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‘Common’ man prepares for Ironman race
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by Patrick Mauldin
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences
SBR4FAAN—Swim Bike Run for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
(FAAN). This is what I will be promoting on Oct. 10 while participating
in the 2009 Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
This Ironman race consists of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike
ride, and then a 26.2-mile run. Each year, thousands of triathletes
around the world try to qualify to participate in the race.
 Patrick Mauldin trains for the 2009 Ford Ironman championship.
Most participants win entry into the race via very fast qualifying
times in previous Ironman races held throughout the world. However,
thanks to the vision of Ironman founder John Collins, who insisted that
a system be maintained to allow the “common” person a chance to compete
in this great race, 200 age-groupers will join the rest of the 1,800
strong in Kailua Bay in October. The 200 are chosen through a lottery
system and guess who was picked among the thousands of lottery players
this year? Me….Yikes!
I signed up for the lottery after listening to my latest Trace Adkins
CD. I guess we each react to songs in our own way. The whole point is
that I have children and nephews with severe nut allergies and have
been a long-time member and supporter of FAAN. This organization has
helped my family considerably. Thus, I really wanted to get out and do
something to support FAAN and its research to help find a treatment or
cure for devastating food allergies.
My chosen path of “social responsibility” was to sign up for the
Ironman World Championship lottery thinking that if I was lucky enough
to match the lottery, then I would do everything I could to help raise
funding and awareness for nut-allergy research. Well on April 15, as I
was asleep on my couch with golf on the TV and a few extra pounds on my
waist, my neighbor knocked on my front door yelling… “I just saw on
national TV that you matched the Ironman lottery!”
So now my life has changed a bit. Early to bed, early to rise, swim,
bike, run and no more donuts (at least that’s what I’m telling
everyone). My inspiration is that researchers are making headway into
finding treatments and possible cures for severe food allergies. If I
can raise some awareness and needed money for FAAN to put toward their
research programs, then perhaps all these 4:30 a.m. alarm clock bells
will be worth it!
All pledged funds will go directly to FAAN, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit
organization. I will not receive any financial support from FAAN in any
way other than allowing me to use their logo and to access its
Web site.
Please think of me if you are ever awake at 4:30 a.m. and certainly
send me your positive vibes on Oct. 10. I can’t guarantee that I will
finish this race by the 17 hour cutoff time, but I’ll give it my best
effort.
To donate, visit http://www.sbr4faan.net/.
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
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