My mottos in life: Only impress yourself & GO you Good thing!!!

BY LE-ROY GELDENHUYS

Coach Magda asked me to write something short about my journey...

My story - although I really want to keep it for after Ironman - has been a roller coaster ride of mental and physical pain. After going through a car accident about 6 years ago, I was left with back problems. I especially experienced back spams after the bike, which meant I couldn't do the run. I spent a lot of time and money asking people to help me achieve my dream and get me back to the event which made me my family's hero. It soon became clear that many people just wanted my money and were not truly there to assist me.

You start doubting yourself! If you take a look at my pictures (below) - you'll see that I have experienced the highs of finishing Ironmans and the low of quitting 2 kms (yes 2 kms) from the finish - due to my back. You really lose your confidence because your family are the only ones who support and believe in you.

One Friday afternoon in November ​I went to Magda. I had tears in my eyes and I was very skeptical. I said: "Please help me feel alive again." At that stage I couldn't even walk upright.

My passion for Ironman doesn't always make me an easy customer but she's been there for me all the way. We grow day by day. There is still a lot of work to come in the next 5 weeks.

This will be my 9th Ironman. I haven't always finished but, being a Dad, my kids are inspired by the fact that I live by the things that I have taught them: "You might not always be successful but if you fail, always stand up and go back and, you know what, ONLY IMPRESS YOURSELF."

My story isn't finish yet, and it definitely has a To be continued in it...