July Aquathlon 2010

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Place-Warner Park Beach Madison, WI
Weather-Beautiful
Racers-About 100
#of Chicken Wings eaten during race-5

One Aquathlon per summer includes a time bonus for eating Quaker Steak Wings after the swim and before the run. Last summer I got beat by a few guys who ate the wings even though I finished ahead of them so this race I decided to eat some wings and see what happens.

KELLY SERVING UP THE WINGS

The swim was a little rough in the beginning. This race continues to attract fast swimmers and there were definately a few UW swimmers attending. Since it's a mass start, the first 100 yds or so get a little bumpy. This just adds to the fun though. My friend Rob was on my left and Cindi and Mark in front of me. I always try to line up near some fast people rather than try to find them in the mass after the start. I accidently bumped Rob while running into the water and he started grabbing my arm and pulling and pushing me. Once we started swimming, there was some more bumping from both sides, but it generally strung out pretty nice. It did seem that the water was more cloudy than usual making it difficult to see swimmers in front and draft.

The swim went by fine and I came out around 12th or so and not feeling to tired. I was thinking about the wings during the swim. I stripped my wetsuit, put my shoes on and headed to the wing table. The limit is 5 wings with a 30 second time bonus per wing. I started eating the first wing and had to stop to catch my breath because I couldn't hold my breath long enough to swallow. After the first one, it got better and I managed to put down all five. Unfortunately there is no wing transition so the time spent eating is unknown. I did talk with Krupa-the Guru of all things timing about this after the race.


PHOTO OF THE WING STOP AFTER SWIM AND BEFORE THE RUN

Nevertheless, I finished the five and was off on the run. The wings were like a performance enhancing drug, and I felt great the first part of the run. I was clipping people off left and right and felt really strong. Nick came up behind me and he usually is quite faster but because of the wings I was able to hang with him for a while. I saw a UW swimmer ahead of me who hadn't had any wings and I used my wing power to take her down. As I approached the turnaround I could see how far everyone was ahead. I reminded myself that most of these people had not had wings meaning they had to beat me by at least 2:30 to finish ahead.

I ran the hill a little slower than usual to avoid puking up my super food. I made it to the finish straightaway having only been passed by Nick on the run. About 1/4 mile out, I looked back and saw a badger runner gunning for me. I used my wing energy to hold him off by a few seconds.

The best part was seeing the look on other people's faces who finished ahead of me but I ended up beating because of the time bonus. The wings definatley helped me out as I finished 4th overall and last month was 7th. Such a fun race.


ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL AQUATHON

Sign up for the next two Aquathons HERE.

Race Day Events June Aquathon 2010

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Weather: About 75 and sunny
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Water: warm with a little chop

About 140 people showed up for this once per month aquathon at Warner Park. I tried to get behind a few fast swimmers at the start to draft. I lost the leaders right after the start but settled in behind a few others. Swimming to the first buoy was a little choppy but not bad-especially if you just follow the bubbles in front of you and don't lift your head up. The first section was also pretty crowded with people bumping each other and fighting for position. After making the first left we started to string out single file and the rest of the swim was uneventful. There was a nice push on the way in with the waves coming from behind. I didn't know how far off the lead I was and got out with about 3 other swimmers-turns out we were about 1 min of the lead.


My transition was fast-and I passed the swimmers I drafted. Headed out onto the run course. Course is mostly flat (one hill about 1/2 mile from finish that hurts a little). Got passed early on the run by UW tri guy and couldn't stay with him. Managed to hold off another UW guy and another runner and maintain my place. Ended up finishing 7th of 140 or so. It was a good and fun way to spend a Thursday night here in Madison. Congrats to all racers.

Aquathlon July

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This aquathlon had a new addition in the form of chicken wings. Thanks to Quaker Steak and Lube, athletes could choose to eat up to three chicken wings after the swim and before the run. Each wing eaten gave the runner a 30 second time bonus. About 1/2 of the 100 or so athletes chose to eat at least one wing. I waited until after the race.

The weather before the race was extremely windy. The wind was coming across the lake and creating a lot of chop on the water. It made it very hard to set up the swim buoys for the course.

Fortunately, the wind died down before the race and the waves calmed some also. The swim was very bunched up in the beginning. It seemed as though the waves that remained, made it hard for swimmers to see eachother and as a result, the usual string of swimmers didn't start until after the first buoy.

I stayed behind a few swimmers and felt good on the swim. I came out about 6th or so and was onto the run. Because I had a fast transition and didn't eat any wings I think I was running third after the transition. Mark Harms and another fast person were way up ahead.

I got passed about 1/2 mile into the run and then got passed by another at about the one mile. I was hoping to stay in 5th. I felt good and was running pretty fast. At the last hill (with about 1/2 mile to go) Ben (puker) passed me and I could see wing sauce all over his face. I tried to stay behind him and kept it pretty close. I knew Steve was also right behind me. Steve passed me and we both sped up and ran side by side for a while. On the last stretch Steve pulled ahead and ended up beating me. This is the worst way to finish a race-getting beat at the end. It was frustrating to get passed at the end, but I am still happy overall that I had a good swim and run and had a lot of fun racing.

The post race wings were great and went fast. Someone also showed up with a big box of cookies that were delish.

Can't wait for the next one.

Fleet Feet Warner Park Aquathlon #1

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Yesterday was the first Aquathlon at Warner Park. It was a record attendance with about 125 people racing. The Water was pretty cold but almost every swimmer made it the full 1000K.
I chose to swim only as my legs are still tired from the Triple T race. Below are many pictures of the race including a great finish by Ben. The weather was beautiful and the race was very well organized by Race Day Events.

1st Place Male-Mark Harms
1st Place Female-Cindi Bannink

NOTE-IF YOU CLICK ON PHOTOS THEY GET BIGGER.

Cory Tearing it up