Ironman Everything...

I'm wondering if I should paint Ironman Logo's on the garage doors of our house?

Alice, don't freak out, I'm just kidding. Unless you like the idea.

I will say that I am Ironman crazy. I can't tell you how much Ironman logo'd clothing and products I have. Last year it was Clearwater 70.3 World Championship stuff and this year it's Kona Ironman World Championship stuff.

I use the word stuff, because it's more than clothing. I have glasses, mugs, magnets, license plate holders, stickers, watch, bottle opener, bento box, back pack, swim bags, finisher hats and even a cookie cutter. Yes, you heard correctly, we have a cookie cutter shaped like the Ironman logo.

Today I had a meeting with a client and friend, among other things, we talked about my Ironman journey and he asked if I was wearing Ironman underwear to go with the Ironman shirt and light jacket I had on.

We went for beers and I showed him my Ironman arm band tattoo and my new ankle band tattoo. In total, I have 3 Ironman logos' tattoo's on my body. Some may ask, "why do you wear so much Ironman stuff and have Ironman tattoo's?" and that would be a great question.

The reason I proudly wear Ironman clothing and have the tattoos is because "it's who I am". I don't wear it to show off, or start conversations, I don't even have to leave the house to wear Ironman clothing".

Ironman is a lifestyle and when I get up in the morning, after I evaluate if I've gained any weight by looking in the mirror, I look at my tattoos and feel good about myself. It shows what I've done and what I can do.

The Ironman logo to me stands for "superior mental and physical strength". It's a badge of honour. It is a constant reminder that "anything is possible".

It also keeps you honest. When I got my first tattoo in 1987, it was a red maple leaf. It was to represent the completion of my first Ironman in Canada. When I got it, it was perfectly symmetrical. I distinctly remember telling others that, "if it ever becomes skewed, I need to get back in shape and when it's back in proper symmetry, then I know I'm back in shape.

I intentionally had my first Ironman-comeback tattoo put on my arm, near my bicep. I wanted to be "bold". If I ballooned back up to 229 lbs, it would look ridiculous on my arm. It would be embarrassing to show it in public. I imagine that an Ironman logo would look terrible on a "fat guy's arm" or an arm with no shape.

Clothing is different. If I got fat, it wouldn't fit and I wouldn't be identified as being "a has been". With a tattoo, you're "marked for life", the truth is always present. If your in good shape, people respect you and if your in bad shape, people will feel sorry for you at best and "chuckle under their breath" at worst.

My Ironman tattoo armband motivates me "NOT" to gain weight and "TO" lift weights. Now with two more Ironman man logos on my body, the pressure is even greater to stay in shape. Which I think is a good thing. I don't mind the added pressure. If it keeps me on "the straight and narrow" I see NO DOWNSIDE.

Some may argue it's "a corporate brand" and your promoting World Triathlon Corporation. Their right, it is a corporate brand, but I don't view it that way. To me it's a symbol first, I don't see the brand. All that matters is when I look at it, I'm motivated to stay in shape or get back in shape. If wearing a McDonald logo would do the same, I'd have no problem tattooing Ronald McDonald somewhere on my body.

As crazy as this sounds, when I die, I'd like to have my ashes put in an urn with an Ironman logo on it and put on the mantle of our house as a reminder to our kids or possible grand kids that "anything is possible".

When Alice dies, the kids could keep the urn or get rid of it. If they do get rid of it, I want them to spread my ashes in Kona; some in the water at the pier, some on the bike course and some on the run course.

Now, with all that said, when I'm dead, I'm dead and if Alice and the kids don't want no "Stinking Ironman Urn" hanging around the house, I'm cool with that, who am I to ague. I'm dead. In that case, just get rid of the ashes in Kona, and make a vacation out of it, and come back to visit me often.

"Ironman isn't what I do, Ironman is what I am".

Today I wasn't 100%. I didn't get to bed until 4:30 am, I was having too much fun, but I'm not sure what I was doing, but it was fun, I think. I was back up and working at 8:30 am, with not a lot of sleep, and a little dehydrated.

I still managed to do a speed work session at lunch time. I almost didn't. I stepped out the door and it was cool and starting to rain. I was debating if I should run after work instead. I almost convinced myself until "I kicked myself in the a$$" and said, "don't be a pussy, remember you're an Ironman" and that's all it took. Off I went.

Speed Run - 29:12 / 6.71 km / 4:21 per km avg pace

19.5