The

Undeniable

Ruth

®

…and the Ruth shall set you free!

  • Undeniable Recap of 2025

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    Ruth Carter

    I’m not going to lie – 2025 was kind of a brutal year – on this planet, in my country, in my life, and in my head. But everything didn’t suck. I’m glad I keep a running Word document as well as a happy memories jar throughout the year so I can look back and see the good things that happened. Likewise, I’m glad I have this blog where I can share some of them with you.

    Below are my top events from the year, lessons I learned (or re-learned), and things I experienced for the first time. What may not be obvious, especially since I’m an anxious introvert, is how much I value the people in my life. Without further ado, here are the top five events from my life in 2025:

    The Trump Transitions Documentary

    A documentary team was inspired to create a film that examined the impact of Felon 47’s executive orders that limited gender options to only male and female, restricted access to hormone replacement therapy, and eliminated the option of changing your gender on your U.S. passport. They asked me to be part of it after they saw my testimony before the Arizona House of Representatives’ Government Committee against HB2062, which would have limited gender options in Arizona to only male and female.

    Each of us who testified were allotted only a few minutes to speak, and I was blown away when Republican Representative Blackman told me to continue even after the time limit passed.

    The resulting documentary, The Trump Transitions, shines a light on what it’s like to be transgender in the USA during this administration. Their interview with me focused on passports and how it feels to face discrimination on an institutional level. I currently have a non-binary passport, but unless the rules change, when it’s up for renewal in 2032, the State Department will only issue a passport with the gender I was assigned at birth. Likewise, even though I should be able to travel internationally, I don’t feel like I can leave the country because I’m afraid the administration will change the rules while I’m away and I’ll have trouble getting back into the USA.

    Other transgender people who were interviewed for the documentary discussed their experiences with things like losing access to gender-affirming health care and facing discrimination in the workplace. I’m grateful that this film exists because it shows people who don’t have a transgender person in their life some of the challenges we face on a daily basis.

    Ironman Lake Placid: 15:57:00

    Coach David Roher and I did our third Ironman Lake Placid together in July 2025.

    The forecast predicted a touch of rain for just the first few hours of the race, but the forecast was wrong. Instead, it was dry through the swim, and then it rained for 3 hours during the bike portion of the race. The bike course is two 56-mile loops through Lake Placid and the surrounding cities, including a 9% decline from Placid into Keene. On the first loop, it wasn’t raining and I flew down this hill, reaching speeds up to 36mph, being passed by racers going more than 50mph. By the second loop, it was raining so hard, we couldn’t see the details of the roadway. Even the atheists were praying they wouldn’t hit a rock or a divot that would send them crashing to the ground. I death-gripped my brakes to keep from going too fast.

    Coach David caught up with me towards the end of the second loop, and we had a do-si-do pattern where he’d pass me going up the hills, and I’d pass him going down the hills and on the flat portions. Because of the rain, I couldn’t ride as fast as I would have liked, and so, as a result, I was on the bike longer than I expected and my legs were more tired by the time I finished – and I still had a marathon to run. Run?! Who was I kidding, I could jog at best, and often not even that. I finished Ironman Lake Placid in 15 hours, 57 minutes, the longest race of my life to date. I burst into tears when I crossed that finish line from joy and exhaustion. Coach David got his wife a VIP  pass so she could be there to hug each of us when we crossed the finish line.

    After I crossed the finish line, I was so cold I went to the warming tent to wait for Coach David to finish. My legs were so sore after the race, I needed a medic to help lower me into a chair. As you know, I don’t carry my phone with me during Ironman. When I finally got back to my room, it made me so happy to see all the messages from friends who tracked me from afar.

    It’s our tradition to start the race holding hands.

    Surprising Godfather and the Spawn

    My friend Joe and his son, Adam, came to Phoenix to watch some Cleveland Guardians spring training games. Their itinerary was full, and the Cleveland Guardians spring training facility is on the other side of the valley from where I live, so I knew Joe wouldn’t have time to hang out, but I wanted to at least say hi.

    I enlisted Joe’s wife, Pam, who gave me their flight information and some suggestions about what type of snacks and drinks they might like. After a 4-hour flight, with probably another hour to go to get their rental car and drive to their hotel, I figured they’d be hungry.

    While Joe and Adam were on their flight to Phoenix, I assembled a tote bag of their goodies and stapled a sign to it that said, “Godfather and the Spawn,” like it was the name of a rock band. I felt like I was on a mission. With the tote bag in one hand, and Lucy’s leash in the other, we headed to the airport and positioned ourselves just beyond security.

    Joe’s jaw dropped with surprise and joy when he saw us, and he gave me a big hug. I wasn’t going to let my friend come to town and not see him, if only for a few minutes. I gave them their tote bag of snacks and wished them a good time at spring training.

    Missing accomplished.

    Meet and Greet with Guy Raz

    I was so excited when Content Marketing World announced that the big keynote speaker was Guy Raz, the host of How I Built This. I gleefully sat in the front row and took a lot of notes. After his talk, I was one of the lucky ones who was invited backstage for a brief meet and greet.

    Guy Raz couldn’t have been nicer. I knew I had to keep it brief, so I asked only one question – his advice for me for getting back into writing. I expected him to give a quick 2 sentence answer, but he acted like he had all the time in the world and gave me some thoughtful suggestions. And of course, he gushed over Lucy Jane.

    Karaoke at MPB2B

    I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at MarketingProfs B2B Forum in November 2025. This is a top-notch marketing conference with some of the best speakers in the business, some of whom I’m lucky enough to call my friends. The event also has fantastic morning and evening events to bookend each day – one of which was karaoke.

    As a classically trained soprano, you might be surprised to hear that I was petrified to get on that stage and sing. Most of these people had never heard me sing before, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself or do something that might make the audience think I’m not as good as I know I can be. (I hope that didn’t sound conceited.)

    I didn’t want to not sing and regret it later, so I put myself on the list to sing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. I was so scared, and what helped were the supportive audience and especially the people who were on the list before me. They performed with a vibe that screamed, “This is what we’re doing tonight,” and they showed me it was ok to trip over the words here and there.

    When it was my turn, I gave myself permission to act like I had the confidence of a toddler wearing a superhero cape. I let go of my fear and sang my heart out.

    Was it my best performance ever? No.

    Did I get on that stage and own it? Yes.

    Seeing Hamilton on the Big Screen

    I love the musical Hamilton – the music, the choreography, the costumes, even the member of the ensemble who plays the “Bullet.” When the touring show came to Arizona in 2024, I treated myself to a front row seat in the balcony so I could see everything on the stage, unobstructed, including the double rotating turntables.

    2024 was the first time I saw Hamilton, apart from clips I’d seen online. Disney+ had a cinematic version of the show it made available in 2020 during the pandemic, but I never saw it because I don’t have Disney+, or any streaming service for that matter.

    When they announced, for Hamilton’s 10th anniversary, that the Disney+ version of the show was going to be released in movie theaters, I immediately bought my ticket. I purposely went to the first showing, at 11:30am, to avoid the crowd. It was amazing to see the show again, but all the actors now were 20 feet tall. It was amazing to see so many details you can’t see from the audience during the stage show, and I loved seeing the original Broadway cast. I’m still listening to songs from the soundtrack on at least a weekly basis, if not daily.

    Lessons Learned (or Re-learned)

    Chewing gum can help get a song out of your head.

    This is called a “spurtle.” It’s a cooking utensil for stirring things. There’s been one in my kitchen my entire life, and I never knew what it was called. Hat tip to Matteo Lane.

    I’m meant to wear jumpsuits and rompers.

    Best fake number to give out: 248-434-5508

    If you don’t have a club card for a store, input your area code + 867-5309. It usually works.

    My blazer size is 38S slim, but I can’t wear the corresponding slim pants because I have an ass. When you say this to a store clerk, they may laugh uncontrollably.

    If you create a bingo square for your goals, if you don’t have a plan to actually achieve them, you probably won’t.

    When using ChatGPT, at the end of your prompt, add, “Ask me questions, one at a time, until you have the information you need to properly respond to my prompt.” Hat tip to Christopher Penn.

    Sometimes an off-handed comment inspires an act of awesomeness – When I was invited to speak at the Creator Economy Expo (CEX), I jokingly said the speakers’ lounge should be stocked with Mitchell’s ice cream. At CEX, one of the staff members brought me a pint of Mitchell’s vegan chocolate ice cream at the speakers’ party. It’s so good – rich like chocolate mousse.

    This is the gender fluid flag.

    Omnisexual, pansexual, and bisexual are similar but different sexual orientations.

    The trans flag was created in Phoenix, AZ. I learned the street address where this happened. I wish we could have a plaque there, but I’m afraid it would be a target for vandalism.

    If you have an X on your IDs and you select the “non-binary” or “unspecified,” the airline might not let you check in for your flight online.

    Writing “they/them” on your event badge in a color of ink that stands out is more effective at communicating your pronouns than sticking the “they/them” ribbon to the bottom of your badge.

    From running the Mesa Marathon:

    • Before the race, put everything you might need for the first 48 hours after the race at tabletop level, because after the race, bending down may be nearly impossible. 
    • Make yourself eat, even if you’re not hungry, before the race. If you get hungry during the race, that means you’re out of fuel, and your pace will plummet.

    While volunteering at Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary:

    • Turkeys can hiss.
    • Pigeons are not bright.
    • Ducks are really good at hiding their eggs.
    • It’s fun to track the baby animals’ growth by taking photos of them next to my boot for the size comparison.
    Baby Blaze with my Boot – only a few weeks old

    From doing Ironman:

    • Ask for the Ironman race number you want. They just might give it to you.
    • The armband that normally holds your phone when you’re working out is the right size to hold your Gatorade powder refills when you’re racing.
    • Always put a fresh pair of socks, a towel, and baby powder in your T2 bag (the bag that holds your running gear) so you can start the run with dry feet.

    Firsts

    Bought and used the Big A## Calendar so I could see my entire year at the same time.

    Joined Costco.

    Had a colonoscopy – I lost 4 pounds overnight and had doctor-administered good drugs. There’s no downside. If you’re 45 or older, don’t put this off.

    Bought and wore a Speedo-style bathing suit with a drawstring at the waist.

    Participated in a silent disco – everyone wears wireless headphones with three channels of music to choose from, and non-participants can’t hear it – and I danced like no one was watching.

    Broke a porcelain inlay with my teeth and subsequently got my 1st crown.

    Bit through an Invisalign tray, in my sleep, while wearing a night guard. (Yes, I’m that talented.)

    Bought and used a cooling blanket instead of a top sheet all summer. I don’t know how it works, but it works. Met Buddy and Draco Williams, our friends’ basset hounds, who I call Lucy Jane’s cousins.

    Went for a run in an unfamiliar city with Google Maps feeding me directions in my headphones.

    Bought my nibling a Hugimal (weighted stuffed animal) for her birthday, and before I wrapped it, I cuddled it on my lap for over an hour while I scrolled through my social media.

    Events

    Attended CactusCon – it’s like Def Con but less scary.

    Took Lucy Jane to Copa Paws and Claws to hang out in the AZ Basset Hound Rescue booth and show everyone how awesome bassets are.

    Foods

    CocoWhip, a coconut-based vegan Cool Whip-like product. It’s pretty good.

    Nyla, sparkling pickle juice. It’s weird but not bad.

    Sites

    Bisbee, Arizona

    USA-Mexico border and the wall

    Boston Marathon Finish Line

    Newly installed Superman sculpture in Cleveland, OH.

    Public art in Cleveland that says “Things Change” or “Change Things” depending on how you look at it. This really moved me.

    In Memoriam

    Hoomans: Elisa Rae Shupe, George Wendt, Brian Wilson, Giorgio Armani, Cynthia Zimmerman, Kathy Campos, Judge Frank Caprio, Jane Goodall, Diane Keaton, Rob and Michele Reiner, Troy Foster, Barry Halvorson

    Animal Friends: Cinder, Newton, Harvey, Winston, Pepe, Scooter, Emmett, Gretta, Hanna, Tom Tom

  • Ironman Lake Placid – Your Questions Answered

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    Ruth Carter

    Thank you for being part of my journey to become an Ironman. I hope you’ve enjoyed the other posts to date that highlighted the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike, the 26.2-mile run, and the numerous supporters who helped me along the way. Now it’s time to answer your questions:

    What Made You Start Doing Ironman Races?

    Coach David is certified in train people to do running races and triathlons. After I completed my first marathon, I said I wanted to cross train with swimming and biking. That led to me signing up for a sprint triathlon in 2018 to see if I liked doing all three activities consecutively.

    About 10 seconds into that race, I thought, “Yeah, I like this.” Once I finished that race, I signed up for and competed in my first Half Ironman in Maine in 2019. That was also the first race I did with my coach. I went into that race with the plan that if I liked the Half Ironman that the next step would be to do the full.

    What is the Cut Off Time for Each Segment?

    Swim: 2 hours, 20 minutes after the last swimmer enters the water

    Bike: 5:30 p.m.

    Run: 17 hours or midnight

    Did You Have a Time Goal for Each Segment or was the Goal to Finish with Little Regard for Time Other Than to Make the Cut Offs?

    My goal was to finish within 17 hours. I didn’t have any goals for each segment.

    What was Your Strategy for Preparing for this Race that Wasn’t in the City Where You Live?

    Most of my swim training was in the pool and not in a lake, but that’s probably true for most racers. Two days before the race, my coach took me for a practice swim in the lake where we’d be racing so I could get comfortable with the water and the guide cable.

    The Lake Placid bike course is notorious for its hills. Earlier in my training, I did my long rides at South Mountain where the inclines were as steep as Lake Placid, but not as long. As it got hotter, I had to do my bike rides closer to home because I couldn’t logistically make it work to get up, drive to the mountain, and do my workout before it got too hot.

    I had the same issue with running. For my long runs, I had to do loops where I regularly stopped at home to refill my Gatorade and drink extra water because it was so hot. I regularly ran hills because the Lake Placid run course was also quite hilly, but the shorter hills closer to home were more than sufficient.

    We knew my longest training days would be hotter but less humid than Lake Placid. Part of why I arrived days before the race was to adapt to the time change and get used to the humidity.

    Team Roher started the race together.

    Did You Get Kicked a lot in the Swim?

    Did I get kicked? Yes – kicked, hit, and bumped. I also ran into a kayak and more than one buoy.  

    I wouldn’t say I got kicked a lot. Taking the inside track had the advantage of keeping me away from a lot of the other swimmers. I wanted to be on the left side of the guide cable, and most people opted for the right side.

    Did You Use Multiple Strokes and Which One was the Dominant One?

    I used freestyle (front crawl) for the entire swim. That’s what I trained with. I saw and passed one swimmer who appeared to be doing the breast stroke the whole way.

    Unlike most races, Lake Placid had a guide cable, so I didn’t have to spot the buoys during the swim. It’s also why I ran into at least two of them. In a race without a guide cable, I could see myself doing mostly freestyle with the occasional breast stroke break to better track the buoys while maintaining forward momentum.

    As a Non-Binary Person, How was Your Experience in the Transition Area?

    The transition area had two changing tents – one for men and one for women. As I entered the transition area during T1 (swim to bike) and T2 (bike to run), there was a different volunteer directing the racers to the tents, saying “Women here. Men down there.”

    Each time, I responded with “I’m non-binary,” and without skipping a beat, the volunteer said, “Use whichever one you want.”

    I doubt the volunteers had training about what to do with non-binary racers because Ironman does not currently offer a non-binary division. Instead, I think their supportive responses were likely due to the volunteers thinking one or both of the following:

    1. I don’t care.
    2. It’s your race. Do whatever you need to do.

    What Socks Did You Wear for Ironman?

    For the bike, I wore DeFeet 6” cycling socks. For the run, Feetures Elite Max Cushion socks.

    How Were Your Interactions with Other Competitors?

    Super friendly! If you’re racing near me, you’re not there to win. You’re there for the experience and to finish. There was lots of upbeat encouragement between us.

    What Did You do for Nutrition?

    In the final days before the race, I ate as much as I could. In the morning before the race, I had overnight oats loaded with pumpkin seeds, almonds, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, peanut butter powder, protein powder, and raisins. I also had a banana.

    Between the swim and the bike, I had a calorie-bomb cookie. During the bike ride, I had 2.5 scoops of chocolate protein powder in one of my water bottles. I grabbed a fresh Gatorade and half a banana at every aid station. I took a hit of BASE salt at every aid station. I had some gels during the ride too.

    Between the bike and the run, I had some electrolyte gummy candies with caffeine. During the run, I had gels at Mile 5, 10, and 15. I drank Gatorade at most of the aid stations, and I took a hit of BASE salt at each mile marker.

    How Did You Eat Enough?

    You don’t. My coach lost 7 pounds during the race.

    I couldn’t eat right after finishing the race, but once my body settled for a few hours, I was famished!

    How Did You Handle the Heat?

    Pretty well. Starting at Mile 47 of the bike, I dumped a bottle of cold water over my head at each aid station. During the run, I dumped ice into my sports bra at each aid station, and I ran through the “human car wash” each time a spectator set one up for us.

    How Many Moments Did You Want to Quit During the Race?

    None.

    Less than 10 miles to go – still smiling!

    Did You have to Push Through any Walls You Hit, Both Physically and Mentally?

    I never wanted to quit, but there were some challenging moments. The first was right before the race when we were squished together waiting to start the swim. I don’t do crowds well.

    The second challenge was near the end of the first loop on the bike. I took a break at one of the aid stations, tired and frustrated, and I realized I was probably under fueled. Once I bumped up my calories and protein, I felt better. Shifting my mindset to accepting the pain made the second lap much easier.

    At any Time During Training (as opposed to the race itself), Did You Consider Backing Out? If so, How did You Keep on Track?

    No. Once I paid my registration fee, I was committed to race and the training it would take to get to the finish line. It was exceptionally challenging to do my long bike and run workouts in the Phoenix heat, but I pushed through.

    What was Your Biggest Surprise During the Race?

    I don’t think anything can fully prepare you to bike up the Lake Placid hills, particularly how long those climbs are. I trained on hills that were as steep as the Lake Placid hills, not nothing like how long those hills are. During my training, I regularly stood up on my pedals while climbing hills, and early on in the race I learned I go faster when I stay in the saddle.

    Did Your Body Have any Serious Difficulties at any Point such as Cramps or Muscle Tightness that Made Progress Difficult?

    No. By the time I got off the bike, my quads and hamstrings hurt a lot. I couldn’t lift my feet far off the ground. Every step hurt, but I was happy taking each of those steps.  

    At What Point on the Marathon Did You Know, “I’ve Got This?”

    I knew from my first step into the run course. My legs were sore and tired, but I had plenty of time on clock to finish. It was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.

    What was the Last Mile of the Marathon Like Physically and What was Going Through Your Mind?

    By the last mile of the run, my legs were exhausted. I only ran when the course was flat or going downhill and walked every incline.

    What was going through my mind? I was excited to cross the finish line and achieve this massive goal of becoming an Ironman. It was a bit overwhelming. I’d worked so hard for years, and this moment was finally here. As I crossed the finish line, I burst into tears, overwhelmed with joy and relief.

    Being Non-Binary, Does the Gender Specific Name “Ironman” Bother You?

    No. Ironman is a brand.

    I’ve had people refer to me as an Iron Person, and I correct them saying, “I’m an Ironman.”

    I already have the M-dot keychain!

    Are You Going to Get the Tattoo?

    Of course! I plan to put a variation of the M-dot on the back of my calf.

    Are You Going to do Another Ironman?

    There’s a good chance. I’m looking at a Half Ironman for 2023 and a full Ironman in 2024.

    Those of my quads – covered with exercise-induced vasculitis.

    What Would You do Differently?

    If I do the Lake Placid Ironman or a race with a hilly bike course, I’ll change my winter and spring long bike workouts to include steeper and longer hill climbs.

    One of the challenges I had with the long run workouts in the hot sun leading up to my race was exercise-induced vasculitis, aka Disney Rash. My legs between the bottom of my shorts and the top of my socks were covered with red splotches. After the race, I learned there are climate controlled indoor running tracks in my community. I will definitely use one of them for my long runs instead of running outside if I do another summer Ironman.

    Do You Feel any Shifts in How You Think About or Carry Yourself After Completing such a Herculean Goal?

    After the race, I started using the mantra, “Fuck you. I’m an Ironman.”

    I only say this in my head, and I don’t use this in an I’m-Better-Than-You way.  Instead, it’s an exultation to mean, “I can do this” when directed toward myself, and I’ve used it to mean “You can’t intimidate me” when directed towards opposing counsel.

    Thank you for following along for my Ironman journey. I hope you enjoyed it!

  • Ironman Lake Placid – The Supporters

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    Ruth Carter

    I’ve shared the details of my experience with the three sections of Ironman Lake Placid: the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike, and the 26.2-mile run. Now, I want to tell you about some of the supporters and volunteers who helped make this an amazing experience.

    Leading Up to the Race

    In addition to Coach David, who I talked or texted with almost daily, another person who was instrumental in my Ironman journey was my physical therapist, Kristina. Already an Ironman herself, she helped keep my body working through the training, especially my hips and back. I was on the physical therapy table every other week for months leading up to my race, getting ASTYM and other body manipulations. After the race, she put me in compression boots for 30 minutes, which was instrumental for relieving my sore muscles.

    My friends were also supportive, regularly asking about my workouts and how I was feeling the last few days before I flew to New York. I was a bundle of excitement and nerves. A few days before I left, I received good luck cards: one from my farm family and on from my officemates. I took both cards with me on the trip and kept them out on the table in my hotel, serving as constant reminders of support from afar.

    On the day before the race, my friends filled my phone with text messages that said, “Good luck,” “So proud of you,” and “We’re all praying for you.”

    Compression Boots! They went up to my waist!

    Race Volunteers

    I could not talk about the many people who supported me along my Ironman journey without talking about the race volunteers. Over 1800 people volunteered their time to make Ironman Lake Placid possible.

    The race volunteers were involved in nearly every aspect of my race experience. You couldn’t miss them in their bright neon green t-shirts. They were at race registration where we got our race numbers and gear bags. They were in the transition area both the day before and on race day. They made up the set up and clean up crews. They were also the lifeguards, paddleboarders, and kayakers at the lake. (I heard there were also scuba divers in the lake in case anyone drowned.)

    They were the “strippers” who peeled off our wetsuits. They worked all the aid stations during the bike and run, handing out supplies in the hot sun and into the night. They were the medics. They were the people who put the medals around our necks after we crossed the finish line.

    Thank You 2022 IRONMAN Lake Placid Volunteers!

    This race wouldnt be possible without our AMAZING volunteers. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to IRONMAN Lake Placid. Show our volunteers some love in the comments!

    Posted by IRONMAN Lake Placid on Thursday, July 28, 2022

    One of the perk of volunteering at an Ironman race is you get an earlier chance to register for the next year’s race. For Ironman Lake Placid 2023, this year’s racers had first dibs, then that race’s volunteers, and then registration was open to the general public. Apparently some races fill up so fast that you almost have to volunteer to get a slot to be in next year’s race.

    Yes, people sign up a year in advance to do an Ironman race.

    I made an extra effort to thank all the volunteers I interacted with for being there. I know from experience that watching people race isn’t the most fun way to spend a day.

    Photo courtesy of Ironman

    The White Bracelets

    Each racer received a white rubber bracelet when we picked up our gear bags at registration. This bracelet wasn’t for us per se but for us to give as a “gold star” and to say thank you to a volunteer who helped us during the race.

    I love that Ironman acknowledges its volunteers and gives us a way say special thanks to a volunteer who made a difference in our race.

    I gave my white bracelet to a volunteer in the transition area. I’d finished the swim, changed my clothes, grabbed my bike, and was walking it to the beginning of the bike portion when I noticed the lenses of my sunglasses were smudged. Given that I was wearing only a spandex onesie, I had nothing to wipe them on.

    As I walked towards the bike start, I spotted a volunteer in her neon green cotton t-shirt.

    Cotton!

    I paused next to her and asked if I could wipe my glasses on her shirt. She took my sunglasses from me, expertly wiped each lens with the hem of her shirt, and handed them back to me.

    Much better!

    I thanked her as I slid my white bracelet off my wrist and handed it to her.

    Support from the Whole Community

    Lake Placid and surrounding communities welcomed the Ironman invasion one weekend a year. There were definitely more than just the family and friends of the racers in the sea of people who cheered us on throughout the day.

    Many of these supporters stayed out with us all day. Even after the sun went down, they were still there. Some of the locals invited their friends over and set up camp in front of their homes to watch us. As I ran past one group, I got the distinct vibe of “this is what we do.” Living on the race route meant you hung out to watch and cheer.  

    One sweet-looking older lady stood on her driveway and watched the parade of racers go by in their spandex. I wonder if she was particularly interested in the younger guys’ butts.

    Even the people who were obviously there for one person wearing matching shirts, and holding signs or giant heads of their loved ones were cheering everyone on.

    They all got it.

    Whether they’d done an Ironman race before or not, they knew we were pushing ourselves through this incredibly difficult challenge. I could feel the vibe of “We honor what you’re doing” coming from all of them. I hope they understand how much their presence meant.

    Photo courtesy of Ironman

    Human Car Wash

    Several people who lived along the run route set up what I called the “human car washes” at the side of the road. It’s a garden hose attached to a rectangular frame of PVC pipe with holes on the interior, so when the water’s turned on, sprays of water shoot inward. When you walk through this, you get a cool spray of water all over your body.

    Some people, like me, gratefully walked through each of these human car washes. Others used them to rinse the film of sweat, dirt, and Gatorade from their hands; they didn’t want to their shoes, and therefore their feet, wet.

    These were a highlight of the end of my race and supplemented the cups of ice I picked up at each aid station. These supporters ran their human car washes for hours, running up their water bill to keep us cool.

    Hat Tip to the Strawberry Blonde Volunteer

    There was a volunteer who worked inside the women’s changing tent during T2 with a long strawberry blonde hair ponytail. She was loud, but not in a bad way, making sure we all knew she was there for whatever we needed – water, Vaseline, reminders of where to put our gear bags, whatever.

    She never sounded bored or distracted, even though she was in that poorly ventilated tent for hours, saying the same things over and over again. The population of the changing tent turned over every 10ish minutes, and she was present and available for whoever needed her.

    What really showed me about how dedicated she was to supporting us was the fact that I saw her again while I was on my second lap of the run. This time she was in crowd at the side of the street. She was still in her neon green volunteer shirt, but her shift was over. Even though she had no obligation to be there, she was still there cheering us on. I noted many

    white bracelets on her wrist, each one well deserved.

    Messages on my Phone

    The last thing I want to share about the amazing supporter I had during my race is the many messages I received after the race. I left my phone in my hotel room as earbuds are not allowed during the race.

    Here’s a sampling of the messages that were waiting for me when I got back to my hotel room:

    • “Congratulations!!!! You did it!!! You are a legit Ironman!!! Simply amazing. I can’t wait to hear all about. Now get some rest and eat some good food!!”
    • “15:21:42 holy fucking shit that’s AMAZING I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!”
    • “So awesome and so proud of you. I have been following you all day!”
    • “YOU DID IT!!!!!! CONGRATS!!”

    It felt so good to know that my friends were keeping an eye on my progress throughout the day. It felt like a long-distance hug.

    Next week: the last chapter of my 2022 Ironman Lake Placid experience – your questions answered!