by T.J. Cesarz (tj@exclusivesports.com)
Few people in this day and age can say they are true “originals.” In the present generation, “original” is a word synonymous with time, and in most cases, time long ago. However, there are exceptions to that school of thought, and Henry Forrest, Jr., is one of them. Henry Forrest, Jr. is an “original” Ironman.
The now retired U.S. Marine was one among fifteen endurance specialists, who in 1978, tackled an event that the participants considered more of a contest to see who was more fit, – swimmers, cyclists or runners, than the high profile, big money, invite only racing phenomenon that the Hawaiian Ironman has now evolved into.
“Basically, the original Ironman came as the result of a fitness challenge among a bunch of military types,” remembers Forrest. “We were constantly debating who was fitter, endurance runners, long distance swimmers or cyclists. Obviously, we all felt it was the category we fell under, as there were no real ‘multisport’ athletes back then. Being a runner, I felt I would have the advantage because of the endurance needed to go a long distance like a marathon.”
Forrest was not alone in his mindset…..
With that, at the awards banquet for the annual 140-mile Around Oahu relay running race, the stage was set. His friend John Collins, a Navy commander, mentioned that he and a few friends were staging a race that would include a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a full marathon run. However, most did not take the event seriously. At least not that night.
Fast forward one week. While reading the Sunday paper, Forrest’s wife saw a short story about what Forrest, Collins and others had discussed. The “race” was on.
At that point, Forrest realized he was committed. At a meeting later in the week, he paid his $5.00 entry fee, of which he would later get $2.00 back because Commander Collins and the organizers were able to keep the overhead low. Now it was time to formulate his racing strategy.
“I didn’t swim, hadn’t ridden a bike since I was a kid, and wasn’t as fast as most of my running buddies,” laughs Forrest. His plan? Just gut out the swim and bike, and let his running background and Marine mentality get him to the finish line. He wasn’t concerned about winning. He just wanted to finish, ideally ahead of some of the competition, so he would have some sort of bragging rights.
As he prepared for the race, Forrest still had one major problem. He couldn’t find a bike. When he did find one, he wasn’t too enthused about riding it. “It was a child’s bike, yellow, with a banana seat, and a white wicker basket with daisies hanging from the front. It certainly wasn’t Marine-worthy, but it was the best I could do on such short notice.”
Bike in place, race day came. Forrest labored through the swim, doing every stroke known to man, and maybe even a few new ones. The bike was uncomfortable to say the least, but he was able to get through it, thanks to his support team.
“There were no aid stations at the first Ironman,” Forrest points out. “Each competitor had their own support team that followed them in a vehicle, allowing them to stop and eat or drink, and even rest if necessary.” However, for many of the competitors, the support system did not work out as planned.
“Vehicles got lost, competitors got lost,” remembers Forrest. “There are some great stories about athletes who stopped to eat and drink at restaurants along the way because they lost their support teams. We still laugh about that today at the Ironman Reunions.”
Another problem for the original group of Ironmen was having enough to eat and drink along the way. As opposed to today’s Sara Lee IronKids Series, where competitors receive all the on-course support they need, and an all-you-can-eat post race buffet, that wasn’t the case on Oahu in 1978.
“The importance of nutrition was in its infancy back then among elite athletes, forget us military types,” notes Forrest. “Most competitors ate and drank what they were comfortable with, things like peanut butter and jelly or ham sandwiches, candy and anything else with sugar that would provide energy and stave off fatigue.” His biggest mistake while racing? “My wife and I came up with this nutritional shake, that was milk based, and had honey and a bunch of other stuff in it. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but over that distance and in that heat, it was obviously the wrong type of thing to be relying on. My stomach didn’t feel well for weeks after.”
Despite his lack of modern equipment, training programs, and nutrition, Henry Forrest, Jr. crossed the finish line at the inaugural Ironman triathlon in 1978 in a respectable 15 hours and 30 minutes, a time good enough for 7th place. The race still holds a special place in his heart, as does another multisport event program: The Sara Lee Ironkids Bread Triathlon Series.
“My son, Henry III competed in an IronKids event early on in the history of the Series,” remembers Forrest. “I thought it was a great program for children at the time, because it exposed them to health and fitness in a competitive, yet positive atmosphere.” Although the Forrest kids didn’t get caught up in triathlon mania at the time, the tri bug would bite the entire family, including Henry Forrest, Jr. years later. In 2004, the World Triathlon Corporation allowed him, son Henry III, daughter Toni, and son-in-laws Giuliano Guevara and Michael Wilson to compete together at the Hawaiian Ironman.
“It was a dream come true,” smiles Henry. “All five of us had the opportunity to race, with the rest of our family there to root us on. At age 60, Henry Forrest, Jr. was able to retire from Ironman competition knowing he had finished the world’s toughest race, along with members of his family.
Today, the triathlon gene continues to run in the Forrest family, and it includes yet another Sara Lee IronKid. Forrest’s grandson, Justin, competed in, and completed the 2006 Sara Lee IronKids season-opener earlier this summer in Alpharetta, GA. The 11-year old from Grayson, GA kept the family legacy going, and like the rest of his family, had a great time doing it. There to meet him at the finish line was his granddad, Henry Forrest, Jr.
“I could not have been prouder,” said Forrest, showing the pride that only a grandfather can. “IronKids is such a unique program. It introduces kids to a great sport, teaches them the benefits of health and fitness, and encourages them to finish what they start and not quit. It’s great to see so many children involved, and my family and I will continue to do all we can to see to it that kids have the opportunity to become involved with the sport of triathlon.”
Henry Forrest, Jr. is not kidding. He and his family are continuing his legacy as one of the original Ironman and major supporter of the sport of triathlon and the Sara Lee IronKids Triathlon Series through their family-owned company, Try-A-Tri (www.try-a-tri.com). A familiar vendor at races around the southeast, the company sells apparel with motivational messages and other tri-related gear. The company was started more than 10 years ago, with the purpose of giving something back to the sport that has done so much for, and been so special to the Forrest clan.
“It was certainly the least my family and I could do,” smiles Henry Forrest, Jr. “The sport of triathlon, and in particular events like the Ironman and IronKids have provided us with a lot of happiness over the years. My racing days may be over, but if I can help others within the sport, either through the family business or my own experiences, I consider it a great honor, and will continue to do so for as long as I can.”
By T.J Cesarz
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I wanted say that I knew Henry Forrest Jr. and he held a bootcamp at Colony Square Athletic Club in Atlanta. He is an inspiration for me to continue in my muscle stimulator business http://www.Stimrx.com . Henry Forrest will be missed by all of us.