Kona 2013

It all started a few months ago. August 2010 to be exact.

I had run a marathon in April that same year in Paris. Then completed a 600km bike rally in July from Toronto to Montreal. And by early August, searching for another athletic accomplishment, I completed my first "tri-tri" -- a mini-triathlon designed to introduce newbies, such as myself, to the world of 'multi-sport' or triathlon.

It took place on one of Toronto's islands in the wee hours of the morning and consisted of a 400m swim followed by a 10km bike ride and ending with a 2.5km run. A far cry from a full triathlon or an Ironman, but nonetheless, it both tired me out and hooked me in...

Shortly after I began randomly searching for more tri-tris, sprints and triathlons in my geographic area. I was fascinated. But it was already fairly late in the season and the opportunities were slim and my skills and abilities were not sufficient to extend too much further. But my research did open up a whole new world to me. A world of extreme sports and endurance. Of crazy people pitting themselves against grueling odds and conditions. And something in me was inspired and instantly addicted. Something clicked inside. I felt like I had found my tribe.

Within weeks I had signed-up with a triathlon coach and gym; registered for my first major event: Florida's Half Ironman (http://floridahalfironman.com) on 15th May 2011; started biking, swimming, running every week; bought my first triathlon bike (worth $6,000); hired a swimming coach and generally jumped into an insane and exciting world of obsessive, type A athletes of all shapes, ages and sizes committed to pushing themselves to their personal max.

This blog is a record of my crazy journey to Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona in 2013 -- "the" ultimate IRON MAN event in the world...and all of my trials and tribulations, failures and successes as well as some of the great people I've met and hope to meet in the days, weeks and years to come.