Marine who lost leg to land mine becomes Ironman
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kylie posted 34 weeks ago.
I heard that on the radio the other day (on an LA area station). I also did see him go by at Oceanside as I was cheering. Very cool accomplishment!
I have a question that came up in a group of us (with a lot of tri experience between us) watching on race day: we saw him come by in a handcycle on the run, and the article even mentions the gears on his handcycle. However, we were all under the impression that it is usually chairs for the run as there is a "no chain assisted transport" or similar rule. Now I don't mean to take anything from this athlete: he was amazing and it was great to see him out there. I am just curious what the rule is on transport during the run for challenged athletes.
Also, and I know this can be a point of contention, but I just don't like the use of Ironman for any half Ironman finisher. I don't care if you do an MDot or Irondistance, but to me you are not an Ironman until you cover the 140.6. On the radio I excused it as "not everyone knows exactly what it means" and let it go. And of course I let it go here to: people can call themselves anything they want. But I was surprised to see that in a column written by a triathlete.
And again, I want to congratulate Evan: from what my fiance said it was a TOUGH day out there. Congrats Evan on your finish, and I hope to see you at more races in the future! :)
EDIT 4/3/08 11:55am: I just finished reading the rest of the article -- I often comment in the middle to not lose my thought. And it does later mention that he was not officially in the run portion.
I then realized it also says that a teammate did the cycle for him this time, and that he looks forward to completing his first half Ironman in the Fall. While I think what Evan did is wonderful, if I were him I would want to wait to be called an Ironman until I finished one. Or if we are going to call half finishers Ironman, I'd want to hear it AFTER what I was calling my first one in the fall. I don't mean to belittle what he did with this, but just express that I feel titles should be given once earned. And I have no doubt that he will do so.
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jsk85 posted 34 weeks ago.
Good article...I'm not sure I get how he will be able to do the bike portion with such a small portion of his legs left.
I also agree kylie that only full course finishers (140.6) should be called ironman. I have done 2 1/2's and wouldn't want the title ironman until I have done the real thing.
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kylie posted 34 weeks ago.
jsk85 wrote:
Good article...I'm not sure I get how he will be able to do the bike portion with such a small portion of his legs left.
They can use handcycles (thus why I was confused when I saw one of those on the run course) -- but I'm not sure if that is for if above knee amputation of one or both or what. I know that the double leg amputee who completed Kona last year did the bike on a regular bike with prosthetics, and the run as well. My guess would be the above/below knee distinction, but it really is just a guess.
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theShiba posted 34 weeks ago.
Direct Link to the article:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/morgan-one-lucky-2010496-ironman-marine
.jpg "calilargeguy's picture")
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calilargeguy posted 34 weeks ago.
However he finishes is an amazing accomplishment. I agree that you aren't an Ironman until you cover 140.6, but anyone who lost his legs and an eye, and still gets up and does a tri can call himself whatever he wants. More power to him for not wallowing in self pity and choosing to live a sedintary life. How many people do we all know that would never consider doing any distance tri and they are physically intact. If one lazy person sees this and is motivated then great. I hope we hear that he successfully completes his 1/2 iron in the fall.
This coming from a clydesdale that itsn't 6'2 and 200lbs. More like 5'11 and 260 and doing CDA in 79 days.
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theShiba posted 34 weeks ago.
Agree with Kylie on the "not an Ironman until you finish the full 140.6"...
I definitely see you point of view, and it is not to make it seems like what this guy did is any less of an accomplishment. I'm sure he wouldn't mind the distinction, since it seems that he has bigger aspirations.
I hope to hear about this when he completes the course on his own, whatever method the CAF may rule as appropriate for him to do that.
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DavidWhiting posted 34 weeks ago.
I wrestled with the "Ironman" word. All are good points. I've done a few full and some halfs myself so can appreciate the difference - HUGE. But now Ironman is calling it Ironman 70.3 and using the word - Ironman. I do plan to update when he does on his own.
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kylie posted 34 weeks ago.
Actually, I don't think they are actually saying anything along the lines of "You are an Ironman" at the finish. And shorthand I've heard it called a 70.3, but never an Ironman, when talking to those people in the tri area.
What half is he doing in the fall?
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Anton posted 34 weeks ago.
Marine, yes. Hero...oh, most certainly. Courageous? Without a doubt. Ironman? No. Sorry, no flexibility here. By calling any one who has finished the half distance "Ironman" (I refuse to use 70.3. It's such a marketing ploy) you diminish the accomplishment of everyone who has trained and suffered and exhausted themselves to be called Ironman. Would you call someone who finishes a half marathon a "Marathoner" even though they have never run 26.2?
If someone wants to train and raise themselves up to the IM distance to earn the title "Ironman", that's awesome. Don't pull "Ironman" down to a lower level because it makes for easier writing.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
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calilargeguy posted 34 weeks ago.
The interesting thing is that we are all debating this, yet the athlete in question probably doesn't think of himself as an Ironman. I'm sure he knows the distinction and what it takes to earn that title. In military terms it would be like calling someone in the army a Marine. You just don't do that. Marines feel that title is earned. As we all seem to feel that the title Ironman is earned only after you have done 140.6. He is a Marine, a Hero, Courgaeous, and in my mind definitely an inspiration but not an Ironman. YET! David you interviewed him, what would he say. Give him the link to trifuel so he can weigh in.
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stewarba posted 34 weeks ago.
calilargeguy wrote:
The interesting thing is that we are all debating this, yet the athlete in question probably doesn't think of himself as an Ironman. I'm sure he knows the distinction and what it takes to earn that title. In military terms it would be like calling someone in the army a Marine. You just don't do that. Marines feel that title is earned.
Agreed, as a person who served in the Navy for almost 10 years there is a huge difference between a Marine's mentality and other service members. Most military folks you meet who no longer serve will say they are "ex-Army or ex-Navy" but a Marine will always refer to him/herself as a FORMER Marine to imply that just because they are not actively serving, they are and will always be Marines No one else does what Marines do which is a similiar concept and the reason why people who have done an Ironman consider that title sacred.
DISCLAIMER: I do not want to imply that people who do or have served in the other branches of the service are not worthy, partrotic or some how less important to this country.
Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!
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Nobody posted 34 weeks ago.
Ya gotta finish all 140.6 miles to be called an Ironman.
With that out of the way--no doubt it's a lot tougher to finish any Tri with a disability. But when you do, you get a lot more press coverage.
The one pass that I'll always remember is when I was on the mtn bike portion of an Xterra course. And though I consider myself a technical rider--it was not an easy course. And then one arm'd willie blew past me jumping rocks and weaving his way through logs and crap....truly a humbling--and inspirational--moment.
I beat him in the swim, though, dammit! :P
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
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Anton posted 34 weeks ago.
Nobody wrote:
Ya gotta finish all 140.6 miles to be called an Ironman.With that out of the way--no doubt it's a lot tougher to finish any Tri with a disability. But when you do, you get a lot more press coverage.
Truth be told!
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
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ecd7175 posted 34 weeks ago.
Nobody wrote:
Ya gotta finish all 140.6 miles to be called an Ironman.With that out of the way--no doubt it's a lot tougher to finish any Tri with a disability. But when you do, you get a lot more press coverage.
The one pass that I'll always remember is when I was on the mtn bike portion of an Xterra course. And though I consider myself a technical rider--it was not an easy course. And then one arm'd willie blew past me jumping rocks and weaving his way through logs and crap....truly a humbling--and inspirational--moment.
I beat him in the swim, though, dammit! :P
I think everyone here has completely lost sight of the real purpose of that article. And I mean that respectfully. Never in the article did that brave Marine call himself an Ironman. It is something that he aspires to be. The author of the article made the assertion. Which I am ok with. What you should get out of this is motivation to do better in your next race or to get out of bed and swim/bike/run. To discuss technicalities on whether he is an ironman is beside the point and a bit disrespectful to him and the spirit of Ironman.
Ed
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RV posted 34 weeks ago.
ecd7175 wrote:
I think everyone here has completely lost sight of the real purpose of that article. And I mean that respectfully. Never in the article did that brave Marine call himself an Ironman. It is something that he aspires to be. The author of the article made the assertion. Which I am ok with. What you should get out of this is motivation to do better in your next race or to get out of bed and swim/bike/run. To discuss technicalities on whether he is an ironman is beside the point and a bit disrespectful to him and the spirit of Ironman.Ed
I think everyone recognizes and respects the accomplishment.
The fact that the Marine did not reference himself as an Ironman - is the point. The author made the assertion (incorrectly). I think it is more disrespectful to assign a label that hadn't been met yet. Most disabled people that I've known want to be judged with the same metrics as everyone else.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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Tribro posted 34 weeks ago.
I might suspect using the term "ironman" was more of an editorial decision to bring more interest and awareness to the article. Especially since the marine hasn't and probably wouldn't call himself an Ironman. But we are discussing, and he is accomplishing great feats regardless of the circumstances he's been delt, a true inspiration. Unfortunate that the feat can't stand on it's own merit and get's muddied by titles... In my book, he is an extraordinary athlete and person, period.
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kylie posted 34 weeks ago.
Yes, extraordinary achievements and awesome story, I completely agree. However, my comments were directed by the fact that the author shared it, and I disagree with how it was written. My comments were for the author, and not the athlete.
This U.S. Marine lost both legs and an eye during his second tour in Iraq when his Humvee hit a land mine. Now, he's becoming an Ironman. Wanted to share this story. He's also part of the Challenged Athletes Foundation's Operation Rebound, a worthy cause. Here's his story:
My stuff, http://www.ocregister.com/section/david-whitingpeople-and-1545642-places...