Living your dream...I have done some pretty cool things in my life. Ironmans, Ultramans, Ultraruns, marathon swims, but to me doing something for the first time has got to be the most rewarding. Even more rewarding is seeing someone else do something for the first time.

Last week I was fortunate enough to witness a friend swim Lake Tahoe (wetsuit) - 22 miles for the first time. As I used this swim as training swim, Brett Blankner conquered a swim that was his longest by far. Seeing him reach the beach, watching the joy of him and his family was awesome.

Tomorrow, my friend Mark Luchak will do his first Ironman. He has be preparing, planning and worrying for many weeks now. I will go an witness this for two reasons. One feeding off the other. As I understand the time, commitment and sacrifice that goes into preparing for such an event, I want to be there to celebrate this experience with my good friend. Being able to witness someone, especially a good friend conquer his dreams is ultimately what motivates me to do the things I do.

Mark has become a huge support of my ultra adventure swimming. He has crewed many times on my training swims, constantly giving my moral support and most of all just being a good friend. It means a great deal to me to have people like Mark in my life and I can not wait to be there every inch of the way.

What Mark does not realize is that every stroke, pedal and step he makes motivates me. I will be there for him, but what he does not understand is that the inspiration I will pull from him is what drives me to be better, get faster and go longer.

I am the kind of person who cries while watching ironman on TV. Everybody has a story. Mark has a story. Similar in many ways as the rest of the athletes that will toe the line tomorrow, but also incredibly different. Throughout the day weather it is 8 hours of 17 hours, Marks story will add another chapter to it. One of becoming an Ironman and to me this is amazing. This chapter will be written culminating in what I have felt and seen as life changing.

Thank you Mark for writing this chapter in your life, you are also helping all of us write chapters in our life.

Respect the day, enjoy the journey, and most of all have fun. Thank you for letting me be apart of this magical day. AND KICK SOME ASS

I will be sending out updates, photos and videos throughout the day. Please send Mark good mojo.. Tomorrow he becomes and Ironman.