It's sunrise on the Mirror
As voices whisper still,
Waiting for the gun to sound
To test each Iron will.

The group of athletes band together
To line the Mirror's edge
As each mind vows to push their limbs
And take the Iron pledge:
No road too long
No hill too steep
I'm keeping to my plan
For I have trained
My lungs and mind
To be an Ironman.

With months of training now behind
To prepare them for this race
Excitement, fear, and nervousness
Now paint each Iron face.

Friends and families stand close by
To cheer them on their way,
Pride and love and good luck words
Are the wisdom of the day.

Each athlete waits poised and ready
The marshall holds the gun
"one minute down, your mark, get set, "
The race has now begun.

The frenzy of arms clamber and claw
Disturbing the Mirrored Lake
Chaos reigns within the water
Creating an Iron wake.

No steady swimmer is left untouched
Being hammered blow-by-blow
Relax, breath, catch a draft,
Just take your
strokes and go.

With two laps down you're at the shore
Throwing goggles to the side
Transition One is fast and smooth
And so begins your ride.

The Iron pledge is in your mind
As you crest the first big hill
Not so bad, your legs feel great
Determined ever-still:
No road too long
No hill too steep
I'm keeping to my plan
For I have trained
My lungs and mind
To be an Ironman.

One-hundred-ten behind you now
You race up Poppa Bear
Turn the corner, round the bend
Thank God, you are almost there.

The crowd goes wild and calls your name
The cheers are just for you
As someone grabs your bike to rack
You race toward T2.

A swig of water, a chocolate GU
Your marathon's just begun
The effort of the bike behind
You focus on the run.

The Iron pledge is in your mind
As you run down the first big hill
Not so bad, your legs feel great
Determined ever-still:
No road too long
No hill too steep
I'm keeping to my plan
For I have trained
My lungs and mind
To be an Ironman.

You find the rhythm of your stride
And hold a steady pace
For patience is the virtue
That controls this Iron race.
You see the ski jump loom ahead
Then run aside the stream
Step-by-step you're getting closer
To your Iron dream.

Your teammates come 'round every corner
Adorned in green and black
A ribbon of fellow athletes follow|
Along the out and back.
Your legs are getting weary now
Your body wants to rest
The mind games start and won't let up
Putting you to the test.

Mile 23 closes behind you
One last big hill to tame
You want so bad to stop and walk
And quit this bloody game.

But in your mind a whisper
Carries you up the hill
The Iron pledge grows stronger
Determined ever-still:
No road too long
No hill too steep
I'm keeping to my plan
For I have trained
My lungs and mind
To be an Ironman.

As each step brings you closer
With guts and Iron grit
Your mind and body knew your soul
And never let you quit.

While friends and families waited by
To cheer you to the end
The skating oval beckons you
To round the final bend!

And for all of those who dare to try
This pledge must be repeated
That Iron hearts and Iron minds
Cannot be defeated:
No road too long
No hill too steep
I'm keeping to my plan
For I have trained
My lungs and mind
To be an Ironman....

And now the day's reflection
Is Mirrored in one's heart
The testament to strength and will
Beginning at the start.

It's sunset in the Mountains now
And voices whisper still
The stories of the day unfold
Of cresting that last hill...