Whats in a number

Every participant in the Ironman gets a race number assigned to them. This is done for a few reasons... spectators can identify racers, security, and to keep bandits (unpaid entrants)out of the race. However this time around for me the number means something else.

This weekend Ironman posted the list of bib numbers for the race. I was excited to see that they had done as promised and given me race number 1214.

Usually numbers are assigned randomly by age group or order of signup for the race. This number (1214) is special. The number represents 12/14 (December 14th 2012). This is a day that would change my community, state, and country as well as myself forever. This was the day that a gunman walked into the Sandy Hook school in Newtown and ended the lives of 26 innocent people including Chase Kowalski. Wearing the number 1214 during the race is one of the ways that I carry Chase with me on race day.

Every step of the way I will never forget that the pain I feel ends in less than 141 miles, the pain that Chase's family must face everyday never goes away.

Please check out this article from this weeks Newtown Bee http://newtownbee.com/news/features/2015/08/30/racing4chase-finding-personal-challenges-and-inspi/285235

and as always I would love for you to check out my donation page and help me reach my goal of raising $5,000 for Chase's foundation. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/DavidPrudhomme/race4chase