Team Member: Kirk McElreath

Race Name: 2371

Race Date: 8-29-2010

Race Placement/Time/Qualification: 1265/14:01:10/finisher

Tell us about your race (limit 500 words)…: I am not sure that the goal of Ironman would have been achieved had it not been for my coaching and inspiration through The Sport Factory and Ashley Folkes. The day was a HOT one as my coach had prepared me for. My nutritional guidance from Ilana Katz, saved me from being one of the over 850 casualties of the heat and challenging environment that Louisville claimed this year. Just visually seeing the carnage on the bike course was remarkable. By the time the run course came around, it was just a saga of who would get to the finish line and who wouldn’t.

Not only did I achieve the goal set out for me in accomplishing Ironman, I have found a joy that my family has been able to share with me. My eight year old daughter wants to do an “iron kid” race now. My 73 year old father is going to the gym and considering more athletic activities as he saw many his age doing incredible things. Tears of joy filled the eyes of everyone at that finish line. My step mother told me that she had never heard my father cry as he did when he spoke with her as I was crossing the finish line.

We do these races not because they make us better people. We are proud to be associated with the people who do these races. I did a 14:01. While my heart wanted to go faster my feet said that finishing was something to be proud of.

Thank you to everyone at The Sport Factory.