Published August 1, 2011 07:47AM
Five bee stings to the forehead doesn’t stop Chad Holderbaum from winning the Pittsburgh Tri.
As a veteran triathlete and coach, Irwin’s Chad Holderbaum is accustomed to dealing with challenges that may crop up during a race, from extreme weather to equipment malfunctions.
Sunday threw him a twist, however, when a bee flew into his bike helmet midway through the Pittsburgh Triathlon and stung him on the forehead.
“I actually contemplated stopping on the bike,” he said. “I didn’t know if I should pull over and make sure it was out of there. … I got stung about five times.”
Instead of stopping, Holderbaum moved his helmet around and got the bee out, then went on to win the international distance Pittsburgh Triathlon with a time of 2:03:02.
“I’ve always wanted to win this race,” said Holderbaum, who last ran the Pittsburgh Triathlon in 2003. “To win the hometown race is awesome.”
Read more: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review