Heroic Hearts: Kristen

My brother Sam ran the half and Kristen ran the full marathon.

Last April my sister-in-law, Kristen, received some sad news.  Her dad Mike, a retired firefighter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.   Mike, among many other things, was an adventurous guy who loved staying active and being outdoors.  Several family members and friends decided to train and run the Long Beach Marathon on October 9th in support of Mike in his battle with cancer.  Sadly he wasn't able to see this race because a few weeks ago after a long and arduous battle with cancer Mike passed away.  

Tears at the finish line: Kristen and her mom.

It was an emotional and victorious day as "Team Mike" ran their races in their purple shirts to honor Kristen's dad.  Her mom was waiting at the finish line where they quickly learned that Kristen had not only managed to finish the marathon, but managed to finish in the Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3 hours and 37 minutes!  Quite an impressive finish. So today I want to honor my sister-in-law and all of the "Team Mike" members for their heroic hearts as they endured miles of exhaustion in the midst of their grief to honor a great man who was so deserving of such an amazing tribute. 

Mike was a hero himself!

Heroic Hearts: Inspiration from some unlikely Iron Men

I love the newness of 2011!  I know some people get annoyed with New Year's Resolutions. Some think that it is pointless to make goals that may inevitably be put aside. I am not one of these people. (See my New Year 2010 post on this topic.)  I look forward to setting new goals, celebrating new accomplishments, and getting inspired by other "Doers" out there.

Today I wanted to share with my readers my three most favorite inspirational stories.  Take time to watch them; you will be a better person for having become acquainted with the incredible and awe-inspiring journeys of these Iron Men.  For those of you who don't know, an Iron Man Triathlon is when you swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and then run a full marathon - 26.2 miles.  To be an official finisher you must complete it all in 17 hours or less. Is it crazy that I want to do this someday???  Here is to making goals, being "Doers", and never giving up on ourselves!  Happy 2011!

 Team Hoyt: The Back Story of a father who didn't give up on his son and a son who was determined to live against the odds.


Team Hoyt:  The Iron Man


Matt Hoover: Biggest Loser Winner Season 2 still battles his weight and finds strength deep within to do impossible things

(Side note:  Matt Hoover ran another Ironman distance triathlon in November and completed it in under 17 hours!  See his story here.)

Ben: Loses 120 pounds and gains his life back

Heroic Hearts: Introduction

Another new series of posts I am starting on my blog are my Heroic Heart profiles.  I have always been drawn to inspirational stories of people who have fought back against the odds and in a display of tremendous character found success.  Sometimes these people are celebrities, or profile stories in a newspaper, or personal acquaintances.  Their successes may look very different from each other but the one common factor in each story is that they have taught me an important life lesson through their own living example.  I hope you are challenged by these individuals as I have been.  

". . .that which we are, we are,
One equal-temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

- "Ulysses", Alfred Lord Tennyson 

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." 
Proverbs 27:17