Sunday, December 13, 2009

My brother is an Ironman...

Recently my brother accomplished a goal that not many even think or have the desire to achieve, he completed a Ford Ironman event. (Most people know and watch the big one in Kona) After months of training and preparation he swam out into the cold waters of Tempe Town Lake in Arizona among thousands of other participates. With a final wave from the waters to us standing high above on the bridge, the starting gun sounded and he was off on his 2.4 mile swim. Through transition to the bike portion, he gave us another excited wave and was off again for the 112 mile bike ride. We repositioned ourselves at the parking garage and waited for him to pass by on the first lap, there were 3 laps to make the full course. He was making great time on all the portions so far, and the best was to come... the run. He hates running, but we all knew he was going to do an amazing job. He had trained not only physically, but mentally as well. He would have to run a full marathon, 26.2 miles after all of the other portions he had completed. His goal to finish the whole event was under 12 hours. The proof of what make my brother MY hero and a true Ironman is shown in the picture below:


Notice the clock time...11:58:24, just under 12 hours he pushed himself to make it the last few miles.

Great run form and untrue to his normal head cock to the side.


More great form on the bike.



A little spectator action




Here's the wave I mentioned earlier.





Prepping the night before, he even had his number shaved into his hair.

SO now at 28 years old, (Happy Birthday Today!) My brother continues to be my hero and inspiration for many of the athletic adventures I have been most recently inspired to achieve.











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