A Pretty Cool Experience...

So I was asked by a local Triathlon Racing Group to be their Emcee for all of their events. Yesterday was my first one (The 2nd annual King Tut Tri). It was a Sprint and they also had a 2nd race called "My First Tri". The sprint was 500M OWS, 14 mile ride, and 5K.... My first Tri was 300M Swim, 7 mile ride, and 2 mile run...

Watching all of the folks (60-70% were first timers) squirm around transition, not sure where to go, not sure how to set up transition, ask me questions like "Where can I get a set of goggles", etc... Brought me back to a time and place 18 months ago when I did my first Triathlon. It was so awesome to be able to help in this capacity, to bring smiles to people's faces, to cheer them on and call out their name and number as they crossed the finished line for the first time was an incredible experience, and really gave me an opportunity to have some reflection. (Getting paid to do it is kind of cool too)

Anyways, yesterday's experience just reminded me of how awesome this sport / lifestye is... It truly is for EVERYONE. There were young and old, tall and short, thin and overweight, seasoned athletes and beginners, they were all there... AND, regardless of all of these differences, the one common thread that bound them together is they decided to wake up yesterday and make something good happen for themselves... which 99.999% of the rest of the folks in the Dallas /  Fort Worth Metroplex did not do!

Kuddos to all of you who get up everyday and form incredibly good habits and decisions that help you to navigate through this life with prolonged health, self-confidence, and open the door a little further each day to the endless possibilities that this life holds for us. Make this a good week!!!!

This was at my first triathlon in Sept '08 (9 months post-op):


This was me 11 short months later Finishing my swim at my first Ironman (Swim was 1:14:--):


And me (and my buddy Anthony) after finishing my Ironman: (Time flies by so fast) I really just did it for the pizza... The best pizza I have ever tasted! (after 14 hours a roofing shingle would have tasted great!)

Cool deal Dan!

Wow Dan! I had goosebumbs and tears welling in my eyes reading your post.  That must have really been a wonderful experience. It truly is experiences like that that make people appreciate life and health so much more.  I am only 2 and a half months out and last week I just completed my first 8K and am looking forward to my first triathlon in October.  What an inspiration Dan.  Thanks for your heartfelt experience and pictures and everything

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, I always look forward to your posts.

Jenny

that's a different gig!  sounds pretty cool, and i'm sure you get a whole different perspective of the race from that spot/level of responsibility... this mean you are going to start working on race director type stuff down the road??

That's cool Danny boy. What you failed to tell everyone is that on your first triathlon you brought a beach cruiser. You hammered it out though buddy!

Ya never know Bill...

what a great way to give back! (AND get paid!)

Congrats on being such a great role model to all of us, and to athletes everywhere!

Thanks Dan...for the posts, the pics, and the cheering on!