When the Other Man is an IRONMAN

Story and Illustrations by Christopher Cudworth

The sport of triathlon is built on relationships. 

Between swimming and cycling. 

Between cycling and running. 

And between them come the transitions. 

Spaces meant to help us through. 

Time to gather, change, and proceed. 

Just like life. 

We hear the calls of support. 

Relationships verbalized. 

“You got this! You can do it!”

Then we’re off on another leg. 

It happens in training, and in life. 

“You got this!” is three words

Pared down to the bare minimum

Yet mean so much. 

Within them, there’s a trust that we

cannot afford to lose. 

Trust in the wetsuit, the skinsuit, 

and our own arms.

Trust in the bike, and the setup,

the brakes and tires and shifters.

Trust in the shoes and shades,

and nutrition from start to finish. 

We must balance these trusts

with respect for those who support us. 

Because through it all, trust is 

the most important of all virtues. 

That’s what enables us

to love the sport yet never neglect

the trust of those cheering us on 

From coaches to spouses, 

fiances to friends. 

Even children watching with trust

when the other man is an IRONMAN. 

Never lose or abuse that trust

because in the end it is

everything you have. 

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