Sean Astin's Ironman World Championship Triathlon Race Report

Submitted by Sean Astin @SeanAstin

Beyond Victory: The DNA of an Endurance Everyman.
A tough look at the guts, gristle and mechanics of my drive to do more.

Ok, that's a bit of a heavy opener, but I've been dragging my heels on posting a race report for my epic Ironman Championship Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii on October 10th, 2015.

Why? Well, I've been incredibly focused on the minutia and often esoteric athletic details in my mind and spirit. It will seem silly to many that the impression I give focuses on my feelings about the physical stuff, when I should be happy with having achieved something wonderful regardless of where I "stack up" in the 2000+ field of participants (for the record, at the very bottom—no matter, I FINISHED yaaayyy!!!), or anyone in the sport for that matter. But in a real way, I want to honor the fact that I've earned my way into a legitimate conversation on the topic, and therefore it does matter to me.

So, for those of you interested in wading into the deep recesses of my post race analysis, please understand that I am forever grateful for all of the joy, health and success that I experienced. My desire to offer encouragement to others, particularly those who don't have athletic ambitions beyond perhaps common sense fitness is in no way diminished. In fact, I hope that people at any phase of health in their life can appreciate that I wish to explore my "failings" (of course they aren't actual failures). I shudder to think that sharing any of my "harsh" self analysis might be construed as anything other that a celebration of my limitations and my earnest desire to understand them better. In the final analysis, I will triumphantly return to my more enlightened modality. I trust that I will gracefully transition into a perspective that understands the context of my experience within a broader social and cultural reality. Meaning, most people don't and won't do Triathlons, and I have much more in common with "normal" exercisers than I do with disciplined and regular endurance athletes. It's all relative, and I promise I have no intention of going too far down the rabbit hole and obsessing needlessly about my performance or consigning my future to a more ludicrous ambition than I or my supportive wife and children think is healthy.

Without further ado, I hereby stream some consciousness flowing from the first few weeks after becoming an Ironman!

Ironman Kona #Run3rd Dedications

On October 10, 2015, I will participate in the Ironman Championship Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. I will wear the #Run3rd logo all 140.6 miles of the journey. As I swim, cycle and run, the dedications that you all have made and continue to make will come with me. Thank you all so much. I #Run3rd for you.

Much love and respect,
Sean

~~~

kstevens73 Please #Run3rd for my niece, Mara, who has Downs Syndrome and is on the Autism Spectrum. She turns 13 this month.

wendylynnes Please #Run3rd for my strong & incredibly brave Mom who is fighting breast cancer. And all who are fighting breast cancer.

kaysifajardo Please #Run3rd for my best friend with Leukemia

carachapel Please #Run3rd for all the poor families and friends of the people killed at Umpqua Community College.

2 Rudy’s Together – Star of Rudy, Sean Astin, Partners with Rudy Project

Star of Rudy, Lord of the Rings and The Goonies Partners with Italian Sports Brand Rudy Project to Support His IRONMAN World Championship Race & Raise Funds for After School Running Programs Through the IRONMAN® Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Denver, CO (September 30, 2015) –Rudy Project, crafters of the #1 Most-Worn Aero / TT Helmet at the IRONMAN® World Championships for the last four consecutive years, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Kona-bound athlete and world-renowned actor Sean Astin. Already accustomed to identifying himself with the name Rudy, Sean’s leading role as Daniel Ruettiger in the award-winning 1993 film Rudy made him a household name, but today, with the help of Rudy Project, he is using his celebrity status to inspire others with his global #Run3rd® campaign.

“Cycling is a thrilling sport and every time I climb on my bike, I know that it can be dangerous,” Sean shared.  “I feel more comfortable on the streets and biking down hills knowing that I’m protected by the best technology in the field. The helmets all fit perfectly. I wear several different models depending on the day, terrain and whether I’m on my road bike or tri bike. One day I started to pedal but was in too low a gear and fell over and hit my head hard on the cement. I took off the helmet and wiped off the scratch. I stood embarrassed in the street staring at the helmet and realized I probably would have had a concussion or worse if I wasn’t wearing it. The point is that it worked. I love that I’m working with such a solid company. In the movie Rudy, Rudy follows his dreams and never quits. In my pursuit of Kona, I’m following a dream and I will never quit. I’m proud to have the Rudy Project on board to support this dream.”

Sean Astin Launches #Run3rd Fundraising Campaign

#Run3rd Fundraising Campaign

"Fitness combined with a structured emphasis on community should be available for every student.” —Sean Astin

Sean Astin with kids at the Inaugural #Run3rd 5K in Mesa, AZ, April 11, 2015.

From IRONMAN - "Sean will be in for one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of his life! It will inspire people and show them that anything is possible (who better than RUDY!). His background, commitment to competition and eagerness to immerse himself in philanthropic activities makes him a great ambassador for the sport. We are thrilled to welcome Sean into the IRONMAN family in October.

"The IRONMAN World Championship is a 140.6-mile swim-bike-run event on October 10, 2015, on the Big Island of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The “Super Bowl of Triathlons” will provide Sean a global platform to promote his philanthropic passion. He will be competing among professionals, amateurs and everyday athletes."

Soooo, after close consultation with my family, I decided to give it a go. The Ironman organization will donate $25,000 to my #Run3rd charity upon completion of the race. I’ve created this crowdfunding platform to make it easy for people who are watching me pursue this dream help student/runners follow theirs. I’ve set an extremely ambitious goal of $50,000.

The fundraising page gofund.me/run3rd explains the basic premise of how I will manage the distribution of the funds.

Sean Astin: Training for the Ironman World Championship Triathlon

Earlier this year, Sean Astin was invited to take part in the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, on October 10, 2015. The event consists of a 2.4 mile swim in open water, a 112 mile bike race, and a full 26.2 mile marathon.

Sean has been training in earnest for several months, and has already participated in two shorter triathlon events: the Ironman Vineman 70.3 Triathlon in Sonoma, CA, on July 12, and the Cranberry Trifest Olympic in Lakeville, MA, on August 23.

Here are some postings, videos and photos from Sean about these events and his other training regimen as he prepares for this incredible challenge.

July 12, 2015: Ironman 70.3 Sonoma, CA

Who's that guy in the California jersey? Wait a minute. It's me!!! This Sunday, I completed my first Ironman 1/2 Triathlon. That's right folks, I'm Half an Ironman, or a Halfling if you will…

It was called the Vineman 70.3 in Sonoma.

Here's the math: 1.2 mile swim -- 56 mile cycle -- 13.1 mile run. I completed it in 7 hours and 25 minutes and felt great afterward.

Have a gander at some pics taken by my friends Kris, Mindy & Eli: