The End?

DNF

D - did

N - not

F - finish

it's a bitter pill to swallow

but it beats DNS

(did not start)

thanks to pat for the following:

"the worst thing one can do is not to try,

to be aware of what one wants

and not give in to it,

to spend years in silent hurt

wondering if something could have materialized

and never knowing"

David Viscott

?2013?

MPD Iron Team Photo

Thanks to

Focal Flame Photography

for the awesome photos and the excellent article!

http://www.focalflame.com/content/madison-police-department-service-team-ironman-wisconsin-athletes-honor-911

you gotta meet this girl...

when we think about the ironman, 

we can't help but get stuck on one word:

endure.

endure, endure, endure.

and we know this girl. 

this truly 

girl,

who has made her way over the past ten years

into the sister-place of our hearts...

she fits there perfectly with our true sisters, 

as, like them, she is

strong & confident & t r u l y 

(because what pierre girl, real or faux, isn't?!)

...both inside and out.

and, she has this way about her.

like with her best friend,

what you see is what you get.

she is

&

& bold. 

(oh, SO bold.)

and she never leaves you guessing. 

we, personally, find these traits to be quite

and we can't imagine our world without her in it.

we know that right now,

with her ironman just two sleeps away,

 she's doing some second-guessing.

some calculating. and re-calculating.

a little bit of hemming.

possibly some hawing,

and just. plain. worrying.

and we want to take a minute to remind her 

that when it comes to

endurance,

she is a pro.

example #1:

when her husband was deployed to afghanistan

and she suffered the great flood of 2003

(in her basement on christmas day all by herself.)

 she found a new home for them

and bought it

and moved into it

and painted it

and decorated it

and made it theirs 

all on her own.

we saw before us the most independent,

self-sufficient girl we have ever known.

(all traits that will serve her well on sunday.)

example #2: 

when she stood by her husband's side 

(& sometimes behind him & sometimes before him,

wherever he needed her to be...)

when he battled cancer,

we thought,

"wow."

now THAT is

that is 

committed

and 

tried

and 

true.

(also qualities befitting of an ironman.

do you see where we're going with this?!)

finally,

example #3:

on the rare chance that a dream 

or one of her heart's desires 

escapes her realization

(but not for her lack of trying)

this girl holds her head up high.

she marches on.

with a smile on her face and

a wiggle on her hip

(regardless of what she's battling inside.)

we've seen her take care of people that she loves

(going so far as to clean up their poop and vomit)

before she minds herself.

and we've seen her celebrate 

and cherish

and be joy-filled for others

when she's probably felt a little broken herself.

that, friends, is an ironman.

with us

and our families,

she doesn't even have to make it to the race.

she earned the title years ago.

she's been our

and our adventure.

she's been our rock

and the wind in our sails. 

she is 

& crafty. :)

she is

and 

and, she is so, so, so, so, so, soooooo

(now, have at it, lorie lu!

we'll be waiting for you

with our arms wide open

 at the finish line.)

we are oh, so proud, of you.

e & j

Insomnia

Lately, every night,

I wake up around 3am

and

CANNOT

get back to sleep.

I start to think about race day.

I get excited.

I get nervous.

I think about what I'm going to eat before the race.

I think about the damn bike.

I think about the swim.

I think about the "wog."

I think about all of the people cheering for us.

I think about finishing.

I think. 

Therefore, I am.

And for now, that's good enough!



Eyes Peeled

I am IM athlete number

63 

You can track me at

www.myathletelive.com/events

Support - Words Can NOT Express My Thanks!

Keli Manz -You are an inspiration to me :) You are a lot of things that I wish I could be, and able to run the Ironman is def a big one!! I know you will do well, as you always do in my eyes. I am proud to call you my friend and will be just as proud to say that my friend completed the Ironman :) Go Lorie!




Steve Heimsness - Don't worry about pooping yourself. It's all part of the fun and finishing. D50s never quit.




Amy Bramlett - I think that everyone who knows you is very proud of what you have already done to prepare yourself. Most people wouldn't even have enough courage to sign up, let alone actually do it. You have a boat load of support out there! Good luck!




Megan Bondehagen - Pain is temporary, but the sense of accomplishment and pride you will feel will last forever.




Randy Wilson - She who is a detective on the force, been through drill with Gabe and Mark, has a great life built with a guy who sounds pretty cool, has been through everything that it has taken to get there, and has now trained for a marathon...No wait, AN IRONMAN...needs no luck! Just run, swim, bike, and enjoy Lorie! You did everything you could to get there, now ENJOY! (but good luck anyway!)




Amy Fortney Schwartz - One of my all time favorite quotes from MLK Jr seems appropriate - The ultimate measure of a (wo)man is not where she stands in moments of comfort, but where she stands at times of challenge and controversy." You are truly my hero, Lorie and I am so proud of you already knowing what you have put into this challenge. You are surrounded by those of us who love you and who root you on every day in all you do. You are already a winner in our eyes!




Linda Baehmann -Awesome quote from Amy. I would go with that one if I were you. If I need to leave my own, how about, "Lorie Anderson, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" Love ya girlfriend.




Nick Eull -You da (wo)man! Make it happen!




Laurie Hendricks VandenLangenberg - Lorie, you are amazing and I love reading about all of your adventures. I wish I had the drive & guts to do all that you do. Good luck!




Angela Kamoske -Don't ignore that voice inside your head telling you to quit. Out-swim, out-bike and out-run it. You've got this.



Amy Banovich-Tiernan - Lorie- I know I left you a message about a month ago about how you have inspired me just by reading your posts, and your blog about this adventure. In my eyes- there is no way you can't do this! You have something in you that is going to carry you through this massive adventure- and you have all these people who will be cheering for you and screaming for you at the finish line- in person and in spirit. I have been thinking about you lately- just said to Jim- one month to go!! You have totally got this! Never quit- I don't think you could if you tried! Stay in it- that's what we say at the dojo-fight till the end!




Tim Radke - “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”




Tim Radke -“….I firmly believe that any man’s finest hours – his greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear – is that moment when he has worked his heart out in good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”




Tim Radke -“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”




Catherine Heffron Van Hove - I don't have any doubt that you will finish (and without soiling yourself too). Not a single doubt in my mind. And you know I'm NEVER optimistic, so that's saying something!




Rebecca Wendle Lindsey -Your strength, passion and attitude amaze me. You can rock this like everything else you do!




Tom Learman - CRUSH THEM




Mikel 'Kellie' Wittig Klossner - One word? Ballbreaker. You get out there and kick some ass.



Heather Dzick - I can't think of one: all I can say is we will do it! We will finish! I am with you, I am very nervous about the whole thing!!!!




Jodi Phillips Angeli -You amaze me girl! I've been following all you've been doing through Facebook and WOW!!!!! You can do this too! I'm with Kellie.....kick some ass!

Rebecca Willems-Solc - YOU.KICK.ASS!! nothing more needs to be said




Megan Derleth Nicholson - I like the whole "D50s never quit!" And if you do this, I have no excuse to wimp out on the half marathon like i just did for this year's on the 20th because it was "too hot to train" and i had "too much going on". Put me to shame Lorie Lu!




Megan Derleth Nicholson - oh, and on a completely selfish note, I really really really want to be able to come and cheer you on and see you at the finish line!




Dan Murphy - just imagine a little jessica on your shoulder.... then flick her off and step on her when she gets incredibly annoying. that should put both a smile on your face and put you one step closer to the finish line.




Gloria Reyes ‎- "Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T", but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'. And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are."
So proud of you lorie!




Dan Schwenke - Holy shit... what was I thinking?




Chris Kobinsky - Just keep thinking "continuous forward progress." It may be slow going at times, but trust your training and enjoy your fitness level!




Chris Kobinsky -‎ ...and think back to your very first day of training and how pathetically easy it now seems. You've come a long way!




Kathleen Riley - Chics dig Ironman Finishers! Go out there and make that Ironman your bitch! Seriously, though: you can, and you will.




Chris Anthony - NTAF: never think about failure




Kelly Donahue - Lorie, you have been through so much while keeping a great attitude and a sense of fun and adventure. Enjoy each stroke, pedal and step knowing that you have done everything that it takes to finish this race too! Can’t wait to see you cross the finish.



Chris Anthony -You will rock this race...




Theresa Sybeldon - I have been bragging about you to all of my friends, acquaintances, and random strangers that I meet. You will have all of Wausau and the surrounding area cheering you on! You amaze me and you will amaze yourself as you accomplish this goal!




Jennifer Mundt - Lorie, you are so gonna rock this!




Brian Vandervest - All those grueling training hours will pay off big time!! YOU WILL OWN THIS RACE!!!




Rebecca Ekern Keaty - You the baddest bitch in the club. :) and remember the best dressed. You GOT this. Kick some fucking ass Lorie. ♥




Sarah Mackesey - Imagine a long line of your favorite people chanting "Go-LorieGO!"




Jennifer Krueger Favour - I believe in you!




Susan Dahlstrom Reitmeier - kill it!




Brenda Conradt -When I run, what keeps me going....I think of my sister, Lisa, who is no longer here with us to do these things...these things we all dream of doing. So, when it's getting tough, just remember that you are still here to live your dreams and push that body that God gave to you.




Kris Goetz Acker -Having never even considered doing this amazing feat, I don't know exactly what to say other than you can do it! I know you can! Just think how much lighter you are with your sassy new haircut :) You'll fly through all three parts, and look cute while doing so. Seriously, you rock!




Molly Thomson -You are one of the strongest willed woman I've ever met. I've never known you to back down from a challenge and I know you'll handle this one - and (somehow) you will probably look cute at the finish line as well!




Jj Brojde -You've always been a badass! And even though I'm sure you will finish, if you don't you are still an inspiration to those of us sitting at home on our asses.




Emily Pierre Samson –

On 9/11

If you find yourself feeling unsteady, tired, weary, or weak

Think of how I see YOU and KNOW:

You are strong,

Committed,

Tried & true,

The real deal,

Hell on wheels.




I can’t be by your side,

But if you feel like you need me,

Close your eyes

(but not for too long, for obvious reasons…)

And HEAR ths:





What lies behind you

And what lies ahead of you

Pales in comparison

To what lies inside of you.

(ok, ok. I borrowed it from emerson. But..)

I DON’T KNOW ANYONE WHO HAD INSIDES LIKE YOU.




Gregory Jackson – you’re the best lorie lu/that I ever did knew/it can be agreed that your tookus/is one for the bookus/and let’s not forget to mention/your sparkling dentition/if I were to journey, be it near or far/I’d no diggity no doubt want you in my car!

I get chocked up every time I look at this.

Humble.

Thank you.