Reflecting on the race of a lifetime
The sunburns have faded, but the memory of charging down Ali'i drive to finish the Ironman World Championship in Kona will last a lifetime.
Kona. The very word sends a rush of hopes, images, fears, desires, and adrenaline to every triathlete up training before the sun rises. I am honored and deeply grateful to Ironman for inviting me to come race on the big stage. One athlete put it best, saying that Kona is a celebration of the amazing athletic feats humans can accomplish together.
While triathlon is a solo sport in a sense, the real magic lies in the volunteers handing out nutrition on the course, the spectators and loved ones cheering along the course, and fellow athletes encouraging each other along the way. If you have a 3-year-old who can ring a cowbell, you have it made.
I'm happy to give a special shout-out and thanks to my sponsors, Zealios and Cowboy Crickets for their support and belief in this mission to use endurance sports as a way of healing and transformation. I hope you enjoy my Kona race review.
NBC will broadcast the race on December 9th at 2:30 PM Eastern. It will feature a segment on me and the fallen Marines I race with on my jersey.
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