So over in the Melissa is going to walk her ironman run, the thread took off on one of the usual, or really unusual tangents. The topic morphed into Chuckie V's DQ one year at hawaii for drinking a beer. Actually more than a DQ, but a one year suspension i believe. And of course there are folks coming down on both sides, one is what a mockery he was making of the race, the others just saying it was all in fun. Couple stories from the old days before that time in that theme;
First was related to me one year in the mid 80's. I had done the race a 1/2 dozen times or so, and this was when there were a lot of folks at the Kawai hai turn, about 35 miles into the race, and about 80 coming home. It was kind of like the TDF climbs you see today, a lot of people on the road, running up that hill, and yelling for the athletes. So this year i though i would give them a little giggle, some entertainment while they swelter all day in that 100 degree heat. I prearranged with a buddy of mine to be at that aid station and hand me up a can of Budweiser. I was in the lead mens pack at the time, and i grabbed it and downed it right in front of the crowd, crushed the can in my hands and said something like real men drink beer, not gatorade.. Only thing was that the can was full of water, but the crowd roared with delight when they thought someone in the lead pack was actually drinking beer during this race.
After the race an official came up to me and said i was DQ'ed for this. I explained about the water and that it was at an aid station where we were allowed to take handups from anyone, but he didn't care to hear it. Since i did not actually finish that race, i didn't push it any further, as what was the point.
Second story is from 81 and is about a 73 year old guy named Walt Stack. He was one of the real bad ass MF'ers of that early ironman era. In his ABC Wide World of sports interview, he talked about how he didn't do too much, just a daily 15 to 20 mile run, 15 to 20 on the bike, and swim for an hour or so, not much really he would say. He was a veteran of several 100 and 50 mile runs, and probably did over a 100 marathons. It really was a great interview, and the guy asked him if he was going to have a beer after this ironman thingy was all over. He chuckles and says, " I expect to have quite a few beers, but before it is over". So the next day we are all having breakfast and he comes old Walt, 27 hours later, drinking a beer and a shot of bourbon every mile of the last 10k or so. They made a big deal out of that, it was an interesting story from a real charcter, and as you can see, he is in the offical results and holds the record for the longest offical ironman finish..
SO i guess my question is, are these days of fun and hyjinks over for ever? Are we so PC now that nothing can slip through the cracks? I understand the rules and all, in my case i was careful not to break any of them, but that did not matter. Just the appearance of breaking a rule was enough. Am I just an old coot that longs for the good ole' days??(retorical of course, we all know that answer)
First was related to me one year in the mid 80's. I had done the race a 1/2 dozen times or so, and this was when there were a lot of folks at the Kawai hai turn, about 35 miles into the race, and about 80 coming home. It was kind of like the TDF climbs you see today, a lot of people on the road, running up that hill, and yelling for the athletes. So this year i though i would give them a little giggle, some entertainment while they swelter all day in that 100 degree heat. I prearranged with a buddy of mine to be at that aid station and hand me up a can of Budweiser. I was in the lead mens pack at the time, and i grabbed it and downed it right in front of the crowd, crushed the can in my hands and said something like real men drink beer, not gatorade.. Only thing was that the can was full of water, but the crowd roared with delight when they thought someone in the lead pack was actually drinking beer during this race.
After the race an official came up to me and said i was DQ'ed for this. I explained about the water and that it was at an aid station where we were allowed to take handups from anyone, but he didn't care to hear it. Since i did not actually finish that race, i didn't push it any further, as what was the point.
Second story is from 81 and is about a 73 year old guy named Walt Stack. He was one of the real bad ass MF'ers of that early ironman era. In his ABC Wide World of sports interview, he talked about how he didn't do too much, just a daily 15 to 20 mile run, 15 to 20 on the bike, and swim for an hour or so, not much really he would say. He was a veteran of several 100 and 50 mile runs, and probably did over a 100 marathons. It really was a great interview, and the guy asked him if he was going to have a beer after this ironman thingy was all over. He chuckles and says, " I expect to have quite a few beers, but before it is over". So the next day we are all having breakfast and he comes old Walt, 27 hours later, drinking a beer and a shot of bourbon every mile of the last 10k or so. They made a big deal out of that, it was an interesting story from a real charcter, and as you can see, he is in the offical results and holds the record for the longest offical ironman finish..
SO i guess my question is, are these days of fun and hyjinks over for ever? Are we so PC now that nothing can slip through the cracks? I understand the rules and all, in my case i was careful not to break any of them, but that did not matter. Just the appearance of breaking a rule was enough. Am I just an old coot that longs for the good ole' days??(retorical of course, we all know that answer)
