post race travels

After my race, Jake and I took off on a long road trip to South Dakota to visit my mom's side of the family (grandma, 4 aunts/uncles, and lots of cousins). We visited 9 states in all (AZ, NV, UT, ID, MT, WA, SD, ND, WY) and drove over 4,000 miles...What a trip!



Trampoline fun with Willa


Auntie Chuck's b-day present from last year



Picking strawberries for jelly with Aunt Mae, Becky, and Grandma



30 quarts of strawberries!

What can I say- I was craving meat (1lb cheeseburger)...after burning over 12,000 calories on the Ironman, I needed to replenish.

Uncle Dave in Mt. Rushmore

Aunt Barb & Beth in Mt. Rushmore

Picking Washington's nose :)

The presidents

Devil's Tower

MTB in Ogden- tough at elevation

Driving...lots of landscapes and clouds

Top of Powder Mtn (without snow, of course)

MTB Powder Mtn, Utah...elevation kills

Riding in Brian Head, UT...it was awesome! I will be returning to check out more trails.

Showering off - after a long ride.

13 hrs of pure joy!

As many of you know, I completed my 1st Ironman race this June, along with my friend Drew. It was quite the experience, not only the race, but the training, traveling, and mental preparation was extensive. I somehow arrived in one piece and ready for the ultimate physical test. Here are a few pics to share the story.

I had the best support crew ever! My best friend- Jen, boyfriend- Jake, and my dad and bro were all there to cheer me on.

Swimming with 2000 people is an awesome experience...you should try it sometime!

Support crew in action- They worked hard all day too!

The bike ride was my favorite part of the race.

Everything was sooo green and beautiful!

Oh the joys of running...my 1st marathon was pretty brutal...im still sore and it's been 4 weeks. If you look close, you can see my support crew in action!

Crossing the finish line at the 13 hr mark was a dream come true. It had rained on me for the past 3 hrs and it was so cold, I couldn't keep my legs warm. I was exhausted, freezing, and my legs felt like they could snap at any moment. Why would anyone do this to themselves???

Triumphant ride to the car from my bro...love him!!

Warmth at last! It was a big mistake to take a warm bath right after the race, but I was frozen to the core. I should've taken an icebath to reduce swelling, but I couldn't get over the freezing water. Again, my support crew in action, as Jake massages my feet. Good plug for Ensure as well, it was my source of extra calories throughout my training and a great recovery drink!