Team IronMatt congratulates Ironman icon Karen Smyers for her amazing completion of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday, October 9th. She completed the course in 10:19:14 with the following split times: swim (1:05:26); bike (5:31:06); and run (3:35:30).

Smyers accomplishments in Hawaii far surpass racing 140.6 miles and crossing the finish line. In just 3 weeks, while training and traveling, she raised $36,000 to help in the battle against pediatric brain tumors. This earned Smyers 4th place in the Janus Charity Challenge and an additional $4,000 for IronMatt.

THANK YOU Karen Smyers and Team Psycho for caring for IronMatt families!

 Please read Karen's story below:

There are a lot of incredible athletes whose sheer athletic ability inspires and there are some athletes whose story or journey make you want to stand up and cheer.  And then there is Karen Smyers, the perfect combination of both; ability and humility - with a great sense of humor thrown in for good measure.

Karen won the Ironman World Championship in 1995 - handling the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run in Hawaii in just over 9 hours.  As with many things in life, what came next was not predicted nor expected:  her hamstring was slashed by a falling storm window, she was hit and left on the side of the road by an 18-wheeler, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and she battled it again when it came back.  In between - she just kept going.  She raced, had 2 children with her husband, Michael King and has given back to the sport and to those in need.

IronMatt honored Karen in 2008 at the 2nd Annual Dinner & Auction for her commitment and character.  Karen is honoring us this year by competing in the Ironman World Championship on behalf of Team IronMatt and in honor of one of our friends, Robert Duffy - a fellow triathlete who lost his 16 year old son, Robert Duffy, Jr. to brain cancer on October 9th, 2009.  This year’s Ironman is on the one year anniversary of Robert’s passing.  Robert was an avid snowboarder, Red Sox and Patriots fan and a fish in the water.  His favorite past time was spending time with his family - playing cards, telling jokes and helping in whatever way he could.  The day he was told he was terminal, he left the hospital and went to Cannobie Lake to ride roller coasters.  I am pretty sure that Robert and Matt would have been great friends.

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We can all be Ironman AND IronMatt Champions!