Sportsmanship

The Hawaii Ironman took place yesterday. Craig Alexander won the mens race and Chrisse Wellington won the womens. These people are absolutely physical specimes for what this sport requires of you. One of the most inspirational things I heard was that Rutger Beke (pro) came in 3rd. Last year at this race he finished 898th. He walked the marathon last year just so he could finish. Most pros quit when they don't have it. Some say they don't want the others to see the suffer or their sponors to see them like that b/c they could loose them. Beke walked, finished and said the out of respect for the people who can't race there, he wanted to finish. This year he goes out there and takes 3rd overall. Beke goes onto say that b/c of what he went through and when he saw how much the age-group athlete suffers and drives themself to finish he had built his mental toughness beyond his expectations. On another note, Chrissie Wellington blows a tire towards the end of the bike, her CO2 cartrigages don't work. The field is gaining fround on her, another PRO stops and helps. Chrissies gets through the bike and then runs the fastest marathon for a woman ever in KONA! There is a lot to be said for what these champs have shown us.

After following the race it is hard fro me to take a step back and rest. I just want to get out there and start gettting ready for next year already. It is inspiring to see the good competitors take over. the 2 previous winners were somewhat annoying and created stupid drama that took away from the race. Mark Allen and Dave Scott never got petty about who was winning and what they did. They just went out and trained like animals and raved ther hearts out. At the end of the day they showed admiration for what they both accomplished and enjoyed the motivation that they gave each other. I thought that what it was all about!