After 12 seasons of racing Ironmans, at the top end of the 50-54 age group local Ottawa triathlete Mike Giles puts down a 10:13 at Ironman Florida and gets 5th and is going to Kona. Mike, that is totally cool to put the perfect race together afer all these years of work, patience, highs and lows. What an amazing day for you yesterday.
For all you guys on the bubble wondering if things will ever fall in place, probably every community has a story like this every so often. It was great hearing this news today. While the WTC created their program for guys like Mike, better yet to go to the show through the front door! It could not happen to a nicer guy. I don’t think I have ever seen Mike ever angry at anyone ever! (maybe I just catch him in a good mood)
Congrats! Nice race.
BTW, even if it is a roll down slot, who cares? It’s an earned slot. It is not a lottery slot.
Hope to race against him there next year.
I am SO happy for Mike. As you said Dev, it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Mike’s been to Kona many times as support crew for his better half; it will be awesome for him to race there next year.
I’m going to expedia later tonite and looking into getting tickets. I want to be in Kona when Mike Giles becomes a finisher (well, I better ask my family first huh?) !!!
That is great news and yes Mike is a really nice guy.
Smart strategy by Mike at IMC when the ride didn’t go as well as he would have liked he took it really easy on the run and saved himself for Florida. It appears that plan worked like a charm.
Awesome stuff, it seems like most guys get it on there first 1-2 attempts or never. Rarely do you see guys stick around and do it after that long of a period, very inspiring!
It took me 17 attempts in 17 years to get my first Kona spot. I had to PB by 14 minutes at age 45 to finally do it. I’ve been to IMH 3 times now, and I think I have cracked the code. Took a while, though. Slow learner ; 0
