Well there sure has been a lot of buzz about Lance coming back into triathlon, huh? I have to say, when I read one of the articles yesterday morning I yelped out loud when I saw that Honu was on Lance's schedule for this year! I think that is just flat out awesome. We get to race with Lance!
As if I wasn't excited enough about Honu this year. :)
I know there's some controversy about him and the doping thing and all that... And while it might be naive of me, I am glad that there has never been any definitive proof of cheating because it allows me to continue to live in my world where Lance is still a cancer-surviving Super Hero.
I remember very well watching Lance win the prologue of the 1999 Tour de France... I was sitting on the floor of my grandma's living room about 2 feet away from the TV with tears in my eyes... At that time I was 25 and had raced 4 seasons of triathlon and 1-2 seasons of bike racing... and was five days post my first (of 8) chemo treatments for Hodgkin's Disease. I swear to you if the only thing Lance ever won in cycling was that Prologue, he still would have been my hero for life because the hope I felt that day was something I will never forget. Cancer can be cured! There can be life after cancer! And it can be better than before! These are things a 25 year old going through cancer treatments needs to hear/see/know. So the fact that he went on to win the whole damn race... and then 6 more in a row after that... well, I'll just say I was cheering for him whole-heartedly every year.
So now... now... what is it like 13 years later and I've been racing triathlons ever since and now get to start Honu at the same time as Lance? Wow.
I hope he kicks ass. I also hope that some of the top pro men give him hell and make him work. I hope he suffers. I hope the other guys kill themselves to run him down. I hope WTC doesn't gift him a Wildcard spot to Kona. I hope he earns one fair and square. And I hope he wins.
10 comments:
I knew you mentioned cancer before, but I didn't know Hodgkins. I am so happy you have come so far. Yea!!! I am sure Lance is very inspirational. xo We can chat all night soon!
We have a whole lot of Lance Love in our house. Even pre-cancer. Let the haters hate. I choose to Love!
I'm psyched!
That is just beyond amazing that you get to line up with Lance at Honu! I am so excited about Lance doing triathlon this year. And maybe you and Lance will share the same race course again come October :)
I did not know about the cancer thing, new here though. :)
Personally, I think Hincapie coming forward kinda says he may have cheated. It was at a time where everyone did. He still was better and more determined than anyone else in The Tour.
Lance will kick butt in Ironman.
If Lance cheated, then that is something he has to deal with. That is his truth. He can still inspire to an extent, but we all are human.
Good luck with everything. Glad I know about your own battles a while ago. You yourself are quite a person. :)
I think it's awesome Lance is going to be towing the line and racing this year. Although I'm glad I won't be a triathlete for a bit because there's going to be a whole new crop of first time triathletes who want to race because Lance races and signing up for races is going to get even tougher (and my guess is WTC doesn't miss the opportunity to check the supply-demand graph and increase the prices of races as well).
I like to read that I'm not the only one who is excited about that! I sometimes felt like I was the only one cheering for him at Xterra. Now I guess I'd better get my tail in gear and commit to/sign up for Honu before everyone else beats me to it!
I'm so glad you beat the big "C" and are doing well.
See you in June!
Did you see where he went 5:08 for the 500 yd free in Austin? :) Go Lance!!
I am with you on this Michelle. I am not sure what all the Lance hate is about. (call me naive too I guess.) I had the same conversation w/ my boys yesterday while we were skiing and I was following Panama updates on FB. I wish him all the best and can't wait to see what happens next.
so exciting! can't wait to see some pics!!
I am also a HUGE fan and am so happy he is now officially racing triathlons and Ironman. I followed Panama squeaking and shouting, much to my husband's horror. He does not see the point in me following a race online that is across the world.
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