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My massive fan base - Mark - has convinced me to blog my Ironman journey, so I thought I'd start with a little background. My first exposure to Ironman was probably 1999 or 2000; I don't remember the year. It was Kona, and I watched Dick Hoyt carry his adult son 140.6 miles. I didn't know much about triathlons and was absolutely blown away. The distance seemed unreachable, the pain unbearable, the athletes unstoppable. It was the ultimate challenge, and I decided then that one day I will become an Ironman. But... I didn't swim, bike or run. I raced motocross, and I quickly forgot about triathlons and turned my focus back to the dirt.

Until...

April 1, 2006. That's the day I became a cyclist. I had quit racing motocross a few years prior and needed a new venture, a challenge. On April 1 I took my new Fastback out for my first ride. It was only 15 miles. It took an hour, and I loved every minute of it. It was a lot more work than motocross but it felt so great to be back on two wheels. It was freedom. I rode 2000 miles in 2006, and started running again mid-summer. I wasn't thinking Ironman yet, but it was only a matter of time.

That fall I volunteered for one of the bike stations at Ironman Wisconsin and watched 4 friends - Mark, Johnny, Bruno and Bob - achieve iron status. It was inspiring to say the least.

So I decided to spend 2007 working on my cycling, running and swimming. The cycling was fun, the running tough and the swimming frustrating. I did 3 triathlons this summer and learned a lot about the sport. Although I wavered a little on my decision later, I decided during the run at the Ripon Triathlon that I would sign up for Ironman 2008. That was my second triathlon, and I was having a blast.

Again, this fall I volunteered for Ironman Wisconsin and watched 2 friends - Koebs and Adam - achieve iron status. The day after I got up early, got a killer spot in line (thanks Johnny) and got a spot in Ironman Wisconsin 2008.

The Ironman isn't really about swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 26.2. It's about commitment, dedication and mental toughness. It's about reaching a new level. It's about being focused on a single goal for one year and seeing what you're capable of. On September 7, 2008 we'll see what I'm capable of.