So this is Mark typing this post. I decided since this was my triathlon, I would ask Ashley if I could take over the blog for a bit. I have been training for a couple of months with this particular triathlon in mind. It was a shorter distance, so I thought I could handle it. The triathlon was a benefit for Wounded Warriors, but was a memorial for Matt Mason, a Navy Seal killed in action a year ago today. Matt was good friends with one of my fraternity brothers, Chris Asby, and I had met him a handful of times.
While we don't have a good picture of it, the organizers of the triathlon talked the local fire department into bringing in a ladder truck with a huge American flag hanging from the top. It was a huge source of inspiration to me and a great way to start the day.
Ashley decided to snap a picture before I got into "the zone". Lauren decided she would be funny and give me some rabbit ears. Even with the rabbit ears I think this is a great picture.
This is Chris Asby. Chris was a couple of years behind me in the fraternity and we lived together for a semester in college.
Me running into the water. I think this is about the time I was saying to myself "What have I gotten myself into?"
Ashley snapped a picture of this Chinook helicopter. I looked up during my swim and saw it. Very cool and a nice source of inspiration.
Here I am just about finished with the bike part of the triathlon. This part was very grueling, as the course was pretty hilly in parts and I was on a hybrid-type bike as opposed to a road bike.
The girls got some flags to entertain themselves while I was out running.
At the end of the race, every racer got a little flag to carry to the finish line. I loved how the race had a patriotic feel to it.
Here is a picture of the finisher medals we got. This medal is by far the coolest one I have received for finishing a race. I finished in 1hr, 24 minutes, and 3 seconds. This beat the time of 1 hr 30 minutes I had hoped for. Thank you Ashley so much for bringing the girls to cheer me on. It is such a thrill to see them through the race and it gives me that extra boost of energy.
All in all it was a great race, for a great cause, and a great way to honor a person that made the ultimate sacrifice.
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