Profiling Participants at Chattanooga’s Little Debbie Ironman Competition

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Amy Cotta, an Ironman participant, says, "I have two speeds … shuffle and walk."

However, you can’t blame Cotta.

She’s running more than 26 miles this weekend in big, heavy combat boots.

She got the idea when her son joined the Marines.

Cotta adds, "When he left for the Marine Corps, Mom had a little bit of a breakdown, and I was trying to find something to put my angst and pain into."

Turning her pain into a passion, Cotta laces up the combat boots to raise money for military charities.

Sunday will be her second attempt at a full Ironman Competition.

Cotta adds, "When other things come up in my life that get me down or may just seem impossible. I take that and do some good with it. Let’s help."

Money from the boot campaign helps put our military in mortgage free homes.

It also helps get them prosthetics, and help with combat PTSD.

Cotta says, "If you see some crazy old woman in combat boots and a pack, please say something, yell, cheer for me."

The mother of six will also carry with her the pictures of 21 fallen soldiers.

Others we spoke with will carry with them wisdom.

We caught up with another couple who have been to several Ironman Competitions.

They compare it to childbirth.

Sometimes they say, "This is the last one.  Never again, but then…"

Gina Whipple adds, "A week goes by and we go, can we sign up for another one.  It’s a little addicting. It’s a problem we have."

You might say it’s a labor of love for anyone who’s brave enough to take on the Ironman Competition.