Eric Byrnes: MLB to Ironman
For the 1 or 2 of you reading this who have some knowledge of both triathlons AND professional baseball, you might appreciate the recent news that Eric Byrnes, former Oakland A's player and current Sportsphone 680 host on KNBR just finished his first long course triathlon at Silicon Valley 2 weeks ago.
Byrnesie was one of my favorite players when he was with the A's back in the early 2000's. Like Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi - and the old Barry Zito (pre-Giants) - he had a certain charisma that seemed to run through the Oakland clubhouse - youthful, playful, cocky. Although his talent never quite matched his big personality during his playing career, at 35 he looks to have no regrets, a fat pad in Half Moon Bay, a radio slot where he shoots the breeze about baseball and a newfound passion for tris.
Wondering how you stack up against a former MLB-er? He went 4.27 on a 1M swim, 56M bike and a 9M run taking 6th in his age group. Last fall he took the overall win in the Clydesdale division of an Olympic distance race. (Been there, done that. Big girls rule.) He's no Brian August but not bad for a guy who grew up under the trifecta of hit, catch and throw. And he's not slowing down.
Eric is scheduled to run Arizona IM this fall (he played for the AZ Diamondbacks) and scored one of the coveted slots for next year's debut of the 2012 Ironman US Championships in New York/New Jersey. Ehhhh, a Hudson River swim?
Anyway, kudos to Byrnesie and his new ambitions. Anyone going to either of those IM's I want to see a gratuitous celebrity photo. Here's a flashback to my celebrity sighting at the Bizz Johnson trail marathon in 2009. You go, Alanis. It's not always like rain on your wedding day.
Byrnesie was one of my favorite players when he was with the A's back in the early 2000's. Like Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi - and the old Barry Zito (pre-Giants) - he had a certain charisma that seemed to run through the Oakland clubhouse - youthful, playful, cocky. Although his talent never quite matched his big personality during his playing career, at 35 he looks to have no regrets, a fat pad in Half Moon Bay, a radio slot where he shoots the breeze about baseball and a newfound passion for tris.Wondering how you stack up against a former MLB-er? He went 4.27 on a 1M swim, 56M bike and a 9M run taking 6th in his age group. Last fall he took the overall win in the Clydesdale division of an Olympic distance race. (Been there, done that. Big girls rule.) He's no Brian August but not bad for a guy who grew up under the trifecta of hit, catch and throw. And he's not slowing down.
Eric is scheduled to run Arizona IM this fall (he played for the AZ Diamondbacks) and scored one of the coveted slots for next year's debut of the 2012 Ironman US Championships in New York/New Jersey. Ehhhh, a Hudson River swim? Anyway, kudos to Byrnesie and his new ambitions. Anyone going to either of those IM's I want to see a gratuitous celebrity photo. Here's a flashback to my celebrity sighting at the Bizz Johnson trail marathon in 2009. You go, Alanis. It's not always like rain on your wedding day.
Comments
Submit this, will you????