Retirement

Not many people are given an opportunity to purse their dreams but fortunately for me there are people like you who believed in me and believed in my dream to become an Olympian. I pursed that dream feverishly over the last 4 years. Through your generosity these past two years I was able to train full-time both here at home and as far away as Australia with the best athletes in the world. I was also able to live in Colorado so I could train at altitude and travel to the races around the country to compete against the best of the best. For all this I thank you! I know those words are often used lightly and trust me, they do not do justice for the feelings I have towards you and your support of my dream!

Unfortunately my journey has come to a crossroad. Even though I trained harder and put my body under more stress than at any time in my life these past two years, my results did not reflect the efforts I put in. For fact, my body was not able to hold up to the vigorous training schedule I was on and I sustained multiple injuries and eventually led my body into chronic fatigue syndrome. Many athletes that train at such high levels and at altitude are plagues with CFS. So it’s with a heavy heart that I write to you today to announce that I have stopped training and competing.

This year was supposed to be my coming out party; the year I finally could race with the best. I started the year of with a bang running a 1:12 half marathon. Even though I pulled my calf muscle at mile 9, I continued to run. I never dropped out of a race before and this was not going to be the first. While I continued to train after the Knoxville Half Marathon, I was not able to fully recover and thought I was just loosing my edge. Then in July it all came to a halt. I got sick in a race and dropped after the bike. I regrouped and convinced myself that I still had it in me, but during my last race in Lake Stevens Washington I made it to the 7 mile mark in the run before pulling myself from the race.

These results left me devastated and questioning my ability to continue so I met with those around me who I consider to be my inner circle for advice and council. With their help, I decided that while I have the desire and talent to pursue my dream something was not working in my favor and I needed to seek medical advice for what was happening. After a few blood work-ups and rest I came to find out that my testosterone was abnormally low. A man’s normal number should be between 800-1200 with 300 being considered low, and my level was 158. Ah ha, there it was finally; the answer to what was really causing my poor result. What I previously thought was just in my head or me slipping as I was getting older was actually a medical condition.

While the desire to be the best in all I do is still there, I’ve decided to give up competing on a professional level in triathlons. I may come back to the sport I so fondly love, but at this time I am going to retire. I am seeing a doctor and trust all the questions will be answered and that I will get back to being healthy once again.

So now it’s time for the next chapter in my life. I am in the process of interviewing with Stryker and intend to start a career in the medical sales industry. Because of you and your support of me during my professional career, I learned a lot about life and especially myself over these last 4 years. I was able to become one of the best amateur triathletes in the world; I overcame many obstacles and made many dreams a reality. I again thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you gave to me! If you even need anything please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Dream Big Always!

Eric Bell

ericryanbell@aol.com

MIA

Where have I been these last three months? Well, let’s start with the way my season ended and facing the struggles that comes with an injury. At no time in my career have I questioned, hated, loved, wanted to quit and take the easy road out, like I struggled those 6-8 weeks after my season ended. Hence, the fact I didn’t write was because I wanted to think and do something other than triathlons. I went to Beaver Creek, CO, to ski with the Lawlers for Christmas. I played poker a lot - had to keep the competitive juices flowing! My family was in town, which was fun. I went to rehab a lot. Woody and Chad from the UT training room, those guys are a God-send! They worked endlessly to help me and heal me. I am always grateful for the many supporters on this journey that always lend a hand. My mom, the healer, need I say more? The month of January was the first time since July that I was able to run pain free, and wow I often think this is what God made me to do - I feel so alive running. I am now in Noosa at training camp with the gang: GB, LB, Pikey, Nicole, Jenny, Jimmy, Memphis, BG, Jussie, Rinny, Gordo, Mons. What a crew we have here! Things are starting to come around. I am pleased with where things are. My swim is stronger than ever, and bike is coming as well as the run. Long way to go but it’s coming. I will be here another 4 weeks and my first race of the season will be the Knoxville Half. I’ve never raced a stand-alone half - it should be interesting! Life is good! Feeling very lucky right now to train and have people in my life! Everything happens at the right time. The updates will be more frequent. It’s time for dinner with Pikey and Nicole, my housemates while training here. haba na haba lala salani (Swahili for “little by little, may all your dreams come true”)! Thanks for all the support, you know who you are!