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| Dave Scott, left, and Mark Allen, right, in the 1989 Ironman Triathlon |
2.4 mile swim. 112 mile bike. 26.2 mile run. The Ironman Triathlon is the world's finest test of physical endurance and mental strength. The sheer distance and harsh environment can cause athletes to burn through the body's entire reserve of stored energy, glycogen. It's called "hitting the wall" or "bonking", and the result looks like this:
To most athletes becoming an Ironman means finishing the race. It is a lifetime achievement to make it through the open water swim, the uphill bike, and the marathon across lava fields, crossing the finish line in one piece. For Dave Scott, it was about punishing himself, and his rivals, to greatness.
