For those who may be interested- The last of the series of four editorials about the 2004 Ironman New Zealand is up on our website now, it is called “The Strugglers” and is a tribute to the heroes of the race who are out there all day and all night.
Here is the link, I hope you guys find it interesting. The feature articles with the photos will be up sometime this week.
Tom,
I think NBC should seriously consider reading this piece during their next IM broadcast.
Very good writing. It captures the spirit of the M&BOPers quite well. You are to be commended for a fine effort.
Damn. Tom, you know the worst thing about that editorial? It means there are no more from NZ. Your writing is always interesting, thought provoking or entertaining, usually all three. When is your book coming out? I have the need.
The first publisher with $$$$ cash gets my book first two books. They are out for auction now by my agent. He says “about a year”… I’m hoping before Christmas.
Thanks for reading my stuff, I love writing it. I liked the photo with “Strugglers” and I hate using those awful photos of me you have seen in the past.
The next couple editorials are about the U.S. Olympic Trials in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Well that’s my Christmas list started then! Yes, I thought the photo was quite an evokative shot too, kind of reminded me of waiting on the last turn onto Alii drive in October to try to spur on the last few coming home to get in under the midnight deadline. That is where the true drama is, so nice to see the pain on peoples faces suffuse with a smile as someone they never saw before cheers and encourages them on, believing that they will finish and get that coveted gong.
I will look forward to your observations from Honolulu, especially if they explain the pic of you and Sheila T on the beach 
Sheila took some zanny pictures of me surfing. Very funny. Those will be in the next piece…
Thank you again for taking the time to read guys, it means the world to me.
Now those have to be posted with your Honolulu stories, pertinent of not!
Gotta go and do a timeline race plan for IM Brazil so I know where to chug my Enervitene. Hmm, can’t remember where I got that idea from, can you Tom??
Tom,
Great stuff, you nailed it for us mere mortals. Sorry I didn’t ask sooner, but I used your article in a thank you email to my family (I believe I bcc’d you at the shop). Love your writing, keep it coming.
Oh, that is fine. The more people who read the merrier…
Your user name is hilarious!