Ironman

Ok... so I am married to an Ironman. Just what is an Ironman? The man I am married to....we sometimes call him the "Tin" man!.....kinda stiff!... ok.... so an Ironman is a person (women can be a Ironman too)...go figure........ that can leap tall buildings...oh no, that is superman....... an Ironman is a person that make great horseshoes....no.....that is a blacksmith....why do they call them that?.....is it because the soot turns all the people named Smith black?.... ok.... back on track now..... An Ironman is an incrediable person..... they can do stuff that virtually very few people on this earth can do.... want a list? They average per day...during heavy training season..... 4 changes of socks, 4 changes of underwear, 1 swimsuit, 4 towels (my ironman uses only white ones???), 1 pair of bike shorts (they say you should never wear your bike shorts more than once because....shhhhh.... they wear them without underwear and some infection can occur it they are not careful), 1 bike jersey, 1 running shirt, sweats to wear over the swimsuit at the pool so the babes won't get too excited, usually atleast one jock strap....... all of this is over and beyond the "regular" clothes he wears to work to make money for his lovin' woman! Ok ....so by now... you have figured that I did not actually describe what an Ironman is......what I described was what an Ironwife is responsible for..... we will touch on that later..... IRONMAN: SWIMS 2.4 MILES (in a torrent of hands flailing to and fro, grabbing and pulling), BIKES 112 MILES (through the scorching desert~if you are at ironman arizona) and then a mere RUN OF 26.2 MILES (check your history to find out what the point 2 is all about). Yes, I would say this is not an easy task. The training is not alot of fun......but it is fun to brag about! When my lovin' man finally got up the nerve to tell me that he wanted to try an ironman before he was 50....I never dreamed I would be doing so much laundry.... oh, enough about me.... I never dreamed the dedication that it took. My guy likes to buy books to learn how to do whatever activity he is undertaking..... so.....the swim stuff began appearing....I say stuff because there were books and dvd's.... now I have watched that swim video so many times that I could teach a swim class..... over the years I have watched Randy become "one with the water"..(the video uses that term.....you will find that I have found many uses for that term)..... When I go to the swimming pool with him..... I critique all the other swimmers...... I would love to tell them how to become one with the water.....but I am afraid they would ask me my credientials..... I would have to confess.... I am an Ironwife of course!! Ok... now the Bike thing.....last year during his training for AZ, he had to ride out in some of the worst sand storms of the century....just ask Greer.....he was with him for part of it...... after the wind blowing him over 2 times in one day.... he decided he needed a new "trainer" for the house..... now mind you.... in our marriage, he has already bought 3. But this is the "cool" model (remember what I said in the Garage Sale topic about the media and magazines.... damn them all).....so, for Christmas.... Santa brought the deluxe model. He can actually ride an actual Ironman route...he has ridden that AZ route many times! Now, if you have never seen anyone ride a bicycle in the house for 5 hours at a time.... you have seen nothing!!!! The sweat does not evaporate off of him...... so thus, a puddle under the bicycle.....(hope it is not pee)....now, you talk about becoming one with the water.....that is "one of the water". I have become very accustomed to walking around the two bicycles in the sunroom....and all the other stuff you need to ride indoors. Running..... now this is an easy one for me.........he just straps on his running shoes (no longer allowed to call them tenny shoes)...a few clothes and off he goes..... he wears this ankle band that gives MY information on it incase he becomes road kill (his term, not mine). I do however make sure he has it on when he leaves..... while he is out running......occasionally a car full of teens driving by him will yell out "run forrest run"...... he still gets a chuckle out of that!! Stupid kids..... he could run them all into the ground!!

Ok.... we (I use that term loosely) are gearing up for Arizona Ironman in April.....I feel a little better about it this year because I know what to expect.....I will have to feed my body accordingly...I have to sustain energy to edure the day..... it gets pretty hot out there.....I have to train by carring my chair, camera, backpack and beer all at the same time. ...and I have to be in the right spot at the right time to capture a photo of my man!! Some how.... I am running a 100% on being at the right place at the right time.....yes, I may just be the support staff... but I am good....no, I am damn good!! It is not an easy job.... it reminds me of when I was a young girl.... we would go to the swimming pool..... and I would yell for Mom to watch me everytime I would jump in the water.....so, I learned the importance of being there when Randy yells..." see me???"

I would like to think that the laundry will calm down after AZ.... but then there is "Buffman and Squeaky", Ransom Canyon, Buffalo 70.3, west texas running club races......... it goes on and on..... but you know.... it is a pretty good life...... I am proud to say I am married to an Ironman.....actually, my cell phone...... if I say "Ironman" into the speaker.... it will actually call him...........................................Amanda and Ashley just die everytime I do that!!! Its great!!.. I pray that his body continues to let him enjoy this activity of "Ironmania"....because I dread the day he can no longer to it................he will drive me crazy.

One more note from me on this situation............ why is it when people inquire about running, biking or swimming................ they always ask me......... do you participate also???? Come on really..... JUST LOOK AT ME..... DO I LOOK LIKE I AM AN IRONMAN?????? I think not.... it is kinda like asking a woman when her baby is due and she is not pregnant....!!! Oh well.... only one of the draw backs......... mean while......... I have got to go change the laundry over.....