I would like apologize to everyone out there that I offended with my email to triathlete. I re-read my email and I was a complete jerk and I am so very sorry. My intention was not to belittle anyone that has completed an Ironman distance race. I truly do respect anyone that completes one.

I have only been able to do one myself and I am amazed by some of you out there that do them over and over again. I just feel that the Ironman is special and when I read it that someone working out in a gym or health club was the same thing as finishing the Ironman well I could not believe it and before I could collect my thoughts I fired off a stupid e-mail and put in there allot of thing I really don’t believe.

I really wish I could take it back but it is too late now.

I have been doing this sport for a very long time almost 22 years. When I started only people that finished Kona called themselves an Ironman. That way of thinking is just hard to let go. Try to think of it this way. What if people that finished the half ironman distance races that the World Triathlon Corp. puts on started calling themselves Ironmen.

They could argue that it is a real Ironman because the WTC which owns the trademark says it is. I don’t think many of you would accept it. Well that is kind of how allot of old-timers like me feel. I am not trying to be elitist as well. I really wish everyone that wanted to do Kona could get a chance. If some of you out there had the chance to cross that finish line I think you would understand the way I feel even if you do not agree.

So I hope you can see I am not trying to shut anyone out or say I am better then anyone else but I do however feel that the Ironman is a very special race and those of us that have done it know it. I know the comment that those completing an Ironman in a health club should also be considered Ironmen was most likely a joke and I should not take thing so seriously but I really do love this sport and when I read the name of the premiere event of or sport being cheapened that got me a bit upset.

Hopefully some of you have done stupid thing as well and will understand. So even if you don’t agree with me I hope you can understand why feel the way I do.

Let me end this by letting you all know one more time that I am very sorry. I hope those of you out there that are upset with me can forgive me. I really do respect anyone that completes an Ironman distance race I just feel that the Ironman is special and it deserves a special place in this sport.

Sincerely

Charlie Yu