Kona Clarification

Based on the many emails I've received in return (thank you all so much) it's obvious that I need to clear something up. I do not yet have my spot in Kona officially. With the many avenues I'm pursuing and the many people that I have working their connections on my behalf, I'm confident that a spot will be mine. But Ironman works slowly - they don't announce the lottery winners until March or April - and they have not yet awarded the exempt slots.

Briefly, for those of you who don't know, you can get into Kona one of three ways:

• Qualification in another Ironman race - something I'll never be able to do
• Lottery - where they award roughly 150 spots from some 10,000 or so entries
  
• Exemption - in which Ironman and NBC Sports picks a variety of participants based on their story.
  

Exemption is where my in to Kona lies.

Based on past races and past participants who have received exemptions my whole "four-time cancer survivor and first ever heart transplant to do your race, and on my anniversary no less" should be an easy sell. But just in case it isn't there are a variety of back doors I'm pursuing.

So in short, I do not have my official Kona spot yet. At this point only the qualifiers do. But it should happen. It's just a matter of when. And the fact is that I need to proceed now as if it's going to happen. Waiting will only put me behind the 8-ball in terms of training, promotion pursuit, etc. My engine (my heart) takes a little longer to warm up then the average person's. So I'm guessing that getting it ready for an Ironman might take a little longer as well.

December 1 Doctor's Visit

Good news from my doctor's visit on Monday. In his words "that sounds like a normal healthy heart." Normal is good. Healthy is great. And he is signing off on my attempt to do the Ironman next fall, even if it wasn't a ringing endorsement. His exact words were, "Are you crazy?" My response: "Maybe."

So he doesn't understand my draw toward Ironman. But he did say that my heart is healthy enough to be pushed in training just like anyone else. I don't have to worry and I don't have to hold back. Which is great news, because it's going to take my maximum effort to get me across the finish line in Kona. I've got 100% to give, so I'll give it. I owe at least that much to my donor, my fellow patients, the friends I've lost along the way, and of course myself. And to all of you who have supported me unconditionally these many years and many diagnoses.

Latest training update:

Because I'm having a series of minor skin cancers removed from my chest and back over the next few weeks (it's a result of radiation years ago and my current immuno suppressive drugs) I won't be swimming until after the first of the year. Targeted race training won't begin in earnest until then anyway, so for now I'm just focused on general conditioning while trying to establish a weekly routine. That will be a must once the training begins for real in January.