The Gerda Family: Molly is a half ironWOMAN!!

We just returned from a fabulous few days in Denver and Boulder! Jensen took his first plane ride to cheer on Aunt Molly in her first half ironman....1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run....otherwise known as the 70.3!
Molly signed up with Team In Training last winter and has been training vigorously since. In addition to training, Molly also fundraised close to $3000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The night before the event, we attended a TNT pasta party, where we met her teammates that together raised $28,000 to fund research and patient aid!
The event morning started when Molly woke up at 4:30am and was on location by 5:30am. Molly was in the 10th wave and began the swim at 7:15am. We had it all timed out pretty well because we were able to see Molly during all of her transitions. Such an amazing accomplishment and we're all so proud of her! She KICKED BUTT!
After the event, we enjoyed a nice swim in the pool - and Molly "enjoyed" a contrast bath as she hopped back and forth from the "refreshing" pool to the hot tub! We sat poolside, ate some delicious pizza and visited with some of the Beagle family who had come over to congratulate Molly!
The next day we honored Molly's request to get a pedicure...wasn't hard to convince mom and I to join her:) Then we all packed up and headed to the Rockies vs. Cubs game....Jensen's first baseball game! The view from Coors Field is breathtaking...I would dare to say not too many other stadiums in the country have a better view! Cold beers, great hot dogs, Jensen smiling in the Bjorn and the Rockies stomped the Cubs - it was a a great night!
Jensen did awesome on the plane ride from Atlanta to Denver. It worked out quite well because my parents flew from Buffalo and had a layover in Atlanta so we were all on the same flight together. The ride home was a little more of a challenge! Jensen decided to throw an absolute fit in the security line at the Denver airport. One of those moments you'd like to dig yourself a hole and climb right in!
All in all, we had a WONDERFUL trip! Thanks to Aunt Molly and Uncle Josh for being such gracious hosts and a HUGE CONGRATS to Molly for such an UNBELIEVABLE accomplishment!