Hi friends! This is my first attempt at a blog, so don't beat me up to bad here. I've had too much time without exercise and others had suggested I try this route. I love writing race reports and the thought of this being able to be read by my kids later in life helped persuade me to do it. 

A quick recap to how I got here, training for my first Ironman. In 2009, I found myself 270 pounds of fat and lazy. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I didn't know what gluten was, but I was told to cut it out of my diet immediately. January 2010 hits with the typical ice and snow. My beautiful wife Brittney asked me to join her at a local gym so she could run indoors to avoid the weather. She had no idea the monster 

she had created. 

I lost 50 pounds in 2010. Became great friends with the StairMaster. Worked my tail off! 5-6 days in the gym, cardio cardio and more cardio. I watched my diet. I didn't start running until I signed up for the Turkey Trot. My brother in law, Jon, ran with me. We had a blast. Jon asked me to train up for a half marathon. I didn't know how far that was. 2011 I ran my first half marathon in Xenia. Then Indianapolis with Jon and the Flying Pig. The addiction to Finish Lines took over. The harder the challenge, the sweeter the finish line feeling. September 2011 was my first marathon at Air Force. I swore I'd never do that again! Fast forward and I've successfully completed 15 marathons, 2 50ks and a 50 mile run. I decided I wanted a different challenge and tried 

Here's a great idea, first you swim, then bike, and then run. As fast as you can. Talk about a challenge! I never swam for distance, or speed. I rode a bike growing up, but no real distance or speed. So I jumped in, both feet into the deep end. This sport is crazy. My first race, I almost quit 5 minutes in. I was scared I would drown. I had to talk myself down. Looking back, that was a sign. I've found myself in some hard spots. I had to make myself a deal to just swim halfway, then I could quit. at halfway, i agreed once I finished the swim, I was done. I was maybe 20 feet from finishing the swim and I got a cramp in my hamstring! I couldn't believe I survived my first open water swim to be defeated by a leg cramp! well that took a few minutes to pass. I got on my bike and said whatever happens, I'll just try and finish. No clue about proper nutrition, aerodynamics, how to run after cycling. It's taken me a while, but I'm much more educated now. and yet I have so much to learn! I know have 6 half iron distance (70.3 mile) races under my belt and a bunch of shorter distance races also. Some went great, some sucked! My first half ironman, I cried because my legs cramped so bad on the bike. I sat down to change shoes and didn't think i could stand back up. But i did, then ran 13.1 miles to finish. I learned triathlon will punch you in the face if you don't show up prepared. Even if you show up prepared, something else may happen. Equipment breaks, weather turns bad, stomach just doesn't agree with racing that day. There's so many factors, its not funny. Yet there are many athletes who train to get to that finish line. 2015 I started figuring things out and had 2 awesome 70.3 races (IM Muncie and Rev3/Challenge Cedar Point). I decided it was time to go all in for an Ironman.  

Louisville is the closest city to me that hosts such an event. Jon decided he would do this race as well as a few other friends. I found out about the volunteer option to be a finish line catcher. My job was to help the athletes as they finished their race. I got to put Jon and Mike Brown's medals around their necks and be the first person to congratulate them! Then an amazing thing happened. I caught a guy named Chris Gates and told him how much he inspired me. He told me his dad was in the race also. Fate led me to catch his dad Terry as well! I put their medal's on, walked them through the chute and made sure they were ok. Through social media, we "follow" each other. That was a great experience. Gave me a lot of knowledge about the race for 2016. Once I registered, it was game on. I talked to many athletes. Figured out a "training plan." It included swimming, biking, and running. But longer distances, a lot longer! Almost every weekend I was up super early, pool swim, open water swim, then a bike ride. Usually a run the next day. I remember being extremely nervous when I scheduled my first 100 mile bike ride. Would I have enough nutrition? What if I get a flat? How long is it going to take? Can I do this??? It had been a while since i was nervous for a training session! I crushed it. It was hard, I got hungry, I sang to myself. But I stayed in that saddle for 6 hours and felt incredible. Then ran a mile and a half. Amazing feeling to be able to run after a 100 mile bike ride! The months ticked by. 3 half iron races in 2016 (Richmond, Indiana, Muncie and Ohio). Everything was going great. I had one bicycle crash where I hit a curb, was lucky I was ok, dealt with little pain and recovered. I could start counting the 5 am alarms I had left. The race was 5 weeks away. The plan was to swim in the Ohio River where the race swim is, then bike the course. Great preparation , I thought. 24 miles into the bike course a 

turned in front of me and I hit the passenger side of the car. Concussion, 3 staples in my head, road rash and an amazing bruise. See, not everything goes as planned. Yet, I'm still lucky. Could've been much worse. My Team RWB teammate Kalen was right there and gave up her day to help me. Doctor said I had to take at least a week off training and work. I went home thinking this is no big deal, I'm fine. Until I tried unloading the dishwasher. The kitchen spun. My head hurt. I had plenty of people tell me that this was more serious than I thought. Going from 6 days a week of high intensity exercise, plus work and being a family man...to sitting on the couch doing nothing (recovering) was mentally tough. My neck and abs hurt from the crash. It hurt to sneeze or laugh. I was a good patient. Though it about killed me being so inactive. I couldn't stand seeing Brittney having to do everything. But she was an angel and insisted I chill. She knows how hard I've worked, how much time and effort I've invested in this dream. 9 days the staples stayed in my head. I was so happy when my doctor pulled them out (yes it hurt a little). Doctor gave me another week off work because in my profession, I may get hit in the head, and she wanted me healed 100% before I return. I was told to ease back into exercise and she gave me her blessing to go and crush the Ironman. so in 4 weeks from yesterday, I will be in Louisville. I will be prepared to the best of my ability. I will stay calm when something doesn't go the way I plan. I will fight all the way to the finish line. I will be the guy in the top picture, arms raised as my name is called, "Matthew Kennard! You are an IRONMAN!" I can hear it in my mind. I used to think those guys were crazy. That would never be me. Now, It's going to be me. I will crush this challenge. It won't be easy, but thats what makes it worthwhile. October 9th is approaching....