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Post by Ironi on Oct 26, 2011 16:10:28 GMT -5
My farewell to a sport I still truly love and to a degree in which I excelled. May the river continue to be swift, the wind always behind you, and your runs be all in the shade ļ.
I owe Paul Butler my gratitude for understanding.
Preface:
To the casual observer, it appears that life for an ironman competitor is consumed by Triathlon. However, from my perspective, as I attempted to subtly reflect in this video, Triathlon encompasses much more; the many facets of life and living.
In addition, there is a time when every Ironman must move on, by choice or circumstance. Per Kevin Helliker's 2009 article "Older, Wiser, Slower" in the Wall Street Journal, that after 50, an avid athlete finds that to stay healthy, they must let go of the need to win. This my circumstance, one from which I base my reflections.
In regard to the ESI 70.3 and other triathlons, it is not only about the athletes themselves, but the interpersonal relationships and camaraderie existing amongst these great athletes, their friends and family members, and the spectators; and the incredible contributions made by the volunteers, medical professionals, safety experts and race sponsors from all of the local communities involved for the entire 70.3 miles.
This video reflects my perceptions of those athletes, volunteers, family members and spectators with whom I am personally familiar. I have attempted to capture a few of the poignant moments.
In due respect, i hope my dry sense of humor is not disrespectful to each of these individual's times of joy, disappointment, triumph and tribulation.
As poet Angela L. Wozniak stated in prose: "I wake each morning with the thrill of expectation and the joy of being alive. And I'm thankful for this day."
My Tribute:
This video is a tribute to not only Paul Butler, the Ultimate Ironman and CFO of ESI, but also, to his wife Nadia for their great contribution to this community.
As my abridged version of their love story goes: (Paraphrased from my employer Morris Communications' article published on February 4, 2008; written by La Tina Emerson.)
Paul, admirably known as ¡§Ultimo¡¨ across the Ironman Globe, said it was love at first sight. "I knew it immediately. Not a doubt in my mind," he said.
He asked Nadia to marry him three days later, and the couple wed within two months.
Paul stated, ¡§Nadia has walked through many doors and shattered the glass ceilings; and she is still blazing!
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Ms. Butler and her family moved to the United States in 1957, when she was 3 years old. She became a U.S. citizen in 1963.
The president and CEO of emergency management software firm Emergency Services Integrators has risen to become the head of one of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, according to Inc. magazine.
Ms. Butler says the product is the world's first Web-enabled crisis information management system, and it allows emergency management organizations to function without a physical operations center.
The company's systems are used worldwide by customers such as NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy, Agriculture, Health & Human Services and Homeland Security. Other clients include state and local government agencies, health care providers, airlines and Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Boeing, Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin.
"Nadia is one of the most intelligent and interesting people that I've ever encountered," said Anne Murray Sims, ESi's communications director.
Paul states, "Everybody respects her, but they also like her because she is very warm and giving. People seem to gather around her."
"We love traveling because it gives you an incredible perspective on the variety of cultures and helps reinvigorate ones perspective," she said.
It was during my travels with Paul Butler to Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands that we developed that special bond that has continued to exist between us as fellow Ironmen and soon to be fellow Kona Ironmen!
In addition, it was during this competition that Paul earned, out of admiration, his nickname Ultimo. Out of respect, I will leave it to Paul to tell his embellished story on how he earned the ultimate of all ironmen nicknames. Just ask him!
It was also during the middle of the run segment at Ironman Lanzarote that I finally figured out what Triathlon was all about. Hopefully, many of you incredible athletes will be fortunate enough to come to the same realization.
In closing, I would like to thank Nadia and Paul for providing the City of Augusta with so many treasures.
One of these treasures, The ESI Ironman 70.3, has become a premiere event for not only the City of Augusta but for the surrounding region; hope this video will do this incredible event justice.
Go Ultimo! Kona 2012!
In ultimate admiration,
The "King", well, according to the "Queen's" proclamation
- it captures the hopes and dreams of so many so eloquently and also the feel of our city.....thank you!