Great Floridian

Nine of my clients traveled to Claremont for the Great Floridian. The amazing thing is that for 7 of the 9 they were attempting their first race at this distance, either half Ironman or full. Special recognition to Mindy who has been doing triathlons for only one season on completing her first ironman.


Mindy and Susan at bike check-in.


VIDEO: Irondistance swim start


Sugarloaf Mountain: "Who said Florida is flat?"


Jason "Trash Talk" Haggard kicking it in at the end.


St. Pete's Mad Dogs!


Mindy looking suprisingly serene at mile 15 of the marathon leg.


The whole rock star posse at the finish line.


Jessika and Maria bringing home the age group awards.

Great Floridian Full Ironman

Female 25-29

Mindy Craven: 4th 13:10:03.95

AquaVelo Full

Liz Howard: 8:43:27
Florida Challenge 1/2 Ironman

Stephen Taylor: 3rd Overall Male 4:45:32.70

Female 25-29

Jessika Poirier: 4th 6:48:15.05

Maria Mendiburo: 5th 7:13:10.35

Male 30-34

Kevin Boucher: 4th 5:32:34.45

Male 35-39

Jason Haggard: 20th 6:19:13.20

Male 55-59

James Garges: 11th 7:33:43.70

Athena

Mary Garges: 3rd 7:29:09.85

AquaVelo Half

Susan Howell: 5th 4:33:15

Marathon PR at Marine Corps

Marine Corps Marathon
Washington DC
Oct 26, 2008

Tilghman Carroll 4:04:41

3 in 15 days (Marathons, that is...)

Client Bob Ross writes:

69 marathons in 45 states:

8/23 Mesa Falls, Idaho 4:23
9/28 Omaha, Nebraska 4:20
10/4 New Hampshire 5:07
10/11 Hartford, CT 4:26

I look forward to the next five. Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 11, 2008. North Dakota, Alaska, Colorado and Oregon are set for 2009. If all goes well I will finish about this time next year in Portland, Oregon.

Thanks for your help. The cross training and especially the swimming got me to the point where this was a possibility.

The weeks between the marathons I hit the pool and it was a great help. This time last year I was doing nothing but running, and I believe that is what let to my foot injury. At New Hampshire I felt my groin muscles getting really tight and that was part of backing off a little. Again the pool and stretching got me ready for the next week.

The classes were really what got me to the point where I even felt comfortable attempting this. Again, thank you so much.

Bob Ross

Photo: The finish of the Hartford Marathon

Tennessee State High School Cross Country Meet

Maddie Polk took Navy Seals training group this summer, which consisted of long trail runs, urban adventure runs, swims, and strength training. She used it as a base to propel her on the the varsity team for Harpeth Hall Cross Country team. In only her second year of cross country she has a PR of 21:35. The STtrainer patrol went and watched her race last Saturday.

Hot conditions precluded fast times, but Maddie was running her best.


A picture of the finishing straight, Maddie (on right) caught the next two girls in the finishing kick (in white and blue).


Pictured here with proud father Bill Polk, aka, El Gato. Maddie is going to Washington University in St. Louis in the fall and plan to run on the cross country team there.

"BQ" stands for Boston Qualifier

Louisville KY Marathon
Deanna Zieman 3:38:57

A huge congrats to Deanna Zieman who hit this admirable finishing time. This was just 2 weeks after winning the Nashville Greenways Marathon.

She was paced by her friend Candice Chappell, who finished the half marathon then ran the last few miles with Deanna.


Louisville Half Marathon
Candice Chappell 1:35:39

Recent Client Results

Susan Sprague Eagle Tri
Susan took Tri Level 1 this summer, and wasn't sure if she was ready for her first tri. Well, she did it!



StumpJump 50K Trail Run, Chattanooga TN
Jamie McDowell, 5:48:50, 29th out of 198
"After nine months of training under the direction of Stephen Taylor, I am happy to say that I finished my first ultra-distance event. I ran the Stump Jump 50K in Chattanooga. The race is pretty grueling. The elevation is around 5000 feet. For the most part, the trails were difficult (mile 16-20 runs you through a rock garden). I can say that fitness was not a problem. I had incredible training from Stephen. More importantly, Stephen coached me through the nutrition required for such a feat. I can't wait for the next race. Thanks Stephen."

--James McDowell MD, FACS

Austin 70.3 Triathlon
Phil Theodore finished this race in 6:29. He would have finished much faster but he had 4 flats and ended up running 4 miles with his bike on his back. He his currently training for Ironman Western Australia in December.

Murfreesboro Half Marathon
Catherine Dewberry 1:47:25
Tilghman Carrol 1:53:18
Tilghman writes: I PR'd yesterday in the M'boro half...1:53:18...a 6 minute PR! 18th out of 138 in my age group. I wanted to thank you for pushing me to this new level, I hope to continue this improvement!

Nashville Greenways Marathon

Nashville Greenways Marathon
Oct 4, 2008
Stephen Taylor 1st Overall Male
Deanna Zieman 1st Overall Female
Sydney Bush-Foster 2nd 30-39 Female
Matt Foster 27th 30-39 Male Half Marathon

This was a great race, and not only because I was the overall winner, but for many other reasons:


Reason #1: It was a local Nashville, low-key grassroots race, on the beautiful Greenways. I ride these Greenways a lot, they made a great running race. I was in a great mood this morning.



Reason #2: My friends Jason "Trash Talk" Haggard and Mary G showed up to wish me good luck.


Reason #3: My dog Kokolulu (pictured) and my girlfriend, Susan (photographer) showed up to cheer me on.



Reason #4: It gave me a great chance to try my Swiftwick 12 socks in a long run.


Reason #5: I won by 11 seconds. I really pushed myself to a new level of pain and mental toughness to get this one done. I will take away a new level of mental toughness for Ironman Arizona. When I was done I was exhausted.



Reason #6: My friend and client Deanna won the women's side of the race. Awesome!



Reason #7: Sydney Bush-Foster also had a great race...just a few months after having a baby. Nice sweat salt, Sydney!

Hell Day

Pararescue Jumper (PJ) is the Air Force designation for Special Forces Combat Medics. They are the ones who go behind enemy lines, run through a firefight, and put an IV in a wounded soldier.

In my research on the PJ training "Pipeline," these guys will need to go way beyond what a normal fitness enthusiast experiences, way beyond what an elite endurance athlete experiences. My goal is to have them ready to survive the program.

These guys take my Navy Seals class, then I assign them 3 more hours of training after that. The pictures below are of the 10 hour hell day we did 1 one week ago.


100 situps with a big rock on your chest while a barge goes flying past...big wave. The water is cold and they both are shivering.



Both of these guys' masks are full of river water. They have to be prepared to persist without oxygen, with water splashing in their face. General Jackson in the background.


Jonathan finishing the buddy carry at Percy Warner Park Stairs.


Nick on the buddy carry with Jamie on his back.