Thursday, March 26, 2009

Natchez Trace Triathlon, March 22

Pictures and a few comments first, then result below that:




Photo: Jason.


Photo: Mary.


Photo: Go Jason and Mary.


Photo: Vandy had the best team huddle.


Photo: Chetan


Photo: Lindsey


Photo: My team-mate and bike mechanic Wil Emery.




Photo: Happy finishers.


Photo: Christy finished her first triathlon, and her mom was there to watch!


Photo: Mindy, sporting the hardware.

Results:

Vanderbilt Women's Team (1st team)

Mindy Craven 1:20:48 (5th overall)
Mary Garges 1:32:48 (1st athena)
Csaba Toth 1:15:38 (4th M 30-24)
Jason Haggard 1:16:32 (6th M 35-39)
Kris Stensland 1:15:45
Mac Johnson 1:16:06
Scott Collier 1:27:28
Jeremy Miller 1:32:53
Chetan Kalkarni 2:04:41
Lauren Gibbs 1:27:52 (1st F 20-24)
Kathy Blakemore 1:12:38 (2nd collegiate female)
Laura Ballanger 1:20:11 (7th collegiate female)
Ally Thonpston 1:22:22 (10th collegiate female)
Lindsey Jenkins 1:29:24
Maria Mendiboro 1:39:44
Catherine Dewberry 1:30:07 (3rd overall female in duathlon)

Stephen Taylors coaching page [link here.]

Rad Times in Vermont, Great Socks

A few weeks ago, my fiance Susan and I went to Vermont for a long weekend. My sister, brother in law, and niece Tatum live there. It snowed the whole time we were there. It was awesome.


Photo: Apres ski with niece Tatum, modeling my white Oakleys.


Photo: Goofing off in snowshoes in the middle of nowhere, VT.


Photo: Susan and my sister on XC skis, at the Von Trapp family lodge. Yes, from The Sound of Music, those Von Trapps.





Photo: Downhill skiing in conditions that the snow report described as "epic...just sick...mythical."


Photo: Okay, time for the plug. If I enjoy a product, I truly enjoy telling people about it. I did 3 days straight of snow sports, and my Swiftwick Socks kept my feet totally comfortable the whole time.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Officer John Jayne Conquers Two Runs in One Day

I ran into John Jayne at my engagement party. He told me a great story....


Officer John Jayne ran his first race at the Predators Fangtastic 5K. He ran it with his wife Rachel Sarah Jayne, who is a fantastic massage therapist. She works on many of the top triathletes in Nashville. They train together and enjoy the time together. John is also an officer in the Nashville Police Department.

After running his first 5K, later that day he was on his shift when he came into pursuit of a vehicle. The suspect jumped out of the moving vehicle. After ensuring the vehicle came to a stop without injuring anyone, Officer Jayne set off on pursuit after the suspect. He chased for several blocks....

Next he had to chase the suspect up and over a railroad embankment. It was at this point that he first nocied the suspect was starting to breathe laboriously. Even though Officer Jayne had run a race that morning, he had a surplus of fitness available. A short time later he apprehended the suspect in a back yard and ended the ordeal.

You never know when you are going to need the fitness of an athlete in your daily life. If you are a paramedic, police officer, fireman, or military personnel, these skills are crucial. But even an office employee, executive, physician, or professor needs to be healthy and physically fit.

Officer John Jayne, thank you for your service and for doing a good job!

Stephen Taylor
Endurance Coach Fitness Trainer

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Don't Let This Happen To You


Photo: Human Clavicle bone, smashed into 4 pieces.

Unfortunately for my poor client who lives in New Orleans, the 70.3 in two weeks is out. He is going to have to take some time off from racing. Look out Ironman Florida.

Be careful when you are out there riding.

Tom King Half Marathon and 5K

Tom King March 14, 2009



Photos: Lauren (L) used Tom King to prepare for Ironman New Orleans 70.3, and Frank (R) set a PR at Tom King in preparation for Country Music Half Marathon


Half Marathon
Nancee K. 1:53:32
Jill M.
Lauren G. 2:29
David S. 1:48:42
Frank F. 1:40:31 (PR)
Jill M 2:00:08

5K
Mac J. 19:32 (PR)

Girls on the Run: Little Rock AR Marathon

Jessika P. 4:26:15
Dawn H. 5:20:00
Corinne C. 6:30:28

If there were nothing more to this post then these three times, it would be a simple statement of fact: the time taken by three women to cover the distance 26.2 miles. But that face value does nothing to convey the tremendous meaning and context of these accomplishments.


Corinne runs a personal training company called Phit-N-Phat(.com). She uses her marathon training to inspire other wpmen. Read her race report entitled: What I Learned About Me Through the Marathon Journey [link here]




Photo: Corinne crossing the finish line with the Phit-N-Phat gals.


Jessika is in the middle of two year plan to do a full iron-distance before age 30. She wanted to do a marathon in the spring to help get ready for a November iron at Beach 2 Battleship. In this race she achieved a 30 minute personal best! I think most people would be pretty impressed by that, but Jessika sets high goals for herself. She wanted to go 10 minutes faster. We have had some good talks about dealing with disappointment. We are so proud of her.




Photo: Jessika in the enjoyable early miles, and crossing the finishing line slightly less than stoked.

Dawn commited to doing Little Rock with Jessika and promptly got slammed at work. However she used her mental toughness and got through the race just fine. This performance illustrates the point that the most important aspect of marathon training is getting to the finish line healthy. If you are healthy you can get through it. Dawn has used this achievement to springboard back into tri training. She is now focused on cycling and swimming, even though she prefers running and lifting.


Photo: Dawn and Jessika done with the marathon, and thirsty.



Great job Girls on the Run. Your coach is impressed.


Stephen Taylor
Nashville Endurance Coach