IRONMAN

FEATURE STORY

I Just Felt Like Running
This picture was back in 1986 during a break in the 500 nationals. I had just won my own motocross national in Axton Virginia and then met my friend Tom Mueller in Bozeman for a triathlon camp. The guys to our sides, Mark Hinson (left) and Frank Kohlenstien (right) were teaching. Mark had finished 22nd overall in the elite division at the Ironman in 1985 and was headed back that October to climb up into the top 10 and make the stage that year. The stage in Hawaii is the top 10 and considered, “The Podium.” If you’re up there, you’re world class! Frank had run the Western States 100 miler and had more miles on his legs than I had in my Toyota 4x4 back home! Tom was a good friend I had inspired to get in shape just a couple years earlier, but in the process, he is the one who inspired me to do my first triathlon. He knew both Mark and Frank and had a huge interest in running Western states.

So there we were at mile 11 of a 14-mile run at 6,000 feet. In the photo I’m 6’1” and weighed 158lbs. I was in the middle of trying to win my last MX title, but already thinking about doing an Ironman. That September Gina and I were married and spent the first couple days of our honeymoon in Kona to watch the Ironman. I told her when I was through racing I wanted to do the mother of all triathlons, but a few months later I crashed and my career was over as were any aspirations of an Ironman.

In 1996 I met Todd Jacobs at the San Diego SX. Todd is a 9-time Ironman finisher and stood on the “Stage” twice in his career before a Buick t-boned him one day and crushed his ankle. Both of us were floundering as we tried to fit in to the real world. An office cubicle with artificial lighting wasn’t hittin’ for either of us, but our friendship grew. I picked his brain everyday about Ironman until he eventually said, “Why don’t you just a do a small triathlon?” Long story short, Todd carried me into the swim of a local triathlon, swam next to me and carried me out, which was my biggest excuse for not having done a triathlon already. It was a pivotal day, because as soon as I crossed the finish line. I started dreaming of Ironman again.

As some of you know, I already did the Ironman 3-times from 1998-2000 and figured that was that, but after some major physical problems, which stemmed from getting careless with my health, I’m committed to being healthy once again and have qualified for the Hawaii Ironman again in Kona. I would’ve never thought I would be going back, but it just goes to show you never know how much things can change and what the future will bring.

I’ll be adding little updates as I go, so check back for more crazy training days and photos.

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Here is a saying that showed up in my email a while back. Couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to endurance sports!

"In any task it is always THE MIND that fails first, not the body"