Iron Man-Boise

I love Reality TV. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I choose to watch the more tame ones, and years ago, I got hooked on the Bachelor. Then it was the Bachelorette, starting with Trista's season. From Trista and Ryan's season, I have always had a slight obsession with Ryan Sutter. He was quiet, charming, athletic, and quite the looker. Very similar to Justin!!! (I love you Justin, but you know I have my celeb crushes!) A few years ago, I came across Ryan Sutter's website and read he participated in the Iron Man in Northern Idaho. I definitely couldn't convince Justin to drive 9 hours to catch a glimpse of Ryan Sutter, so, I just had to dream.

Well, the Iron Man is held in Boise every Summer and I have always had a desire to watch the Iron Man JUST to possibly catch a glimpse of Ryan Sutter competing. So, when our ward volunteered to help with an "aid station" on the running portion of the Iron Man, I was THERE. Justin was volunteering for a "shift" in the early afternoon, and I was going to be taking a shift in the evening. If I would have been thinking clearly, I would have switched Justin shifts just in case Ryan Sutter was in Boise.

Instead of seeing a tv celeb though, I was able to watch a "local, community celeb", and that is Oscar Williamson. This man knows EVERYONE and everyone loves him. He is one of Justin's great friends and he was crazy and brave enough to sign himself up for the Iron Man this year. He also heard that BEEF had their own "Iron Man" sponsored team and knew he wanted! Not only did Oscar get sponsored by BEEF, but BEEF donated hamburgers and hotdogs for our volunteers. Amazing group of people.

So, here is my work at being a paparazzi for our "local celeb" Oscar. Oscar downing a hamburger

(I was wondering how he was going to finish that hamburger while he was running, until I saw him spit it out moments later!)

Oscar had quite the fan club. Here he is showing he cares!

Vicki, my friend and Oscar's wife, and Zachary, Oscar's son waiting for Oscar.
Vicki, not only working her tail off handing out Power bars, soda, oranges, water, sponges, etc. but also waiting patiently for her husband to pass her by.

Oscar had told Vicki on his last lap, he would leave her with a kiss. The kiss everyone had been waiting for!

Look at all of our youth participating. This aid station was a service project THAT they got paid for. Rumor has it, we had the BEST aid station and next year, our group has the opportunity to snag any station we want!

This event was touching, awe inspiring, and exciting. We had a participant crash due to dehydration and heat stroke at our station (she came to the right place! We had two nurses and one sports medicine specialist all in our aid station that this participant had NO CLUE about. We were not a FIRST AID station, just a water, juice and food station!). I saw many participants missing limbs, many walking arm in arm or hand in hand with a spouse, sister, mother, etc. Amazing what people can do with a little strength, help and support from others!

Although there were no sightings of Ryan Sutter, I feel the night was a success. Much better then a reality tv celeb sighting!