The 25 Year Journey
You're 75, had 2 bouts with cancer, been through an aortic arch aneurysm and dealing with some arthritis. What kind of goal do you set for yourself? If you’re Al Lucas you sign up for an Ironman, and not just any will do. You sign up for the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. A legend even among hardened triathletes. The distance: 2.4 mile ocean swim, 112 mile bike ride through the lava fields, and 26.2 mile run finishing back at the beach where it all began. As with any great story this one begins long ago, and with a family that is deeply involved. Al’s son Greg started this with the first entry into Ironman Hawaii in 1986. Not long after, in 1988 Al’s daughter Julie also entered the race. Al began racing triathlons himself at age 43 with more of a background in traditional Indiana sports like basketball and baseball. With the Hawaii Ironman embedded in family lore, Al made his initial attempt at the race in 1990. Making it through the swim and bike he