The moment was surreal.
As Peter Bresciani ran toward the infamous finish line at the end of Alii Drive, guided only by a blinding spotlight and the deafening cheers of an arena filled with euphoric spectators, race announcer Mike Reilly yelled out four words that instantly changed his life.
The goose-bump experience started years before, a journey that began with a simple question of, “can I do it?” And ultimately answered with the honor — the title — of being an Ironman World Championship finisher.
For a man who has never considered himself an athlete in any way, and who often thought of those competing in the 140.6-mile distance as being “superhuman,” Bresciani was now part of an elite group of world-class athletes who had just finished one of the most grueling one-day sporting events around the globe.
At the finish line, Bresciani raised both arms to celebrate his moment – his triumph – proving to himself that anything is possible if you just believe.
That was four years ago.
On Oct. 13, Bresciani will have a second attempt at Kona’s legendary 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-run, and another chance to add a coveted finisher’s medal to hang alongside his first.
I had the pleasure of catching up to the retired Deputy Public Defender of 22 years from the State Public Defenders Office and three-year Per Diem Third Circuit, District and Family Court Judge on Sunday after he finished his last long run before the “big dance” – an 18-mile run on Alii Drive.
While enduring post-run sore legs and a growling stomach, Bresciani shared his thoughts of his first Ironman World Championship (IMWC) race, what drew him toward competing in triathlons, his retirement after 25 years dedicated to the judiciary system, and what he will look forward to on race day.
Q: When you think back to crossing the finish line of your first IMWC race four years go, what were your some of your thoughts?
I don’t know if I had any thoughts because I was so toasted. I remember feeling really pleased and really proud of myself and I thought I was doing well after the race. But when I talked to my wife and a few other people right afterwards, they said I was out of my mind.
I’ve been watching the IMWC almost since I moved here in 1992 or so. I remember going down to watch it with my daughter when she was 3 or 4 years old. We then would do it every year. I thought IMWC was for the superhuman and that it wasn’t a doable event for regular people. Then I did it. It was such a huge thing for me.
Q: You’ve been a runner for a long time and competing in triathlons over the last few years. When did you decide that it was time to do the IMWC?
Ten years ago someone asked me to do the run leg on a Lavaman relay team. And I did and then I thought maybe I could do the whole thing. Then I did my first Lavaman the very next year. I really had a good time. Then I thought that it was too bad because I really like doing it but felt that I would only have the time to do two of these Lavamans a year because I was still working, and maybe, I could do it for the next ten years until I’m 70. I just didn’t think that people who are 70 years old could still do it. And here I am.
Nine years ago, there was one guy in Lavaman racing the 70-year-old age group. This year, there were 18. So that’s the difference in how the sport has changed and people have grown into the idea that if they can train for it, then they can do this.
I never thought I could do an Ironman. But it wasn’t until 3-4 years later, after crossing the finish line of my first Honu did I finally realize that I could do Ironman. But I couldn’t really train for it until I retired.
Q: Did you ever think you’d be a triathlete?
No. I thought it was for those who are superhuman. I didn’t think it was a race for regular people. I think being in Kona, Ironman is always in the air and I think a lot of the athletes in Kona, at one time or another, have done Ironman. The variety of swimming, biking, and running keeps it more interesting, more varied, and lessens the amount of stress on any one part of you. So I believe it keeps you going longer. My overall fitness is now divided among three different things instead of all of it just pounding on my feet.
When I started triathlon, my doctors told me that I weighed too much and that I needed to lose weight or I would need to start taking medication. That motivated me to lose 30 pounds. I don’t know if I lost the weight because of doing triathlons or because I became more aware of what I ate. I remember I use to think of how far I needed to run to sweat off the Haagen-Dazs bar I just ate. I am now much more aware of calories, both my intake as well as how much I can burn on any particular activity. It was pretty startling to see how much work I needed to do to get rid of the calories from a particular treat.
Q: You mentioned that IMWC were for those you considered “superhuman.” Now that you are about to compete in your second race, how do you feel about yourself?
I now realize you don’t need to be superhuman. I realized that there are four things you need if you really want to do Ironman. First, you need body parts that work. Secondly, you need the time to train because it’s a huge time commitment. Third, you need a partner who is willing to put up with you while you train. And lastly, you need to be crazy enough to want to do it.
I think doing Ironman is a pretty nutty thing to do.
Q: Most think about enjoying a slower paced lifestyle upon retirement, but not you. Did you ever think that you’d be spending your retirement training for a world championship race?
I think retirement is not about slowing down. Retirement is about doing what you want to do. When you are working, most of your time is taken up with “I gotta be at work for X-amount of hours.” But now, I have all this time to do things that I want to do. Right now, training for Ironman feels like a full time job. I can spend 8-9 hours of my day exercising, doing compression for my legs, rolling out my legs, stretching and figuring out my nutrition. But this is what I want to do right now.
Back in 2014, I took an earlier retirement from my position as Deputy Public Defender so that I could train for my first Ironman. I was 66 years old. Some people are one and done, but not me, I knew I wanted to do another Ironman. And for the last three years, I’ve been a Per Diem Judge with Third Circuit, District and Family Court. But because I just turned 70 in August, I guess you could say they kicked me to the curb as my appointment ran out at the end of July. So here I am, retired and training for my second Ironman race.
Q: You had a serious health condition that sidelined you for awhile. What happened?
Before I did my first Ironman, I had a broken collarbone and diagnosed with vocal cord cancer. I was doing the Tour the Big Island – a ride around the island – and I fell and broke my collarbone. That must’ve been 2010 because two years later in 2012, I had vocal cord cancer. It seems like every 2 or 3 years, something happens to me. Because in 2015, I ruptured a disc in my back. I was planning to do Ironman Western Australia in December of that year. On the Saturday before that race, I ruptured the disc in my back when I attempted to lift up coffee bags.
Q: You have your own coffee farm. Do you work the farm yourself or do you have help?
I have people helping me. The name for my coffee farm is Mahina Mauna. Mahina means moon and Mauna means mountain. So it’s the mountain moon organic coffee farm. We bought it two years before we moved here in 1989 and then we moved onto it.
Q: What will you be looking forward to on Oct. 13?
Finishing!
Now that I remember what a grind it is to train for and all that comes with an Ironman race. I’ll just be happy to cross the finish line of my second Ironman. While I can say that I’m enjoying it, I’ll also be happy to be done. It’s been nice to be a part of the close-knit triathlon community in Kona. They have been super supportive and super friendly and I truly appreciate it.