If You Move to Florida, They Will Come
Well, it’s official. I had my first visitors from the ‘Burgh!! And, it’s barely even winter yet!!
Huh.
They must actually like me. 
So, one of my best friends, Jen, and her husband Chad came down to visit. They were in town for Chad’s Ironman World Championship competition up in Clearwater. Jen and Chad are both awesome athletes, and they compete in races almost all year long. This particular race was one only Chad was doing, though, so I headed to Clearwater to meet up with Jen and some members of Chad’s family to watch the race. I’d never seen a triathalon before, let alone an Ironman, so I didn’t really know what I was getting into. The worst part was the setting-my-alarm-for-4:50 AM-part (because, as CK was quick to point out, 4:45 would have been way too early, and 5:00 would have been way too late. I’m glad he sees it my way).
But, once I was up and moving, I have to tell you. It was amazing.
I was expecting a somewhat painfully-long day (sorry, but I was. Hi, Chad!!), but it was the complete opposite of that. Between the beautiful weather, the gorgeous scenery (including dawn on Clearwater Beach, which anyone who knows me knows that I would never get the opportunity to see that voluntarily!), the excitement of the race, the amazing athletes, and the great company, I had the best time. Anyway, this was the last race that wrapped up Chad’s season - and he finished in a personal best time - so, needless to say, they were ready to party.
They got to do a ton of cool stuff while they were here…parasailing, kayaking…(apparently you can take the athlete off the training schedule, but…). They kind of did their own thing during the day while I worked, and then CK and I took them to some of our favorite haunts in the evenings.
There were dinners out, beers at the bar, sunsets, Guitar Hero…just a quality time all around.
Here are some shots of us watching the sun go down at Caddy’s. They don’t call it Sunset Beach for nothin’!
Jen, Me, & My Arm Shadow
Jen & Chad
CK
