What is the Meaning of Ironman?

My "Bash Bro" Simon Hernaez (a fellow Clydesdale) posted his race report from IMAZ. I am stealing a couple paragraphs and posting them here with a little bit of editing... as the words encapsulate the meaning of Ironman and triathlon in general to me. Though I didn't originally write these words... they explain how I feel.

"The elemental representation of Ironman must be Earth. It is the solid base of your activities for a year, and the rock upon which you repeatedly crush yourself to become stronger. Through the ebbs and flows of life, Ironman training is there: consistent, steady, looming. It takes the edge away when you are down, and sufficiently humbles you when you are high. Days like that were manageable because in the wings were my long swim, long bike, and long run – I had to focus on those. Ultimately I believe that having a quest like this improves your life. Apparently everything is supposed to suffer while you train for an IM, yet I was having fun."

"The great movie Kung Fu Panda had a saying, and it applies here: there is no secret ingredient, it’s just you. Ironman IS you, and it’s the best you. There are so few days in your life where the person you were raised to be, the person you were taught to be, the person you are expected to be, the person who you desperately hope to be, and the person that you actually ARE, are in fact the same person. This is one of those days. And you don’t even need to ask who that person is, because they tell you: “TJ Collins from Silver Spring, MD – you are an Ironman”. Don’t believe me? Try one: It will change you forever."