General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record Rss Feed  
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2007-10-22 7:03 AM

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Subject: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record

Aaron is legally blind - has 10% of his vision, peripheral only, from childhood macular degeneration.  He swims & runs tethered to his guide, and bikes with his guide tandem. 

Yesterday in Dallas Aaron became the first person with a disability to ever break the two hour barrier in an Olympic Distance triathlon.

Aaron is a friend to several people on this site.  He's a fun guy, a tireless booster of the sport, and and advocate of getting blind people into athetics through his work with the C-Different Foundation.  His own tales of the weekend's adventures are here:  http://aaronworldrecord.blogspot.com/

(If you'd like to skip the parts about touring the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and flirting with women, the race report itself begins in the "Sunday" entry about halfway down.)



2007-10-22 7:32 AM
in reply to: #1018163

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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
He's pretty amazing. Not sure why he was in Michigan but he did a sprint race in early Sept and was the overall winner. The thing I thought had to be tough was the run was on a trail that was quite twisty with a few spots of tricky footing.

Glad to hear hes added such an awesome Oly finish to his resume.
2007-10-22 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record

That is so smoking fast its incredible. 

 

Talk about shattering the definition of "disabled"....

2007-10-22 8:53 AM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

2007-10-22 9:42 AM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record

rottieguy - 2007-10-22 7:32 AM He's pretty amazing. Not sure why he was in Michigan but he did a sprint race in early Sept and was the overall winner. The thing I thought had to be tough was the run was on a trail that was quite twisty with a few spots of tricky footing. Glad to hear hes added such an awesome Oly finish to his resume.

First place overall is awesome!  I hadn't heard about that one.  Aaron went to college at Michigan State, not sure if that's his original "home territory" or not.  But he does travel for races:  lives in Seattle now I think?, but raced both Philadelphia and New York this year, plus other races.

2007-10-22 10:25 AM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
kproudfoot - 2007-10-22 9:53 AM

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

Not to diminish his effort or accomplishment, but tandems are much faster than single-person bikes.



2007-10-22 1:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
run4yrlif - 2007-10-22 10:25 AM
kproudfoot - 2007-10-22 9:53 AM

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

Not to diminish his effort or accomplishment, but tandems are much faster than single-person bikes.

It takes a lot of teamwork to efficiently power both people plus the bike, especially up hills.  A lot of power can be lost unless the two coordinate precisely.  Aaron has used different guides in every race report I've read of his this year, and several different (often loaner) tandem bikes, with varied results.  They dropped the chain twice in NYC for example.  So while there can be benefits (slightly less bike weight per person in particular), there are detriments too.  So I wouldn't say "much" faster.

Anyway, for this race he broke the record "for a person with a disability" and gets his publicity for that.

2007-10-22 4:38 PM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
run4yrlif - 2007-10-22 10:25 AM
kproudfoot - 2007-10-22 9:53 AM

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

Not to diminish his effort or accomplishment, but tandems are much faster than single-person bikes.

I was thinking the same thing but then again I could not go under 2hrs with 3 people on a bike.  Swimming and running while teather to someone is just amazing especially how fast he does it.  What I was thinking more than anything is you have to find someone that can go under 2 hours pretty easily by themself so they can actually go slower.  You really don't want someone you have to push to keep up with you.  I just can't imagine trying to find someone to do this in a tri.  A running only race would be bad enough.
2007-10-22 6:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
run4yrlif - 2007-10-22 8:25 AM
kproudfoot - 2007-10-22 9:53 AM

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

Not to diminish his effort or accomplishment, but tandems are much faster than single-person bikes.

Not to take away from your very valid point but HE"S FRIGGIN' BLIND!  I'd love to watch your effort diminish by sitting on a bike with a blindfold relying on someone bend through a corner at 20 miles an hour.  I can't believe you would even point something out like that.  Way to take the high road.

2007-10-23 7:13 AM
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Subject: RE: Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record
hazmaster - 2007-10-22 7:03 PM
run4yrlif - 2007-10-22 8:25 AM
kproudfoot - 2007-10-22 9:53 AM

This was very cool to see firsthand.  I was actually volunteering at this race and saw him finish.  His bike was freaking awesome.

Not to diminish his effort or accomplishment, but tandems are much faster than single-person bikes.

Not to take away from your very valid point but HE"S FRIGGIN' BLIND!  I'd love to watch your effort diminish by sitting on a bike with a blindfold relying on someone bend through a corner at 20 miles an hour.  I can't believe you would even point something out like that.  Way to take the high road.

So it's a valid point, but shouldn't be pointed out? OK. Point taken. Any other eggshells I need to walk on?

 

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Blind Triathlete Aaron Scheidies Breaks World Record Rss Feed