Viterra Ironman 70.3 Calgary is proud to announce five charity entry spots for the Calgary 70.3 half-Ironman. The proceeds of these entries are going to support that Jason Lapierre Scholarship fund at the University of Calgary.

On July 19th 2006 we of lost a very good friend when Jason Lapierre was hit by a car while he was out training on Highway 1A near Cochrane. Jay was doing nothing wrong. He was riding in the shoulder of the road (a wide shoulder at that) when a driver coming from the opposite direction passed out behind the wheel, crossed over the highway and hit Jay head on. There is a very good chance that Jay never saw it coming.

Jay made close personal connections with people and many would have described him as their best friend. Such was his strength of character. Jay and I first met in the summer of 2001 at some duathlon races but it wasn’t until the fall of 2002 when we joined the Kronos triathlon club where Jay and I really got to know each other.

Jay would often disappear during the winter as his duties with the Calgary Alpine Ski club meant that he was out of town quite a bit but when in town we would join up to hammer some running intervals at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Both of us would often exchange ‘glory’ day stories as to when we thought we had some speed back running in university.

We started traveling together to races but I would admit that I wasn’t always the best traveling buddy, as I’d fall asleep when he was driving. He’d use this opportunity to play tricks on me like turning up all the heat on me. I’d wake up feeling sick not knowing what he had done. We’ve made half a dozen trips together to the Okanogan for races and training.

In the summer of 2003 Jay was focusing training on Ironman Canada. Even if we weren’t able to be there to watch Jay race, many of us were following it on the internet. I was both happy and proud of Jay at the same time. He inspired us. Here is a slide show that Trev Williams put together on Jay’s first ironman, which inspired us to take up long course triathlon the challenge.

http://www.jasonlapierre.com/Jaysvideo.wmv

That fall, Lap moved out to Canmore, so I didn’t see as much of him but Jay would often come into town and use my place as a training base. We would do a workout at night, he’d crash on my fouton and then we’d wake up in the morning to do another run or bike before he drove back to Canmore. I’d often do the same out at his place in Canmore. When he moved back to Calgary after buying his townhouse, it wouldn’t be an odd-occurrence to find us doing a three-hour trainer rides together in his garage.

Jay and I became close friends and I would not hesitate to say that he has been my best friend for the last couple of years. I talked with Jay for a good 20 minutes early in the afternoon of the day of the accident. We spoke of career opportunities (Jay had just turned down an opportunity with Alpine Canada); we talked about mutual friends, investment properties (Jay was looking at buying a downtown condo as an investment), and upcoming races. Jay was hoping for some good races by the end of season after taking a mid summer break from bike racing. He said that he had been feeling strong on his last couple of bike rides. We looked forward to a 200k ride together in the next weekend.

Our last conversation was a good talk, as we often had. In fact I remember we ended the conversation, and then I called him back again about 5 minutes later and we talked some more. Things were going well for him and I am confident that his last day with us was a good day filled with Jay having happy thoughts and memories.

The long road trips to races, our shared sense of humor and the great conversations were special times Jay and I had together. I will miss Jay as a great friend, training buddy and role model. There are so many people that owe so much to Jason for his leadership and coaching to help make us what we are in terms of athletes and people. Jay always believed in us and pushed us to accomplish more.

Jason has been a great friend and I will really miss him. Since Jay’s passing there have been many wonderful things done in his name. The fact that we are keeping his spirit alive is wonderful.  Click here to Register

Below is the a slide show that world champion down hill skier, Olympian and one of Jay’s best friends John Kucera put together for Jay. Jay was John’s coach when John was a teen. Jay was extremely influential in John’s athletic development.

For more information about the Jason Lapierre Memorial Scholarship, please visit:

http://netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/Page.aspx?&pid=290&srcid=231

www.jasonlapierre.com