Mountain Lakes Triathlon

Mountain Lakes Triathlon
Guntersville, AL

August 14, 2010

Barry Smith  1:24
Dean Britt  1:34
Jeff Whitehorn  1:35
Beth March  1:38

Photo: Beth March feeling good about the swim...being done.

Barry finishing a strong bike set to prepare for his best event, the run.

Dean running strong.  He and Barry are preparing for their first half iron at Sandusky.

Jeff Whitehorn finishing his first ever triathlon.  CONGRATS Jeff!

The Heart of Tennessee ("HOT") 100

HOT 100

Murfreesboro, TN

100 Mile, Metric, shorter distances

I've done several of the organized century rides around Nashville (Harpeth River, Clarksville, HOT) and I can say the HOT is one of the more difficult.  The namesake is appropriate.  There are hills.  And I don't care how you slice it, 100 miles (or 100K) is a long way to ride.  Most of these guys are training for a half iron distance, so they also got off the bike and ran.    

100 Mile:
Jason Clark

Metric:

Amanda Parsons 

Corrie Logan

Kristie Butler

Chase Ledbetter

Erin Kadeg

Walter Harris

Photo: Team before the ride.

Photo: Chase Ledbetter rolling out.

Photo: At a mid-point rest stop.

Photo: Jason Clark was the lone team rider to finish out the 100 mile option.  I think this picture accurately portrays the mental status challenges you experience when you push yourself to ride that far.  A BIG kudos to you, Jason.

Photo: Amanda and Corrie climbing the big one.

Photo: Some of the team members are medical professionals.  Amanda stopped to make sure this man--who was bonking and cramping--would be okay.

Photo: Walter (who took all these pictures) shaking hands with local legend Bruce Gennari.  

Two Sports are Better Than None

Staggerwing Duathlon
August 7
Tullahoma, TN


Jason Haggard 3rd AG
Cynthia Kern 1st AG
Walter Harris

This race takes place at a rural airport.  The run is partly on the runway and partly on greenways.  The bike course overlaps with the Jack and Back course, including one bomber down hill that you have to climb back up.

Jason says, "This was the last race I was going to be doing for a while." Shoulder surgery on Monday. "I was just glad to be racing.  I'm not in top shape at all.  I'm actually surprised I placed in my age group." He was still able to gesture though.  Hopefully the pain meds will cause a reduction in his trash talk, but that is unlikely.

Philip Martindale of Real Design Wheels was there as a spectator. He had ridden from Bellevue, TN to Tullahoma to watch.

Tri Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls Triathlon

Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN

August 15, 2010

This was my first time doing this race and actually my first tri of the year.  After doing a 9:17 iron distance last fall I have not been motivated by triathlon goals.  Most of my focus has been on coaching my athletes, and knocking out the Vermont 100.

Photo: The coach and author, really tired after finishing the race.

The quality that Race Day Events puts into their events was my experience at the race, and I was pleasantly surprised by my results.  

Stephen Taylor   2:08 (3rd overall)

Jason Clark  2:49

Cynthia Kern  2:51

Tim Lance  2:56

Michael Paschal  4:10

STtrainter Team (Catherine Dewberry, Ron Crozier, and Terry Walker)  2:51

Photo: An efficient transition area with lots of bikes.

Photo: In case you need help remembering which way to go.

Jason Clark ripping his Olympic distance personal best in a big way.

Photo: Tim Lance, with the best looking arms on the run course.

Michael Paschal, really glad to be doing his first Olympic distance.

Photo: Cynthia Kern, a steady powerhouse.

Photo: Ron Crozier, using this as a tune up race for his first triathlon at Cedars of Lebanon.

Photo: The amazing STtrainer relay triathlon team.

Photo: A couple of ACME stallions strutting post-race.

Javier, Ricardo, and Tiago.

Michael Pashal, really glad to be done with his first Olympic distance.  He crossed the finish line with a HUGE smile on his face.  You will not find a more steady-tempered triathlete anywhere. 

7th Overall; 1st Masters at Yellow Ribbon 5K

From David Bishop:

Hey Coach!  Just wanted to let you know I pulled off a 7th place overall at the Yellow Ribbon 5K out at the Nashville Superspeedway on Friday night and 1st Place for the over 40 crowd. I might have gotten a 6th place overall except for that guy from Kenya showed up. Damn, he was smokin'. A good friday night thanks to your speed workouts. Thank You!

Blake Ryan at Formula One Tri in NY PLUS Youth Triathletes

I decided this post would end up on my results blog instead of the Coaching Blog, because I have been doing more posts on the Coaching Blog lately.

Photo: Blake Ryan and friend Hannah  (Go ATL!) at Music City Triathlon

Blake Ryan is one of the most surprising triathletes I coach.  He routinely wins his division ("The Clydes") and demolishes most bike courses.  Here are a few words he sent me:

School is done and I went up to NY for the Formula One Tri which was a lot of fun.  Completely different from anything I ever done but fun.  However I did get 2nd in Clyds and TN was well known.  

.....Anyways here are some pics I took of the kids tri that they had there.  These kids were cute, especially this little girl with a KTM jersey and a pink bike with a basket.  Please show these to the team they will be inspired.  If these kids can do a flying dismount so can the rest of the team. (italics added) 

Blake

Blake is an absolute joy to have on the team because he displays leadership, a very positive attitude, and an extreme willingness to push himself.  He has done something like 4 or 5 half irons and he has pertinent stories to share from all that experience.

Photo: Blake getting ready to CRUSH the Music City Tri bike course.

Photo: Throwing a few fist pumps in the finishing chute.

And here are the pictures from the youth triathon...I have added the commentary.

Photo: Cute kid, really pushing it in the transition.  She will go far. 

Photo: These little darlin's with the pink bikes and baskets are SO DARN CUTE!

Photo: Another darlin' mastering the banana seat two-foot dismount.  

Photo: This young man has a nicer helmet than I have.  He's ready for a junior road bike, or at least some slicks instead of those knobby mountain bike tires. 

Photo: This young athlete is displaying perfect form for a flying dismount. 

Photo: This gentleman would be doing a solid flying dismount, except that he has his chin strap unbuckled, which is an offense punishable up to a DQ.  Also he looks like he is finishing just ahead of a little boy on a BMX bike (are those training wheels?)  I wonder what kept him on the course so long?

Photo: Wait until you are all the way off the bike before you unbuckle your chin strap. 

Photo: And I couldn't bear to pass up sharing the news that Graycin Tomkins (pictured on right, with proud sister and dad) finished her first triathlon at the Hendersonville Kids Triathlon today.

Music City Triathlon July 24

Downtown Nashville and Team Magic hosted the perennial, venerable Music City Triathlon on Sunday July 24.  In the second year at the excellent downtown location this race has grown nicely.  I think that in a few years this will be one of the biggest Olympic Distance tirathlons in the southeast, maybe in the country.  The recent addition of ACME Multisports as title sponsor, and Publix Family Fitness Expo really enhanced the event. 

STtrainer athletes results:

Olympic Distance
David Bishop 2:37 (4th AG)
Jonathan Farmer  2:42
Kristy Butler 2:43 (5th AG)
Csaba Toth  2:46
Mary Catherine 2:49
Perry Baker  2:57
Lora Fox  3:04 (2nd AG)
Erin OConnor 3:05 (3rd Beginner Overall)
Amanda Parsons 3:05

Joel Moore 3:10

Becky Sharpe  3:11
Jason Clark  3:13
Rebecca Cain 3:23
Barry Smith  3:29
Lauryn England 3:32
Dean Britt  3:35
Greg Greenwell  3:47

Sprint Distance
Kevin Clouse  1:15  (4th AG)
Blake Ryan  1:17 (2nd Clydesdale)
Cynthia Kern 1:25 (2nd AG)
Tim Lance  1:25
Carissa Miller 1:27
Suzy Djimarian  1:30 (5th AG)
Arlene Brown  1:36 (4th AG)
Tim Warnock  1:37
Erica Uhrlass  1:37
Terry Walker 1:42
Bonnie Titre 1:44  (3rd AG)
Jen Brooks  1:50
Libby Pietrzak  1:54
Michael Paschal  1:59
Aaron Rochelle  2:28

Team
Walter Harris ("Dream Team")  1:14

Photo: Time Lance, Walter Harris, Rebecca C, and Amanda Parsons.

Photo: LayRUN, Walter, and Arrlene.  

Photo: Jason, Mary Catherine, and Erin smiling before the race.

Photo: Aaron Rochelle in his first ever tri.

Photo: Cynthia Kern pushing it in the heat.

Photo: Terry "Nut Cup" Walker smiling down 2nd Ave.

Photo: Jonathan Farmer pushing it up the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.

Photo: Kevin Clouse after nailing the Olympic Distance.

Photo: Tim Warnock, Kevin Clouse, Walter Harris, Suzie D, and Blake Ryan