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October 16,
2006:
I am headed back
to the Big
Island to
Ironman. This
is my first time
to Hawaii where
I am not racing
or training.
Since 1993, I
have been to
Kona every year
except 1995 to
race the Hawaii
Ironman. In
1995 I skipped
Ironman to focus
on short course
racing with an
appearance at
the ITU World
Long course
champs where I
placed 3rd to
Mr. Simon
Lessing and the
extremely
talented Luc Van
Lierde. This
year I get to
finally watch
the start of the
event as a
spectator and
not a
competitor.
I thought not
racing Ironman
this year would
be difficult
when I decided
to call it a
career in late
May; but, this
has not been the
case. In fact,
lately it has
been the last
thing on my
mind. Since I
decided to call
a career I have
been doing
everything that
I wanted to do
while I was
professional
triathlete.
Lived in
downtown
Vancouver in the
trendy Yaletown
district with my
girlfriend.
Took up my
former love of
windsurfing,
started to coach
some athletes
and began flight
school.
At first
Swimming,
cycling and
running were too
closely
associated with
my former job
work. I needed
a little break.
As the months
went by I felt
something was
missing. I
missed the
camaraderie or
being around
other
athletes. I
became friends
with one of the
flight
instructors at
the school who
was getting
ready for
Ironman Florida
- the next thing
you knew we were
doing some
workouts
together. I
was training for
the fun of it
rather than
having to win a
race. Sure I
like to go hard
in training from
time to time to
get bragging
rights and I am
always searching
for the hard
way. Todd, my
new training
buddy, jokes
that whenever I
chose the route
we end up going
uphill for long
sections of
time. Poor
Todd! I am
back to where I
started with the
sport of
triathlon -
training for fun
and to hang with
some cool
people. It is
no longer about
doing the next
interval; but,
getting to the
top of the hill
first so I can
see the look on
Todd's face when
he gets there.
Anyway, enough
about me. My
goal with the
journal this
week is to let
you in on the
local race week
scene from my
eyes.
Pete
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