Stuart, you are an IRONMAN!!!

I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of my husband! Ironman Florida was an incredible experience for me as a volunteer, spectator and most importantly, wife of an Ironman.

The day started so so so early, with the alarm going off at 4am. Nerves had struck, and he was only able to manage a piece of toast and some coffee. Not the most auspicious breakfast for an ironman, but so be it. We made our way to transition by about 5:30am. The key to the day, for me, was that magic Volunteer t-shirt from the day before. It basically guaranteed me access for the next twelve or fourteen hours. So I was able to help him settle in, pump his tires, and then walk with him to the beach...where we promptly got separated while I tried to make contact with the rest of the "support crew". After a few tears, my dad found him for me and I was able to wish him luck and give him one last kiss before the cannon sounded. He smiled but was more nervous than I've ever seen him at a race.

But, he did manage to pose for a few photos before focusing on the day ahead. His original goal had been to swim the 2.4miles in between 1:15 and 1:20, but the ruptured bicep and separated shoulder had him hoping just to break 1:30.

While he was out swimming, I sent my parents, aunt & uncle, and Stuart's bro and sis-in-law over to the bike start while I made my way back to transition in the hope that I could see him before he headed out on the bike. The day before as a volunteer I'd been part of organizing all the transition bags into neatly ordered and race numbered rows. So I found the row with #1810 and started to watch my watch. And then the chaos hit. Triathletes, fresh from the washing machine of the swim started to pour through the entrance yelling out their race numbers. We grabbed transition bags and tossed them up the aisles where the athletes grabbed them and headed to the change tents. The level of stress was palpable - most of these men and women still looked shell-shocked and half-crazed from the wild swim. Stuart finally emerged - with a swim time of 1:16 -- right on target!! I tossed him his bag, told him I loved him, and met him on the other side of the change tent to hand-off his bike. Then, since I was stuck in the chaos of transition, I stuck around for another hour and continued to hand out transition bags until I could escape and meet up with my family.

A few hours later, having watched his progress online, I headed back to Transition to accomplish the same task during the bike-to-run transition. Sure enough, in 5:46 (14min ahead of his 6hr goal), Stuart came running into T2. I was thrilled to see him looking so strong, and jogged alongside him to the changing tent to hear about his bike ride. Again, I waited on the other side while he changed into run gear and got slathered with sunscreen by a few female volunteers (a task he enjoyed quite a bit!!). Then, with a quick kiss and an exchange of "I love you's", he was off to complete his marathon and become an Ironman. Again, I headed back to hand out transition bags.

Throughout the day, I just had so much fun meeting and working with so many of the volunteers. Some were there because they wanted to sign up for the 2009 Ironman Florida. Others, like me, were there supporting athletes. And some were local residents just having fun. I had a great time with a 12yr old in T2 who was totally into yelling encouragement at the athletes as he handed out transition bags. Hopefully my pep talk was enough to convince him to check out a kids' triathlon next summer!!

I finally was able to park myself on the run course, prepared to shout encouragement in his direction as he ran the two loop course. He looked strong and managed to smile. Unfortunately, the rest of the support crew didn't make it down until after he'd started his second loop. No worries, we found a good spot in the finish area bleachers so that they'd be sure to put the signs, cowbells, and loud shouts to good use. Our families have always been supportive of our athletic endeavors, but to be at the finish line watching people of all ages, shapes and sizes cross that line really seemed to move them all. With them comfortably seated, it was time for my final volunteer effort.

I made my way to the finish line, which was obviously heavily guarded by volunteer security staff. Still wearing my now limp and sweaty "transition" volunteer shirt, I talked my way into the finish area and put on a "finish area" volunteer shirt. So armed, I set about handing out finisher's medals until my cell phone rang and my aunt told me Stuart was less than a quarter mile from the finish. I grabbed one last medal, and when I heard Mike Reilly announcing "Stuart McFarren, YOU are an Ironman" I pushed past the rest of the catchers and began crying as I grabbed him and put the medal around his neck. It was such an incredible moment. He was dazed, but upright and running strong. We confirmed that he didn't need medical aid and then made our way through the craziness of the finish area. One of the coaches who had spoken at my triathlon coaching clinic the previous weekend was there and snapped a few photos. We stopped to take the requisite official finisher's photo, which will soon be framed in our home, and then left the finisher's area to meet up with the rest of the crew. What a feeling!!!

Later that night, refreshed from a shower, he regaled us with stories of the day while my aunt Stephanie churned out pizza after pizza from the condo's kitchen. His final time was right on his 12hr target. A 4:42 marathon put his finishing time at 12:03. Phone calls, text message and emails have poured in over the last few weeks -- wishing him luck and then congratulating him on a wonderful day. And we finally got home this week to find signs, balloons and cards waiting at home from friends as well.

Being there both scared me, watching some finishers collapse and be wheeled away on wheelchairs, but also motivated me. I WILL cross that IM finish line someday. Hopefully before I'm 40. In the meantime, I'm satisfied with the label of Iron-wife, and I take great pleasure in point out to Stuart at least half a dozen times a day "Stuart, YOU are an Ironman".