NJFFSA16
10-17-2002, 04:19 AM
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Larry Parker was in "the best shape
of my life," preparing to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World
Championship for the second time.
He had taken vacation from the Fire Department of New York's
Ladder Co. 129 in Queens, and was training for the October race.
And then, Sept. 11.
He spent the next two weeks helping in the rescue effort at the
World Trade Center.
"I still could have come (to Hawaii)," he said, "I wanted to
show the resolve of the Fire Department and compete.
"But with so many of our men unaccounted for and men coming in
off vacation, it just didn't feel right. The Fire Department has
been good to me and there was a time of need.
"I didn't train hard for a long time. I wasn't motivated."
But the 39-year-old Parker found new motivation by running in
memory of his fallen FDNY brothers.
"I have a poster in my bedroom with the names of the guys we
lost. That motivates me," he said.
Parker is among nearly 1,600 triathletes registered for
Saturday's annual race, which includes a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a
112-milebicycle ride, and a marathon run.
The names of the 343 lost firefighters are on the back of the
red shirt he'll wear during the bicycle leg.
"It will be very emotional, but I usually race with emotion
anyway," the Marine Corps veteran said.
"I'll be racing with an unfair advantage. I've got 343 sets of
wings holding my feet up. My coach tells me, `Don't give up on
them.' That keeps me going."
Last November, Parker ran the New York Marathon, starting last
with a New York City police officer as "chasers" sponsored by
J.P. Morgan Chase. Each had been pledged $5 for each runner they
passed - Parker raised $180,000 for the fund to benefit the widows
and children of firefighters who died at the World Trade Center.
Parker won't be competing in the Ironman race to raise money.
"It's more of a spiritual thing this time; just the spirit of
the guys," he said. "I don't want years from now for people to
forget what they did."
of my life," preparing to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World
Championship for the second time.
He had taken vacation from the Fire Department of New York's
Ladder Co. 129 in Queens, and was training for the October race.
And then, Sept. 11.
He spent the next two weeks helping in the rescue effort at the
World Trade Center.
"I still could have come (to Hawaii)," he said, "I wanted to
show the resolve of the Fire Department and compete.
"But with so many of our men unaccounted for and men coming in
off vacation, it just didn't feel right. The Fire Department has
been good to me and there was a time of need.
"I didn't train hard for a long time. I wasn't motivated."
But the 39-year-old Parker found new motivation by running in
memory of his fallen FDNY brothers.
"I have a poster in my bedroom with the names of the guys we
lost. That motivates me," he said.
Parker is among nearly 1,600 triathletes registered for
Saturday's annual race, which includes a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a
112-milebicycle ride, and a marathon run.
The names of the 343 lost firefighters are on the back of the
red shirt he'll wear during the bicycle leg.
"It will be very emotional, but I usually race with emotion
anyway," the Marine Corps veteran said.
"I'll be racing with an unfair advantage. I've got 343 sets of
wings holding my feet up. My coach tells me, `Don't give up on
them.' That keeps me going."
Last November, Parker ran the New York Marathon, starting last
with a New York City police officer as "chasers" sponsored by
J.P. Morgan Chase. Each had been pledged $5 for each runner they
passed - Parker raised $180,000 for the fund to benefit the widows
and children of firefighters who died at the World Trade Center.
Parker won't be competing in the Ironman race to raise money.
"It's more of a spiritual thing this time; just the spirit of
the guys," he said. "I don't want years from now for people to
forget what they did."