'd worked hard to wear a size L - hooray!)

Larry told me my parents were just at the end of the chute and I sprinted towards them shrieking and there were hugs and happy tears all around from all the amazing family and friends who had supported me not just on this day but my entire life to this point.

I hugged, cheered, shrieked, laughed and got a little teary for a few minutes with everyone as we took pictures and chatted. My buddy Drew who finished like 4 hours earlier and who I trained with for the last 6 months had come back to cheer me in and it was great to see him (Dude, move to Portland because you are so cool and I loved hanging with you race week!)

People kept asking me "Are you okay? How do you feel?"

WOO HOO - I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!! I HAD THE PERFECT DAY!!!!!!!!!!

As we headed towards the massage tent it started to rain and then it started to pour and I sent a silent cheer for my 2 buddies still out in the cold night. I knew they would see the finish line. Ladies - You rock!!!!

Got my massage while eating 3 pieces of cheese pizza which were such yummy goodness after 16 hours and 22 minutes of non-stop activity. Siani got my bags for me while Preston walked me back to the hotel where we all said goodnight and I popped on to my Weight Watchers Message board to drop a quick note to the amazing ladies who got me started on this fun and crazy thing called triathlon. I slipped out of my race gear and running shoes and kissed them because they carried me a long way. Preston got me some of my favorite recovery food (Pumpkin Flax granola with Rice Milk) and mixed me a bottle of GU20 which I drank while we chatted about the day and then at about 1:30 am we headed to bed.


We got about 6 hours sleep before I woke up a bit stiff but mostly hungry! We had a great breakfast at the hotel which included lots of congratulations cause I was wearing my blue finisher shirt :) Got my pictures, headed over and bought some finisher gear, saw a few more friends and picked up my special needs bags before hitting the Finisher's Banquet. It was pretty fun but it was pretty focused on the AgeGroup and Pro winners. I did get to see my camp coaches Paul Huddle and Roch Frey which was fun!
Dinner at the hotel and the manager bought us dessert so Siani, Preston and I shared a kids sized celebratory Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sundae - Yummy!!!!

Tuesday we packed up and Preston drove us back to Portland where I've been relaxing, resting, stretching and now going stir-crazy as I reflect on the total blast I had in Coeur d'Alene.

These last few days people have asked me "What's Next?" and the answer is I don't know. But I do know that I loved the Ironman. I loved the people who cheered us on for hours on end. I loved the volunteers who were selfless and amazing and so thankful to have us there enjoying their city. I loved the people of Coeur d'Alene, who manned the shops, worked in the hotels, the restaurants, the coffee shops. You are all amazing and your hospitality was unmatched! We will definitely be back. North America Sports puts on a great race and I can see why people return to these races year after year. Every detail was awesome and I had the most wonderful time.

To my family and friends who endured countless hours of me talking about training, racing, plans, my nutrition, my equipment and then of course why I maybe couldn't go out on a certain weekend, who supported me virtually and in person, who cheered me on before Ironman was ever even a possibility. Thank you! I would not have made it to the starting line let alone the finish line without all your support. You were with me every step of the way and I love you all!

And finally to my husband Preston. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. You pumped my tires when I was afraid they would blow up. You rode 2 and 3 miles with me when that was as far as I could go and behind me when I had my blood clot. You cried when I crossed the finish line of my first triathlon and you have loved and supported me no matter what passion I was pursuing. The moments I got to spend with you during race day were so special and I will treasure them. We started as a team and we continue to be a team. You are my hero and the reason I'm able to run down my crazy dreams. I love you!

Stay tuned for more SpeedLeopard adventures in the future. Who knows what's next but I can tell you I will definitely do another IM because it was just that fun!