Ironman Wisconsin Part 3 6 Ironmans in 1 Year is now complete

Keith and I dropped all of our transition bags and our bikes and did our last minute checks of everything and oiled our chains one last time before the big day tomorrow. To both of us everything was a bit surreal. We had finally reached a day that we had thought would never arrive and both of us were very grateful that up to this point we had both completed all 5 prior races and were relatively confident that barring any injuries or major equipment malfunction that we would have done something that no 49 year old had done ever within 11 months and that is to complete all 6 WTC Ironman Events within the USA. And the fact that both of us have a chance to did it together is truly remarkable to me.





All along our journey Keith & I talked about all of the folks in our lives who sacrificed so much in order for us to be here at this moment. We also thought about the $$$ and awareness we have raised along the way to help those in need and what that means to each of those communities and the people they have helped. We thought of our great friend, coach and mentor Joe Turcotte who could not be here with us because he is preparing for his race in Hawaii and also giving back to his charity. My Dad and Mom have given so much to me in my life they have to be the first for me to thank as without them I wouldn't be here at all. They have also told me many times in my life that there are givers in this world and there are takers and I feel strongly that I love to be around the givers and know in Keith & Joe that is 100% the case. Major thanks to them for being not only a part of this journey all along but being a part of my life. My wife knows how I feel and she has been there all along this journey and has never once discouraged me from doing this. We both have sacrificed so much to reach this moment and it is worth every bit of the time and money and we have no regrets. You all get to read and hear about the highlights mostly but trust me there are low lights and times when I don't want to get out and sit on my bike for 5-6 hours training in crappy weather or running a long run when I'd rather be spending time with my wife and kids. For 2 years they have all pretty much given up their weekends with me as when they wanted to plan some sort of outing I'd say something like OK just as soon as I am done with my 5 hour ride and nap ok? And whenever any of my kids were going through a challenging time I would think to myself maybe I should bail on this whole thing as they need my 100% focus right now and yet from them they would not want me to stop this mission as they knew what it was all about. THEY GOT IT..... THEY UNDERSTOOD.........THEY SUPPORTED ME....I can't let anyone of these kids, my wife, my friends, my extended family down. I had to keep trudging the road to Happy Destiny.... Keith, Joey & I and now maybe you have an inkling that this had become much more than any of us as individuals. This had become a following of supporters from all of our families, our charities and their supporters and families, our friends and their families, our facebook friends, media that had covered where watching our exploits and reporting on us, and yes even folks that wanted to see us fail. I have been blessed to know all of my charities personally and what they do. I literally want to see them in action so that I can share their experience strength and hope with all who want to hear. This is what I have learned from making right choices in life. Sharing my experience, strength and hope is more important than anything else that I do. It is the gift that I have been given to give to the next person who may hear my story.......so before I tell you about our last supper before IM # 6 you will have to learn a little about me that you may not know until now.......





I grew up in Marlborough Massachusetts, just off Stevens Street on Old Charter Rd. Much of my life growing up was a very happy time with my family & friends in those neighborhoods. I had a good upbringing by my parents, who were both very successful in our community of Marlborough, and provided for my brothers and sister very well. They also gave of themselves to the community of Marlborough and taught us that we should try and give back as well.My good upbringing and years at Immaculate Conception and St. John’s had waned and the years of innocence and great promise were lost on many years of prolonged alcoholic drinking and drug addiction. By the time I was 25 I was at a very empty place, a place I wish on no one but never wish to forget. With that very promising future as a young man, I threw it away because of my powerlessness over the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. Not only was I ashamed at what I had become, I had no idea on which direction I should go. I was a very desperate and scared shell of a man. I thought this world would be a better place without me. I thought my life’s journey was ending; I had no idea it was just about to begin.It was April 28th 1985, when I called my brother Rich and asked for help. I didn't want to live but I didn't want to die and had no idea what I should do. He led me to a place that became my life saver. It was a small room in a dumpy building called The ARC, which was on Lincoln Street at that time. I met new friends called John the Indian, Johnny V (who became my sponsor), Vivian and Roland S. This placed welcomed me. I was usually asked to leave places, not be welcomed back. I had no idea this place existed even though I frequented many establishments (bar rooms) along Lincoln Street during that time. I had no idea that this place called The ARC was to be the foundation that literally saved my life. And now today I still frequent this place because it’s not just about me anymore. I am responsible. I realize that it’s about us, people helping people. The ARC, along with my 12-step recovery program, has assisted me each and everyday to remain sober and clean and I truly live a happy life. I am a lucky man.My life is very different today than it was almost 25 years ago. I have a wonderful wife, 3 beautiful children, the love and respect of my family, my friends and my community. I know how to be a son, a brother, a father, a friend and a positive member of my community. I am responsible. I can’t thank The ARC and now Right Turn and a nameless 12 step program enough for what it has freely given to me and I am humbled to be able to give back today.





Ok back to Ironman time.....Keith and West Coast Jen headed off with Keith's kids and their friend to have their last supper and we would meet up later to share our last thoughts before the race with our Video man and Documentarian Brad.





Jen & I headed back with Brad to meet my friends Jim Whetstone and his wife Bonnie who drove up 3 hours from Chicago to see the race for dinner. Jim & Bonnie have been a great friends and supporter for many years and it meant allot to me that they choose to come up and witness that special experience that only Ironman can provide not only the athletes but also the spectators as well. The fact is that as an athlete who will be competing in the 8th Ironman you would think I would be a willy old veteran at this and yet the nervousness and excitement for what I am about to embark on is just as powerful as it was the first time I had done it. It truly is a magical experience for the individual and I feel for the spectator as well because around this time the eve before the race those of you that have watched all along what your athlete has done and endured to get themselves ready for this day and are here at the event to witness the reality of what lay before starts to really sink in and the enormity of the experience and the energy levels are beginning to magnify to a heightened sense of everything around you. The best way I can describe it is that all of your senses are heightened and the feeling of 2400 individuals gathering to achieve the same goal all of a sudden starts to absorb within you as well. The family feel of the brotherhood and sisterhood of the Ironman is almost at full swing now and you are standing alone yet with all at the same time.





Dinner was great and everyone talked about the buzz feeling that were getting and everyone was excited about witnessing the madness that was about to begin except for one...me. To be honest I am tired, sore, and so exhausted because of the fact that Keith & I had just done this 13 days earlier in Louisville that our bodies and more importantly our minds had not yet recovered from that experience. This was definitely going to be the toughest challenge of all and I was pretty sure that we would complete it but I was also pretty sure it wouldn't be pretty and I would be fighting within my mind throughout the day. I shared those feelings with all of them and they reassured me and actually made me feel better and back on track about why I am here and what we are doing. Additionally if I don't finish tomorrow my charity for this event Right Turn will not get the additional $10,000 from Janus for being the top fundraiser for this event. So even if I wanted to bail on the day I couldn't possibly let those folks down.

To be continued........

Ironman Madison 2009 Part 2 6 Ironmans in One Year

Continued from Part 1.....

Thursday evening Keith and West Coast Jen Brown arrived from California. As a surprise to their Dad, all of Keith's children will Keith know they would be flying into Madison on Friday. This really helped Keith's mental focus and mine for what we're about to embark on. I also got a phone call from my good friend Jim Whetstone letting me know that him and his wife Bonnie will be arriving sometime Saturday afternoon. Last but not least, Brad Kelly our videographer will also be arriving on Friday evening.

We all woke up Friday, and headed towards the venue so that Keith could sign up and be official for Ironman Madison 2009. Once Keith was registered, we headed over to Tri-Bike Transport to get our bikes and our gear bag. We'd run into a slight snag as they left the gear bag in Minneapolis and this contained both of our wet suits, bike shoes and bike helmets so we need this in order to compete. Marc the owner of tri-bike transport was very accommodating and took care of us as he always does. We recommend him highly if you need them there website is http://www.tribiketransport.com/ . With our video man Brad follow us around and walked along the entire venue especially to the Janus Charity challenge booth to see Casey and Christina. We also stopped by the Ford booth to visit our friends there as well. The venues backdrop was that of the city of Madison with its beautiful capitol building on one side and Lake Monoma on the other. It is a very small city with a large College feel with the University of Wisconsin right in the heart of everything....so all in all it is a very youthful and high energy place.

What seemed to be the theme for Keith & I was that obstacles kept trying to get in our way and we had to do allot of going with the flow. The first was our gear bag not arriving, then Keith's computer from his bike was missing so they offered to get him another which delayed us getting our bikes again so they could install it for him. We finally got the bike thing squared away so we could take them to Matt to take a final tune up to them and then ride them back to the hotel for a final check on eveything and get our transition bags ready for delivery to the transition areas tommorow. Then around 5 PM I got a call from our Video man Brad that the flight he was scheduled for to Milwaukee was so far delayed that he would not get into Madison at all and only to Milwaukee by 11:30 PM which is a 1 1/2 hour drive for us and we needed our sleep so it was becoming a very stressful last Ironman trying to get through all of our logistics. My wife volunteered to drive by herself to get him but I wasn't comfortable with that as that meant her getting over tired and stressed so we talked aout it and decided we would pay to shuttle him over as the most cost effective and time efective way. It wasn't easy but we made the arrangements and it all worked out as he was picked up and arrived around 1:30 AM. Thanksfully we got what is usually your best night's sleep before an Ironman 2 night's prior as the eve of Ironman is normally a 5 hour sleep with several wake up during the night....

We all awoke on Saturday and Keith & I could finally get to the water and swim to test the temp, get familiar with some line of sight areas for the swim and just release some pent up energy. This is usually a fun filled day but also a kind of up and down emotional roller coaster as well. It is a time where Keith & I have some fun together knowing what lay in front of us oh so well. It is also a day where we do our favorite thing at the past 5 Ironmans which is get a massage....later in the afternoon....This last swim before race day was a little different than the last 5 because of something that happened 2 nights before. Apparently there were a couple of guys out on Lake Monoma fishing and at around 9 PM decided they would cool off and go for a swim. Unfortunately they had been drinking and only one made it back to the boat and they had done this very close to the swimming area of the race. The sheriff's boats and divers were searching the murky waters and as there was allot of algae and pretty much no visibility you can just imagine what a difficult time they were having locating the body. This made all of us a little nervous and saddened as we wish no one to have that fate. I can only speak for me but as I swam I was a little freaked out at times thinking about if I would swim into a body by accident and lucky for me it didn't happen cause I probably would have had a heart attack on the spot and joined him.

We got out of the water and Brad did some filming as we got out of our sausage suits and focused on the final day before the race. We have to return to the hotel after doing our final check in with Janus Charity Challenge http://www.januscharitychallenge.com/ which is the vehicle Keith & I used to raise money & Awareness for our charities. Then pack up and ride our bikes and transition bags into each area. We packed all of our transition bags the night before and of course you look in each one probably 10-15 times after you pack it to make sure you didn't forget something....it's a maddening ordeal but for those of you reading it's all part of the experience.....here is an example of some of the logistics it takes for setting up the bikes in transtition in Madison.....to get to our bikes we had to exit the water and then run up a helix to the top of a parking garage and change in the transition area (below) into our bike gear and then proceed to the top where our bikes are located (below right) Can you find my bike please?:

Next stop ....Last Supper, Video Interview with our women & us and then Race Day ....

Thanks for reading....

We Have Finished Our 6 Ironman Journey in One Year Successfully!!!

Greetings Everyone!

Keith Kober and I have great news for all of you!

On Sept 13th 2009 at 11:29:15 PM we crossed the finish line together completing our 6th out of 6 Ironmans within 11 months! This was a truly life changing and magical journey for everyone involved in our lives. I know I can only speak for myself but the gifts I have received all along the way are amazing. There is not a price tag I can put on them. I can tell you what it costs to take on such a Journey but it will pale in comparison to the many gifts we have recevied along the way.

My message will be simple and it is that anything that you dream about YOU can do. Anything that you want You can do. Anything that you ask for IS within YOUR reach. Make it happen. Make it work. Do the footwork and enjoy every step of the way. If someone says you can't do something please Don't listen to that message because they have no idea what You are capable of. Try your best to only co-sign positive messages and make them a part of who you are. Life is Nutz.....Be What You Are.......Join our Revolution......Your mind is what moves the engine that is you and it is more powerful than any person, place or thing on this earth.

I used to think that all of the regular folk who didn't have an addictive personailty like me didn't really understand how I viewed life and went through things like I did. I was wrong. I stepped out of my own comfort zone and took off the blinders that my own self centered existence provides and made a decision to open my mind beyond that which I thought or felt. I turned my will and my life over and really allowed others beyond my circle of recovery for the past 24 years in a nameless 12 step program and found out that all folks are much similar than I gave them credit for and they had the same and similar defects of character as I do. They taught me along this journey that I was still walking through life with blinders on and they gave me a very precious gift that they cared about things as much as I do. I believe in the human spirit and I believe in whatever you believe and that you are right no matter how you feel at this moment.

A good friend of mine Dennis my massage therapist http://www.qualitymassage.net/ ( I recommend him highly as he kept me together during this past year!) will now be riding me every week about when the book is coming out. Keith already has mentioned doing a book and yet I ask anyone out there to help us as we have no clue how to go about getting published and will probably need several EDITORS JUST TO CLEAN UP AFTER US.

I will apologize ahead of time for the long read but this will be one of our final entries as we will be traveling to Kona next month to spectate and cheer on my best friend, coach and mentor Joe Turcotte and our great friend and Ironman Brother and PRO Swen Sundberg from Germany at the Ironman World Championships on October 10th 2009!

I want you to know what happened as we crossed the finish line together in the beautiful city of Madison on this night Sept 13th 2009 at 11:29:15 PM. As Keith and I believe the finish line is a great place it is the Journey along the way and day that makes the enitre experience what it is.............MAGICAL............but for me this finish was very special for us as we did something that maybe only a handful of athletes of any sport have done to the same degree within a year and especially at 49 years old. As Keith & I approached the finish chute of the Ironman which is pure madness we both noticed Mike Reilly (The Voice of Ironman) was not in his usual spot up in the tower bringing us home. He was down on the carpet just before the finish line. We couldn't hear what he had said but found out after we crossed the finish line that because of Keith's Jen Brown's note and a letter sent by our friend Joe Turcotte (our Coach) he came down personally to welcome us in and share our entire 6 Ironmnan Journey and the money and awareness we have raised for our 6 charities with the entire crowd at Ironman Madison 2009. With over 2200 athletes he needs to recognize we felt very honored and humbled by this gesture and we thank you Mike and Ironman for that memory! He is a true friend and brother to us for life.

Time to rewind to this special day and the days leading up to it. Jen and I packed up and traveled to Madison on Wednesday before. My poor wife has had the toughest role of all dealing with a crazed Nut for a few years now in preparing and staying focused on this Journey. Most folks will never truly understand the sacrifices you have to make to accomplish this task but it does not always provide fruitful results however there has always been a good lesson along the way. My kids have also had to sacrifice allot as well so I thank them all for their love and support because without it this never would have happened. There will be some special mentions along this blog and future blogs and I know I will forget to mention some and for that I apologize ahead of time.

My sister Elizabeth got us set up at The Hotel Sheraton in a major way and my good friend and fellow marathoner Fred Becker got me out there on the flights (for all Ironmans) and so the final chapter to our 6 Ironman Journey was coming down the stretch. The next day I went down to Registration to check in and get my bike and gear bag. As I stood in line with several hundred of the early check ins we talked about our upcoming day with trepidation and wonder about what the day would bring. Would it be raining and cold like was being forecasted, would our bikes be right, the phantom pains started to settle into our bodies as we thought about what lay in front of us. To mouth the words means little to people who have not experienced an Ironman 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile marathon....I can tell as you read it you have no idea what I am talking about and that's ok keep reading. As I stood with my Ironman warriors awaiting in line it starts to hit you as you are now bonded with many others that truly understand what lays ahead whether or not this is their first time or tenth time. They have done the training and everything that has prepared all 2406 of these athletes is now sinking in to their minds. It is truly an incredible feeling. The brotherhood of knowing also begins as you talk with folks whom you have nothing else in common except Ironman and they seem to absolutely know who you are and connect immediately with a kinship that knows no bounds. You start to talk with someone who does such and such for as living and it doesn't matter because now you know and realize that what you do for a living is not who you are. Those of you who may be wondering what 140.6 miles feels like try it in a car and tell me how tired you are just from sitting for those 2-3 hours it takes you to accomplish that. Now break it down with swimming and riding a bike and running and maybe you can start to grasp what we experienced on one day. Now picture going through that one day 13 days ago in Louisville Kentucky and you are now here to do it again in Madison Wisconsin and your body has not even healed yet. Why did we do it. Because we are NUTZ and because we want to give back a gift that has been freely given to us for me that gift is Life. What I do doesn't matter to me anymore....who I am does....what I do with any time I have is more important than any thing I gain....The fellowship of a 12 step program I understand, the fellowship of an Ironman I understand, the spirit of both of these I can attest to and they are one in the same. The same concepts of Unity, Service and Recovery apply to us all. We have not only been given this gift we are now responsible to share it with others. I hope you can agree with this one idea because if you do then it will define you as a person for the rest of your life no matter what cause, quest, or challenge you choose to make for you.........

To be continued................

Ironman Louisville is Complete

IronNutz Keith Kober and Kevin Brown are back from Louisville or the "Ville" as they call it and we had a successful #5 of 6 Ironmans within a year. It was a great time and some great stories to share with you. Our Pro "Ironnutz" Triathlete Swen Sundberg from Germany competed and he was the star of the Ironman as far as the Nutz are concerned he came in 4th place overall and secured a slot for the Ironman World Championship Race on October 10th 2009 in Kona Hawaii! Congratulations Swen! You rocked the "Ville".

Before I get into the pre-race and actual race report I want folks to know I dedicated this race to the Kontoyianis Family. I grew up with them as a kid and used to hang out at their home during several of my hockey years as a young teen and into my late teens. Their husband and Dad Socrates passed away on August 28th 2009. A photo of him and his wife Dorothy attached. Their son John and I were born on the same day in 1960 on Feb 5th. Mr. K drove us to many a hockey practice and game and the entire family opened their home up to me growing up and I will be forever grateful for their love and support to me as a teen when as you all know is not the easiest time to deal with us kids....Anyway I know him and the late Bill Belcher are having one heckuva Cribbage match in heaven right now. Much love and prayers to all of the Kontoyianis Family from all of the Browns..

This was a very special week and weekend for 2 reasons. One that my brother Rich flew out and was with us to share the experience which was awesome. He was a great IronSherpa for Keith and I and he was a very calming influence on both of us as he being a marathoner understands the mindset a racer goes through before the day arrives. The second was our friends from Germany hung out with us for several days before and after the race Swen Sundberg and his bike mechanic Bodo. We had allot of fun together enjoying Louisville and preparing for the race. There is an brotherhood that forms just from being in the "Ironman" Family and that was the case with all of us together. I also have to say that Swen is the most humble and giving Pro I have ever met. Like we told them, Swen, Bodo and Swen's wife Verena are family now and that lasts a lifetime to me whether we see eachother allot or a little. It just is...


As far as Bodo not only did he support Swen for his Stork he shared Bodo with us for the week and he fine tuned our bikes and I am happy to say that I had my fastest ever Bike Split at 6:40 which is 17 minutes faster than all previous Ironmans I have done. Keith had a flat on his bike split not due to Bodo but due to someone trying to sabotage the riders by dropping Nail Tacks in the road. I know that is not cool but it happens sometimes.....

Here is the race report for me.....


Swim.....Dirty water in that Ohio River......strange start as we jumped off two docks 4 at a time. My understanding is it took 40 minutes to get everyone into the water...oh and did I mention NO WETSUITS were allowed cause the water was 81 degrees. I have never swam 2.4 miles without a wetsuit in open water and it was tough but we both got it done. The other interesting part of this swim for me was I get the crap kicked out of me all during the race. Normally the beating stops after 5-15 minutes tops but this went on for almost the entire swim....I think Keith felt the same

Bike......Awesome day for me as I had my fastest Bike Split and averaged a solid 17.8 mph for the last 55 miles so I am very pleased....As I came into transition I heard the announcer state that Swen Sundberg had just crossed the finish line in 4th place with a time of 8:43:36 which qualified him for a slot for Kona! That pumped me up and I was psyched for him! There is no other Pro Triathlete that deserves it more than him. Earlier in the year Swen was going to compete in Malaysia for his slot but got very ill and was on an IV and in the hospital for 7 weeks and he came back and took a 4th Place finish less than 4 months! He is amazing and Nutz!

Run....started great but by the time I hit 10 miles I could feel the energy leaving my entire body and by mile 16 I was in a meltdown and had to walk the rest of the course and struggled just to get the last 2 miles in and to be honest the last mile I was wondering if I was going to make it. Thanks to John Nelson whom I met at mile 16 and he walked with me and I with him to encourage eachother along the way. It was his first and he was a great support and a really nice guy. He's from Springfield Illinois and his wife will be doing a Biathlon in a few weeks. You get to meet cool people along the journey and he was one of them.

The next day I was invited to the Ironman VIP Awards with Swen to sit with the Pros and watch him get his just due as one of the Top 5 to get into Hawaii. All of these folks are unbelievable athletes and are the most dedicated people I have met. It was an honor to sit with them and share a meal and some conversation. Keith & I are planning to go to Hawaii to cheer on our coach for this journey Joe Turcotte and now we can add Swen, Faris and Raynard to that list.

Thanks for reading and know that in two weeks the last one of our 6 Ironman Journey for 6 Charities will be upon us on Sept 13th 2009 in Madison Wisconsin....

Thanks to to my IM Partner in this venture Keith. He is my brother in this amazing crazy Nutz out of our mind adventure and we have supported eachother well along the way. We are pretty sure this all 6 WTC Ironmans on North America in one year has never been done so one more to go and we will have created a tiny piece of history ......oh and Keith added IM Canada too so in reality this was his 6th and in 2 weeks will be #7 for him!

Thanks for all your support



Kevin :)