Pete Holmes died at the weekend at the age of 24.In his short life he achieved masses, running initially with Tetbury Royals, then Cirencester AC before going to Loughborough University and joining up with Cheltenham Harriers.
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Upon graduating he landed a plum job as media officer with the British Triathlon Association and then, presumably because he was good at what he did, last year became communications manager of the International Triathlon Union based in Vancouver, Canada, from where he travelled the world of professional triathlon events.
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It was in Canada that he died, falling from a mountain when out on snowshoes. Words cannot accurately convey the awfulness of this dreadful tragedy.
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Pete was a true maverick but the 5,826 hits in the last 24 hours on the thread relating to his death on the running forum website eightlane.com, testify to his popularity and the shock of this awful news within the running community. Never has the oft used phrase Life's too Short been more apt than in relation to Pete's demise.
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Pete, I'll never forget Stroud last year when you just prevailed ahead of Wendy & me - you couldn't face the thought of being beaten by the first lady/V50 - and ran down the finishing straight with your now iconic Ryan Hall moment celebrating qualifying for London. That image will stay with me as will our lovely, friendly chat afterwards.
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At this difficult time one can only offer the deepest sympathy to those closest to him, his parents, brother and girlfriend.
