A new book tells the 鈥淚ronman love story鈥� of Elizabeth Model and John Wragg, both among a select few who have completed every such race in the world.
Called the 224-page memoir was self-published in September through Victoria-based , with Kevin Mackinon co-authoring.
Model is CEO of Downtown 性视界传媒 Business Improvement Association (BIA) and also sits on the 性视界传媒 Police Board.
Seventeen years ago, in April 2006, she first met Wragg at the finish line of Ironman Phoenix. After ending his race, Wragg got his finisher鈥檚 medal and T-shirt and then headed to the 鈥渕ess tent鈥� for some food.
As he was sitting with his friend, Mike Schiff, enjoying some pizza and a chat, Model walked over and asked, 鈥淒o you mind if I join you guys?鈥�
If not for a friend鈥檚 injury, Model would not have been in Arizona that day.
鈥淚 realized while training for my first Ironman that I loved the multi-discipline training and a different workout each day,鈥� she recalls in the book. 鈥淩unning became less of a chore and it felt like I really put 鈥榯he fun鈥� back into training with a goal in mind.鈥�
Model finished Ironman Canada in August 2005, in Penticton, and trained hard to improve her finish in Phoenix. She knocked two hours off her time 鈥� perfect timing for that fateful first meeting with Wragg, who lived in Ontario.
At the table, he asked Model where her next Ironman would be.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 all about the travel,鈥� she replied. 鈥淢y next race is in South Africa next year. Do you want to join us? The more the better, and it makes it way more fun.鈥�
A bond began, along with a couple鈥檚 love built on fitness and travel.
They have raced on all seven continents. Wragg has completed almost 300 full-distance triathlons, more than any other person on the planet, and Model is one of only two women who have completed more than 100 such races.
It鈥檚 quite a story, told in 鈥淕o鈥� with the help of many photos of themselves and also the friends they鈥檝e met on their Ironman journeys.
Model and Wragg also reveal their training routines, favourite places to visit, troubles with aging and racing, random thoughts about Ironman courses, mishaps, missteps and other memories.
Model dedicates the book to 鈥渕y many friends and fellow athletes who have supported, encouraged and helped on this incredible journey. You know who you are. And to John, by my side, for making everything possible.鈥�
Wragg salutes his parents for providing him 鈥渨ith the opportunities and the confidence to pursue and fulfil my goals along the road of life. The success that I achieved was a direct result of their teaching, support, encouragement and love. My mother told me that when one door closes another door is going to open. They encouraged me to see the cup as half full, not half empty.鈥�
鈥� RELATED: 性视界传媒 Sports Museum fundraising led by athlete ahead of her 108th Ironman triathlon.
Meantime, Model continues to dream about having a 性视界传媒 Sports Museum built in the city, to augment a 鈥渧irtual鈥� such facility in the works. In August, prior to racing in her she renewed fundraising efforts to create a sports museum, or hall of fame, to celebrate worthy 性视界传媒 athletes.
In fall 2021, a Model-launched endowment fund celebrated the completion of her 100th Ironman triathlon in Wisconsin. In June she ran, cycled and swam in Austria, and planned to do other Ironmans this fall.
