140 miles away in Delcambre, La., a similarly devastating scenario unfolded after Hurricane Rita sent floodwaters through the small town, drowning some 30,000 cattle, destroying fields of sugar cane and other crops while uprooting homes and their inhabitants. Local veterinarian Dr. Eric White led his own rescue effort, sending a truck full of abandoned pets back to Waterloo, N.Y. with volunteers from the Beverly Animal Shelter for eventual adoption.

I met up with both groups in 2005, a few weeks after the storms hit, to document their efforts.

2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. For a while now I’ve wanted to see it in person, and as it turns out, this was the year! A good friend of ours participated, and it was incredible to see his commitment and sacrifice over the past 12 months pay off on race day as he crossed the finish line to complete his very first Ironman.

When I started doing triathlons a few years ago, I never thought I’d have any interest in going beyond the standard sprint race – .5 mile swim, 15 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. This year, I completed my first Half Iron – 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. Somewhere in between, I realized that I liked running more than the once-around-the-track I did in high school. And that a few hours on the bike was in fact how I wanted to spend my Me-time. Not to mention if your training partners are training for marathons, century rides and voyages across the sea, you tend to lean in that direction yourself.

Still, an Ironman is nothing to kid about! Being there the full 12+ hours it took many to complete the event made me realize just what an undertaking it is. But it also reminded me of the many reasons why I’m so attracted to this sport. I’ll skip the list, but highlight a key point. Triathletes represent a variety of ages and abilities, and I like the idea that anyone who sets personal goals and puts in the required training to reach those goals – whatever the distance – can be successful.

Dock at Cascade’s Bar & Grill, Moravia, New York

Persistent flies were of little interest to this herd of cows at Meadows Farm in Cazenovia as they waited with curiosity for the next move by Boomer, a dog owned by manager Tod Avery of Cazenovia. The farm produces Kobe beef from a unique herd of Wagyu cattle, of Japanese origin. It is the only farm in the Northeast supplying this kind of beef. Lauren Long / The Post-Standard

Mary Alley of Jordan steadies a four-month-old Romney lamb while her daughter, Phebe, 15, prepares the lamb for a weekend of showing at the Cayuga County Fair. Lauren Long / The Post-Standard

Natalie Cole performs at the Syracuse Jazz Fest on the campus of Onondaga Community College June 27, 2010. Lauren Long / The Post-Standard