In a previous post I mention how important it was to have a support system going through this whole process. I can’t stress this enough seriously. Life gets in the way and you need good people in your life who will help and be there every step of the way. Not only is this true with everyday life but it is extremely true during this type of journey for sure. Many times exhaustion and simply the damn cuddle monster (remember this guy?)

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make it hard to get up at 4:30am and motivate myself to do anything more than sleep. Workouts have to happen and if they don’t happen in the morning, they must happen after work. This makes it hard when you have to be home because other lives depend on it. The reason I mention this and dedicate this post to this topic is because those people are worth acknowledging and giving kudos to. I could talk about how good I did with my training this week and how I stayed on schedule (we all know how fucking hard that is for me) but that would make for a boring post so instead, here is to my peeps and one in particular.

Since the day I signed up for my Ironman I wondered how on earth I would get through this. It’s so much work, so much dedication and so much sacrifice. I have 2 dogs that I can’t just leave alone for hours upon hours and work that has been pretty demanding causing me to work over 12 hours some days. How in the hell am I going to do this? A question I ask myself constantly.

I have a good friend, no a great friend, who sees my vision and is as excited about my journey as I am. He has been there to help out when my days are long to let my dogs out (remember that Jasper is still in recovery so it isn’t just a matter of letting him out in the back yard to potty), to be a shoulder to cry on when my days have been so stressful I can’t even manage, has sent me motivational quotes everyday to remind me of why I’m doing this and has been there when I want to let loose and have a good time but still keep me on track. He has been a great coach and motivator (see the featured picture, if that isn’t motivation I don’t know what is). I have probably asked more than I should of anyone but I am one happy person that he is there when needed and is willing to help out.

So Michael James Patrick Richardson….thank you for all that you have done for me along the way. You have been a great friend and truly a great motivator. You were there when I competed in my first tri of the season (everyone has loved you being there Mr. Photographer) and rooted me on until the very end. You never judge when something goes awry but instead look at the positive side of things and remind me of them.

Thank you to my biggest support system and one of my best friends. I am very excited to have you there at the finish line waiting and cheering me on at my Louisville Ironman 2018! You ROCK!

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