Ray Fauteux

I was a couch potato back in 1976. Drinking too much beer and smoking way too much. Then I happened to land on the Montreal Olympic marathon one day while lazing on the couch, channel surfing.

Something about it intrigued me when I watched the runners cross the finish line after 26.2 miles. It wouldn't leave me alone so I decided I was going to run a marathon. I quit smoking and took up running and five months later ran my first marathon. That wasn't nearly enough, so I ran about seven more. It was about six years later when I saw my first Ironman triathlon on T.V. I had no idea what a triathlon was. Still, I was intrigued and had to go to Kona, Hawaii. I just had to. I learned how to swim and learned how to ride a road bike.

Two years later I was at the start line of Ironman Hawaii 1984 about to do my first open water swim. Just over 14 hours later I crossed the finish line of what was at the time....the most challenging endurance race in the world.

All things are possible.

As my competitive career wound down some 35 marathons and 11 Ironman Triathlons later I decided to write a book to inspire others. I had no idea how to write a book, but six months later Ironstruck...The Ironman Triathlon Journey was born.

That wasn't nearly enough. It's twelve years since that first book and I just finished up book number seven. That's what brought me here to the Amazon Author Page.

The biggest thing I have learned over the years, is that we are all capable of inspiring someone to become their best. Once you do that, you have truly arrived. True success is not measured by living in the biggest house on the biggest hill with rooms full of money.

I would be hard pressed to find anything more rewarding than changing the course of another person's life for the better because you believed in them. It's a legacy that will live long after you have left this earth.

My newest books are both fiction.

My first fiction book is titled It's Kona Calling. It's an inspirational story based on that very same race in Kona that I finished in 1984.

My second fiction book is titled The Nomad Club. This is the story of a student who starts a club in her school for kids who are bullied, socially disconnected, or simply of need of others to hear their story. The Nomad Club. Never wander alone again.