Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartWHAT MAKES A HERO?
By: Sandra Elzie
Have you ever met someone whom you admired because they had a dream and goals in life and went after them despite obstacles? I know such a person.
This man ran 26.2 mile marathons in high school, but he wanted more and he was willing to work to get it. He continued running through college, striving to improve, and even though he had set his sights on joining the Marines as an officer, he never gave up his other dream of someday participating in an Iron Man.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Iron Man race, he would have to swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, (1.2 out and 1.2 back), bike 112 miles and then run a full marathon length of 26.2 miles. It must be completed within 17 hours. Personally, I’ve never understood anyone signing up for such abuse, but thousands do and some qualify to do it repeatedly.
After completing college and two years in the Marines, he set a new goal of flying jets for the military, so he applied to transfer to the Air Force and later repeated boot camp and was assigned to a base on the west coast to train as a navigator before being accepted into the flight program and getting his wings. While stationed on the west coast, he also met the girl he would eventually marry and added a new goal. 
After two tours of duty in Saudi Arabia, flying sorties in an EF-111 during Desert Storm, he accepted an assignment to train new pilots. During this assignment, he and his wife became proud parents of a daughter and life for him would change, yet again. He now had some additional goals.
After six years as a Pilot Trainer he took an assignment at the Pentagon where he survived the attack on Sept 11, 2001. Over the years, he never quit training and racing and in 2005, at the age of almost 42, he qualified to participate in the Iron Man in Kona, Hawaii. Needless to say, he was over the moon, but there was one slight problem. Well, actually there was one major problem.
For a good part of his life, he had, on rare occasion, experienced an episode of his heart going from 50-60 beats per minute (bpm) to 200+ bpm, but after a minute or so, it would return to normal. The clinical name is Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter or A-Fib/A-Flutter. Fortunately, it seldom occurred and never lasted long, so didn’t interfere with his flying, but now things had changed. The frequency had started to increase and the duration was now a couple hours to a couple days, which required hospitalization and medication to control. He finally had an opportunity to participate in an Iron Man, yet his heart might prevent him from achieving this major dream.
Tests were run & surgery was discussed. The procedure would be to go in and use a laser to create scar issue to block the signals that caused his heart to sometimes race out of control at a rate of over 300 bpm. If it worked, great, but if not, he would soon die…the heart wouldn’t be able to withstand such repeated abuse.
Surgery was scheduled for May 2, 2005 and if it was successful, ie, no episodes for 60-90 days, the doctor said he would be released to return to training for the Iron Man. Crazy? Don’t forget, this was his dream. Did the young Air Force officer run scared, stop training and forfeit his dream? No. Surgery was performed, everyone prayed, and July 2005 he was cleared to start training again after 4 months of inactivity. The race was October 15, 2005, so he had 3 ½ months to get ready…again.
The day of the race was like most days in Hawaii, sunny, hot and humid. When the gun went off, he started swimming and never looked back. After his 2.4 mile swim, he began the grueling 112 mile bike ride through the hot lava beds along the Queen’s highway in Kona. After about 35 miles, he approached a check point/refreshment station and reached for a cup of water while riding by. Unfortunately, the volunteer didn’t let go fast enough and he was pulled off balance & slammed into the pavement, knocking him unconscious for a few seconds & busting his helmet. Was the race over for this young man? No. After the medic held him for 35 minutes, he was back on the bike with major road burns on his shoulder, thigh & arm. The following day x-rays would reveal that he finished the race with two cracked ribs.
It had been over 15 hours since the race had began, so it was a thrilling, crazy moment when I saw him round the last turn and start running down the “alley”, the last 200 yards to the finish line, where spectators line the road and cheer the runners to victory.
As he ran down the “alley”, he was holding his daughter’s hand and his wife ran behind to take a movie of his triumphant moment. As I watched him cross the finish line with my granddaughter and my daughter, I was as proud as any mother. You see, Barry Kent Barker is my son-in-law and I admire him more than anyone I have ever met. He never gave up, overcame many obstacles, and realized his dream. I’m very proud of him. Click Ironman Interview to see the interview by Channel 9 in Washington, D.C. 
Kent is a devoted husband of 19 years and one of the best dads I’ve ever met. He’s not just focused on his hobbies and goals, but is totally engaged in his marriage and his role as a father. My daughter and granddaughter are very blessed.
So, what makes a hero? A hero, first, is someone you can respect and admire. Beyond that, in my opinion, a hero is someone who can be depended upon to do the right thing. He sets goals and works to achieve them, not expecting a free lunch. It’s someone who rises above obstacles to do the extraordinary. Then as goals are reaches, new ones are set… always looking forward, never being content to coast through life
But Kent’s story doesn’t end there. He is now retired from the Air Force, but works for a private company that has a contract with the government. He still reports to work at the Pentagon and yes, he still races. After serving for several years as president of his home association’s swim team, The Pirranahs, he earned certification as a USAT Race Director and Level One coach and then founded BRATS…Bristow Area Triathlon and Swim where he coaches students in the three elements of triathlon & teaches kids and adults how to set goals to improve and be successful in competition. He and Kim, (president and vice-president of BRATS) also host races, such as the Salute to the Military, through the organization that Kent founded.
He got his wife, Kim, hooked on marathons and triathlons and the last few years his daughter, Brittany, has been active on the area swim team and has also joined the family sport of triathlon. 
Kent, I applaud you and, oh yes, I wish you a very happy birthday, today, August 6th.
Love, “Mom”
http://ironman.com/events/ironman
Tags: Bristow Area Triathlon and Swim, Sandra Elzie
About the author
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Sandra Elzie | http://SandraElzie.com Sandy moved to Georgia four years ago and within two years she had sold her first book to Avalon Books. She has since sold two books and has recently started e-pubbing her list of books under the name of Sandra McGregor. She is married and enjoys traveling, reading and spending time watching movies with her husband.
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August 6th, 2010 at 2:04 am
What a great story, Sandy! How wonderful it must be to have such a son-in-law. The love and pride in your family and Kent, especially, comes through in your writing.
Happy birthday, Kent!
August 6th, 2010 at 7:06 am
Carol,
My, girl, you got up mighty early to wish Kent a happy birthday! (g)
Yes, we’re proud of him. He’s a great example for the youth he works with.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Great post, Sandy–and Happy Birthday, Kent! I’m exhausted just reading about a triathlon, but you could really dissect a fabulous character arc from this story. Thanks for sharing the story with us!
August 6th, 2010 at 7:34 am
WOW, what an AWESOME guy,HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and that is just what yours is, “A BIRTH DAY”
It seems to me that you are certianly living YOUR LIFE!!!
GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP GOING I PRAY TODAY WILL BE AWESOME FOR YOU AND EVERYDAY AS WELL!!!!!!!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Morning Sally,
Yes, I understand your fatigue. (g) It was pretty amazing to watch over 2,000 athletes that day in Hawaii. Some were handicapped, but pushed themselves to finish.
Like the newsman said…what’s our excuse? Every single one of the participants stretched themselves to the limit and then pulled out a little more in order to finish.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Sandy,
Thanks so much for sharing this inspiring story with us!
And Kent, I applaud your fortitude, drive and passion.
Many people are content to sit back and watch their lives pass them by. It takes a very special human being to not only set incredible goals, but to actually achieve them.
Your family is beautiful and they appear to be very proud of you…for good reason.
Have a very happy birthday, good luck in everything you do, and give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it!
Have a lovely day,
Tamara
August 6th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Sandy,
Kent sounds like an amazing person. The Iron Man is some race and I know more than most what it is like to see someone over come heart issues and thrive. Happy Birthday Kent!
August 6th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Tamara,
Thank you for the kind words to Kent. You’re right, he isn’t one to sit by the side and watch life pass by.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Susan,
Thank you for dropping by. For anyone who doesn’t know Susan May or about the book she wrote about her son, Nick’s New Heart, be sure to check out her website.
http://nicksnewheart.com/
I love stories about people who have been handed an extra challenge in life, but step up to the plate and give it their all. That’s what being a winner is all about.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Sandra, this is such a beautiful story and we thank you so much for sharing! Kent is a good example of a strong determination with admirable character.
Happy Birthday Kent!
August 6th, 2010 at 8:44 am
happy birthday, kent. what a great life of accomplishment.good book idea titled “a life well lived”.
have a good one. barbara
August 6th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Wow! I’ve cracked ribs before and can’t imagine finishing any kind of race that way. Very inspiring story. Happy Birthday, Kent!
August 6th, 2010 at 9:17 am
What an inspirational story. Happy Birthday, Kent! I enjoyed reading Sandy’s post and watchng the U-Tube video. You have a beautiful family and a great “Mom” in Sandy.
Marilyn Baron
August 6th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Hi Debbie,
Ouch, you’ve had cracked ribs?
After that accident, he biked almost 80 more miles and then ran more than 26 miles. I truly don’t know how he did it.
The military must train them to move pain to the back of their brains and move forward despite it.
Or else Kent had such a will to finish the race that nothing, and I mean, nothing was going to stop him.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Good morning Marilyn,
Wasn’t the U-Tube great? Channel 9 did a great job. (of course, they had 3 great subjects to work with…but, honest, I’m not biased. (g)
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Happy Birthday Kent!!
You inspire many of us and should be very proud! Hope you enjoy your day!
The Dolieslagers
Beautifully written!
August 6th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Happy Birthday Kent!!! We are so fortunate you guys live (and decided to continue to live) in Victory Lakes. Maggie and Wiliam have a love of running, and triathloning that they would not have had without you! ~ Chris McCarty
August 6th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Wow! I am really impressed. Happy Birthday, Kent, and I hope you will continue to make a difference in the lives of others. You’re an inspiration to all!
Anna
August 6th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Happy Birthday Kent!!! You truly are an inspiration!!
August 6th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
This is awesome, Sandy! Your SIL sounds like a really great guy. My hubby has a similar heart thing and had to have an ablation done recently (at age 36). I know right after the surgery he felt like a million bucks so I can see how Kent was able to run that Triathlon (of course, I’m pretty sure mine could NOT have done it).
Thanks for sharing this great story and a huge Happy Birthday to you Kent! I wish you many, many more.
Tami
August 6th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Happy Birthday, Kent!
You are an unselfish, motivational inspiration!!
I hope you cut your run short today, to save more energy for Birthday dinner, cake, etc.
Joe
August 6th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
What an inspirational post, Sandy. A very thoughtful tribute to your son-in-law. You’re right about heroes. That’s the kind of stuff we romance writers use to create our heroes, but a real live one is rare and truly awe-inspiring. Hope Kent doesn’t mind if some of us steal some details of his life for our stories.
I hope he has a wonderful birthday. He deserves it.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Happy Birthday, Kent!
You have done amazing things with your life and are an inspiration. I look forward to hearing more about the achievement of future goals.
August 6th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Happy Birthday, Kent. What an extraordinary story. Thanks for bringing Tri’s into my life and the lives of so many. Your hard work and determination will reach much further than you’ll ever know. Have a much deserved happy birthday and a great race on Sunday!
August 6th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Sandy – What an inspiring story and you have every reason to be proud of your SIL. He definitely fits the qualifications for a hero and then some. What a good looking family, too.
Happy Birthday Kent and congrats on accomplishing so much in your life…so far.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Hi Lori, Chris and Joe,
Thanks for dropping by to wish Kent a Happy Birthday.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Anna, Thanks for the kind words. I know he’ll appreciate them.
Tami, I’m so glad everything worked out for your husband.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Linsey,
Use Kent in a novel? LOL Too late! I already did. In my, as yet unsold, Duty Calls, the hero is assigned to the Pentagon and is active in triathlons.
If….no, WHEN I sell it, I’ll definitely be dedicating it to Kent.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Tammy,
Thanks for the kind words. As to Kent’s future goals, I’m not sure what they are, but I’m sure he has a couple on the back burner just waiting to be put into motion and achieved.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Megan,
You are so right about how he (and others) might never know how they’ve touched the lives of others. We go about our daily lives, doing what we must do, or what we enjoy doing and years later someone tells us what a difference a certain statement or event made in their life.
Those moments are the serendipites
in life.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Dianna,
Hey, lady. Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to come over and leave such a nice note.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Kent, when I first signed up for your Master’s swim program, I was really nervous and intimated. I thought it would take months of struggling with the sport to finally be able to swim a few laps with some confidence. But your support and understanding, and the manner in which you instruct people in your class really put me at ease and allowed me to learn to swim. Thank you so much for that! BRATS has also allowed many people, young and old, to try the sport of triathalon and for many to fall in love with the sport, just as I have. You are changing many lives for the better! Have a wonderful birthday this year and in all your years to come!
August 6th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Kent,
I’ve always admired you as a man of integrity and commitment. Needless to say, I concur with all that Sandy said.
I wish you only the best in the future and I’m glad you’re part of the family.
Dad Elzie
August 6th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Happy Birthday Kent and congratulations on all of your accomplishments!
August 6th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Sandy, your story moved me to tears. Thank you so much for sharing such an admirable, inspiring hero with us.
Happy Birthday, Kent. Thank you for serving our country. And thank you for being one of those great guys that our youth can look up to in this troubled world.
August 6th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Happy Birthday, Kent. You have one terrific Mom-In-Law! Great story Sandy. You said it Tamara, it was so inspiring. Well,I’m still not going to try a triathlon! He sounds like a real-life Superman!
August 6th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Darcy,
Every time I watch the Channel 9 video, I tear up. You just had to be there to see what all the athletes go through to cross that finish line.
Oh, and BTW, my daughter corrected me. I said it took Kent 15 hours to finish the race…well, getting old does things to the memory. It actually took him only 12 and 3/4 hours (with the medic holding him for about 35 minutes after the bike crash)
Sorry, Kent. (g)
Thanks for the kind words, Darcy.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Maxine,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I also feel tired just sitting on the couch and watching videos of Kent and the other athletes who do the Iron Man.
Sandy
August 6th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Sandy, I would love to write a greeting for Kent but right now i am in such pain and into pain pills from my surgery, I can’t think of a decent amount of words to put together. he sounds wonderful and a true hero – wish him well. Bobbie
This was in an e-mail from a friend of mine, Bobbie Peterson, in California.
August 6th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Happy Birthday Kent,
We are proud to have you as a friend.
The McCullers
August 6th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Enjoyed reading about and watching your son-in-law. Very impressive story. I’m sure you’re proud of him.
Pat Daniel
An e-mail I got from a lady in my Bible Study class.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:29 am
Wow! Wonderful, well-written birthday card, Sandy! We’ve heard bits and pieces of the story, but it was great to hear it all together.
Thank you so much, Kent, for your love for your family and your dedication to being the very best God created you to be. We’re ALL proud of you (and we love Kim and Brittany too!) Happy, Happy Birthday! Henry and Jan
August 7th, 2010 at 11:05 am
We wish Kent an awesome birthday. Couldn’t pick a better son-in-law, husband & great father.
Love
Dad & Marsha
August 8th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Happy (belated) birthday Kent. Hope you smiled on your run that day knowing how much you are loved and appreciated by friends and family. Blessings to you and your wonderful family.
August 8th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Please pass on Happy Birthday wishes to Kent!
How has your summer been? We are off to Michigan next week to see family and then to the beach on the 23rd.
Hope to see you soon,
Heidi
August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Happy Birthday Kent! As a veteran, I express my thanks for your service to our country, I know the costs involved. You gave so much more to serve by overcoming great obstacles concerning your health. Yet, you persevered way beyond most people to obtain the goals you set for yourself. Having never forgotten your goal of running that marathon, forging past medical problems AND age, you continued on. You didn’t do it because you were a Marine, you did it because of the quality of person you are.
Even the greatest people need some help to obtain their goals. Fortunately you have a great family who has supported you throughout your challenges. My best wishes to all your family who has supported you along your path.
You are an inspiration beyond imagination. It is great that you are now working with others to help them obtain their best.
I would also like to thank Richard Elzie for his interest, push and support he has given Sandy to realize her dream of writing. WOW, she did a great job describing Kent’s path to completing a marathon he had dreamed of.
And Sandra, thank you for sharing such an inspirational story with us.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
It’s Barb Johnson from Pa. After seeing it was from you, I had to read your story of what a hero is, and you have much to be proud of. What a man, what a family. I am with you, why would anyone in their right mind want to punish their body with all of that exertion. Exercise is good for us, but I can’t imagine what training for the Iron Man could be. He must be some especially unusually, determined man. Sandy, you wrote a great article and I could picture it all. Your daughter and granddaughter must also be very determined, goal oriented too.
Bravo to them all, and thanks for sharing the story.
Barb
August 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Mom,
Thank you for writing this tribute to Kent. You are the BEST mom in the world and we all are so blessed to have you in our lives. To my husband you inspire many lives especially mine. All our love~ Kim
August 10th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Dad,
I know this will have been a really late coment, but anyway, I hope you had a great birthday!
I will always remember the day you fufilled your ironman dream, but even before that you were the most inspiring person I knew, and you still are. You never give up and you are a great example of someone I want to grow up to be. You aren’t just a dad to me, your a best friend. Hopefully I will grow up to be just as intelligent, strong, couragous, and talented (I could say more, there are just too many great things about you) as you are. I love you
Brittany B.<3