An Up and Down day

First the good news: game 7 tonight, Go Oilers GO.

Then the bad: read an article today announcing the news that Peter Reid, 3 time Ironman World Champion is retiring. No more races; well not Ironman races anyway.

I guess if you are an athlete of his talent, determination and capacity, you would understand that sport will always be a part of his life.

I am compelled to write this afternoon because I have had the priviledge of watching Peter train for the past couple of years. Actually I should really couch that; I have seen Peter train. I have shared a swim lane with him. I have ridden past him on the bike (we were always going in opposite directions, because if we were going in the same direction I would have seen Peter ride past me, then watch him quickly disappear around the next corner). He was often at the lake, swimming at the same time as me. We have done bouy laps together; I have swam on his feet. We've talked on deck. I've bought gear off of him. We have toed the same start line at a local duathlon; he won, of course. He knows me to see me. I feel priviledged to write these words, superficial as they are.

Peter embodies everything that is great about the sport of triathlon. Its heroes are everyday people who work harder than almost anyone. They swim in the same public pools, ride on the same public roads, run on the same public trails. When I was running marathons in the late 90s, I watched Ironman on TV religiously, knowing that as I got older, I'd learn to swim, get fit on a bike and be able to get through the challenge. As I watched Peter, I began to dream that I would be able to compete at triathlon.

Peter has overcome plenty in his career: burnout, overtraining, serious illness, relationship stress. Yet everytime he stepped out on to the race course, his drive, intensity and absolute dedication to being his best shone through in his performance. I believe him to be Triathlon's Lance-like character.

Regardless of Peter's performances at Kona, I admire him for his character. Peter impresses me because he knows when to turn things off. I read that one of his most compelling reasons for knowing that this was his year to retire was that he was skipping key workouts. It is intensely difficult to stay on track with workouts. That is often what seperates average athletes from great athletes - us average athletes rarely recognize this, nor take responsibility for it either, and inevitably end up overcompensating for it. Peter, I admire you for recognizing this, accepting it, and moving forward, rather than clinging to the past. I can only imagine how difficult this decision is.

I am on my way to fullfilling my Kona dreams. I won't be as fast as you. But I know that when I run down the last few kilometers of the Queen K highway, you will be on my mind because you are the single biggest inspiration I have had for my triathlon career; and I thank you.