JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Most people cannot imagine completing even a third of the race. After all, the Ironman is known as one of the hardest triathlons in the world.
The race consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, immediately followed by a full 26.2-mile marathon.
Now add 40 pounds of firefighter gear to the run and you have this past Saturday for St. Johns County firefighter Katrina Silvia.
"I was already hooked and addicted to doing triathlons, I thought why not put a purpose behind it and help my fellow firefighters out,” said Silvia.
With one Ironman already under her belt, Silvia, a firefighter at Station 10 in Ponte Vedra Beach, decided to ramp it up this year. She completed the marathon portion wearing her full firefighter gear in support of the organization “Code 3 for a Cure.”
According to its website, “Code 3 for a Cure” is a foundation that financially assists active and retired firefighters diagnosed with cancer who are facing a financial hardship.
For Silvia, who says there was never even a moment she thought she wasn’t going to finish, this was an Ironman of inspiration.
So through the pain, and through the blisters, she raced from 7 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. But those almost 17 hours were all made worthwhile, she says, right as she crossed the finish line.
"We're the ones running in buildings when people go out, it's the least I can do,” said Silvia.
She has already signed up for Ironman Florida 2013.
Silvia raised $2,700 for the foundation “Code 3 for a Cure.” To learn more about the foundation and how to donate, go to
http://www.code3foracure.com/.
