An endurance test that puzzles and inspires

A glorious September day is breaking over scenic Lake Monona, but nearly 2,500 people are about to have perhaps the most miserable experience of their lives.

You may not feel sorry for them, since the entrants in the Ironman Wisconsin are all volunteers. Actually, “volunteer” is an understatement. Each of them has expended huge sums of time and money — and even bigger quantities of sweat — for the privilege of putting themselves through hell.