No registration, no medal, no finisher T-shirt in Kona

No registration, no medal, no finisher T-shirt in Kona: The text below is reported by Mitch Thrower, editor of the Triathlete Magazine at the time, the January 2000 issue. Mitch experienced this story in Hawaii in 1998.

“I don’t remember your name, but I remember your face. He was Japanese, and what I report here occurred the night before Hawaii Ironman in 1998.

I was returning to the King Kamehameha Hotel after the pre-race dinner when I saw him running on Ali’i Drive. It was dark and he seemed to be struggling, though smiling at his pain.

At first I thought he was doing a running workout, but I noticed a woman crying, and some family members close to her.

When he was close to them, he stumbled and his family wanted to help him.

Screams of motivation and applause from the family grew louder as he approached the small finish line marked on the floor where the official portico of the race would be built.

As soon as he crossed the finish line, his family hugged him and only then  I realized what was happening.

I was a little suspicious so I asked his wife: “Why are you crying?” She looked at me and said: “It’s because he just made Ironman today. As he was unable to qualify, he decided to take the course on his own the day before.

We´ve followed him all day long.” Tears streamed down her face with such emotion as he turned and approached his children.

I approached the friendly gentleman and shook his hand. Looking me straight in the eye, he bowed. I bowed in return with respect, admiration and a bit of amazement.

Sunburned and exhausted, his arms rested on the shoulders of his wife and daughter.

There was no massage, no stretcher to lie on, no soup to drink, no cheering noise, no finisher T-shirt let alone a medal to take home.

There was only the satisfaction of knowing that it took him 13 hours and 11 minutes a day to complete the test alone, for himself and his family.

What kind of evidence can motivate athletes to compete even when there is no competition?”

Great history.

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