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First Posted: 6/6/2013

FORTY FORT — When Tim O’Donnell won the Brazil Ironman last month, he spent much of the bike and run far out in front of the rest of the pack.
So the Shavertown native knows all about running a race alone.
On Thursday, O’Donnell made an appearance in the area to help make sure veterans returning from overseas don’t have to adjust to life back home alone.
O’Donnell stopped by Leverage Fitness in Forty Fort and worked out with about a dozen members and supporters of Team Red, White and Blue, a group that helps veterans integrate back into the community.
“I don’t get home much but when I do, it’s really great to bring everything together,” O’Donnell said, showing considerably less wear from his workout than the other participants. “I have pretty big support group here. They get excited when I come back and I get excited to do stuff with them.
“It’s a lot of fun.”
And it does a lot of good, according to Erik Vanlaningham, Team RWB community captain.
“It’s mean everything to us to have Tim, who is a world class athlete, here,” Vanlaningham said. “Everytime he runs he represents all the veterans and all the community supporters.”
Vanlaningham, a graduate of West Point, said the group helps veterans feel at home by getting them involved in physical fitness with other members of the community.
“It’s really focused on being a local veterans charity and team building association,” said Vanlaningham.
He added because one out of every two households in Northeastern Pennsylvania have a veteran in it, the group is sorely needed in the area.
For O’Donnell, a graduate of Naval Academy, it was a no brainer to get involved with the group.
“Really my career in the triathlon is a gift from the Navy,” said O’Donnell, who started competing in the events when he was part of the military’s world class athlete program. “It’s come full circle and I’ve been able to support the men and women who serve our country.
“It’s really a big honor for me. Everywhere I race I always have the Team Red, White and Blue eagle on my uniform.”
As for the Brazil race — O’Donnell’s first victory in a full-length Ironman — it was just a really good day for that eagle.
Not only did he win the race, he tied the American record for an Ironman event with a time of 8 hours, 1 minute and 31 seconds.
“Brazil was just one of the those days where everything came together,” O’Donnell said. “I soloed it for 112-miles on the bike and the marathon afterwards. I was by myself off the front.
“It was a test of mental strength to stay on top of myself out there.”
O’Donnell will now focus on the World Championships in Hawaii in October.
Until then he will spend some time with family in friends while he is in the area and get ready to compete in the half Ironman World Championships in Las Vegas in September.
And help make sure that returning veterans don’t have to race alone they way he did in Brazil.