Musings that stir a wild man’s heart
Go Dad. #2 Ironman, #1 Dad
His signs are packed and ready for his voyage on Wednesday to Ironman number II to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I cheered, but then caught my breath, dropped a couple of tears, when I felt the gravity of what the sound of the cannon meant, as the announcer said,
“Don’t worry about them out there today… We will take care of them.”
He was referring to the thrill of watching the heap of 2,200 swimmers pile into the water, wave after wave, in a rush to the finish during my husband’s first Ironman. Where would this race take him today? Figuratively and emotionally. Later, I learned that 287 racers did not make it to the finish line. “Can you believe that sight,” he says. I still can’t. Over two thousand racers; each with their own private story to tell about why they’re here today.
I am often asked, but I never know just how, to encapsulate into words the reasons why my husband wants to do an Ironman. It takes so much time, other women complain. I complain about this too. Training does take a lot of time. But, it’s better than a blond, I say. I know he thinks this is fun; but I, and many of you reading this, don’t. There are also his own private reasons; they come from deep places within him; memories from boyhood days long ago, yearnings for places yet to see, the conquest, stirrings to reconcile a promise that wasn’t meant to come to fruition.
His Dad died of leukemia in his 40s, and his first Ironman was done in his honor, with the accomplished achievement of raising over $8,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Still, the reasons go back further still. Before he died, his Father often talked about the trip out west they would take together; the trip that never happened; yet, his Ironman bike ride was in close proximity to those very same mountains they talked about exploring on their own. During the run, towards the end of the race, he said he felt his Dad’s presence right there; and even my Mom talked to him, telling him he was almost there; he had come this far already, he could do it.
Unlike the last video, this one shows four thousand volunteers who spray sunscreen and peel wetsuits off the swimmers. You can hear our then 8-year-old, directing Dad to his bike, after we “threw him off” by showing up in the transition area. (Flustered from seeing us there, he couldn’t find his bike for a second.)
No, I can’t speak for him about why he does what he does. His reasons are vast and too mysterious — and so “un female.” But, I can understand why so many of your feel compelled to ask, as I still wonder the same thing sometimes.
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15 Comments
Lisa Milton
I can’t say I understand it, but then again, there are things we each must do that can’t be explained.
Hope he has a safe journey.
Tanya
What great shots…especially love the first sign 🙂
golightly
What an incredible journey to take on, thank you for sharing it with us.
Vered
“No, I can’t speak for him about why he does what he does. His reasons are vast and too mysterious  and so “un female.â€
I can SO relate to that.
Great photos!
Christina
What dedication for him to take this on….and what love to faithfully stand by and offer support even while you wonder “why.”
Christine
Oh wow! I couldn’t imagine what a person goes through to do an Ironman. My dad was like that… dedicated to races and such. Good luck to your hubby!
megan
wow — what committment, for him and you, too, since you give up time with him while he trains — your shots captured the excitement of the buildup!
cce
That video clip was just amazing…I really didn’t know what an Ironman looked like, sounded like, felt like. Totally illuminating. While I think there’s some level of crazy involved, I do so understand the drive to accomplish something that huge, that solitary and self involved. Not to say that I’d do it. But I totally get and respect it.
Maggie
WOW! Congrats to him — what a fantastic accomplishment! And that video…amazing — thanks so much for sharing!
bill
To have that kind of back-home support — WOW. You folks are awesome.
melody is slurping life
Go Dave! The photos and signs are awesome. So is he for accomplishing the goal of tri-athlete. The physical and mental strength and endurance this takes is astounding.
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Melanie
Wow…what a cool thing to be a part of. Love the pictures and I could totally imagine the scene from your description…
louann
Some things we may never understand but I think it is awesome that he is doing something I know has a purpose in his heart.
I hope he does great =)
Painted Maypole
i love that you support him in it, even when you don’t fully understand it. all you need to know is that it’s important to him!
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