“The way I ran the marathon today, the fire is dimming a little bit,” the three-time champion said at today’s press conference. “It’s not full on … the fire is starting to wane a little bit. That’s why I only have a year, a year and a half left. I’m only going to do this race one more time. I’m starting to see the end. That’s why I think I’m so happy.”
That REALLY doesn’t sound like a person who wants to be doing this. Although it is hard to tell after just finishing a race like that.
Mark Allen was 37 when he won his last IMH. Isn’t Badmann, like, 37 or 38 or something? And Smyers…jeezus! 44 and she finishes in something like a 9:30-ish.
Me and some of the other guys doing IMH in '98 drove Reid around all day, couple of days before the race. He was staying over at the Powerbar house, but he was too cheap to rent a vehicle, so he hung out and bummed rides with us. Pretty nice guy, for sure.
He sounds like he’s already retired. Maybe he could be on next year’s broadcast team. =)
I agree with whomever said it’s tough the be reflective close after the race. Give it a week or so (probably longer).
Reid has left his mark on the sport. His 3 wins (and multiple top 5’s)came in a highly competitive AND international era. He can walk away and it would not tarnish his career one bit.
I don’t know that he needs a “farewell race”. If he wouldn’t “walk through Hell in a gasoline suit” (as Pete Rose would say) to do Kona, then just take it easy and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done. Maybe he and Tim can go on some long, fun rides together and just enjoy being on the bike. Really, both men (Reid and DeBoom)look and sound like “accumulated fatigue” (moreso Deboom than Reid, who is still going quite well).
Peter Reid is awesome - absolutely hands down a champion Ironman Athlete.
His primary focus on Hawaii is Mark Allen “esqe” - very zen like - and for him - to win on Saturday was his goal.
He had an awesome race - it just so happens that two other guys had better days (actually awesome days)
It is no doubt a little disappointing for him to not take the title - in his pre-race interviews - he was very clear about his reason for being on the island - to race this one race every year.
He’ll give Jason Shortis a great race at IMWA if Jason is racing this year - he had a great race Saturday too - and maybe after IMWA - I’d take Peter’s comments more seriously.
He IS just hitting his prime - he’ll be around for a long time more (I hope anyway!!)
Peter is one of the most “human” IM champions. The love of the sport drives him, admittedly, to over-train which this year resulted in him with a staph infection and wiping him out for 7-8 weeks in the summer.
I hope the above posters are correct, that he’s just human and disapointed a bit with his performance. Imagine if he had just tempered his late/winter-early spring training camp in AZ and remained healthy. There’s no question in my mind that he would have duked it out with Faris in the marathon.
Understandable comments given what he had just done and also in the context of his career.
Lifers in ths sport don’t seem to get this, but for these guys it can be a huge relief to step back from it all. And in Peter’s case he can do that with pride, knowing that he has been the Best man at IMH for the past 10 years. He’s really been the bridge from the middle ages, dominated by Mark Allan and Dave Scott, to today!
Poor guy- he’s sounds a little down. That is a shame. He has had a tough couple years. A fine competitor though.
I think sometimes as a personality we (I?) read him as a bit aloof. i have met guys like Normann Stadler and Bjorn Andersson and hey are such fine presonalities- so personable and friendly. You can’t help but become a fan when their persona is combined with ther perfromances.
Peter is a fine triathlete, that is an understatement. It seems to be it would be a shme to squander (in future years) such incredible talent and ability. I thnk many of us would give a lot for one of his performances.
That said, the man’s life is difficult. The training and lifestyle is very demanding and difficult. His personal life has been rocky.
I hope he is happy. He’s a great athlete. Maybe things will look different to him in a few days.
One way or another- after years of excellent perfromances and a lot of great competitive drama in Kona the man has a lot of fans and admirers.
I agree with Fleck. At the pointy end of the sport, the top guys are aiming for perfection. They don’t settle for anything else. Their expectations for themselves are high. This is how they get to the top in the first place.
I hope that within 4 years WTC really puts a “Masters Pro” division in place, complete with prize purse. The reality is that these guys also love the sport like you and I, but eventually, you can’t compete with 26 year olds and do the perfect race that was in your legs 5 years ago. The masters pro division would be awesome for the sport.
I liked the quote on his website today about the race from his buddy doing the write-ups. He looked over at him during the race and Peter says “I’m Fucked” still keeps going to hold onto 3rd. I think it is huge that after you realize that you keep going strong. I know a lot of people that when they say something like that they back way off. He just kept going.
I think if he can keep it in check next year and not over train early in the year that he should be very strong. His bike ride was stronger than years previous.
The masters pro division would be awesome for the sport.
I hope they don’t. I also hope no other pro sport does. I wish golf would remove theirs.
Why do I want to witness the decline of an athlete’s career (master’s division). Champions are replaced. It’s the nature of the game. It’s okay for them ride of into retirement. There doesn’t have to be a “triathlon resort” for them to stable in.
TripleThreat. You don’t get it. This is not golf, nor basketball or any mainstream North American sport that you constantly refer to. This is triathlon. People compete till they are 75 or 80. Nothing wrong with a Masters Pro division, just like there is nothing wrong with 50-55 division.
When you have been racing for another 15 years come back and join in on the Masters Pro discussion :-).
