HOW I CHANGED MY LIFE - An Ironman Triathlon Story 

Fantastic perspective. After completing 4 half Ironmans the last 2 years, I signed up last month to do my first full Ironman (Wisconsin) in 2024. I will 65 years old. This journey serves as a reminder of what is important. Progress, Not Perfection! Love it.

Body of an athlete. Mind of a stoic. Spirit of a warrior.

Great job. I have enjoyed the lifestyle of Triathlon/ Ironman for about 15 years. I started doing them for much of the same reasons you did and lived through every setback as you also, (and more). It has been an incredible journey and a good example to my sons as they grow up. After 15 years and 3 full IM and 17 IM 70.3 later age is bowing becoming a factor. Now I battle with the body being able to hang with mind which is why your story resonated with me so much. Thank you for bringing it back to the begging for me. It doesn’t need to be about qualifying or podiuming, I need to enjoy the journey and not push so hard. Thank you. I enjoyed your motivational Quotes throughout. I want to leave you with one that I have said to myself 1000’s of times, I have even written it in my forearms before long training days. “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever”. Get that IM scheduled ASAP if you already haven’t. Actually finishing that first one is life changing and with you forever. Thanks again

Genuinely one of the very best homemade films on youtube. Outstanding efforts and production. I have my very first ironman 70.3 in September and this was so inspiring to watch. Its a lesson for everyone to watch this.

Thank you for sharing. This hit me in my heart. Wishing you nothing but the very best.

I've watched the entire video and I am so glad you decided to pubblish it. I loved to hear your reflections on this tough journey which are pretty common for anyone facing such ambitious challenges. I'm looking forward to your race. As you said it's not the most important part, but you definitely deserve to live that day

So happy I took the time to watch this. Really great job. I’m about to take the leap and conquer myself and hopefully complete a Ironman.

This is amazing! Exactly what I needed to motivate to continue my training. Thanks bro and congratulations!!

Those closing remarks are stunningly inspiring Thank you

Thank you so much for sharing! Seeing you pick yourself back up and attend to your rehab with gusto, as well as your mental struggles was so enlightening. Also loved the quote "You are owed nothing!"

Amazing... it's all about progress and pushing ourselves on to experience life. Great video!

Thank you for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly. This is very motivating! This feels more like a journal, than just another motivational video, and I mean that in a good way. Congrats on the goals achieved!

Powerful message mate. It's the journey that counts, not the destination. Thank you for sharing.

Hey mate, what a powerful story. I have been watching things tangentially for the past couple years about similar journeys specifically a lot of the same channels you referenced in your cut when you dove into triathlon. I have to say that your story telling, pacing and relatability are what set your telling of the same / similar story apart and is something that I will likely reflect back on. Mostly the fact that you started day 0 from the ground up despite the setbacks, the injuries and the pandemic. Gotta admit I cried a tear at the end of it because you are expressing not anything new but something that I have heard within myself for a long time now. The vulnerability that goes into sharing something like this is not a small feat nor what had to have been cutting this together. Cheers from the other side of the planet.

So needed this right now. Thank you for sharing this.

This video was insanely good, thanks for uploading

Thanks for sharing your story. It was very inspiring. And the lessons learned that you shared at the end were full of wisdom.

Thank you for making this! I Stole the progress not perfection motto and it really does hold up, i appreciate how you were real with your struggles.

Great job expressing your story. Those are some great lessons learned that can trickle down to other parts of your life.

Thank you for publishing this mate. Your story is very motivating to anyone who wishes to take up an Iron Man challenge. As you said, it is all about the change not the race. Glad you were able to find a true purpose. All the best to you!

Thanks for sharing your journey!

Amazingly inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing.

Great motivational story Nelson. You've inspired me to get back out there.

Excellent. Really enjoyed watching your progress. Process definitely is the way to go!

Thanks for a great film, and well done on having the courage to share your journey with all of its ups and downs

This is a great vid, love the message - it’s the journey that’s important not the destination 👍👏

This is one of the best videos and reflections I have ever seen. Great job!!!🎉❤

Thank you for that value it was great!

Thank you for sharing this! Absolutely beautiful video and motivation source, thank you very much

Thank you so much for the video , really appreciate your effort and your insights .

Good for you young man! I’m proud of you for trying something hard. As I was watching I said I’m going to send this to my son. He’s a US Airman kicking ass, but we can ALWAYS challenge ourselves. We all need to push ourselves to greater heights. Thanks for motivating me! Good luck and I look forward to PT II.

Well done on your documentary! I embarked on this same journey and it put alot of stress on my family and I but you showed a lot of the up and downs that happens through this journey!! Congratulations on discovering what you are about and the lessons learned as you will forever be a changed person and there is no obstacle you cannot figure out how to overcome!! I feel the strength is built on those down times when either body or mind say stop... but figuring out how to get back into it and deconstruct everything just to put it back together in a better way is where your fortitude is built! Much luck on all you decide to take on in life!

Wow!! Thanks for sharing. Love the reflections!

Thanks for sharing! Powerful and inspiring. Watching your film from a couch in berlin after completing a halfmarathon. Standing on a critical point as well...preparing for an ironman 70.3. Had covid 3 weeks ago.... heartrate is still messed up while training, bike still broken from an accident. Feel like overcoming setback is the hardest task. Your journey gave me a lot of strenght. Loved your reflection, the literature you used and the resilience you build up. Hope you going after it!

Just found this video and honestly so absolutley inspring! Im just training for my first triathlon and ironman and this has been so incredibly inspiring and motivating to watch! You are amazing!

Love this! Thank you for sharing

I really enjoyed watching your story and find it very inspiring. Training for my first Ironman 70.3!

That 2:17 scene hit me so hard. So proud of you and your journey, I’m right behind you!

Thanks for sharing, legend! Much appreciated

So glad I happened across this video. You’ve learnt a lot. I’ve no doubt that you’ll go in to compete your Ironman (you probably already have) and, should you chose to set your mid to it, many other great things. Thank you for making the video.

Deep, insightful and very motivating. Thanks for sharing your journey and congrats on it. Keep it up!

Thank you for sharing. I'm watching this whilst home sick from work, a lingering four week bug that has thrown a spanner into the works of 70.3 training. You may have felt like you were going around in circles, but looking back over your training, the biggest inspiration was watching you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going despite the challenges thrown your way. Thanks and all the best!!

Fantastic my brother!

Amazing story. Thank you for sharing. You go get that Ironman finish.

very inspiring story man. You can be proud of what you achieved! Not many people are willing to change their lives and even if "they" do, only a few will be willing to actually go for it! Keep going mate

Loved it, thanks for sharing your journey 😊

You have been a great motivation to me. I dont never give up. Thanks...

I have a similar story, I was also going out a lot, drinking too much, staying up late and I really didn't care too much about what I was doing. At one point I bought a bike just to commute to work because I was tired of wasting 2.5 - 3 hours each day commuting to work and back. That bike changed my life, fast forward 5 years, I have completed multiple half marathons with 1:30 PB, in 1 month I will run my first mountain marathon and at the end of September, I will do my first triathlon, a Half Ironman. I fully relate to the "get a goal that scares you" statement, honestly every race I have ever signed up for scared me, no matter the distance, if it's short I'm scared of the intensity, 5K and 10K runs hurt like hell. For the longer ones it's always a question mark how and if my body will hold up to 5-6 hours of effort. Really nice film, I really enjoyed it, congratulations for it.

Great video mate!

Onya for putting yourself out there bro! Inspirational!

This is the best RU-vid video i have ever watched. YOU are a big inspiration

Man, that video is captivating, seriously you are inspiring, i've started working out during covid and now have the ambition to complete a marathon. i wasn't really sure about it, but after watching this video and your dedication to your ambition it motivates me to reach my goal too!!

Wow so motivating !! Thank you for sharing 🙌🏻

Thank you for sharing brother. Really inspiring & motivating video. The best I’ve seen in a long time. The fact you didn’t get to complete the iron man as the grand finale of the video, somehow gave the story more depth. That the commitment to change & overcoming challenges is the real mission. I look forward to hearing more of your journey.

Thank you for sharing your journey.

What an amazing video, and what an amazing experience. This goes straight into my “race motivation” playlist, as I am preparing my first endurance event and having the same revelations as I go through the preparation. That is the juice, the race itself is merely the cherry on top. Congrats!

Thank you for sharing your journey!! It really is a rollercoaster, and that's just life hey! I spent 9 months training for Cairns Ironman 2022 and found out I had a stress fracture in my hip 8 weeks out. Devastating! But we will both be back to finish the dream, keep working at it 🙌🏻🔥

Great video man. Thanks for sharing!! Was thinking of doing an Ironman when I turn 25 (2 years) but now Im sure. Im gonna do it. Thanks for the inspiration and LETS GO

There aren’t a lot of 10min videos I would sit through, never mind a video that’s an hour long, but that’s exactly what I did. Outstanding story, self awareness and perspective. You definitely made the right call sharing it. I just completed my first half Ironman (also my first triathlon) at age 48. My goal is to complete a full Ironman when I turn 50. Your video was the inspiration I needed to commit. Thanks for sharing the ups, the downs and the insights!

Your true honesty with your self has made this video so inspirational that it guts to reveal your inner self in the hardened journey you underwent and a eye opener to potential people who want to undergo this change. Congratulations 🤗🤗❣❣👍

Thank you for that great and motivational video.😊

Thank you for Sharing your story

I’m a sport and exercise science grad and your information was spot on, great job 👏

Good on you for sharing this! I really enjoyed it and your honesty go get one my friend!

Thanks a lot for this inspirational documentary. Greetings from Munich

Thank you bro. Keep up the good work 🤙🏼

Amazing video. I hope you complete the Ironman one day, but even if you never do, you're so much stronger and better now! Fantastic job.

I love the storytelling here. Somehow I felt the joy when things seemed to be going on-track and also the pain of the days when things weren't as expected or when you felt less motivated. I have been fighting this urge to train without a coach too and this reaffirms my path. I like the clarity of thoughts you have evident from the compartmentalising of the entire journey and bringing up the right message. I live by three words in life - Improvise, Adapt, Overcome. I'll add Perseverance to my life philosophy. This couldn't have been easy to make. Needless to say, this is something I might keep revisiting throughout the course of my training. Thanks for this and all the best for you journey, brother!

Amazing, both your story and the way you told it. I’ve done two 70.3s and training for my first full in a few months, and your story resonated with me. I’m not guaranteed a time goal, a finish, or even making it to the starting line. But that’s almost beside the point. By choosing the hard thing every day, by always taking one more step or stroke, by being present and facing my doubts, I’m not the same person I was a year ago. My story isn’t finished, and it won’t be even after I cross that finish line, but I’m already winning. You captured that perfectly. Thank you.

Great video - thank you for sharing x

Came across your video by fluck, and really glad I did. Definitely worth watching, and didn't feel like 55 minutes. Thanks for sharing and all the very best for the future.

Fab video. Enjoyed much.

Great video. Very inspiring. Thanks.

Great job man! Congrats!

Outstanding...full respect 🙏

Amazing story!! I loved your video.

Well done! Living my life 10 years out from my first IM, it is refreshing to see how impactful the journey can be. You remind me of myself back then! I shared how the journey isnt easy but it can be done with the right amount of perseverance, drive, humility, and a drive to always improve. It isnt about the race, its about the journey to get there!

Awesome video- thank you for sharing your story. Like all the others I can fully relate to your story and have signed up to an IM next year. Let’s go!!

Great video !! You nailed it !!!

Started my triathlon journey last year. Had my first 70.3 race this year and unfortunately injured myself and couldn't finish. But I'm even more determined to cross that finish line next time! Great video and inspiration

Absolutely incredible. You are motivating many people. And honestly, the race outcome doesn't define your worth. But this journey shows unbelievable growth. Well done.

Beatiful story mate, these stoic quotes add an extra zing to your journey 👍🏼👊🏼

Great video mate! Been thinking of signing up to an Ironman and this may be the motivation I need!

Awesome! Inspiring! Good you published it :)

What a great film. So glad I watched. As a father to four great kids your age, you realise that sometimes you need leave them alone to find out who they are are by themselves. Keep going son. 👍

thanks a lot!🔥🤙 all the best from berlin/germany

amazing documentary, I don't get why this isn't viral yet, you motivate me man, one day I will make a video like this.

awesome! Thank you for sharing.

Great video my man.

Thanks for sharing mate. Really enjoyed it. I'm from Melbourne and we had the biggest lockdown of any place in the world so I know exactly how it feels getting events postponed after putting in a lot of work. Your time for the half Ironman was pretty impressive. I've now done 2 myself but a lot slower than you haha. Looking forward to the next chapter.

What a great story, you’re a natural. I’d 100% watch many more of these endurance based movies that you have made , it’s perfect for an aspiring ironman.

amazing journey and documentary, brah. very inspirational. I'm on the same path. LETS FKIN GO!

Man I did enjoy every single minute of your movie, felt more real than most videos out there. I did sing up for an Olympic triathlon but my eyes are on Ironman 70.3 on May 2024. I have done some circling endurance races before, but nothing like this. I'm scared as hell... I'm having a bit of trouble with my left knee and that frustrates me very much... But as you said: progress not perfection. Thanks for sharing your story :) Much love from Barcelona!☀️

Wow, such an amazing film!! Inspiring, moving and so beautifully narrated... Being only 19 years old myself, I feel I can resonate a lot with you and your journey: for me it's not the triathlon, but rather the ultra dirstance trail running that changed my life completely, as well as the way I now see the world and our nature. I would be very glad to be able to continue following you on your journey - you seem like a very nice guy :) Greetings from Austria!

You are inspiring, thank you.

Great storytelling! Inspirational story. Good luck with the IM!

It is so beautiful thank you so much. I am on very similar journey now working towards a 70.3. Ironman, being a single mom living abroad I have stumbled my journey forward so many times :) the event got also postponed 3 times now set up for 8th of October this year :) that will be without one month 2 years since I first decided to do it. I feel so much of what you have got through. Thank you so so much for sharing it. It means a lot to many ! Thank you ♥️♥️♥️

Great video, well done to you !

Cool video. Thanks for posting.

Respect young man,I hope you get to do an Ironman.It is an amazing experience.