It is a compelling sight: An athlete, exhausted and exhilarated, collapses across the finish line to achieve the triathlon world’s pinnacle of success: completing the Ironman. For him or her, the moment can be bittersweet—for victory in this sport does not come without personal sacrifice. There is often no real chance for the monetary prize, no promise of fame; but the reward is more profound.

The Training Regiment

The road to the Ironman is weathered with intense physical pain, muscle injuries, and long hours of training. Preparing for the race becomes a full-time commitment, often requiring one to breathe, eat, and sleep the sport every day. It is the most extreme of the triathlon distances, combining three disciplines into one to create a grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run.

Talk to many serious triathletes about their training regiment, and they will give you a schedule broken down into daily four-hour workouts, spanning six months to a year. Athletes training at their peak might devote the day to working out in one or two of the disciplines: a 100-mile bike ride, or perhaps a 15-mile run and 5,000-yard swim.

Internal Motivation

Ask what motivates them, and you will learn that they are inspired from within, that there is no challenge too great, no substitute for personal satisfaction.

Ron Baxter, a thirty-one-year-old newlywed and father, is a triathlete with such vision. Having grown up as a competitive swimmer and recreational surfer, he knew that one day he would explore his athletic abilities and confront other sports, other challenges. And, in October 2001, with 5K runs, two marathons, and a long-course triathlon behind him, he completed the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. A long-time athlete, his words echo the sentiment of many competitors.

“We don’t do it for the money,” he said. “Sure, there can be $70,000 waiting for the winner, but that’s not the real focus for the majority of triathletes. It’s about doing something you always thought was impossible, about discovering your limits and then setting goals to surpass them.”

His inspiration began in Feb. 1982 when on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports“ he saw a freckle-faced, red-haired woman named Julie Moss overcome defeat in the Hawaii Ironman. With the finish line in sight, an exhausted Moss suddenly collapsed. Riveted to the screen, Ron watched her crawl on hands and knees to complete the race.

“I’ll never forget that moment,” said Ron. “She was a professional triathlete who had lost complete control of everything, including her bodily functions, and still found the strength to cross the finish line. I was only twelve-years-old, and yet her stubborn determination, her unwillingness to give up no matter the circumstance, inspired me.”