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John Ellis - "Just like you"

Christchurch NZ
September 2010

I am possibly a lot like you. I am married, I have a young family and I try and balance my sport around my work and family commitments.

When I enter a race I am battling my own personal circumstances in an effort to get some sort fitness together in time for race day.

Where I possibly may differ is that I have been competing in triathlons on and off for over twenty years. However other than years of experience, I am still a lot like you and so I thought I would share a little of my story in relation to the Shoe Clinic Blokes Triathlon & Duathlon Series.

In 2008 I was putting the pieces in place to essentially get my fat arse fit again and start working towards a long term goal of competing in the Hawaii Ironman. As part of my build up to a Half Ironman and having not done a triathlon for over two years I decided to enter the bloke’s race. I needed to have a hit out and I also wanted to support Barbs event. A few weeks before the race, I lost my best friend to depression after a six month battle. So I turned up on race day with my mind a mess and my friends race wheels on my bike. To say it was an emotional time is a huge understatement. When the race started it was as always “let’s go hard out”. However running out of transition with my bike there were tears streaming down my face (thank god for my sun glasses as they hid the fact to the world in general). By the simple fact that I was in wave one and am a cunning old bugger when it comes to transitions I was leading the race along Beach road. Once again more tears as I knew my mate (who was a far better athlete than I could ever be) would have been smiling. Part of me was going “Oh god I cannot do this” and then at the Waimari corner my wife and kids were there shouting “Go daddy”. That was all I needed to get focused right up to the finish chute where Barb was there to meet me as I crossed the line. There was a huge hug and more tears as she also had known my friend very well.

So what I wanted to say is two fold,
1, We are all battling our own personal life situations but by fronting up and having a go, we are already achieving something good, and that leads me to the second point

2, A few days after that race when I was looking at the photos I could not help but be inspired by what I saw. The sheer joy, the smiles on faces of the athletes that were there just having a go. It made me realise that it is the people from all walks of life regardless of their situation that make it a great sport.

So if you are sitting on the fence wondering whether to enter, I would urge you to front up. You may not be aware of it but you might be inspiring your children, your partners or some stranger to change their lives for the better. I know you brought home to me the joy of the sport so thank you.

So while I may be at the pointy end of the field, be under no illusion that I have the utmost respect and admiration for everyone out there on the day regardless of their situation. Of course while the race is on I will also be trying to destroy you and my fellow competitors. And after the race I am more than happy to sit in the sun and talk rubbish about your adventures of the day so come up for a chat.

Cheers, John