Mental Health: Finding Light in the Darkness * Simon Ward and Mike Ergo

When we train for or participate in triathlons we often use military terminology to talk about our commitment or about the dark places we go into.  Today’s guest has literally done all that and more.  Mike Ergo served 2 tours in Iraq as a US Marine, and was involved in Operation Phantom Fury, referred to as the 2nd battle of Fallujah which was the bloodiest battle in the war.  In his words, “so many friends had been killed that I consciously accepted that I would eventually die there.”  After being honourably discharged from the military, his life descended into a spiral of drink, drugs, and self-destruction.  That is, until an epiphany moment when he made a change and found endurance sports.  Since then, Mike’s completed several Ironman events, including Kona 2017, and is now an ambassador for The Ironman Foundation.  This is a fascinating conversation, and we touch on some deep dark subjects, including:

• What actually happens in the moment when you think you’re going to die
• Suicidal thoughts and spending New Year’s Eve with an M16 rifle in your lap thinking about pulling the trigger . . and why he didn’t
• How anyone can find light even in dark moments
• How running and endurance sports in general can make you feel so good
• Racing Ironman, and why having important people to think about (like fallen comrades) can help get you through those tough miles
• The discovery that Mike and I competed in Kona on the same day, and how spookily similar our race-day experiences were
• How mental health issues can affect any one of us at any time, and the importance of having someone to talk to
• Mike’s work as co-Ambassador for Ironman Foundation’s Gold Star Initiative

To find out more about Mike’s work in the mental health field, you can visit his website Transitionsfromwar.com and Facebook page 

Facebook.com/transitionsfromwar/

 

Mike also has his own podcast Age Groupies which you can listen to here:  https://agegroupie.libsyn.com

 

To find out more about Simon’s coaching please visit his website here.

To follow Simon on Facebook, click here.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.