Alarms went off at 4:15 a.m. Time for a hearty breakfast to get ready for the long day ahead! Breakfast of champions: PB&J. Only done right if aforementioned ingredients are dripping onto the plate.
We dropped off Cody at T1 (first transition), where buses took participants to the swim start. Unable to view race start due to race regulations, we returned to the condo to enjoy the sunrise on Wrightsville Beach. No guilt.
The sun continued to rise over Wilmington as we walked from the condo to T1. By this time, I was (already) ready for my second cup of java.
Adrenaline was high as Cody turned the corner after exiting the water (2.4 mile swim) in approximately 56 minutes.
With Cody in the top 20 participants going into T1, I was jumping around like a youngin' awarded a lifetime supply of M&M's.
After a mere 5 minutes in T1, Cody and Cera (his loyal companion) were ready to rumbo.
Neon pink arm warmers made it easy to track our favorite participant. No offense to other participants.
And he was off. Time for deep breathing to reign in the adrenaline and conserve energy for...5 hours.
While Cody was out on the bike, I baked a cake. This is not a joke! Such is life. After a morning of "getting things done", we drove to downtown Wilmington to see Cody come off the bike and enter the second transition (T2) after 5 hours and 24 minutes.
As Cody left T2 to run a marathon (A FULL MARATHON!), he was still placed high in the 800 participants. Estimated in the top 15. Again, my adrenaline was through the roof. Or we could say the sky.
While Cody ran the first half of his marathon, we went for a couple of beers at a bar down the street. Again, no guilt (well, there was a little bit of guilt). After about an hour and a half, we went back to the run course to see Cody run by at mile 13. He had moved up to 12th in the race! However, at this point, I could see he would have liked a Scooby-Snack or two.
After a visit to yet another food establishment, where a glass of wine and greasy appetizers were enjoyed, we found ourselves perfectly placed at the race finish. We anxiously anticipated Cody as the sun set.
Cody turned the corner, running to the finish for a final marathon time of 5:03:23. Emotions were high.
Cody crossed the finish after 11 hours and 34 minutes, placing 8th in his age group. The pride and excitement we felt was overwhelming.
Crowned with his finishers medal, Cody was greeted with hugs, tears, and more hugs. Eventually, with Scooby Snacks.
See Cody's race report at Cody's blog! Now we look forward to the next!
26 October, 2013
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