Those of us who tend to participate in what some people would call “extreme” sports often hear, “You have to be crazy to do that!” By “extreme” I mean marathons, 1/2 Ironman triathlons, ziplining, ultramarathons, to name a few. To us, those activities don’t seem that extreme. We’re just doing what we love to do.

My friend Lori is training for her first 1/2 Ironman, which is a grueling event: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. The smart athlete trains a minimum of 6 months specifically for this event, but the foundation-building starts long before that.

I have watched the dedication and determination with which Lori has been training for her event that will take place on Aug 2 of this year. She is far more prepared than many I have known who have trained for similar events, but she strives for near perfection in everything she does, whether it is in her role as a surgical nurse or as an emergency room professional.

This weekend, she participated in a triathlon event that tested both her physical and mental limits…and she prevailed. The outcome was not what she had hoped, but the education she “earned” during this event was more than she could have ever asked for.

There is no doubt that Lori will be victorious in her first 1/2 Ironman endeavor. She knows now that if she could come out of yesterday’s events that she can do just about anything.

In a strange way, her “craziness” – as some would call it – is admirable. There is just something inspiring in defying the odds, and that is exactly what she did.