Thursday, July 30, 2015

Pictures from my Phone & Weekly Distractions

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

Young Wade and I shall set sail for Boulder, dark and far too early Friday morning. Years of anticipation and preparation, disappointment and frustration, all culminate to this weekend. My stomach is full of butterflies and my legs are bouncing with nervous adrenaline.

It's been an emotional week as I've reflected on the path to this point. I'm tired and changed in ways I hadn't anticipated when I first set out to prepare for an Ironman in 2011, totally ignorant and without an accurate sense of the respect this process was due. But I've carried on, and gained that respect, at a great cost, and now I'm pretty proud of myself for paying it.

Feel free to follow my progress on Sunday on the Ironman Boulder website. I'm number 1574.

Until then, enjoy some Pictures and Distractions:
Mr. Pants, majestic. 


Chilling with the nieces and nephews. 

Hannah Rose

My Pioneer Day watermelon. 

Somehow FOUR dogs ended up at my house on Pioneer Day.

Matthew and Mr. Pants celebrate the pioneers. 

Hiking through the wildflowers with these fine folks.

Picked up the wetsuit!
*****
Stranger Picture of the Week
Q of C spotted at the SLC Farmers' Market! Thanks, Jennifer


Crap to distract you from whatever you're supposed to be doing:

 Beautiful Ukraine in 27 photos. Thanks, Chad.

Cat running for president. Thanks, Haley.

Celebrity heads on pedestrians. Thanks, Margee.

Mysterious, abandoned Church shaped like a giant chicken. Thanks, Juniper.

Chicken legs. Thanks, Juniper.

Just go to about 12:35 on this video. You won't regret it. Thanks, Eliza.

Pooping cyclist started foothills fire. Thanks, Lauren.

Upside-down poem. Thanks, Kimbally.

I don't know what the hell I just watched. Thanks, Julie and Stephanie.

How I accidentally inherited a stranger's entire home. Thanks, Cara.

Please follow us on the Facebooks and the Instagrams.

If you would like to have something included on Pictures and Distractions, please email me at itjustgetsstranger@gmail.com.

 ~It Just Gets Stranger
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24 comments:

  1. LouieJuly 30, 2015 at 12:23 PM

    Best wishes for a cool day, plenty of energy, and a great finish!!! I'll be watching for you!!!

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  2. Karen PetersonJuly 30, 2015 at 1:04 PM

    We'll be thinking of you and wishing you well! Good luck!

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  3. UnknownJuly 30, 2015 at 2:00 PM

    What I plan on doing Sunday: Sew tulle tutus for my wedding. What I will actually do: Obsessively watch your progress.

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  4. Emily LopezJuly 30, 2015 at 2:40 PM

    Good luck! We'll be sending good thoughts your way on Sunday! You can do it!

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  5. AnonymousJuly 30, 2015 at 4:14 PM

    Whoa Eli. Give us a warning before you post any more spandex pics because seriously... NSFW!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 30, 2015 at 4:17 PM

    Does Larry know he's been replaced by "the wetsuit"?

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 30, 2015 at 8:07 PM

      Larry will be missed. All I ask for is a moment of silence.

      Delete
    2. It Just Gets StrangerJuly 30, 2015 at 9:53 PM

      Larry will be coming along too. But only to watch the race. He retired from ultra endurance events and only does the occasional training swim now. Between reading magazines.

      Delete
  7. KatJuly 30, 2015 at 5:53 PM

    Good luck and God bless!

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  8. KatJuly 30, 2015 at 5:53 PM

    Good luck and God bless!

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  9. KatJuly 30, 2015 at 5:53 PM

    Good luck and God bless!

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  10. AnonymousJuly 30, 2015 at 11:36 PM

    Good luck and God bless!

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  11. LeeJuly 31, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    Good luck Eli!

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  12. Nicole KJuly 31, 2015 at 8:27 AM

    Ditto what Kat said three times over :)

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  13. AnonymousJuly 31, 2015 at 11:58 AM

    I love that, here in our Stranger universe, we all know the names of everything from your bike to your ailments and we use them when commenting like we are talking about a real person. Lol

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  14. AnonymousAugust 2, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    Hey Strangers- I just looked for Eli on the ironman website on their video of the swim finish. Is that him coming into the frame at 55:28? The video quality is not great so can't be certain, but the times for the names they announce matches with Eli's (excellent and speedy) posted result plus the wetsuit seems right. More importantly, immediately after exiting the water this guy begins FIXING HIS HAIR. Which doesn't need fixing, it is perfect. So do we think it's him? Regardless, go Eli! :D

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  15. LouieAugust 2, 2015 at 5:28 PM

    I just checked for the eleventy-millionth time, and right now you have fewer than 10 miles left in your run / your race. GO ELI!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle ZAugust 2, 2015 at 5:57 PM

      I've checked more than a few times too! Yay, I'm excited for you! Run, Eli, run!

      Delete
  16. LouieAugust 2, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    WOO HOO!! You DID IT!! Congratulations!!!

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  17. Liz in AZAugust 2, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    Great job, Eli! (I bet I wasn't the only one checking on you in church today)

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  18. mrc-wAugust 2, 2015 at 9:24 PM

    Congratulations!

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  19. AnonymousAugust 3, 2015 at 6:52 AM

    Can't wait to read about this experience, Mr. Ironman! :)

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