Among the nearly 3,000 athletes who participated in the 2011 Ford Ironman Arizona triathlon on Sunday in Tempe, Arizona was former Major League Baseball star Eric Brynes. Byrnes is now an on air analyst for the MLB Network after 12 years in the big leagues with multiple MLB teams including the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Byrnes was no where close to being in Ironman shape only 11 months ago but now he's an Ironman athlete who just finished swimming 2.4 miles in Tempe Town Lake, cycling 112 miles through the desert landscape of southern Arizona and running a full marathon in 10 hours and 45 minutes.
This was a big deal for the former big leaguer but Byrnes wasn't just racing for himself. He was helping raise money for the Pat Tillman foundation. The Ironman Foundation has provided over $900,000 in funding to non-profit organizations acround the world in 2011.
Byrnes remembers racing one of his triathlons and getting crazy comments yelled at him, "I was kind of the joke of the triathlon. People were yelling, ‘Go beach-cruiser dude!' as I was getting passed by 16-year-old girls. As many of us know….it only takes a taste before we are ‘bit by the bug," he said.
Here's my VIDEO interview with Eric moments after he crossed the finish line and a few words from his wife, Tarah.
To support Eric and his cause, please click here: http://ironman.kintera.org/arizona/pattillman
Check HERE for 2011 Ironman Arizona Race Coverage & Updates
Remember, you can follow me on twitter @IMDaveErickson and see more than 400 original swim, bike, run and athlete interview videos on my Youtube page.
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