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.

Chris Madzi - Escape to Miami Sprint Race Report 9/23/12

I raced the "Escape to Miami" sprint on Sunday even though my training had fallen off in the past few weeks I had decided to go anyway. 

The morning started off a little odd, a drunk guy came over to the truck asking for a ride to South Beach. He had just been beaten-up and robbed a few blocks away, the gash by his eye told me he wasn't lying. He was upset when I told him I was parking but was OK with a couple of bucks for bus fair. Standing around for two hours while the long course athletes cleared the swim was for the birds. 

The swim was brutal, the first buoy was 50 yards away so Matt Newman and I got on the outside and decided to swim on an angle and avoid the congestion. This worked great I was about tenth to the buoy and made a left to swim parallel to the shore, well everyone 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

Rick Van Tuyl - Orange Man Half Iron Race Report 9/23/12

OrangeMan 1/2 iron distance

Well, it seems like these (race reports) all start out the same. What I thought I'd be writing about an epic day, didn't quit materialize that way. My goal was to 'Just Don't Walk'. Morning started great. Got into the car and was heading into transition 15 minutes later. Gotta love local races.

I was in the third wave with ocean swim/beach start. I don't consider myself a fast swimmer, but my time was 37:34. Happy with it, as I was hoping 35-40 min considering it was the ocean. T1 3:55, but I did start my phone app also. (it worked great. My wife was able to track me. She had a hard time with the map, but it gave mile by mile times, current and avg. times). I decide to use my Rudy Project Wingspan to be quicker on the bike. The first 5 miles are pretty flat, then it's a steady climb for the next 25 miles. I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard, but I guess I was. It was getting hot too. I think the temp got over 90 up there. I got to the turn around in 2:10 and now the fun begins. A fast and fun descent. (Later my wife told my that she yelled at her phone cuz I was going too fast. Looking at my data, I hit 49 mph). My wife was able to track me and left our house when I started down the hill and saw me right before T2. That was nice to see her. Back into T2 in 1:10, total time was 3:20. 

Now the run. I started slow, the first mile was paved, followed by 7/10 of a mile sand run. That sucked hard. About half way, I decided to walk and save myself for the run. Got off the sand, and started running, slowly. Got about a mile or so, and had no energy. It was hot, probably mid 80's even though we were about a few hundred feet from the ocean. I started playing 'let's make deal' with run to the next pole, walk to the next pole. After a while my left hammy got a twinge. It went away and then I started to get hot spots on my feet. I decided to walk the rest and not risk getting blisters as I have IM Arizona in 7 weeks. My run was over long before I got the hot spots though. Finished my 3 loops, and walking the last mile to the finish line. My wife was there and a friend. We all walked a little, then it was she and I. It wasn't a bad way to finish my race. As we walked, I had a lot of questions that need to be answered. 

What did I learn...I need to pace better on the bike. Maybe, I should try for a leisure ride and don't have anything but a watch to tell me when it's time to drink. Maybe I should do AquaBike-with my times I would have been about 5th place. This is probably the most important...When I was riding, I actually looked a little at the views, and became completely grateful that I get to do this. Race/participate in endurance events. Nobody cares (except me) about my times, pace, or placings. My wife, my kids, my friends, nobody cares. All they really want to know is 'did I finish or did I get hurt'. Not much more. They all think I'm crazy for training/racing 70.3/140.6 miles. Am I? I don't know. But, I do know that I'm addicted. 

One last thing, train safely. It seems that a lot of accidents happening to cyclists lately. And wear your RoadID

Keith Elisberg - Grace in Motion 5k Race Report 9/15/2012

Grace in Motion 5K

The Grace in Motion 5K was held this past Saturday in Fort Lee on part of the Ironman NYC run course. This was not your typical 5K. It was all about the orphans. It was the first race they did but one of the most organized and enjoyable ones I have done in quite some time. The directors are triathletes and set up a race in less than three months. It had a high race fee but they raised over 10,000 dollars for the orphans.

Race morning was cold. It was in the low 50s when I got up but knew it would warm up fast and at least the rain from the night prior had stopped. Jackie came with me to the race but didn't compete. She was armed with the camera and coffee. We chose to drive the one mile since walking out is all uphill. This is how organized they were you drove in they

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.

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.

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”

Website:  www.firemanrob.com

●      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

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