The "Start Line"

I wasn't sure when I'd make the "start line" for this blog, but what better time then on the morning of the Ironman World Championships.  Right now its almost 10am, and in a few short hours the best athletes from across the globe will compete in Kona Hawaii at the pinnacle race in the sport of Triathlon.  

This race is actually what first drew me to the sport many years ago.  I remember watching coverage of the event on t.v. when I was just a teenager in highschool.  At that time, I had never swam or biked competitively, and any running I did was mostly due to it being apart of other sports I played (like basketball).    Still, there was something about the high level of fitness and dedication that was so admirable and apparent as I watched these athletes cover the course and listened to the announcers describe this epic event - a 2.4mile swim, 112mile bike, and then a 26.2mile run, all covered in under 17 hours.  

It seemed almost impossible to me at the time, yet somehow so simple.  I can swim, I can bike, and I can run...most people can right? I mean those are the basic activities of any kid!  So as I watched the t.v. in the basement of my home on Meadow Rd., the dream was born, the allure was there..someday I would be an Ironman and race in Kona. 

In the posts to follow I will bring you up to speed on how I got from that basement dream to where I am now - a 4 time Ironman Finisher, and where I want to be - qualifying for those World Championships at Ironman Florida in 2010.  I should also say that the  reason I am writing this blog is so that people can follow my efforts and support this dream.  As you now know, I've had this dream for a very long time, but I have never wrote or really even spoke about actually qualifying for Kona as it is such a huge task and the fear of failure is always there.  That being said, I've decided there is more to be gained in sharing the journey and taking the risk.  I hope this blog will help keep me motivated and encouraged as I take on this goal, and hopefully a few of you out there enjoy the read.  

Cheers, 

Jon