Finding My Voice

 



My number one favorite quote from Mike Reilly is "Dana-Susan Crews from The Woodlands, Texas, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"

I heard him say that on April 13, 2008 in Tempe, Arizona at 11:00 PM and there is just no way to describe that kind of thrill. If you want to read more about that, you can find my story about racing Ironman Arizona HERE.

I was shopping at Barnes & Noble with my daughter one evening and found this book. How could I not buy it? After all, not only am I an Ironman, but for years I volunteered from 4:30 in the morning until way past midnight at Ironman Texas because I lived in The Woodlands. I have had the pleasure of being at other Ironman events just to cheer too and there is nothing like the finish line at an Ironman. When an athlete finishes that grueling 140.6-mile race, most of us just want to drop and stay down, but when that booming voice comes over the speakers, suddenly there is this intense thrill and feeling of pride that seems to never go away.

As I read Mike's story and all of the stories he fills this book with, I was so wrapped up in it I could barely put it down. I actually personally know some of the people he mentions, so that made it more fun to read. I love seeing this sport through the eyes of the "Voice of Ironman". I always wondered how he could have so much energy when he was up all day and night. I wondered how he never seemed to lose his voice, but sounded like he hadn't been talking for hours and hours and hours. How did he keep all the fans so pumped?

All my answers came through reading this book. Plus, Mike talks about so many of the incredible athletes who have made the attempt to conquer this beast of a race. Be careful if you buy it because it might make you want to do an Ironman! But no matter what, I think this book will encourage and inspire you because Ironman is a really good metaphor for life.

Sadly, Mike is retiring. But, he will always be for so many of us the "VOICE OF IRONMAN"!




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