Message posted by: Alan R.

I just wanted to share this. I have had some huge obstacles and challenges in my life. Several deaths in the family and one younger brother. My family is very supportive and kind. However, I have had to pay my own way through basically everything. I paid my way through a two-year lds mission in brazil. I paid my way through college. I joined the USAF reserve. I flew the A-10 wharthog for several years and then volunteered for service in late 2001 in Afghanistan. I served honorably and then was called up for the initial components of Operation Iraqi Freedom. To make a long story short I was wounded badly by AAA shrapnel in the left arm and both legs. My flying career ended. I was lucky to have survived. I was in a wheel chair for 3 months. My older sister has always been a huge inspiration to me, she is very talented and has excelled in everything she has done. She had taken up a new hobby, triathlons. She visited me and my family just as I was getting out of the wheelchair an
d into crutches. I was fascinated by her new hobby and told her how fun I thought that would be. She told me that she knew I could do it and that I would soon be able to finish one too. At this point the doctors thought I would walk in a few years and maybe run a few years later. This was hard news for me to take. Needless to say, physical therapy and rehab was very painful and difficult. I finished my first triathlon in 2005! Only 18 months after being critically wounded. I am hooked now! Triathlons have changed my life and literally given me hope I never had. This summer I raced against my sister and actually beat her! This is a big deal to me and her! I know, kind of lame, beating a girl….. Thats why I get up early every morning to train and why I pay to travel around and race. Thanks for listening!

To view the rest of the post or comment on the post, please log-in to www.ontri.com