And the Ironman Begins!

Dane and Dan were up at 3:30 this morning and left the house around 4 to head down to the Mirror Lake for the 1st part of the Ironman - the swim!  The rest of the house was up by 4:15 and out the door by 5:10.  It was 67 degrees but very cloudy!  Jamie, Sue and Dan went to talk to Dane and he seemed to be very ready for the day! 

The 1st group of athletes were in the water by 6:20 and everyone (2700 people) were in the water in a little less than 30 minutes.  Amazing!!!  We all stayed there at the lake until Dane had completed the 2.4 mile swim.  They had to follow the course around the lake 2X's coming out of the water for a few steps.  He had finished the swim in 1 hour 4 minutes.  It started to rain about 1/2 way through the swim.   Some of our group saw him leave the transition area on his bike for the 112 mile ride on the road through the countryside!  Ken and I headed back to the house to make breakfast and it was pouring by the time we got there.  Our rain gear helped, but our pants and shoes were soaked.  The rest of Dane's "support team" were back by 8.  All athletes were wearing a "chip" so their progress throughout the day could be followed by their families and friends on their phones, i-pads, or computers.  Unfortunately, and without us knowing it, they were having problems with the connections and we were all concerned when we did not get any progress reports throughout Dane's bike ride!  Jamie was so emotional, worrying that he had an accident or a major problem with his bike.  So, we all headed to the midway point of the bike ride and felt better when we realized the problem with the monitoring system.  Dane was fine and doing very well.

5:45 AM on Mirror Lake waiting for the swimming part of
the Ironman to begin!  It was cloudy, but not raining!

Dane waiting for the swimmers to take their place!

Can't imagine the anxiety, but he is ready and has
his "game face" on!

His good-byes to Bria, Cali, and Jamie!

So many swimmers waiting for their time to get in the water!

The best swimmers are in the water and more groups are about
to begin!

Everyone is in the water in less than 30 minutes!

Looks like bird wings flapping in the water.  So many bodies
so close together!

Dane gets help taking off his wetsuit when he gets out of the water!

Back to the house to have lunch before it was time to report back to the finish line of the bike race to see Dane when he passed by.  He completed the 112 miles in 5 hours and 59 minutes and was smiling, waving and looking great. On our way back to the house it started to pour again.  We dried our clothes and shoes and Ken and I stayed back while the little ones took a nap.  The rest of the group headed to the 1/2 way point of the run to see Dane one more time before the finish of the Ironman.  Some people say the day is hard for the athletes but also extremely hard for the spectators and support people.  You spend most of the day waiting, cheering, and spectating and only see your competitor for a few seconds!

Waiting for Daddy at the end of the bike ride!

Here he comes and he's looking good!

What a gorgeous setting for this amazing race!

Happy that Daddy is starting the 26 mile run!

Ken and I woke Bria and Cali at 4:30, gave them a snack, and then heading towards tent city and the finish line to watch "Daddy" as he finished his long day of competition.  We met the rest of the group there and enjoyed seeing many athletes finish the race.  At 6:25 Dane crossed the finish line with Jamie and girls waiting to put the medal around his neck.  It was a touching moment.  I can't begin to express how proud Ken and I are of Dane and his accomplishment and Jamie and their girls for all the support, work, and patience that they have possessed during these 8 months of preparation.  It really is a "Team" effort and everyone has to be on board if it will be a successful adventure!  Dane and his "team" did a great job and I think everyone was so happy that it is now over and life can return to "normal".  Jamie isn't sure they remember what "normal" is. 

Waiting at the finish line for Daddy.  The girls
were so good and patient, because it was almost
 a 1 1/2 hour wait!

Cheering on the athletes  as they crossed the finish line!

Yeah for the other "guys" but where is my daddy???

I wonder how much money is sitting here ??????

Daddy should be here very soon, so waiting
at the finish line to give him his medal!

He's just about ready to enter the track at the stadium!

What a joyful time and such a relief that Dane is safe and healthy!

Kisses for his special girls......

and the supportive wife who makes it all happen!

One proud mother!!!!

An equally proud wife!

What special friends, Mat and Nicole Stradling, who took a weeks
vacation to support their neighbor and good friends, Dane and Jamie!

Around 7:15 we all headed back to the house so Dane could soak in a tub and change clothes.  We all sat on the porch and ordered pizza for dinner.  The little ones enjoyed playing on their parents I-Pads.  It had been such a long day for them starting at 4:50 when we woke them.  All day they walked from here to there just to catch a glimpse of their daddy.  Ethan was quite the trooper too!  He thinks of Dane as his uncle and he did amazing throughout the day as well.  Fortunately they all took about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon when Ken and I stayed back with them.  Ken and I headed back to the CG around 9.  We were tired and wanted to check on Waldo since we hadn't stayed in the CG last night.  The rest of the group, except for Dan and the little ones, headed back to the finish line around 9:30 to cheer for the athletes still trying to complete the Ironman before the cut-off of midnight. Ken and I experienced that at the Louisville Ironman and can be so emotional. So hard to see them "racing" to get to that line before 12, but some just miss it!

So, today was a very special day - Dane became an Ironman for the 2nd time and Sue had her 61st birthday.  Her celebration will be on Monday or Tuesday - too much happening today with Dane and the Ironman!