Since IM AZ takes place in Tempe, Wendy and Ron had a chance to visit with Liz, one of the Original Penguins! She and her Mom treated us to dinner Friday night at Claim Jumpers.
Liz's Mom - JoyceAnne. This lady is involved in so much stuff she would have to slow down to train for an IM!
Tina, Jeff, and Parker outside transition on Saturday before the Sunday IM
Early IM morning, Father and Son
2200 participants line the bank of Tempe Town Lake
There seemed to be some reluctance on the part of lots of IMers to take that jump - the water was 62 degrees, the air 55!
The Elites started at 0650
Age Groupers swim toward the start
Treading water at the Start Line. Jeff is on the far right, I'm sure you can spot him. He's the one in the Carolina blue swim cap - in memory of yesterday's game with the Pack!
The fun fires at 0700 and the washing machine cranks up
Headed East after the start
Since we knew we had a few minutes before Jeff came out of the water, and since it was pretty chilly, Ron and Wendy headed to Dunkin Donuts for some coffee and breakfast for all four of Jeff's Scream Team (Ron, Wendy, Tina, and Parker)
We gotta get these outfits for our next Scream Team - bet their IMer could spot them from a long ways out!
Ron positioned himself beside the Wetsuit Strip area (just as the swimmers exit the Lake) - it was pure chaos
While Ron watched for Jeff in the Wetsuit Strip area, Wendy and Tina took up spots at two different places. We wanted to be sure we didn't miss Jeff coming out of the water
This picture was taken around the 2:00 mark - Ron took it just in case that guy beside the surfboarder was Jeff. We couldn't figure out what had gone wrong - none of the three of us had spotted Jeff. Then Tina got a call from Shannon (back in Charlotte) letting us know that she was tracking Jeff online and he finished the swim in 1:09:16 - we all three missed seeing him!
Here he comes at the end of the first bike loop - mile 37
There he goes - you have to watch fast!
Parker liked the chairs we borrowed from Liz and her Mom - this was the tent he and Wendy constructed
This is Glen Jusczyk - the "Old School" IMer. yep, that's a single speed bike he's riding. He averaged 13.22 mph for the 112 miles.
Here is Glen's Old School Scream Team. They knew how to have fun.
It wasn't only cyclists who had mechanicals on the bike course
Jeffrey about to finish lap 2 - mile 74
Jeff is starting lap 3 when he decides to take a short break
As soon as he stopped, Wendy screamed "don't anybody touch him"! She remembers what Penalty Minutes are like
He's feeling pretty good, despite the building heat, blazing sun, and relentless headwind
A few last words of encouragement from his Scream Team...
...and he's off for lap 3
Ron goes back to his familiar territory
One of the great things about Scream Teaming for an IM is that whle your athlete is out there suffering and living on gatorade and gels, you get to go have a nice lunch! Parker and the rest of the crew ate at the My Big Fat Greek Restaurant. There is a story behind the Chinese Fan. Ask Parker.
Getting a mite warm - the bike course (and most of the run course) had no shade. Remember- this is the desert Southwest
Jeff brings his carbon steed into T2, with an average of 17.82 mph for the 112 miles.
Headed out of T2 for the Marathon
Lots of energy - but there is still a long way to go
A lot of the run course goes by Tempe Town Lake. Made for a cooler run that just running in the desert sands
Nice to see Father and Son have a moment
Batman was here - as well as Robin
My favorite shirt of the whole race - this 45 yoa guy was no slouch. His name is Paul Karlsson and he finished in 12:52:39!
Jeff comes by just past mile 3.5
Shadows are growing longer as Jeff passes mile 8
Tempe Town Lake - you can see runners on the Rural Street bridge
Jeffi is almost to mile 13 at sunset
As darkness falls, the quests continue
The last few rays of sunlight paint the lake while the runners stay steady
Jeff just before mile 17
Closing in on Mile 21, one last loop to go
Jeff Whitmire, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!
Jeff's official time was 13:15:28. Phenomenal. This was taken just after he crossed the finish line - see his picture on the Jumbotron to the left?
Jeff put his medal around Parker's neck
A hug AND lift from Ron
Parker is keeping close tabs on the very cool medal
Tina (soon to be IronMate), IM Jeff, and IMson Parker
Yes, it's a very cool (and well deserved) medal
Athletes sharing a post-IM pizza
