Posted: June 14, 2007

Triathlon: Physically Challenged Male Triathlete of the Year to Compete in Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 14– Aaron Scheidies, USA Triathlon’s Physically Challenged Male Athlete of the Year in 2006 will be participating in the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon Olympic distance race on Sunday, June 24 in Fairmount Park. Twenty-four year old Scheidies suffers from macular degeneration (MD), a hereditary eye condition that slowly deteriorates his central vision and has left him with about 10% of the vision of a fully sighted person. He will also be speaking at the race’s Sponsor dinner on Friday, June 22, and at noon at the race Expo on Saturday, June 23. Aaron was born with MD, and after battling through hard times in his early teens, he found the sport of triathlon and turned his life around. Beginning with sprint distance races and working up to longer events, Aaron has won the International Triathlon Union World Championships three times (2002, 2003, and 2006) and has traveled around the world competing in over 70 triathlons. Aaron competes in triathlons with the help of a guide, Matt West. Matt met Aaron at a triathlon in Michigan in 2002. Before the start of the race, the race director announced that there was a blind athlete in the field and to try to help him along. “Aaron needed no help; he whipped me in the 22 mile race by over 1 minute and 30 seconds. I was so impressed that I approached him and offered my congratulations. The next weekend, I saw Aaron again at another race where I ended up beating him by about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Aaron pointed out that we were very similar in racing abilities and said ’I need a guide at the World Championships in Cancun – would you guide me?’ and the rest is history” remembers West. In 2005, Aaron teamed up with four other blind individuals and their athlete guides through the C-Different Foundation to conquer Ironman Coeur d’Alene which includes a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. Aaron, along with the rest of the C-Different athletes, became the first blind athletes to complete the Ironman. Now in its third year, the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon in Fairmount Park will feature a full weekend of race events during the weekend of June 22 through June 24, 2007. In addition to the marquee Olympic Distance Race on Sunday, June 24, there will once again be a Sprint Distance Triathlon, Kids Duathlon and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, June 23. There will also be a Race Expo on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. Registration for the Olympic Distance Race reached its capacity of 2,400 participants shortly after registration opened, and an additional 1,500 athletes are expected to compete in the other events. Registration is still being accepted for the Sprint Distance Triathlon and the Kids Races. The 2007 weekend will again be sponsored by Philadelphia Insurance Companies. Other sponsors include Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories, Cadence Cycling & Multisport Centers, United Healthcare, Endless Pools, Excel Physical Therapy, Boundless Philadelphia, Penguin Sport Wash, Sorbothane Insoles, Philadelphia Inquirer, Triathlete Magazine, REI, Gatorade Endurance, GU Sports, Wissahickon Mountain Spring Water, Zoot Sports, Le Bus, Healthplex Sports Institute, Triumph, Manayunk, Great Harvest Bread Company, Chestnut Hill Academy and Cohen Partners. Partial proceeds benefit the Oncology Department of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. To register for the Sprint Distance Race, the Kids Duathlon or the Kids Fun Run, or for more information, please visit www.phillytri.com. Aaron Scheidiesand Matt West (guide) Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest