Got the Nerve?™ Update
A Message to Our Got the Nerve?™ Family
For 22 incredible years, the Got the Nerve?™ Triathlon has been more than just a race. It’s been a community — a family — built on courage, determination, and the belief that anything is possible when you have the nerve to try.
From first-time racers who discovered their strength to seasoned athletes who came back year after year, Got the Nerve?™ has brought together thousands of people—adaptive and non-disabled—united by one goal: to push beyond limits and to show what true inclusion looks like.
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
After much reflection, and with a deep respect for what this event has meant to so many, the IM ABLE Foundation™ has made the decision to evolve Got the Nerve?™ into something even greater.
Beginning in 2026, the Got the Nerve?™ Triathlon will not take place. Instead, Got the Nerve?™ will transition from a traditional triathlon into the IM ABLE Foundation’s™ competitive sports umbrella, representing a growing series of adaptive and inclusive athletic competitions across multiple sports.
We know that for many of you, this news will bring mixed emotions. The triathlon has been a defining part of your athletic journeys — and ours too. It has created memories, friendships, and personal triumphs that can never be replaced. Please know this decision was not made lightly.
This decision comes from our heartfelt desire to honor the incredible foundation Chris built through Got the Nerve?™ — a race that became a community and a source of inspiration for so many. We want to build upon that legacy by expanding the platform into a broader competitive landscape, creating more opportunities for adaptive athletes to pursue excellence, challenge perceptions, and continue defining what’s possible for the future.
Why the Change?
Over the years, Got the Nerve?™ has done more than host a race — it has inspired a movement. We’ve seen adaptive athletes compete side-by-side with non-disabled athletes, each pushing and inspiring the other. That powerful dynamic revealed something extraordinary: Got the Nerve?™ had become more than a triathlon — it had become a platform for adaptive athletic excellence.
To fully embrace that potential, the IM ABLE Foundation™ is evolving Got the Nerve?™ into a year-round competitive umbrella that will include some of the following:
- Track & Field
- Cycling
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Rugby
- Tennis
- Air Rifle & Archery
- Obstacle Course Racing
- Veteran-focused events through Operation Lead from the Front
This new format will open more doors for adaptive athletes to train, compete, and advance to higher levels of competition — all while continuing to inspire the inclusive community that Got the Nerve?™ was built upon. We look forward to announcing some of this new programming soon, as we expand the opportunities available to athletes of all abilities.
A Message from IM ABLE Foundation™
“This decision comes from a place of love and purpose,” shared Alex A. Pilkington, CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation™. “Got the Nerve?™ changed lives — mine included. The triathlon showed us what inclusion truly looks like. Now, it’s time to take that same spirit and expand it so even more athletes of all abilities can find their place to compete, belong, and thrive. This isn’t the end — it’s the evolution of what we started together.”
Moving Forward — Together
We want to thank every athlete, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who has been part of Got the Nerve?™ over the last 22 years. You made it what it is today — a symbol of resilience, unity, and possibility.
While the format may change, the heart of Got the Nerve?™ will always remain the same. The finish lines may look different, but the mission — to remove obstacles and redefine what’s possible — continues stronger than ever.
We invite you to stay with us as we write this next chapter together. Because Got the Nerve?™ isn’t going away — it’s growing into something even more powerful.
Follow our journey and upcoming announcements at www.imablefoundation.org or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn