In Thanksgiving

I have an unusual situation in life. When I announce things like, “I think I’d like to do an Ironman triathlon” at the dinner table my wife nods and says something like, “I think you’d regret not giving it a shot.” My boys smile and say, “Cool!” This total acceptance of pursuing audacious goals differentiates me from about 99% of the married American male population.

I suppose my family is unthreatened by the looming impacts of Ironman training because they know they’re #1 on my priority list. They know that I’ll be there to help with homework, that I’ll still play catch in the yard, that I’ll still umpire their baseball games… You get the point.

It all comes down to priorities. Our house has a fair bit of deferred maintenance. Our yard is respectable looking, but certainly doesn’t compare favorably to the lush, bucolic beauty that characterizes much of Lancaster County. Priorities. I figure I’ll never look back on my life and say, “I wish I would have fertilized the yard more often.” I do fear that I’ll look back and say, “I never took any risks. I never pushed my limits. I’ve had too comfortable a life. I’ve squandered my gifts.”

Nevertheless, Ironman is different. Ironman is ultra-extreme. It reeks of vanity (kind of like this blog!). There is real danger here. I promised myself that this effort would result in more than personal ego gratification. Therein lies the Janus Charity Challenge. I’m thankful for this opportunity and for my situation in life. I wish you a thankful heart – this special day and always!

The Janus Charity Challenge

I'm very proud to announce that I've officially entered the Janus Charity Challenge for Ironman USA. I've named the Bridge of Hope as my beneficiary. BOH is an excellent organization that does great things and I'm proud to be associated with them. There will be more to follow in the coming months. In the meantime, please check out their website http://www.bridgeofhopelcc.org.