Twas the morning before race day,
…and i wish i could rhyme…
But i’ve got only gratitude and nerves,
No punny one liners this time!

One year ago, I drove to Penticton for IMC with a girlfriend + a new friend. Rachel Ross was flying into town to race IMC for her Kona spot…we had only met once before briefly at Honu70.3 and by the end of the weekend, I was wildly in love with her crazy, juicy, sooo not-ordinary approach to life (sport included!). I returned home with a dream: to race IMC again. One last time. Pleeeeeaaaase, i pleaded. It wasn’t meant to be. IMCdA was the compromise and turned out to be such a gift. In fact, the gift of 2012 was crossing that finish line merely 8weeks ago.

Here I am, in Penticton, the morning before race day, looking out over the lake and realizing what it REALLY means to set goals, chase dreams and follow the pounding of your chubby lil heart beats. I declared that 2012 was gonna be “…perfectly, imperfect; bucket list crushing; planes, trains, automobiles; serious aloha; epic celebrations…” and I think I’m on track! 8weeks ago I had NO idea how this weekend was going to be possible. And what has actually happened is 8weeks of complete + utter awesomeness, mind blowing generosity and heart quenching sweat-fests leaving me in a pile of juicy gratitude.

For example, a week ago I was here on a canal tour:

And today, I am here on a cofffffeeee break:

Without further adu….grace before the race, as I do…
To Team Newton, this would not have been possible if you didn’t call me on Tuesday. Nuff said.
To SusG, I’m so glad you like going fast and wanted to share your speed with me. If my goals weren’t so hairy, i wouldn’t be wearing that helmet:)
To CaroColes + your sweet family, thank you for opening your home to us. It’s the cutest lil cottage to ease my nerves before the big day.
To my IronFans…i can’t even believe it….Pops is flying in from Toronto, the special WhartyJackTroutyRobson for leaving the most epic festival, Pingo who cheers like none other and JonnyO who brings me back from bonking…thank you all for being soo mega awesome! x

And last and very much not least, HUGE gratitude to every single person who donated every penny toward my FUNraising efforts for Prostate Cancer, as part of Team Newton. Pass the Buck[et] was my attempt at getting (mildly) creative…in helping me cross something off of my bucket list and in return, me having the beautiful opportunity to cross something off of your bucket list. Some of you I know and some of you I don’t know, yet I have the same request of all of you: please send me your BUCKETS! (iamstephcorker at gmail dot com) If you could do this by August 27th, I will have it crossed off your list by Sept 1st. Big Love you special special cats: JeremyH, Ingrid vonB, Wharty, MikeyN, Lynn P, JackAttack, DLP (aka Hot Mama!), Nicole R, Mrs. Erin, Diana C, Jenny E, B-RO!, Adam M, Tyler M, Tessa, Ty, Natalia C.

And with a heart full of happy and a soul beaming with gratitude, grant me the grace to race this race!

xoxo…mahalo.