Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Freak 5K
Freak 5K
Saturday September 22, 2012
The Freak 5K is a 5k mud run/obstacle course that is put on by Fit Elite, the local cross fit. The week leading up to the race was very cold and so was the morning of the race. The low temps were in the 30-40 degree range. Coupled with a steady wind it was going to make for a cold, wet and muddy day. It is hard to describe the course, so I included the promo video, which is video from last years race.
If you watch this, I am the one cannon-balling off of the Leap of Faith into the pond.
The parts of the course not really shown on the video would be waist to chest deep mud pits and the up and down hills that just about made my legs fall off. There is nothing but trees and roots to grab onto while trying to get up these hills. The mud pits had piles of dirt in between them which made getting out tough unless you cheated and went out the sides. There was some crawling over and under obstacles through tunnels and a lot of mud.
Through all this Pat Hamler and I lead our Fire Department Team to a Victory over the PD. We finished 1-2 with only seconds between us.
What made it all worth it (beyond the beer and after party) was that the event benefits cancer foundations.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Race Report J.R. Coleman
Race Report J.R. Coleman
Pumpkin Run 5 k
I ran the race with my brother Jacob. It was his first ever race. We started out great, passing all the walkers and slow runners. At 1.5 miles, a guy had rolled his ankle on the green way during the run, so we stopped and helped. Our official time was around 45 min, but theactual time was 26:30.
Pumpkin Run 5 k
I ran the race with my brother Jacob. It was his first ever race. We started out great, passing all the walkers and slow runners. At 1.5 miles, a guy had rolled his ankle on the green way during the run, so we stopped and helped. Our official time was around 45 min, but theactual time was 26:30.
Josh Schwabenbauer
Some time ago, a few of Team Firefighter's members lost a fellow firefighter and a very dear friend to a tragic accident.
"Josh was the kind of guy that always had a smile on his face or could keep you laughing all shift."
After his death, Josh continued to save lives by being a donor.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Kona Sherpa Report
Ironman World Championships - Sherpa Duties Race Report.
It was April and I was walking with Rob after a tough day at the HITS series triathlon at Lake Berryessa. We were discussing our plans for the rest of the year, among other things. Rob was telling me about how he was hoping to get a Kona slot. I made him a promise, if he got in then I would be there to help.
Fast forward a few months and as I was preparing for Boise 70.3 my phone rang. It was Rob and he was telling me about the Kona inspired program. I thought to myself, "There is no way he doesn't get selected for this, I better buy my plane ticket." Sure enough he was selected and we were on our way for a Hawaii vacation in October.
I arrived on Thursday afternoon so that I could get checked in with the water safety director. I met up with Rob at Lava Java and we discussed his week so far. I could tell he was already tired and I started to get worried. Rob is the type of guy that believes in the mission completely. He was not going to waste this great opportunity to spread the word about Code 3 and Team Firefighter. So, when someone asked for an interview or a photo shoot, he was there. His lovely wife Nicole and I had to gently remind him that he was doing an Ironman on Saturday...
After buying some new shoes at the K-Swiss tent, I wandered over to the Zoot tent to say hi to a Cycling House friend of mine. I heard some commotion to my right and saw Rob in full gear surrounded by people. I walked over to see what was going on. He was on his way out to a photo shoot on the lava rocks... He was sweating and I could tell he was a little stressed. I got a little firm wit him and told him that he needed to rest! I don't think it worked...On race morning I got up at 0400, quick shower and grabbed my surf board and headed to the pier. I grabbed some coffee and a banana on my way out the door. I met the other swim safety volunteers at Dig Me Beach by the King Kam. We got our briefing and then grouped up for a picture. Athletes entered the pier from the beach side. I watched them shuffle in with nervous anticipation on their faces. I looked for Rob but did not see him. We paddled out to position and listened to the national anthem. The Pro men started and swam by quickly, followed by the Pro women. On a surfboard the small group of people swimming by created some waves but it was manageable. I knew tough that with 2000 people about to swim by it was about to be different. The Age Groupers started and I had to paddle backwards quickly or I was going to get swam over the top of. I positioned myself with a lifeguard for San Diego FD to follow the last swimmers. We paddled close by as they were struggling. As we got to the turnaround boat I got word from the race support boat that an hour and twenty minutes had passed. They were probably not going to make it. I got their attention and urged them to hurry. They bot looked up at me with blank stairs. I yelled to the race support boat their race numbers marked on their swim caps. They advised that they were bot Japanese citizens and didn't speak english. My Japanese is limited to what I order at Mikuni's so I just yelled and pointed to the pier and spun my hand to signal for them to hurry. They got that and sped up for a few minutes. They then returned to their slower pace and as we got close to the finish I could hear the race announcer countdown the final minute. We waved the support boat over and the contestants realized immediately what was happening and swam to the boat. I felt bad for them, so much hard work to build up to just a swim in the bay. They would not be allowed to continue.
I exited the water and took my surfboard back to my hotel room to change. I dressed for a long day of walking and headed down to Lava Java for some breakfast. I met up with some of Rob's friends from Wisconsin and we found a place to relax and wait for the pro's to come by. It was at a second story bar at mile 1 on Ali'i. After watching a few of the pro's run by I decided to head over to the finish to see the finish. I crept my way up to the finish line and got some good pictures of the Men and Women's winners. I then checked my phone and saw that I just missed Rob at T2. I ran less than a mile down the course and caught up with him. I looked at his face and saw that the bike was tougher than normal for him. I asked him about his nutrition and the heat. He said he was ok. I didn't believe him. About a half a mile later we ran into his family. They walked with him until about mile 6 while I got some dinner and got ready for a long night.
I caught back up with Rob at the turn and we headed up Palani. The crowds were going nuts as he walked by. Some people in total disbelief of his attempt. The Sun had dropped and I checked my watch. He was going to be ok as long as he didn't slow down. I knew tat as he walked back up the last hill or if he cramped up he might not make the midnight cutoff. I checked his mental status and unlike previous races he was pretty beat up. I could tell he didn't want to chat so I just walked a little with him. We were both worried about another racer or an official disqualifying him for "pacing." Ironman is an individual achievement. You cannot accept any outside assistance. So, even though Rob was not in danger of any awards he could still be disqualified by having someone pace him to the finish. The rule makes sense because the completion of an Ironman alone is a reward in itself. So, I would walk with Rob for a minute or two, then run ahead and wait for him. We repeated this for a few miles until the NBC camera car showed up. I think the camera car at first was a blessing. It seemed to remind Rob of all the great exposure for our cause this would provide. After the energy lab turnaround the camera car caught up to us again. This time I could tell it was draining on Rob. He needed to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. His back was starting to really bother him from the heavy SCBA he was carrying. We were finally on the last hill before the turn onto Palani. It was at this point that I knew he would make its.We went down the hill and I told him how proud I was of him. I knew that we would soon be back on Ali'i and I wanted to make sure that I didn't get in the way of any of his much earned praise. I ducked into the alley and headed to the finish line. I got there just in time to see him cross the line on the big projection on the King Kam. By the time I got to the actual finish line Rob was being escorted to medical. I stuck around to cheer in the final finishers and watch the closing ceremonies. I am sure if you have read this far you have heard about the magic of the finish line in Kona. It does not disappoint. The final finisher finished with less than a minute to spare, it was magical.
I ran into Rob's parents and helped them carry some of his gear back to their car. They gave me an update, he was feeling good but needed a couple of IV's. We said our goodbyes and I wandered up the street for a beer and a bar stool.
Please watch the NBC broadcast on NBC Saturday October 27th at 1am PST
Monday, October 22, 2012
Timothy Sendelbach - Bio
1) Age - 43
2) State (location) - Las Vegas, Nevada
3) Fire Department - North Las Vegas Fire Department
4) Why you race and how/when you got started - Simply stated - I do it for fun. As someone whose always enjoyed competitive sports, I love to compete. I got started because a friend of mine challenged me after seeing me post a few times that I had just completed a marathon. I did my first 70.3 in July (Ironman Racine) and have since done Reno, Las Vegas and will do Pumpkinman (here in Las Vegas) later this month. Next year I hope to do 5-6 Tri's to include Ironman Boise 70.3, Leadman 250 Bend, Oregon and if all goes well my first full Ironman Louisville.
5) Current Goals - Full Ironman next year, a 3:30 marathon and to eventually qualify for 70.3 Championships (age grouper) Las Vegas.
6) Podiums - No podiums, but did place 2nd in my age group in Las Vegas and 6th in Reno. PR's - 5:27 - 70.3, 3:54 marathon. Favorite races - Ironman Racine and Chicago marathon.
2) State (location) - Las Vegas, Nevada
3) Fire Department - North Las Vegas Fire Department
4) Why you race and how/when you got started - Simply stated - I do it for fun. As someone whose always enjoyed competitive sports, I love to compete. I got started because a friend of mine challenged me after seeing me post a few times that I had just completed a marathon. I did my first 70.3 in July (Ironman Racine) and have since done Reno, Las Vegas and will do Pumpkinman (here in Las Vegas) later this month. Next year I hope to do 5-6 Tri's to include Ironman Boise 70.3, Leadman 250 Bend, Oregon and if all goes well my first full Ironman Louisville.
5) Current Goals - Full Ironman next year, a 3:30 marathon and to eventually qualify for 70.3 Championships (age grouper) Las Vegas.
6) Podiums - No podiums, but did place 2nd in my age group in Las Vegas and 6th in Reno. PR's - 5:27 - 70.3, 3:54 marathon. Favorite races - Ironman Racine and Chicago marathon.
Events
remaining this year - Pumpkinman, Las Vegas October20th, Savannah
Rock-n-Roll marathon - November, Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll marathon -
December.
Robby Owens - Bio
Robby Owens
Age: 30
Henrico County Division of Fire 9 years (Fire Service for 15)
Firefighter/Medic
Races Run:
2011 Richmond Beat the Heat 5k http://runriderace.
2011 Virginia Tough Mudder at Winter Green Ski Resort
2011 and 2012 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Richmond Va
2011 Busch Gardens Christmas Town 8k https://www.raceit.com/2011 and 2012 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Richmond Va
2012 FDIC Courage and Valor 5k http://www.tuxbro.com/FDIC12.
Upcoming Races:
2012 Virginia Running Festival Half Marathon (Nov)
2013 Disney World Marathon (Jan)
Blog: www.averagejakeff.wordpress.
twitter: @averagejakeff
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Chris Hertel - Bio
1) I am currently 34, however will turn 35 on October 19.
2) Live and work in Rocklin, California
3) Rocklin Fire Department, Firefighter / Paramedic. I have been in the fire service since 1995.
4) I race for myself, my family, and my profession. I would say it started in 2004. At that time I had been in the fire service for 10 years. While at a Christmas Dinner a picture was taken of my wife and I. Later after seeing the picture I realized that what I thought I looked like and what I actually looked like were two different things. 10 years of firehouse tradition of 1/4 of pie and ice cream and weekend breakfasts had taken their toll. I obviously wasn't happy with my looks and how I felt. I made it my mission to get back in shape so I could live a long healthy life and be able to perform my job at its best. I did a Sprint Triathlon in 2005 and was hooked. From then on I kept setting bigger goals which I have since accomplished (Olympic Triathlon, Duathlons, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, Tough Mudder, and a 72 Mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe to name a few. I have tried to compete in at least one and up to five races a year. My next goals are a Half Ironman and a full Ironman. In 2008 my son was born and in 2010 my daughter. I now run for them as well. I want them to grow up being exposed to health and fitness. My daughter at 2 now loves wearing her "running" shoes and goes on runs around the block. Also I wouldn't have accomplished my goals without the love and support of my wife. After having two kids, she is close to finishing her second marathon as well as numerous 5K, 10K and sprint triathlons. She keeps me inspired and together we hope to instill those values into our kids. I have also become certified as an Ace Peer Fitness Trainer with the goal to help educate my fellow firefighters.
5) My current goal is to complete a Half Ironman next year (Wildflower) and to complete a full Ironman in 2014 (Lake Tahoe Ironman)
6) I've never finished on the podium. My favorite races would be anything at Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe Marathon series or the Kokanee Trail Run. You cant beat the scenery. Most of my races have been around the Sacramento/Reno area. I plan on competing in the Lake Tahoe Ironman in 2014, I am guessing that it will become my favorite race.
2) Live and work in Rocklin, California
3) Rocklin Fire Department, Firefighter / Paramedic. I have been in the fire service since 1995.
4) I race for myself, my family, and my profession. I would say it started in 2004. At that time I had been in the fire service for 10 years. While at a Christmas Dinner a picture was taken of my wife and I. Later after seeing the picture I realized that what I thought I looked like and what I actually looked like were two different things. 10 years of firehouse tradition of 1/4 of pie and ice cream and weekend breakfasts had taken their toll. I obviously wasn't happy with my looks and how I felt. I made it my mission to get back in shape so I could live a long healthy life and be able to perform my job at its best. I did a Sprint Triathlon in 2005 and was hooked. From then on I kept setting bigger goals which I have since accomplished (Olympic Triathlon, Duathlons, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, Tough Mudder, and a 72 Mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe to name a few. I have tried to compete in at least one and up to five races a year. My next goals are a Half Ironman and a full Ironman. In 2008 my son was born and in 2010 my daughter. I now run for them as well. I want them to grow up being exposed to health and fitness. My daughter at 2 now loves wearing her "running" shoes and goes on runs around the block. Also I wouldn't have accomplished my goals without the love and support of my wife. After having two kids, she is close to finishing her second marathon as well as numerous 5K, 10K and sprint triathlons. She keeps me inspired and together we hope to instill those values into our kids. I have also become certified as an Ace Peer Fitness Trainer with the goal to help educate my fellow firefighters.
5) My current goal is to complete a Half Ironman next year (Wildflower) and to complete a full Ironman in 2014 (Lake Tahoe Ironman)
6) I've never finished on the podium. My favorite races would be anything at Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe Marathon series or the Kokanee Trail Run. You cant beat the scenery. Most of my races have been around the Sacramento/Reno area. I plan on competing in the Lake Tahoe Ironman in 2014, I am guessing that it will become my favorite race.
Chris Madzi - Escape to Miami Sprint Race Report 9/23/12
ryone else was made a 45
and was swimming to another buoy. I was slap in the middle of the pack,
exactly where I didn't want to be, so after fighting and slowing down I
spotted Matt on the outside (where I should be). I worked and got out
there and fell in line behind him until we got to the last buoy and
pulled away from him(just kidding Matt), I exited three seconds before
him.
T-1 was horrible bike got caught on the rack I stood there fighting
it, finally got it loose and hit the streets. Well as normal Matt
passed me on the bike and disappeared, I was really hoping to catch his
wheel and hold on for some pacing but that didn't happen. Finished the
bike which had a couple of long steep bridges in my normal pace of
18.5-19.0 MPH.
T-2 was uneventful. My run was a bit slower than my norm
but the massive bridge was on my mind and didn't want to blow myself up
so I just took it easy. My shoe came untied at mile number two and many
friendly people warned me of it, the truth was "if I stopped I might not
have started again". I finished with a 1:28, I'm not happy with it but
I'm the only one to blame.
Overall 122/664
AG 11/55
Swim 9:55
T-1 2:32
Bike 43:17
T-2 1:35
Run 31:10
Total 1:28:28
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Keith Elisberg - Grace in Motion 5k Race Report 9/15/2012
directed you were
to park and pointed you exactly to pick up your bib. There were no
lines. They moved racers so fast I couldn't believe it. A few photos and
met with Samual the director. He could not stop thanking me for getting
him prizes from POLAR USA. Went and warmed up and got some last minute
advice from Jackie as she scoped out the competition.
Race Time! We went off 10 minutes after the 10k. I have raced up this hill a few times and can ruin your day if you don't pace yourself. Gun sharp turn and up .6 miles at a 9* degree pitch. Half way up a passed most of the field and at the apex was in sixth place. It became a rolling up and down and worked my way into forth place. When the descent approached I lost site of the top three (they were all under 20 just for the record). At mile 2 it went into the trail which was dry and slippery despite rain the night prior. It is still an awesome site running with the George Washington Bridge in the foreground. I has a comfortable lead so I wasn't to worried and just defended my position. Finished forth overall and first in 40-49 age group. My Polar RCX5 did a awesome job pacing me and the GPS never lost a signal.
They really did an excellent job with this true charity race. No race t-shirts so I handed out Polar shirts and no trophies. They really put all the money towards the orphans. I was glad that I didn't hear any complaints about that. Racers where actually more satisfied as I was over this venue.
Race Time! We went off 10 minutes after the 10k. I have raced up this hill a few times and can ruin your day if you don't pace yourself. Gun sharp turn and up .6 miles at a 9* degree pitch. Half way up a passed most of the field and at the apex was in sixth place. It became a rolling up and down and worked my way into forth place. When the descent approached I lost site of the top three (they were all under 20 just for the record). At mile 2 it went into the trail which was dry and slippery despite rain the night prior. It is still an awesome site running with the George Washington Bridge in the foreground. I has a comfortable lead so I wasn't to worried and just defended my position. Finished forth overall and first in 40-49 age group. My Polar RCX5 did a awesome job pacing me and the GPS never lost a signal.
They really did an excellent job with this true charity race. No race t-shirts so I handed out Polar shirts and no trophies. They really put all the money towards the orphans. I was glad that I didn't hear any complaints about that. Racers where actually more satisfied as I was over this venue.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Benjamin Racho - Westport Kiwanas Sprint Triathlon Race Report
This is my first race report for my first Triathlon. It was the Westport
Kiwanas Sprint Tri which is the town where I am a firefighter.
The distances were 1/2 mile Swim, 5.5 mi. Ride, and a 2.2 mi. Run.
This was my first Tri and I didn't know a single person there, but navigating around was really easy. I set up with some guys who had only done a few others so I hung out with them before the start.
It was pretty well organized and the start was 3 waves, of which I was in the second. My swim started off pretty well, but I had obviously given it too much gas as about 1/3 of the way through I was pretty tired so I slowed down quite a bit. First Tri jitters I guess. I caught up to a few of the first wave slow swimmers, but my time was still 21:02 (236/284). I had given my self goal of getting 20 minutes or less for each event, so I was pretty close on the swim. the last 50 feet of the swim was in about 2 feet of water, but the ground was exceptionally rocky, so it was a slow exit and walk to T1.
The transition was uneventful (2:55). No problems with my wetsuit and I don't have clipless pedals so I just wore my running shoes for the ride. The ride was nice as it was along the beach for a bit then up a small hill. Again, I gave it a little too much on the uphill and almost everyone I passed, passed me again. The course has a nice downhill then went through the town Golf Course, then back to the beach for the run. My ride time was 19:09 with a pace of 17.2 mph which placed me at 191 of 284 for riders.
Since I was already wearing my running shoes, Merrell Road Gloves, my T2 time was much better(1:16), but I forgot my glasses and ran back for them. Somehow after all that I was still able to keep up an 8 min mile and finished in 18:10 (138/284 for runners.)
Overall I finished with a total time of 1:02:33. I know that I could have given it more on the ride and run, but I just wanted to make sure I finished.
My first Triathlon experience was amazing. I can see why they are addicting and I plan to do a few more sprints before I take a crack at an Olympic distance. My next race is a 5k for a LODD firefighter and then it's up up and away for the American Lung Association at the 33 floor Trump Parc building in Stamford, CT.
The distances were 1/2 mile Swim, 5.5 mi. Ride, and a 2.2 mi. Run.
This was my first Tri and I didn't know a single person there, but navigating around was really easy. I set up with some guys who had only done a few others so I hung out with them before the start.
It was pretty well organized and the start was 3 waves, of which I was in the second. My swim started off pretty well, but I had obviously given it too much gas as about 1/3 of the way through I was pretty tired so I slowed down quite a bit. First Tri jitters I guess. I caught up to a few of the first wave slow swimmers, but my time was still 21:02 (236/284). I had given my self goal of getting 20 minutes or less for each event, so I was pretty close on the swim. the last 50 feet of the swim was in about 2 feet of water, but the ground was exceptionally rocky, so it was a slow exit and walk to T1.
The transition was uneventful (2:55). No problems with my wetsuit and I don't have clipless pedals so I just wore my running shoes for the ride. The ride was nice as it was along the beach for a bit then up a small hill. Again, I gave it a little too much on the uphill and almost everyone I passed, passed me again. The course has a nice downhill then went through the town Golf Course, then back to the beach for the run. My ride time was 19:09 with a pace of 17.2 mph which placed me at 191 of 284 for riders.
Since I was already wearing my running shoes, Merrell Road Gloves, my T2 time was much better(1:16), but I forgot my glasses and ran back for them. Somehow after all that I was still able to keep up an 8 min mile and finished in 18:10 (138/284 for runners.)
Overall I finished with a total time of 1:02:33. I know that I could have given it more on the ride and run, but I just wanted to make sure I finished.
My first Triathlon experience was amazing. I can see why they are addicting and I plan to do a few more sprints before I take a crack at an Olympic distance. My next race is a 5k for a LODD firefighter and then it's up up and away for the American Lung Association at the 33 floor Trump Parc building in Stamford, CT.
Marius Laursen - Bio
1) I am 42 YO
2) I live in South Dakota
3) I work for Mitchell Fire Department
4) I compete to keep myself in shape and to allow me to do my job
well. I also train to set a good example to my two children. I first
started competing back in college after losing 100 lbs.
5) My current goals are to finish a Fall marathon and to start getting into triathlon training next year
6) I have never been on the podium, but have run a 3:23 marathon and a sub 2-hr half marathon
Rob Verhelst - Bio
2012-13 Mission of Hope & Honor
Ambassador Rob Verhelst “Fireman Rob”
●
Fitness Instructor in Local Community
●
Firefighter for 11 years in Madison,
Wisconsin
●
Fit / Healthy appearance and physique
●
Completed 2011 Racine 70.3 Ironman in full
firefighter gear for half marathon
●
Completed 2011 Ironman Wisconsin, HITS
Naples, HITS Corpus Christi in full firefighter gear for the marathon
●
11 year veteran firefighter for the City of
Madison
●
United States Air Force Veteran
●
Performed 8 days of Search & Recovery at
World Trade Center on 9/11/01
●
15 Triathlons, 17 Road Races over the past 9
years
●
Bachelor Degree from Troy University
●
Finishing Masters Degree from Columbia
Southern University
●
13 Ironman distance triathlon in one year
●
Doing all in full firefighter gear, helmet,
and Air pack for the marathon portion
●
Raising awareness and funds for Code 3 for a
Cure Foundation
●
2012-13 Mission of Hope & Honor for Code
3 for a Cure Foundation will follow most of the events
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Team Firefighter 90 Day Challenge Kick Off!
Wow. I'm impressed.
Team Firefighter kicked off our first 90 day challenge on September 1st. And, as always, these guys are so amazing.
As firefighters, we hear from many of the people we serve that we're brave. But bravery comes in many forms, and the courage to make yourself vulnerable at a personal level in front of an internet audience takes, well, takes guts. Courage. The kind that makes you reach deep down and say "Whatever happens, I have the strength to overcome." (And beat adversity into submission!)
In our current atmosphere where bullying is frequently the norm, to open yourself up to jokes is hard. I don't have the courage to post on a public website some of the photos from when I was my heaviest, so these guys deserve some serious respect.
Without too much more yammering, let me introduce you to some of the bravest guys I know:
Team Firefighter's 90 Day Challenge Page
Team Firefighter kicked off our first 90 day challenge on September 1st. And, as always, these guys are so amazing.
As firefighters, we hear from many of the people we serve that we're brave. But bravery comes in many forms, and the courage to make yourself vulnerable at a personal level in front of an internet audience takes, well, takes guts. Courage. The kind that makes you reach deep down and say "Whatever happens, I have the strength to overcome." (And beat adversity into submission!)
In our current atmosphere where bullying is frequently the norm, to open yourself up to jokes is hard. I don't have the courage to post on a public website some of the photos from when I was my heaviest, so these guys deserve some serious respect.
Without too much more yammering, let me introduce you to some of the bravest guys I know:
Team Firefighter's 90 Day Challenge Page
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Michelle Golovine - Clearlake International Tri Race Report 8/25/2012
bike and pacing for the
run. It was really windy and I was afraid I may go too hard on the
bike without being able to judge my power and then blow up on the run. I
decided to go for it though.
The bike is a 2 loop course that takes
you around the lake. You have to cross over a long, steep bridge
twice...I definitely enjoyed the down side more than that climb! I
don't get a lot of climbing practice in here...pretty flat country. I
had no idea how fast I was going, but I did notice I was passing a lot
of people...which worried me that I might be pushing too hard. Other
than almost getting hit by a huge garbage truck that decided to suddenly
veer into our marked off lane making me have to slam on my brakes to
avoid a collision (in which I would be the loser), the bike was
uneventful.
I felt pretty good going into the run, a 3 loop course that
has a couple of grassy sections and one steep grassy hill....but around
mile 2.5, my chest suddenly tightened up and I just could not breathe.
I really got worried for a minute. I was at least 1.5 miles away from
my inhaler, so I just tried to calm myself and slow the pace way down.
After about a mile and a few productive coughs, I was able to catch my
breath. I gradually picked the pace back up and had a good finish. I
had no idea what kind of bike or run split I was going to end up with. I
was REALLY surprised when I found out I won my age group......I was
plain shocked when I saw my bike split....23.2 MPH for a 28.8 mile
course!!!! A huge PR for me! My run splits weren't nearly as bad as I
anticipated either...I managed to hang on to a 7:57 min/mile average.
My swim was a bit embarassing though....35 minutes for 1500 meter. I
had the fastest Female bike split and only 24 men had a faster bike
split. That is crazy to me. Somehow I knocked over 5 minutes off my
finish time from last year...even being sick. Maybe I need to start
leaving the Garmin at home, LOL. Oh yeah....It's at the bottom of a
lake! :)
Race stats:
I finished 1st Age Group, 7th OA female, and 48th OA.
Fastest Female bike split and 25th Fastest bike split OA.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Ryan Pennington - Bio
I train and race so I can eat what I want and to be a better DAD.
Race History:
Marshall University Half Mary
Various 5k and 10k Races
First triathlon put on hold due to shoulder injury, job related
3 year participant in our Local Swim Club City meets
Events Swam
50 Free
50 Free Relay
50 Breast
100 IM
Website viewsfromthejumpseat.com and Firehouse.com
Upcoming events unkown till shoulder rehab done! UGH
I usually don't race...but have a blast in the back of the pack participating.....hope to change that soon....and have first sprint tri done early 2013.
Nathan Williams
1) 33
2) California (Paso Robles)
3) San Luis Obispo City Fire Department
4)
I race for the pure enjoyment of completing another challenge. My
younger brother and I have used races as bonding opportunities for years
and it's an escape like no other. Now I also continue to race (whether
it be mountain bike, road bike, runs, etc) to help stay in shape but
also in honor of my dad who is living with stage 4 colon cancer. I
strive to raise awareness but also to cope to be honest.
5) Current goals are simply to keep having fun and enjoying what I
do. My family is my focus but they get to be a part of my events and
that keeps me going.
6) I've landed on a few podiums but I go
out just to enjoy what I do. When I podium I'm always surprised and
find out after the fact!!! Always a pleasant surprise though of
course!!!
Brian Manners - Bio
- stay fit for the job and a roll model for my children. Ages 15, 10 and 8
- win a few AG then come back and qualify for worlds
- a couple AG's when the fast guys are out racing somewhere else.
- PR's to slow......really....really slow.
- Burlington Nationals my new favorite although my dreams got crushed like a bug on a semi's windshield, NJ State triathlon and Hightstown tri.
- win a few AG then come back and qualify for worlds
- a couple AG's when the fast guys are out racing somewhere else.
- PR's to slow......really....really slow.
- Burlington Nationals my new favorite although my dreams got crushed like a bug on a semi's windshield, NJ State triathlon and Hightstown tri.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Kyle Hamilton - Ironman NYC Race Report
Ironman New York City Race Report
I have been excited for this race since they announced it in June of 2011. It would be my first Ironman and in the great city of New York, I knew it would be challenging but fun. Our team grew since the June announcement and we now had a few members from the area. Of course the founder of Team Firefighter, Brendan Corcoran, lived just north of the start and would also be competing. Soon after I was registered I learned that one of our active Jersey members Keith Elisberg, would be the volunteer captain. It was great to have people on the team racing and supporting all the athletes on race day. So the pre-race tally was going to be three members racing and a number of members and supporters volunteering at our Aid Station on the run. I flew in on Wednesday afternoon and my plan was to get to the hotel then head over to registration before the thursday rush. Unfortunately, the traffic through NY was crazy. Laura had to close her eyes it was making her so nervous. We got to the hotel too late to make the ferry over to NY so we decided to just get some dinner. It turned out to be a great decision. We walked down the waterline to the Chart House (our favorite restaurant in Tahoe). We had a great meal with a beautiful view of NYC.
On Thursday I woke up early and had a cup of coffee and watched the news. They were leading with a story about a sewage leak in the Hudson. They advised that there is a swim advisory and you should stay out of the water until Sunday. I immediately started freaking out! What do you mean no swim! My worst fear going into this race was that they would cancel some portion of the race and I would not complete a full Ironman. Jen and I were up early and rode up to transition. As we were riding on the first 14 miles of the run course I noticed that it was hilly but it really didn't seem too bad. I was feeling so good. My training had gone great and my taper had me ready to go! We headed over to the expo and got checked in. I love WTC events, everything seems to go so smoothly. I was in and out very fast. I had been stressing about the swim and heard many rumors about what they might do. My consistent training partner Eric was racing also and he was disappointed about the prospect of a short race but he wasn't very excited about swimming in shit either. He asked me, "would you still race if you had a 50/50 chance of getting really sick?" I replied, "I will race if I have a 100% chance?" It was not bravado, I really did not want to train so hard for so long at such a cost to my family just to have the day be cut short. Eric also knew that I had planned to get a tattoo the day after the race so he immediately started teasing me. He said, "well, you could get a cool duathalon tattoo!" After the expo Laura and I walked around Manhattan. She had never been to NYC before and I still owe her a proper trip. We went down to ground zero, battery park, up to wall street then over to times square. We were planning on meeting some friends for dinner at Carmine's in Midtown. We ended up getting there and hour and a half early so we just decided to have a couple of drinks and watch the Olympics gold medal match in women's soccer. It turned out to be the highlight of the day. I love hanging out with my wife! She really was a saint on this trip. For you non-triathlete's, when you're tapering you can be prone to being a pain in the ass. I take it to the extreme. Combine the taper with the threat of not actually doing an Ironman was causing me to be straight up bipolar. I would say out loud, "You know Laura, I don't have any control over it, no sense in worrying." Then ten minutes later, "They better not cancel this thing?" I could tell she was getting frustrated but the lemon drop seem to make it bearable. After dinner we walked over to the expo to watch the athlete briefing. They announced that they are going to test the water tomorrow and make a decision at 4pm.
Friday Laura headed into the city by herself and I met up with Eric to drop off our gear. Then I headed back to the hotel to relax before dinner. While waiting to head up to Ft. Lee I saw on facebook that the swim was on! I was so relieved! Then I got very nervous! I realized that while worrying about the decision since hearing the news of the leak I stopped thinking about doing the race and only focused on if there would be a race. I saw Laura walk into the hotel and I think she was more relieved than I was. She knew that I would be pretty grumpy if the decision had gone the other way. I know thank you's usually come at the end of a race report but I have to thank Keith Elisberg. He was great at organizing everything not only for a great aide station on the run but also made us all dinner the night before at his fire station in Ft. Lee. It was great to get together and chat. I got to meet in person Larry Durland from PA, Jim Street from Il, Michael Cronin from NY, and Jackie Elisberg (Keith's better half). We had a good time chatting but the 4 of us racing wanted to get back to the hotel as soon as possible. We had a 0400 ferry with our name on it.
RACEDAY
I woke up at 2:50 AM. The plan was to meet up with my friend Jason Panzer at his room at 3:20. I quickly got dressed and had a couple ensures and some coffee. I was surprisingly not nervous at all. Jason and I met up and got on the ferry. It was awesome heading up the river to transition. The beautiful NYC skyline. It was surreal. We got up to transition and found our bikes. We set everything up and then met up at Eric's bike. Our plan was to be the last ones out of transition. This would put us on the last ferry which should give us favorable tide conditions. The line was very long to get on the ferry's and not moving fast so we just relaxed. We finally got in line and boarded the last ferry. It was fun heading up to the swim start together. We got to hang out and just shoot the shit like any other day. We go up to the swim start barge and I really started to get excited. The race was awesome! We were in the Hudson. Views of Washington Heights, the Henry Hudson Bridge, The Pallisades. There were numerous FDNY Boats, coast guard and NYPD boats cruising around. A couple of big yacht's full of spectators were there also. We could see the pro's start and they seemed fast! We shuffle off the ferry, high five each other and then jump in and start our day.
The swim was great! The water was disgusting. As I write this my head is hurting from a nasty sinus infection I got on raceday. My doctor is convinced it was from the water quality. But I swam 2.4 miles in 48 minutes. The pain feels so good! Unlike other ironman swim starts that can be hectic this was very relaxed. I only ran into a couple of people the whole swim. It seemed to fly by and when I got out of the water and saw my time I thought that maybe my watch had broken!
T1 was uneventful and I was quickly on my bike ready to start the day. Going into this race I knew that a huge hurdle for me would be slowing down on the first 20 miles of the bike. I spun up the first hill and got started on the rollers. I felt like I could ride to the sun! Everything felt great. As I passed the 10 mile mark my watch auto lapped and I saw my first 10 mile stats; heart rate average was 125 and power average was 210. 210! I thought my power meter broke in transit. No way could I maintain 210 with such a low heart rate. This turned out to be the first bad decision of the day. My power meter was working fine I was just seeing how a well trained, well tapered body responds to a highly anticipated day. Around mile 30 I rolled up on a crash. It appeared to be a female with some bleeding. I stopped and offered assistance. The individuals that were attending her advised that they were medical professionals and that they had it covered. The rest of the bike was fun. It was not a challenging course but it was fun with some decent rollers. The last lap back to transition the wind kicked up. Couple that with the heat and my foolish decision to ignore my power meter in the beginning of the bike lead to me having a slow last 25 miles. As we approached Ft. Lee the crowd support got much bigger and I got excited to get off my bike and start the last leg.
I had a clean T2 and after some sunscreen application I was off and running. I actually felt really good starting the run. I had planned to walk up the first big hill and I stuck to the plan on this one. When I got to the top of the hill I saw my wife Laura and all of my teammates. It was awesome seeing her and getting cheers from my Team Firefighter friends. I turned the corner and headed downhill. My consistent training partner is my friend, Eric. We constantly share race strategies and course information. He works occasionally in NY so he had the opportunity to train on this run course a few times. He told me many times before the race, "just don't walk Kyle!" So, as I was jogging down the second hill I was surprised to see my friend walking up the other side. It was a relief at first ten it scared the crap out of me. Eric is a much better runner than I am so if he was walking what would I need to do to get through this marathon? My ego made me attempt jogging up Dyckman hill. I got about 25% up it when I realized that walking would be just as fast but a lot less effort. The first 16 miles of the run were pretty brutal. It was very hot and humid and the hills were steep. The support was awesome and most of the fellow racers were friendly. It was a relief to get out of the park and head up and over the GW bridge. Running over that bridge was really cool. We dropped into manhattan and headed south through Riverside park. The first few miles in the park were really cool. It was a Saturday evening and the park was busy with friends and family enjoying the summer evening. Most were not expecting the parade of hobbling triathletes. It was fun to see their faces as we ran by.
Around mile twenty I was caught by one of my team firefighter teammates, Baron Ballester. Although we had talked over the internet for over a year we had only first met in person that morning in transition. He picked up my mood and we decided to jog/walk at 90/30 second intervals. We spent the last 10k together and it was great.
At a half a mile from the finish line I saw Laura. She handed me a US flag with all the names of the lives lost on 9/11, including the 343 firefighters lost. I started running with the flag unfurled. It was amazing seeing the crowd respond to the flag. I immediately felt rejuvenated, or maybe just relieved to see the finish line. After a year of training and preparing I was finished and it felt great. I found Laura and gave her a huge hug! I really couldn't have done any of it without her. I met up with some friends at the finish line and shared our congratulations. I was starving and so we decided to head over to the boat basin and get some beer and food.
Andrew Wilson - Allenton 5K Race Report 8/18/2012
Allenton 5K- August 18, 2012
So here I go again. Looking for an event close to home that I can get my kids involved with. I found this 5K race not too far and kids run free. Only $15 entry fee to participate and it goes to benefit a fire department. So after riding the bike for an entire weekend earlier in the month I had been taking it easy as far as workouts. Just when I am ready to get back into the groove, my wife ends up in the hospital for a couple of days. There was nothing major found but lots of tests to be done. So to say the least I spend the first half of the week tending to the kids and house. The second half of the week was spent catching up on sleep. And absolutely none of the week eating properly or training. So the plan is for us to go up and participate for fun. The kids want to run and I tell them that I will be “racing” this event. Their nerves are funny reminders of my first event ever. Mine was a 5K trail run when I lived in Southern California. They are worried about getting lost, or not being able to keep up etc. I explain the route will be marked and some people will be walking this event. We arrive at the park with 20 minutes to start time. I get registered and take my number back to the truck. I get my number pinned to my Team Fire Fighter tri-top and slip it on.
This is an inaugural event for the department so things are behind schedule. The organizers are almost as nervous as my kids. So participants get directions and we head to the grassy knoll starting area. I give the last instructions to kids to try their hardest and wish them luck. The pretty Allenton Fire Department Queen starts the race and away we go. Like any event I have ever been at it is a mob of people at the start. I worked my way through the crowds and suddenly found myself chasing only four or five people. I find my groove and go with the flow. The only problem was the flow seemed to be slower than my pace. I did the typical back and forth with a couple of people. At about a mile there was a nice young man that had been in front of me the entire time who suddenly stopped at the side of the road. I looked back a couple of times to make sure he was still upright and carried on. At about mile two I started to huff and puff a little. I equated this to the lack of training over the last two weeks and pushed on. With my heart rate in the 180’s I continued on at this pace. I again blew this off to the poor diet last week, besides if I go down my Road ID will tell them who to call. The last third of the course we get to run hills. Not big ones but just enough that the muscles were engaging a little different. At this point I realize that there were only a few people ahead of me. Just as that thought passes through so does a fellow runner. So I do what any competitor does and keep pacing him while thinking to myself “save just enough for a quick sprint”. With a half mile to go he bogs down and I am now pushing for the finish. There will be no need to sprint only keep the pace. I have absolutely no idea what my finish time was, and am convinced that this route was short.
After I finish my race I turn to await my three oldest kids finishing their first run. My daughter shows first with a time of 32:20. What a great time for a 12 year old girl and her first event. The boys were too busy doing sprint intervals to set any records. But they did have fun. As we started replenishing fluids we waited for the rest of the field to finish and results to come in. I knew I did well but believed there were two other males and one female in front of me. They call all of the kids up to collect their participation ribbons and the kids are pumped. Then they move to the age groupers. Starting with teenagers male and female and moving to twenty something’s. The top male overall and in the 20’s age group was about 6’3” (outstriding my 5’6” self) finished with a time of 17 minutes and change. Now I am convinced it was a short route. So on to my age group the thirty something’s. As I sit and ponder to myself how much I was behind the top male in my age, the announcer says “Andy Wilson with a time of blah, blah, blah”. No really this has to be what he said because I am still looking for the other Andy Wilson. No podium but a great medal for this inaugural event. So I go change to my post race garb, kilt and TeamFF tech shirt. We sit at the park and the kids play on the merry go round and swings. Later that evening, with my mind still in disbelief of the results, I decide to use mapmyride.com and verify the distance. Unbelievably this route turns out to be a true 5K race. This explains why my legs are fried today! Once I get the official time I am pretty sure this will be a PR.
So here I go again. Looking for an event close to home that I can get my kids involved with. I found this 5K race not too far and kids run free. Only $15 entry fee to participate and it goes to benefit a fire department. So after riding the bike for an entire weekend earlier in the month I had been taking it easy as far as workouts. Just when I am ready to get back into the groove, my wife ends up in the hospital for a couple of days. There was nothing major found but lots of tests to be done. So to say the least I spend the first half of the week tending to the kids and house. The second half of the week was spent catching up on sleep. And absolutely none of the week eating properly or training. So the plan is for us to go up and participate for fun. The kids want to run and I tell them that I will be “racing” this event. Their nerves are funny reminders of my first event ever. Mine was a 5K trail run when I lived in Southern California. They are worried about getting lost, or not being able to keep up etc. I explain the route will be marked and some people will be walking this event. We arrive at the park with 20 minutes to start time. I get registered and take my number back to the truck. I get my number pinned to my Team Fire Fighter tri-top and slip it on.
This is an inaugural event for the department so things are behind schedule. The organizers are almost as nervous as my kids. So participants get directions and we head to the grassy knoll starting area. I give the last instructions to kids to try their hardest and wish them luck. The pretty Allenton Fire Department Queen starts the race and away we go. Like any event I have ever been at it is a mob of people at the start. I worked my way through the crowds and suddenly found myself chasing only four or five people. I find my groove and go with the flow. The only problem was the flow seemed to be slower than my pace. I did the typical back and forth with a couple of people. At about a mile there was a nice young man that had been in front of me the entire time who suddenly stopped at the side of the road. I looked back a couple of times to make sure he was still upright and carried on. At about mile two I started to huff and puff a little. I equated this to the lack of training over the last two weeks and pushed on. With my heart rate in the 180’s I continued on at this pace. I again blew this off to the poor diet last week, besides if I go down my Road ID will tell them who to call. The last third of the course we get to run hills. Not big ones but just enough that the muscles were engaging a little different. At this point I realize that there were only a few people ahead of me. Just as that thought passes through so does a fellow runner. So I do what any competitor does and keep pacing him while thinking to myself “save just enough for a quick sprint”. With a half mile to go he bogs down and I am now pushing for the finish. There will be no need to sprint only keep the pace. I have absolutely no idea what my finish time was, and am convinced that this route was short.
After I finish my race I turn to await my three oldest kids finishing their first run. My daughter shows first with a time of 32:20. What a great time for a 12 year old girl and her first event. The boys were too busy doing sprint intervals to set any records. But they did have fun. As we started replenishing fluids we waited for the rest of the field to finish and results to come in. I knew I did well but believed there were two other males and one female in front of me. They call all of the kids up to collect their participation ribbons and the kids are pumped. Then they move to the age groupers. Starting with teenagers male and female and moving to twenty something’s. The top male overall and in the 20’s age group was about 6’3” (outstriding my 5’6” self) finished with a time of 17 minutes and change. Now I am convinced it was a short route. So on to my age group the thirty something’s. As I sit and ponder to myself how much I was behind the top male in my age, the announcer says “Andy Wilson with a time of blah, blah, blah”. No really this has to be what he said because I am still looking for the other Andy Wilson. No podium but a great medal for this inaugural event. So I go change to my post race garb, kilt and TeamFF tech shirt. We sit at the park and the kids play on the merry go round and swings. Later that evening, with my mind still in disbelief of the results, I decide to use mapmyride.com and verify the distance. Unbelievably this route turns out to be a true 5K race. This explains why my legs are fried today! Once I get the official time I am pretty sure this will be a PR.
Andrew Wilson - MS 150 Race Report 8/4-5/2012
MS150: Best Dam Bike Ride- August 4 and 5 2012
While this is not a race report it was a PR weekend for me. And we are all about Firefighter fitness, so I will share my story in hopes of motivating others.
So the plan for day two is to easy pedal the first couple of legs, and see how it goes. Surprisingly enough the only thing in “pain” was my sit bone area. So ride we shall. The day started with less traffic, lower temps, more wind, and some of the hilliest areas to ride. Everyone warned about the hills of day two. They were tough but not like the century loop hills. They were relentless, literally one after another. By the lunch stop I was done being on the bike. The miles were getting longer and the road lonelier. Nearing the end of the ride I came across some fellow firefighters as a team. They were some Kenosha guys that are doing the same thing as Team Fire Fighter. So we spent the last 20 plus miles riding together discussing the joys riding for fitness, among other things. I love this brotherhood! I am not sure what was the best finish to the weekend; completing 200 plus miles in two days, completing this PR on my mother in-law’s birthday, riding in with fellow fire fighters, seeing my kids waiting patiently, or the compilation of all of these together? Oh, and the first thing I wanted was my kilt and Team Fire Fighter shirt...such a comfy way to promote our team!
While this is not a race report it was a PR weekend for me. And we are all about Firefighter fitness, so I will share my story in hopes of motivating others.
I
set out with a goal in mind for the weekend “complete my first
century”. Up to this point I have not been able to train mush more that
2 hours at a time. This equates to nothing over 35 miles for rides.
So I pack my bags Friday night. The ride starts only 7 miles from home
so I’ll get a warm up in on the way. Besides this way my wife can
bring the kids down in the car to visit for a bit on Saturday night.
Early
Saturday morning I get up and set out by bike to Pewaukee, WI. As I
turn out of the subdivision I realize...it’s already 85 degrees and
muggy. Thus begins my journey for the weekend. As this is a charity
ride that is near to my family I rode as part of team Hill Yeah!. Our
fundraising team is lead by a friend of our family who somehow talked me
into spending an entire weekend on my bike. So I get to the starting
location and realize that finding a few friendly faces or even the same
jerseys was going to be tough in a sea of weary eyed cyclists and
weekend warriors. Alas I locate some that look like me and we begin the
rally. Slowly building in numbers I get to meet new friends and greet
some old friends while we wait to start.
The
ceremonies take place and they start sending groups of riders out in
waves. We set out as a team and stay together for all of one mile
maybe. Bikes are everywhere and I am just waiting for the massive pile
up at 8 MPH to happen directly in front of me. We make it out of town
safely and the heard begins to thin and organize. I stick with a couple
that has many miles experience and we head to the first of many rest
stops for the weekend. My favorite was the second stop of Saturday, two
frosty mugged carbohydrate beverages. Continuing on Saturday was
fairly uneventful. As scheduled I rode the century route that day.
While at the last stop one of the SAG vehicles came through and
suggested that if we wanted to complete the ride go now. After riding
all day in 100 degree humid weather, we were now looking at severe
thunderstorm warnings. So I push off, at this point I am riding solo,
and suck the wheels of a group riding by. Being led by a teenager I had
a hell of a time keeping the 20 MPH pace this late in the day. So with
my head still high I rode into UW-Whitewater solo and starting to
cramp, bad! The last two miles I could not coast without instant quad
cramps. Over 100 miles and my first century in the books!
I
give away my bike for the night, check in to the dorms, and let the
festivities begin. Due to the severe weather the organizers asked
everyone to seek shelter. Storms blew through without incident. My
loving wife arrives with my necessities; riding kit for day 2,
toiletries, and my Kilt and Team Fire Fighter tech shirt. Oh yes as
much as I support the MS society, Code 3 for a Cure still gets post race
advertisement every time!
So the plan for day two is to easy pedal the first couple of legs, and see how it goes. Surprisingly enough the only thing in “pain” was my sit bone area. So ride we shall. The day started with less traffic, lower temps, more wind, and some of the hilliest areas to ride. Everyone warned about the hills of day two. They were tough but not like the century loop hills. They were relentless, literally one after another. By the lunch stop I was done being on the bike. The miles were getting longer and the road lonelier. Nearing the end of the ride I came across some fellow firefighters as a team. They were some Kenosha guys that are doing the same thing as Team Fire Fighter. So we spent the last 20 plus miles riding together discussing the joys riding for fitness, among other things. I love this brotherhood! I am not sure what was the best finish to the weekend; completing 200 plus miles in two days, completing this PR on my mother in-law’s birthday, riding in with fellow fire fighters, seeing my kids waiting patiently, or the compilation of all of these together? Oh, and the first thing I wanted was my kilt and Team Fire Fighter shirt...such a comfy way to promote our team!
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