Stephen Denny was injured by a boat propeller while assisting a friend before a triathlon in St. Augustine.  This picture of Steve's left leg is a partial representation of his injuries.  Steve is still hanging on to his dream of completing Ironman Florida on November 1, 2008.   The physical pain of his injuries must be substantial.  However, the psychological and spiritual pain of not doing what we love and that keeps us grounded has to be the most profound to me.  Can ya feel me?

"the staples have been out for almost four weeks.  I was released to swim about 2 1/2 weeks ago, it felt good for a few days to do something aerobic.  Unfortunately I developed an infection shortly after and am restricted from the water until the new sores are completely healed.  I also could not bike because it kept tearing the sore open."  Stephen Denny (skdfinancial@msn.com)

As an athlete, nothing can be more frustrating than to be on the sidelines.  It is just not in our nature to NOT be moving.  For myself, and I am sure many others, this sport is really a lifestyle that keeps me connected to my soul.  Maybe that sounds a little deep and at odds with the perception of outsiders that triathletes and athletes in general are superficial and more concerned with the external factors such as how we look and how we perform. However, the greatest benefits for me are: stress relief, decompressing, camaraderie, being alone with only the sound of my breathing, seeing the sun rise over the ocean  3-4 times  per week, practicing self discipline, sacrifice and commitment.

It does feel great to look in the mirror and like what you see and have the feeling of wellness and confidence that comes with being fit.  But what feels the best is knowing that I am pushing myself to the limit, setting and working towards a goal and doing workouts that only a small segment of the population can imagine. 

Steve, I believe in your dream.  Hang in there and do not give up, miracles happen and anything is possible.  Every day ordinary people like us accomplish extraordinary things.

Words of encouragement can be posted here or sent directly to Steve's email address above.