Join Team Operation Rebound Silverman Half Relay and Support Injured U.S. Military Personnel Since the beginning of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 27,000 U.S. military personnel have been wounded – many suffering traumatic, permanent injuries. In 2004, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), an organization with 15 years of experience supporting the athletic endeavors of physically challenged athletes, launched Operation Rebound. This program, which has touched hundreds of wounded veterans provides the training, specialized equipment and mentoring permanently injured military personnel need to get back into sports – whether their goal is to simply finish a local 5K or make it to the Paralympic games.
On November 9th, you can Race for a Reason at the Operation Silverman Half Relay, and make it your mission to raise funds for Operation Rebound. Your efforts will help ensure U.S. military personnel who suffered permanent injuries fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan get full access to life-affirming, healing sports activities. As a member of Team Operation Rebound Silverman Half Relay you’ll race alongside seven injured veterans as they take on the challenging same swim, bike and run you do.
Commit to raising just $1,000 for Operation Rebound and you’ll also gain access to other benefits, like:
A custom racing uniform
An Operation Rebound technical training shirt
A special “Operation Rebound” early wave start
A special “Operation Rebound” racking zone in the transition area
Special seating at the pre-race pasta dinner
A CAF Race belt and water bottle
VIP registration (no waiting in line)
Cool incentive prizes available for those raising more than $1,000
Make your race matter. Support Operation Rebound and our troops.
REGISTER NOW!Registration Closes Nov 1st, 2008 Relay field is limited to first 30 relay teams.The Operation Rebound teams will cover the Nevada Silverman Half Distance Triathlon, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim in Lake Mead, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run through the astonishingly hilly downtown Henderson, NV. Relay Divisions: Male, Female, Coed, and Operation Rebound teams: Awards will be given to the top three teams in each respected division. The Operation Rebound teams must contain a member of the CAF or Operation Rebound to be eligible for awards. Each relay member will receive a finisher shirt and finisher medal.Meet your CAF Athletes
Click on the names below and check out their stories:
Andy Hatcher
Brandon Erickson
Dave Rozelle
Dean Wagner
Evan Morgan
John Morley
Melissa Stockwell
Mike McNaughton
Rich Ingram
Tim Gustafson
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Vineman 70.3: by Mellisa Olivas
Mellisa's Crew - Victor- George- Ron- Melissa- Tom- Jamie- Doug- Dwayne- Ted
If you are looking to exchange the dead heat of a Las Vegas summer for a cooler, more scenic venue, then the Vineman 70.3 Triathlon in the Russian River Valley of Northern California is the race for you. It features a barely wetsuit-legal swim in the Russian River (virtually no current) followed by a bike course that takes you winding through a myriad of vineyards and a run that, although hilly, is incredibly lush and green.
The logistics of getting there with your bike can be a little challenging since it is a 10 hour drive from Las Vegas. The closest airports are Oakland and San Francisco which are an hour away, unless of course you have your own plane like some people we know, and can fly directly into the Sonoma County airport which is five miles from the finish line.
Register early for the race as it tends to sell out and make your accommodations as soon as possible. Our group enjoyed our stay at the Sonoma County Condos (Worldmark by Wyndham) which is approximately three miles from the finish line in Windsor. This location is great as we found the need to travel back and forth between our condos and the expo multiple times. Windsor is a 10-minute drive from Santa Rosa and features a variety of quaint restaurants and a Walmart for those last minute race supplies.
Our group drove up early and previewed the course prior to race day, which I highly recommend. The weather was 90 degrees on the high end and 55 degrees for the low. We were fortunate to have a cloud cover for longer than forecasted on race day so we took advantage of the cooler temperatures and had a fabulous time.
Also, if you like wine, then you cannot miss the opportunity to put together a great post race party the next day at the local vineyards. We did!
The logistics of getting there with your bike can be a little challenging since it is a 10 hour drive from Las Vegas. The closest airports are Oakland and San Francisco which are an hour away, unless of course you have your own plane like some people we know, and can fly directly into the Sonoma County airport which is five miles from the finish line.
Register early for the race as it tends to sell out and make your accommodations as soon as possible. Our group enjoyed our stay at the Sonoma County Condos (Worldmark by Wyndham) which is approximately three miles from the finish line in Windsor. This location is great as we found the need to travel back and forth between our condos and the expo multiple times. Windsor is a 10-minute drive from Santa Rosa and features a variety of quaint restaurants and a Walmart for those last minute race supplies.
Our group drove up early and previewed the course prior to race day, which I highly recommend. The weather was 90 degrees on the high end and 55 degrees for the low. We were fortunate to have a cloud cover for longer than forecasted on race day so we took advantage of the cooler temperatures and had a fabulous time.
Also, if you like wine, then you cannot miss the opportunity to put together a great post race party the next day at the local vineyards. We did!
It looks like there are about 8 guys for every girl on this trip - how does she do it? By the way Mellisa came blasting by me on the run at mile 7 - her leg turn over was great, she destroyed me with her energy. Congratulations - nice race. Dave Carlson
Monday, August 18, 2008
X-Terra Championship, Ogden, UT: by Victor Rodriguez
On Aug 16, the final stop on the X-Terra tour took place in the northern town of Ogden UT. This is the final qualifier for the national championship to be held in Lake Tahoe's Incline Village in early October. This event drew the finest X-Terra triathletes from the neighboring states of Nevada, California, Arizona, Colorado and by the elite from Utah.
The event took place just outside Ogden at the Snowbasin ski resort. The venue has held numerous X-Terra events and was the clear choice again this year. John Harrington and I decided to attent this event simply because it's the premier race just before the big one in Tahoe. We ran into Jay Watson, a member of the LV tri club and better half of Kim. Jay will be competing in his first off-road event after having competed in numerous triathlons for the last few years.
Having done several of these events, John Harrington and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to compete against the finest athletes in the region, with the chance of qualifying for the nationals. With that in mind, we programmed the GPS to guide us to the northern parasise of the Wasatch mountains, 7 hours, 450+ miles later, we arrived in heaven! At the registration booth, we were greeted with a big smile by Jennifer Marsh and Ann Mickey. These ladies are employed by X-Terra, travel around the country organizing these events and I must tell you, they do a superb job making sure that everything goes smoothly. Jen and Ann had us down and all we had to was sign at the dotted line, how's that for service!!!
The roster was loaded with top pros. Starting with 3-time world champion Conrad Stoltz, Josiah Middaugh, defending champion Seth Whealer and many others, the men's pro field was stacked with the finest. On the women's side, Shonny Vanlandingham, canadians Melanie McQuaid and Danelle Kabush, Lisa Leib and many others promised to keep the course 'en fuego'.
The course called for two transition areas. The swim portion was held down from the mountain at the Pine View reservoir, a 1500 meter splash was scheduled. From there, it was an uphill battle for 12 miles up to the ski lodge. Another loop around the ski runs covered the other 6 miles with a gorgeous section of single track, fast decends and countless tight switchbacks all the way to T-2. The run took us up several steep ski runs with the middle section covering two-plus miles of shaded single track, a few more climbs and a fast decend to the finish line. The weather was just superb, with temps ranging from 68 to 82 degrees, slight breeze and a few puffy clouds.
The water temp was 73 degrees. The pros were not allowed to wear wetsuits, the age groupers had the option, I wore mine so did John and Jay. After the smoke cleared, Conrad Stoltz emerged as the winner by a scant 30+ seconds. The top five pros were separated by less than 60 seconds, very close and exciting for the many fans which crowded the finish line. The women's winner was Melanie McQuaid with Shonny Vanlandingham a very close second by less than a minute. Danelle Kabush finished in the top ten. This second place finish places Shonny in a perfect position for the championship event to be held in Hawaii. Shonny crossed over from mountain biking to X-Terra after being a 5-time national champion which includes 3 cross country titles along with a short track and a marathon (50 miles race). Shonny resides and trains in Durango, many athletes from the southwestern Colorado town participated and came up with some shiny hardware. We had the pleasure of meeting Coloradans Ashley Angel, an up and coming triathlete who promises to rise rapidly along with age grouper Dave and his lovely wife Bobbi. We sat with Dave and Bobbi at their table and shared some stories, Ashley acompanied us to the local ice cream parlor for some after hours treat.
The field included several challenged athletes but one that comes to mind is Megan. Megan lost her left leg just below the knee and that hasn't stopped her from living life. In fact Megan competed in the challenged division and did quite well. Unfortunately, an over zealous rider tried to pass her on a tight section of single track and slightly bumped her and she lost control. She ended up in a ditch with a tree stump pressed against her right side, a nasty gash on her left ankle and two dislocated fingers. Just before the accident, John Harrington was trading places with Megan on the wide, steep climbs preceeding the single track. Megan went on ahead and John followed about a hundred yards behind. John entered the single track and heard a rider in distress. Unselfishly, John rendered assistance jeopardizing his eventual result. He pulled her out of the ditch and proceeded with assesing the injuries. She seemed OK dispite a some blood around her ankle, John calmed her down and she went on with the rest of the race. She eventually finished and headed to the ER for a quick check-up and several stitches. Megan showed her mettle and John his sportsmanship and unselfish determination. I tip my helmet to both athletes for showing what it takes to compete. That's what makes X-Terra events so great, the spirit and dedication no matter the situation.
The awards presentation was held at the downtown Amphitheater with many local restaurants displaying their finest dishes. The live band cranked out some of the finest southern rock, everyone had a great time! At the party we ran into 'Kalei'. Kalei is the announcer and voice of X-Terra. You can find her behind a mic at every event blurting out instructions and announcing everyone's names as they cross the finish line. We met her back in May at the Temecula X-Terra, her voice clear and smooth as ever! She gave us a bit of billing as we stumbled across the line, mentioning Las Vegas and our club. We also ran across Brogg Sterret and his right-hand-man, sister Aubriann, they designed this year's swim course. Brogg is the promoter for some of the finest events in the southwest region such as Rage in the Sage, St. George, Kokopelli and Pumpkinman triathlons. Brogg is know for promoting the finest events on the planet with safety being number one on the list. This year's Pumpkinman event will include a half, olympic and sprint distance as well as club nationals. If you havn't done this one, sign up, you'll llove it!!!
This year's Ogden X-Terra was dedicated by Conrad Stoltz to pro triathlete Jamie Whitmore. Jamie endured a major operation to remove a tumor from her leg, she's doing fine but might have to go through another procedure. We hope to see Jamie racing again soon in the pro circuit doing what she does best, winning!!! The entire triathlete community including the Las Vegas Tri Club wishes Jamie a speedy recovery, we keep her in our minds and prayers. Oh, by the way, if you would like to see complete results, log on to http://www.jtltiming.com/. Time to log off, have a wonderful evening and remember, pain is temporary, glory is forever.............
The event took place just outside Ogden at the Snowbasin ski resort. The venue has held numerous X-Terra events and was the clear choice again this year. John Harrington and I decided to attent this event simply because it's the premier race just before the big one in Tahoe. We ran into Jay Watson, a member of the LV tri club and better half of Kim. Jay will be competing in his first off-road event after having competed in numerous triathlons for the last few years.
Having done several of these events, John Harrington and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to compete against the finest athletes in the region, with the chance of qualifying for the nationals. With that in mind, we programmed the GPS to guide us to the northern parasise of the Wasatch mountains, 7 hours, 450+ miles later, we arrived in heaven! At the registration booth, we were greeted with a big smile by Jennifer Marsh and Ann Mickey. These ladies are employed by X-Terra, travel around the country organizing these events and I must tell you, they do a superb job making sure that everything goes smoothly. Jen and Ann had us down and all we had to was sign at the dotted line, how's that for service!!!
The roster was loaded with top pros. Starting with 3-time world champion Conrad Stoltz, Josiah Middaugh, defending champion Seth Whealer and many others, the men's pro field was stacked with the finest. On the women's side, Shonny Vanlandingham, canadians Melanie McQuaid and Danelle Kabush, Lisa Leib and many others promised to keep the course 'en fuego'.
The course called for two transition areas. The swim portion was held down from the mountain at the Pine View reservoir, a 1500 meter splash was scheduled. From there, it was an uphill battle for 12 miles up to the ski lodge. Another loop around the ski runs covered the other 6 miles with a gorgeous section of single track, fast decends and countless tight switchbacks all the way to T-2. The run took us up several steep ski runs with the middle section covering two-plus miles of shaded single track, a few more climbs and a fast decend to the finish line. The weather was just superb, with temps ranging from 68 to 82 degrees, slight breeze and a few puffy clouds.
The water temp was 73 degrees. The pros were not allowed to wear wetsuits, the age groupers had the option, I wore mine so did John and Jay. After the smoke cleared, Conrad Stoltz emerged as the winner by a scant 30+ seconds. The top five pros were separated by less than 60 seconds, very close and exciting for the many fans which crowded the finish line. The women's winner was Melanie McQuaid with Shonny Vanlandingham a very close second by less than a minute. Danelle Kabush finished in the top ten. This second place finish places Shonny in a perfect position for the championship event to be held in Hawaii. Shonny crossed over from mountain biking to X-Terra after being a 5-time national champion which includes 3 cross country titles along with a short track and a marathon (50 miles race). Shonny resides and trains in Durango, many athletes from the southwestern Colorado town participated and came up with some shiny hardware. We had the pleasure of meeting Coloradans Ashley Angel, an up and coming triathlete who promises to rise rapidly along with age grouper Dave and his lovely wife Bobbi. We sat with Dave and Bobbi at their table and shared some stories, Ashley acompanied us to the local ice cream parlor for some after hours treat.
The field included several challenged athletes but one that comes to mind is Megan. Megan lost her left leg just below the knee and that hasn't stopped her from living life. In fact Megan competed in the challenged division and did quite well. Unfortunately, an over zealous rider tried to pass her on a tight section of single track and slightly bumped her and she lost control. She ended up in a ditch with a tree stump pressed against her right side, a nasty gash on her left ankle and two dislocated fingers. Just before the accident, John Harrington was trading places with Megan on the wide, steep climbs preceeding the single track. Megan went on ahead and John followed about a hundred yards behind. John entered the single track and heard a rider in distress. Unselfishly, John rendered assistance jeopardizing his eventual result. He pulled her out of the ditch and proceeded with assesing the injuries. She seemed OK dispite a some blood around her ankle, John calmed her down and she went on with the rest of the race. She eventually finished and headed to the ER for a quick check-up and several stitches. Megan showed her mettle and John his sportsmanship and unselfish determination. I tip my helmet to both athletes for showing what it takes to compete. That's what makes X-Terra events so great, the spirit and dedication no matter the situation.
The awards presentation was held at the downtown Amphitheater with many local restaurants displaying their finest dishes. The live band cranked out some of the finest southern rock, everyone had a great time! At the party we ran into 'Kalei'. Kalei is the announcer and voice of X-Terra. You can find her behind a mic at every event blurting out instructions and announcing everyone's names as they cross the finish line. We met her back in May at the Temecula X-Terra, her voice clear and smooth as ever! She gave us a bit of billing as we stumbled across the line, mentioning Las Vegas and our club. We also ran across Brogg Sterret and his right-hand-man, sister Aubriann, they designed this year's swim course. Brogg is the promoter for some of the finest events in the southwest region such as Rage in the Sage, St. George, Kokopelli and Pumpkinman triathlons. Brogg is know for promoting the finest events on the planet with safety being number one on the list. This year's Pumpkinman event will include a half, olympic and sprint distance as well as club nationals. If you havn't done this one, sign up, you'll llove it!!!
This year's Ogden X-Terra was dedicated by Conrad Stoltz to pro triathlete Jamie Whitmore. Jamie endured a major operation to remove a tumor from her leg, she's doing fine but might have to go through another procedure. We hope to see Jamie racing again soon in the pro circuit doing what she does best, winning!!! The entire triathlete community including the Las Vegas Tri Club wishes Jamie a speedy recovery, we keep her in our minds and prayers. Oh, by the way, if you would like to see complete results, log on to http://www.jtltiming.com/. Time to log off, have a wonderful evening and remember, pain is temporary, glory is forever.............
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Camp Pendleton II: by Bailey Sheridan
(Me , Chris, Nate, Samantha - The Crew)
Well, there are the races where we except calm oceans, cool weather and no wind, so we sign up for them. Then there are the races where we except huge waves, intense wind and hot weather and we may think twice about whether its worth it. On Saturday, August 9th I learned my lesson about expecting one thing and being given another!!
Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon was probably one of the most memorable tri's I have ever done. The course was beautiful, the weather nice (compared to this Vegas heat) and the wind wasn't too bad. However, I was not expecting those freaking huge waves!!! I thought they were supposed to be rolling small waves... but no... they were big... and scary!!!
Me, Nate, Sam, and Chris left for Camp Pendleton Friday morning with our hopes high!! We arrived in Oceanside around noon and went for a quick swim to stretch out our suits and get used to the water. The waves that day were pretty big... I mean for someone who mainly swims in Lake Mead!! However, they were not too powerful and it was fun to swim under them and mess around. All of us knew these waves were monsters compared to what we would have tomorrow. We all expected calm oceans on race day...
When we woke up Saturday I was prepared... I knew the swim would be awesome, I had the bike down and just had to get through the run. I was ready to give it my all, and I was determined to be 1st in my age group. We loaded the bikes and headed to the base where we proceeded through checkpoint after checkpoint until be got to the race area.
We all went to our areas and set up our transitions. Sam.. ending up with the best spot... right next to Michellie Jones!!! We were all standing around Sam when Michellie showed up and propped her bike next to Sam's. We said hello and then Sam turned to us saying, "You don't know how intimidated I am right now..." We laughed and Michelle just turned to us and said "Well, Good!"
(Me and Nate after the race!!)
Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon was probably one of the most memorable tri's I have ever done. The course was beautiful, the weather nice (compared to this Vegas heat) and the wind wasn't too bad. However, I was not expecting those freaking huge waves!!! I thought they were supposed to be rolling small waves... but no... they were big... and scary!!!
Me, Nate, Sam, and Chris left for Camp Pendleton Friday morning with our hopes high!! We arrived in Oceanside around noon and went for a quick swim to stretch out our suits and get used to the water. The waves that day were pretty big... I mean for someone who mainly swims in Lake Mead!! However, they were not too powerful and it was fun to swim under them and mess around. All of us knew these waves were monsters compared to what we would have tomorrow. We all expected calm oceans on race day...
When we woke up Saturday I was prepared... I knew the swim would be awesome, I had the bike down and just had to get through the run. I was ready to give it my all, and I was determined to be 1st in my age group. We loaded the bikes and headed to the base where we proceeded through checkpoint after checkpoint until be got to the race area.
We all went to our areas and set up our transitions. Sam.. ending up with the best spot... right next to Michellie Jones!!! We were all standing around Sam when Michellie showed up and propped her bike next to Sam's. We said hello and then Sam turned to us saying, "You don't know how intimidated I am right now..." We laughed and Michelle just turned to us and said "Well, Good!"
(Sam's bike next to Michellie's)
After talking to Michellie we all walked down to the water to test it out. Holy shit... not what we had expected!! The waves were crashing and there was a big current pulling to the right. I didn't think much about it just that it was going to be a pain.
Chris was 1st to leave... after he ran in we splashed around and waited for our waves. Next thing I knew he was right behind me. He ended up having a panic attack and couldn't breath in the water. He was pulled out and was very disappointed. After I saw Chris I knew this wasn't going to be an easy swim.
Nate's wave was next and Sam's was after me. I just hoped that they would both be fine. After Nate left I lined up and waited nervously. Right when I heard "GO!" all fear left my body and I sprinted to the water. I just tried to swim as hard as I possibly could! Wave after wave I was pulled back. It was like swimming with someone holding your legs!! I have never felt so useless in a race! However, once I was passed the 1st buoy I knew I was good. The way in wasn't nearly as bad. Body surfing came into play!! Then once I hit sand I threw off my wetsuit and ran!!
My first transition was awesome.... I had been practicing it with my fabulous coach... Nate that is... and practice paid off, it was by far the fastest transition I have ever had!! The bike course was beautiful and fast. There was a few hills but nothing too bad... mainly steep but short hills!! As I neared the end of the bike course I got my feet out of my shoes and tried the running dismount I had been working on. It worked very well but hurt a little and was sloppy!! Oh well.... T2 was also very fast for me... thanks Nate!!... and I was off on the run...
The run was where things started to go downhill for me. I wanted to run a 9min mile for the run, but once I got to the top of the hill from transition, cramps set in!!! Not just any cramps either, these were cramps from hell. Damn salt water!! The first 2 miles consisted of me yelling at myself to go faster and how I wouldn't get 1st!! Then I finally said screw it and pushed myself to run in it. I got close to the finish and topped it off with a sprint in.
YEAH!!! It was over!! I had never won a race before and I was determined that this would be the one. And sure enough training paid off... #1 in 19and under age group!!! WHOOOOOO... and I actually beat people!! Usually I get defaulted #1 or something. I was ecstatic!!
They called my name and I got my award and hugged my awesome teammates and coach. Me and Nate finished the race, Nate missing top 10 in his group by 7sec!!!! Chris and Sam both called it at the swim but I was still proud of both of them for trying. I mean come on... they went into the water scared shitless and gave it all they had... what else could you ask for!!
Chris was 1st to leave... after he ran in we splashed around and waited for our waves. Next thing I knew he was right behind me. He ended up having a panic attack and couldn't breath in the water. He was pulled out and was very disappointed. After I saw Chris I knew this wasn't going to be an easy swim.
Nate's wave was next and Sam's was after me. I just hoped that they would both be fine. After Nate left I lined up and waited nervously. Right when I heard "GO!" all fear left my body and I sprinted to the water. I just tried to swim as hard as I possibly could! Wave after wave I was pulled back. It was like swimming with someone holding your legs!! I have never felt so useless in a race! However, once I was passed the 1st buoy I knew I was good. The way in wasn't nearly as bad. Body surfing came into play!! Then once I hit sand I threw off my wetsuit and ran!!
My first transition was awesome.... I had been practicing it with my fabulous coach... Nate that is... and practice paid off, it was by far the fastest transition I have ever had!! The bike course was beautiful and fast. There was a few hills but nothing too bad... mainly steep but short hills!! As I neared the end of the bike course I got my feet out of my shoes and tried the running dismount I had been working on. It worked very well but hurt a little and was sloppy!! Oh well.... T2 was also very fast for me... thanks Nate!!... and I was off on the run...
The run was where things started to go downhill for me. I wanted to run a 9min mile for the run, but once I got to the top of the hill from transition, cramps set in!!! Not just any cramps either, these were cramps from hell. Damn salt water!! The first 2 miles consisted of me yelling at myself to go faster and how I wouldn't get 1st!! Then I finally said screw it and pushed myself to run in it. I got close to the finish and topped it off with a sprint in.
YEAH!!! It was over!! I had never won a race before and I was determined that this would be the one. And sure enough training paid off... #1 in 19and under age group!!! WHOOOOOO... and I actually beat people!! Usually I get defaulted #1 or something. I was ecstatic!!
They called my name and I got my award and hugged my awesome teammates and coach. Me and Nate finished the race, Nate missing top 10 in his group by 7sec!!!! Chris and Sam both called it at the swim but I was still proud of both of them for trying. I mean come on... they went into the water scared shitless and gave it all they had... what else could you ask for!!
(Me and Nate after the race!!)
This was a learning event for everyone. I now know never to underestimate Mother Nature and that I can push myself even harder than I thought!! This was a great race and I would recommend it to everyone!! Just beware of those waves!!
bailey
Monday, August 11, 2008
Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon Report 8/9/08, by Nathan Chaszeyka
This was the first triathlon I ever participated in, and I was very anxious to get back and see what kind of progress I’ve made over the last year. I talked my girlfriend, Samantha Meiers, and good friends, Bailey Sheridan and Chris Perlewitz into going back with me and enjoying this excellent race. On Friday, 8/8/08, we loaded up my little Subaru Impreza with 4 bikes, and 5 sets of wheels, and all the other tri gear we needed for the weekend. The looks we were getting with all those bikes on top of the car, and the back hatch full of Zipp wheels were hilarious. We joked about how the car looked like we were supporting a pro tour.
The drive down to Oceanside was uneventful, and we were quickly checked into “Carlson Race Headquarters” as Dave likes to call the Motel 6 in Oceanside. Everything was going well. We needed to get to the beach for a short swim*(see footnote), so after a short 20 minute nap, the team rallied and prepped our wetsuits. 20 minutes of swimming in heavy surf was more than enough preparation for the race. The swim is never that rough in this race, right?
We enjoyed a dinner of fine Italian food at Dominic’s in Oceanside Harbor and caught up with some old friends. Dominic’s is my favorite Italian restaurant, west of the Mississippi and I eat there several times during every trip to Oceanside.
On Saturday morning, we woke at 5:15 and casually made our way out of the hotel and to the race site. We were among the first people there and all of us had prime rack positions in transition! Samantha had the best position in transition, as she was lucky enough to share space with World Champion Michellie Jones! MJ was great company and chatted with us extensively. Samantha remarked about how intimidated she was, and Michellie humorously replied, “good” with a smile and a laugh.
Unfortunately the fun ended there. The race start was quickly approaching and as we turned our attention to the swim, we were in for a rude awakening. None of us are swimmers, per se; we all have gotten into swimming so that we could participate in triathlon. Therefore, none of us is necessarily a strong swimmer in heavy surf. As we turned our attention to the swim course, we saw the WAVES. The entire first leg of the “U” shaped swim was going to be head first into 4 foot waves. They were one after another and unrelenting. The surf proved to be too much for Samantha and Chris and they withdrew on the swim. I don’t blame them. All I could think about as I battled my way through was how bad I wanted out. I fought on, promising myself that if I could get through the swim, I was going to have a great race. Somewhere behind me, Bailey was making the same kind of deals with herself (We talked after the race and realized that we were both thinking similar thoughts.)
I had no idea what my swim time was, I’ll have to go with whatever the race clock claims, but it wasn’t pretty. Oh well, that’s racing for you. What I did know was that there was a flat (by Vegas standards), fast bike course ahead of me and I was going to give it hell. My goal was to not let Michellie Jones pass me on the bike. I knew she had to have closed most of the gap between our start waves (7mins) on the swim, so if I could hold her off on the bike, I was having a good ride. I went out hard and built on it from there. A quick glance at my computer showed that I was holding 270-280 watts and 21 mph steadily. I was hoping for more speed out of an effort like that, but that was the windiest ride I’ve had along this course yet (my third time on it between different races). I maintained my aero position for all but 3 minutes of my 54:xx ride, where I had to stand to get up some short, steep rises.
Before I knew it I was popping my shoes off and hauling butt into transition. 30 seconds to change into my running shoes, grab my Garmin, and race number belt and I was outta there. I heard footsteps behind me in the chute going out of transition, and just as I made my way clear of transition, there was Michellie Jones on her way past me. I had held her off on the bike! I’ll take that as a minor victory. I never saw Bailey on the bike, but I was in my happy place trying to forget the pain for the entire ride, so it’s no wonder I didn’t see her.
I found my legs and had a great run, my Garmin had the time as 26:42 and I forgot to push the stop button for a little bit after the finish so 26:3x would be closer. That was my best 5k run finish in a sprint yet, and it was awesome to have the hard work pay off.
Bailey finished up shortly after I did and we went to check the results. I was 11th out of 35 in my group with an official time of 1:39:51, and missed being in the top 10 by 8 seconds! Darn! Bailey on the other hand, had a victorious day, winning her age group by nearly 12 minutes! I guess my coaching is paying off for her as well, if I do say so myself, haha.
The rough swim was a hard pill to swallow, and the four of us talked at length about how to deal with such situations in the future. I’m really sorry that Samantha and Chris couldn’t finish with Bailey and I, but I fully support their choice to withdraw. Triathlon is about challenging yourself and enjoying that challenge. When you are plunged into panic and terror, the fun is over and there’s nothing wrong with calling it a day while saving your enthusiasm for a future race. There was a point on the swim where I was contemplating quitting triathlon altogether because I was not having fun. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. I’m glad I chose to stick with it though. At the end of the day, I had improved upon my previous time in this race by nearly 30 minutes! Hard work and consistency in your training does pay off.
* One thing that I don’t think a lot of triathletes know is that it’s very important to get your wetsuit saturated the day before the race. I talk to a lot of people about wetsuits on a weekly basis, and the most common complaint is that they feel restricted in their wetsuit. Aside from proper fit and donning of the suit, keeping the suit hydrated, especially the day before a race, is key for the flexibility and fit comfort of the suit. When the neoprene is completely dried out, the suit is much less flexible and tends to fit smaller. If you want to have a good comfortable swim in your suit, get in it the day before the race, and swim for at least 10 minutes. It will pay off in the long run, I promise!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Get Ready for September events – Lake Mead Mini-Tri August 17
Hello Everyone
We will not be doing any clinics before this one; it is going to be hot and it is too early in the morning.The distances are going to be the same as before. 300 yard swim 10 mile bike and a 2 mile run. Bagels and coffee will be served along with some refreshing fruit and diet coke.
The fall racing season will be here soon. It is time to practice your skills, see where you are at, and have a good time. This is another in our series of mini-tri training events. Boulder Beach. We have been having an excellent turn out for these.
We are going to start this one pretty early in the morning. 6:00 AM. Mike will be the race director again, Nick will be announcing and Cutis and Lou will be working the breakfast table.
We are going to start this one pretty early in the morning. 6:00 AM. Mike will be the race director again, Nick will be announcing and Cutis and Lou will be working the breakfast table.
We will not be doing any clinics before this one; it is going to be hot and it is too early in the morning.The distances are going to be the same as before. 300 yard swim 10 mile bike and a 2 mile run. Bagels and coffee will be served along with some refreshing fruit and diet coke.
Once again everything is free!!, thanks to our sponsors. Due to insurance requirements you need to be a member which is an annual $40 for individuals $55 for families and includes a great training shirt. Don’t worry if you are not currently a member sign-up on line or at the event. Come on out and have a good time and a great training session!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Flagstaff Race Report: by Victor R
On the weekend of July 20, members of the LV Tri Club invaded the high, cool terrain of Flagstaff, AZ. This is one of the best places to race a triathlon in the western US, the weather at this time of the year is favorable for any outdoor activitiy, temps range from the low 60's to the mid 80's, water temp at a mild 73 degrees, a bit humid and some thunderboomies. I was joined for this event by my training partners, John Harrington, Lisa Job, and, Annette Powell. We had planned this trip for quite some time and we were all anxious for race day to arrive. We packed Lisa's Land Rover to the hilts, you couldn't see out of the back window due to the ladies' 'EXTRA LUGGAGE', coolers, wheels, pumps and several other pieces of equipment required. The bikes hitched a ride on a custom bike rack specially designed for the Rover.
We left at 8am Saturday morning with an estimated time of arrival at around noon-ish. During the trip, we entertained each other telling stories and watching videos. Jeff Dunham and Peanut kept us laughing for the better part of two hours, afterwards, classic rock surrounded the cabin and we sailed on. Upon arrival, we checked in, recieved our packets and stuck around for the usual question and answer period and explanation of the rules and regulations of the event.
John made up his mind to race the day before, not having been registered, we were told that the event is sold out. We were hoping for some no-shows and sure enough, there were a few, John was in! We decided to drive the bike course instead of riding it. The sprint course was mostly flat with a minimal grade near the turn-around. Further down the road, we encountred a hill heading out towards the olympic turn-around. These hills and grades were comparable to riding West Charleston all the way to Blue Diamond and back, nothing too difficult. Lake Mary provided the swim venue. Murky and calm, Lake Mary isn't the most sanitary water hole I've ever seen but it will have to do, just don't swallow any water. We didn't check the run course but the 375 foot climb at the half way point of the olympic course was supposed to take a bite! Lucky for the sprinters, their turn-around was just before the bump.
We stayed at a small place near downtown Flag, very comfortable and clean with pool, jaccuzzi and free internet. Dinner was at the Red Lobster, we treated ourselves to a great meal, after all, we needed the calories. Back at the hotel, it was time to hit the sack, we had a wake-up call for 4:30am. My start time was 6:45am (olympic), followed by 7:10am for the sprint. There were 750 entrants and not enough room for them all at the transition area. It was a struggle to find a spot, you literally had one foot to spread your equipment. The officials were forcing the athletes to reduce their area, no one was willing to share. Following all of the commotion, the race got underway. After the smoke cleared, we had some good results, the trip was a success!!! At the finish line, we all gathered for a team photo, we looked bushed but happy to have finished and done well. We all shared the same comment. 'Boy, I sured sucked a lot of wind during the swim portion, I couldn't catch my breath.' Later, we all realized we were racing at an altitude of 7000 ft, hardly sea level!!! Another thing, we all looked great donning the tri club's colors, my compliments to whoever designed the uniforms, they look fantastic!!!..............Here are the results from our group followed by some other LV residents. LISA JOB: Sprint, 21st, 35-39, 1:39:30, 198th overall. ANNETTE POWELL: Sprint, 6th, 40-44, 1:52:44, 256th overall. JOHN HARRINGTON: Sprint, 1st, 45-49, 1:20:59, 46th overall. VICTOR RODRIGUEZ: Olympic, 2nd, 55-59, 2:32:53, 51st overall. Other LV residents: HALF IRON: James Harrington, 1st, 30-34. Conrad Schumacher, 1st, 45-49. Paul Bednar 4th, 40-44. Randy Netski, 6th, 35-39. OLYMPIC: Quentin Heiden, 14th, 30-34. Todd Sims, 6th, 35-39. Ann Marie Borgerdin, 3rd, 30-34. Bob Ballentine, 6th, 45-49. Yvonne Kinane-Wells, 2nd, 50-54. Barbara Graham, 3rd, 40-44. Vicky Brown, 7th, 30-34. SPRINT: Russell Aaron, 1st, 20-24. Keith Panke, 9th, 25-29. Gabe Gilmore, 5th, 30-34. Allen Savage, 21, 30-34..............The next tri on the calendar is on Aug 3rd. This one is an X-Terra held in Snow Valley, Ca, 15 miles west of Big Bear near a community by the name of Running Springs.
The next club mini-tri will be held on Aug 17th. This is a complimentary event provided to us by our wonderful sponsors, take advantage of it, come out and race!!!..........'Till then, race fresh, don't train!!!.....Just joking!!!.....................Victor
Friday, August 1, 2008
Big Creek Olympic Distance Tri: by Alison Guerin
It looks so nice - but........
Location: Des Moines, Iowa. Affectionately referred to by the locals as the 'sixth circle of hell' (7=Omaha, who knew?)
Seems nice enough, I get there early this morning, beautiful state park bordering a very pretty lake. I set up my stuff & check out the beach. Am a little distressed about the unusually large quantities of feces on the beach - large green modern-artish piles of excrement - a little disconcerting, but I figure I can work around it. Water very green and not-at-all see through, also a little disconcerting. Read the many signs (in large letters) warning sternly about the lasting health implications of the gack floating in the water - the Des Moines Health District strongly discourages ingesting any of the "water" - a lot more disconcerting. I head back to my bike to re-fuss with my stuff, warm up, meet people, calm the heck down. Encounter a whole bunch of folk talking about the recent algae bloom in the lake and how unpleasant it has made swimming - disconcerting yet again.
Decide that even though the water is warm, I am going to follow the lead of ALL the locals and wear my wetsuit. By this point, if it isn't already painfully clear, I do not want any of that dreck touching my skin - neither do the locals, so I figure - when in Rome... One of the local gals was talking about having to backstroke through the slime, but that's another story for another day.
Pre-race briefing on the beach at 7:35. First wave scheduled to start at 8:00. What the heck, everybody was there, so they started the first wave at 7:40 - Gack!
My wave starts, the 'water' actually wasn't so bad close to the shore, but the deeper it got the weirder it got, and regardless of the health department warnings, I wound up ingesting surprisingly large quantities of 'water,' (more on this later). I should NOT have been in my wetsuit because, regardless of gack levels, the water was way too warm to be swimming in a wetsuit. I got so hot that fears aside, I wound up pumping water through the suit in an attempt to cool off. By the time I finished the swim - in my inimitable backwards swimming style - I was worn out. (Swim time: 50 mins)
Hit the beach, jump on the bike, have a great ride. Halfway through, the sun came out and it started to warm up even more, but the headwind made it pleasant. My nose is running, I'm thinking it's a pretty bad time for my allergies to flare up, a fellow racer points out that I'm actually leaking lake slime. OMG! Apparently everybody does it, it's just a fact of life. But seriously, I mean really, are you serious? Any activity that involves leaking green slime has to be fully reconsidered and remeasured. Honestly. (Bike time: 1.5 hours)
I churn through the bike, make up some of my abysmal swim time, transition to the run with a smile/grimace, and attempt to manage my slime leakage problem, (which doesn't appear to be letting up) needless to say, I won't be buying those pictures. Temperature goes up, headwind stops, tummy starts churning. As it turns out, lake slime also upsets your stomach! I accomplish the run, which was really more like a slimy, upset stomach, fast walk, with some slow walking when the stomach got really bad. Finished. (Run time 1 hour + a lot).
Well, they won't be holding a spot on the Olympic team for me this year. But, I did learn some valuable lessons. 1. Don't swim in poop water, no matter how much fun it may appear to be on the front end. 2. If you DO swim in poop water, keep your mouth shut. 3. If you wind up ingesting said water, cut your losses and go for a lie down in the rental car. 4. When you forget how heinous it was, you may just want to do it again.
What the hell is wrong with me?
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