I knew that the Summer of 2007 would be really fun when Mark decided that he and I would compete in Vineman, our first Iron-distance triathlon. For good measure, Fernando signed up as well, and Stacie said she would compete in the Vineman Aquabike too.

So we all trained really, really hard. Okay--Fernando trained really, really hard and Stacie, Mark and I thought about training all the time. We were all super anxious as August 4 approached wondering if we had what it would take to cross that finish line in Windsor, California.

I took a week off from work and loaded up my super cool station wagon for the trip to Sonoma County (real men drive station wagons, by the way).

When I got to the house we rented in Sonoma, Mike and Stacie were already there.


Of course, Stacie spent most of the time working.


But she found some time to play with Charlie in the Russian River.


The next day, my baby brother came up to support the HLB triathlon team.

And so did my cousin Noel and his girlfriend JoAnne.

They helped me in my last minute training in the Russian River. First we did some strength training.


Then they helped me tune up my swim stroke.



Later, Mark showed up with his wife Betsy and Fernando. I helped them prepare their bikes for the big race.


We all woke up extra early on the day of the race and prepared to enter the river to start the race.


Fernando was the first out of the water, completing 2.4 miles in less than one hour, fifteen minutes.


Despite my last-minute swim training, my swim wasn't so great, and I came in quite a while after Fernando.


Mark came in shortly after me, right when I was taking off for the 112-mile bike leg.


Meanwhile, Stacie got in the water for her Aquabike race (1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike). She exited the water with a great time of 40:35. I don't know how she got faster than me. I taught her how to swim =P


112 miles of cycling later, Mark, Fernando and I set off for a 26.2-mile run through the hills of Sonoma County in 90-degree heat. Despite his smile, Fernando was shaky on the first of three loops.


I felt really good on that first loop, and threw down 10-minute miles with hardly any effort at all. I thought I had a good chance of catching Fernando. Here I am with Stacie, who came to watch me race after she finished her 56-mile bike ride.


But that second loop was really tough. I picked up Mark on his first loop, who wasn't looking too good either. Together, we stayed right on Fernando's heels.


But we would never catch him. He caught his second wind on that third lap, and finished the 140.3-mile odyssey in just under 14 hours, 5 minutes.


The next into the finish chute was Mark. He courageously fought through a serious bonk during the bike leg and blazed through his second lap, leaving me in his dust. Unfortunately, his earlier troubles caught up with him, and he missed the cutoff time for the third lap by mere minutes. He was both proud of his accomplishment, and disappointed in not finishing. Good thing Betsy was there to lift his spirits.


While Mark and Fernando discussed the day's race, I continued running my last loop of nearly nine miles.


I was dying out there on the road, but luckily JoAnne was there to pace me during the entire last loop.


And 14 hours, 40 minutes after the starting gun sounded in the Russian River, I arrived at the finish line at Windsor High School.

It was a relief to finally be done and to celebrate an epic day.

When we got home, Alfred had a feast ready for us (apologies to the vegetarians out there).


And we all lived happily ever after. Except for Mark, who immediately signed up for the Chesapeakeman Triathlon in Maryland in his search for redemption. And except for me. I am going to have to race 140.6 miles all over again in support of Mark. In less than 2 months.

The end, for now.


From wine country, PEACE!



For the entire Flickr photo set, click here.