Helping People Achieve Their Goals: Dr. Leahy’s Personal IRONMAN Journey
Dr. Michael Leahy’s journey through IRONMAN® competitions, coupled with his work with Active Release Techniques (ART), underscores his unwavering commitment to helping athletes achieve their goals even in the face of great challenges, including his own. His experiences reflect the power of perseverance, dedication, and the power of effective treatment. In our conversation with him, we focused particularly on his deep passion for the Kona Hawaii IRONMAN World Championship, exploring how this iconic event has fueled his drive to support triathletes at the highest level.
Inspiration to Enter the World of IRONMAN
Dr. Leahy’s entry into IRONMAN races started in an unexpected way. While in chiropractic school, he watched the IRONMAN World Championships in February 1982 and was deeply moved by Julie Moss’s dramatic finish. Witnessing her collapse and then crawl to the finish line left a lasting impression on Dr. Leahy, showcasing an extraordinary level of perseverance. That moment, as he watched live, was exactly when he knew he wanted to be a part of the IRONMAN community.
Motivating Factor to Take the Leap
Dr. Leahy’s motivation to enter the world of IRONMAN competitions came from a surprising source—his wife. She jokingly suggested that he was too old to compete. This comment lit a fire in him, pushing him to prove her wrong and show that age is just a number.
Dr. Leahy’s IRONMAN Journey Over the Years
Dr. Leahy has competed in 47 IRONMAN races. While he enjoys the training more than the races themselves, several moments stand out:
- His first triathlon was the most nerve-wracking and intimidating race, which Dr. Leahy describes as “uniquely satisfying.”
- The Penticton Canada event, where he achieved his fastest swim time, under an hour.
- The year he was diagnosed with melanoma and given a grim 2% chance of surviving two months. He faced three surgeries within five weeks. Remarkably, he managed to compete in Kona just one week after his final surgery, making the race an incredibly memorable achievement.
The Reward
The most rewarding aspect of participating in IRONMAN races is akin to the satisfaction Dr. Leahy experiences through ART. Witnessing a dramatic change in someone’s life is profoundly fulfilling. For Dr. Leahy, the opportunity to be a part of world championship sports events and contribute to the athletes’ success is a significant and gratifying achievement.
ART’s Introduction Into IRONMAN
Dr. Leahy’s engagement with ART in the IRONMAN world began in Kona, HI, in 1988. Observing a gap in athlete care, he started working the race and expanded the team to include sixty healthcare professionals. Despite challenges integrating ART into the medical team, its presence at the Kona race has become an essential part of the support system.
ART providers, as a result, have the unique opportunity to be involved in a premier global event, an experience they might not have access to otherwise.
ART’s Impact at Kona
ART plays a vital role in helping athletes complete their races. Many competitors arrive with strains and injuries that might otherwise prevent them from participating. However, with ART’s support, they frequently find themselves able to compete. The deep gratitude from these athletes—often expressed through heartfelt, enthusiastic hugs at the finish line—demonstrates the significant impact ART has on their performance and overall race experience.
Reflecting on a Special Moment
Dr. Leahy has seen hundreds of competitors benefit from ART. One that stood out for him, was an instance with a race volunteer he came across while in his tenth mile of the run. Dr. Leahy noticed her wrist braces and learned while getting water from her that she was preparing for carpal tunnel surgery. Dr. Leahy paused his race to treat her quickly and remembers when looking back seeing her throw her wrist braces into the lava rocks as her numbness and pain relief was immediate – a true showcase of how effective relief from ART can be and Dr. Leahy’s passion to help people!