Final Entry Moo report

How do you put 15 hrs and 58 minutes into words....I will try.
Leading up to and arriving at Madison, I did not feel nervous as in scared or as in what am I doing. I was nervous about the unknowns, like what does it feel like to swim with 2000 people all at once, will I fall on the bike or get a flat, will my foot hold up during the run.
From arrival to race start I did not have any issues, did not forget anything, all went smooth. FINALLY it was Sunday, race day, show time, time to see what I am made of, the day to become an Ironman. The term washing machine is an accurate description of what it feels like to swim with the arms and legs of 2000 people. I wasn't that people were trying to hit you it was just that everyone was just trying to swim. After the first turn, where you stop-take a breath-and moo, it was a bit better and my second loop it was swimming as normal. My goal was 1:30-1:45, I came out of the water at 1:41 (big smile on my face)
I knew no matter what happened the rest of the day, part I was done and I had swam longer than anytime before.
I was excited for the bike because I knew Team Z awaited. They did not disappoint either loop. The course was not harder than any of our training rides. The hardest part was the three BIG hills toward the end of the second loop. Not quite so much pep in the legs the second time around and there was hardly anyone there to cheer. It was all guts to get up. I started watching the clock and realized I should make the cut-off unless I had a mechanical issue. I MADE IT, WOO HOO. Part II was done.
Running Marathons is my favorite part. I have run 12 marathons. The unknown was how would my legs feel after biking 112 miles and then trying to run a marathon. Surprisingly they did not feel like bricks. I ran for about the first two miles and then settled into my plan to run walk. According to the data my pace stayed consistent the whole 26.2 miles. I started the Marathon at 5 pm, I knew I had to average about 4-4.5 miles per hour to be done by midnight. I never thought you got this because I knew at any point something could go wrong either with nutrition or with my foot.  Finally at about mile 25 I felt the emotion inside. I felt the sense of accomplishing something huge. A dream was coming true. I was going to be an Ironman. The last 1.2 miles I remembered Coach Ed advice. So I tilted my hat back, wiped my face, turned the corner and heard the words, "Patti Jackson YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"!!!
After crossing the line, my friend Pam asked me how do you feel. I describe it as a quiet voice inside that said, if you can do an Ironman you can do anything. That is how I felt. I have survived Cancer, survived the War in the desert, survived life's up and down. I am a Survivor. Now I am an Ironman