RN to IronMan

A race.  140 miles.  Begin with a two mile swim, follow that with a 112 mile bike ride, and finish with a full marathon- 26 miles.  That is how I spent Sunday, September 13.  The IronMan Triathlon in Madison, WI.  Why you may ask?  To raise money for the Regional Cancer Center at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

My name is Tom Boschuetz and for the past ten years I have been a registered nurse on the 5 Medical Unit at WMH.  During my time at here, I have encountered many people from all walks of life.  It is these patients and their families that have inspired me to give back. 

Like the cancer patient who's been given options, there were no guarantees in life that I would finish this year's IronMan, but if there was one thing I could guarantee it that I would not quit and I would keep on trying!  For me there's light at the end of training and the race when I see the finish line and thousands of spectators cheering me. For the cancer patient/survivor there is no "real" finish line. The finish line for them is the day to day uncertainty of knowing that they're cancer free but no promises that it won't come back in the future.  No huge crowds gathered outside the doctor's office to cheer them when they've been given the "Cancer free" diagnosis from months of chemo, surgery, and most importantly the suffering!

As much as my training was about physically conditioning myself to be able to handle a 112 mile bike ride plus a 2.4 mile swim, and a 26.2 mile marathon to boot, it really was more about my mental conditioning to want to do something for a far greater good than simply getting a "finisher" t-shirt, a medal, and the bragging rights that I made it.  To simply finish is no big deal, thousands finish this race every year.  Ironically like cancer, the Ironman is not a winner's race, because all who try don't always finish, but all who try are winners!  It was my hope that my efforts would bring light to those winners who continue to struggle in the fight against cancer.  I hope to meet with many at the Regional Cancer Center to hear their story.  My journey is of no merit unless their story is told.  I ride and train alone. The reason is simple. It gives me time to think and reflect on my own life and how lucky many of us have it, and how each of us can have a positive effect on each other.  Hopefully, somewhere, somehow, I can make a difference for someone who has chosen to fight!

Sincerely,

Tom Boschuetz, R.N.  5 Medical, WMH

Would you like to make a gift in honor of Tom and his IronMan journey?  Click here!