Crossing the Finish Line

As soon as I crossed that finish line, someone grabs me and asks if I'm ok. Are you kidding me - I'm AWESOME! - I just finished my Ironman! They wrap me in a mylar blanket and steady me while another volunteer removes my timing chip, and another puts a medal around my neck, they hand me a hat and tshirt - then a photographer is there taking my picture. It's all so chaotic. I make my way behind the finish and there is my family. The smiles on their faces were PRICELESS, and while I think they were snapping pics of me, I should've been taking their pictures - what a memory!
It's funny, 'cause I'm a little weepy as I type this recap, and when I imagined my Ironman day and crossing that finish line, I imagined I would cry - there was no crying - PURE JOY and EXCITEMENT!!! And, well, maybe you're brain is a little fried from the grueling day?!
My family ran up and hugged me - told me how proud they were of me - how amazing it all was. Then Troy's wife, Cathy, runs up and gives me a big hug (can I just mention how disgusting one is after 14+ hours on a race course?! - you know people love ya and are proud of ya if they can hug you in that state, eh?). She tells me that Troy is in the medical tent and is not happy that he missed my finish. I make my way down there and we congratulate each other. He's sitting in a lounge chair with a blanket around him. He looks good. He points me to a chair nearby and I sit. A volunteer brings me some gatorade and coke. I want FOOD. I get a piece of pizza and start to eat it. Steve yells at me from outside the fence - congratulations! Cathy is also sitting on the grass outside the medical area.
I took my pizza and walked back to where my family was waiting. Boyd, Troy's brother in law was there with his bike, congratulating me. We all kinda stood (well, I needed to sit) there talking about everything. Troy came back up and joined in the fun. We were sitting there a few minutes when Ben came by to congratulate us too. He looked so fresh and spunky. Apparently his day didn't go as planned. Sounds like he broke his toe, stepping off a curb about 2 miles into the run. not good! We talked for a bit, snapped a few pics, and he took off.
Troy and I were trying to decide if we would stay till midnight. Neither of us felt like we could. I was pretty chilled by this point, and he had to go back to the medical tent. My family took off, and I quickly threw on some dry clothes and we were close behind them. Boyd, Bill and I walked back to the car and put troy's bike in. Then we headed out. I thanked Bill for the tremendous support he was to me today! As we drove home, I felt a bit sick, but not too bad. I was definitely ready for a shower and for BED!