Fireman Ironman

Posted by YourRunning on 1/17/2007 on YourRunning's blog

Larry Parker

Amityville, New York

Running Experience:
Advanced

Why should we pick you to go to the North Pole?:
Hang on to your thermal underwear because we are a match made in heaven. First of all to all those guys and gals who ran 52 or more marathons last year get a life...take some time off it will do you good. I'm really just kidding and all the applicants had great stories and reasons for there entry in to my race but I'm sorry there can be only one winner. The last time I was in Moscow was when adopted my beautiful daughter Kelly from a small orphanage in Kirov. We were in and out so quickly so I always promised I would go back to pick up a few souvenirs so I have to make sure I make a quick stop while I am there. This is just right from the moment I read about the Entry form it's all that's been on my mind NYC Firefighter tackles the North Pole... Fire and Ice...what a story and you know something I might just win. What ever the human mind can believe and concieve it can achive.

"The colder the better the bigger the sweater. Travel light freeze at night...yeah baby bring it on...ooooohhhhhrrrraaaahhhh!"

Offer some evidence that you can complete a marathon in harsh, sub-zero conditions at the North Pole:
The parallels start with the Brad's sponsorship from the University of Fairbanks Alaka. Fairbanks Alaska is where started my cold weather training in 1986 as a young United States Marine stationed at Ft. Greely. We spent 4 months training in subzero conditions and learning to traverse the glaciers on cross country skis. We were part of the elite 2ND Reconnaissance Battalion Bravo Company that would now move on to Wisconsin for 2 more months of cold weather survival training then off to the Bridgeport California. Here the 20 highly motivated truly dedicated Marines that I had trained with would move a Battallion of 400 hard charging Marines through 30 miles of the Sierra Nevada's and teach them to travel,live and survive in the harshest of enviroments. From there we finished our 8 months of training with a multi country operation on the beautiful peaks in Norway. The colder the better the bigger the sweater. Travel light freeze at night...yeah baby bring it on...ooooohhhhhrrrraaaahhhh

Tell us about your cold-weather race experience:
There is nothing like waking up to a freshly fallen snow and being the first one on the trail. That time when the world is yours alone and the snow muffles any sounds of humanity away. The winter is no doubt my favorite season to run to not only hear the exchange of air as you ease into your tempo but to see it as it dissipates into the crisp morning air. The cold doesn't intimidate me but I do respect it, I have not only raced in it but I have endured extended periods in it's grasp with minimal equiptment. Ok you saw a little of my tender side but don't get to used to it....when it comes down to it I'm all business

Tell us about your marathon experience, including times, results, etc.:
At 43 I'm not breaking any records but I had a pretty good year. 2006 Boston Marathon 2:56 2006 LI Marathon 2:50:15 7th 2006 Ironman Lake Placid 38th overall of 2100 1st in age of 356 I have done approx 25 marathons all ranging from 2:50-3:20 8 Ironman including 3 Hawaii Championships...but running is really my thing.

What do you expect your North Pole Marathon time to be?:
5:29:59

Can you write well? Explain:
Straight foward, real life stuff ...things we can all relate to I am not going to sugar coat this journalism.. This is going to be a regular guy column from me to you..heart to heart..no super geeky elitist conjecture. Hard core reality meets the sarcstic day to day living of my life and training. Who loves ya baby...

Tell us about your media experience:
You know I hate this I reall do but here goes....This year alone I was on the Martha Stewart show, Good Morning America, Quoted in Runner's World this Month with a picture in the FDNY spread, I am Mr. February in the 2007 FDNY Calander of heroes. I have been in every New York paper most several times. I have started the NYC Marathon last and passed over 25,000 people to earn over 120,000 for charity and was interviewed by every NY TV station. I was featured on the 2002 NBC Emmy award winning broadcast of the Hawaii Ironman,Featured in a full feature in Euro Sport that aired all throughout Europe. Sports Illustrated for Women 2002 sexiest men in Sports, Cannondale Catalog spread, Triathlete magazine ads. I am comfortable in front of the mike and behind it as well, I believe I possess a quick wit and charm that is down to earth yet proffesional. The spelling we might need to work on.....

Websites:
http://www.nyc.gov/www.firemanironman.com http://longislandtricoach.com/document/55061

Show us your video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPhFFsEzE4

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