I can't pretend to tell you that I don't know what it takes to finish an Ironman. I know it's a lot. It's swimming. Biking. Running. I know it takes some athletes close to eight hours to finish what seems totally grueling to me. I know it takes hours of training, eating right, endurance training and more just to be able to begin to even consider being ready to run ONE.
Add into that the obstacles which come with something like Down Syndrome... and I admit, to me, at first, that seems impossible.
But, Chris Nikic, who is competing RIGHT NOW in Hawaii, in Kona, to be exact, in the Ironman World Championships says, "don't put limits on me." The man just crushed the swimming portion of the Ironman... and is now on to the cycling portion of the challenge. His last challenge... a run...
My mission is to honor God by being the best me I can be so I can be an example to others. I want to
change the perceptions and raise expectations for others like me so we can reach our God given
potential. Believe and Achieve by Getting "1% Better" - Ironman Chris Nikic
A couple of years ago, he was the first person with Down Syndrome to actually finish an Ironman - a fete which some might have believed impossible. Nikic had another mission. With some great training and a great guide by his side, it took him almost 17 hours to finish that first one. Finishing an Ironman, from what I've learned, is itself, a win.
He did it. Broke barriers in doing so. Changed hearts and minds and won over the hearts of people around the world.
Now, if he can pull off this finish in Kona, and I have no doubt he will, he will truly be unstoppable. Transcendent, even.
His win - change things for the Intellectually Challenged. It will change things and inspire others to compete to do the same.
And it will serve a reminder to some of us - that no matter how hard it is, no matter how rough one might think they have it... there's someone facing even more challenges we may never understand... who said, "I'm going to do this" and if and when he does, well, I'm not so sure I'll be able to use tired, challenged, tough, rough, too hard, scary, painful... you know, those excuse words we use... to describe any obstacle in life ever again.