Redman 2010: When Tweets Gets Me Good
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:00AM Missed Part 1? Click HERE
OK, so Redman 2010 was held under MUCH better conditions than Redman 2009. When Tweets competed in Redman 2009, she was dealing with monsoon rains and mudslides, in addition to major stomach issues. This year, we were relieved to see that the weather was mostly behaving itself.
However, as the day passed, my mother, sister Billie Sue, and I were both concerned and surprised by a number of factors.
EXHIBIT A (cause for concern): The day was HOT. It had to have been over 90 degrees. As a runner, I have difficulty racing in degrees over 80, so I was very worried for Tweets.
EXHIBIT B (cause for confusion): Tweets finished her 2.4 swim in two hours. She finishes swims like this in an hour-ish. Also, why is she smiling? Last time I checked, 2.4 swims aren't really THAT fun!
EXHIBIT C (cause for confusion): Tweets was a lollygagger in Transistion. She took 15 minutes to get up on her bike to head out. This is a ridiculously long time, and Billie Sue and I even had a private conversation about it. From Billie Sue: "Does she know she's in an Ironman? Should she hurry up?"
EXHIBIT D (the nail in the coffin of confusion): Look at Tweets on her bike. She's smiling. She's waving. She looks like she's on a Sunday stroll. SERIOUSLY!? At this point, Tweets should be crying at least a little, maybe even a throwup session or two. Also, Tweets took six hours to bike 88 miles. Tweets regularly goes out on long bike rides. She recently banged out a 75 mile bike ride in four hours. In 100 degree Texas heat.
Are you confused at her behavior yet? We sure were. Of course we stayed positive and kept cheering her on like she wasn't competing like a weirdo. My mother even called my dad (also a triathlete) and asked him if he knew of any recent injuries or problems. My dad was just as confused as we were. I believe a direct quote might have been... "What!? She should have finished her bike ride a long time ago!"
We asked Mr. Tweets what he thought might be going on. His response "Well, she is NOT pushing herself like she was last year. We don't want her getting sick like she did last time."
Welllll, ooooook. I guess that's a good thing, of course. But still, she should at least be breaking a sweat.
Finally, Tweets' slow pace meant she needed to drop out of the race. She was NOT going to make the bike cutoff time. (All races have a cutoff time by which you must have competed a particular race component. Because Tweets had been going so slow, she knew there was no way she was going to make the cutoff.)
Tweets biked around the bend for the last time and as we cheered for her, she cut us off with a somber "Hey, guys, my race is over. I'm dropping out."
She had completed 90 miles of the 140.6 mile race course.
We were totally devastated. Mr Tweets, my mom, Billie Sue and I packed up our gear and waited for Tweets to park her bike and walk out of her Transition area. We were all trying very hard not to cry so that we could make Tweets feel better for dropping out of the race. Mr Tweets gave Mrs Tweets a big hug and they walked over to us out of Transition.
This is when Mrs Tweets dropped a huge bomb on us.
"Guys, I know you're really sad, but I need to tell you something. I had a big reason for dropping out of the race, and it was a good one - it's good news. You do NOT need to be sad. I had to go slow today to keep my heart rate under 140... because I'm ten weeks PREGNANT!"
:O
Instantly, all of our sad tears turned into shock and excitement. Everybody was hugging, and what was an incredibly sad moment turned into a great one! Now, nobody cared that Tweets had to drop out! Now, her strange behavior all made sense. She took the race at a stroll so that she could keep her heart rate at a normal pace. The heat elevated her heart rate, which is why she was going so ridiculously slowly. If the weather had been cooler, she might have been able to finish the race on time, without even breaking a sweat.
I believe Mr Tweets response was a big sigh and "I am SO glad I don't have to keep that secret anymore!"
From Billie Sue "This is a GREAT DAY!!!" There were many hugs and happy tears to be had.
About an hour later, back at our hotel, my brother Paul showed up. He had been planning to watch Tweets' cross the finish line, but arrived after she had already quit and surprised the bejeezus out of us. This was Paul's reaction to learning the BIG NEWS...
After our very emotional day, we decided it was time for dinner. :) The next morning, I headed back to Chicago, and my family headed back to Dallas.
Suffice to say, I AM SO EXCITED!!!! The Tweets are going to have a chick of their very own, and we can't wait to meet the kid!
And now, to recover. I need a Xanax. And a drink. Not at the same time.
Family, Triathlons
Reader Comments (16)
oh that is SOOOO awesome! And your brother looked so happy it almost made me cry :-)
Congrats Auntie!
That is great news! Congrats to your sister and you Auntie!!!
What wonderful news... and such an adventurous way of delivering it! Congratulations to the Tweets... and to you, soon-to-be Aunt Penny! :o)
Congrats to everyone!
Aww!!! So sweet! What a great story with a VERY happy ending!! :)
Congrats Auntie!! So stinkin fun!!
Great story! Congrats to your family!
CONGRATS! Becoming an Aunt is so exciting - I still remember each and every one of my niece and nephew's arrivals. :)
Aw, what a cute story! And kudos to your sister for completing so much while pregnant. That's impressive!
This story is way way way too cute! And wow...the fact that your sister was able to even do 90 of the miles while pregnant is seriously amazing!
Ooh is Paul single? :)
What marvelous news! The picture of Paul is just precious. And I love the "she only did 90 miles" thing. Only. I'll be lucky to cycle that much in my life time. ;)
That was such an amazing day! Thank you for capturing the events so well and the photos are hilarious! Except for the one with Paul that almost made me cry again.
I love you so much and appreciate your support more than you know!
@Alexandra - I just laughed out loud!! Paul is quite taken. He is quite attached to his fantastic girlfriend of many years. I do have a couple other unattached brothers for whom I am quite willing to play matchmaker, however. ;)
@Tweets I AM SO EXCITED. Although you have now set the bar impossibly high for the rest of us when we try to surprise the family with a baby!!!! Dang you and your hardcore ways.
So happy for your family Heather. Babies are great!
Yeah! One who looks like Paul and has a massive heart (like it seems your entire family does). Hook me up!! :)