Scott Zagarino | Introduction
In the winter of 1989, Dave Scott and Mark Allen chose very different landscapes to lay the groundwork each needed to be ready for another epic clash at the Ironman World Championship that would take place later that year. Scott stuck to his proven winter training grounds in Davis, CA. Allen took a leap of faith and set the wheels in motion for his season in New Zealand. Dave would race some Olympic distance events. Mark would do a handful of running races.
Time would tell if each had made the right decision!
This is the second of ten untold stories about the incredible moments of personal challenge and the decisions made that led to the 1989 side-by-side eight-hour battle between Dave Scott and Mark Allen. Everyone has seen accounts of the race itself. Neither Dave nor Mark have told this story in tandem. But, more importantly, no one has ever heard the details of each of their personal journeys during the year that made this an even more amazing accomplishment and why I truly believe it is “The Greatest Race Ever Run.”
Mark Allen
Year after year this scene repeated. Dave passed me on the run. How could I pick up the pieces for a seventh time and get a different result?
“If you look back at key turning points in my triathlon career, it might look like every significant element I put in place was part of an elaborate, well thought-out plan. But I’ll be honest. Some of the biggest changes in my approach to training and being ready for the Ironman started with me having absolutely no idea if they would help me or be a waste of time.
The truth is I got lucky — a lot. Without knowing it, I was about to make one of those lucky, random choices yet again, and it would turn out to be a pivotal turning point in my career.
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