In the past few years, so many people have asked me why I choose to do the Ironman--and not all of those conversations have been pleasant. I've been called crazy, warned it's harmful, and even been told I am abusing my body akin to those who suffered in concentration camps--and that last accusation truly happened. But I do have a number of friends who get it, and many of them are not triathletes. They get it because they live the quest, and experience triumph in their own personal way. You know who you are, and I hold you dear to my heart.
It's always difficult to put into words what the Ironman means to me--how it is so much bigger than the sum of its parts. My friend Marianne sent me this video, and it does a pretty darn good job capturing the essence of what I strive for, what I have experienced, and what Ironman has allowed me to carry in my spirit every single day.
Take a few minutes to let yourself connect to the power and mystery of what a grand quest like Ironman can bring. Then take the energy into your heart, and use it to reinforce your own goals, meet your challenges, and chase your dreams, whatever they may be.
Oh yeah, my friend Marianne is the pretty lady smiling in the orange swim cap at the 2-minute mark in the video. She was finishing a practice swim the day before Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Enjoy.