I know, I know...no race report yet!

Well, its been a long while since my last post... and I know I promised a race report, but I have such a hard time getting stuff (feelings, emotions, pain, etc) down on paper, or on a computer in this case. But, it will eventually be posted!

On a side note, all of my boyandhisbike posts now are gonna be focused on speed... my quest for it... tips to help others get it... equipment reviews... and all that other fun stuff that I fill my days and dreams with!

Anyway, I'm back...

With the right people by your side, anything is possible!

Hello again everyone... I'm back... and semi-functional (can't walk, sit, think, or type very well :-)

Thank you all again for following my progress through the Heart of the South 500 and for all of your notes of encouragement sent through my crew... they really did keep me going. I just wanted to get a quick post out here to thank everyone and I will be posting a full race report on here in a few days (and it will be a long one)!

Anyway, I cannot fully recollect how many times throughout the race that I wanted to:

1. Stop, curl up in a ball and sleep
2. Be warm and dry
3. Stop going friggin' UP
4. Just flat out quit!

But, I kept thinking about all the effort and time that everyone was putting forth for me. Geno and Mick taking off work, driving to AL, sleep deprivation, navigation, exhaustion... among gobs of other hardships. Heather and Meredith here in B-N, keeping in contact with us and updating the blog...and certainly not sleeping much either. And of course, all of you, my friends and family, that wanted to help me see this through. So, yeah, I had a lot of bad thoughts out there on my bike, and there was certainly new levels of tiredness and exhaustion, and OMG... the pain... I never thought moving my legs around the circle of a pedal stroke or sitting down on my saddle would make me want to cry and scream... I was WRONG!

Yet, like some sort of miracle, every time those thoughts or the pain set in, a thought or a memory would pop into my head about one of you... what you might say if you were there next to me... Or, knowing that despite what I was thinking, that you would believe that I would pull through and see this thing through to the end! I think my dad put it best in an email that he sent to me post-race: "Remember that there were a lot of people on that bike with you and trying to help you as much as they could". And he is right, all of you were out there with me, and this was certainly not the accomplishment of one, but of many. As truly believe that I would have stopped in the first 200 miles were it not for all of you.

In short, I can't find the right words, as 'thank you' doesn't seem to suffice, but just know that even though I only had contact with a few of you during the race, my memories of the race include all of you.

This certainly have been an interesting adventure (not one that I am currently antsy to jump at again)... but does go to show that with the right people by your side, anything is possible!

~Andy

Retract!

Just got a call back from Andy! His official finish time is 10:04 am!!!! How crazy precise is that? 38 hours on the dot!

The plan at the moment is to pack up the car get it semi ready to come home. Head back to hotel. Shower and take a nap.

Andy said they would be ready to receive congratulatory phone calls by 5:30 / 6:00 pm.

Andy also said they are thinking after dinner tonight, they might actually want to get on the road to head home. They may change their minds, but hey what is another 9.5 / 10 hours, right?

He FINISHED! 10:06 (unofficial by: Heather)

I got a phone call from Andy's friend Brian Simonds right at 10:00 am so I figured I would let it go to voicemail, just in case Mick called while we were talking. Good idea, right? No. While Brian was leaving a voicemail, Mick called. It went directly to voicemail too! Listened to Brian's message, and then realized I had ANOTHER voicemail. Frick! Listened to the second voicemail (left at 10:06 am) it was Mick, "Heather...where are you? Your husband wants to tell you he is a RAAM qualifier!!! Call us." Double Frick!

I called Mick right back and got to talk to Andy real quick. The conversation when like this..."Hey Babe." "Hi, how are you feeling?" "Really tired, whooped, beat, hung out to dry." "I am so proud of you!" "Thanks. Hey Babe? Can I call you back? They want to take pictures." "No problem. Call me when you can."

I am so happy and proud I don't know what else to say. I am sure you all are feeling the same. Thanks for reading and watching his progress.

If you have Mick and Phil's phone number, let's try to hold off on inundating them with calls right now. Not sure if they need a power nap or what. If/when Andy calls me back, I'll ask when they think they will be ready for Congratulations phone calls.

Update #14 OMG! Almost done (by: Heather)

Time: 8:00 am (36 hour update)
Mile marker: 488

The excitement is buzzing. Andy is still doing really well on the tri-bike. The sun is up and the miles are coming off. Mick said, "I can't believe it is almost over. When we had a century left I thought that would take forever, but here we are." They must be experiencing some sort of time vacuum. Or 517 miles seems more manageable on the "other side of 517." Not sure.

I can't wait to hear Andy's experience. I am really looking forward to seeing all of them.

Mick is going to call me when Andy finishes. Not sure what the plans are for immediately following the race. My guess, would be...

1. Sit down
2. Eat warm food
3. Drink something warm
4. Shower
5. Put on real clothes
6. Awards ceremony
7. I am sure sleep will fit in there some place. I don't know how Andy will feel. I have never stayed up for almost 44 hours.

They are planning on Staying in Birmingham, AL tonight and driving home tomorrow. I am sure Mick and Geno are thrilled they have more driving ahead of themselves. If I know Andy, he will try something like "I'll take the first shift." ;-)