Why Do The Ironman? Part 5

I first heard of Sister Madonna Budder through Phil Keoghan’s (host of ‘The Amazing Race’) book ‘No Opportunity Wasted’. Sister Budder is the 80-year-old nun who has completed many Ironman triathlons including the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in Kona. I thought: if she could do it at her age, I could do it! However, I could not even comprehend how much preparation and training was involved in completing the 226K multi-discipline event. Years later, I met this fit and inspiring competitor at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida in 2008 and 2009. I had to do my best, and I did do my best with her racing side-by-side. I was absolutely stoked being with her in the race that I, earlier, earned a qualification for.

Integrated within every Ironman World Championship DVD are powerfully inspiring stories about competitors who survived near-death ordeals, physical challenges, or are near-death. Jon ‘Blazeman’ Blais defied impending death and a crippling medical condition to complete his personal quest one year; and watch the event from his wheelchair in the next. We celebrate his memory by rolling on our belles, across the finishing-line. 4-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington did the ‘Blazeman Roll’ in almost every one of her wins (symbolic of her fight against ALS disease), and stayed on after her victory to cheer on the remainder of the field.

Chrissie's biography which chronicles her meteoric rise from a woman with control issues to world-class champion athlete.

The father-and-son team, ‘The Hoyts’ is a synergistic collaboration that fulfills the human hunger to achieve and accomplish. Father tows and pushes his son through a complete Ironman for his son feels so much alive to be part of a race that saw its humble beginnings in 1978. One is smitten by their love and mutual respect for each other, braving the elements and challenging the odds to complete the race.

These amazing and inspiring people in Ironman help bring out the best in us. It is through their thoughts, words and deeds that we feel what we feel, and are humanized in the process. Ironman is more than a demanding personal physical challenge. It is a celebration of the human spirit that defies unthinkable odds, to emerge victorious and celebrating.

Books to Inspire You To A Personal Best

‘When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always.’ MAHATMA GANDHI

Inspiration comes in many forms. It can be an insight, realisation, being touched by your muse, or a sudden impulse to do something not attempted before. Said Eleanor Roosevelt, ‘Do one thing everyday that scares you.’ Wayne Gretsky said: ‘I miss 100 percent of the shots I don’t take.’

I am, currently, reading a few books and it includes a few biographies of inspiring people. I enjoy biographies, since I reviewed books and films by sportspeople including Chris McCormack, Bart Yasso and Fred Lebow.

Matt Long was a New York City firefighter with East Harlem's Ladder Company 43. He was crushed by an off-course, charter bus while riding his Trek 2200 road-bike, to an early-morning workout on a cold winter's day. He was, literally, horribly dragged under a bus, impaled, and nearly died. A 3:13 NYC Marathon finisher (and Boston Qualifier), NYC firefighter, and Ironman triathlon finisher – he was painfully close to death. After the gruesome accident, and a prognosis that he would likely be paralysed, Long endured 40 operations and months in the hospital. He focused on the finish-line of the NYC Marathon 2008, which he completed after his recovery when he was 42. It was a major accomplishment for Long, and it motivated him to begin speaking publicly, and to create the ‘I Will’ foundation to help people recover from traumatic, life-altering, illnesses or injuries. His memoir, The Long Run (co-written with an editor at Runner’s World magazine) is full of the heartfelt ‘can-do’ attitude that should appeal to the Iron Man in everyone. It chronicles his long and determined road to recovery, both physically and psychologically.

I wrote a few weeks ago that I met Sister Madonna Buder, one of my inspirations to do Ironman triathlons. At 80-years-old, she is the oldest female Ironman triathlete, and still racing. I intend to read 'The Grace to Race' and post a review, thereafter.

Few would be touched when they watch the athletic exploits of The Hoyts. Team Hoyt is a poignant relationship between father and son, and a dream that needed to be realized. This is another book I will get in my shopping cart for Amazon.com.

Ordinary People Leading Extraordinary Lives

‘If you can find meaning in the type of running that you do, then you might find meaning in that other pastime called life.’ ~ BILL BOWERMAN

What would possess a person to rise at dawn, swim, ride, and run almost the entire day – just to earn a medal and a t-shirt? What would entice a person to run a marathon at night, where it is warm and humid and risk heat disorder? What inspires a person to climb Mount Everest – the highest point in the world – and risk life and limb?

On this daily blog, we hope to provide some form of incentive for you to stay active, engaging, interactive and interpersonal with others. We call these abilities and skills – leadership. Leading others, and influencing them in positive ways towards their destiny – known as their potential – is our mission.

When top-blogger and renowned marketing author, Seth Godin proposed in his book and blog to write one blog post a day, everyday for three years, I took up the challenge. It has been almost two years, and it has been a great adventure so far. We have interviewed many amazing, everyday, people who lead day-jobs and also do extraordinary things as their pastimes and pursuits.

Many of us featured on this blog are Everyday People, who fit the wide profile of 20-70 years. Endurance sports are a way of expressing ourselves. We indulge in sports like marathons and triathlons because we can exceed ourselves, define our limits, socialize and enjoy quality life. We learn how to not judge others too readily, for looks can be deceiving. We are encouraged by the exploits of others, basking in their happiness of achieving their personal best. We appreciate their sense of accomplishment and achievement.

Ordinary people who lead extraordinary lives inspire me. Kyle Pease has cerebral palsy and he just ran a half-marathon a week ago, and will do a triathlon with his two brothers in a month’s time. He writes about how he appreciates fully his caregivers and supporters. Previously, the Hoyts showed how a father’s love for his son led them to share the Ironman triathlon experience.

We take great pride in reporting about these ordinary people with extraordinary spirits and stories. Thus, we will continue to recognize them because they inspire us for what they have done and will continue to do. For that we are indeed fortunate.
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The OSIM Singapore International Triathlon 2011 is looming close. Whether you are preparing for your first triathlon or have a couple of races under your belt, how you prepare and what you do leading up to your event is crucial as well as what you actually do during the race makes a big impact on your performance on the actual race day. We have assembled a team of ten experts and practitioners to help with your preparation.

The team will cover topics ranging from event strategies, mental prepping, sports-injury management to nutritional planning. And not just talks! You can look forward to actual run and cycle clinics led by our experienced triathletes. Plus we has organised an actual open-water swim clinic; not just at the swimming pool.

So get ready to prime yourself. For more details and registration, visit http://www.back2sports.com.sg/PrimeYourself/

PS: I will be leading the first run clinic on 23 April, and sharing my learning methodologies on how I progressed from a non-long distance runner to a recent Boston marathon qualifier.