THANK YOU! $10,000 goal exceeeded. So thankful for all the support I have received. Your donations will go to save future lives. I will recognize the 112 donors by November 24th so if you would like to be on the recognized list of donors for the race, please make your contribution before then. Please check facebook on race weekend for continued updates: https://www.facebook.com/nate.longfellow

The Austin Half Ironman was a success. I finished in under seven hours which was my goal and treated it like a training versus a race. The support along the course having friends Andrew, Britain, Will, George, Teresa, Chelsi, Kati, Jana and my dad made it a blast (as much as working out essentially for seven hours straight can be). A semi-difficult back roads of the Austin rolling hills was challenging but enjoyable. The run was the toughest but also the best. Many inclines but about half the course was packed with those cheering. The finish in an old rodeo building was fantastic as well!

Onto the big dance. Two weeks away from tonight hopefuly I will be finishing sometime in the next hour or two... hopefully no more than three as the cut-off is midnight. Cozumel is central time so it will be the same as Texas. Event should start right at 7am, giving me 17 hours to complete it. I am bib #828 and you should be able to track and watch the finish here: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/live.aspx#axzz2kxlsFeg5

The day finally arrived! I connected with the recipient of my bone marrow tranplant from last May 21st, 2012. His name, Sanford Peyton (pictured with wife Cynthia below), and what an incredible person he is.

I discovered that thinking on this experience, I could write pages and pages of the phone conversations and email exchanges, so I will try to be concise to the highlights of the connection. Sanford and I were able to talk briefly on Tuesday, Sept 17th and then for about two hours while I was in the Las Vegas airport September 22nd. We instantly got along, while at the same time not knowing exactly what to say. Sanford has led a life of giving, devotion, service, endurance sports and love of family. He and I had orignally both searched for each other. He, trying to find the cycling event I was in after I wrote him a letter (required to be anonymous), and me, searching the internet for those looking for a transplant with PLL, a rare form of Leukemia that the registry made me aware he had.

We are already discussing my trip to Kentucky to visit. I am thrilled for the opportunity to meet him in person and for his visit to Texas at some point next year. I am so fortunate to be instantly connected to a man who has given so much throughout his life to others.

I am honored to now do my Ironman in honor of Sanford Peyton. It only takes a cotton swab of the mouth to register for the Bone Marrow database and it's the easiest way to save a life. Register through DKMS or Be The Match for free!

$6500+ raised! Less than $3500 to go to my goal. I want to recognize and amazing Charity Foundation Challenge in association with Janus and the Lifetime Dallas Tri. Janus Investments supports triathletes who also are fundriasing for the organiation of their choice. I have been doing a big push to support me in racing the Dallas Triathlon. I should make it in the top 20 of fundraisers for the event which will earn a $500 from the foundation. Incredibly kind of Janus and an amazing challenge to drive supporting the community. Will update with my final results.

I was blessed on September 21st I was blessed to join Becky Kaye and David Woolcock for the final season as cycle coaches with Team In Training in Las Vegas. We rode the Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo to support LLS and to complete 104 miles through Red Rock Canyon, the strip and suburbs of Vegas. An amazing course with difficult hills and especially wind. Completion was the only goal and I was able to get a good training in for riding a 100+ miles in a hot locale. It will be windy in Cozumel as well so it is good preparation. Enjoyed getting to Penn & Teller, Ka (Cique du Soleil) and delicious buffets!

Becky and David are close friends so I would not miss their last event leading the Team. I will forever remember the event where I wore Texas short shorts because we did not bring a Texas flag, wearing a tutu for our honored hero, surviving 30 degree rain and snow as our last rider collaposed and the special bond I will always share with them. The weekend was made even more special by the phone call I was able to have at the Vegas airport that return day...

August and the beginning of September were filled with many hours on the trainer, the roads of the village, white rock and end to end at my local pool. The workout portion of the Ironman is comparable to another job in the hours logged. Often I will swim in the morning before work, leave the office and a committee meeting around 9pm, eat and bike/run until midnight. I am proud to say I have stuck to the majority of it. I do try to rest at times when my body most seems to need it. An injury or setback health wise would be much more devastating then missing a few full days of training.

I continue to engage a social aspect with the days on the bike, in the pool and running on the roads. I've had probably 20 or so friends particpate in one of those three disciplines with me. Without them, I would not be where I am at. In the end, this is all for the cause and to be enjoyable. I don't want to look back and say I regretted much of this experience because it felt like a tedious drag each day.

Fundraising had a huge boost in August! I added so many special people to be racognized as a mile on the bike portion of the race. I have 112 spaces for donors so please add your name by making anywhere from a $5 donation to a $500 one. Working my way towards $6000 and 60% of my goal!