Taking on the Tour: Triathlete and dialysis patient takes on Amgen

[okarol]

Taking on the Tour: Triathlete and dialysis patient takes on Amgen
By Jason Shueh

LAKE TAHOE — During the snowy first stage of the Amgen Tour of California, there were many riders who protested conditions, fans who expressed skepticism and tour organizers who tried their best to prevent the inevitable cancellation in a frenzy of race delays and course reroutes.

Yet, amid all the tumult of delays and worries last Sunday, there was one cyclist who at least made the attempt — albeit with no kidneys.

That man is Shad Ireland, a 39-year-old dialysis patient who suffers from renal disease, an illness that has permanently shut down the function of his kidneys and requires him to undergo five-hour dialysis treatments every four days.

The Sunday attempt was a training ride for Ireland, who has launched a 24-month project called Taking on the Tour, an effort to educate and inspire support for kidney dialysis patients world wide.

His schedule included riding stages two, four and six of the Amgen Tour of California as well as stages in July's Tour de France and August's Tour of Utah — riding the routes non-competitively.

Ireland, from Buford, Ga., is also the only dialysis patient to complete the grueling Ironman triathlon multiple times; also riding across the country in 2009 from California to Washington, D.C., for awareness.

“I'm trying to show people that, really, inspiration is where it's at,” Ireland said.

An uphill climb
However, it could be said Ireland's advocacy battle didn't start off easy. At age 10, the Georgian began dialysis treatment for his kidneys, and at age 16 he was told by doctors he would likely not live past age 25.

Ireland said his early years lacked a sense of hope, and it wasn't until 1997 when things began to change.

The change came in 1997 while he was watching the Ironman competition on TV for the first time and being inspired by triathletes Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham as they collapsed yards from the finish line, crawling the remaining distance.

Ireland said that when those runners began to crawl forward it changed something inside him and he wanted their drive and energy to move forward.

These days, he has founded the Shad Ireland Foundation to create awareness for kidney disease patients and continues engaging the public in competitive events such as the Amgen Tour of California.

Last week, Ireland rode Stage 2 of the tour from Nevada City to Sacramento, Stage 4 from Livermore to San Jose — climbing Mt. Hamilton along the way and nursing a knee injury — and Stage 6 on Friday, the Solvang time trial.

Accustomed to challenges along the way, Ireland said whatever weather conditions or physical barriers present themselves, he always finds the necessary encouragement.

“There are days when the rain is coming down sideways and I'm out on a training ride of about 60 to 70 miles, rides where you ask yourself ‘why am I out here?'” Ireland said.

It's in these times Ireland said he thinks back to all of the dialysis patients and supporters he's met along the way.

“They inspire me to be out here and to be doing all these things,” he said.

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20110522/NEWS/110529990

[PatDowns]

This is absolutely amazing.  A few years after starting dialysis, I participated with 2 other patients in a triathlon  about half the distances of The Ironman.  We each did ONE LEG of the event and thought we were something special!

[greg10]

Wonderful effort from Shad Ireland.  You have to wonder though if Shad is the only one legally using EPO on that tour and that how many others are using it illegally.

[Lillupie]

good point. lol.
 My nurse had mentioned one time that people have sold those on the street, well especially athethes.


l

Wonderful effort from Shad Ireland.  You have to wonder though if Shad is the only one legally using EPO on that tour and that how many others are using it illegally.