Triathlete Shad Ireland is used to overcoming challenges. A dialysis patient since the age of 10, 36-year-old Ireland has fought his way back from near-certain death to become an elite athlete. In 2004, Ireland became the first dialysis patient to compete in and complete the Ironman Triathlon, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a complete marathon (26.2 miles), all held consecutively.