Post race, trying to fix my watch that exploded.

Ironman Florida was a good race. I still need to write up a full race report (I’m waiting to get my pictures so it can look all pretty as well) but I finished in 11:26:02, a PR of over an hour. I don’t think I’ve ever hurt as much as did for the last few miles of the marathon. My feet were torn up, my quads were seized, I was dealing with a side stitch and I just kept running.  I was very proud that I executed well and raced up to my potential based on the volume of training I had completed.

Breakfast at Waffle House with the boys.

The best part of the race was knowing that I could eat whatever I wanted on Sunday.  None of us were able to sleep on Sunday morning (I think that I maybe got 2 or 3 hours with the post-race caffeine, adrenaline and muscle soreness cocktail I full effect) so Shaun I an met up with Ken and Matt “Turbo” Curbeau (who won the M25-29 age group and grabbed a Kona slot) for Waffle House.  We all had a massive amount of food.  I was very happy with real coffee, a strawberry waffle and 2 eggs.

Charlie in line with all four electronic devices.

After breakfast Shaun, Ken and I walked over to expo (I had an 8 a.m. massage and the boys were nice enough to accompany me).  We found Charlie in line at the expo waiting to sign up for 2012 and ended up waiting with him.  We had a fun time people watching.  There quite a few characters in both the registration line and the line to get into the expo to buy finisher merchandise.  I’ve got to say that I’m extremely proud of myself this is the first time I have spent no money on Ironman merchandise.  I looked at the clothes in the expo and decided that if I’m going to drop money on training clothes, I’d rather have more Oiselle or Lululemon. 

Kathy blowing out the candles.

Mid-day we headed to Mellow Mushroom for a two part mission.  First I wanted a calzone (extra cheese, spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes and it was also Kathy Graves’ 50th birthday (her actual birthday was on November 4 and she completed Ironman Florida as a birthday present to herself).  Kathy is quite the inspiration.  Despite needing reconstructive surgery on her knee, Kathy completed the race in a full knee brace.  I hope that I’ll have her grit and determination 20 years from now.  While the calzone was good, even better was the massive piece of birthday cake — chocolate cake with chocolate filling.  Shaun thought it was appropriate to take a video of me rhapsodizing about cake and yogurt covered pop rocks

The fantastic piece of cake as big as my head.

After lunch Shaun put me to bed for a nap.  I made a valiant attempt to read but ended up asleep with my face in a book. While I was still full from lunch and cake, post-nap Shaun and I met up with the QT2 crew for Five Guys (I had a grilled cheese and french fires), ice cream and mini golf.  There’s nothing like trying to bend down and take your gold ball out of the hole post-Ironman.  Charlie made an attempt to keep score, but we were playing way too poorly to make it worth while.  While I played abysmally, I did have two holes in one (Shaun only had one, so I win!). 

Curt and Mary — Hands off the booty!

In the haze of post race euphoria, I’m trying to negotiate the back half of 2012 with Shaun.  I’m thinking Florida or Arizona (although there is the question timing — come on Emily, pick a date for the wedding).  At some point I’m going to need to stop chasing the elusive Ironman, but so long as I keep making fairly significant improvements its hard to call it quits.  If Shaun will humor me for another 6 (or 18 months) I’ll take advantage of it. 

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Kelly Burns Gallagher

mccarter english employment litigator / oiselle team runner / coeur sports triathlete / sonic endurance coach & race director / witsup.com writer / dartmouth '02 / emorylaw '05

2 Comments

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey) · November 9, 2011 at 1:07 am

I’m putting 2 and 2 together now …we were going back and forth on the bike for a while and then on the run as well. Came out of the port-o-potty at the park and there you were! I was the one with the white and light blue Q-roo. Great job on scoring a PR!! Did you sign up for next year??
Kristie (aka: KCinTampa on BT)

Kel · November 9, 2011 at 1:26 am

Yeah, I signed up for 2012. I was a little gun shy and ended up taking a community foundation slot.

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