Ironman 70.3 California

Growing up in the South, you are constantly surrounded by a love (or slight obsession) with sports, especially college football! It is more like a religion... But really more than the sport of it, I was always more compelled by the competition and mental challenge of it all. I think that is why I love endurance sports so much! From the training to the actual event, it is not only a test of preparedness, athletic ability, but also, mental perseverance. 

I started watching the Ironman triathlons many years ago and have followed the athletes' careers, like Chrissy Wellington, Craig Alexander, Andy Potts and Mirinda Carfrae. So when I found out that there was an Ironman 70.3 in Oceanside that needed medical volunteers, I was a little but overly excited... Not to mentions that it was the first chance that I would have been able to practice my nursing skills in many months! 

Just a little background, an Ironman 70.3 (or half Ironman) is a race that consists of three sports: swim, bike and run. This particular distance consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run. If you total that up- its 70.3 miles traveled all in one race! Total craziness! The cutoff time for this particular race was 8.5 hours.

It was such an amazing experience to work behind the scenes at this race! I got to dust off the old nursing skills and had some amazing mentors help teach me about triage and care in an event such as this. (Not to mention it was the first time I got to tell people I was an RN... hehe! Although I made it clear I was a baby nurse still...) 

Hopefully one day I will make it make it that starting line, but for now I am more than content being behind the scenes!