realize there are shorter distances to get yourself started. there were signs in the form of an accident. when you re sort of up and coming, you got hit by a car, is that right? yes. hi a successful amateur career as a racer and my first professional year i was kind of really looking forward to it. i had picked up sponsors that were supporting me. and the spring of my first year before my first race even i got hit by a car and broke my back, broke three vertebrae in my back. it was, you know, it was a tough one to take at that point in your career. did you think it was over. for a little bit, yes. the struggle, you have to definitely survive something like that mentally, not only physically but mentally and know you can come back. it s thinking that you re going to be strong enough again. and you were. and in 2001, you won the iron man here. it was just about a month after the traj ache tacks of 9/11.