Aug. 2, 2015: Morning of the race

Athletic trainer Cade Ogilvie woke up at 4 a.m. for the Ironman triathlon in Boulder, Colorado.

He had toast with peanut butter and a banana for breakfast. 

He packed and unpacked his bag to make sure he had everything — armband? Check. Tracking chip? Check. Running shoes, cycling cleats, wetsuit? Triple check. 

He loaded his bike onto the car before driving to the race with his pregnant wife, Brooke, and their young son, Madden. His siblings, parents and friend were going to be there as well. 

 When they arrived, they were greeted by 3,000 people who were crazy enough to compete in the Ironman. Consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run in 17 hours or less, it is one of the hardest one-day sports events in the world. 

While a few world-class athletes compete to win, most just hope to finish. In Boulder, Cade said about 1,000 people didn’t make it.

“It is one of the most taxing things I think you can do, not only physically, but mentally,” Cade said. 

The athletes were all there for different reasons — to push their limits, to prove a point to their gym buddies, to finish first. But Cade was there because of what happened on May 25, 2014. 

The day he lost his son, Miles Lon Ogilvie, who passed away at only 2 months and 8 days old.