It's still hard to beleive that a week ago I finished the Ironman in Panama City, Florida. So many people sent me their good wishes before and congratulations after that I am overwhelmed...I didn't realize I knew so many people that would care enough to actually take the time to track me online or even remember I was doing the Ironman. To all of you, my heartfelt gratitude; your positive energy and prayers helped me accomplish what I once thought was the impossible dream.
My Ironman story can't begin until I thank the countless people that supported me throughout my journey. I could not have done this without them. First and foremost, I have to thank my coach Stacia. For over 2 years, she tirelessly and enthusiastically encouraged me, consulted with me and devised my training plan. Most of all, she beleived in me. Countless times her advice and knowledge gave me the support I needed to stay the course. Every athlete has an opinion on how to train for an Ironman, so I made the decsion early on to stick with the program even though it was difficult at times.
Then there is my swimming coach, Stephanie who has a can do, winning attitude. I marvel at her ability to show up week after week to watch and push us through what must be a boring task of watching us swim lap after lap.
The ladies on the Master's swim team are awesome. Jane, to the right of me...Angela to the left of me and the others that are an inspiration to me.
Indeed, I must thank Jane and Angela for agreeing to swim 2.5 miles across Lake Washington.
group. Biking is my weakest discipline and therefore my greatest challenge. Never in my wildest dreams did I beleive I would be biking over 100 miles. I remember one time I was worried that I couldn't make it up the hills on a ride and Dave simply said: "Don't worry, you've done it all". 
Thank you to Lenore and Carole who came all the way from Florida to ride STP (Seattle to Portland). What a great experience and huge confidence boost to ride 200 miles in 2 days!
Thank you to Amy for those long rides and our longest brick (bike/ride)that were key in our training. It would have been tough going it alone.
Finally, I have to thank my husband Mike with whom I most certainly could not have done this. I could go on and on how he has supported me, loved me, beleived in me. If you want to know the secret to a great relationship, this is it. It's the someone who will stand behind you every step of the way, unfaltering with pride, love and kindness. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.
On to my Ironman story:
On Ironman day we (Lenore, David, Amy, and me) got up at 4:00 am, after a fitfull night's sleep, to have a hearty breakfast topped off with a bottle of Gatorade and a power gel (first of many for the day). Lenore and I hustled down to the transition area to check our bikes one last time and to load our bottles for the day. My goal was to get in 325 calories/hour on the bike. 
It felt really official when we got body marked: our race number on each arm, our age on our left calf. It was time then to get on the wetsuit and head out to the beach. 
I've never seen so many triathletes in one place! I peered out into the Gulf and reviewed the course and assesed the water. It looked a bit choppy, but nothing I couldn't handle.
After the pros started, 2600+ of us lined up along the beach.
A canon was fired and we were off!! I calmly walked over the sandbar until the water reached my hips, then began to swim. There was an oceanful of legs, arms, bodies everywhere! I had a moment of panic, then immediately told myself to relax, I can do this. I was born to do this. I remembered my childhood days swimming with my dad in the Atlantic in the stormiest of days, being a fearless child. I imagined swimming at the Mill Creek pool with Stephanie encouraging me and telling me to keep it up.
Before I knew it I reached the first buoy and was making the first turn, then the second and then was heading back to the beach for the completion of the first loop. 1.2 miles done...I was feeling confident, relaxed and strong The second loop went by faster it seemed and I actually found myself daydreaming as I steadily swam. I had to bring myself back to the present and focus. I was pleasantly pleased with my time 1:23.
I ran up the beach into the shoot. 
I spotted Mike with a big smile and an encouraging "go Mona". 
After finding my bike bag, I made my way into the changing tent. It was total chaos with athletes everywhere. I made my way to a chair where volunteers helped me get my bike gear on: helmet, gloves, socks, shoes. I walked rapidly to my bike, hopped on at the mounting line (where I spotted Lisa-great to see her there with a big smile and a big 'looking good'). I was off for a 112 mile bike ride!
Fortunately I had driven the course with Lenore several days earlier, so I knew what to expect. The first 12 miles were flat and fast, with cross winds but I was moving along nicely. Then at mile 22 we turned to the east and hit a headwind of about 15 mph. Even though I was pedaling with the same effort, I naturally slowed down. The watch I had mounted on my handle bars and set to go off every 15 min reminded it was time to start taking in my nutrition which consisted of Carbo Pro mixed with Gatorade. At mile 50 I was feeling good and having fun. I turned again, going South...ahh..tailwind. I was travelling at about 22-23 mph...yahoo!!
The tailwind only lasted about 10-12 miles when I made another turn heading West. More wind, cyclists passing me continuously. I expected this as I know I am not a fast cyclist. I didn't let it bother me, however, knowing my goal was to make the deadline of 5:15. The plan was that Amy, who is a slower swimmer and a much stronger cyclist, would catch me on the bike and accompany me from about mile 60 on the bike throgh the marathon. I started looking for her wondering where on earth she could be. Another turn and the worst out and back you can imagine. The road was bumpy, the headwind was right in my face and their was a uphill grade. I was dismayed to see I was only going 10-12 miles an hour. I panicked for a moment..this would not get me to the end of the bike by the cut off time. Again, I told myself, be patient, this too shall pass. 
It was there I spotted Amy going in the opposite direction, maybe 4 miles ahead of me..I yelled out her name and she didn't seem to notice. Oh well, I figured I'd just have to go it alone the rest of the way. No problem, "I can do this". I started to feel nauseous at around mile 80. Oh dear, what now? Am I dehydrated? Will I soon bonk? I tried eating a pretzel thinking it might help settle my stomach. It made things worse. My mind was racing..what do I do if I get sick? What if I can't finish? Again, I stopped this thinking and eventually decided to do nothing, just pedal and see if my stomach would settle down. In about 20 min, I was feeling fine and resumed drinking/eating. My coach prepared me so well: she said to expect to feel bad some time during the day, not to panick, but to make an assesement of my nutrition. If everything checked out, just keep moving. The road seemed endless now. 32 miles to go. Well, I thought, it's what I call a 'short ride' in training, so stop complaining. 
At mile 90, who comes up along side of me but Lenore! At 66 years old, she is simply amazing. She whizzed by me and I had a suprising burst of energy so I maintained her pace for a mile or two. Then I remembered, be patient, slow down. I still had 20 miles then 26.2 miles to run. By now I was riding along the beach where I hit a headwind, but I knew I only had about 7 miles to go! I was so happy that I made it without a flat and still felt good. It was 4:30 in the afternoon now (7:45 to finish the bike). I had made the cut off for the bike leg with 45 min to spare, thank goodness. Only 26.2 miles to go. I found myself back in the changing tent, back to chaos where I saw Lenore just getting ready to head out for the run. As I left the transition area, I spotted her about 1/4 mile ahead of me, smiling and actually running. I tried to run and my legs would have nothing of it. 
Okay, another self-talk moment: "keep moving, nothing hurts, no complaining". I decided if I felt like this the whole way, no problem, I would continue walking the entire 26.2 miles. I had 7 hours before the midnight deadline and nothing was going to stop me now! At about mile 2, my legs loosened up and to my amazment, I was running ever so slowly. The plan was run to the aide stations at every mile, walk 2 min, then run again. Again I reviewed my nutrition plan: 2-3 gels every hour with a cup of Gatorade or water. Trust me, hunger is not an issue. I could barely get the stuff down at this point! Along the way I did my shuffle along side a guy named Whalen, who was also doing his first Ironman. We chatted as we moved along which helped pass the time. It turned out he had two young children and was an ER doc. I was surprised because he was such a mild mannered, quiet alomost shy man. The unspoken understanding is that everyone does their own race, so eventually I found I could not keep up with Whalen. He disappeard into the darkness and I was alone again. Another assesment: nothing hurt, knees okay, still moving...all systems go. Before I knew it, somehow I was nearing the 1/2 way point where I saw Mike and David. What a beautiful site! I gave Mike a big hug! I knew now that I was going to make it and I told them so. Do I dare feel this way? I still had 13 miles to go, and anything could happen. I gently pushed that thought aside and continued putting one foot in front of the other. 
At long last, I spotted Amy! She had slowed to a walk so that I could eventually catch up to her. I had long since given up any hope that I would see her again. I was thrilled! Thank you, thank you, thank you Amy! We contined to walk, shuffle, eat, drink (chicken broth now) and talk and talk the night away. Shall we be honest here and admit that Amy was doing most of the talking, telling me her life story while encouraging me to move forward. The last 6 miles I just could not even do the Ironman shuffle, as they call it. I was walking now 17 min/mile but still making progress. With just a mile to go, I told Amy to go ahead and claim her moment at the finish. I could hear the announcer and see the lights..I was almost there! I turned the final corner, moved into the last 100 yards thinking, I really should try to run in my moment of glory. The roar from the crowd was astonishing and I found myself running! 
I could hear the announcer say: "Mona Petrou, 61 years old from Edmonds, Wa...You are an Ironman!"
Stats:
Mona total time 16:16 (1:23 swim/9:33 T1/7:42 Bike/6:00 T2/6:30 run)
Lenore total time 15:
40 1st in age division-going to Kona!
Amy: total time 16:10 2nd Florida Ironman PR on bike rode hard and caught me early in the ride!
David: total time: 11:30 2nd Ironman-PR by one hour!!
Jose: total time: 12:30 3rd Ironman-done!
