Well, its over. I am an Ironman, but I didnt do it by myself. The experience today was truly unbelievable, but really this entire 50th year of living has been one great and challenging year. First of all, I cant describe in words how grateful I am for my wife Wendy Freeby Carr and my kids, Caleb Carr and Maggie Carr. They have supported me this entire year and sacrificed as much as I have with me often up early and gone during the week and on weekends to prepare and train. I love you all so much and am grateful that you all were a part of this journey this year and the journey of my life. I also couldnt have done this without my coach, Ben Lovelace, who prepared me with workouts and encouragement over the last 9 months. As daunting a goal as this seemed a year ago, I felt prepared today in a way I wasnt sure I would be. I also am grateful to have shared this last year of training with Jason Ippolito, who was with me on so many of those long killer rides that we had to do, but more importantly, I got to share this experience and become closer friends along the way. Finally, during the race today I was reminded of some very important life lessons. Obviously, setting a goal, being disciplined in putting in the work to reach that goal, etc. But probably the best part of the race for me started around mile 18. I had started to get cramps in my legs around mile 16 and was walking them out and then starting to run again when I came across Shelly from Houston, TX, a young mother with 3 kids who is a 3rd grade teacher and was doing her first Ironman. She looked sort of disoriented and as I was passing her, I was impressed to ask her if she was ok. She said she was very dizzy, was seeing stars, and seemed very disoriented. I started walking with her and told her we were going to finish this race together. As we walked together and I asked her questions about herself, she started to become a little less disoriented, and after about 3.5 miles she realized she wasnt on the last loop (final 8.7 miles) like I was, she was on the 2nd loop. She told me to go on, but I told her I wouldnt leave her until Mile 25. Miraculously, at mile 24, Tom from Sacramento, started walking with us and he was on the 2nd loop as well. I told him I had promised I would get Shelly across the finish line, but I was now passing the baton to him to get her across. At mile 25, I hugged Shelly and told her I wanted to see her name on the list at the end of the race. What was great about this is that it was a great life lesson and reminder of important truths. #1: No matter how much you may be suffering, there is probably someone else around you who is suffering even more, and if you take the time to walk with them an amazing thing happens: your suffering seems much less significant and when walking together, both of your circumstances and experiences begin to change. We actually both started feeling and moving better. #2: Walking with Shelly ended all hope of me achieving my goal of finishing under 13 hours, but in the end, who cares what time I finished in. Ive got a story for life and it was the most memorable part of the entire experience. Sometimes we have to lay aside our goals and trade them in for a journey that is much deeper and richer. #3: This journey called life really is about relationships and tonight I am overflowing with joy for my family, the tons of friends who posted photos and videos and fun stuff on my wall and cheered me on from a distance, and for a new friend from Houston who I will likely never see again who reminded me how grateful I am to not be riding solo on this journey called life. Thanks so much to all of you were a part of this from a distance. Im going to bed now. Goodnight!
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 05:49:54 +0000
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