Officially Official Ironman

In August of 2008 I witnessed my first ironman by complete chance. The race took place only a few blocks from my apartment and after stumbling upon it, the only word that came to mind was - crazy. After watching the race continue into the late hours of the night I watched athletes, one after the other, running against the clock to finish by midnight. These individuals had been hitting the ground for 14-15 hours by this point and they weren't about to be defeated. To me this is what becoming an iron individual is all about.

I left the race that night unaware of the desires it had instilled me. In a couple of weeks I ran my first 5K with a time of 32:35, and felt pretty proud considering how hard it was for me to run at the time. I always thought it would be 'cool' to do a big race someday but I was too fat and too slow to ever even try. The words "I can't" rang in head every day.

The end of 2008 and start of 2009 was a difficult time for me, I couldn't find anywhere to fit in and really started to not care. Like most times in my life when things are difficult I stop and examine my life with God and usually find its been placed on the back burner for all the other great things in life that seem important but aren't. I decided to once again go through my life and filter out everything unimportant and decide where my values actually belong. The two things that came out on top were:

1. God
2. My love for athletics

I started training again with a smile on my face, not just training to run faster, bike stronger, or drown less... but to become the man I want to be. To set an example of hard work and dedication to something that is bigger than us. I don't solely speak of the ironman, but of life.

The past 2-3 months have been a blessing to my life in ways I cannot put into words. All the while, thoughts of the ironman never left my mind. I spent a lot of time in prayer and asked everyone close to me to also spend time praying. I felt like my life, my story, was ready to start a new chapter. I had become comfortable and I could tell something was pushing me towards the ironman.

The events leading up to my official entry into the 2010 Louisville Ford Ironman are still a blur, yet remain crystal clear.

My former youth pastor's husband (who was and still is (to his denial) a youth pastor too) sent me a message out of the blue telling me I should sign up for the ironman and included the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13". Another message that said "This is your story and your inspiration to others, its your choice as to what you do, but don't be afraid, don't say you can't". You get the idea of how this conversation went.

Ben Hardman, (who I don't think I've officially met) is someone I have a lot of respect for. In case you don't know who he is, Ben is the former college pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. Ben recently left SECC to plant a church near the University of Louisville. In the weeks leading up to his announcement, Ben taught some very powerful messages on going and doing by trusting in God through faith, rather than just talking about a burning desire inside to do something.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31


The entry fee for the ironman is not cheap by any means. The cost of food, gear, and resources is huge. This is not a cheap race. I signed up for the ironman without having the money, simply stuck it on a credit card and prayed that God would show me a way. Before I told anyone about any of this, I wanted to have christmas with my family and I wanted to tell them of my decision before anyone else. Christmas morning I recieved gift after gift of encourgment from my family. Devotional books, 'you can' books, money, etc. I was also told that whenever I signged up for my first race that my family would help with the entry fee. Well about that... By God's grace my race has already been paid for. More so, I'm beyond happy to know that my entire family will be in town to cheer me on race day!

In case you haven't figured it out yet, or don't think I'm being completely serious, I will be racing (to finish) the Louisville Ironman. I ask for your support however you think its best you give it. This blog will be updated with everything that crosses my mind the next 8 months, training, life, and training. I leave you with this video and God bless.