Man of Steel? More like Man of Iron!!
- rimorrissey96
- May 19
- 3 min read
David: “hey babe i want to train and complete the Ironman 70.3 next year.”
Me: newly pregnant “uhm. Ok.”
This was the beginning of this adventure. David dedicated countless hours at the pool, on his bike, and pounding the pavement to reach this goal. This past weekend, HE ACCOMPLISHED IT! Watching him put in all the effort needed for this endurance challenge was incredible! All the hours spent alone with the boys were completely worth it when we saw him cross that finish line.
On race day he was up at 3 AM, then he headed over to his mom’s( who also completed the race!) to walk across the river to the start area. We got to see both athletes as They mounted the bikes to headed out for a 55 mile bike ride. My mom, dad, the two boys(YES almost 4 and 4 months), and myself headed down to Lil’ Pig Market in Chickamauga to see them race by on the bikes!
After returning to Chattanooga, parking was a nightmare, but we headed to the first spot we wanted to see our friends during their running segment. We purposefully walked over to "Battery Place," where we set up to wait for David and Nancy. This is where things started to get challenging on the parenting side. We were all hot, sweaty, and tired. You know as well as I do that these conditions don't mix well with a toddler and an infant. Both boys were whining or screaming (EMMETT LEE!!!) the entire way through the art district. Thankfully, when we reached our desired spot at the top of the hill just after the fueling station, I was able to find some shade, get B something to eat, and try to get E to eat. Afterwards, we cheered on the other athletes with a power-up sign! We finally saw our two favorite runners, so we headed to the Walnut Street Bridge, which was open just for these amazing athletes to cross!
After seeing David and Nancy, we attempted to reach Ross Landing to watch David cross, but we didn’t make it in time. However, the moment that followed, once he received his food and medal, was almost cinematic! He called me to locate us. I asked mom and dad to watch the boys while I went to find him. I spotted him in his brightly colored trisuit and shouted his name, running (yes, running on a strained Plantar Fascia) to embrace him! He was so emotional because he had accomplished something incredible! He was fueled by pride, adrenaline, and pain. We stood hugging for a few minutes right in the middle of the intersection! After he ate, we managed to see Nancy cross the finish line, the day before her birthday!! We cheered her across!!
Overall, it was an incredible day filled with a range of emotions, and I wouldn't change a thing, except for the temperature! Witnessing all the athletes biking and running is an amazing experience. If you ever have the opportunity to cheer at any endurance event, seize it! The motivation they receive from hearing your cheers, seeing a humorous sign, or just a simple reminder like "You've got this" can help them push a little further! So make the sign, sing the songs, and ring the bells!
After we got home and everyone had showered, David mentioned that he didn't want to see his bike for a month! Also a huge thank you to my parents for helping cheer David and make sure i had the help i needed to take care of myself and the boys! Plus all the volunteers, law enforcement, and EMS workers who were there to help keep the athletes safe!
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