COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Early Sunday morning, thousands of intense athletes crowded the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene to swim, bike and run their way to Ironman status.
For every one of those participants, each one had a reason to keep moving forward, a reason to make it to the finish line.
For James Garcia, he crossed the finish line for his friend Jason Konyu.
"Ironman. Some people do it for fun or fitness. Others do it for those who can't -," Garcia said. "This memorial is set up for Jason Konyu who would have been in CDA competing today if not for a deadly accident at the end of May. He was tragically hit by a semi while on his bike, training for this race."
Konyu was training for the Coeur d'Alene Ironman before he was hit on his bike by a car last month. Garcia is dedicating his ninth Ironman race to him.
"Today's kind of special because, I know the passion Jason had for this sport," he said. "I'm racing today to honor his passion, honor him, honor his family."
He says Konyu's voice is clear with two miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26 miles of running ahead of him.
"Jason would be encouraging, asking me if you remember everything. Nutrition, race plan. He would just really be that encouraging voice to me," Garcia said.
Garcia wasn't the only one on the course for Konyu. Several of his colleagues are honoring his life through volunteering.
"In honor of his life of service, we wanted to come out and serve those that matter to him as well," said Jason Mayberry, a friend volunteering.
Elke Mandrell said she worked with Konyu for nearly two decades and could always count on him for a smile and laugh.
"He had this twinkle in his eye too. He had a great laugh. He was a really selfless person. Always put others above himself. -He always looked up to something.- Always. And most of the time he was," Mandrell said.
Mayberry and Mandrell say if Konyu were here today, he would be encouraging them to sign up for the next race.
"He always encouraged people to do their best, give their best."
Giving his best is exactly how Garcia plans to cross the finish line for his friend Jason.
"Jason and I both have a competitive edge to us, so I think we want to finish with the fastest time possible, but even if I finish last place, I'm still gonna finish and I'm still going to honor my friend," he said.
Friends and colleagues of Jason have completed several half-marathons and the Boston Marathon.
This would have been his fifth Ironman.
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