As you well know, my husband is an avid triathlete and crossfitter. He has made the most incredible gains since last year. He is setting new PRs left and right, and I am SOOOOO proud of him!
Last year, Todd competed in the Atomic Duathlon, which is a 5k run, 30k bike, 5k run. This year, he decided to take on the Atomic Sprint Triathlon, which is a 500-meter open-water swim, 30k bike, and 5k run.
This was his first ever open-water race!! So what must one do before racing in the lake????
Practice in the lake! We drove up to Big Ridge State Park so he could learn how it feels to open-water swim in a wet suit. I love this picture of him...totally IRONMAN! =)
Early Saturday morning! We always get to the race site at least 1&1/2hrs before the start. Today, that meant getting up at 5am, and hitting the road by 545! Tuck too!! Daddy needs lots of time for packet pick-up, setting everything up in the transition zone, and warming up on the bike. This gave Tuck and mommy time to rest a little longer in the truck, then meet daddy before the race starts. Tuck is too cute!! He raised his little head up as far as he could to make sure he could see me =) Oh I love these two guys SOOO much!
The race was at Melton Hill Lake in Lenoir City, and let me just say....it's absolutely beautiful!
The beach area was roped off, which actually made it perfect for a little practice swimming. That's my husband! Getting ready to test out the cold lake water!
He came back and talked to us for a sec, told us how he felt confident he could conquer the swim leg, and how he was ready to get started! This helped my anxious heart and mind...a little bit. They called all the swimmers down to the water, and my heart surely began racing all over again.
It's times like this, when you just have to put your faith and trust in the Lord, and know that He will give Todd the strength to finish strong.
Todd is already in the water here, with his yellow swim cap, compliments of Endurance Sports Management. Of the two swimmers in wet suits, with yellow caps, in the very center of the picture, he's the one to the left. Please excuse all of the other swimmers in the way! Haha!
It's not easy to keep track of which one is your husband...unless you're super duper determined as ever, like I was :)
Everyone turns to listen to final instructions before the gunshot fires! Todd and all of the "men under 40" are at the yellow rope, waiting to start the first leg of the race.
And they're off!
I zoomed in as far as I could without making it blurry, so if you look VERY closely, you can see little heads and ripples in the water...yes! my husband is THAT far away in the water!! I lost "him" specifically at this point. I am literally holding my breath until he gets to the finish of this leg, or at least to where I can visualize him with my own two eyes! It was all I could do to keep myself calm while holding our son so closely, maybe a little too snug!!
They made the turn for the last 100meters, which is where I picked him out of the crowd again....Whew!!
He's in the middle of the three swimmers....I am BUSTING with joy at this moment!
Almost finished!!
He did it!! 500meters in the open-water...DONE!! I'm sure Todd would tell you "it wasn't easy" but he made it look like a piece of cake! I'm FIRED UP at this point!Yelling so loud that I made sweet baby Tuck cry....I'm so sorry, Tuck! First I squeezed the life out of you, and made you spit up a little. Then I yelled and screamed for daddy, and scared you and made you cry. I'm sorry! Mark my words though, one day, you will hear me yelling the exact same way for you!!
Most swimmers, no ALL of the other swimmers walked once they hit the "swimmers" area, and the beach. Not my husband...he was still kickin it in high gear. I asked him later why he kept swimming when everyone else walked to catch their breath? He very sweetly smiled, and said. Babe! EVERY second counts!!
I smiled right back, and thought...oh my goodness. I have turned my husband into me!! He once was the most care-free, laid-back, no-worries, no-rush, kind of racer....NOT ANY MORE!!! He can't deny his competitive genes have emerged! I LOVE IT!!
And I couldn't be more proud of that man right there!! He killed that swim! =)
Next, get out of that wet suit, squeeze in a GU gel-pak, jump in your shoes, put your helmet on, find your dry-fit shirt, put it on, hop up, take your bike off the rack, don't hyperventilate in the meantime, don't pass out in the meantime....
...walk/jog out of the transition area....
...wave to Tuck and Mommy as you run by (which he always does, and I love it so much)...
...hop on your bike, and GET MOVIN'!!!
That's just what he did. A 30k bike now stands in the way of us seeing him again...for about an hour and ten to fifteen minutes. Yep! That's 19 miles, and that's how fast he rides it! If you've ever been in a spin class...that's a really fast cadence, especially when most of the riding is up-hill/down-hill. So, Tuck and Mommy always go for a walk together.
He chews on his little birdie, while Mommy eats her protein bar. He is the best little companion during these races. Usually my mom comes to watch and cheer for Todd too, but she wasn't able to come this time. So, we took advantage of the "us" time =) which I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
He's always happy, smiling, cute, adorable, sweet, precious, and loving. I have been told by so many people..."he's always so happy" or "he has the sweetest face" or "he is always smiling." Well, it's all 100% true. He truly is our greatest pride and joy. He exudes true happiness, and makes me smile every single day over and over and over and over. I wouldn't want to spend my time away from Todd with anyone else but Tuck =)
We stood on the side of the road, and anxiously awaited daddy's FAST approach to the transition area on his bike!!! Well...he came SO fast...
...that THIS was all I was able to catch of him passing by! Sorry Todd! I won't tell you to slow down, I'll just time the capturing of my pics much better next time, hopefully!
ZOOM!! GONE!!
And within a couple minutes, here he came for the final leg of the race...the 5k!
We (I) yelled again!!! He came right up to us, gave Tuck a high-five, and kept running. I think that's just the sweetest thing ever! He loves us, and we are hopefully a BIG encouragement to him during his races. One of the nearby spectators questioned..."isn't that illegal motivation?" Meaning Tuck in his royal cuteness. I just said "maybe?" and smiled, and walked away =)
More time to hangout together! Tuck chewed on Sophie while Mommy got his pears ready. He LOVES pears by the way! This week, he was introduced to both pears AND strawberries! It's so fun! He loves them both, but the strawberries make him raise his eyebrows, turn his head to the side, and shimmy his entire body!! It's so fun! I know I just said that...but it really is!!
25 minutes passed, and here he came!! Home stretch!!
Finally!! I know as a racer, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing the FINISH line!
We yelled, and squealed, and gave him five, and waived our arms, and scared Tuck all over again as Daddy ran by!
If it wasn't for the glare of the sunshine (which I will NOT complain about), you would see my hubby...this was the closest I could get, while holding Tuck, holding my phone/camera, and running in the direction of the sun....I may have to position myself differently for a better shot next time!
All packed up and ready to come home! Again, so so so proud of my husband. You are such an inspiration to me, and to many many others as well. Love you, Babe!! IRONMAN (somewhere) 2014 better get ready for Todd Mills!!
