THE ARTISTS AND ATHLETES-This song was written and recorded by Ampage lead Singer/Bassist and IronmanTriathlete Mark Mason and Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen To help raise money and awareness for the Blazeman Foundation in finding a cure for A.L.S. The other musicians include Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and Dramarama guitarist Mark Inglert along with singer Pamela Mason and special thanks to Simon Gowen. THE PROFESSIONAL IRONMAN ATHLETES- The other singers on this song are professional Ironman athletes and Triathletes . They include- Chrissie Wellington, Leanda Cave, Mirinda Carfrae, Andy Potts, Bryan Rhodes, Scott Tinley, Mike Reilly, Matty Reed, Wingnut, Fiona Docherty, Jasmine Oeinck, Mary Miller, Amanda Hahnn, Holly Bennett and The Blazeman Warriors! SPECIAL THANKS- I'd like to thank our two angels Jeff Mcfarland and Bruce Mulder for helping out with some of the travel expenses in order to record all these athletes in there different towns through out the country. THE LYRICS- These are The lyrics to the song with each line being sung by a different athlete and everyone joining in on the chorus- "Iron Blazeman" Verse 1 – Swim, Bike, And Run Start at the sound of the gun If you get in my way I got to make you pay See you when its over and done Kick, stroke and breathe Feeling kind of weak at the knees Getting kicked and hit Flipping like a fish Around the bouy in the deep blue sea Verse 2 – 112 miles to ride Wind gusts hitting my side Clipped into the pedals In the aero bars settled Drop the hammer got to make up some time Well I passed the last I think Ive done it With 56 miles better gun it Now the leader of the pack Past the moment of attack The hunter is now the hunted Verse 3 – 26 miles to run A marathon just for fun My bodies tired My mind is wired I’ll be glad when this day is done Through the crowd to the finish line Just beat my very best time It’s a punishing test Against the very best I’m an ironman you can’t deny Chorus – Doesn’t wear a cape but dressed like superman Not a super hero they call him Iron Blazeman Works 9 to 5 trains 5 to 9 if he can A fireman a teacher a lawyer or a preacher It’s Iron Blazeman want to be an Ironman Jon "Blazeman" THE JON BLAZE STORY- Born and raised in southern New England, Jonathan S. Blais had always been an elite athlete and multi-sport competitor. Given a death sentence in the form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in May of 2005, at the age of 33, Jon accepted his diagnosis and decided to do incredible things with it. He began waging a War on ALS from the beginning. This was his way of dealing with it; this is how he lived out his days... fighting for research and raising awareness. A decade prior to his diagnosis, Jon decided to move from his home in Seekonk, Massachusetts to San Diego to finish school and eventually get his Master's degree in teaching. Focusing his energy on helping kids who were emotionally challenged and learning-disabled, Jon became a teacher at the Aseltine School. This is also where he became better known as "The Blazeman." Jon did amazing work with the Aseltine kids. Through summer recreation programs and outdoor activities, his students learned to overcome obstacles and become stronger through hard work and determination. When Jon was told he had ALS, and subsequently only 2-5 years to live, he left the life he'd built, and the many he'd touched behind, and headed back east. In a poignant moment, once caught on film, Jon's dad Bob, was quoted as telling his son, "You're coming home to live, not die." Competing in triathlons for 20 years, Jon always wanted to compete in an Ironman - especially in Hawaii. On October 15, 2005, only 5 months after being diagnosed, Jon became the only individual with ALS to complete an Ironman, finishing in 16:28:56. He crossed the finish line by log-rolling over it, and since then, the "log roll" has been graciously performed by countless athletes as a symbol of hope, and more importantly, as a means of raising awareness for ALS. In one short year, the devastation of ALS had taken over Jon's existence, but he refused to let it break his will. He went back to Kona in October of 2006, not as a competitor, but as a voice for ALS and as a cheerleader; because someone did the competing for him. Brian Breen, a Chicago native who won a lottery spot, learned of Jon's battle and decided to race in his honor at the 2006 Ironman. A more emotional scene one could not imagine as Breen, the "Crazy Irishman", log-rolled over that line and ran to Jon's side. They victoriously embraced each another as one more battle in the War was won. Luckily, NBC was there to "get it on film" and share it with the world. Thanks, Wooman. Jon’s impact on the sport of triathlon is one that many will never forget. In February 2007, Jon was awarded the Competitor of the Year award at the Endurance Sport Awards ceremony. Two months later, the NBC broadcast of the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Special, of which Peter Henning dedicated to Jon. Less than one month after Jon’s passing, the World Triathlon Corporation announced a new initiative where all domestic Ironman, Ironman 70.3, and IronGirl events will reserve race number 179, Jon’s Kona number, for a special athlete, a first in the world of triathlons. Since then, many warriors have requested number 179 at various sporting events throughout the country. In two short years, Jon became a powerful voice for ALS, using the sport he loved to help promote awareness and fundraising to find a cure for this horrific disease. Jon passed away on May 27, 2007 and while he is missed dearly by those close to him, his spirit and the lessons he has taught us all live on. Jon always believed in ending your story with a quote. Others have already said it best, so it's better to remember those and go out strong. So here goes… “The meaning of life is to live life”...Thanks, Blazeman.