Sports and exercise have a certain ability to bring out the best and worst emotions in all of us and no matter if you are competing at the highest level, or against yourself, I am sure you can understand the highs and lows associated with it.  The picture accompanying this story is of purplepatch professional triathlete, Matt Lieto, as he runs the final yards to the finish line at the 2008 Hawaii Ironman World Championships.  The moment was captured by a close friend (Deven Clemens), although I doubt that he knew he was really capturing the exact moment of closure on a journey of struggle for Matt.

Ten years prior to this moment Matt was in Hawaii at the Ironman World championships but far from being a competitor.  Supporting his brother Chris, also a purplepatch professional athlete, Matt weighed close to 250 lb. and seldom exercised of any sort.  Watching his brother compete at the race struck a nerve and Matt realized his current life was not providing any real reward or lasting pleasure.  Ten years later Matt was back in Hawaii, 80 lb. lighter and competing as a professional athlete at the world’s biggest stage.  The picture shows the end of a journey that was full of struggle, plenty of adversity, self-doubt and emotional turmoil.  It was also full of a lot of hard work, passion for adventure and a persistence that led to great things.  The first years were about becoming active and losing the additional weight which led into the development into a professional athlete.  Matt was lucky to be born with great athlete ability (hidden under that extra 80 lb!) but he was also born with a propensity to easily add weight.  His journey was not simple and his weight management is a continuing passage of thought, preparation and a little sacrifice.  You do not need the genetic make up of a professional athlete to be able to achieve success, but you do need careful planning, commitment and a lot of passion for your results.

Each of us have aspects of our health and fitness that we have to work harder than others to accomplish our goals.  Many of us also require something to ‘poke us with inspiration’ to change.  Change is possible for all of us and the benefits that come with that change is often so much greater than you first imagine.  I hope this picture may trigger a little emotion in some of you, it certainly did in me.

The conclusion of Matt’s journey to health starts another of real performance.  2009 promises to be a promotion to the next level for Matt as he positions himself to take the next step into the upper levels of professional triathlon.  You can be sure that he will take that step with the same positive attitude and smile on his face he has carried the whole way so far!