Erin Finnegan

Stop the presses!

Get a Grip Triathlete Erin Finnegan featured in the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago's Erin Finnegan, 36, is at the Hawaii Ironman Championship to finish what she started.

Dissatisfied with her finish at the 2007 Madison Ironman, she's ready to change the outcome. I quickly reminded her that simply starting the race takes unyielding courage, and finishing the Ironman is beyond astonishing. She agreed and I could see she's a bundle of energy that's chomping at the bit for the race to start.

Erin is already an impressive person just by her job description. She works tirelessly as a therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago working with disabled children.

"Seeing their everyday hurdles is nothing compared to what I'm going to experience during the race," said Erin, who trains with Vision Quest Coaching in Chicago. "Those children are my inspiration."

Erin has one of those rare, magnetic personalities that I bump into from time to time. She admitted that the swim isn't her strong suit but loves how magical it is.

"I feel like I should bring an underwater camera while I'm racing," said Erin.

Don't worry - in the unlikely chance that she does, I've already requested the photos.

At the end of our chat, I asked Erin, "How are you feeling?" She simply said, "Psyched." Sounds like she's ready to finish what she started.

-Molly Lynch is guest blogger for ChicagoNow's Pace of Chicago. She traveled to Kona with a team from Runners High 'n Tri to cheer and support the great athletes.