Tune into www.ironmanlive.com to get race updates and follow each team member as they move through BC’s beautiful Okanagan Valley.  Hopefully we will see Jasper run his way to another Ironman Canada victory in 2009!!

Team members racing at Ironman Canada are:
Jasper Blake (Victoria, BC)
Geoff Badger (Calgary, AB)
David Collombin (Salt Spring Island, BC)
Susan Schulze (Penticton, BC)
Steve Meehan (Toronto, ON)

So, why did I take on the Ironman challenge to help raise money for MS? 

One of my passions is children and when I was reading about MS and learned that it is the most common neurological disease in young adults – it definitely needs a stronger awareness. 

My best girlfriend’s mother was diagnosed with MS about 25 years ago, making it a lot closer than you realize.

The third reason is being born and raised in Penticton, I have always wanted to try the Ironman, but there was never that actual push. 

Steve Meehan, CEO of Investment Planning Counsel, challenged me to compete with him or should I say goaded me on as he knows I am competitive, after all, I did beat him on the 100km ride for the Healing Cycle. 

So when Steve brought this challenge to the table and doing it for such a great cause, how could I refuse?

I started training for the Ironman in the middle of February and I am so nervous. 

Some people train for this event for over a year, so what makes me think I can do it?

How do you even get started to train for such an event? 

The first thing I did was hire a coach as I had no idea what or how I would even tackle such an endurance event.  I went to Impact Multisport Coaching and asked if they would take me on as a client. 

I think, after a great amount of thought, they said we will take a look and let you know.  Olly Piggin, from Impact agreed, not sure if it was voluntary, to become my coach. 

He has designed a personalized training program for me, we are trying to get my body and mind learning the three new sports I am taking on.  The biggest challenge has been learning to be patient, relaxed and efficient as I am slowly learning all three sports to meet this challenging endurance event.  

I am not sure if Olly knew what he was getting into taking me on as a client but he is starting to now!

I am an accountant and I have been working as a Compliance Officer for Investment Planning Counsel for the past 10 years.  I love my boys and I love my career. 

So why does a person who sits at a desk all day decide to take on a challenge such as the Ironman? 

For me it started on New Year’s Eve 2001.  I was sitting at home all by myself and as I was feeling sorry for myself I thought – why would I be sitting here feeling sorry for myself?  I am healthy, my boys are healthy, and I realized how lucky I was. 

That is when I made a New Year’s Resolution. In some way, I was going to give back to society.  I didn’t know just what I was going to do, however I knew an opportunity would present itself and I would be available. 

Well, two years later, January 2003, our company put out a challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and raise money for ‘Make A Wish’, which is a foundation that benefits children with life threatening illnesses. 

What an opportunity!  Not only was I going to jump off the wheel and challenge myself after  having done nothing active in years, but work towards giving back by raising money for a child with a life threatening illness.

In 2004 I continued to look for challenges that would bring a greater awareness and hopefully make a difference in people’s lives.  I climbed Mount Aconcagua for the South Okanagan Community Foundation raising funds that would benefit children of the Okanagan. 

In 2005 I took on the weekend walk for St. Margaret’s Hospital for Cancer Research. 

It was in 2008 that I decided on another challenge again, a company initiative, to take part in a 100km bicycle ride ‘The Healing Cycle’ for palliative care.  I had not ridden a bike since I was about 13 years old.  I had recently lost a great friend to colon cancer and for her and her family, palliative care was invaluable.

So, why did I take on the Ironman challenge to help raise money for MS? 

To Be Continued……