Seventeen years ago, a kid from Peshtigo with a big dream signed up for his first IRONMAN, not knowing where the journey would lead.
On Oct. 10, 2026, after swimming 2.4 miles in the Pacific Ocean, biking 112 miles through the Hawaiian lava fields and running a 26.2-mile marathon, that dream became a reality as I crossed the finish line of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
With my arms raised high, an enormous smile on my face and my family cheering nearby, I completed my 14th IRONMAN in 13 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. It was my slowest IRONMAN finish, but without question, one of the greatest accomplishments and most meaningful experiences of my life.
Our family’s Hawaiian adventure began on the island of Oahu, where we enjoyed beautiful Waikiki Beach, hiked Diamond Head and visited historic Pearl Harbor. I even took an early morning run to the birthplace of IRONMAN along Waikiki Beach, where the race began in 1978.
From there, we traveled to the Big Island, where our wonderful friends Adam and Laura Ankrum welcomed us into their home and helped make our experience unforgettable.
Kona was everything I had imagined and more. The turquoise Pacific Ocean, beautiful sunsets, volcanic landscapes and incredible atmosphere of the World Championship were simply magical.
During race week, I attended a special Legacy Gathering where I met several of the greatest professional triathletes in history, including six-time IRONMAN World Champion Mark Allen. Being surrounded by legendary athletes and competitors from 85 countries was both humbling and inspiring. But as I discovered on race day, the Big Island does not give away finish lines easily.
The 2026 World Championship featured especially challenging conditions, including rough ocean waves, intense heat and humidity and powerful winds that made the long climb toward Hawi on the bike course exceptionally difficult.
Even some of the world’s greatest professional triathletes struggled, with 22 of the 99 starters deciding to end their day early and not finish the race. Of the 2,612 registered athletes, 2,261 crossed the finish line, meaning 351 registered athletes did not reach the finish line, or approximately 13.4%.
My own race certainly wasn’t without challenges. After a successful ocean swim, I started the bike feeling strong, averaging over 20 miles per hour through the first 56 miles. However, the relentless winds, scorching sun and unexpectedly severe pain in my toes made the final 40 miles extremely difficult. At times, even smiling was a challenge. Yet throughout those difficult miles, I reminded myself that I had spent nearly half my life working toward this opportunity. I thought about my wife Amy, our daughters Natasha and Kenzie, my parents, our wonderful friends, the countless people back home cheering me on, and Dr. Leow.
As readers may remember from my earlier columns, Dr. Leow was a friend, role model, and mentor who passed away from cancer in 2015, halfway through his own dream of reaching Kona through the IRONMAN Legacy Program. After completing my second IRONMAN in 2012, I had essentially retired from the distance.
But following Tom’s passing, I returned to IRONMAN with a new purpose: to finish the journey he had started.
The Legacy pathway recognizes athletes whose extraordinary commitment and perseverance over many years earn them an opportunity to compete at the World Championship. Unlike the fastest competitors who qualify through race results, Legacy athletes reach Kona through years of dedication, determination and simply refusing to give up.
During the marathon, as the Hawaiian sun began setting over the Pacific Ocean, I found myself reflecting on that journey. The early morning workouts, thousands of miles of training, countless sacrifices, wonderful memories and the people who made it all possible.
One of my favorite moments came around mile 24 when I met a young athlete named Emily from Ohio who was struggling through a disappointing race. We began jogging together, and I reminded her that qualifying for Kona was already an extraordinary accomplishment and that the most successful people in life don’t fail, they learn.
Sometimes the most meaningful victories aren’t measured by how fast we finish, but by the courage we demonstrate when things don’t go according to plan.
It reminded me of something I have come to believe deeply — when life gets difficult, sometimes the best way to lift your own spirits is to lift the spirits of someone else.
Finally, after nearly 14 hours of racing, I made that magical right turn onto Ali’i Drive. The lights, cheering spectators and iconic World Championship finish line were everything I had dreamed about for so many years. Seeing Amy, Natasha, Kenzie and our family cheering as I approached filled my heart with indescribable joy.
As I crossed the finish line, the announcer called out, “Brian, you are an Ironman! Thank you for your smile, thank you for your joy!”
I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting ending.
That night, sitting quietly overlooking Kona Town and the Pacific Ocean, the magnitude of what had happened finally began to sink in. Seventeen years after beginning my IRONMAN journey, and more than a decade after losing my friend and mentor Dr. Tom Leow, a dream that once seemed almost impossible had become a beautiful reality.
I thought about Tom and how much he would have loved to experience the World Championship. Although he never had the opportunity to stand on that starting line in Kona, his determination and the example he set helped carry me there. What began as his dream became a purpose that inspired me to keep going long after I thought my own IRONMAN journey was complete. And perhaps that is one of life’s greatest lessons. The impact we have on others can reach far beyond our own lifetime. We may never fully realize how a simple act of kindness, a few encouraging words or the example we set might inspire someone else to accomplish something extraordinary.
As I conclude this final “From Small Town to Kona Town” column, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. To my incredible wife Amy, our daughters Natasha and Kenzie, my parents Russ and Kathy, family, friends, coworkers and everyone throughout our wonderful community who followed along and encouraged me — thank you.
A special thanks also to Emerson Lehmann and WBAY for sharing my journey on their “Small Towns - Peshtigo” feature and to the Peshtigo Times for giving me the opportunity to share this awesome adventure with all of you over the past eight months.
You have all helped make this journey more meaningful than any medal, finish time or accomplishment ever could.
Over these past eight months, I’ve shared stories about setting goals, overcoming challenges, the power of consistency and appreciating the journey. My greatest hope is that somewhere along the way, these stories have inspired you to believe a little more in yourself and the possibilities that lie ahead.
You don’t have to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles or run a 26.2-mile marathon to accomplish something extraordinary. Your dream might be improving your health, overcoming adversity, pursuing a new opportunity or simply making a positive difference in someone’s life. Whatever that dream may be, don’t underestimate what you are capable of accomplishing.
Dream big! Take that first step, surround yourself with people who believe in you and never forget that the greatest accomplishments often require patience, perseverance and the courage to keep moving forward when the road gets difficult.
Seventeen years ago, I never could have imagined where this journey would take me. Today, I realize the greatest reward wasn’t simply crossing the finish line in Kona. It was the people who helped me get there, the memories created along the way and the opportunity to honor someone whose life continues to inspire me.
Dr. Leow may have helped inspire my journey to Kona, but my hope is that our story will inspire someone else to begin a journey of their own. Sometimes the most meaningful legacy we leave isn’t what we accomplish ourselves, but what we inspire others to believe they can accomplish.
From the quiet roads of Peshtigo to the bright lights of Kona, this has been a journey filled with incredible memories, wonderful people and more blessings than I could ever count. To everyone who has been part of it, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
As this chapter of my journey comes to a close, I hope you’ll remember that no dream is too big, no act of kindness is too small and every one of us has the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world.
Brian Cleven (MS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP) is the 2024 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year, Emplify Health Marinette 5K Heart Run Race Director and Founder of the Tri City Event Series as well as a 14-time IRONMAN triathlon finisher.
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