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Ironman competitor to raise money for YMCA
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Friday, September 4, 2009 11:41 PM EDT
Courtesy Photo Charlie Green prepares to enter the water for the swimming portion of the 2008 Ironman triathlon in Madison, Wis.
ELSIE - Three-time Ironman triathlon competitor Charlie Green has taken to competing for a cause.
This year, Green, of Elsie, will race to raise money for the Shiawassee Family YMCA in Owosso during his fourth Ironman Sept. 13 in Madison, Wis.
His goal is to raise $5,000 to bring a GameBike, interactive gaming equipment that coordinates with any gaming system, to the YMCA.
About 10 years ago, Green said he was not physically fit at all.
“I was quite a bit heavier and hadn't exercised,” he said.
He credits the YMCA's fitness initiatives for getting him motivated.
“The YMCA is kind of what got me started with my change of attitude about health and fitness,” Green said.
In 1998, Green began to eat healthier and walk. From there, he said he took it one step at a time, eventually working up to running his first marathon in 2001 and finally an Ironman in 2006.
“I'm a goal-oriented person,” he said. “When I reach one goal, I go for something a little bigger.”
Green said he would have never imagined he would run a marathon, let alone an Ironman, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.
“Sometimes the things that seem impossible aren't,” he said.
Green said seeing people of all ages and conditions run the Ironman is amazing.
“Just to look at the people doing it - you wouldn't think some were even capable,” he said. “But, we're capable of doing a lot more than we realize.”
He said he has beaten the impossible, one small step at a time.
“The Ironman seems like a big thing but really it was just a lot of small steps,” he said. “The key for me was making small changes.”
Green hopes to inspire both adults and kids to lead a healthy lifestyle.
“Finding new ways to keep kids active is important,” he said. “The kids more and more are sitting at home playing video games.”
With the new equipment at the YMCA, Green hopes kids will be able to incorporate their digital world with the world of health and fitness.
“The YMCA is a place where we can be active and connect with people,” he said.
Shiawassee Family YMCA membership and marketing director Kaylee Dumond said the organization is looking forward to utilizing the gaming equipment with its youth members.
“The way our kids are using technology today, it's a great way to get them active,” Dumond said. “We're hoping to sneak some exercise in without the kids even knowing it.”
Visit http://januscharitychallenge.kintera.org/wi09/charlie to donate and learn more about Green's progress.
- Contact Christina Guenthner at 725-5136 extension 239 or cguenthner.arguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.
frankstarnes wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:04 AM: