Ironmanlife: Aaron Dewees

Kevin Mackinnon catches up with an inspiring Ford Ironman Arizona competitor

Ever thought you had a tough time training? Forget it. I can almost guarantee that you've had it easy compared to Aaron Dewees, seen here on the right. Had a tough time dealing with a tough winter? Luxury. The roads been a bit rough? Piece of cake. The pool been a bit colder than you'd like? Hah!

How'd you like to do your training for your first Ironman while deployed as a medical officer in Iraq? That's what Dewees had to do. A year ago, while most of the athletes competing next to Dewees on Sunday were probably training or possibly racing here in Tempe, he was enjoying his first day of deployment overseas.

“A lot of soldiers go over to Iraq and do one of two things,” he said in an interview today. “You can sit on the couch and watch DVDs and eat a lot of pizza and get out of shape, or you can go to the gym or get on a bike and get in shape. I chose to do the latter.”

Chose to do the latter? After finding out that a pool was opening up in the next few days, he had a friend ship over a bike. Then he signed up for an Ironman. I guess you could say that’s getting in shape.

Then reality set in. During his stint in Iraq, his unit lost seven soldiers. Four of those had young children. When you’ve left a two-year-old and a one-year-old at home with a pregnant wife, that hits home.

Dewees decided it was time to do something more than just train. He signed up through the Janus Charity Challenge to raise money for the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. Then he called no-less an expert than Heather Gollnick to help him prepare for the race.

Two days away from his first Ironman, Dewess is “out of his mind” excited. He’s managed to raise more than $18,000, and tonight was named the Ford Everyday Hero here at Ford Ironman Arizona.

Ironman training is pretty darn easy compared to life in the US Army in Iraq.

“Aches and pains that come from triathlon training are nothing in comparison to what people are going through over there,” Dewees said. “Seeing what we see on a daily basis … that’s tough.”

You think? People like Dewees aren’t just doing a lot for a great cause. They’re the kind of people who remind us all that any one of us can make a difference.

If you’d like to make a donation to Dewees’ cause or to find out more, go to his Janus Charity Challenge page by clicking here