I have to say, preparing for an Ironman is sometimes easier than the commitments you have post Ironman Hawaii each year. It has been much longer than I anticipated between this blog and my last blog so I do apoligize. I will keep this one relatively short, as my Kona wrap up was much longer than I thought.
Since Kona, I returned to Australia with my family and then after 12 days, jumped back on that Qantas flight 11 for the 14 hour flight back to LA. This time of year is very busy in the USA as most of my Sponsors are shooting their commercial shoots for the coming year. Coordinating with them and balancing shoots all over the USA means living out of a suitcase for about a month, and traveling quite extensively. This next month is crazy but catching up with sponsors and seeing their visions and plans for the upcoming years is great. I very much enjoy this.
This year however, I flew back a little earlier as I wanted to be a part of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, biggest day. The San Diego Triathlon Challenge in La Jolla is an annual event that the CAF has to raise awareness and money for the cause. It begins with the Qualcomme Million Dollar Challenge, and then ends with the Triathlon on the Sunday. It is a weekend festival and a great cause. The CAF is a Foundation that I have been closely attached to for a few years through my good friend Bob Babbitt who is one of the founding members of the Foundation. I have always wanted to be a part of this huge day for them. Last year I couldn't make it, but this year I contacted Bob and told him to lock me in for the day. I was not going to miss this event this year.
The CAF event in San Diego is the greatest day in our sport. I often think what brought me to the sport of Triathlon in the first place. I was inspired by the great champions of the past to get on my bike and start swimming and to venture down this multi-sport path that lead me to where I am today. Being inspired is what nurtures passion and only with passion can you be real to your goals. It is passion that has kept me honest with myself and has driven me to be the best I can be - To emulate what my sporting hero's did in the past. I guess this has always been my focus and given me my love for this sport.
What I experienced in San Diego with the CAF was the most inspiring day of my life. To be a part of what this amazing Foundation does and how they change lives for people was so motivating, It gave me a purpose. I was inspired, and wanted to do more. Many people know Sarah Reinertsen, Paul Martin or Rudy Garcia-Tolson, for their amazing athletic exploits in events all around the world. These three athletes are incredible and I look forward to racing you guys again very soon. Paul gave me a hard time in the CAF clinics on the Saturday and Rudy is racing in Ironman Arizona after Ironman Hawaii this year. Sarah is a super star who continues to do amazing things.
But young Brendon Driscoll, or the bubbling energy ball, Cody McCasland are my new sporting hero's. These two boys inspired me to be more involved with CAF and kept me laughing all day. Spending the day with both of you inspired me like my sporting heros did, when I was a boy, and like these guys did for me, you have given me my purpose and my passion again to do everything I can to help all the CAF athletes experience our sport and life like both of you do. To hang out with both of you was cool, and watching you both racing was a real buzz. check out some of the stories at: http://www.challengedathletes.org/athletes_stories/
My trip back to the USA is busy, but what I will take from my post Kona 2009 is that I was inspired again by an event and by the people involved in an amazing organisation and as I said to everyone after the race, You have found an Ambassador for life, and I will be focusing my attention, my energy and my time, to do everything I possibly can to help you do even more for a cause that is so close to my heart. I will be involving my family and growing together with you all to continue to do what you do and hopefully inspire more people to raise awareness and assist in the amazing job you do.
And to Brenden and Cody - Keep smiling and racing and loving what you do. You guys are super hero's. If you get the chance check out the CAF website and come and check out the event next year in San Diego. If your not inspired like I was, I will be amazed. Well done CAF for what you do. Amazing.
Train safe and I promise to write much more from the road and keep my blogs a little shorter,
Macca
