Ironman Nate

This blog has been left unattended for a very good reason. My brother, Nate competed in the Ford Ironman this past Sunday. He has been on a rigerous training schedule for the past 14 weeks just for this event. For those of you that don't know, an Ironman is a triathlon that athletes swim 2.4 miles, bike 114 miles and run 26.2 miles.

My younger brother, Adam and I were a team for the day. He picked me up at 5:30 am to head down to the start of the swim. I also might add that brothers do not change as they get older- he immediately started ragging on me for not being in the driveway waiting for him and packing a backpack with way too much stuff in it. He changed his toon when he wanted some coffee out of my carafe, not to mention that I found 2 wicked awesome parking spots.

We found Nate in line, waiting for the swim to start. They swim 2.4 miles... in the Ohio River.

Adam was also Nate's "Coach." 

The National Anthem was sung before the event started. Nate takes it all in, beginning to focus and trying to breathe. The cannon is about to go off and all the athletes prepare themselves for a long day.

Cool as a cucumber, ready to swim...

Nate finished the 2.4 mile swim with no problem. I see him get out of the river and run up the path to get ready for the bike ride. The crowd was going crazy. Nate goes off to get his bike and gear up for the 112 mile bike ride. We sprint to see him ride down the shoot. Again, the crowd was insane... he was so pumped up, he was even cheering!

We get back in the car and drive to LaGrange, KY where the bikers make two laps in this one area. Adam is an insane driver. I can not believe I survived the day being his co-pilot. We steak out a spot to cheer him on at this point in the race. I figured it would be a good time to get a picture of all the signs we made.

Here's Nate on his bike after the second loop...

Now that he finished the second loop, we get back in the car and head back downtown to see the bike to run exchange. I caught this picture of Nate dismounting off his bike. He quickly drops his bike and gear and gets on his running shoes. Easy ladies, he's taken.

Run, Nate, run! You only have 26.2 miles to go.

My two brothers and I cheering him on every step of the way. Eric is on the left, Adam is on the right. It went downhill fast from this point with the sibling banter. 

Seriously, Nate is a machine. He only has 12 miles left to go in this race and he is smiling, high-fiving, and running like he's being chased with a knife.

Nates two older kiddos, baby Claudia is home cheering. Kendall and Daniel named Nates bike: "Zig-Dad" and "Blue Steel." We are all waiting at the finish line...

Here he comes, down the stretch...

"Nate Norrenbrock, You are an IRONMAN!" 

Unbelievably, Nate finished 140.6 miles in under 12 hours. He's freakishly amazing...

Mom and Stephen... they love to cry over everything. The Ironman was worth every tear, very emothional. 

Our Ironman Nate! We are so proud of him and his awesome accomplishment. He did amazing and look how great he looks!

After 140.6 miles, now Lara gets her husband back.  Nate is wondering what he's going to do with the extra 20 hours a week he has now that training is over. :)

One last hug and "good job" from Coach.

Nate, you are amazing. An inspirartion and a freakishly amazing athlete. You set your eye on the prize and went after it. You never lost focus and went after your dream. Your determination and will got you there. I can't wait to run my first marathon with you in October. I can't think of anyone else I would want to share my goal with than you. Love you, big brother. You 'da bomb.