Hello! I'm Jérôme, and I'll be participating in my first IRONMAN triathlon in Muncie, Indiana on October 2nd, 2021 in support of the Toronto Humane Society, a leader in animal welfare promoting the humane care and protection of all animals.

Why an IRONMAN?

The IRONMAN triathlon has been a life goal of mine ever since I discovered it years ago when I was living near Nice, France, where the IRONMAN is considered one of the toughest ones in the world. I remember checking their website and seeing a photo of an athlete crossing the finish line with the caption: "Do it once, brag for the rest of your life". I might not brag but I'll still do the IRONMAN.

In 2016, I suffered from a broken ankle when playing rugby, and for months, was not able to live an active lifestyle. I had lost muscle mass, agility, flexibility, in addition to the physical and mental pain. I had to define a path not to only get back on my feet, literally, but to be even better, fitter, than I was before the injury.

An IRONMAN, to me, represents the pinnacle of long-distance endurance events, where both the mind and body must work together to swim 3.9 km (2.4 miles), bike 180.2 km (112 miles), and run 42.2 km (26.2 miles) in a maximum span of 17 hours. The amount of work put into the training makes it very real; it's either you have what it takes or you don't on race day. It is not something you can finish without a significant amount of training and sacrifices. And that's why I believe your support for my efforts towards this personal life dream is deserved by a great cause such as the Toronto Humane Society.

Why the Toronto Humane Society?

I have been supporting them ever since I moved from France to Toronto in 2017. During my first year in Toronto, I volunteered for their event "Paws in the Park" where I met an amazing team of volunteers. A team of people hard at work, yet still speaking to you with a smile. Since that first event, I have become more and more interested in their cause and vision to be a leader in animal welfare, working for a society where all animals are respected and valued. They do way more than just provide shelter, care, training, veterinary support, and provide animals a second chance. I've decided to fundraise for them at all sporting events I participate in, including a half marathon in 2018 and a full marathon in 2019. They depend on the generosity of the public for funding and volunteering.

An IRONMAN triathlon and a great non-profit charity to fundraise for is truly a dream come true. Please donate and help me make it happen! Your support means everything to me, for the fundraiser as much as for the triathlon. ❤️

_______________________________

Follow my adventure:

On my Instagram: @jerome8runel

Learn more about the Toronto Humane Society: