I received an email inviting me to hear Chris McCormack, 2007 Ironman World Champion, speak in San Jose. With my new addiction to triathlons and my dream of some day doing an Ironman, I jumped at the chance to meet Chris. The event was free. They only asked for a donation to Macca Now. Macca Now is a charity foundation that Chris established in honor of his mother who died of breast cancer. So Courtney and I went to meet Chris on July 15. I braved the long drive (for me) to San Jose to meet an Ironman Champ. Courtney got this picture of me with Chris before he started speaking. The first thing we both noticed was his Australian accent - we loved it! I mentioned to Chris that we were the same age - both born in 1973. 
As Chris spoke he shared about his life and his childhood dream of some day winning the Kona Ironman Championship. He explained that his mother was the one person who never gave up on him. He talked about how he went to college and became an accountant and that he really hated having a desk job. He quit his job and decided to pursue being a professional triathlete. He was scared to tell his dad he quit so he would dress in his work clothes every day and then go out and train all day instead of working. He finally confessed to his dad and left to Europe to pursue his triathlon career. He had no place to live in Europe and really no plan, but he just went for it. He won the first triathlon he did there and began training with other triathletes. Chris then shared the ups and downs of his triathlon career. He had many successes and failures. He won a lot of races, but also had to deal with the disappointment of not being asked to be on the Australian Olympic team. The first Ironman Chris did in Kona was a disaster. Despite his pre-race bragging, he didn't even finish. Finally, in 2007 he reached his childhood dream of winning in Kona. Chris was very candid and sincere as he spoke. At first I observed him to be very humble, but I also saw his cocky and prideful side come out too. Chris is a fighter and he will openly defend himself. He spoke of a disagreement with Norman Stadler and how he wouldn't tolerate Stadler bad mouthing him. I felt touched when he spoke about his best friend dying when he was partying and fell out the window of a hotel room. Chris has been labeled as a "party boy" too, but he has settled down and is married and has two adorable daughters. I loved hearing Macca's life story and was so glad I got to meet him. I thought he would speak a bit more about inspiring others to be successful at doing triathlons. I would have liked to have heard more training advice and recommendations. After the event, Courtney and I went to my favorite restaurant in San Jose, The Sonoma Chicken Coop. The food was so delicious. I still think about this ranch calzone I had there; it was one of the best things I've ever eaten!
P.S. Chris went on the win the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Kona. I loved watching the race on the internet and then again on the NBC coverage months later. Chris was neck and neck with Andreas Ralert from Germany with less than three miles left of the 140.6 mile race. It was the closest race in the history of the Ironman Championship - even closer than the Ironwar between Mark Allen and Dave Scott in 1989. I loved watching Chris win and since I've met him and heard him speak I knew how much it meant to him. Awesome job, Macca!
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