Hawaii 2005 - Terri Budge

When I first went to Hawaii in 1999, I was watching the athletes parade, the Aussies had finished & we stood by to watch the other countries come through. When ‘Scotland’ came by, there was a sole athlete represented and he was walking along holding the Scottish flag & his wife and two young kids were with him ... I felt really emotional.

I wished at that moment that my kids were with me and vowed that one day Andy and I would take them to Hawaii and get them to run down the finish line with me.

So, six years on, we planned our family holiday to include Hawaii 2005!

It was a day they’ll never forget. They drove with Andy and Blake (Kates brother) to Hawi (the bike turnaround) to cheer and then spent the rest of the day swimming at Dig Me Beach after all the athletes had cleared out. Then they booked their spot on Alii Drive nice and early to see the finishers come through.

They met me with about 200 metres to go and we sprinted together to the finish!

Here are the pics:

Thanks Andy for the 12 week program, love & support that made it all possible!

Thanks guys, especially Tim who was pretty embarrassed, but did it in the end! (Too cool at 17)

Hannah, who was ‘puffed out’ by the finish!

Erin, who tells me she wants to do an IM one day! ( Maybe I’ll be running by her side)

Pat, who always works the crowd & had them roaring us down the finish chute, with his hooting & arm waving!