And so the great day has been and gone. Time marches on. But what an amazing day it was!
She was so relaxed during the lead up to Cairns. She did everything I asked of her and more. She listened and executed her planned training to a tee and then come race day she put it all together in what turned out to be a brilliant race.
Race morning she was calm and relaxed. We strolled through the early morning haze and hushed voices to transition. We likened it to a scene from the Walking Dead with a sea of quiet soles walking in the same direction. Each lost in their own thoughts. She disappeared into the crowd to find Scarlet who had spent the night hanging from the racks.
Prepped and in her wetsuit we strolled down to the beach, a few hundred meters from our hotel and watched the pros leave. She had a warm up swim and declared the water warm, before she hugged us goodbye and started her day. I wanted to give her some words of strength. I didn’t quite get it right, but I think she knew what I meant. She slipped under the banner and into the water. We could see the entire swim course which was great and we tracked her progress.
We walked down the beach and made our way slowly up to the swim exit and waited for her to arrive. It looked like a tough swim with a lumpy exit. Waves made it hard for swimmers to get out. But before we knew it, there she was. Pulling herself to upright before trotting up the sand and with a wave, she ran into transition.
We caught her again at the mount line. She was away with a fist pump salute. She looked resplendent in her KTC tri suit and socks, Scarlet bedazzled in the sunshine.
We boarded a shuttle bus and headed for Cairns. We grabbed a quick nap on the long ride and when we arrived, found a place to snooze under the palm trees near the lagoon. A long wait. And while I worried about mechanicals and all things outside of my control, we tracked her progress and watched her cover the course.
The dismount line was carnage as usual with plenty of carbon hitting tarmac and bumper to bumper bodies in the penalty box. She screamed into sight before whisking away again to T2 she took her time, ate, drank, strapped and then she was there, looking two inches taller thanks to her Nike flys. She stopped for a quick chat and showed me that I was there with her for the run. She had a tiny picture of Marvin Martian strapped under her laces, omg I love this kid!
She ran off into the distance chewing in a Friand. Her superfood. First of 4 laps we settled in for the unknown. She walked, ran her way through a stomach issue. Thankfully, Jay to the rescue with a quickeze before she could get down to business. She looked comfortable running through town and her run definitely lifted as she progressed into lap 3 further than any Keryn had been before. Kez stepped into the unknown for her final 20kms. Finally she ticked the third lap off and we saw her into her fourth lap before making our way to the finish line to cheer in the racers ahead of her. We worked our way to the barrier and cheered, as best I could through a tightening throat. We cheered and clapped and finally, after Fourteen hours, there she was. Larger then life, still smiling, still tall and slender and strong. My baby girl, my angel, my strength, my love. She was there in front of us we grabbed her and held on to her telling her everything at once. We four hugged in a giant bear hug, our little family, so tight, so loving, so inspiring. We let her go and she turned to face the finish line. She ran towards the goal and reached out for it with both fists!
To say I am a proud mum is an understatement, but I have no other words. Watching your kid battle, stand up after feeling concrete at her back, crawl her way back to the light, look to me for strength when she had temporarily lost hers, knowing she was lost, but wanting so badly to be found again, holding on so tightly and needing her mumma. And then to watch her stand up! to be there at the moment when she found her strength and showed you her true mettle was truly an honour beyond compare.
From the moment our eyes first met, I knew I would die for you! Your mumma.
