I rarely post here, occasionally lurk, but some things should be shared in a larger venue. I want to share a story that was posted to IronmanLive’s coverage of IMC. It concerns the man (an ST poster) responsible for enticing me to try this sport (12 years ago, Tom!), my early mentor, and friend. Wonderful to see this shared …
When you read the comments about **Tom’s 1987 **win you will understand Tom and the beauty that is this sport.
Proud of you, Tom! You … are … a GENTLEMAN … and Ironman,
Joe Foster
http://www.joefoster.triathletesonline.com/
Tom Price: 85 & 87 Ironman Canada ChampionThe quiet, unassuming and modest guy working at Seattle’s premier triathlete sports store, Triumph Multi Sports, is the forty-four year old, Tom Price. When you look up “good guy” in the dictionary, Price’s name is first. On August 26 he is starting his 16th Ironman Canada. He was there for the first one in 1983 and he is embedded in the Ironman Canada’s history books with an elite group of gentleman, (Ray Browning, Peter Reid and Mike McCormmick)… Price has two Ironman Canada titles.
Price is the Ironman Canada Champion for the years 85 and 87. He played a key role in one of the most compelling stories in regards to this race’s early history. In 1987, the 1986 Ironman Canada Champion, Kelowna’s Dave Kirk had amazed 17 minute lead by the end of the bike. It was a brutally hot day and Price started eating into Kirk’s lead on the run. By mile 15 Price was about to over take the leader when Kirk started wobble and stumble like a wounded animal. Finally succumbing to the heat and the massif effort on the bike, Kirk sits down… close to passing out. The concerned Price stopped to assist his fallen competitor out of genuine concern. He was attending to the leader on the side of the road when a camera crew and eventually an ambulance arrived to provide emergency treatment. Finally, after a few moments, the ambulance personal suggested that they no longer required Price’s services as they had things under control. Price lingered briefly to ensure the fallen leader was ok when the medical personnel firmly stated that Price had a race to complete and he should get on with it. And that he did, winning his second Ironman Canada.
Prices first adventure into long distance triathlons was the 1983 Ironman Canada along with 26 starters (23 finishers). How small was the race? “Well they held the pre-race meeting with all the competitors and race officials in a construction trailer located where the recreation centre is now located in Penticton.” He goes on, “All the competitors and race officials were comfortably accommodated.” By the way, 400 volunteers shepherded the 26 starters for race day in 1983.
Price has observed the race in its infancy grow where he says “The community viewed us from a distance as a collection of the lunatic fringe to a community that has thoroughly embraced and enlisted the race that has become an integral part of Penticton’s culture and identity.”
Price, now in addition to working at the multi sport store, he coaches 25 Ironman and Ironman70.3 athletes.