Are you a Chicken or a Pig?

I hope that title got your attention!  How does THAT title relate to triathlon and in particular to my 2021 Ironman adventure, fundraising/awareness goals, and commitment to honoring the memory and evolving legacy of Ronan Smyth?  Well let me wax poetic below.

I embarked on this journey in February 2020.  By that point I had committed to doing my third Ironman and first real strenuous athletic effort since the Dopey Challenge of 2018 and my first Ironman distance since 2011.  But it was not until I saw a Facebook post on February 12, 2020, from Ronan Smyth's mom that my inspiration and commitment to this event came into focus.  That date would have been Ronan's 14th birthday and those who saw the post were asked to dedicate something of their day to Ronan's memory and to raising awareness around DIPG - an insidious form of cancer that is a harbinger of certain death for children.  I took up this request and moved it from dedicating an Ironman workout for the day to dedicating my whole year and event to Ronan.  

The work progressed.  The training effort proceeded apace.  And within a few weeks COVID showed up.  I remained hopeful and optimistic despite the initial lockdown. I continued the effort but I became cautious about the fundraising campaign I was hoping to start.  I wanted to launch without distraction and with a hope that people could find something to rally behind.  

Throughout the weeks that followed I continued to keep the faith.  My efforts showed up in positive results and changes with my core strength, bike effort and run capacity.  Perhaps even more exciting for me was the weight loss that I experienced.  As of January 1st I started to focus on getting as lean as possible.  In both of my previous Ironman attempts I had competed at 195 pounds - near what is called the Clydesdale Division!  So I was certainly not lithe and when I saw end-of-race video and compared myself to other athletes I really did feel like a linebacker trying to crash a stick-figure party!  I wanted to know what it would feel like to compete with a substantially less bulky physique.  Using a phone-based dietary app and stubbornness I ended up getting down to 170 pounds by Easter.  I had not seen those kind of numbers since my undergraduate years back in the 1980's!!

Unfortunately, as COVID showed no signs of slacking and in fact continued to vex us throughout the year, we got the news that Ironman Canada 2020 was to be cancelled and if there was to be a third Ironman in my future it would have to be deferred to 2021.  That also definitively caused me to postpone the fundraising and awareness campaign for Ronan, DIPG and the Kids With Cancer Society.  Since that time, it also led to a slackening in workouts and a weight gain rebound back to about 190 pounds before motivation and determination returned.

So I'm back at it.  The workouts have resumed, first swim happened today and the fundraising campaign has commenced.  At the time of writing this blog the funds raised stand at just over $5,000.  A long way yet to go to $100,000 but I am determined to see the finish line for both the race and the campaign by the end of summer 2021.  That is despite the fact that COVID is still with us and the status of all of my races planned - including Ironman Canada at the of August - still somewhat up in the air.  I remain optimistic and am working the weight gain off as well.  Back down to 181 as of this morning.

So COVID could still rain on the parade in 2021.  But this is where the story will be different this year.  If there is no formal Ironman Canada 2021 then a Plan B and a Plan C is already in progress.  One alternative sees several of my teammates on the Cops for Cancer Ironteam being in Penticton, BC, come hell or high water (or perhaps a plague of locusts is the more appropriate analogy), regardless of whether the race runs or not.  We are prepared to complete the distance as a team, on our own, with family and friends providing support, to see our commitment pay off.  

Plan C?  If all else fails I will complete the distance on my own and with the commitment of my individual support team - my wife and family.  I will complete the distances required.  One way or another I will hold true to my commitment.

Similarly, I am just as determined to cross the fundraising finishing line of $100,000.  Some potential donors have asked me to let them know when the Ironman is confirmed as a go.  The indication is that at that point they will make a commitment to the fundraising cause.  A disappointing response but one I understand.  I hope by my example of commitment that regardless of what may come that I will be able to count on their support.  As for me I am ramping up my efforts not only by asking for funds but also by matching donations as they come in.  

So here is where the segue to the Pig and the Chicken enters.  At the end of the day, both the Pig and the Chicken contribute to a breakfast meal for some of us (have to exclude those of you who are vegan).  If we think about bacon and eggs, the Chicken is willing and giving her eggs to the effort.  The Chicken is involved.  The Pig on the other hand is all in.  There is no half-hearted effort here.  The Pig is committed.

So I'm going full on Pig this year.  The distance will be covered.  The fundraising total will be achieved.  No Chicken-hearted approach for me.  How about you?  How committed are you to this cause.  Are you a Chicken or a Pig?

If you can't donate directly I would ask that you share this blog and this donation challenge with your network.  This is too an important an issue to be standing on the sidelines. The link to my challenge is:

Home - Greg Hadubiak Cops for Cancer Ironteam (akaraisin.com)

Thank you.  Let's compete hard!