By Susan Pajer

It all began after lunch in Mrs. Kanakansack’s 3rd grade classroom.The windows were open, and tantalizing gusts of fresh spring air beckoned a squirming group of 8 and 9-year-olds to abandon their multiplication tables and escape outside to play. As any seasoned elementary school teacher knows, there comes a time in the school year when only ingenuity borne of desperation can control a class.When each and every student could no longer sit still, Mrs. K. knew that to maintain order, she had to call upon her secret weapon—it was time to issue “the challenge.” What was this challenge that would distract her students and eventually restore the calm she so desperately yearned for? A jumping jack contest. Everyone would stand to the sides of their desks and perform jumping jacks as long as they could; last student standing would be the winner.

All 24 students began enthusiastically popping up and down as Mrs. K. stood watching, pleased with her cleverness. Arms flew in the early minutes, but children gradually began to drop out and take their seats, fatigued by their effort and ready to resume their studies. So far so good. However Mrs. K. had no idea that among the few stu-dents still flapping, a future Ironman was enervated by her wager and pursuing the classroom record as if his life depended on it. Minutes ticked by as the relentless boy set a classroom record by continuing the jumping jacks for 45 minutes and 23 seconds. Upon finishing, he received a standing ovation from his classmates—not for his endurance in rising to Mrs. K’s challenge, but for eating up the remaining time in the school day until the final bell rang. Fast-forward 35 years to July 23rd 2006. That young Ironman has grown into a strong and lanky triathlete diving into Mirror Lake, in Lake Placid, NY with the same wicked combination of fear andwillpower that kept him going in Mrs. K.’s Piscataway classroom circa 1971. I would personally like to thank Mrs. K. for lighting the spark that launched a thousand workouts. Well not really a thousand, but here’s the down and dirty tally…

As you may have guessed, during Ironman training the guys at the beer distributor forget your name, but over at GNC everybody knows you. And yes—you will miss the guys at the beer distributor.

So what does it take to do an Ironman? A little practice, and the same thing it takes to win a 3rd Grade jumping-jack contest—an insatiable drive to be the last man standing.

Susan Pajer coaches running and is a Certified Personal Trainer. She lives, works and runs with her Ironmate, David, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. For more information on Ironman events, go to www.ironman.com

Liberty Sports Magazine Nov/Dec 2006