Nobody said triathlons were simple, but consider this: more than 50,000 people will compete
in 45 ironman triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, 26.2-mile run). With that said, the
27-year-old Hawaii Ironman, the world's hottest, windiest, oldest, and meanest iron-distance
triple test, retains its terrible magnificence. Do you want to know who he is?
He is no other than Peter Reid! So, for today's video, we'll be sharing with you the life
story of one of the well-known triathletes, Peter Reid. So be sure to stay with me up
to the end of this video!
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Peter Reid, a Canadian Ironman, is a triathlete who has no weaknesses. He is known in the
athletic world for his time on the podium and his rigorous work ethic, and incredible
tenacity.
The temptation to leave was real for Peter Reid, who was fresh out of university and
getting "smoked" by 12-year-olds in his daily swim workouts.
Despite this, the Canadian long-distance triathlon persevered and was recognized with three Ironman
world titles and such consistency that he only missed the top three in Hawaii once from
1998 to 2005.
Reid was born in the city of Montreal in the year 1969. He could hardly swim the length
of a 25-meter pool as an amateur triathlete. Nevertheless, after extensive preparation,
Reid was ready for his first tournament in 1989.
Reid competed in the Ironman World Championships, which consisted of 3.9 km swim, 180 km cycling,
and 42.2 kilometers of running. Reid came back stronger than ever in 1998, winning the
gold medal in Kona, Hawaii, despite not finishing his first two tries. In 2000 and 2003, he
defended his World Championship title.
In addition to these triumphs, the professional triathlete finished second or third in seven
more Ironman races during 1999 and 2000. Only a few triathletes can match these incredible
accomplishments.
He had been an ironman triathlete in Quebec, flirting with early success, and he realized
he needed something to push him to the next level. Victoria's mild coastal environment,
which permitted year-round training, was that something. As a result, he packed his stuff
and flew to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He intended to remain for one winter, but
he never left.
Reid quit training after his father died of diabetes in August 2004, and when he resumed
three weeks later, he tore a quad muscle. An Ironman legend turned coach, Mark Allen
developed a three-week crash course, but Reid lacked confidence. As a result, the mystical
Allen persuaded Reid to participate in a shamanic ceremony. "There was chanting and feathers,"
Reid explains, "and I saw myself swimming, riding, and jogging and looking so powerful."
On race day, he dismounted in 14th place, 24 minutes behind the leader, but finished
second in an amazing 2:46:10 marathon. Reid was employing a less New Age strategy in 2005:
he is coaching himself. According to Reid. "I want to win and be able to claim that I
did things my way."
Reid may be sitting in a Fairfield local cafe in the Cook Street Village when he comes across
a melting pot of some of Canada's greatest international athletes who are all living
and training there. Imagine swapping notes with Olympic rowers Derek Porter and Silken
Laumann and world champion riders Alison Sydor and Roland Green. This type of environment
encouraged Reid to achieve his goal of being a world champion athlete.
Reid was born in Montreal and grew up to be a downhill ski racer, making it to the Quebec
ski team. He found cycling while cross-training for summer skiing and understood right away
that he was a natural. He stopped cycling just as he was ready to take the next step
in his career, maybe turning pro, focusing on education, and getting into university.
Reid agreed to prepare for a triathlon with a buddy while attending Bishop's University
in Sherbrooke. He had a great feeling of success after finishing the marathon, and there were
plenty of attractive women nearby. Reid was immediately fascinated.
He progressed to the Ironman distance—a 3.86-kilometer swim, a 180.25-kilometer bike
ride, and a complete 42.2-kilometer marathon run—and began pushing his body beyond its
prior boundaries. But, before he graduated, he had a burning desire to explore how far
he could advance in the sport. The agreement was clinched with a third-place finish in
a major race in Nice, France. As a result, the relocation to Victoria was made.
His career took off from there, and few athletes have ever had a stronger resume in this, undoubtedly
the most rigorous of all endurance tests. Reid broke through in the 1998 world championship
after four fourth-place results on Kona, Hawaii's punishing world championship course. Reid
was so convinced that someone would overtake him in the last two miles despite having an
eight-minute advantage that he peeked over his shoulder 42 times. But that someone never
showed up.
Reid would win the world championship twice again, in 2000 and 2003, and three second-place
finishes and one third-place result at the event. In addition, he won two Ironman Canada
events, three Ironman Australia events, and Ironman Austria and Ironman Lanzarote.
He also has the third-fastest Ironman triathlon finish time of seven hours 51 minutes 56 seconds
and the fastest-ever run time of two hours 35 minutes 21 seconds. Reid was voted Canada's
Athlete of the Year in 1998 after winning the triathlete of the Year award four times
(1998-2000, 2003).
In 1997, he improved to fourth place and won the first of three consecutive Australian
Ironman titles. The next year, he battled health concerns and anticipated competing
in his final world championship. Instead, Reid won his first of three global titles
by more than seven minutes that fall after reading a training piece authored by six-time
world champion Mark Allen and meeting him.
His return earned him the first of four triathletes of the year awards from Triathlete Magazine,
as well as male athlete of the year in Canada. He was a fantastic runner in the sport, competing
in Kona every year. He won with a daring come-from-behind effort in 2000, and with his final triumph
in 2003, at the age of 34, he battled back from two injury-plagued seasons.
When he retired from racing in 2006, Reid had achieved seven top-three finishes at the
Ironman World Championships, two Ironman Canada titles, and a reputation as Canada's finest
male triathlete when he retired from racing in 2006.
After an incredible career as an Ironman triathlete, Peter Reid unexpectedly departed the sport.
He now labels himself an "unemployed triathlete" and resides in Vancouver, Canada, British
Columbia. He works as a pilot in a completely different business, flying tiny seaplanes
for a living.
Reid now likes mountain biking and trail running, describing a two-hour bike trip as an "amazing
exercise" compared to his previous nine-hour fitness sessions.
That ends our video for today! What do you think of Peter Reid's journey as a triathlete?
Drop them in the comment below!
Thank you for watching and staying with me up to the end! You may like, subscribe, and
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