Charity in Ironman: A chance for extraordinary things

If you haven't guessed already I'm a fan of ironman. The whole thing. As a business they've taken what must have been a drunken challenge bet between a bunch of military rats in Hawaii, to a place where women and men, able and challenged, professional and age-group, can come to test themselves on a professionally run course where everyone moves the same distance. They've taken a swim, a ride, and a foot race and made it a profitable brand in the world. Kudos.

As a race, the distances for each discipline are challenging. The locations that can accommodate the number of people and each race event are not numerous but the ones that are selected are still some of the most beautiful in the world.

The opportunity availed to normal, ordinary, every-day, guy/girl next-door, people to be great and achieve is incredible. The road to an ironman finish, a first place daylight glory filled sweet victory, to a 16h59m59s nail biting cross, to an 18 hour solo cross of the line with no lights, no crowd, no applause, nothing but the drive to finish what you have started, is long. There are no short cuts. And every story, no matter how gifted an athlete begins, is fraught with challenge and no shortage of sweat, blood, and time spent training.

As an event ironman north america (World triathlon corporation (WTC) or North America Sports as they have been rebranded) and their presenting sponsor, Janus, have created another way for ordinary people to achieve. Clarification required. I DO NOT believe that anyone who would consider ironman as a part of their active life to be anywhere near ordinary, just extraordinary.

The Janus Charity Challenge is a fundraising program wherein, any registered participant may raise money for the qualified charity of their choice. In 2006 participants in Ironman Coeur d'Alene raised a record breaking $1.36 million dollars for charity. This was the result of a mere 49 athletes (8 of which were Los Angeles Team in Training Ironteam participants).

Of the top five fundraising efforts there were four people, as one person took both 2nd and 3rd position on the top fundraising list by raising a combined $390K for two different charities.

The top five can be viewed by clicking here with their respective charities

Janus not only provides the infrastructure to support these fundraising efforts, but also provides supplemental funds to the causes:

1st Place Individual : $10,000 donation

2nd Place Individual : $8,000 donation

3rd Place Individual : $6,000 donation

4th Place Individual : $4,000 donation

5th Place Individual : $2,000 donation

The beneficiaries of the next 30 highest fundraisers who raise a minimum of $750.00 will receive an additional contribution of $750.00 from Janus.

The beneficiaries of the next 15 highest fundraisers who raise a minimum of $500.00 will receive an additional contribution of $100.00 from Janus.

Some people out there have a sour taste in their mouth from the way that the race has become a business, how inflated the rates have become, and the expense caused by the merchandising of the brand. On the other hand, the business gives to each community that hosts them, offers the opportunity for people to work for causes they believe in, and brings an event of massive relative scope to people who might otherwise not have had the opportunity to challenge themselves.

It is a multi-discipline race, which can be ten to twelve months of training, for an exhausing 17 hour day, but whose finish grants the victor bragging rights for life. I've finished my first Ironman. I'm coming back for a second. I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces at the finish line. -dean