6 Days, Gratitude and a Lifelong Friend

September has somehow gotten away from us and with it the last day of summer. Happy Autumn! Bring on all things pumpkin, the beauty of the changing leaves and cooler temps. And our final countdown to race day is upon us. 6 days. At this time next week, the journey will be behind us and etched in our memories forever. 

This brings me to a post I've been pondering for quite a while: Gratitude. Lets start with the people whom I am most grateful for. The list is long, so please bear with me. 

Jason. First and foremost, my husband of 11 years. Thank you for agreeing to partner with me as I embarked on this journey that was beyond my wildest dreams. I will never forget the conversations we had and the reason you gave me your blessing in the end, "because you love it." This has stuck with me all year when the training days got long and the days were hard. Thank you, Honey. I love you!

Mom and Dad. Thank you, again, for spending your summer here with us to help out with the kiddos and the housework. You lifted a large burden from my shoulders during a time when my training was at its toughest and most time consuming. You allowed Jason and I to share miles upon miles on our bikes. You gave us both the gift of time and you gave your grandchildren the gift of time with their Nana and Papa. They certainly loved having you here, as well. 

Mama Sue/aka Gramma Sue and Grampa Rockie. Thank you for taking time out of your life, Mama Sue, to spend it here with my boys while I travel to Chattanooga to put an exclamation point on this crazy year of ours. Your help and support is also immeasurable and much appreciated by both Jason and me. And thank you to Grampa Rockie for sharing Gramma Sue with us. I hope you are able to get along OK without her for two weeks. 

Family. My brother, Alex, Sister-in-Law, Robyn, Nephews, Josh and Zach, Aunt Denise and family, cousins. Your support from both near and far does not go unnoticed. Denise, when you tell me that Grandma would be so proud of me, I can't help but tear up. I will carry these thoughts with me on Sunday. 

"Grandma" Barb. Thank you, Barb, my friend of 16 years (can you believe that!?) for watching the boys for a few hours so I could get a workout in while Jason was away, possibly, or for whatever reason it was. Your support and enthusiasm is unmatched. 

Friends... where to start: 

Angie. I know we haven't trained much together this year, but your encouragement is never far from my mind. I have missed you along the way, but having you by my side for these last 2 weeks have been special as I tapered down to the big day. It is a reminder to me of our history together and the friendship we have built on the trail and off. You were there with me in spirit for every run as you have been in person for the last 8 years. A part of what I am doing today is because of you pushing us to run farther together. Half marathon, you said, sure, I said! Check: 2007 and many, many beyond the first. Marathon, you said, what the hell, I said. Check, and check: 2008 and 2011. Oh and one on tap for 2015. Lets bring on 40 in Big Sur Style. See you on the flip side, lady. Have fun in Minnesota with your family!

Jenn. Our Friday run swap got me started back in March. It was a blast trading off the kiddos so we could each put in some time on our feet and allow us to be better Mommies for the rest of the day for our kiddos. It was fun spending time with your girls and sharing coffee/hot chocolate talk with Ava. Even Lila eventually decided it was OK for you to leave her with me. And Tate eventually realized you wouldn't, indeed, steal his wallet. :-)  I look forward to spending more time together now that this crazy training season is coming to an end. I have missed you.  

Nanci. My 4x Ironman friend. Triathlon introduced us back in 2008 on Labor Day at the swimming pool. You were wearing a USAT hat and I introduced myself. We've been friends pretty much ever since. You coached me to my 70.3 finish last year and along the way this year. You made sure I was honest in my training and you encouraged me every step of the way. High Grade, Cindy. Bike High Grade. More climbing, you said. It'll make you a better biker, you said. So, I did. I climbed. Here in town, 6,000+ feet of climbing in my first Century ride with Jason at Elephant Rock in June and at the Copper Triangle in August. I accompanied you to IMCanada last year and what an experience it was. It catapulted me to register for my first IM. It was a priceless experience that I will never forget. And a trip with my friend which I will never forget. 

Becky.  Oh, how I have loved getting to know you this year. You are truly a unique and wonderful person. It is easy to see why Cooper and Sofia are such great friends. And thank you for watching my boys and allowing me to get a much needed run in while Jason was away for the weekend.  And on top of that, your down to earth way of supporting me during some of my hardest training weeks was just what the doctor ordered. We will eat chocolate and drink wine upon my return. I promise.

Jen KD. Your phone calls have come at just the right time. Your words of wisdom have always been and will always be priceless. You tell it how it is and never pull punches. Your support is unwavering. Thanks for the chat yesterday and for talking me off numerous cliffs this year. And for the wonderful visit we had in April. I will never forget it and hopefully will be back soon with the whole family! 

Elisabeth. My sister from another mister. My sister. Thanks for the phone calls and for listening to me babble from time to time. Our friendship never falters and your support and encouragement are never far from my heart and my mind. 

My Invaluable Team of Medical Professionals. Ironman training does a number on the body. I have been seeing a host of ladies who have kept me in tip top shape week after week, long training session after long training session. My massage therapist, Julie, at Bodies and Balance, my chiropractor, Dr. Yoder, at Accents on Health and Jenna at Specialized PT. I would have certainly fallen apart if not for these amazing women. I am forever grateful. 

All my neighborhood friends and acquaintances. The chit chat at the pool this summer, the brief conversations at school drop offs and pick ups, the interest and encouragement means the world to me. I am so lucky to live in such an amazing community with so many wonderful people. You will all be with me on Sunday. 

FB Friends and supporters. I would be remiss if I didn't mention all my FB friends. I may not have seen some of you since high school or college, you may be CrossFit friends whom I will see again soon, or you may be people I have met recently thought this amazing on-line triathlon community but never in person. I hope to meet some of you in Chattanooga, or at the gravel pond next summer, but I thank each and every one of you for all the support and encouraging words shared on the interwebs. 

The Crew at Pedal bike shop in Littleton. Between their expert fitters and the wonderful bike mechanics, Sea Breeze, my Cannondale Synapse, kept humming along, mile after mile. I never once doubted their work and was always confident that my bike would not let me down and it didn't. 

Finally, a tribute to a person I have known my whole life, Kelly McClernon, my partner in this journey to our first Ironman. Our friendship began at Tiny Tots in Monticello, NY. We were 3, probably. In a nutshell and so this post doesn't end up 10 pages long, here is a laundry list of some of the experiences that highlight the last 36 years of our friendship: we played every sport imaginable together starting in middle school, including rugby in college for opposing rivals, she in Albany, me in Binghamton. We celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Woodstock at the original site in Bethel, NY in 1994, we traveled to Europe together after college graduation in 1997, followed by running a ski school at the Concord Hotel immediately afterwards so we could move to Colorado together in 1998. This doesn't tell the whole story, though. I have numerous photo albums of soccer camp pictures, days and nights with our friends spent at my parent's lake property, at Holiday Mountain, school accomplishments, gatherings for birthdays and graduations, prom, the list goes on. 

A few years ago we added triathlon to the list of experiences we share. I found the sport through a friend at work as did Kelly. And here we are now in 2014, with 1 70.3 behind me, 2 behind her and an extendo 144.6 mile Ironman in our very near future. Kelly, there is nobody I would rather be on this journey with. You will always hold a special place in my heart and in my life. I love you, Sister. Lets do this.