Iron Man Quilter

Every now and then you see something amazing.  I've seen this quilt twice, and I'm still amazed. 

The Iron Man took place in Madison today.  Participants swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.   That boggles my mind!  My friend and coworker Alan Frank has completed the Iron Man a number of times - which inspired him to design this quilt. 

He hand pieced it, had it quilted and eventually entered it in the Wisconsin Public Television quilt expo.  He even designed the all-over quilt pattern depicting a runner, biker and swimmer.  It seems to me that he approaches quilting with the same dedication it takes to train for the Iron Man...working over time to accomplish a long term goal.  Kind of refreshing in our fast paced world.  Below are Al's comments.  I hope you can read it.  Its sweet that he includes a comment about his wife.

Al got hooked on English paper piecing when his wife - having started a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt - complained that it was taking so long to complete.  Al offered to help, and discovered that he greatly enjoyed it.  The rest is history. 

See the link below.  Look at the Iron Man logo, then look back at the quilt.  Again, I'm amazed.  All that creativity in one quilt!

http://ironmanwisconsin.com/

The fact that the Iron Man fell on 9/11 this year did not go unnoticed.  Below is the story of another Madison man who was working in the second Twin Tower on 9/11 ten years ago.  He lived to tell the tale.  He ran/swam/biked all those miles today.  He is now married, with a family.  A bit of good news on this sad day of remembrance is very welcome.

http://www.wkow.com/story/15428874/m