Amazing how he's persevered over the last 15 or so months. Truly inspirational to make such a quick comeback to top form.

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
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+1

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They constantly try to escape from the darkness outside and within
Dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good T.S. Eliot

+1000, he is a true class act.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

It was great to see him in the finish chute helping to bring in the late finishers, too.

if anyone needs some motivation after a crash, hit, or anything else that life throws at you, look no forward that Starky

"There is Always Hope" Words to live by.

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

Link?

Is the video still online somewhere?

Go to the finish line cam on the bottom of this page and scroll to about 18 minutes in. http://www.ironman.com/...y=2017#axzz4vg8E6lcj

LOL @ Jesse Thomas on twitter


Andrew Starykowicz @starykowicz
15h
Mankind has no limits. 14 months, from dragged under a truck to @IRONMANtri #champion.

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Jesse Thomas @jessemthomas
13h
Replying to @starykowicz @IRONMANtri
Congrats man!

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Jesse Thomas
@jessemthomas
Replying to @jessemthomas @starykowicz @IRONMANtri
Also, did you really have to post that leg pic!? Damn!!

Couple of questions. Does his win get him to Kona next year? What will the front of that race look like with him at the front of the swim and bike?

Why have my allergies suddenly decided to act up?


This guy is a beast. He is iron. Bravo Starky. Bravo.

I actually shed a tear watching that. When he mentioned his wife and kids, I could feel just how much he wanted to speak to them at that moment. What a journey. What a fighter!

I don't think so, but he is very close in the sense, he probably needs to do another IM, maybe 4th or 5th and a couple of 70.3
Basically he doesn;t need to chase points too hard

It would be an interesting dynamic because Starky is a strong swimmer that would be in the first group. Does he ride away from that group? Does he take it easy and wait for Wurf, Kienle, and Sanders to catch up? If so, those four working together in a train could put very real distance between themselves and the rest of the field. For guys like Starky and Wurf it might be in their interest because while it might not be a winning strategy it could very well be a podium strategy for them.

This is well worth the watch!! What a gutsy display of perseverance. Congrats to Starky!

I don't think "take it easy and wait" is a concept Starky even comprehends. I say he'd power away from the lead group and just dare people to try and catch him. But also don't think anybody would be overly concerned. He'd be allowed a 10 minute lead coming into T2, or 20+ on guys like Lange.

Even if he is capable of taking it easy and waiting for Kienle and Sanders, I don't think his marathon, even relatively rested, gets him to the line first if he gets to T2 with the front pack. He's gotta use the monster swim/bike combo to open up a huge gap and hold on as long as he can.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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I agree, that's why I said working with Sanders, Kienle, and Wurf would be a "podium" strategy but maybe not a winning strategy. If those four got to T2 15-20 minutes ahead of the bulk of the field, realistically it would only be Sanders and Kienle that could run it in but that doesn't mean that a guy like Starky couldn't hold on for third.

It used to be that Starky was really one of a kind. Now there are a couple of guys out there that are sort of in his zip code. So the question is, what gets Starky to T2 the fastest: going solo off the front, or holding back a bit in the beginning and waiting for the other uber bikers and then working with them?

With Wurf, Sanders, and Kienle things were a bit strung out at the front at times this year. If you throw a fourth guy into the mix and the conditions are at all calm, that's a legitimate group that can work together.

Just replying to the last post:

Remember Starky did race Kona 3-4 years ago and blatantly said that he was trying for the bike record. IIRC, the winds were relatively strong that year and it wasn't going to be a record day anyway, but Starky got sick on the bike and blamed the Powerbar Perform drink.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.