Our story is one many of you know. It begins on a crisp, clear day – 7 am-ish on September 25, 2021. While training for the very first Ironman California we both ended up on a brick (swim, bike, run) training dry run in West Sacramento. Swimming first in the American/Sacramento rivers where the race would take place. Nicole's coach, Tim, was my former coach and he and I had remained friends over the years. My friend Julie was a client/friend of Tim's as well. We were all training for the race and Julie asked me if I wanted a spot on Tim's buddy's yacht, which would take us 2.4 miles upriver, so we jump off and swim 2.4 miles down. I wasn’t very interested… but agreed anyway. Being around those rivers my entire life I was very aware of the trials and tribulations the water held… I’ll leave it at that. Despite that, I showed up ready to go… And my life has been one amazing adventure after the next ever since. While waiting to board the vessel we pulled on our wetsuits and swim caps. Mine was a bright pink (representing breast cancer awareness) loaner cap from Julie. I was excited for the swim and my excitement manifested into some largely lame attempts at humor... my jokes are hit and miss, but I couldn't help but notice the stunning red head who was laughing at all of them... (I found out later the feeling was mutual!) As we boarded the boat my only mission became to sit as close to her as possible. So I ditched Julie (sorry Julie) and followed her to the bow! She sat down first, and I quickly slid in next to her (and might have thrown an elbow to establish my position). I slid in so quickly in fact that our slippery, wetsuit clad bottoms bumped together. The electricity was instantaneous! I will remember that bump for the rest of my life. For the next 30 minutes our journey to the drop off point was the stuff rom coms are made of! Sailing into the sunrise, talking, laughing, relishing in the cool, clean morning air! The energy was on the redline! When we arrived at the jump-off spot, we flew off the side of the boat almost simultaneously and heading down river out in front of the group. An hour later we swung into the dock to exit, me first and Nicole just a minute or two later. I was impressed. Exiting the dock I began prepared for the 56-mile ride, rejoining Julie, and quickly inundating her with questions about this amazing aqua woman. Unfortunately, I didn’t see Nicole again until Julie and I were nearing the end of the ride. We were heading back, and Nicole was heading out. Rocking a huge smile and her red, white and blue bike jersey she passed us quickly, shooting us a friendly wave as we blew by. Until the day I die I will regret not recognizing her soon enough to wave back… But the hook had been set. I had to know more about her. From there I texted Tim asking him to ask her if I could text her. I was afraid she wouldn’t remember me or worse that she wasn’t interested… He said he would and he did (I found out later she very much remembered me). Two days later I called her from work - the second floor (ticket counter level) at Sacramento International Airport. It was around 11am on a Tuesday. I found out later how lucky I was that she answered on that day at that time, which is normally a day spent cutting and pasting knees and shoulders together… We talked for what seemed like not nearly long enough and decided to meet that following weekend for a 60-mile bike ride… our first date. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history. We’ve raced together, travelled to world together, raised two wild and crazy puppies together and most importantly grown together – forming a team in which nothing is impossible, and everything is in reach. She is the most empathetic, empowering, direct, and patience packed person I’ve ever met. And yes, I pinch myself daily. With Nicole every day is an adventure in which the possibilities are limitless.