Dr. George Ackerman
Dr. George Ackerman advocates for increased awareness of Parkinson's disease in memory of his late mother who passed from this terrible affliction.
More Than Our Story
Mike Reilly
Mike Reilly’s iconic voice has welcomed nearly half a million IRONMAN finishers worldwide. He recounts his early days in endurance sports and how he became the “Voice of IRONMAN.” Drawing on decades of experience, his new book, Finding Your Finish Line: Lessons on Discovering Hope, Heart, and Yourself in Life’s Toughest Miles, offers guidance beyond sports for setting meaningful goals, navigating transitions, and finding renewed direction.
Highlights
His introduction to running:
In my mind, I'm thinking, “Well, I've run four miles before trying to cut weight for wrestling, so I can at least do six miles.” So I show up on this Wednesday night to run, and there was about 15 people. And one of them was a woman, which I couldn't understand. “How could she do this?” You know, this was 1976, and we took off Balboa Park… So we take off, and she takes off, leading the group. Well, I hung on for dear life. Came in last, but I could still see the other last person. I don't think I could walk for 2 or 3 days, Daniel. And that woman that beat us up on that run was Sue Crane, who the next year took a third at the Boston Marathon.
A lot of runners did triathlons and were interested in doing triathlon… Horny Toad was a running track club here in San Diego. They put on the Horny Toad Half IRONMAN at that time - a Half IRONMAN with Navy SEALs in it and everything… Your first triathlon shouldn't be a half with a bunch of Navy SEALs.
Those early days were just pure joy, and all of us were like kids in a candy factory because we were discovering something new about a sport. We were this newness in the sport. You know, when people come up through the ranks like a Scott Tinley, and then Mark Allen, and Greg Welch, and they all were in San Diego, and we just knew it was so cool.
Our biggest goal in life was just trying to convert people to even spell the word triathlon correctly. So, it just became a passion.
Lynn Flanagan asked me to get on the mic because I was just waiting around, and that's kind of when it started on the microphone. I was thinking maybe I could just make fun of my friends when they come through at this 10K race, and then next thing you know, I'm being asked to announce triathlons. The first pro triathlon in Solana Beach, and it was just cool.
His early announcing years:
I was doing a lot more running events those first ten years than I was triathlon.
When San Diego's Tom Hunt ran the Runners Den 10K, I just couldn't believe his time. He ran 28:12, which was at that time an American record. I never thought anybody could run sub-29, and he smashed it.
I wanted to provide for my family. I wanted to produce income. I wanted.. my income (to) go up every year. You have those goals in the five-year, ten-year plan, and when I first started looking at it, doing it in sports… Which it did.
I was one of the original eight members of the ACTIVE Network, ACTIVE.com, the first online registration company, and we built that to like 2500 employees. So I had the honor of being able to produce income in endurance sports. I got to have my day job at ACTIVE… and then my weekend job, working events… I was seven days a week for a long time, a long time.
His Book:
I wrote my first book while I was still in the thick of IRONMAN and IRONMAN Racing, and I wanted to tell the IRONMAN story as much as the other stories in the book. But with Finding Your Finish Line… I started reflecting on the things that I took away from it, the lessons I learned.
It's not only about finding your finish line at a racing event, it's about finding your finish line every day in life.
If you finish what you start, all the things you start, you'll be on top of the world.
Even though you start something, it's sometimes hard as hell to find your finish line. But you've got to keep working at it.
We're not designed to arrive and stay…. We're designed to arrive to that finish line and have that finish line be the foundation for the next one, and the next one.
I don't care if you're 25, 55, or 85… If you're standing still, you're moving backwards. You don't want to do that. Don't let age be a barrier.
No one I know, even very successful people, haven't had a ton of failures, a ton of setbacks. Life is always going to throw us curveballs, and we don't see it coming.
You have to start leaning on friends and family and finding some piece of positivity within yourself that you can stand next to, and let it help guide you.
When you get to that other side, you're a much bigger, more complete person than you were on the other side. You've done something that's very, very difficult to do.
When things come our way, and they slap us in the face, they knock us down… You just gotta get back on that bike, get home, and figure it out.
When you keep everything in your life as positive as possible, it beats the negativity in your body and your mind. It beats it up.
Your why has to be based on what is in your heart and soul. Sure, a ‘why’ can be: “I want to finish this race.” “I want to write a book.” “I want to get a promotion at work.” “I want to have a great relationship.” Those ‘whys’ are fantastic, and they're all there. But I think you have to go a little deeper… to figure it out.
Doing great things when no one's watching; that's when you build yourself into an incredible human. When you do something, you don't have to brag about it.
If you're going to live off praise, it's not going to work full time for you.
If you think you can live as an island of one, eventually, that island is going to sink.
Relationships are difficult because it's you, and it's not you. You're dealing with another person that is not you, that doesn't think like you, doesn't breathe like you, sometimes doesn't have the same goals and aspirations that you do. But yet, you're building a relationship and accepting who they are and vice versa, and that's a difficult thing to do.
The best communicators in the world are the best listeners.
If there's a piece of their life that's missing right now, or it was there and then you can't find it again, hopefully the book will help you find it.
Mike Reilly, Voice of IRONMAN: Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Visit his page to learn more about him, his books, podcast, and speaking engagements, or to share your story.
Visit and follow Mike Reilly on Instagram.
Daniel
Daniel is an extremely curious person, a wealth of random knowledge and facts. Extremely passionate about a vast array of interests ranging from health to history, science to athletics, everything culinary and the list goes on. Trust us, you would want to be on his team for Trivial Pursuit.
Daniel is also years into his battle with brain cancer. He experienced a seizure while on a Zoom call at work in late 2020 and quite literally, his life changed within minutes. After his operation he started to talk about his story but had always known it was more than just him. From then, More Than Our Story became a PROJECT that has evolved into the starting point it is today.
He has also since become a multiple time IRONMAN.
Additional Profiles
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Joe Tolles
Joe Tolles is a semi-retired, professional hockey player, CrossFit gym owner/operator, organ donor, and inspiration to others.
Michelle de Clair
Michelle juggles many roles with pride: mother, wife, volunteer, her career; yet she maintains a humble, quiet resiliency, as a daily reminder of the dangers of COVID-19.
Brandon Throop
Brandon shares his story, from his diagnosis with non-Hodgkin lymphoma to his aggressive treatment and current remission from the disease. He also talks about his fundraising.
Casey Kidson
Casey Kidson is a paratriathlete living and racing with dystonia. She uses her platform to raise awareness about dystonia and is proof that limits aren’t the end.
Steve Veasey
Steve Veasey candidly discusses his life, his epilepsy, and how his journey has brought him back full circle to his first love - illustration.
Megan Eckert
Megan shares her transformation from a hesitant runner to the epitome of physical and mental grit, shattering world records along the way.
Kevin Culliney
Kevin Culliney advocates for cancer awareness and seeking out second opinions and alternatives. He shares his remarkable story of survival, from diagnosis with stage IV cancer.
Stephen Glaus
Stephen shares his story of grit and determination of how he battles multiple sclerosis and his journey to becoming a three time IRONMAN.
Ruthie Sloan
Ruthie shares her story of courage and determination as she balances motherhood, trail running, and getting diagnosed with cancer during COVID.
Embracing You Podcast: Daniel Hight
Our founder Daniel Hight joins Eric Pothen on his Embracing You podcast to share his story about his renewed fitness journey and his perception of his body.
Jillian Best
Jillian Best shares her inspiring journey from liver transplant recipient to becoming a world record holding swimmer and the first transplant recipient to swim across Lake Ontario.
John Amanam
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The Rigid Riders
Steve Iseman and Mike Loghrin are co-founders of the Rigid Riders, a cycling club in the Greater Toronto Area for people with Parkinson's.
Team Stewart Racing
Lizzie and Chris Stewart form Team Stewart Racing, proving that with the right adaptations and perseverance, you can achieve any goal.
Capable Dads: Daniel Hight
More Than Our Story founder Daniel Hight talks on the Capable Dads podcast about his journey battling his health challenges, recovering, and parenting.
Alzheimer’s Speaks: Daniel Hight
Daniel Hight speaks with Lori La Bey on her Alzheimer’s Speaks podcast about the commonalities of care between living with incurable brain cancer and dementia.
Mark Opauszky
Mark Opauszky shares his story of unbelievable resilience in his fight against necrotizing fasciitis.
Bob Knuckey
Bob Knuckey, 75-year-young, endurance athlete extraordinaire became a 2-time, age-group IRONMAN world champion this year in Nice, France.
Ned Phillips
Ned shares his love for ultrarunning and where his mind goes when faced with the immense physical and mental strain that comes along with it.
All Home Care Matters: Daniel Hight
Daniel Hight, joins Lance A. Slatton on his All Home Care Matters podcast to share his journey with cancer and More Than Our Story.
Dr. Caesar Lim
Dr. Caesar Lim talks about his podcast The Capable Dads, where he and his co-hosts discuss topics related to fatherhood in an open and honest way.
Stephen LaSalle
Stephen LaSalle is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and a para-triathlete, proving that anything is possible.
Nicholas Umali
Nicholas shares his story of persevering through stage 4 cancer and how he views his diagnosis as a blessing that's given him a new perspective on life.
Daniel Hight
The inaugural profile is none other than Daniel Hight, founder of More Than Our Story.
Simon Guérard
Simon Guérard shares his love for ultrarunning, the inspiration behind his YouTube Channel, and where he hopes to see the sport’s future.
Carol Schulte
Carol shares how her struggles with mental health led to her founding The Brave Initiative and become the bravest version of herself.
David Walker
David Walker challenges preconceptions about what’s possible for people living with Parkinson’s.
Lori La Bey
Lori La Bey is a speaker and educator who has dedicated herself to raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia through her tireless work.
Lance A. Slatton
Lance A. Slatton is an influencer, thought leader, and healthcare professional who empowers caregivers to navigate long-term care.
Lyndsey Blair
Lyndsey Blair is an ultra-endurance athlete who in September, became the first Scottish person to complete the Enduroman Arch 2 Arc triathlon.
Ryan Stark
Ryan shares his love of being creative, debunks some of the myths surrounding diabetes, and about what it's like living with this condition.
Eric Pothen
Eric shares his story from struggling with an eating disorder, to coaching people to help heal their relationship with food and their bodies.
Tracey Kerr
Tracey Kerr shares her remarkable journey from nearly losing her life in a severe car accident to her eventual recovery and return to sports.
Kieren O’Hanlon
Kieren opens up about his health challenges, and how he is still perfecting the balance of being a loving husband, father and his well-being.
Myles Dininio
Myles Dininio completed a solo run across Canada to raise funds, promote awareness, and normalize conversations about mental health.
Greg Robertson
Greg Robertson shares about his enthusiasm for triathlon, his ambassadorship for the Somersault race series and his goals for 2023 and beyond.
Mark Black
Mark Black shares his remarkable story of resilience, becoming the first person in history to run a marathon with someone else's heart and lungs.
Mike Reilly
After decades of welcoming IRONMAN finishers, Mike Reilly’s new book helps readers set goals, navigate transitions, and find direction.
Together For Sharon Interview
Our founder Daniel Hight is interviewed by Dr. George Ackerman for Together For Sharon on how he navigates life with his cancer diagnosis.
Bob Becker
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Mark Herbst
Mark Herbst recounts his ‘Epic Ride’ around the world, raising awareness and funds for cancer research in honor of his late wife, Jackie.
Barrie Shepley
Legendary coach, commentator, and voice of triathlon Barrie Shepley discusses his love for the sport and how he got started.
Nicholas Whitaker
After his layoff, Nicholas Whitaker co-founded the Changing Work Collective, became a life and career coach, and devoted himself to improving workplaces, leaders and work culture.
Jerry Dunn
Jerry Dunn shares his 50-year journey with running, how he used it to reinvent himself, and how it became a platform for social good.
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Ryan Grant Little shares his story from serial entrepreneur to angel investor and food tech ambassador. He also talks about his ongoing charitable and humanitarian efforts.
Tabitha Holman
Tabitha shares her experience with metastatic breast cancer and her advocacy to reform the current standards of care for breast cancer in Canada.
Danielle Patrice
Danielle shares her incredible story of survival against domestic violence and how she now advocates and champions for those who have lost their own voice and agency to this evil.
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Mikaela shares her journey with metastatic adenocarcinoma, her life-changing surgeries, ongoing treatments, and her refusal to let it define what she's capable of.