Team 464 at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships

Hey guys.   My "big secret" was that, as of a few moments ago, I officially accepted a media slot to be a featured athlete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in November.  

I got the news on Friday that I have been not-so-patiently waiting for over 7 months.   The WTC media director (WTC owns the Ironman brand and produces the Ironman World Championship and Ironman 70.3 World Championship among other races) called me in response to my media packet that I sent them in November. She gave me news that was both amazing and upsetting at the same time.   As many of you know, completing my first Ironman will be the defining moment when I can declare that I have won my WAR against obesity. Up to now I have won many battles but the war rages on.  Some battles have been small like being able to bend over and tie my shoes and some large like completing my first Ironman sanctioned 70.3 race.     My journey to Ironman would have to unfortunately be put on hold but more on that in a moment...  

The GREAT and amazing news is that I was invited to be one of the three Ironman media athletes to participate in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater in November.   If you watched the event yesterday on NBC, my story will be one of the inspirational stories that will be included in the 2010 broadcast.  Team Hoyt, Brian Boyle and Ricky James were the 3 slots from last year's race and they were featured this year.

My dream to do Kona as my first course and even my registration for IM Florida this year will be put on hold.   I cannot discuss the reason that I am not going to Kona this year because I've been sworn to secrecy but after I can tell you it will all make sense in the upcoming months when they reveal details about the race this year.   I was a shoe-in for the slot for Kona but the final reason was not up to Ironman.   Can't say more but seriously when I can talk about it I promise it will be crystal.   So, I will not be an Ironman this year and emotionally that has been very difficult for me as I made the decision over the weekend about what I was going to do.   There was never any doubt on if I was going to do the Ironman 70.3 World Champion****   It is an HONOR to be chosen for that venue and to have my story told to the world on NBC next year.  I can only hope to bring more awareness to the obesity epidemic in the world and to give inspiration and hope to many that are / were in our plight.   My 'war' will be extended for another year as I fight the final battle at IMCDA in 2010. I called my coach close to a dozen times over the weekend trying to get him to reconsider letting me doing Kentucky, Canada or Arizona.   (Ironman is letting me move my Ironman Florida registration to whatever race I choose and IMCDA is my choice for next year.)

For now, I will be doing my level best to prepare myself for Clearwater.   I want to do everyone proud by pulling off a 5:30 race at the Ironman 70.3 Championship so I'm going to concentrate all my efforts into training for it. My coach has his work cut out for me to reach that goal but I have no doubt that I'll attain it.   It's ON!  The Ironman 70.3 World Championships better prepare itself for Team 464!