Big, big weekend

Me and Linda, now a World Champ!

The Dane and me on our fun weekend

Cassie, the stud World Champ and fun chick!

Do I need to label this! Rinney and Julie Dibens, these chicks are the best!

This weekend was huge. The triathlon world was zeroed in to our little spot on the planet, Clearwater Beach. Also, my brother ran his first half marathon in San Antonio, TX and did really well. Wish we could have been there but I wouldn't have missed the festivities here at home for the world (sorry Mike). I couldn't race because of the hamstring injury (which is finally getting better, I think) so being a spectator is something I throw my whole heart and sole into. I had some friends out there racing so was really amped to cheer as much as possible (and have the hoarse voice to prove it). Short story, it started out with dinner with Crowie (won IM Hawaii x 2) and Rinney (second woman/marathon record at IM Hawaii) at one of our local eateries thanks to Shimano and Outspokin. A real fun time to chat with people who race really, really fast and catch up with Crowie (with whom we had dinner prior to his first win at Clearwater 70.3 in '06). That was an awesome way to start the race weekend. The swim was altered due to concerns over the Gulf being super rough with remnants of TS Ida but the race went on with all professionalism possible. Anyhow, it was an awesome day and I'm happy to say that I have two friends who are AG world champs - Linda and Cassie you chicks rock!! I actually became friends with the winner of the women's race overall, Julie Dibens, what a performance and "not a one trick pony" - quote from her disc wheel. She dominated and was the first women to break 4 hours for the distance - truly awesome to see and a great champion!! The after party was, in the words of Rinney, "fricken awesome". Whew. I have lots of pictures, most are not fit for viewing - you know the party was good then!
I want to tell you about a girl. I had the privilege of meeting said girl three years ago while I was training for my first IM Hawaii. She is a legend in triathlon in this area and, if you're competitive in triathlon in this area, you know who Linda Musante is. I got back into the sport after some years away and knew the name. Here, it's like Dave Scott or Mark Allen - you hear the name but you never actually get to meet the person. Well, I got to meet her on a ride (thanks to Tim H). She was everything I imagined and much more. I have known a lot of smart, cool, fast people in my life but this girl was truly different. She is one of the most competitive and tough people I've ever known. She also has one of the biggest hearts. We are terribly similar in a lot of ways, one of the differences is that she is now, finally, a World Champion. She is one of the most deserving individuals I can imagine. I am not starting a Linda Fan Club, I am just so aware of what she has gone through since her death-defying bike crash in the summer of '08. She could have died, she could have given up but that's not what she's made of. She didn't start back "training" until several months after the accident, and by "training", I mean moving her body after the bruising was gone. She got right back on the bike like a champion does, even though she looked over her left shoulder more often than before. I say all this because she came back from a devastating crash and won her age group on Saturday. We tried like Hell to help her train, the run was her worry. I couldn't run train with her so the Dane ran the course at a pace we all felt that she should/would need to do to win. I told her she is going to win at Clearwater, she didn't want to believe me. I kept telling her, over and over. Bottom line, she came off the bike with a lead, as she often does, and ran her way to a world championship. I'm hoarse but it's worth it! We are so proud of Linda. I'm happy to have a friend like her and hope that one day I too , can accomplish half of what she has! Bravo girl, we love ya! Cheers