LIFE Quest for Kona: Evan Morgan Bounces Back...for Kona to completion. Following a successful debut...
4
Our website uses cookies. By continuing we assume your permission to deploy cookies, as detailed in our privacy and cookies policy. ✉ Share This Article August 9th 2018 Quest for Kona: Evan Morgan Bounces Back How triathlon has helped U.S. Marine Evan Morgan find his purpose again. by David Landers Evan Morgan doesn't want to be "pretty good for an amputee." The retired U.S. Marine and father of three young children says he "just wants to be pretty good." Retired due to severe combat injuries, Morgan is counting on being good enough to qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship this year. Ending a hiatus from triathlon to participate in IRONMAN’s Quest for Kona show, the Bakersfield, Calif. resident shares how the qualities he's developed both as a Marine and father have equipped him for his biggest race yet. Disciplined Enlisting in the Marines as an 18-year-old high school graduate in 2002 was a no-brainer for Morgan, now 34. "I knew I wanted to be in the military since I was a boy, but it was after my oldest brother joined the Marines when I was eight that I decided on that branch," says Morgan whose youngest brother also is a Marine. The next spring, after training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif., Morgan was deployed to Kuwait with his unit and soon entered Iraq for the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The first deployment was an overwhelming success," says Morgan, who served in a combined anti-armor team that provided reconnaissance, protected convoys, and destroyed enemy tanks during combat. Find a Race IRONMAN 70.3 Canad Whistler, BC, Can July 28th 2019 IRONMAN Canada Whistler, BC, Can July 28th 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Munci Muncie, Indiana TBD 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Musko Muskoka, Ontario July 7th 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Syracu Syracuse, New Yo LIFE HOME ⌂ NEWS RACE NEWS TRAINING NUTRITION INSPIRATION PROFILES PHOTOS VIDEOS RACES RESULTS BECOME ONE LIFE IRONMAN U SHOP ✉ LOGIN
Transcript of LIFE Quest for Kona: Evan Morgan Bounces Back...for Kona to completion. Following a successful debut...
Our website uses cookies. By continuing we assume your permission to deploy cookies, as detailed in our privacy and cookies policy.
✉Share This Article
August 9th 2018
Quest for Kona: Evan Morgan Bounces Back
How triathlon has helped U.S. Marine Evan Morgan find his purposeagain.
by David Landers
Evan Morgan doesn't want to be "pretty good for an amputee." The retired U.S. Marine and father of threeyoung children says he "just wants to be pretty good."
Retired due to severe combat injuries, Morgan is counting on being good enough to qualify for theIRONMAN World Championship this year. Ending a hiatus from triathlon to participate in IRONMAN’s Questfor Kona show, the Bakersfield, Calif. resident shares how the qualities he's developed both as a Marine andfather have equipped him for his biggest race yet.
Disciplined
Enlisting in the Marines as an 18-year-old high school graduate in 2002 was a no-brainer for Morgan, now34. "I knew I wanted to be in the military since I was a boy, but it was after my oldest brother joined theMarines when I was eight that I decided on that branch," says Morgan whose youngest brother also is aMarine.
The next spring, after training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif., Morgan was deployed to Kuwait withhis unit and soon entered Iraq for the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The first deployment was an overwhelming success," says Morgan, who served in a combined anti-armorteam that provided reconnaissance, protected convoys, and destroyed enemy tanks during combat.
Find a Race
IRONMAN 70.3 CanadaWhistler, BC, CanadaJuly 28th 2019
IRONMAN CanadaWhistler, BC, CanadaJuly 28th 2019
IRONMAN 70.3 MuncieMuncie, IndianaTBD 2019
IRONMAN 70.3 MuskokaMuskoka, Ontario, CanadaJuly 7th 2019
IRONMAN 70.3 SyracuseSyracuse, New York
LIFE
HOME⌂ NEWS RACE NEWS TRAINING NUTRITION INSPIRATION PROFILES PHOTOS VIDEOS
RACES RESULTS BECOME ONE LIFE IRONMAN U SHOP
✉ LOGIN
Working his way up the chain, Morgan was eventually promoted to Corporal in command of a vehicle. "Iwas responsible for the lives within, and for making sure we were fulfilling our part of any mission," hesays. "But I also did anything else they asked of me—I was not above scrubbing floors."
Morgan applies the discipline and work ethic developed in the Marines to his IRONMAN training, which hecalls "somewhat unorthodox."
For instance, Morgan strength trains five times a week to maximize certain muscle groups. "As awheelchair athlete, I rely on upper-body muscle groups that are smaller, thus lighter, than your traditionaltriathlete. My pecs are your glutes, my deltoids are your quads, and so on," he explains.
He handcycles about 42 miles daily, Monday through Friday (it’s the handcycle that gives Morgan the"runner’s" high) and pushes 30 miles a week in his racing wheelchair. "On the weekends I’ll throw in a brick(workout), or maybe change up the scenery, like an open water swim in a nearby lake, or find some hills toclimb on the hand bike or racing wheelchair."
Unlike his 20s when he felt lazy when not doing something, Morgan now accepts rest as an essentialtraining component to help him "push through more, and find that extra oomph:" "I don’t know if it’s age orexperience, or both, but I am learning to listen to my body a lot more."
Morgan additionally disciplines his mind with hobbies outside of IRONMAN to manage race-day stress.Finding them meditative, Morgan plays guitar and sings at local bars along with doing carpentry, a crafttaught by his father and now expanded to detailed work, joinery, and other techniques.
Being physically and mentally disciplined forges Morgan’s confidence. "I learned early that you can onlyprepare as best you can, and that everything after that is out of your control."
Purposeful
On January 1, 2005, exactly one month after his 21st birthday and during his second tour in Iraq, Morganwas in his vehicle when it was struck by an enemy IED (improvised explosive device) which detonateddirectly under his seat. He lost his right leg above the knee, his left leg below the knee, broke his right armand fingers, went blind in his right eye, and sustained multiple breaks in his facial bones.
He says he not only lost parts of his body, but "perhaps more significantly, I lost my sense of purpose."
About two years into his rehabilitation, Morgan learned about Challenged Athletes Foundation, a 25-year-old organization helping people with physical challenges to pursue active lifestyles through physical fitnessand competitive athletics. Its Operation Rebound program funds equipment, training and travel expensesfor injured troops, like Morgan, and first responders.
In 2007, Morgan was invited to do the swim as part of a relay team for CAF’s annual San Diego TriathlonChallenge in La Jolla. Over the following two years, Morgan devoted more time and effort to triathlon,resulting in his selection to the U.S. national triathlon team, medals at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, and animproved outlook on life post-injury.
Encouraged by his athletic success, Morgan regained a sense of purpose as a father and husband, creditingCAF and triathlon "as the most important tools" in finding himself. Years later, the sport still sustains thosefamily roles. "The job of training adds a nice structure to my days, which tends to make me more productiveand present in other aspects of my life."
Being known for something other than his injuries matters to Morgan.
"My friends and family don’t really think of the whole no-legs thing anymore; what I enjoy the most is whenthose close to me just think of me as Evan."
Selflessness
Twitter Facebook
Latest Articles
Meredith Kessler's Comeback TrailAugust 13th 2018
The Monday Round-Up: Lagerstrom andHaskins Clean Up in SteelheadAugust 12th 2018
IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship ProStart List AnnouncedAugust 9th 2018
Sanders, Bentley Voted Greatest CanadianTriathletesAugust 7th 2018
The Monday Round-Up: Ryf Proves TrulyUnbeatableAugust 5th 2018
With tensions high, and so much going on, Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i can be a funny place ahead of theIRONMAN World Cham…https://t.co/R4mPUkX3eb
17 HOURS AGO | Reply |
Ryf and Gomez look to repeat while Hauschildt,True, Frodeno, and Brownlee highlight a stackedfield of contenders… https://t.co/rACU2vvr49
19 HOURS AGO | Reply |
1 million fans. 1 IRONMAN family. helping us reach 1 million Facebook fans!#40YearsofDreams… https://t.co/IpdbwxqCiG
3 DAYS AGO | Reply | Retweet
Follow us on Twitter
Quest for Kona, Age Group Profiles, Profile, Inspiration,
✉Share This Article
TAGS:
Committing to IRONMAN training and racing this year evoke the primary reason Morgan joined theMarines. "It was the Samurai notion of service above self," he states. "I always found that notion appealing:the code of honor, the discipline and the release of self."
Knowing first-hand the benefits of triathlon, Morgan thinks his story could interest anyone with adisability, especially those who have been away from triathlon or any sport for an extended time.
He also hopes his story appeals to people confronting new situations and responsibilities. "I’ve learnedmore about balancing everything. I’ve drunk, I’ve smoked. I’ve tried different ways of living, and I’ve figuredout the combination that works best for me."
Just as Morgan gave up his spot on the U.S. national triathlon team to focus on raising his kids with hiswife, this renewed interest in IRONMAN training and racing benefits his children.
"It is nice to see my kids have something to call me," says Morgan. "They recognize my training as a job, andthey have seen the fruits of my labor when they come along to the events. Now that I have gotten backinto racing I am a triathlete, and eventually, I will be an IRONMAN."
When Morgan’s friend and sponsor Bob Babbit—a board member of CAF and an inductee to the IRONMANHall of Fame—suggested Quest for Kona, Morgan jumped at the chance. Morgan set out on a return toIRONMAN racing with April‘s IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, where he bested the closest wheelchair athlete byan hour and improved his own bike time on the course. He went on to compete at the IRONMAN 70.3Buffalo Springs in June, the North American Handcycle Championship, where he hoped to carry his Questfor Kona to completion.
Following a successful debut last year, IRONMAN is again presenting Quest for Kona, a television seriesthat documents the highs and lows of 10 athletes attempting to qualify for the 2018 IRONMAN WorldChampionship this October in Hawaii. Tune in to Quest for Kona to follow Morgan's qualification journey.
David Landers is a freelance writer with a passion for endurance sports and travel. He lives in Vancouver,B.C.
0 Comments Sort by
Facebook Comments Plugin
Oldest
Add a comment...
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
◅
August 13th 2018Meredith Kessler's Comeback Trail
August 12th 2018The Monday Round-Up: 08.13
August 9th 2018IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship ProStart List Announced
RacesALL RACES
IRONMAN
IRONMAN 70.3
Championships
Short Course Tri
Cycling
Running
IRONKIDS
MultiSport Tri
North American Transfer Program
North America
ResultsAGE GROUP ATHLETES
PRO ATHLETES
Recent Results
Rankings
All World Athletes
Profiles
Pro Membership
Rankings
Race News
Past Coverage
TrainingGET STARTED
REACH YOUR GOALS
IRONMAN 101
Rules
Training
Nutrition
Inspiration
NewsALL NEWS
SOCIAL COMMUNITY
Race News
Training
Nutrition
Inspiration
From the Fans
Triathlon Gear
Programs
Official World Championship Gear
Event Gear
Finisher
Training
Sale
TriClub Program
All World Athlete Program
Kona Legacy Program
Signup for Email Updates
Get News & Race UpdatesBe the first to know what's happening in the world of IRONMAN.
Copyright© 2001-2018 World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). All Rights Reserved. IRONMAN®, IRONMAN TRIATHLON®, M-DOT®, IRONMANLIVE.com®, IRONMAN.COM™ and 70.3® are trademarks of WTC.Any use of these marks without the express written consent of WTC is prohibited.
LOCATIONS
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Australia
COVERAGE
Race News
Pinterest Anti-Doping
Foundation
Corporate: Partners Press Information Jobs Intellectual Property Usage Privacy Policy Contact RSS
