The Road to the Ironman – The Ironman

Well everyone the day is finally here!

What a journey this past year has been. I entered the year journey just thinking I was going to do a 140.6 mile race, as it turns out the journey turns out to be more than expected. Sure the race is the cherry on the ice cream sundae, but it really has been a journey to finding out who I am. Sorry for the mushy stuff.

A few years ago I was lost, I mean really lost. As I started to find myself, I lost weight, found triathlon, found my smile and started to get it. I now find myself literally inspiring others. I never thought I be the one to inspire, I was always a follower. This doesn’t mean my journey is over once I cross that finish line. It now is time to start another chapter in this journey. It has been a selfish year. But think of it this way, so many many people try to help, fix or guide others, but if you are broke you do no good to help others. Fix yourself and then the rest is easy. Find yourself.

Well hopefully in 24 hours or so, I will hear Mike Reily say “JIM RISTOW YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” This has been a dream for longer than I can remember. It just didn’t start last year, but the difference is now I don’t let life pass me by.

So the next time you see an Ironman post, I will be an IRONMAN!

Chase your dreams, what is the worst that can happen? If you fail you still learn. Pick yourself up dust yourself off and keep on going.

Life will not be always this fun, there will be tough times ahead, that is why they call it life. But it what I do with those rough times that will define who Jim Ristow really is.

So for those who ask why am I doing an Ironman? The answer is simple… I am doing an Ironman because I choose too, because I can and for the selfish part because I like to brag for the rest of my life.