Why train so hard? Why give up alcohol for six months? Why take on something that even I thought was impossible only a year ago? The answer is actually quite simple, to feel alive. I never imagined when I decided to take this on that it would change my life, and I mean physically, emotionally, spiritually and even mentally. The day before me always seems so much clearer, I move with a purpose and I have meaning to every action I do. When I finish a tough workout, or face the challenge of no alcohol (like I did this weekend at my Rugby club’s 50th anniversary..torture) and I make it through, I feel like a champ. I don’t know if the race was the start of all this but I know it’s not the finish, my life just got started again. Ironman Canada is the catalyst that got this ball of life rollin’, I absolutely 100% believe my life is extremely more positive than it was before all this and it’s hard to find me without a smile on my face most of the time now a days.

The edge of life is a scary place, you know when you walk up to a sheer rock face and you’re scared to look over? But when you do you feel a sudden rush of adrenelin and have a second or two of feeling exilirated? Sure you could always stay 10 feet back and never experience that feeling but being safe isn’t fun..at least not for me. Why not get closer to that edge? Scared? So am I. I’m scared of not finishing, I’m scared of letting my friends and family down, I’m scared of crashing or cramps, quite frankly the whole thing scares the crap out of me. But should I stand 10 feet back and not get close to the edge? I love the edge. Why skate through your life 10 feet back? You want to try sky diving? Jump. You want to run with the bulls? Sprint. You want to be the best you can be? Strive. You want to run a marathon? Train. You want to climb Mt. Everest? Believe. Who told you you can’t do what you want? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THEM??!!! The answer is inside you, if you want it make it real. Come spend some time on the edge, who knows you might never go back….????

See you at the finish line,

MB