Brian Hadley placed 4th, overall in the Ironman Coeur d' Alene, as a Professional Athlete. Yes, the Ironman race that I recently volunteered at. Did I know him or what he had accomplished then? No.
I received an e-mail at work from him. You know the kind: A well written thank-you to everyone for having volunteered at the event. Wow! I said to myself. I work with this guy. I’m going to have to meet and interview him. So I did. What a nice man! Here’s what I learned:
He works for Center Partners as a Reporting Manager.
He is married to Sollee and he considers what he has been able to do a family supported accomplishment.
He ran while in high school and college and became interested in competitive racing because his brother joined the Olympic distance triathlon and encouraged him to join. A race was being held in Sandpoint and in Coeur d’ Alene. Brian thought that it would be fun to be a part of a triathlon. He bought an old 10 speed bike from a thrift shop and started training. He won his age group in the Sandpoint race.
Encouraged, he competed in the Coeur d’ Alene triathlon. However his decision to drink Mountain Dew mixed with cranberry juice proved to be the worst thing he could have done to rehydrate and his racing career ended for the next year and a half.
When an announcement that the Ironman race was going to be held in Coeur d’ Alene for the first time, his Uncle, Don Hadley, an Ironman from Spokane, signed up and encouraged Brian to join via the open entry opportunity. He did so. He finished that race in 11 hours and 10 minutes.
Center Partners, through their corporate office out of Fort Collins, Colorado has supported Brian, not only by encouraging volunteerism but also by helping to pay for a racing bike for him.
Coming in at 9 hours 2 minutes and 4 seconds this year, Pro-athlete, Brian won $1500.00 which he says is going toward financing his next goal, The Ironman race in Regensburg Germany, which will be held August 7, 2011. http://brianhadleymultisport.com/
Stay tuned to this Blog. Brian has agreed to let me shadow him as he prepares for this trip. Periodically, I’ll post pictures of him and his family as they overcome the grind and grit that accompanies this quest and his future goals.
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