Roger Myers, Lakewood CO

Memorable Ironmans:

1984:  Hawaii Ironman:  Dave Scott won the race, I remember (we both wore Skid-Lid helmets.)  I crashed the Wednesday before race Saturday out on the Queen K Highway near the airport and probably finshed because of it.  I went very slowly on the bike because I was afraid to rip out the new stiches in my leg and be DQ'd (I duck-taped my knee in T1) so I had some energy left for the run.

1985:  Hawaii Ironman:  I was in horrible shape but there was a big storm in the S. Pacific that changed the wind patterns on the Big Island.  Even though I got a little lost on the swim I had a fast bike time so there were still a lot of enthusiastic spectators in town when I finished the bike. I just couldn't walk with all of them watching and cheering and so I ran all of the first nine miles of the run.  At the top of Pay n Pak hill I started to walk and continued to do so for the rest of the day except the last burst down the hill and around the corner to Alii Drive and the finish line.

Valerie Silk, the race director met me at the finish line both years with a lei to put around my neck just like she did all the other Ironman finishers.  For her, finishing last was a good as first (perhaps better.)  She felt the spirit of Ironman should be akin to a 60's style "Happening."  Being there, fully taking part would change people's lives for the better. 

I know that what struck me about those I met during Ironman week in Kona, was not their athletic prowess but their use of their training, racing, and finishing to get past or get over what had gone awry in their lives--divorce, cancer, drug addiction, etc.  Though a lot has changed since then, I think that spirit still calls people to race.

Here's a list of the rest of my Ironman races : 1997 Ironman Europe in Roth, Germany. 2001 Long Course Worlds in Fredericia, Denmark.  2004 Ironman Germany . 2005 Ironman Austria,Ironman Swtizerland, Ironman Wisconsin. 2006 Ironman Coeur d Alene, Ironman Austria, Ironman Great Britain, Ironman Florida, Ironman Western Australia. 2007 Ironman Arizona.

Long Course Worlds races for Team USA (2.5 mile swim, 85 mile bike, 18.6 mile run)...1999 Sater, Sweden,2000 Nice, France, 2002 Nice France, 2004 Sater Sweden, 2006 Canberra Australia, 2007 Lorient, France, 2008 Almere, Holland.