About meI think it's very important to let people know a bit about yourself if they are taking the time to visit your website. At least that way they know you have some experience in the topic your site is all about. The Ironman Triathlon trail I have traveled for a quarter of a century has been a long and winding one. In the very beginning when I was first introduced to the sport of triathlon, there was only really Hawaii to consider if one wanted to jump headfirst into this amazing new challenge that was being whispered about--and I mean whispered.
People would be talking about this crazy event in Kona in hushed voices, because it was hard to believe that people really existed who could swim 2.4 miles, bike 112, and follow it all with a full marathon and still be seen on camera "smiling" shortly after the race. THE EARLY IRONMAN PIONEERS- Dave Scott, Scott Tinley, Mark Allen, the Puntos Twins, and Julie Moss were names that most of the world were not familiar with before the Ironman burst onto the world athletic scene, but soon would be. In many ways it was these early masters and trail-blazers of the Ironman Hawaii Triathlon who started the Ironman on a course that would bring it into the living rooms, hearts, and minds of people all over the world for decades to come. The Ironman has a magical and amazing ability to impact many people who witness it and mesmerize them into action when they hear the clarion call of the Iron Gods who challenge them to "Come. Come show us what you are made of." It is a challenge many have chosen to take on because triathlon is now the fastest growing sport in the world. Races like Ironman Canada fill in less than a day and the few spots that are held over are grabbed up right away as thousands try to enter Ironman Canada every single year.
The scenario is exactly the same for many other Ironman races around the world. The Hawaii Ironman in Kona has become the World Championships and is now the most sought after endurance race entry in the world. Thousands upon thousands take their best shot at getting to Kona, but each year only about 1600 entrants will have the honor and thrill of swimming Kona Harbor's warm waters, biking and running over the torrid landscape of the King K. Highway, and realizing their dream of making that last dash to the historic finish line on Ali'i Drive to the cheers of thousands of fans who line the the last miles of the Hawaii Ironman. It's a finish line that has witnessed so much drama, changed so many lives, and inspired so many to transform from being a spectator in life to stepping out on the highway of self-discovery and beginning their own Ironman Journey.
I was mesmerized by the Ironman when I first saw it on ABC Wide World of Sports back in 1982. Sure, I couldn't swim a stroke, but I just knew I wanted to cross that finish line, and two years later in 1984 I did. I went on to enter 14 Ironman races and finished 11 of them. I had all sorts of experiences.
I had injuries, food poisoning, and insomnia to deal with in some of those races. I got to the point that I wanted to do as well as I possibly could in my age-group and had poor races, average races, and great races, but all the Ironman race I entered had something in common. I always learned from them and was always so moved by the amazing people I came across over the years. Regardless of what destiny had in store for me in each individual Ironman I entered it was always a rewarding experience in many ways. That is the very "essence" of the Ironman. You never really fail no matter how the day turns out. It is just a thrill to be there and to be part of such an amazing event. I qualified twice more for Hawaii but never did return as historically, Ironman Canada has always been a little too close to the Hawaii Ironman and did not allow enough recovery time in order to give the best possible effort in Hawaii. Ultimately, I would let my spot roll down to others who had never experienced Kona, and just wanted the opportunity to participate and not necessarily be overly competitive.
THERE WAS NEVER TRULY A BAD RESULT Before it was necessary to qualify, I was in Kona once again in 1986, but food poisoning forced me out of the race. I was also entered in Ironman Canada 10 times and finished 8 times. Once I went in with a heel injury and was pretty sure I would be okay for the swim and bike, but would most likely have to withdraw from the race in the run. That's exactly what happened. I wanted to experience as much of the Ironman as I could even if I could not finish. Another year I had severe insomnia for some reason and was basically without sleep for three days before IM Canada and made it through the swim and bike, but my body gave out early in the run. My last two Ironman races were the Inaugural and second Ironman Coeur d'alene triathlons. CHARTING A NEW PATH It was shortly after my last race that I decided that it was time to take my Ironman career to a different level and wanted to share with the novice triathletes of the world what I had learned over the years. I decided the best way I could do that was to build a website. The only problem was, I was 55 and had no idea how to even turn a computer on. However, I was determined to build a website that would help me spread the message of the Ironman, and eventually I figured it out. A REVELATION Soon, Ironstruck was born. At first I had just 4 or 5 visitors a week, but I kept on working on my site and kept adding more and more quality information that came from the heart and from all I had experienced during my Ironman career. Now Ironstruck.ca has visitors from an average of 85 countries every single month and it continues to grow.
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