Blame the wife.

Michael Hammer had always wondered what it would be like to run, bike and swim in a real triathlon, but it wasn't until his then-fiancee Trina went out and completed a sprint-distance race in 2003 that the 34-year-old Army anesthesiologist actually decided to enter one himself.

"I've been hooked ever since," Hammer says. "I love the sport for several reasons: the camaraderie and the outgoing personalities of fellow triathletes, the technical aspects ... which suit my type-A, perfectionist side, the fact that it's a relatively low-impact way to maintain fitness for years to come, and the challenge of pushing my body to its limits.

"I'm fascinated by God's design and the physiology of the human body," he says. "It's simply amazing to see what it's capable of."

Come hell or high water — anything but another deployment — Hammer will be at the starting line of tomorrow's Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona to chase the elites of his age group, a personal record and, most of all, a dream deferred.

Hammer, who moved to Hawai'i in 2005 after completing his residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was one of 150 people accepted to the 2006 Ironman World Championship via lottery (other competitors have to qualify for the event).

"It was crazy," Hammer said. "When I moved out here, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity so I entered the lottery. I found out in August that I had gotten in."

And then the proverbial hammer fell: Hammer was being sent to Iraq.

"I think I felt more apprehension than fear," Hammer said. "I had never been deployed before. It quickly brought my life into perspective. I didn't worry about the small things anymore."

Still, Hammer was disappointed that his chance to participate in the Ironman was seemingly gone. But he needn't have worried. Diana Bertsch, Linda Jane Kelley and other organizers arranged for Hammer's acceptance to the race to be deferred until his return.

Hammer arrived in Tikrit, Iraq in April 2006, attached to the 47th Combat Support Hospital. There he provided anesthesia support in the operating room and during Blackhawk medevacs of patients with head or eye injuries.

"We treated whoever walked in the door — mostly Iraqi citizens, police officers, soldiers," he said. "A lot of them were injured by IEDs (improvised explosive devices), car bombs, and sniper fire."

Still, the relentlessly self-effacing Hammer said his job was a cakewalk, "unlike the true heroes who were there for 15 months at a time doing the real dirty work."

Hammer worked on a two-days-on/two-days-off schedule, which allowed him to continue training for the triathlon.

Relatively safe with the parameters of the expansive base (what's an occasional mortar round?), Hammer spent hours jogging around a track, running on a treadmill and riding a stationary bike.

"Knowing I had that triathlon to look forward to kept me motivated the entire six months I was there," Hammer said.

Hammer returned to Honolulu in September 2006 and promptly hooked up with well-respected triathlon coaches Raul Boca and Tim Marr, who have supported him with weekly rides and e-mail training plans. He also set out to strengthen his swimming with coach Joe Lileikis at the Oahu Club.

Hammer's athletic prowess was evident enough in his early years in Central Florida. He ran cross country and played basketball. His Lake Brantley high school baseball team won a national championship in 1990 with future Boston Red Sox standout Jason Varitek manning third base.

Yet the demands of the Ironman — a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run — have been known to bring even elite athletes to their knees — literally.

As a sort of trial run, Hammer completed the Ironman New Zealand in March.

"I made every rookie mistake you can make," he said. "I swam way too hard so I cramped in the water and I suffered on the bike. I ate and drank way too much. It was a nutritional nightmare. I'm excited to rectify all of that in Kona."

Hammer has trained as much as 18 hours a week since New Zealand, focusing particularly on his cycling and swimming.

"I'm weak in everything, but I'm not as weak as a runner," said Hammer, whose personal record in the marathon is 3 hours, 28 minutes. "I thought I was a strong cyclist until New Zealand."

Boca and Marr helped Hammer find the right balance of power, aerodynamics and comfort on his bicycle and Lileikis helped improve his efficiency in the water.

To what degree those efforts will translate into improved performance will be revealed tomorrow. Hammer completed Ironman New Zealand in 12 hours, 40 minutes. For Kona, he has set a goal of 10:30.

Regardless of whether he achieves that goal, the reward for his efforts will still include a well-deserved break from the sport.

"I'm excited to be done," he said. "This is all I've been thinking about for a year and a half."

Still, Hammer won't have any trouble staying active.

He and Trina are expecting their first child next year.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.