Iron War Read online

  So, while the story of Iron War certainly delivers a lesson about the power of persistence, it’s not a practical lesson. After all, Julie Moss didn’t inspire everyone to do what Mark ultimately did, because no one else had what he had inside him. If Dave and Mark inspire others to achieve their own legacy of greatness, more power to them. But what I’ve taken away from my study of Iron War is a clear appreciation of why I have never achieved and never will achieve acts of greatness like those achieved by Dave and Mark. And no amount of “feeling inspired” by their story can change that for me.

  What if feeling inspired, versus being inspired, is the true value of the greatest race ever run?

  Iron War tightens the throat and moistens the eyes and makes one say, “Wow!” Nothing useful in that, but so what? After all, what else is life but a messy unfolding of feelings? And what else do we really seek in life but to feel strongly? Most of life consists of muted background feelings, and necessarily so. It’s the occasional bursts of intense sensation that make life seem the miracle that it is. Some of these sensations are bad—but the good ones are impossible without them, so the bad ones have value too.

  The powerful feelings that the Iron War legend inspires are a vicarious echo of the feelings Dave Scott and Mark Allen sought in the thing itself. They wanted to feel a greater measure of a special type of suffering than most people ever know, and they wanted to feel the immense satisfaction they would earn in overcoming it—a fulfillment that folks like me can only try to imagine.

  One of the first questions Dave Scott was asked after the greatest race ever run was how it felt.

  “It was kind of painfully enjoyable,” the Man said. “And I’m not sure I want to feel that again.”

  But he would never regret feeling it once.

  NOTES

  Using the search function on your e-reading device, enter the phrase to see the text related to the citation.

  CHAPTER 1: THE MOMENT

  p. 2 in which all are complicit: Dan Empfield, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 2 drink station he’s staffing: ABC Sports 1989 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 3 radio reports from the field: Mike Plant, personal interview, San Marcos, CA, Nov. 2010.

  p. 3 indifferent to his own performance: Paul Huddle, personal telephone interview, September 2010.

  p. 3 briefly forgotten: Rich Cruse, e-mail correspondence, May 2010.

  p. 3 the greatest race ever run: Bob Babbitt, personal interview, San Diego, CA, 2010.

  p. 3 only race that really matters: John Duke, personal telephone interview, December 2010.

  p. 3 before the 1987 Ironman: ABC Sports 1987 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 4 promptly fulfilled the promise: ABC Sports 1983 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 4 living in Davis, California: Babbitt interview.

  p. 4 as close as they are now: Competitor, cover image by David Epperson, October 1989.

  p. 5 now near completing: ABC Sports 1989 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 5 a one-time opportunist: Scott Molina, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 6 He meditates: William R. Katovsky, “A Champion Thoroughbred,” Triathlete, September 1984, pp. 48–55.

  p. 6 weaken him as a competitor: ABC Sports 1983 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 6 not even good for you: Babbitt interview.

  p. 6 seated in adjacent chairs: ibid.

  p. 6 weak in any moment: “The Iron War: Mark Allen and Dave Scott,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOVGVMiwPSA.

  CHAPTER 2: A DROP TOO MUCH

  p. 9 on his three-speed bike: Dave Scott, personal telephone interview, January 2011.

  p. 9 five and a half miles away: ibid.

  p. 10 fair and square: ibid.

  p. 10 into a day, every day: ibid.

  p. 10 Ozzie and Harriet: Liz Barrett and William R. Katovsky, “It’s Lonely at the Top: An Interview with Dave Scott,” Triathlete, May 1984, pp. 34–43.

  p. 10 fierce when necessary: Dave Walker, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 10 results of their sports competitions: Barrett and Katovsky, “It’s Lonely at the Top.”

  p. 10 in the United States: Lew Kidder, personal telephone interview, May 2011.

  p. 10 competent yet completely unassuming: Walker interview.

  p. 11 of those chores: Dave Scott, 2011 USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction speech.

  p. 11 constituted his exercise: Walker interview.

  p. 11 too much perfume: Scott, 2011 USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction speech.

  p. 11 in the lock it was made for: ibid.

  p. 11 Patti, Dave, and Jane joined: Dave Scott interview.

  p. 11 every lap was competition: Dave Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training (New York: Fireside, 1986).

  p. 11 give him by example: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott—1/14/2009,” www.enduranceplanet.com/hall-of-fame-series-verne-scott-1142009.

  p. 12 name of Murphy Reinschreiber: Murphy Reinschreiber, personal telephone interview, February 2011.

  p. 12 Little League all-star: Bob Babbitt, “Still Lord of the Lava,” Competitor, October 1991, pp. 18–23.

  p. 13 And he didn’t: Dave Scott, 2011 USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction speech.

  p. 13 practicing and competing were done: Dave Scott interview.

  p. 13 dawn or after dark: Walker interview.

  p. 13 the school gymnasium: Dave Scott interview.

  p. 13 personality would change: ibid.

  p. 13 the freedom to move: ibid.

  p. 14 fell apart in his hands: Dave Scott, “The Schedule: One for the Books,” Inside Triathlon, November 1997, p. 42.

  p. 14 stroke is horrendous: Dan Levin, “Gall, Divided into Three Parts,” Sports Illustrated Ocotober 10, 1983.

  p. 14 to be seen shirtless: Bob Babbitt, personal interview, San Diego, CA, 2010.

  p. 14 the fear that lives within me: Steve Boga, Risk! An Exploration into the Lives of Athletes on the Edge (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1988), p. 44.

  p. 14 crazy, she thought: Linda Buchanan, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 14 Verne’s first choice: ibid.

  p. 15 a form of osmosis: Mark Roberts, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 15 wood-paneled weight room: Kirk Hamilton, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 15 backing away: Craig Wilson, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 15 ice cream for dessert: Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training.

  p. 15 in one sitting: ibid.

  p. 16 table for two hours: Roberts interview.

  p. 16 his meals and snacks: Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training.

  p. 16 rice cakes and wheat crackers: Levin, “Gall, Divided into Three Parts.”

  p. 16 rinsed his cottage cheese: Premiere Speakers Bureau video of Mark Allen corporate speech.

  p. 16 bonding with his offspring: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott.”

  p. 16 UC–Santa Barbara: “Swim Coach Raises the Bar for Amateurs,” active.com, http://www.active.com/swimming/Articles/Swim_coach_raises_the

  _bar_for_amateurs.htm.

  p. 16 excuses of any kind: Buchanan interview.

  p. 17 just to experience Dave: John Reganold, personal interview, July 2010.

  p. 17 while others slept: Ken McAlpine, unpublished article written for Competitor, 2010.

  p. 17 he took it hard: Wilson interview.

  p. 18 invited her brother to join her: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott.”

  p. 18 Buck barked: ibid.

  p. 18 prize of a frozen turkey: Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training.

  p. 19 second in his age group: “Waikiki Roughwater Swim, Hawaii,” http://waikikiroughwaterswim.com/1978/1978.html.

  p. 19 the following January: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio, http://competitorradio.competitor.com/tag/dave-scott. />
  p. 19 threw it away: ibid.

  p. 19 in Los Angeles: Mike Norton, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 20 You could win it: ibid.

  p. 20 And it starts now: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott.”

  p. 20 more experienced than he was: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 20 In a workout: Reganold interview.

  p. 20 dusting everyone: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 21 Dave threw a fit: ibid.

  p. 21 yelling at her some more: Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training.

  p. 21 with which he shared it: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 21 anyone had done it yet: ibid.

  p. 22 across the United States: Dave McGillivray, personal conversation, April 2011.

  p. 22 a microphone in his face: McAlpine, unpublished article.

  p. 22 with anyone at the end: ABC Sports 1980 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 23 women’s changing room: McAlpine, unpublished article.

  p. 23 within just a year or two: ABC Sports 1980 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 23 shoe to the right pedal: Los Angeles Triathlon Club, A Night with Dave Scott and Mark Allen, October 5, 2002, videotape courtesy of Bob Babbitt.

  p. 23 better pedaling efficiency: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 23 blow by him any minute: Los Angeles Triathlon Club, A Night with Dave Scott and Mark Allen.

  p. 23 carbon-fiber frames: Ironman.com, year-by-year results.

  p. 24 the right of way: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 24 techniques from movies: ibid.

  p. 24 the woman said: ABC Sports 1980 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 24 fast-thinking Pat Feeney: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 24 relieve himself in some bushes: McAlpine, unpublished article.

  p. 25 in Kapiolani Park: Valerie Silk, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 25 just getting started: Scott, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training; Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 25 per one-year plan: Levin, “Gall, Divided into Three Parts.”

  p. 25 a triathlon in Davis: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott.”

  p. 25 Dave’s name and image: Levin, “Gall, Divided into Three Parts.”

  p. 26 than ultraendurance racing: Endurance Planet, “Hall of Fame Series—Verne Scott.”

  p. 26 showdown with Mark Allen: ABC Sports 1989 Ironman television broadcast.

  p. 26 he broke down: Levin, “Gall, Divided into Three Parts.”

  p. 27 some 3,000 times: Ken McAlpine, “Dave Scott: Man, Myth, or Legend,” Triathlete, October 1989, pp. 34–38.

  p. 27 a moment’s hesitation: 26:50: Dave Scott interview.

  p. 27 before he got home: Norton interview.

  p. 28 give triathlon a try: Herbert Krabel, “Pigg Power: Mike Pigg,” http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Pigg_Power_-_Mike_Pigg__353.html.

  p. 28 emptied it in minutes: Dave Scott on Competitor Radio.

  p. 28 a loaf of bread: ibid.

  p. 28 Pigg returned to Davis: Mike Pigg, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 28 pain in his knee while running: Jim Mason, “Ironman Dave Scott Is in Better Shape Than Anybody,” Vegetarian Times, July 1983, pp. 18–20.

  p. 28 turned to apathy: Buchanan interview.

  p. 28 gained fifteen pounds: Mason, “Ironman Dave Scott Is in Better Shape Than Anybody.”

  p. 29 would let go eventually: Buchanan interview.

  p. 29 kind, charismatic woman: ibid.

  p. 29 I beat Dave Scott: Tim McDonald, “The Other Dave Scott,” Triathlon, May 1984, pp. 52–53, 92–93.

  p. 29 back on track: ibid.

  p. 30 Dave was, in fact, single: Anna Scott, personal telephone interview, November 2010.

  p. 30 his vulnerable side: ibid.

  p. 30 breaking a collarbone: Tracy Dodds, “Dual Exhaustion: Dave and Anna Scott Have Found Success Combining a Personal Life and a Rigorous Training Schedule,” Los Angeles Times, February 7, 1988.

  p. 30 while he rode his bike: Anna Scott interview.

  p. 30 other side eventually: ibid.

  p. 30 around the bend: Dave Scott interview.

  p. 31 making yourself more miserable: Molina interview.

  p. 31 laid him low lately: Levin, “Gall: Divided into Three Parts.”

  p. 31 lonely state to America: Scott Tinley, “The Years with Dave,” Triathlete, October 1992, pp. 48–52.

  p. 31 described him) persisted: Barrett and Katovsky, “It’s Lonely at the Top.”

  p. 32 embarrassments and rumors: Molina interview.

  CHAPTER 3: GET A GRIP

  p. 33 in Glendale, California: Mark Allen with Bob Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988).

  p. 33 safely into the world: Ken Allen, personal telephone interview, February 2011.

  p. 33 David had Down syndrome: ibid.

  p. 33 he has remained ever since: ibid.

  p. 34 kept their own counsel: Carole Allen, personal telephone interview, February 2011.

  p. 34 moved to the Midwest: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 34 in a neighboring apartment: ibid.

  p. 34 Space’s treatment of him: “The Last Word Unedited: Chris McCormack and Mark Allen, Part Two,” Lavamagazine.com, http://lavamagazine.com/features/the-last-word,unedited-chris-mccormack-and-mark-allen,-part-two#axzz1UZVr7uI5.

  p. 34 frequent “negative reinforcement”: Joel Silverman, “Back to Business,” Inside Triathlon, July 1995, pp. 19–21.

  p. 34 in no uncertain terms: Gary Allen, quoted in ibid.

  p. 34 almost a quarter century: Mark Allen, quoted in ibid.

  p. 35 That’s incredible: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 35 two weeks late: ibid.

  p. 35 at the University of California–Davis: Ken Allen interview.

  p. 35 his inscrutability: Eric Bunje, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 35 Mark Allen shared: ibid.

  p. 35 in the entire first grade: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 35 residency at Stanford University: Ken Allen interview.

  p. 35 took place in Mexico city: “About Mark Allen,” InGoofoo, http://www.ingoofoo.com/content/view/46/93.

  p. 36 survived the test, but barely: ibid.

  p. 36 swim twenty-five yards: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 36 Palo Alto Times: Mark Allen, Fit Soul, Fit Body presentation, Palo Alto, CA, Nov. 10, 2009.

  p. 36 his father became: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 36 woman in her mid-20s: Carole Allen interview.

  p. 37 lays it on thick, doesn’t he: ibid.

  p. 37 talk about his swimming: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 37 his race was done: Pete Gauvin, “Mind over Suffering—Mark Allen,” adventure sportsjournal.com.

  p. 37 Mark choked: Mark Allen on Competitor Radio, http://competitorradio.competitor.com/tag/mark-allen.

  p. 38 for the first time in his life: Bunje interview.

  p. 38 seventy-mile round-trip: ibid.

  p. 38 Just do the races: ibid.

  p. 38 he faked a stomachache: Triathlete, August 1999.

  p. 38 a gliding hawk: Bunje interview.

  p. 38 lots of questions: ibid.

  p. 38 depicted in movies: Mark Allen, “Impacts of Shamanism,” Dance of the Deer Foundation, http://blog.danceofthedeer.com/2010/04/impacts-of-shamanism.

  p. 38 and other customs: Ken Allen interview.

  p. 39 apprenticeship in Mexico: Scott Molina, personal telephone interview, July 2010.

  p. 39 chafed against it: Mark Allen, personal conversation, Kona, HI, October 2010.

  p. 39 nothing seemed a perfect match: Mark Allen, “Impacts of Shamanism.”

  p. 39 haze of mellow pleasure:
Gary Hardin, personal telephone interview, February 2011.

  p. 39 recently learned to surf: John Walters, “Fast Afoot or Fast Asleep?” Sports Illustrated, May 31, 1993.

  p. 39 riding a unicycle: Gary Hardin, e-mail correspondence.

  p. 40 to offer in this world: Silverman, “Back to Business.” Allen’s words: “How many times do I have to win before I feel better?”

  p. 40 throughout the summer: Gary Hardin, personal interview.

  p. 40 after his first year at UCSD: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 40 a few days a week: ibid.

  p. 40 get back into the pool: Bill Morgan, personal telephone interview, October 2010.

  p. 40 he would fall apart: ibid.

  p. 40 what might have been: Ryan Hall, assistant athletic director, sports information director, UC–San Diego Athletics, e-mail correspondence.

  p. 41 San Diego lifestyle: Molina interview.

  p. 41 being a doctor himself: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.

  p. 41 Not yet: Los Angeles Triathlon Club, A Night with Dave Scott and Mark Allen, October 5, 2002, videotape courtesy of Bob Babbitt.

  p. 41 he asked himself: Allen with Babbitt, Mark Allen’s Total Triathlete.