LAKE PLACID — Of the thousands of athletes who emerged from the turbulent Mirror Lake during the Lake Placid Ironman, most went by in a blur, disappearing from memory as soon as they hit the sandy beach.
But some were hard to forget. The images of the athletes rising from the water were powerful statements of perseverance and courage as they began a long day that included a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
It was inspiring to see blind triathlete Mark Griffin and his guide Scott Burkhardt rise from the water after the first lap, laughing and enjoying themselves as if they were on a casual swim.
It was encouraging to see another blind athlete, Patricia Walsh, holding onto her guide Caroline Gaynor as she made her way out of the water amid the thousands of swimmers.
And it was downright stunning to see Kimberly Fawcett of Ottawa come out of the water, with the help of two men, with only one leg.
Fawcett lost her leg when she was hit by car about two years ago. She lost her son in the same accident.
For her efforts, Fawcett, who served in Afghanistan for the Canadian military, received one of the loudest, if not the loudest, ovation of the morning as she hopped out of the water.
Fawcett completed the swim with just her natural leg, then put on a prosthetic leg for the cycling and running segments.
It is these athletes who really give the event meaning and make it one that more people can relate to.
In general, Ironman is not something that most people would ever consider entering. The distances of the events are too extreme. Most people don’t have the time, inclination or desire to spend hours a day exercising with the focus of becoming an Ironman. There are other obligations that are much more pressing: work and family being the biggest.
But the event itself is a great metaphor for life and the hardships that many people experience and overcome. For some, it can be an experience that builds confidence and reaffirms one’s sense of self worth.
This idea isn’t necessarily brought home best by the professionals or elite athletes who blaze through the various courses.
The purpose of doing an Ironman is best understood by watching those who aren’t perfectly-sculpted athletes. It can be best seen in those who are average people. Those who are overweight. Those who are graying. Those who, like most of us, don’t appear perfect on the surface.
The meaning is brought home by people like Walsh, who lost her vision as a child, but now wakes up most days at 5 a.m. before work with the goal of bettering herself.
It’s brought home by 70-year-old Peter Hanna of Nova Scotia who refuses to listen to those who say he should slow down at his age.
And, of course, it is made obvious by Fawcett, who had the courage to push forward and overcome the physical and emotional pain of a lost leg and a lost child.
For some people, the grueling race is more than just the glory of being an Ironman. It’s about finding the courage to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles. It’s about finding the strength to save oneself, no matter what has life has thrown in one’s way.
I think Dan Callahan, an Ironman and pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Toronto, said it best: “We run a race, and really, it’s a race for our lives and salvation.”
