Erez Yitzhaki served for 20 years in a special police unit, until the events of October 7 brought back memories and experiences from his service that he had tried to suppress over the years. Shortly afterward, he retired from the police and began confronting the war raging inside his own mind.
Living with post-traumatic stress became a significant part of his life. Flashbacks, sleepless nights and outbursts of anger accompanied him day after day. He realized he needed to find a way to cope, and sport became more than just a hobby for him - it became a meaningful tool for rehabilitation. Out of this experience, the WarMind project was born. As part of the project, he plans to complete 13 full Ironman-distance triathlons in a single year. The goal is to raise funds to purchase professional sports equipment for wounded and disabled IDF veterans.
Each full Ironman-distance triathlon consists of a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride and a 42.2-kilometer run, all of which must be completed within a defined time limit. For Yitzhaki, however, the athletic challenge is only part of the story. "I am embarking on this journey to help myself, but mainly to try to help my friends - wounded and disabled IDF veterans who are in the dark - perhaps find the light through sport," he says.
Preparations for the 2027 challenge are already underway. In addition to his daily training, on September 9 he is expected to take part in the Beer Sheva Light Run Festival with friends from the Beit Halochem running group, as part of his preparations for the challenge. "For me, taking part in the upcoming Beer Sheva night race is an opportunity to show my friends from Beit Halochem that anything is possible, and perhaps even encourage them to join me later on in the journey."
The challenge is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with the first and final competitions taking place as part of Challenge ISRAMAN. Between them, Erez will complete 11 additional competitions that he calls "Blue and White" - full Ironman-distance triathlons that he will organize on his own initiative along different routes across Israel. The routes will pass through combat areas affected by the events of October 7 and through battlefront locations in northern Israel.
"I want to show every wounded person that anything is possible. I want to break through my own glass ceiling and prove that the mind can lead the body to places I never thought I could reach. I have no personal profit motive; everything goes back to those who gave their bodies and souls for the country."