This blog was conceived in 2008 and went live in the summer of 2014 in preparation for my first IM in Lake Tahoe. Below is my original post that began it all:

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On September 22nd I will compete in the Ironman Lake Tahoe Triathlon, the longest & toughest race that I’ve undertaken so far:  it will start with a 2.4 mile Swim, a 112 mile Bike, and finish with a 26.2 Mile run marathon (no pressure).

The first question I usually get, as many of you already asked, is: “Are you crazy?” A smile is typically followed by a brief pause as my chest fills with air and a spark of excitement ignites an energetic rebuttal to defend my sanity. The next most common question that follows is: “Why?”

Whether you’ve experienced this firsthand or are reading this for the first time, I thank you in advance for your help and support!

So WHY am I doing this?

• When Sabina (my wonderful wife) told me that she was pregnant with our second child earlier this year, I decided to experience as much of a physical challenge & emotional satisfaction as she would in a few months (I realize that an Ironman does not come close to childbirth, but its as close as I could get without violating the rules of nature).

• I started getting in shape at 26 and promised myself to finish a full Ironman by 30. That mile-mark came and went so I picked 35. Without realizing it all along, the Ironman and I share the same birth-year…so this year we’re both celebrating our 35th birthdays.

• Five years ago, on one of my long runs, a combined state of exhaustion, pain, euphoria, and an equal dose of philosophical meandering bore an idea for a happier world: I decided to start by giving smiles to kids who were otherwise saddened by their circumstances.  So SmileyRunner.com was created to help charities raise money for projects dedicated solely to improving the lives of children in areas of health, education, personal empowerment, and quality of life.

So here we are today – I’m in for one of the biggest challenges of my life (thus far) in preparation for this Ironman Triathlon on our joint 35th birthday, as we raise money for Children of Peru, a wonderful charity that provides healthcare and education for children living in poverty.  Please join me in creating a happier world by putting smiles on these kids’ faces and giving them a childhood they deserve!

I thank you again for your support, encouragement and financial contribution to the Children of Peru, on my behalf.

Roman (aka The SmileyRunner)