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Highlands Today

Ironman Legend Has High Marks For Heartland Tri

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: July 14, 2008

SEBRING - Dave Scott was originally set to compete in Saturday's Heartland Triathlon, but a blood clot and a torn muscle in his leg prevented the six-time Ironman World Champion from taking to Lake Jackson and the streets of Sebring.

But that didn't mean the 54-year-old triathlon legend wasn't enjoying himself while nearly 400 of his new comrades raced by.

"I don't mind watching and I enjoy chatting with folks," Scott said. "I love the fact that there's so many first-timers here: I get a thrill out of watching beginners because they have such a hunger and a passion for it."

It was Scott's first time in Sebring, and the athlete known simply as "The Man" had high marks for the third annual event.

"It's extraordinarily well-organized," he said. "It's nice to have it in a small town where the community is behind it.

"I travel a lot and have seen a lot of races that don't have the momentum that this one has. It's really refreshing -- it reminds me of the old roots."

And Scott knows plenty about the roots of triathlons: He began racing when the sport came about in 1976 and won six Ironman World championships between 1980 and 1987. He was the also the first inductee into the Ironman Hall of Fame.

He's seen plenty of courses, and Scott said Sebring's stacks up.

"A simple course is a good course," Scott said. "If it doesn't have complexities with lots of turns and intersections, that's good. Athletes shouldn't have to think when they're out there. It's a very easy swim course because you can't get lost. The bike course didn't have a lot of sharp turns and the run finishes on a slight downhill."

Scott, who now lives in Boulder, Colo., said the Heartland Triathlon has all the right elements to be a long-lasting event.

""The finish line, the signage, the organization and the goodie bags -- it's really been first class," he said. "And it's nice to see the city involved. I've seen placards and things on marquees of local businesses - it's nice."

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com

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