7 June 2008
Why another triathlon? Why after 8 years?
Posted by iamlast under: Uncategorized.
I am not real fond of Last. It happens that I am real good at it. So good at it that a race director asked me to bring my motorcyle and be last on purpose. Race directors don’t like to go home and leave athletes on the course. So now , officially I Am Last. Ever since 2002. I am Last. From my position i see triathlon differently. Not in a half full/half empty sort of way., but i see the folks who do this for reasons other than an entry to Kona. A few weeks back I was in my usual place in Arizona. It was brutal. The heat along with the winds made the bike course the worst i have seen in 4 years. The pro’s as usual were amazing. I will never come to grips with how they do what they do.
At the back of the race things are different, yet the same. Athletes working as hard as they can to get where they need to be. Sometimes the athlete triumphs, other times nature reigns. The sag trucks were busy this year. At the last bike turnaround about 22 cyclists didn’t make the time cutoff. Last year 2007 was windy, but the wind was at their back following the turnaround. this year it was in your face. Maybe the conditions weren’t epic, but brutal, I would not challenge brutal if asked to comment. But these athletes amaze and inspire. They go until they can’t anymore. I’ve seen pro’s who quit if they aren’t going to be in the money. I understand this. This is how they make a living. The next race is another chance for a payday. My hero’s and heroines are the ones that finish late in the night, and even into the next morning.
This year Douglas is on the top of my list. He and his family came to arizona to celebrate his 50th birthday. he didn’t have the day he planned. but he kept going. He made it thru every cutoff time the city had set. At Midnight he was closing in on the finish. His Wife, brothers, sisters, children, nieces and nephews were there along with Mom and dad. I think i counted about 17 family members waiting at the finish line. At 12:17 he entered the finish chute with his Mom and Dad Jogging hand in hand, one on each side of him. His wife was taking photos, and everyone still there was cheering and clapping. The finish line workers stopped for a moment to clap and cheer, then went back to work. Everyone left was pleased Douglas had finished. Smiles and hugs abounded.. Douglas is an ironman to me, his family, and anyone else that hung around long enough to see.
The view from last is different. very different. I know this post didn’t fit the title, but in there somewhere to me is why. Sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do.
2 Comments so far...
gruntshit11b30 Says:
Right on I agree sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do. Awesome post!
auggiesdad Says:
Thanks for being last and sharing this amazing perspective.
