Ekins Express

What an awesome opportunity we had to volunteer at the IronMan in St. George this year! The city signed a five-year contract to do it and we're already looking forward to next year. Words can't describe the feeling everyone has at an event like this. Such a cool experience for the whole community. Our neighbors just two doors down both competed. The guy became too dehydrated in the middle of his swim, but his wife Janie finished with 4.5 minutes to spare! Everyone has 17 hours to complete the entire event (2.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) and she barely made it! She is Queen of the Neighborhood right now and deserves every right. Did it inspire me to do it? Not exactly. But it reminded me that anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it!

Matt and I took turns being at the bike/run transition point. It was kind of entertaining just to watch the bikers get off their bikes. Many were quite dilusional as to where they were going and some even crashed onto the ground. Then it was fun to call the athletes by name as they were just about to start their last leg of the race. Many appreciated the name calling (first names were on tags) and encouragement like, "hey, someone else believes I really can do this." One guy approached me and asked for a medic and told him he wouldn't be able to finish the race due to an injury in his leg. The medic boosted his confidence and told him he could walk the rest and still finish as an IronMan. He agreed and decided to continue on the course!

The champion!

I can't say I'm an IronMan, but these two little squirts make me a champion, eh?!

Total Mama's Boy. He can't get enough of me and I can't get enough of him!

Where I found her asleep one night. It's a good thing I moved her because she was pretty stuck and hot! She's claustrophobic like me and those two don't go well together.

And then I found him like this today! Guess it's time to put the bumper back on...