HAPPY HOUR

The day is done and it’s time to celebrate with family and friends! The congratulatory messages begin to pour in over the phone and on the Internet. It was instant rock star status, at least for a little while!  I’ve never seen Amy and Casey so proud of their father then I have on this day and being the best role model I can be may be the biggest reward. Although the town was missing many key players that could not make the trip and those that were there racing made an early exit, good times emerged with some new faces and special friends. Barbara Cronnin-Stagnari took the stage as the 5th place finisher in her age group and made Mike Reilly announce her stellar 57-minute swim! Barbara hooked me up with great swim advice and introduced me to the course at Old Westbury, which afforded me some excellent closing rides, away from traffic and into the zone. We raised our glasses as the sunset in the middle of town and the plans for next year’s reunion ensued. Ken Jones, Christina Hill, Bob Spina, and Anne Hallaby Vargus were just a few of the familiar names put to faces on this glorious afternoon. The family continues to grow and perhaps it’s the great reunion in the mountains that helps motivate us to continue to push our limits and call ourselves ironmen and ironwomen!