I completed my first long distance triathlon in 1980 when I was 33 years old and working full time as an attorney. I finished first in the 30-39 age group but life,family and profession got in the way and I didn’t do another triathlon for 16 years. When I retired in 2010 at age 63 I decided to train seriously and try to qualify for Kona. I had some early successes finishing second in my age group at Challenge Atlantic City in 2014 and Ironman Boulder in 2015. After IM Boulder I had a setback, an old football injury to my left shoulder caused osteoarthritis to develop. The pain was so severe I decided to undergo partial shoulder replacement surgery called a “Ream & Run”. Returning to training was long, painful and difficult. I joined Purple Patch in 2016  and success followed. I qualified and completed the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Maloolaba, Australia in 2016 ,Chattanooga in 2017 and South Africa in 2018. I decided not to go to South Africa since I finally qualified for Kona that year at Ironman Maryland. While training for Kona 2018 I had another setback. I thought I had injured my lower back but it turned out to be a torn labrum in my right hip and I needed a total hip replacement. That surgery was done 2 months after completing Kona. I resumed training 2 months later and was able to do ,not race,IM Eagleman 70.3 in May of 2019. I had several other races scheduled but suffered another setback. On a training ride in June I was struck by a car that failed to stop for a stop sign. I suffered a fractured left shoulder, a fracture of the left coricoid process, a concussion and severe lacerations to my right hand and chin. This setback has been the most disheartening but I’m dealing with the post concussion syndrome and I’m back training with my sights set for Kona 2021. Training and racing, like life, can and will have its successes and setbacks. Setbacks will challenge you mentally and physically  more than any race and to conquer them takes patience, determination and smart coaching .