Motivation. It’s a push that propels us forward. A force deep within us, and so strong, that it has the power to quell indecision, squash procrastination, and overcome the temptation to stand still, or worse, slip backwards. The right motivation can put into motion certain actions that will have lifelong and far-reaching effects. Just ask Apex resident Ed Kenney. In January, he set out to complete 26 triathlons in 52 weeks, and by the time readers pick up this issue of the magazine, he will be more than halfway to reaching his goal.
For the curiosity of the casual swimmer, biker and runner, there are different triathlon levels ranging from the shorter distances of a sprint triathlon, to the grueling demands of an Ironman. Second in distance to the Ironman is the half-Ironman, a total of 70.3 miles consisting of a 1.2-mile swim followed by a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. Let that sink in…a half-Ironman, 70.3 miles, every other Saturday for a year. And who is he racing against, you wonder? Technically, he is only racing against himself as he is mostly alone in the pool, on the road, and along the greenways, but the real answer to the question is more telling because he’s racing for a cause that means more to him than sleeping in on Saturday mornings.
So, what motivates Kenney to spend 5.5 to 6.5 hours swimming, biking, and running on race days, and countless hours training in between?
Service dogs for military veterans.
Couch to Competitor
Today, Ed Kenney is an accomplished triathlete with 20 long-distance races, each the equivalent of 70.3 miles or longer, under his belt. But on Valentine’s Day in 2016, Kenney was a 42-year-old veteran with more than 20 years in the Air Force. He was also an out-of-shape banker with a young son and a struggling marriage. He weighed 203 pounds and beer league softball was the closest he came to a workout. In an effort to find common ground with his wife, a professional triathlete, he decided to train for a half-Ironman.
“I had a bike,” Kenney said, “and I knew how to ride it. I could run; my legs worked. But I could not swim. I had never taken swim lessons. I went to the UNC Wellness Center, hopped in a lane in a goofy pair of jammers, and I made it in one breath about halfway across. I stopped and stood up, then did the other half. I stood at the other side of the pool for a good three minutes or so. I tried to make it back, to have one lap complete—25 yards each way. I got out after about 35 yards, got in my car and went home. It was devastating.”
Yet, a week later, Kenney was back in the pool taking swim lessons with a handful of young children, and in September of 2016 he swam 1.2 miles in preparation for his first race, the Beaverdam Sprint Triathlon at Falls Lake, the following spring.
“I didn’t really know how a triathlon worked, I just knew I had to swim 750 meters, ride my bike about 14 miles, and run a 5K. Not a terrible day—should be fine. I lined up for my first sprint in open water and I got trampled, swam over, just destroyed. I’d lined up with some of the fastest swimmers in the county. I was last out of the water, but I made it out and up on my bike, and I wasn’t dead-last for the whole race.”
A Reason to Race
Over the next 12 months, Kenney trained hard and competed in two half-Ironman races. During that time, his marriage ended, his divorce was finalized, and he debated continuing to compete for his own fulfillment or return to an old familiar routine. He set his sights on the Chattanooga full-Ironman in September 2018.
During a five-hour training session on his bike, Kenney watched a documentary about James Lawrence, known in triathlon circles as “The Iron Cowboy.” He is an ultra-athlete who completed 50 full-Ironman competitions in 50 days in all 50 states, to raise money for food insecurity. The cause motivated Lawrence toward his 50-50-50 goal, and the story got Kenney thinking.
“What if I could do something like that? In the middle of my workout, I jumped off my bike and wrote ’26 in 52’ on my whiteboard. I could do 26 half-Ironman races in 52 weeks, over the course of a year. But what was my cause?”
While the “26 in 52” idea gelled, Kenney reconnected on Facebook with a military buddy. Kenney said, “He’s a good friend I grew up with, a forward-operating Marine who went [to the Middle East] and the stuff that he saw had changed him. We talked and he told me that when he was introduced to his service dog, his life opened up. He found this light and it gave him the ability to be himself again.”
Kenney, a dog lover, was moved by his friend’s experience and wanted to find an organization that supported veterans suffering from PTSD. He researched several nonprofits he found on the internet and paid little attention to their geographic proximity to Apex. “I just wanted to feel good about whoever I was going to work with.” Then, he stumbled upon Canines for Veterans in Wilmington, North Carolina. As events unfolded, Kenney knew the partnership was meant to be.
“I called Canines for Veterans and told them I had some motivation to assist in fundraising and I wanted to learn a bit more about what they do and how they do it. They said I was welcome to come and see the place and they [invited me to] a partnership ceremony, a graduation of a pup meeting their veteran. I had [business] meetings in Wilmington and the event was at 3pm on a day when I’d be finished at work by 2pm. It was perfect. I watched a dog make the bed; they have it set up with little pulls. I watched one turn on and off the lights and [help with] laundry. These aren’t just comfort dogs; they’re true service animals. And veterans receive a dog at no cost.”
As Kenney got to know then-director Colleen Vihlen, head trainer Emily Moss, and others at Canines for Veterans, he heard poignant stories and the experience touched his heart. He learned that all of the dogs are rescued from kill-shelters and a great deal of time and care go into matching a veteran with a service dog. It was evident to Kenney that the folks at Canines for Veterans love what they do, and when he witnessed a Vietnam veteran meet his new four-legged partner, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. He had found his motivation.
“One dog, for one veteran, costs $32,000. It takes 8 to 14 months to bring a dog from rescue to being partnered. At the time, [Canines for Veterans] was averaging 10 to 12 placements a year and they have a kennel full of dogs in various stages of training. I want to fund a year’s worth of their costs. Ten dogs. $320,000.”
Ready, Set, GO!
Kenney outlined his plans on social media and developed marketing materials. He registered for triathlon events across the country, many at military installations. He also talked to his coach, Audra Adair, a physiology professional with more than 100 triathlon and advanced race events under her belt, and a reputation of being, in Kenney’s words, “a badass.” For “26 in 52,” she would be instrumental in devising weekly training plans, supplying nutritional guidance, and tracking Kenney’s minutes and miles in real-time.
Between January 1 and mid-March, Kenney completed his first six races at the fitness center in Cary where he is a member. From pool to bike to treadmill—no problem. On nicer days, he biked along Old US 1 and ran on the American Tobacco Trail, often joined by friends along the way.
Then, due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and ensuing stay-at-home orders, non-essential businesses closed, triathlon events were canceled, and race days took on a very different look and feel.
First and foremost, Kenney needed a place to swim. “I get started early,” he said, “and it’s hard to ask somebody to come out to Jordan Lake and paddleboard in front of me for a 1.2-mile swim at 6am.” Instead, he used a tether in a friend’s outdoor pool, and on mornings when the temperature was in the 30s, he swam after biking and running. In June, he was able to swim in his neighborhood pool again.
His bike rides have become more solitary, and, more often than not, he rides at home on his stationary bike trainer which connects to his laptop and allows him to set a course and ride, virtually, with other people, including his coach who lives in Florida.
When it’s time to run, he uses the 3.5-mile greenway loop near his neighborhood. “I’m on my own. The trail crosses near the house, so I build an aid station on my friend’s porch. I have everything I need, which is typically Gatorade-type stuff, a lot of water, calories and salt, and I’ll carry a bunch of tangerines and things like that. We have a very active neighborhood and there are people all over the greenway. Strollers and runners and bikers, and kids fishing in the little ponds. Without fail, somebody says, ‘How far are you going; what are you doing?’ I finish at my friend’s porch, sit down and finish my water, and I walk home where I’m a dad to my son, Patrick, and our dog, Winston. We reset the clock for two weeks later.”
Staying Motivated
In addition to creating logistical challenges, the stay-at-home orders complicated Kenney’s fundraising plans. With his goal seeming unattainable, he called Vihlen at Canines for Veterans and expressed his disappointment.
Kenney said, “[Colleen] made a comment that if it’s $320,000 or $320, or anywhere in between, it’s more than we had prior. It’s what I needed to hear. I’m in a unique situation where I can’t fail. I’ve already got [more than half] of them in the books, dollars raised, we’ve brought some knowledge to the topic, and maybe it’s gotten somebody motivated. If what I’ve done to this point stops, I’ve still won. I have a lot of actual races scheduled for the end of the year but there’s a good chance I don’t cross a single finish line.”
It’s not been easy, and while he has never considered quitting the challenge, some days have been tougher than others. During one particularly rough run, Kenney ran out of water. It was a critical mental setback.
“I got to a bench and I stopped. I didn’t sit down; my watch is still going. I kept thinking, ‘There’s nobody watching; who am I proving this to?’ Then I had thoughts of my [veteran] friends who don’t have the option. They need these dogs and there’s motivation there. The pandemic changed a lot, but my end-goal of helping veterans has never changed.”
Most inspiring to Kenney have been the smallest donations and humble heartfelt messages for continued success. To that end, Kenney emphasizes that all of us can have our own end-goal, our own “26 in 52,” regardless of the year or type of activity. We just have to find something bigger than ourselves that serves as motivation.
“It’s important to be healthy, mentally and physically, but when you look outside of that, you get to meet some of the best people. You get to participate in things you probably never thought you would participate in. It’s not about who can run the fastest or the farthest. As long as I do this, I’m going to find a bigger purpose.”
What Can You Do?
Kenney welcomes all who wish to join him for any part of his races. On his website—26in52.com—choose Upcoming Events, view the schedule, and RSVP for details. Follow him on Facebook, @26in52 on Instagram, or contact him directly at twenty6infifty2@gmail.com. Support Canines for Veterans with donations via the 26in52.com website, or caninesforservice.org.
