Friday, July 8, 2016

2013 Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors Pay It Forward



Finance professional Sam Barnes graduated from Washington's Seattle Pacific University with a degree in accounting. Currently based in Washington, Sam Barnes is a dedicated marathoner who travels in pursuit of his passion for running. In fact, he ran in and finished the historically significant 2013 Boston Marathon.

Considered the world's oldest marathon, the Boston marathon attracts thousands of participants each year. The 2013 edition proved to be the most notorious in history due to a terrorist attack that resulted in the detonation of two bombs near the finish line, killing three and injuring hundreds.

In response to this tragedy, millions of dollars were raised by numerous charities in order to help survivors cope with the lasting impact of the incident. Many of these victims went on to form their own charities to benefit other people.

One such charity is the nonprofit organization A Leg Forever, formed in honor of JP and Paul Norden, who survive the bombing incident but both lost legs as a result. In gratitude for all the support they have received in the aftermath of the tragedy, they are now paying things forward by financially supporting amputees who are in need of prosthetics.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Ironman World Championship Race - A Premier Annual Event in Hawaii




A respected Ephrata, Washington, tax accountant, Sam Barnes also maintains entrepreneurial ventures such as Divorce Guardian and Bellevue Body Contouring. Barnes is a Washington triathlete who has completed more than a dozen full Ironman events. Among these, he ran the 2015 Ironman in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with his 18-year-old son Gavin, who became the youngest finisher. Sam Barnes is currently preparing for the 2016 Ironman World Championship, which will take place in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in October.

The premier Ironman event with the toughest field, the World Championship brings together top qualifiers from across the globe and starts with a swim off the Kailua Pier. The cycling segment travels along the Kona Coast across lava fields and through Hawi Village, with the marathon segment also traversing the Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

The competition adheres to strict Ironman regulations, with all participants required to complete the course within 16 hours and 50 minutes. Key challenges triathletes face, beyond the sheer exhaustion and endurance factor of a course this long, is 90 percent humidity and temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Cyclists can also face maritime-driven crosswinds of up to 60 miles per hour during the bike portion. The men’s and women’s races can be watched through NBC coverage, which includes a live stream broadcast.