WE DID IT!! THANK YOU!!!!

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me over the past year. A special thanks goes out to those individuals that traveled to the events and/or helped me with my training, I could not have done this with out you. I also would like to thank the Lazarex Cancer Foundation who has been one of my inspirations during this event. Finally a special thank you goes to all of the cancer patients who I have dedicated these events to. Your fight and determination is truly an inspiration and something we can all learn from. Keep up the fight and I promise to keep running as long as you keep fighting.






At the end of a long 12 months we have accomplished a lot together. Seven endurance events a total of 443.2 event miles and thousands of hours of training. More importantly we hit our goal of $5,000 raised for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.


This challenge was never about how fast I could complete a marathon or a Triathlon. It was about doing our part to help in the fight and just simply stepping up to the line. Which we have done over and over again until we reached our goal.


Although my challenge has come to an end that does not mean we can not continue to do our part in fighting this deadly disease. I ask you to pick up that ball and run with it. Pick an event, pick a charity and step up to the line.

Thank you again for all of the support!!

Sincerely,

Shawn

The Iron Man has left the building!

Hi folks...Gary here again. It's Monday evening and I wanted to post a quick update to the blog to let everyone know that Shawn is now officially a full Iron Man! He safely finished the event last night shortly after 11:00 p.m. in a total time of 16 hours! Holy cow, I'm still so impressed and proud.

Here are Shawn's times:

Swim (2.4 miles) - 1 hour, 18 minutes (great pace...I'll take credit for this, since I was obviously instrumental in the training)

Bike (112 miles) - 7 hours, 22 minutes (Shawn said this was tough due to some mechanical issues with the bike while out on the course)

Run (26.2 miles) - 6 hours, 59 minutes (his run time suffered due to the extra energy that was expended on the bike, but hey, it's a full Iron Man!)

So that's a wrap on Cedar Point. Will he do another one someday? Who knows, you'll have to ask Shawn. Shawn's mom has already drawn up a contract in an attempt to get Shawn to promise to rest for a while and only swim/bike/run for fun from now on. We'll see if he signs it!

I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of summer 2010. It's been fun.

CONGRATULATIONS SHAWN!!!!

Be good!
Gary

A long day

Well I have to be up very early tomorrow morning, so this will probably be my last post of the day. I have really enjoyed following Shawn along on this Iron Man event today. He has put a LOT of work and dedication into training for this event, and I can say that I am proud to call him my friend. It's inspiring to me to see someone attempt something like the 140.6. Shawn and I spent a lot of time out on Rainbow Reservoir in Windsor this past spring and summer. I remember the first Sunday morning back in May when we went out. The water was pretty cold, and it came as a bit of a shock to the system I think. But the weather warmed up soon enough, and before you knew it we were out there swimming/kayaking among the fishermen and the water skiers!

So it's been a long road. And don't forget that this is not Shawn's full time job. He still puts in his 8+ hours a day behind a desk, and then has been out training for this Iron Man in the evenings and on weekends. It's been a grind, but it really is something to be proud of.

Great job Shawn!

Gary

10 Miles to Go!!

I know you can do it Shawn!!!

We're nervous...Will Shawn make it?

I say YES!!! I didn't go out on that kayak all those times this summer for just nothin' ya know!

Believe in the IRON MAN!

Run Like You Stole Something!!!

Key To The Highway

I got the key to the highway,
Billed out and bound to go.
I'm gonna leave here running;
Walking is most too slow.

I'm going back to the border
Woman, where I'm better known.
You know you haven't done nothing,
Drove a good man away from home.

When the moon peeks over the mountains
I'll be on my way.
I'm gonna roam this old highway
Until the break of day.

Push on Shawn, YOU CAN DO IT!

It's closing in on the 12-hour mark since Shawn began this crazy event. I know he can make it to the finish!!!!

Spectating

Let's hear it for Kay and Shawn's family! Being a spectator at these loonnnng events is no easy feat!

Finished with the bike!

Shawn's in T2 now...starting the run in a few minutes. It's 4:15 p.m. now, so he's about 9 hours in so far.

GO SHAWN! You can do it!!!

Iron Man!

It's Shawn!

The winner has finished...now when will Shawn make it?

Here's the winner crossing the finish line!

The male and female leaders on the course

The male leader in the last mile of the IronMan

The female leader on the run course

Picture from the run course

Here's some random athlete on the run course

The waiting is the hardest part

Shawn's still out on the bike!

The wait continues.... :o)

Taking it moment by moment

60.2 miles down....80.4 miles to go!

A view of the leader on the run

Ever forward

Looks like Shawn is more than halfway through the 112 mile bike ride.

Keep pushing Shawn. I know you can do this today!

On the bike course

These are two of the leaders...not Shawn unfortunately!!

The long road...

20.5 miles into the bike phase in 1 hr and 8 mins! Looking good Shawn...that 18 mph!!

Only 117.7 miles to go!!

Out of the water (frying pan?) and into the bike course (fire?)

Shawn has finished the swim portion in 1 hour, 17 mins and is now out on the bike course! Only 138.2 miles to go!!!!!!!!

Halfway done with the swim

Kay just texted me to tell me that Shawn is past the halfway point of the swim. They make them all get out of the water and then back in to do the second loop!

In the water!

The pros hit the water about 10 mins ago...and Shawn's group of amateurs just ran in about 2 mins ago!!

Race Day!

Hi folks. This is Gary, covering the blog for Shawn on the day of the big event. As I type, it's 7:19 a.m. and the race is underway. There was a 15 minute delay as they waited for the sun to rise, but Shawn should be in the water any minute now.

Go Shawn!!

140.6 Miles - Rev 3 - Lazarex Cancer Foundation challenge!!

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke Love, Kornelia :)"

This is it. The final event of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation challenge.

The Rev 3 Full Iron distance Triathlon. Swim 2.4 miles, Bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles.

As you can see have a lot of miles to cover and therefore we have a lot of time to make dedications:

This race is dedicated to the following:

The Start – Is dedicated to everyone who has donated to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, and supported me along the way. Without all of your support I would have never got to the start line.

The Swim – Is dedicated in loving memory of Elmer Hammerschmidt and Pigi Kontekakis

The Bike – Is dedicated in support of Samuel Huff, Eleni Bletsos, Sis Swartz and Jean Buckner.

The Run – Is dedicated in honor of Laurie Trupp

The Finish – Is dedicated to all of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation patients and staff.

A Look Back - Providence IronMan 70.3

July 11th, 2010

Is that a Great White Shark?

"Dear Shawn, In my eyes, you are mightier than the Great White Shark! He should be worried that you will be in the waters this weekend! The best to you as you accomplish yet another amazing goal. Wishing you strength, fortitude and grace! Peace and Love, Laurie"

Back to Naragansett where the challenge had started in September of 2009 and to one of the few ocean swims of this challenge. The weather started out good but by the end of the day would reach into the 90's and make the run very difficult. The swim was also challenging on this day as I got my first taste of what it is like to swim while getting a little sea sick. The race proved to be a great challenge and a good confidence builder for the next month or so of training that was still to come.

The race was dedicated to all of those friends and family members of Gary Morrey who have fought cancer.

Thank you to the support group of Gary Morrey.

A Look Back - The IronMan Mooseman 70.3

June 6th, 2010
Good Luck Shawn...Just Keep Swimming :):):) I am so proud of you!!

When this comment was posted on the donation website I did not realize that this was referring to the entire day. I had figured it was just for the first leg of the triathlon.

The course was hard enough with its brutal mountain climbs and elevations. Did it really need to pour down rain all day. The run course became a course off road mudding and the finish line was a good old fashion mud pit. Oh well it was a good start to the second half of the challenge.

This event was dedicated in loving memory to Pigi Kontekakis.

Thank you to the support group of Kay Moysis who stood in the rain all day.

A Look Back - The Challenge is over???

The Disney Goofy run was suppose to be the last event. The plan was to take some time off relax, gain 10 lbs and enjoy the rest of winter. After the Disney event I got several inquires about what was next. My original response was I plan on taking some time off. However, as the month came to an end it became apparent that we should continue the challenge. It just felt like we could do a little more. Although we had raised a lot of money for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation we had fallen short of the $5,000 original goal.

Although the challenge extension would not be announced until April the training began in February after meeting with a doctor to get medically cleared.

It just seemed like the right thing to do. The goal, to finish what we had started. To reach the original goal of $5,000, continue to create awareness for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation and to create a final challenge of the mind and body that would test my limits to the full extent.

The Year of the IronMan – 2010

A Look Back - The GOOFY Run

"Good luck Shawn! You really are Goofy! Gary"

January 9th and 10th, 2010

This race was dedicated in support of Sis Swartz and Jean Buckner!!

The Disney Goofy run. So the Goofy run was a half marathon on Saturday 13.1 miles and a full marathon on Sunday 26.2 miles. I had run the Disney marathon twice prior to this event but had never done the Goofy run.

Lazarex had a very large team at Disney for this weekend. This was supposed to be the final event and we had raised a total of $3,500 for the Lazarex Cancer foundation.

What made this weekend amazing were all the people who came along to support me during the event weekend and the week to follow. They were up early with me and stood in the cold all day waiting for me. A special thanks goes out to Matt and Amy who where on scene each day.

Thank you to the support group of: Matt, Amy, Nazia, Frank and the entire Lazarex team.

"Hey Shawn and Rachael, This donation is from the students at American Fork High School! Go Mickey Mouse! "

"Good luck on your final challenge !!! Hopefully you can hold that old body together for one for weekend. (Kevin Hammerschmidt)

A Look Back - Seattle Marathon

November 28, 2009

The Seattle Marathon was an after thought. This event was added to make the challenge a little tougher, raise some additional funds and also to join the Lazarex team that was at this event.

The event ended up being a little tougher then I had hoped for. I will always remember this marathon as the event that taught me that the mind is greater then the body. A twisted ankle at the 1 foot line and 26.2 miles later crossed the finish line.

Thank you to the support group of: Mallory, Betsy, Rachael and the members of the Lazarex team.


"My uncle was recently diagnosed with cancer and watching how it has affected him and our family makes me want to help Shawn, Rachael and Lazarex to not only helping people with cancer but also for finding a cure." (Ashley)

"We think it is great that you are taking part in these marathons for such a worthy cause. Jerry and Pat Herrick."

A Look Back - The Hartford Marathon

"Shawn: Whenever my wife says that I do crazy things, I can just show her that there are others who are crazier. Good Luck. - Wayne"

October 10, 2009

The Hartford Marathon was the second event of this challenge. Although I have lived in Connecticut for approx 7 years I had never ran the Hartford marathon. The course is very flat and my time proved it. The support was amazing as the gang showed up in full force. During the race they sold raffle tickets to help raise money for Lazarex Cancer Foundation. We also took phone calls during the run and in total raised approx $500 from this race.

Great event, great race and will definitely do it again.

This Race was dedicated in memory to my Grandfather - Elmer Hammerschmidt

Thank you to the support group of: Rachael, Frank, Matt, Amy, Gary and Nazia. This is the only race I have ever done where I was greeted at the finish line with the popping of a bottle of

champagne.

A Look Back - the event that started it all!!

FIRMMAN - Rhode IslandOcean Swim 1.2 Miles Bike 56 Miles Run 13.1 Miles
September 13th 2009.

This was the event that kicked it all off, Approx 1 year ago. This was my first attempt to complete a ½ Iron Distance triathlon.

We arrived on Saturday to check in. It was overcast and as we got to the beach and walked out we noticed something I had not seen all year. Waves, big 6 foot tall waves. My training had been mainly in the pool and the long island sound (no waves). So this was something new for me to think about. How do you swim through 6 foot waves. Well I had hoped that the next day the waves would be gone but no luck.

On Sunday morning we woke up to rain pouring down. It was around 4:00 in the morning. Rain is one thing but pouring down rain is never fun on the bike. The good news is by the time we got to the event the rain had slowed down and it had stopped raining by the time we got in the water. However, those 6 foot waves were still present.

As the gun went off and my wave entered the water I waded through the waves and actually started to enjoy them crashing into my body. The swim actually was a lot of fun and when I turned the corner of the last buoy to head into the beach I realized something. Those waves that had been so hard to get through at the beginning now would carry me to the beach. I have not body surfed for a long time and I forgot how much fun it was.

The rest of the day went off without any problems. I had a solid ride and the run as always was interesting as I struggled with the conflict between my mind and body. My mind saying it is time to stop and walk and this course has won and my body saying lets go. I finished in my best time to date. To be fair the course was very flat.

The fund raising effort to kick things off was amazing as we raised close to $1000 for that event. Some of my favorite comments from the website for this event are below:

"Hi Shawn, I want to wish you luck on these amazing endeavors! You are a strong athlete with a fortitude of steel, but more importantly, a tender and compassionate heart! The Lazarex Cancer Foundation is so lucky to have you as their advocate. And I am lucky to call you my friend! Wishing you the best! Love, Laurie (a.k.a. Mittens!!)"

"I always thought you might be crazy now your proving it. I guess that push down the stairs really did do some damage. Good luck and stay healthy. Kevin Hammerschmidt"

THANK YOU - To Rachael who supported me during this event.