Okay, don’t really brace yourself but I do have to warn you that this post is kinda full of pictures. Lots of random pictures! So where to start…..
Let me give you a little background first. This past month leading up to Branson 70.3 Ironman has been STRESSFUL!! The hubs has had an Achilles issue (you can read about it here) and I’ve been over doing it with training, teaching classes, work, yada yada. Totally MY fault too! That being said, all hell broke lose the day before we were suppose to leave. I almost didn’t go, eek! But after a lot of tears, tantrums, and hugs, everything was okay. I ended up going a day later fully ready to GET AWAY!!! I needed to be there to support my hubs, feed him good nutritious food, and make him feel relaxed. It was so worth it too.
But in the end, I loved. A whole row to myself. Yippe!
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| hello green pastures and rolling hills! |
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| James in his NEW Xterra Swim Skin. He got to demo the proto-type |
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 the hubs flying by! Once again, I was off. This time to T2 to see them off on the run. I jumped in the car and headed down to Branson Landing.   It was still foggy when I got down. T2 was empty, just waiting for the cyclist to come in. The CALM before the STORM!
 The hubs finally came into T2 and I yelled at him to HURRY!! He was in 4th at this point. He definitely heard me, haha!
Well, this was it. The ultimate test of how the Achilles would hold up. I praying hard that everything would be okay. I saw him on the first loop and he looked GREAT!! By the second loop he has slowed a bit. I kept yelling at him to stay focused, strong, he could hold on to fourth.  Well, the last lap came and even though his running legs weren’t there, the hubs still ran his way into 4th. Not too shabby!  Brent Poulsen and Lovato just “chillin” post race.
 I was not about to get into that water, eek! But it did look refreshing!
 Congrats to the top 6 men! Ben Hoffman, Tom Lowe, Lovato, the Hubs, Poulsen (not pictured), and TJ!
After that it was time to get the WIFE (me) a refreshment. My reward as a spectator!
 Man, did that go down so GOOD!
Let me tell you, we slept WELL that night! I think I actually got 9 hours of sleep. WOW! The next day (monday) we had A LOT of time to kill on Branson. Our flight wasn’t until 6pm. This was actually perfect for us. We needed a day to relax at the hotel, bum around in our PJ’s, go down for breakfast 2x, and watch movies. Lovely! But soon our late check out came and it was time to tour Branson. What shall we do for another 4 hours?? I know! Tour the one and only winery. Hehe.
  Lots of corny wine souvenirs!
This one was my favorite.
 Now is that a cool wine bottle holder or what?!?!
Next up was our tour. Let me just say, I am pretty sure we were the only ones under 75 years old. It was AWESOME! Too bad we couldn’t get the senior discount.
 You see what I see? Lots of plaid button up shirts, hehe!
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I sit here now, totally revived after 3 days of no work, no working out, extra sleep, and a scratchy throat from cheering on the hubs. Never take for granted the small things, like being a cheerleader. Everyone needs one!
Congrats to Kelly, Brent, Lovato, Hoffman, TJ, and Natasha for an excellent race!
Cheers,
LC
P.S.
Who is your cheerleader?
Congrats again Team Cotter!! We are so proud of you guys for living your dream and living it BIG, its the only way to go.Loved all the pics.-missa
oh my gosh, those giant wine bottles and glasses are awesome. it looks like you guys had such a great time!! i loved the whole post, thanks for the thorough recap!
oh my gosh, those giant wine bottles and glasses are awesome. it looks like you guys had such a great time!! i loved the whole post, thanks for the thorough recap!
oh my gosh, those giant wine bottles and glasses are awesome. it looks like you guys had such a great time!! i loved the whole post, thanks for the thorough recap!
awesome! 🙂 I feel energized just reading! :)Jason is ABSOLUTELY my cheerleader… and so are my mom and brother. they are so awesome. I want to be that wine glass' cheerleader. the big one. 🙂
Awesome! Way to go James!! And way to go YOU for being an awesome wife!!Hope you're well! 🙂
That is the COOLEST wine holder EVER 🙂 I love it!!Looks like an awesome race- congrats to your husband 🙂
Sooo..I saw that your hubbs is going to be racing in Augusta this weekend! Let me know if you are going to be there as well 🙂 It should be a fun race!
Congrats to your hubby! I WANT that huge wine glass. hahaGot the package today with the pastas! Thank you so much. We are looking forward to trying them all.
Wow..that is a HUGE wine glass LOL!Congrats to your hubs 🙂
Wow – congrats to your hubs indeed! And what a foggy bike course!Ps – That wine glass could put a whole new meaning to "but Sir…I only had ONE glass" 😉
Love this! 4 is my favorite number so way to go James! 🙂 Y'all are so adorable. Billy is definitely my cheerleader. I'd like to think I'm his, too! And my mom. She's the best. xo
Glad James did well and I hope everything with his Achilles is getting better!
What a great post! Thank you for sharing this experience. It looks like you guys had a blast!! Congrats to your husband for this amazing performance and for your cheerleading skills as well ;)Small getaways like this are great for the couple, aren't they? You come back and that relaxed, fun vibe still lingers on… you deserve it after those crazy few weeks!
Congratulations to the hubs! You are such an amazing support!
congrats to the hubby for 4th! love the pics…but race looked COLD!
love the vino shots!;-)
congrats to the hubby for 4th! love the pics…but race looked COLD!love the vino shots!;-)
Haha that's the winery we went too 😉 Too funny. Congrats to the hubs. That's awesome. Branson is so hilly I can't imagine that course. Yikes.
Haha that's the winery we went too 😉 Too funny. Congrats to the hubs. That's awesome. Branson is so hilly I can't imagine that course. Yikes.
Nice! Glad you guys has a 'good' time in Branson. I'm from Missouri (St. Louis) and there is no way I would do that race – it's SO HOT this time of the year up there!! I'm so pumped for my cheerleader team for IMFL – my whole family as well as the BF and his family. 🙂 Thanks for the great photos!
congrats to them all!
and the pic of you holding the wine bottle…stellar 🙂 you look great!!
xo
congrats to them all!and the pic of you holding the wine bottle…stellar 🙂 you look great!!xo
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! You are such a great cheerleader! Lucky hubby…and you two are both looking FIII~IINE! I love that you guys went to a winery in your spare time, tee hee. Such foodies. And love the big-ass wine glass!
awesome job cheerleading 🙂 although i don't know what i'd say if someone told me to hurry up, lol. looks like a great day!
Love how supportive you are of your hubbie!! So cute.
Congrats again Team Cotter!! We are so proud of you guys for living your dream and living it BIG, its the only way to go.Loved all the pics.-missa
AH!! This looks so awesome! I saw your Branson tweets and was extremely jealous! It looks like you both had a wonderful time..much deserved 🙂
I'm exhausted just reading this! LOL. I love how you are so supportive of your hubbie.. that's how marriages should be 🙂
love it!! I swear spectating is more exhausting than racing! Looks like a great race! and loving the wine 🙂 glad to hear that you got away and got a chance to have a few days off! you deserved (and needed it) girl!