PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Tomorrow, more than two thousand men and women will test their strength and endurance at IRONMAN Florida in Panama City Beach.

These athletes have traveled from 40 states and 30 countries, all with one goal: to become an IRONMAN.

Although these triathletes may have a similar goal, the motivation to cross the line differs.

One attendee from Virginia decided to cross this off her bucket list after realizing how quickly life can happen.

“I started working as a physical therapist a while ago, so I’ve seen people’s lives change in an instant,” said Katherine McComas, a former varsity swimmer at the University of South Carolina. “I knew there was really no expectation to achieve any goal on the list, because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So this is the main reason why I decided to do an IRONMAN this year.

On race day, Katherine told us she had a goal in mind.

“Reach the finish line,” she said. “I don’t have big goals. This is my first; I just want to see what my body is capable of.

She is not alone in her goal. Another competitor loved running in high school, but after battling mental health issues and depression, one man said the weight of running was too much to bear.

“I had pretty much given up hope of realizing a dream,” said Michael Boerman, a competitor from Pennsylvania. “There were times when I didn’t even want to live. Then something miraculous happened in my life, and God found me, and I found Him, and He gave me a reason to live.

After Michael started meeting, he told one of our reporters that the preparations became easier for him because they were mentally beneficial.

“Swimming alone without music or interference is almost like a meditative state,” Michael said. “So whether I’m swimming in the morning, biking or running, I enjoy the time with myself.”

These participants trained more than 10 hours a day, changed their diet and adjusted their sleep schedule to conquer this 140-point six-mile terrain.

The race starts early on November 2, late at night and early. We hope that all athletes cross the finish line safely.

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