By Rob McNeely

November 18, 2013 (Tallahassee) – You can see it at the finish line, exactly 15 hours, four minutes, and eight seconds after a cannon shot started Ironman Florida 2013: Gulf Winds Triathletes’ newest IronCouple, Brian Bazinet and Monica McCullion, running side by side, arms raised in triumph, down the last few yards of the finishers’ chute. 

And at the bottom of the video of their finish, you can see Tri Club member Chris Turner, volunteering at the finish line, arms stretched wide from Key West to northern Alabama, fingers stretched wide to capture everything in between but, most importantly, to catch Brian and Monica.  And there it is, that Moment that will live forever, that very instant where three Club members—strangers to each other just a few years ago—embraced in complete, total, and absolute victory.  Two, exhausted but feeling no pain.  One, exhilarated, and weeping with raw emotion into the collective embrace, sharing that Moment that simply is an Ironman finish.

There were other magical finish line moments for Club members that day.  Indeed, there was That Moment for everyone who crossed that finish line.  Some, like Kelli Dillon, F40-44, overcame challenges that would have felled lesser mortals; Dillon had a shoulder problem throughout much of her training and completed the swim without being able to raise one arm above her head.  Don Pumphrey, M50-54, pushed his still-NFL-sized physique through the day and finished his first Ironman.  Husband and wife, Jeff and Karen Allen, M45-49 and F45-49, respectively, crossed the finish line together for the second Ironman Florida in a row.   

All told, 23 members of Gulf Winds Triathletes joined the field of 2,891starters and 2700 finishers at Ironman Florida on November 2, 2013, in Panama City Beach.  For 14 of them, Ironman Florida was their first attempt at a 140.6-mile race.  All 14 first-timers finished within the allotted 17 hours.  (The last official finisher of the day was a flight attendant from Cheyenne, Wyoming, in the F60-64 age group, who finished seven seconds before the midnight cutoff.)

A strong storm the day before left the Gulf of Mexico waters choppy with several four- to six-foot high breakers greeting swimmers on race morning.  Spectators saw at least three swimmers pulled from the swim: two never made it past the breakers into the choppy but relatively calmer waters beyond; one was retrieved near the second turn buoy and safely brought to shore on a jet ski. 

Once out of the water, a near race-perfect day greeted the competitors, with mild temperatures on the bike and on most of the run.  Some Club members reported enjoying a tailwind in the second half of the bike for nearly 40 miles. 

First-time Ironman Michael Stribling, M18-24, led the field of Gulf Winds Triathletes members, crossing the finish line in 11:03:20 on the strength of a Club-fastest 4:03:14 marathon.  Close behind among Club members was veteran Ironman, Jeff Bowman, M50-54, at 11:16:31.  Bowman had both the Club-fastest swim (1:04:07) and the Club-fastest bike split (5:00:36, a 22.4 mph average).  The remaining top five Club male slots went to Paul Pagano, M40-44 (11:40:58); Ed Eastman, M45-49 (11:59:13); and Tom Findley, M50-54 (13:15:04).  Ironman Florida was Pagano’s second Ironman and a first for both Eastman and Findley.

Jamie Harris, F35-39, led all Club females across the finish line in her second Ironman at 11:27:59.   First-timer Stephanie Aanstoos, F18-24, came in second among Club women in 12:40:11.  The remaining top five female Club spots went to Karen Allen, F45-49 (13:37:51); and training partners and first-timers Leisa Eastman, F30-34, and Hilary Joyner, F35-39, crossing the finish line together at 13:41:43.

As usual, the run course included several spots where Gulf Winds Triathletes members could be seen and heard cheering, dancing, and doing anything possible to encourage their fellow triathletes along their ways.

Congratulations to the class of Gulf Winds Triathletes who made magical moments for all of us to share at Ironman Florida 2013.

A complete listing of Club members competing in Ironman Florida, sorted by finish time regardless of gender, is available here.