What a week, what a week!

Wow, where to start! This week has been one that we will never forget!!!!

Last Thursday, September 10th we packed up the MDX and headed to Madison, WI. Now, we use to fit everything into the Monte Carlo with the back seat folded down, yes it was a tight fit, but we made it work. Well, now we have this nice big suv that we still some how, managed to fill. It wasn't packed solid at least. So we made it to Madison, checked into the hotel and headed to the Great Dane downtown for the Endurance Nation (EN) team dinner. EN is the virtual triathlon team that Matt is coached by and trains with. What a great group of people. There were people from IL, WI, and MN at the dinner, there were about 20 of us there, including the coaches and about 8 of them were racing. It was a good time.

Friday,September 11th, we got up early and headed to Lake Monona for the practice swim, 8 guys showed up again from Team EN for that. After the swim, we headed up to Monona Terrace for the EN pre-race 4 Keys Talk. During the talk, we took a moment of silence as there was a 21 gun salute and they played taps in memory of 9/11, cannot believe it has been 8 years already, it was very touching, especially as we sat there, looking at the capital building. The 4 Keys talk was interesting, and helped with any uncertainties the team may have had.

After the talk, we went into the terrace for check-in, and headed to the gift shop. We went in with intentions of not spending much money, well, that didn't work to well. We did get 2 hooded sweatshirts - which were the same price as one of the t-shirts we liked, and 2 shirts for our future Iron-spectator. After check-in we headed back to the hotel to organize the bags of gear and put the numbers onto the bike, and helmet. Had dinner at Red Robin and then drove around downtown Madison, confirming right were I would be for the run portion of the race.

Saturday, September 12th, We went to bike and gear drop off and then headed out to the bike course, to drive part of that, determine right were I would be for that and then to see where they had done some road repairs since the last time Matt had ridden the course. We called it a night, pretty early on Saturday, not that there was much sleeping to be had, but at least laying down trying to relax.

Sunday, September 13th - The morning that we have been waiting for!!! 4am, breakfast, sun-blocking up, writing on arms and heading out the door to be on the shuttle bus by 4:30am, we were downtown by 4:50 am. Matt got body marked, and headed into T1 to fill the water bottles on his bike, make sure everything was as it should be. Then we headed into the terrace to double check the gear bags and make sure everything was there as it should be. At about 6:10 am we headed down the helix and near the swim start. We met up with some other Team EN folks, racers and spectators. Such a great atmosphere to be in. Surrounded by people who are out there doing something they love, or supporting them. The weather was perfect, a little hazy in the distance, but cool and a great start to the day. The sunrise was perfect. At about 6:40 am, I wished Matt luck and headed to make my way over to see the swim start. The waiting and anticipation is enough to make me nuts, but they play music and Mike Riley (the voice of Ironman) is doing a lot of chatting and at 6:50am the pros are off. Shortly after that they do the National Anthem, and it gets almost quiet enough to hear a pin drop. At 6:59 they turn up the music and get every body hyped up to cheer as the race starts and at 7am on the dot the canon goes off and the race has started. The swim is a mass start, so its all 2500 (or about that) people starting at the same time.

I hung out by the swim start for about 5 minutes and then started to walk south along the lake to watch for a few minutes and then meet up with my friends Sarah and Emily. So, after we were all together, we made the mile walk back to the hotel we were staying at and watched as the bikers came by. We were able to catch Matt as he zipped by the hotel on the bike - this is about mile 3 of the 112 miles. We grabbed breakfast really quick at the hotel and then we were off to the bike course. It took us about 20 minutes to get there (and I didn't get lost, yippie!! Thanks to Matt and the great directions he gave me). We got to the about mile 49 of the bike by 9:30 am and were set and ready to cheer. We were able to see the pro men come by, then a few of Matts teammates who were not racing, rode by, they were going to be riding the bike course backward to cheer everybody on. Matt rode by, giving me a High 5, about 3 minutes before I expected to see him. We hung out for a while longer, but then left so that I could make it to the run and catch him there. I had received a few text updates through the ride telling me that he looked great, and was under his watts, feeling good. Great news, and definitely re-assuring.

We made it back to the hotel and out onto the run course. I received a text when he was leaving T2 and he was still ahead of his "Perfect Day" plan. I saw him just past mile 1 of the run. From there I went to mile 6, and Matt definitely had his game day face on. That part of the run course continues about 3/4 of a mile and then they turn around, so I hung out in the same spot, and as Matt passed me again, he was pushing on his right side, just below his rib cage, telling me that he had a cramp. I yelled, slow down, just slow down for a few minutes. He knew he was doing so well, and definitely near the front of his age group. I had also known, but was told not to tell him. So, then I headed to just before mile 13 and was able to cheer on some other Team EN members and then Matt came by, still had the cramp. As he hit the aide station, one of his teammates, Josh (aka Noodle) was heading into the aide station as well, from the other way, so they High 5ed each other and continued on their respective ways. Josh runs by me yelling "Mancona is flying" I stayed in the same spot, and was able to see Matt again, at this point its about mile 14 out of 26.2. Still has the cramp, but is just pushing through. Well, I don't see him again until close to mile 19, he passed the guy in front of him and knew he was in the lead at this point. I got a text telling me that he had just passed mile 18, in the lead 27 seconds, and looked like he was crumbling. So, as Matt passed me, he gave me the hang loose sign. That was his sign to me that he was going for it, or was going to fall over trying. I started yelling and screaming, I was so excited to see that. At this point he had pulled ahead by a few more seconds. I hung out in the same spot and was able to see him again after the turn-around. From there, I yelled "See you at the finish line" and took off. Well, there are a ton of angled streets in Madison, so of course, I get lost. Why wouldn't I? Luckily I knew Jim (a team EN member, and one of the awesome Mancona-Fans who was texting me through out the day), was headed to mile 25 and would text me when Matt passed there. So I just kept looking at my phone hoping that I wouldn't get a text until I knew where I was, and ideally that would be the finish line. Well, I made it, with about 10 minutes to spare (who knew, at almost 18 weeks pregnant, I would be able to move that fast, after a close to 2 mile detour). So, Jim calls me, says "Matts on his way, so are we" so I am now watching the entire straight shot to the finish line, I'm not sure if I was even breathing at this point, finally off in the distance I see Matt, and quite possibly some smoke behind him, he was moving so fast, giving it his all. As he gets closer, I start yelling very loudly, and end my yelling with "Way to leave it all on the course, you rock" I snapped a picture, and took off to get to the back of the finish shoot. I am standing back there yelling and screaming, I was so happy to see him and a time of 9:49:30 is even better!! Matts "perfect day" plan was to finish at 9:45, plan was 10hours. So, he did awesome!!! It had gotten hot out, so to be that close to the perfect day is beyond exceptional. Not only was the finishing time 9:49:30, that was also fast enough to win the age group, come in 12th out of the age groupers and 29th over all. Awesome!

After he crossed and took his finisher picture (that he was barely standing up for), he came out to me and just had this look of shock. Jim and Matt came and found us, there was a lot of high fiving going on then. Cheryl and her friend Kimberly also came to find us. Cheryl is one of the girls Matt rides with on the weekends, her goal is to qualify for Kona at Lake Placid next year (we surely hope she does!!). Matt then headed to the medical tent to get some fluids and ice. 4 cans of cokes and 2 Gatorade later, he was sent on his way. We went and got his bike and gear and made the long long walk back to the hotel. After a quick shower, we took the shuttle bus back downtown and we met up with Matt and Beth (from team EN) and went to Five Guys for burgers. This was the start of the post-race celebration. After that we walked to the Great Dane to meet up with quite a few people from Team EN, to chat about the race, what we saw, how the athletes did and were doing. After that, we headed out to the finish line to cheer on the last of the Team EN members, and then called it a night.

Monday, September 14th, there wasn't much sleeping to be had Sunday night - talk about an emotional high. We got up, took one load of stuff to the car, then had breakfast, went back to the room and got the rest of our stuff. From there, we headed to the terrace to check out the finisher items at the store and to stand in line for "Slot Allocation and Roll Down" this is by far the best line to be standing in. Wisconsin is the first race that qualifies for Kona the following year, so generally there aren't any roll down spots. We then walked around Madison, waiting for the Athlete Award Banquet to start. We went into the banquet and Mike Riley was going to be doing the announcing of the awards. We sat through the age group awards, but left as the pro awards were starting, we wanted to beat the rush of people out of the terrace.

As we left, we decided to stop and take a few pictures of Matt and his trophy outside of the terrace with the capital in the background.

Our drive home felt long, even though it was only 2 hours. I think, being tired, was getting to us. So, we got home, and unpacked the car. Next on the agenda, finding a spot for the trophy and getting CC's Pizza Buffet for dinner.

On Monday, as we were waiting for the awards banquet, Matt received an email from a coworker, about pacing the NYC Marathon on November 1st, so after talking with the EN Coaches, Matt has signed up to pace for the NYC Marathon. His week just keeps getting better!! Then, a week after he does that we'll be headed to Clearwater, FL for the Half Ironman World Championship.

Tuesday, reality hit, as we both headed back to work.

In other news, I am now 18 weeks pregnant, and have been feeling some movement. The movement isn't anything huge. Basically, it's rolling, butterfly in the tummy type feelings below the belly button. I have a small bump that is no longer in hiding. I broke out the maternity jeans today. I decided to be comfortable, we're going to dinner with friends, and I didn't feel like squeezing into a different pair of pants. My capris still fit, luckily they are low in the waist and stretch a bit, but I wanted to wear jeans to dinner. Full belly panel jeans, wow they are comfy. The belly panel is still loose, but that just means I have room to grow!! 2 weeks and 1 day from now, I have my 20 week doctors appointment. At that time, there will be an ultrasound to document the growth of the baby. Check the functioning of all the organs, and they will tell you the gender, if you want to know. We don't want to know, so that will remain a mystery until the big day in February. I cannot wait to see the baby though, and in detail. The latest email update I received, compared the baby to the size of a sweet potato, and weight is about 1/2 a pound.

By my calculations, at this point, I have gained 3 pounds since the morning on June 12th, when I found out that there was a little tiny person inside of me. I'm feeling pretty good, I have most of my energy back and am ready to tackle getting the room ready for the baby.

Yesterday, marked 5 months until the estimated due date of the baby, hard to believe!!

Well, this update has been incredibly long, so I should end it here. I will upload some pictures this weekend and post those.

One last thing - I need to Congratulate Matt one more time on his great day at IMWI. I've said it several times, but I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished to get ready for IMWI. I am so lucky to have a husband as dedicated and hardworking as you. I'm inspired, but not enough to ever sign up for something to this degree! Congratulations!!!!