Prologue

The real reason I do Ironman is for who it makes me.

I described my state of being post-IMC'01 as feeling like 'a door through which love entered the world'. That may be a tad mushy/bleeding heart for some of you, but it's a true assessment - I loved the way in which the  accomplishment, for a short while at least, had answered all my questions, removed my self-doubts, and for a beautiful, blissful ten days or so I moved through the world with a smile on my face and in my heart. Positivity flowed through me and instead of my usual bite-my-tongue, choke-back-my-bile responses to the petty insults of life, I was able to dismiss them as no reflection on me, and as a result was able for that short period to be my better, higher self. Instead of snapping back, I responded to surly soundmen, rude clerks, and bitchy coworkers with peace and love, and in every instance the results spoke for themselves; the soundman dropped the attitude, the clerks apologized, and my coworkers started cooperating instead of asserting their place in the pecking order.

 I was a door through which love entered the world.

I wanted that feeling again.