My quest began Thanksgiving 2013, when I decided I would take one shot to qualify for Kona by winning my age group at Eagleman 70.3. I was in the midst of my surgery rotation as a third year medical student and with residency fast approaching this would likely be my last chance to make the trip to the Big Island for an indefinite period of time. I signed-up for the race, but put training on hold for several more months of demanding rotations on the hospital wards.