Atomic Man Half Ironman

Atomic Man Half Iron, Oak Ridge TN
Sept 29, 2008

Bill Polk finished his first half ironman.
Coach Stephen Taylor won the race, come from behind 7 minutes down at the start of the run.



Which way? The course was well marked.



My client Bill Polk finished his first half ironman in 6:01. Not bad!



Richard Tomkins from Acme Multisport clowning around when he's supposed to be running. It didn't slow him down much.



Since I'm an Eagle Scout, it really pumped me up to see Boy Scouts at the aid stations.





Me (Stephen Taylor) with client Bill P. We were pumped....he finished his first half iron and I won the race outright.



A couple of my friends from Chattanooga. Kevin Boucher (L) finished fourth. I chased Jeff Gibson (R) all damn day and didn't catch him until mile 10.5. Thanks for making me suffer bad Jeff!



Richard Tomkins with the hugest plate of post-race pizza I have ever seen.

Vanderbilt Triathlon Club Fall Boot Camp

Vandy Tri has Boot Camp two times per year. This is a bonding time, a recruiting opportunity, and a chance to harden everyone up. I only managed to get pictures of Saturday. The boot camp was from Friday night through Sunday and pushed everyone pretty hard.


Everyone was tired because I made them start at 7am. Here they are stretching out and waking up. Craig G. (red shirt) is either brushing his teeth or eating a gel.



Warm-up laps on the Vanderbilt University track.


Next we did videotaping for run form analysis. We videotaped everyone from side view and front view. We did endurance pace and race pace.


We had a lot of fun analyzing everyone's run form. The running form and technique I teach incorporates posture analysis, cadence, and POSE method. I have done this session with clients and teams many times, and it always amazes me how productive it is.



Gearing up for a 22 mile ride to the open water swim. Maria M. lubes and wipes off her chain.



Not a bad looking bunch, ready to ride some greenways to J. Percy Priest Lake.


Time for open water swim practice in Hamilton Creek Marina.


And they're off.


Bikes piled up. Most of the team rode the 22 miles back to campus after the swim. I would have loved to stick around and train with the team (flog them some more) but I had to go to Atomic Man.

My Race Report from Music City

In my results blog I usually keep the attention off myself...I want to emphasize the performance of my clients and friends. Please scroll down and see what they have accomplished.



This was such a remarkable day however that I wanted to write up a race report myself. In short, I did not even get to the end of the driveway of the park before my back tire flatted. I remembered the extra wheel in my car, so I rode the flat back to swap wheels. I had gotten back riding on the new wheel for less than a minute before I launched my water bottle hopping over a speed bump.



It is against the rules to abandon equipment, and I knew I would need the water for a brutal windy 27 mile ride. To compound my troubles, it took me minutes to find that darn bottle which had rolled under a parked car. When I found it, the top was ajar and it was only 25% full.



I finally got going and I decided I was going to give this race everything I could muster despite my misfortune. Yes it was windy. I stayed off the shoulder of the road and hence avoided any additional flats. I ate two gels but only a tiny bit of water. I raced hard.



At the end of the day I had scrapped my way up into third in my age group, which I am very proud of. (Congrats to Javier who outsprinted me for second.) I also received an award for having the fastest T1 and fastest combined T1 and T2, which netted me some handsome Fleet Feet gift cards.



As far as I am concerned this was just another day at the office for an elite endurance athlete and coach. I expose my clients to challenges that stretch their abilities, and I do my best to equip them with the ability to rise above the chaos of unpredictable race day. When I race, I try to model these qualities.

Elite Client CVL Wins in Iowa

Client Chris Vander Linden (Iowa City, IA) won TriHawks Triathlon Sept 21. Results Here.



Chris just did a 5 day training camp in Nashville with me. He is back in the tri scene, doing 250-500 miles of base cycling mileage all fall. Look for him to be a force in the spring.



I have been coaching Chris Vander Linden for 5 years. He started rising in the ranks of triathlon after graduating from high school. I compelled him to get some college experience so he competed in running and swimming at Luther College. I trained him during the same period when I coached a clinic at University of Iowa containing TJ Tollakson.

Music City Triathon; Waves on Waves

Music City Triathlon Sept 15

Candice Chappell - 2:21:41 - 1st F 20-24

Lindsay Chance - 2:46:19
Mindy Craven - 2:20:53 - 5th Collegiate
Catherine Dewberry 2:22:00
Jason Haggard - 2:24:36
Amber Lai - 2:26:49

Jessika Poirier - 2:34:25
Mary Garges - 3:00:26
Jodie Gleason - 2:30:37

Kevin Herrington - 2:26:58

Jennifer Hartley - 2:28:37
Walter Jermakowicz - 2:36:23

Cynthia Kern - 2:33:01
Lisa Kirkham - 2:40:44
Gary Mappin - 3:08:15
Maria Mendiburo - 2:47:20
John Navin - 2:50:29
Laura Neergaard - 2:51:05
Tim Lance - 3:27:05
Gray Stahlman - 2:35:05
Philip Theodore - 2:16:33
Tim Warnock - 2:56:46
David Weil - 2:34:43
Sarah West - 2:37:03
Ben Whittam - 2:34:14

Vanderbilt Triathletes Mindy Craven (in Gray) and Maria M (black top.)


(Re)start of the Collegiate Division.


Mary Garges pre-race clowning.

Lisa Kirkham, triathlon supermodel.



Ben Whittam, post flat tire.


Candace Chappell tearing up her age group.

Catherine aka Mrs. Mashly Crankenberry.



Tim Lance sporting the road rash.

Jeremy Banks Passes Navy Seal Fitness Challenge

Navy Seals Fitness Challenge

Jeremy Banks, 16, a participant in STtrainer Navy Seals Fitness training group passed the Navy Seals Fitness Challenge in Chicago. His lifelong dream is to become a real Navy Seal. He is well on his way with a new love of training, and a renewed purpose for getting good grades in school.

500 yd swim under 12.5 min Jeremy finished in 11:42
Rest 10 min

42 push ups in 2 min Jeremy completed 72

Rest 2 min

50 sit ups in 2 min Jeremy completed 72

Rest 2 min

6 pull ups no time limit Jeremy completed 15

1.5 mile run under 11 min Jeremy finished in 10:42

Old Hickory Triathlon

Old Hickory Triathlon, Sept 6, 2008

Tilgman Carroll - 1:21:34 - 3rd in Age Group
Lindsay Chance - 1:23:34
Mindy Craven - 1:14:35 - 1st in Age Group
Carrie Gay - 1:29:00
Mary Garges - 1:20:21 1st in Age Group
Jodie Gleason - 1:14: 41 - 1st in Age Group

Jason Haggard - 1:10:17
Jennifer Hartley - 1:14:54 - 2nd F 35-39
Kevin Herrington - 1:12:38
Susan Howell - 1:23:27 - 5th in Age Group
Lisa Kirkham - 1:26:20

Amber Lai - 1:11:07 - first female beginner overall
Maria Mendiburo - 1:25:39

Jessika Poirier - 1:18:01 - 3rd F 25-29

Jonathan Smits - 1:22:40
Gray Stahlman - 1:19:34
Csaba Toth - 1:11:16 - 3rd 30-34 Age Group
Erika Uhrlass - 1:28:45

Juli Watson - 1:40:47
Craig Zimberg - 1:28:16
Deanna Zieman- 1:26:14

Tilghman Carroll, runner extraordinaire.


Jonathan Smits, 1st triathlon. He wanted to do this race so I lent him my "Single Speed." The next day he bought a new bike, and he earned it.


Jen Hartley has really came on strong this season. Great job Jen.


Perennial age group threat, Jodie Gleason.


Craig Zimberg, sporting the STtrainer colors.


Mary and Tilghman on the podium, collecting hardware.


Jonathan Smits post-race glow. He is using triathlon to train for Air Force Special Forces.


Jessika Poirier and Coach Stephen.

Rock and Roll Man

Okay I was just going through some old pix and found these...
Drew S. and I and Rock and Roll Man half ironman, Macon GA, May 2007.
He has done 2 triathons: RnR half iron; and Great Floridian Ironman.
Drew owns Climb Nashville.

Music City Preview Ride

STtrainer Coaches Stephanie Honeycutt and Stephen Taylor led a preview of the Music City Triathlon Bike Course. Good thing, because it turned out to be a tough, windy day on race day. Here are some pictures from the ride.