Bear Lake Triathalon

Friday and Saturday I had to work to help at a Triathalon (where very fit people run, bike and swim) to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities at Bear Lake. Sammy and I worked Friday night at Utah State handing out T-shirts and hats to those who were picking up their registration packets. We had a great time! Ronald McDonald came and "worked the room" for a while, here is a picture of Sammy with his new buddy Ronald.

Saturday, we had to be back up to Bear Lake bright and early. I intended on getting there by 6:30 a.m., but didn't make it until 8:30 a.m. We were so tired. We had to bring the kids up because they had issues at their sleepover/babysitters and wanted to come home. So, we got up at the crack of dawn and headed to Bear Lake (a near 2 hour drive). We finally arrived, Sammy got set up with the kids on the Beach where the swimmers started and I was taken off by car with some other guy I didn't know to some place on the "run" path in a campground, it was kinda freaky getting carted off with people I didn't know to a place I was completely unfamiliar with. But, the guy I was there with was hilarious, we had a blast. We handed cups to ALL the runners as they passed by, some wanted it just thrown on them, so that was a kick. We seriously laughed our heads off for 3 plus hours. We were totally on an adrenaline rush. We actually ran out of water, and cups at different times but we found a fountain nearby and were able to refill. It got really crazy at times, but it was really a lot of fun. OH, and we were constantly attacked by mosquitos and the runners were just throwing their cups on the ground. There were hundreds of cups all over the road, my parther was going crazy because it was so messy and he said he has OCD. Too funny! It would have been really nice to have had a garbage can from the start. But, another volunteer down the road from us came with one towards the end and we helped him pick all of them up. What a mess! I did get to see a lot of the people we gave t-shirts to the night before, like the guy on vacation from Germany. He was way ahead of the pack, so I am thinking he did pretty well, or maybe even won his event. I am sure the locals were pissed! Anyway, me and my partner were walking back because we gave up on someone picking us up, it was probably a mile and a half. My arches were killing me in my feet and he was exhausted from being there at 4:45 am and bending and straightening writing numbers on calves. So we were quite a pair. But just as we got close to the starting point, Sammy was driving our way (I have never been so happy to see him) looking for me. He was worried (how sweet) because he was starving and he knew I hadn't eaten ANYTHING that morning, and he was worried about me. That was really sweet. He gave us a ride back to the base and I found my Ronald McDonald partners and said goodbye.

Needlesstosay, Sunday I was exhausted. I think I was still in a semi-coma Saturday night when I went to bed. I fell asleep and then my phone rang at 10pm and it was my mom, I just reached over and hit the "ignore" button because I was so out of it and then I dropped the phone, well, it landed in a large cup of milk on the table next to the bed! Can you believe it?! It seemed to be ok, but all the dampness detectors were now pink, so no chance for a warranty replacement on it. It wasn't working, then it started working later that day, so I think it has survived. But that gives you an idea about how "out of it" I was from those two long days!

I am kinda hoping that they do it next year, at least Iwill be more prepared and know how it all works. It was really a fun weekend, despite being totally exhausted.