It’s official…I really am in #dreamparalysis. I’ve been putting off sharing this outta-body-enthusiasm with you sweet lil readers for so many reasons… and alas, the first chapter of this love story is gonna get published.

My goal for 2011 : “I finish Ironman CdA sub11hrs, with a smile, to qualify for Kona – by June 2012.” (And you bet your bottom dollar I deleted “to qualify for Kona” before i printed these goals to hang on the wall. It was overly ambitious, it was hardly humble, it was audacious, who did i think i was? Alas, it was the truth.)

The race report: feels like a blur. I swam (as hard as I could, and i’m still not awesome open water); I rode (and ate alot! on the bike. It makes a difference.); I ran (and only walked 20steps in every aid station – even if my photos look like I’m trotting on the course…I wasn’t walking! #win!). I finished in 10:58 and that would be #goalachieved!

The Gratitude: is immense. To every sweet soul who I’ve had the pleasure of swim/bike/running with this year, you made the workouts mo’bettah. To every sweet heartbeat that I’ve had the opportunity of working with day in and day out, you remind me there is always mo’to sport and sport is inspiring. To every healer (and I’ve seen many!) who has worked on my precious bod, reminding me that this is all i’ve got. Thank you!

And a very special thank you to some very special people…

To H2Pro who replenished my electrolytes all day long! You tested me and delivered something awesome to keep me moving – thank you.

To Newton Running who provided the possibility that the start line could happen… not to mention, the outfit, the entry, shoeshoeshoeshoes – thank you.

To JonnyO+PapaCork for so much more than driving the bike course…for your patience leading up to the day, your cheers+screams all day long and your smiles at the finish line. To Pingo + Tanja, I heard you scream of glee! To the online love….the lulu cheer station…the text messages galore…the Monday morning of Aloha. mahalo mahalo mahalo!

To these sweetsweetfriends who drove thru the night from WanderlustWhistler to be there – you are super fans!

Seriously…who gets HANG time when they cheer? Oh Jacki Carr does!

And to my precious lulu’ers who left this aloha on my desk when i returned hobbling…thank you.

What I know for sure is that it takes one person to declare a dream yet one tribe to cheer you along the way. It wasn’t that long ago that I was running my first half marathon, hoping that on my 50th birthday (when I had “enough time to train!) I’d finish Ironman. May your wildest, juiciest dreams come true…it might just leave a lifetime of inspiration out in the Universe…see you in KONA! xo