I did it !!! (the half at least)

Here's an email that I sent to some folks an hour after finishing the race in Portugal:


I had done the half ironman distance in my city about 5 months ago, but I have officially crossed a finish line at that distance. I completed the race in a little over 6.5 hours. I was 2 minutes faster than the other time. We will thank the Lord for sending another slow guy to this race named Kevin from the UK. We spurred one another on the last 5 miles of the run.

The swim was normal: getting hit and kicked for 40 minutes by numerous people, all while inhaling cold salt water. I almost couldn't get out of the water cuz my hamstrings locked up on me at the end.

During the bike, I literally passed 5 people. I got passed by 300-400. A beast of a slow climb hill in the middle we had to fight 4 times. On the last lap, I shook my fist at it.

Then came the half-marathon. Started out strong, then got out of the transition station and had to begin the 13.1 miles. Again, 4 laps on a beautiful park road. The main problem was at the end of each lap, you could either go another 50 meters to cross the finish line or turn right to start the next lap. That's like showing me a Dr Pepper and telling me to wait an hour to drink it. Torture, esp at the end of lap 3.

And then the wall hit me. I was going to slow to hit it, so it came after me. BAM! I had encouraged Kevin for the past 2 miles, then he carried me. I was content walking the last 3, but he wouldn't let me. Btw...there were only a small handful of people left. Not a lot of cheerers by that time. But we slodged our way to the end.

6:37:15 was the official time. I then noticed the podium for the winners and apologized to it for not getting to stand on it this time. But if there were some sort of prize for placing in the Top 10 from the bottom, give me that medal.

Then I was given a teal "finisher" shirt. Dumb luck.

Thanks for all the support. I need to go eat my second dinner in less than 1 hour. I am starving.

Chris