Arnold Broyles Barrett,Jr.

Arnold Broyles Barrett,Jr.
Arnold Broyles Barrett, Jr.
2312 Overton Road, Augusta, Georgia 30904 Cell: 706-830-6912 Email: NikeBarrett@gmail.com
Arnold
Your aliases:
Family:
AA, Brick, Ironi, Big Foot, Anoldo Barreto.
Forrest, cause I’m god damn gifted!
It’s funny what a young man recollects:
High School: too shy with girls to even talk with them, much
less have a girlfriend. First crush: would have to be Leslie, cause
she could run, run, run just like Gump…..
College: Was too busy running, playing soccer and studying for
serious GF; plus Chuck Pickering, my sophmore roommate, kept
stealing all the good chicks from me.
Then there were always folks coming and going:
Atlanta: Betsy from Toledo; not quite like my “Jenny”, but three
years worth of exhilaration; ultimately leaving me for someone
in special forces (ex navy seal). Wasn’t going to mess with
him….lol…….
Augusta: Sweet Alice MD………great girl, but long hours.
Ultimately parted ways, she for another MD, me for a
balerina…..however, she gave me the best gift in the wide
world, cause she sure got me straightened out, didn’t she, boys?
Jacksonville, Florida: Beth the Balerina who was very flexible…
but me and Christian Scientism were not good mix….
Augusta again: Many women have tried since, but too old, set in
my ways, and too many bags to handle.
Anything you would
like to share about your
family:
Mom and Dad, going strong, live in Ponte Vedra, Fl and Augusta,
Ga.
Two Sisters: Marquin and Frances, with 7 nieces and nephews,
live in Savannah and Tampa, respectively.
My fur people:
Kona-my Portuguese Water Dog but now wants to change to
Icelandic Glacier Hound (He is a Barrett dog, not an Obama
dog!!!), 16 months old
Kitty- my 13 yo adopted cat, abandoned as a older kitten in at
my retreat.
Just passed to the Rainbow Bridge: Ellie, 12 yo Chessie and her
liter mate and brother Bear. Sweetest Chessies I have ever met.
Bear and I had a mental connection.
My most famous fur person: Nike dog –black lab bitten by rattler on
his 12th birthday while mtn biking; my ultimate friend.
Other fur friends:
Errin- my red golden retriever, bitten on his elbow by venomous
creature; god bless him
Taylor-Errin’s older cousin…..RIP
Logan and Brooks, among others.
My Hawk-Cooper
Nike Dog and I relocated by to my home town of Augusta from
Jacksonville, Florida in the early 90’s. Not wanting to live in the hotty
totty area of Summerville, the area in which I was born, we chose to
live out in the sticks of Edgefield County. Lucky for us, the sticks were
only 1.5 miles from I-20, 6.5 miles from downtown Augusta, and
right smack dab in the middle of some of the best road biking routes
and mountain biking trails in the CSRA.
We originally purchased the small red brick house on a two acre
tract. A few years later I purchased a 25.5 acre tract, which includes
part of the three acre pond from one of the three sons of Mrs.
Atkinson, my deceased neighbor. The adjacent 24.5 acre tract which
includes the other part of the pond is owned by the Widow of one of
the other sons. She presently resides in Idaho and we have a mutual
agreement of right of ingress/egress and recreation on our two
tracts.
Nike Dog and I enjoyed the woods, deer, wild turkey and pond for
a couple of years, however, on his eleventh birthday mountain bike
ride; he met his untimely death at the fangs of a rattler on a trail in
Edgefield County. Needless to say, the place was never quite the
same without him.
Guess you can tell that I think dogs are easier to put up with than
women……always glad to see you, friendly and don’t ask for too
much. LOL.
Your profession/
vocation/occupation
(i.e. where do you
get the funds to
maintain your
lifestyle?):
College, reform
school; major(s);
degree(s):
However, at the moment I have Kona and an abandoned 11 year old
cat named Kitty. Within the last year, we all packed our bags and
relocated to a house nearer my aging parents and friends. We live
right on Rae’s Creek and Lake Olmstead in a remodeled 1950’s house,
with a great outdoor backyard. However, we still own my retreat and
come back to the pond frequently (house is rented out).
Prior Employers: HYPERLINK “http://www.merryland.com/” Merry
Land Properties, Merry Land & Investment Company, First Union
National Bank, Florida National Bank, Baird & Company CPA’s,
Bankers Trust Company of New York, Wells Fargo Bank
Am I crazy or just plain stupid?
Degrees and Accreditations:
CPA, MBA, BA of Economics and Business Administration
Universities:
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tn. 1978,
BA Economics and Business Administration
Nike Dog was infamous in the kayaking and mountain bike circles.
His vet Dr. Gayle stated that he had never seen a dog at 10 years
old run on the trails with such speed, stamina and determination.
On the Ocoee River in Tennessee, spectators were amazed at his
ability to run the class IV rapids while laying on the front of my
Kayak. However, his biggest claim to infamy is that he is the only
dog to ever escape the old Walton Way Animal Clinic and make it
three miles back to my home in safety. In order to escape he had to
unlock a latched chain link cage, climb up a 5 ft concrete wall and
then climb over an 8 ft chain length fence on top of the wall....Can’t
imagine.
Since his death, I have had several new fur friends, some whom I
have had to lay to rest due to various causes in my pet cemetery
located near the camellia bushes in my front yard. Erin, bless his
heart, succumbed to a snake bite last fall. Bear and Ellie, brother and
sister Chessies, both recently passed at 12 years of age.
SEC Reporting Manager
Morris Communications Company, LLC, Augusta, Georgia
Georgia State University, Atlanta, 1980,
MBA, night student, Finance
Other: Episcopal Day School, William Robinson, Langford and
the Asheville School.
Stupid is as stupid does…
Your hobbies,
interests (what
keeps you out of
trouble or gets you
into trouble in your
spare time):
Military service
(include service with
foreign legions or
mercenaries) and
my avocations (civic,
social, political,
charitable):
Ironman World Championships 2002, 2003, and 2006
Other races: Ironman Florida, Canada, Utah, Lanzarote, Canary
Islands, Alcatraz Triathlon, etc. Georgia State sprint triathlon
champion-Masters division.
Trekked up to top of Mt. Killimanjaro-Rongai Route, in Tanzania,
Africa
I became personally involved in most of the critical events that take
place in American History from the late 1960s until the early 1980s.
This included the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, the Civil
Rights and Anti-Vietnam War protest movement. What a crock of
shit!
Your greatest
contribution to
the betterment of
mankind:
What has your time
and education at
Asheville School
meant to you:
A somewhat slow (not smart) person, who happens to be incredibly
kind, decent, and over the course of his life, quite lucky.
to compete in the Subaru
Ironman Canada.
“I was always an athlete,
but I’ve kind of taken it
to a whole different level
now,” Barrett said. “To me,
it’s a competition against
yourself. It’s something
to actually challenge you
to stay in shape, to see
how far you can push
yourself.” The triathlon
is considered one of the
ultimate tests of fitness
and athleticism. In the
Ironman series, the event
consists of a 2.4-mile
swim, a 112-mile bike
ride and a 26.2-mile run.
There are other divisions
and formats with shorter
distances.
At Asheville School, I don’t know if we each have a destiny or if
were just floating around accidental-like, on a breeze. My favorite
memory was our discharge papers telling you your service is up.
Ok, it was harder than college for me; it prepared me as to how to
study.
What are your most
vivid memories of
Asheville School:
For real? It was the special bonds made with special people;
classmates, schoolmates, professors and citizens of Asheville.
The late night adult beverages shared by all in the dorms. Turkey
Mitchell’s math class and coaching inexpertise. Watching the
Jetsons on Sunday am; with a hangover. Having Harris break the
Ben Lippen Soccer dudes leg after the guy broke my nose. Seeing
Byrd pray to the porcelain trash can. Bucko hanging me out of third
floor Anderson by feet, playing Jesus Christ Superstar’s 39 lashes.
(Of course he lashed me with his belt 30 times prior!) Plus, I never
would of gotten to short sheet, Harris and Emily’s bed on their
honeymoon night in the Houston Hotel ..
Running, running and running on the x-country and track team…
I figured I might as well just keep on going.… Where was I running
off to?
Playing soccer with the likes of Sola Mahoney, Garlock, Potts,
Beckhum, Gudger, Chaliewell, Baker, etc…..And my development
of my love for the mountains of NC. And the great escape from my
overbearing parents at home.
What else would you
like to share (here
is your chance to
boast and outshine
your classmates.
Feel free to use the
front, back and sides
of this sheet should
you need additional
space:
Some funny newspaper
and tv articles done on
my triathlon ineptitudes:
1) He walked into the
local bike shop looking
haggard in his threepiece suit and tie. That
was 16 years ago, and
Arnold Barrett’s life was
about to change. Barrett
was ready to buy a new
bike. Not just any model.
He wanted one of those
pricey road bikes, just
like the rigs serious road
racers ride.
“When he came in, in his office suit he’s an accountant - and he had his tie
untied, and he looked like the old regular
accountant worm that was an out-ofshape slouch,” said Brett Ardrey, the
owner of Outspokin’ Bike Shop. “When
he walked in, he didn’t look fit at all and
was looking at buying this road bike. I
was surprised. I guess I judged him by his
cover. That was an error.”
No one could have imagined what Barrett
would accomplish. Now 46, the Augusta
native is at the top of his game, an
accomplished triathlete with a growing
resume. In October, Barrett made his
debut in the sport’s premier event, the
Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
This weekend, he’s off to British Columbia
For Barrett, his foray into
triathlon began about
three years ago, when
arthritis forced him to
cut back on his running.
Barrett made cycling his
sport of choice. Riding a
bike was easier on his aching joints, and
he soon took up swimming and weight
training to satisfy his fitness goals. In turn,
the biking and swimming helped Barrett
get himself into the best shape of his life.
It also helped his arthritis and enabled
him to begin running long distances
again.
Before long, the “Ironman” in Barrett was
born. “Three years ago, I told this guy
over at Health Central that I wanted to
do the (Ironman) in Hawaii, and I don’t
think he believed me,” Barrett said. “I was
able to get in. That was my first triathlon.”
Imagine a golfer making his competitive
debut at the U.S. Open. Or a tennis player
playing his first match at Wimbledon.
Barrett did the equivalent last fall in
Hawaii. He finished 338th out of more
than 1,600 competitors at the world
championship.
Most Ironman competitors must qualify
by winning or placing high in their
age group at other Ironman events
held throughout the year. Barrett
got in through a lottery system. The
Ironman Triathlon World Championship
committee selects 200 athletes - 150
from the United States and 50 from other
nations - to join the field. “
Attempting to do the Ironman, that’s
most people’s ultimate goal in the sport,
not their first goal,” Ardrey said. “So it’s
pretty amazing to think that Arnold’s
first triathlon was Ironman.” Ardrey had
a feeling Barrett was special on that day
16 years ago when he joined them. When
Barrett bought his bike, he asked Ardrey
whether he could join his group on one
of its regular rides - a 25- to 30-mile trip
from Augusta to Beech Island to Pine Log
Road near Aiken and back.
Once again, Barrett has made it into this
year’s Ironman World Championship
thanks to the lottery. This time, he won’t
go to Hawaii unless he earns it. He can
do it with a high enough finish in Canada
this weekend. “I would love to qualify
to go back to Kona, “Barrett said. “It was
just an incredible experience. Riding the
bike through the lava fields at the base
of a volcano. Just being in Hawaii, in the
ocean, swimming in that water. There’s
nothing else like it.”
2) Has he lost his mind? Can he see or
is he blind? Can he walk at all, or if he
moves will he fall?” - Ozzy Osbourne
Some say the local CPA has absolutely no
business walking at all in the wake of a
grueling 112-mile bike ride, 26-mile run
and 2.4-mile swim.
But, don’t you see? Dude is absolutely
relentless. Dude is Ironman.
You probably remember a few weeks
back when we profiled Barrett, a man
who did the unthinkable last year in
Kona, Hawaii.
Barrett made his competitive debut at
the Ironman World Championship - the
premier event of multisport - where he
finished 338th out of more than 1,600
competitors from across the globe.
Golfers don’t launch their career at The
Masters Tournament. And triathletes
simply don’t debut at Kona.
Barrett did, and he did it again last week
at the Suburu Ironman Canada amid
raging wildfires ravaging the forests in
and around Penticton, British Columbia.
An experienced rider, Ardrey advised
Barrett to take it slow, to start out riding
a few miles a day, and gradually work
his way up to longer distances. “I told
him I wanted to give it a try,” Barrett
said. Ardrey and the group were in for a
surprise. Barrett not only kept up with
them, but he also finished the 25-mile
ride in the middle of the pack. “For two
hours, we tried to lose him, but we
couldn’t get rid of him,” Ardrey said. “He
was more of an athlete than he appeared
to be. It was pretty amazing.”
Barrett had a few more surprises for the
group. “One day, we went to play ultimate
Frisbee and Arnold was a star at that,”
Ardrey said. “Then we went to play soccer,
and we found out he had played some
semipro soccer. Then we went to play
basketball one day, and he could slam
dunk a basketball. “He was more than
the regular Joe Shmoe,” he added. “He’s a
gifted athlete. It’s just a gift he has.”
pounds the pavement on the open road.
He finished 104th out of 1,965 starters,
including 55 professional triathletes.
In his age division (45-49), Barrett finished
third in a field of 175. That earned him
a trip back to this year’s Ironman World
Championships in Kona in October.
Some say Arnold Barrett lost his mind
when he decided to enter the unforgiving
world of competitive triathlon at age 45
last year.
Some say the Augusta native has been
blinded by his own desire to test the
limits of his own body every time he
mounts a road bike, hits the water or
Canada was only his second triathlon,
and some of his buddies at the local bike
shop used to call him an out-of-shape
schlep.
Schlep this. Dude is for real.
What’s most impressive about Barrett
is that he already earned a spot in the
Ironman nationals through a lottery
system. All along, he said he wouldn’t go
unless he earned his own spot there.
He delivered, in spite of the massive
headache and stomach pains he woke up
with the morning of the race.
And in the immortal words of the
legendary Ozzy Osbourne and Black
Sabbath, Arnold Barrett is Ironman.
“It gives me more gratification than last
year since I got in the (Ironman worlds)
by the lottery or lady luck,” Barrett said.
“This year, I went for it, and I actually
earned it.”
3) Paul Kannady used to see triathlons
and question who would want to subject
themselves to that torture.
Adventure racing was Paul Butler’s
thing until he decided - at age 60 - that
propelling and mountain biking while
going sleepless for several days was a
little too dangerous. He switched to the
triathlon because it still subjected his
body to a severe endurance test, but
was completed in one day during mostly
daylight hours.
“You ask yourself constantly during them,
‘Why am I doing this?’” he said. “And when
you finish, you are absolutely elated.”
Butler, 63, Kannady, 36, and Arnold
Barrett, 48, are local athletes who hope
to experience that feeling of elation
Saturday evening when they finish the
Ironman Florida in Panama City.
Ironman competitions feature a 2.4mile swim, 112 miles on the bike and a
26.2-mile run - the same distance as a
marathon.
A year ago, Kannady completed the
Ironman Wisconsin - his first - in 14 hours,
23 minutes.
“It was actually harder than I expected, to
be honest,” he said. “At least the bike was.”
This time, he said he’d like to finish in less
than 12 hours, though he is recovering
from a bone spur in his right foot. In order
to accomplish that goal, Kannady sought
out Barrett’s help on the bike. Kannady
calls him “Arnold the Brick Barrett,”
because “he feels no pain.”
out in the rain, out in the
cold,” says Barrett. “He’s got a
phenomenal work ethic,” says
Hogan. “When he puts his
mind to something, he just
does it.”
Barrett said some of the people they
ride with call him worse things, but
that Kannady eventually adjusted to his
vigorous training methods.
Still, Swimming, Biking, and
running for hours and hours
can take its toll on a body.
“Sometimes it feels like it’s
never going to end on the
run,” says Barrett.
“When he first started he was pretty
good, but he got a lot better,” Barrett said.
Barrett has achieved what Kannady and
Butler hope to one day - qualifying for the
Ironman Hawaii World Championships.
Each Ironman competition offers limited
spots in all the age groups to the Hawaii
race. Barrett said he would probably
have to break the 10-hour mark in order
to qualify for his third trip to Hawaii,
but estimates he’ll be about 30 minutes
behind pace on the run because he, too,
is recovering from a foot injury.
4) North Augusta man gets triathlon
honor-North Augusta’s Arnold Barrett Jr.
has been awarded All-American status
by USA Triathlon. Barrett ranked in the
top 10 percent - 83rd out of 1,212 - in the
USAT National Rankins for the 45-49 year
old group. He finished third out of 82
qualifiers in his age group in the Ironman
World Championships held in Kona,
Hawaii, in October. May 4, 2009
5) Augusta Sports Council’s Amateur
Athlete Award-2005
“The first few times in Hawaii,
you don’t know what to do.
You don’t want to stop.”
Arnold Barrett works nine to five like
many people. But when he leaves his
job for the day, his work is only half-way
finished.
“I’ll probably run anywhere between
40-60 miles a week,” says triathlete Arnold
Barrett. “I’ll bike probably...anywhere
from 250-300 miles a week. I’ll also swim
at Aquatics center probably…16-20
thousand yards a week.”
Now Barrett doesn’t pound the pavement
just for fun. He’s training for the Ironman
world championships in Hawaii. The idea
started with a simple conversation.
“I was speaking with a friend of mine,
Glen,” says Barrett. “We used to watch the
Ironman on T.V. I told him I was going to
do this.” “We said we always wanted to do
something like the Ironman, just more or
less talking,” says Barrett’s friend Glenn
Hogan. “He actually took it seriously.”
The 48-year-old has already competed in
Hawaii two other times. But there have
been moments in training where Barrett
has second guessed what he’s doing.
“There’s times where I get off work and
go for a 15-20 mile run and it was hard…
Wherever you go in Augusta,
you’re bound to see Arnold
Barrett preparing for the
Ironman. And he’s hoping all
that work will pay off come
October.
“This year, I’d like to finish in
the top 10 in my age group,”
says Barrett. “I’d like to finish
in the top 5. But I’m gonna
really have to work at it.”
“The competition doesn’t
even drop off until 65 or 70,”
says fellow triathlete Paul
Kannady. “in his age group, in
the 45-50 age group…very,
very competitive.”
As for Barrett’s future as a
triathlete, don’t expect him to
slow down anytime soon.
“I’d like to do it as long as I
can,” says Barrett. “I don’t think
I want to go back to Hawaii
every year just because of the
expense. I’ll probably try to
go back when I’m 55.”