After 20 years in the Buffalo Triathlon Club I got “featured” in the newsletter in August. I forgot to add this to a post earlier, but just found an old “note” in my calendar. And, yes I do still need to blog about my drives to/from Florida for the Ironman but don’t have time for that much writing now.
| Member Spotlight David Shapiro, MD   Porter by the Lake, 2024 with Alex and Fifa/ Lake Placid 2016 |
 Memphis in May 1998 |
| This month we are spotlighting David Shapiro. He is a long time member of BTC with lots of experience and knowlege that he is always willing to share! Read on to learn more about him. How long have you been a member of the BTC and why did you join? I joined in 2001 shortly after moving to Buffalo because I knew no one in town and wanted to meet other exercise inclined people, it seemed many Buffalonians just ate Pizza, drank beer and watched the Bills and Sabres. What’s your favorite part of being a member of the BTC? Meeting people from all walks of life who are committed to training, regardless ofage/speed/experience. What made you want to complete a triathlon? I definitely watched the first broadcast of the 5th Ironman Hawaii in 1983 on NBC (it was the only Ironman until 1999 when Lake Placid and Austria began). I had been an active “casual” runner since college doing 5Ks and 10Ks and then the 1993 Los Angeles Marathon (with my Aunt) while in Anesthesiology residency In Long Beach. After finishing my training I had a job in Tennessee and many of the doctors were serious road cyclists so I bought a steel Schwinn “Le Tour” . Around that time localtriathlons of various distances were starting up and since I could swim (never on a team but grew up on Long Island and surfed (poorly) in California) decided to try one. How did your first race ever go and if you have yet to race a Tri, what is your plan to get there? My first race was an Olympic distance, the 1998 Memphis in May Triathlon. Even in May it was HOT ALREADY. The lake was over 80 so no wetsuits, it was very hot and humid (during the expo and registration the loud speakers kept announcing, HYDRATE, drink until you pee clear today and tonight). The bike course was fast and flat on a former airport and run brutally hot. Speedo of course! What do you love most about being a triathlete? Having races to train for keeps me focused and motivated to seriously address each sport and I like that it requires a total lifestyle focus on health. What’s one of your most proud accomplishment? Finishing Ironman Lake Placid in 2016 only 18 months after having a lumbar discectomy. I was extra proud of finishing in 13:20 by biking easy up the hills as was my plan and saving my legs for a 4:30 marathon (passing all the walkers who had speeded up the hills past me). My other Ironman was AZ in 2021 which I completed in 13:10 despite having severe bronchitis (and 4 negative covid tests). What’s one thing you learned most while being a triathlete? At Memphis in May there was someone getting their bike ready in the parking lot of my motel and they had a prosthetic leg (I feel like I don’t see as many para-athletes at Triathlons as I did decades ago….) and I reminded myself that no matter how hard something seems I must always remember that there is someone else trying it who is having an even harder time and to be happy I can be out there racing because not everyone has the ability to do so. I always say that the people finishing a marathon in 6 hours are much more impressive than those doing it 3 because BOTH are going at FULL effort the whole time. Are you doing any races this year? I did the OnondagaMan Aquabike (3 rd place male) , had a swim disaster at Tri In Buff (I got panic breathing despite having done over 100 triathlons, embarrassed to discover latter I was wearing a size SMALL wetsuit (which I can only manage WITHOUT a tri kit under it). I Had to skip summer sizzler because I have a broke anke (bike crash 5 weeks ago) , I have been swimming and biking, just can’t start running for one more week. Will do CassadagaMan long course as aquabike and then …..Ironman Florida in November (I wanted to do an ocean swim as I have become a good swimmer after 20 years at Nickle City Splash and have done two 10K swim races, in wetsuit but someday without hopefully. What do you do when you are not training (job, family, hobbies)? Semi-retired anesthesiologist (one or two days per week and occasional overseas volunteer medical missions. Travel. Spending time with Alex my kid (22, Brooklyn) and black lab Fifa (who comes to OWS at Porter sometimes). U can follow my travels and training at my website/blog: www.sailwestmac.com, please subscribe, share, comment… What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? I have been on Lexapro for 10 years which has so much improved my OCD and Anxiety, I think it is important to not avoid discussing mental illness as SO many people struggle with it in silence and isolation. What motto, phrase or quote do you live by? I have the ASICS shoe motto tattooed on my arm: Anima Sana in Corpore Sano (a sound mind in a sound body), and I always tell my kid “it doesn’t cost anything to be nice”. Written by Andrea PecoraroBTC SecretaryIf you know a member and would like to nominate them to be on Spotlight, please email Andrea at AndreaPecoraro128@gmail.com |
Also I just recieved my “video” of Ironman Florida. Just a few small clips. I think I looked great running out of the water past walkers, it is only 3 minutes. I am in the pink helmet and tri kit on bike, shark hat for the second loop of run. 12:48 (Personal Record by 20 minutes despite 84 degrees!); 11/50 in my age group.
A week after the race was the Buffalo Triathlon Club banquet. It had a great turnout, I got to talk/brag about my almost perfect race (no World Championship trip to Nice, France though).
I, of course, wore my Ironman Florida finisher shirt. I brought my cool medal but did not wear it (a friend said I should).
I wore the cowboy boots I got in Arizona at the Ironman there 3 years ago.
I got an award for my organizing extra lake swims and swimming extra mileage. AND I was appointed to the Board of Directors for 2025. Since I am “only” doing half-Ironman races next year, I decided I had time to do more volunteering.
There was a basket raffle and even though I am sober now, I had to bid on the Jim Beane as I had driven past the “James” Beane Distillery on the way to and from Florida and know many people who will be happy to drink it. I even won a coffee basket too and it had Jim Beane coffee (that I will drink!).
My friend Mark won the Spirit Award! He goes to almost every club practice and event and made an amazing recovery from a torn achilles (and surgery) last fall to completing a half-Ironman race this September at age 70!
Every year our members vote on nominations for a local charity. For 2024 it was Big Big Table which is a pay as you can cafe. Free for those in need. I have gone a few times and donated some food as well. We raised $1400 for them at the banquet!
Having become pescatarian after Ironman Florida the banquet was my first “no chicken” event; luckily they had lots of non-meat options.
On the way out afterwards I got a great photo across the water of Riverworks.
And I saw this post on Instagram today! How is it that close already ? !!!
I’ve started working on both Duolingo and Pimsleur but it is harder than other languages. At least I won’t go totally hungry….
