Post Race

Post Race: After chatting with family and friends for a bit at the finish line, I attempted to eat some food. Didn't really want to, but choked down a piece of pizza and a cookie. (You really DON'T feel like eating after these long races...believe it or not). Then Jake and I had to go get my bags and Pink Lightning and head back to the hotel to pack up our stuff, because he had to leave super early to get to work the next day. Unfortunately, I didn't get to hang at the finish line to see Cindy cross it - which bummed me out.

The crew at the finish line

Jen & Noelle showing off their pipes (a post race tradition)

Cindy & Noelle at Finish (Rockstars!)

"Team" at Finish (Jen M., Jen & Val)
Back at the hotel I did get to run into Cindy and get her 'recap' of the race, which made me happy. Both her and Noelle did so well! At the hotel, the fam met us up for a little recap at the room. I attempted to have a beer...choked down maybe half of it. Food + Drink = Not appealing to Jen at this point. That night I didn't sleep...I think I was too jacked up on caffeine from the Cokes at the water stops and the Gus that I consumed. That, and just the realization of the whole day just wasn't going to turn my brain off. Which was OK, as I had to get up early and head back to the Terrace again to go get my "Finisher's Gear", which opened up at 7:00 AM. We were in line by 6:00...let me tell you why.

Waiting in line for the Finisher's Gear (Jen M., Pam, Jen & Kim) By 7:15, the 'normal' sizes for all the decent gear were pretty much picked over and rampaged. It is just like Black Friday with crazy shoppers when they opened up those doors. People rushed in and just grabbed things off the racks. So funny! I ended up putting another small dent in the pocketbook on this little trip to the store too. The Finisher's gear I got: 2 jackets (1 normal, 1 bike), sweatshirt, ribbed 3/4 zip sweatshirt deal, t-shirt, tech-shirt, water bottles. After that craziness, I sat in the hallway and chatted with Brian, one of the coaches from our training weekend and recapped the race with him. What a super nice guy! Am so glad we met those people in June...was great to familiar faces during the race (except Brian was working in one of the Penalty Tents...so was a good thing we didn't technically 'visit' him during the race - ha ha!). Then I stood in line to get my pictures with Jen M., Kim & Pam (a.k.a. Mrs. Kona Qualifier!!! or Rockstar!). Picked up my pictures and my plaque - which turned out pretty good - and then headed back to the hotel to meet mom, dad & Stacy. Jake had loaded up the truck and was already half-way home, so I got to ride home with the fam. We stopped at Perkins on the way home, and saw Jonny, Val, Jen, & Mimi - just keep running into people we know! Surprisingly, I felt really good 1 day post-race. Legs a little sore, but not bad! The marathon this spring was 100x worse - as I was walking like a 100 year old for about 3 days! The only thing that hurt were the blisters on my toes. Still hadn't popped them, so everytime I hit them on something (back of car seat) - they just throbbed! Ouch!

Blister on Toe! (Yes, I know! Pedicure is a MUST!)