When I plunge into the less-than-pure waters of the Hudson River on Sunday morning at 7:20 a.m., it will mark the beginning of the 70.3 mile Toughman Triathlon. Over the next six hours while in the water, on a bike, and running the open roads of suburban New York, a million things are sure to go through my mind as I try to complete this brutal test of endurance. But there will be one person who will occupy most of my thoughts.

Brian Bill was a Navy SEAL who was killed on August 6 while on a mission in Afghanistan. He was part of the elite SEAL team 6, the unit that hunted down and killed Osama Bin Laden. Bill, a Stamford, CT native, was well-aware of the dangers and possible outcome when he signed up to be in the military. He accepted it because the opportunity to defend our country and protect its freedom was vitally important to him.

Many of us say we love our country, but how many of us would really put our lives on the line to protect it? Not many. Brian Bill did, and he paid the ultimate price for it.

I never knew Brian Bill, but he is my hero. We grew up in bordering towns and our high schools were part of the same athletic conference. But I had graduated long before he was even a freshman at Trinity Catholic High School. When word came down that Navy SEAL team 6 had killed Bin Laden, I read everything I could about SEAL's and their mental, physical, and emotional toughness. I wrote about them in proclaiming them to be the "greatest team ever."

When I found out that Bill was one of the Navy SEALs killed when their helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade on a mission to hunt down a Taliban leader, I was floored. This 31-year old man had his whole life ahead of him. I studied his picture — the one that showed Bill smiling, as if he knew the world was his oyster and he could accomplish anything he wanted to. Bill had already received his commercial pilot's license, was an accomplished mountaineer, spoke Russian, and wanted to be an astronaut. I also read that he was a triathlete, completing several tough and grueling events.

Despite not knowing Bill, he has inspired me. He is pushing me to achieve many of my goals. I'm doing this Toughman Triathlon to honor him and his memory. Bill didn't get into the military or become a Navy SEAL for personal glory. He was so unselfish, so brave, so pure, and so courageous. He fought others so we didn't have to. He put his life on the line so the people back home didn't have to. He gave up his security and freedom, to make sure we didn't surrender ours.

I have the freedom to test my endurance and will in the Toughman Triathlon on Sunday, September 11, arguably the most significant day in our country's history. I'm dedicating it to Brian Bill, the toughest man I never knew.