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.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Pardeeville Triathon
Yesterday was the Pardeville tri. This race is very cool because it has a small town feel, the bike and run are quite flat, and there is great support on the run. Capital City Multisport had a good showing with three members bringing home hardware.
This was my first time racing here. I had a nice swim and came out first-then slow tranish and was second on the bike. I passed the first biker and was riding first until my bro passed me. Then I got passed by a few legit riders and eventually some drafters.
The ride was fast and flat except for a few sections of tailwind. Ryan had a great bike and averaged about 23.8 or so for the whole 15.
My run was uneventful because I had about 1 min ahead and behind me. Ryan was right in the middle of a group on the run and had a nice run and finished 6th overall. I ended up 12th overall.
It was a fun race. Jenny from Wistri series does a great job (I think she raced this tri and won the female group).
I would reccomend this race to anyone who is looking for a fast, fun, race and looking for a smaller hometown fee.
Congrats to Ryan G who finsihed 6th overall with a great swim,bike and run. (without drafting).
Also congrats to Chris Lopez who is a newly minted triathlete. He has been training for long distance races but decided to check his endurance. He had a great first sprint, finishing 20th overall with a fast bike and run. Nice job Lopez. Watch out for this guy when IM Moo comes around! He is a powerful biker and has a solid run.
This was my first time racing here. I had a nice swim and came out first-then slow tranish and was second on the bike. I passed the first biker and was riding first until my bro passed me. Then I got passed by a few legit riders and eventually some drafters.
The ride was fast and flat except for a few sections of tailwind. Ryan had a great bike and averaged about 23.8 or so for the whole 15.
My run was uneventful because I had about 1 min ahead and behind me. Ryan was right in the middle of a group on the run and had a nice run and finished 6th overall. I ended up 12th overall.
It was a fun race. Jenny from Wistri series does a great job (I think she raced this tri and won the female group).
I would reccomend this race to anyone who is looking for a fast, fun, race and looking for a smaller hometown fee.
Congrats to Ryan G who finsihed 6th overall with a great swim,bike and run. (without drafting).
Also congrats to Chris Lopez who is a newly minted triathlete. He has been training for long distance races but decided to check his endurance. He had a great first sprint, finishing 20th overall with a fast bike and run. Nice job Lopez. Watch out for this guy when IM Moo comes around! He is a powerful biker and has a solid run.
Monday, July 6, 2009
VERONA TO PLATTEVILLE AND BACK
Lunch Time! We left all our bikes unlocked and no one was worried.
Downtown Blanchardville Wisconsin
I had to get a picture of the remington 7 mag license plate- I grew up with a love of guns.
Some of the beautiful scenery we experienced
Ryan G- Thank you for orgainizing this great ride
Half way- Stop for some burgers, soda/beer and viewing of the tour. The people at this Platteville bar were super friendly and turned the tour on for us as soon as we walked it.
Tell me this doesn't make you want to ride your bike
This was the 4th annual Verona to Platteville and back ride. It was my first. The ride is nice for people training for Ironman Moo because of the hills and similarity of terrain. We rode a total of about 140 miles with Steph deciding to do a large hill session on her own.
We left about 7:20 a.m. from Fireman's Park in Verona. This was a great ride because the pace is fairly easy with full sag support from the Race Day Events Van.
Kitty from Fleet Feet Madison drove the first 70 miles and did a great job. She drove with hazards on and would double beep the horn every time a car was approaching.
The group spaced out pretty good with most people choosing to ride with two to three people rather than the whole group.
The route was truly pleasurable with very little traffic, enough hills to keep it interesting, and some wonderful scenery. This was my longest ride ever and my plan was to ride it and see what happened. I felt alright the whole way and was fortunate to finish the whole ride with no problems.
Everyone on the ride was very friendly and we all had an excellent time. Even though it took all day, everyone kept a positive attitude and enjoyed themselves along the way.
I would reccomend this ride to anyone for next year.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
MADISON TO CHICAGO 200 RUNNING RELAY
This past weekend was the Madison to Chicago 200. Teams race it in teams of 6 or 12 with other divisions inlcuding mixed, all male etc. Our team had 3 girls and 3 guys so we were in the ultra mixed 50-50 category. We won the category with an average of under 8 min miles for the whole 200 miles. I ran the least amount at 29 miles and Jessica from Fleet Feet ran 37 miles. Everyone on the team did a great job and ran very fast for all 6 legs.
The race started at the Madison Sheraton Hotel. It was cool to see all the other racers getting ready and a parking lot full of vans. The first leg was great-it followed the Monona 20k route along the Lake and was nice and fast. The weather was hot and sunny and it was a great day to race.
The race started at the Madison Sheraton Hotel. It was cool to see all the other racers getting ready and a parking lot full of vans. The first leg was great-it followed the Monona 20k route along the Lake and was nice and fast. The weather was hot and sunny and it was a great day to race.
The way the race is set up you run with a pink bracelet that snaps onto your wrist like in middle school. At the transition areas you hand off the bracelet to your relay team member. Our team had the same order throughout so I always handed off to Aaron then came Ryan, then Lauren, then Kristen then Jessica-repeat.
The race is a lot more fun than it sounds. At each transition there are about 10-30 large vans full of runners waiting for their teammate so you meet a lot of people and keep seeing some of the same people throughout. Some transtions were at churches, others Carrol College, the Bike Doctor, and other neat places. The route went through lot's of small towns and great scenery.
The highlight for me (besides our team finishing so well) was sprinting my 5th leg after I was passed about 2 miles into a 5 mile run. I sprinted it out with the guy who passed me and both of us were racing at the end. I beat him out just at the finish which pumped me up a lot.
It was also great to drive by the runners on our team or see them at the halfway points or finish and see them running very fast. The amount of time in the van between runs goes quick because oftentimes you have to follow the road and not the trails people are running on so the van route is longer and gives you less time to get to the next handoff.
The end of the race was pretty cool with Jessica running from Evanston to downtown Chicago. There were several parts where she ran faster than us in the van and was pulling away due to traffic. We would be stopped in traffic and she would go running by on the sidewalk. At the very end, all the teammates join the last runner and cross the line together.
Everybody had great runs including my bro Ryan, Aaron, his wife Kristin, and Lauren. None of us ever hit a spot where we had to slow down drastically or walk (even though there was some rain, hills, potholes, dark roads...).
After the race we tried to enjoy downtown Chicago but were too tired and looked pretty funny limping around everywhere. It was an early night. The time frame lasted from 1:00 p.m. in Madison (left) to about 2:00 p.m. in Chicago. One of the best times was running in the middle of the night on 5 mile trails with no turns and complete silence. It was a very peaceful and wonderful experience. Everyone had to run with reflective vest, head lamp, and flashing red light on their back.
I recommend this race to anyone interested in having a great team/group fun. The distance is a little longer than a marathon but overall the race seemed easier because of the breaks.
The race is a lot more fun than it sounds. At each transition there are about 10-30 large vans full of runners waiting for their teammate so you meet a lot of people and keep seeing some of the same people throughout. Some transtions were at churches, others Carrol College, the Bike Doctor, and other neat places. The route went through lot's of small towns and great scenery.
The highlight for me (besides our team finishing so well) was sprinting my 5th leg after I was passed about 2 miles into a 5 mile run. I sprinted it out with the guy who passed me and both of us were racing at the end. I beat him out just at the finish which pumped me up a lot.
It was also great to drive by the runners on our team or see them at the halfway points or finish and see them running very fast. The amount of time in the van between runs goes quick because oftentimes you have to follow the road and not the trails people are running on so the van route is longer and gives you less time to get to the next handoff.
The end of the race was pretty cool with Jessica running from Evanston to downtown Chicago. There were several parts where she ran faster than us in the van and was pulling away due to traffic. We would be stopped in traffic and she would go running by on the sidewalk. At the very end, all the teammates join the last runner and cross the line together.
Everybody had great runs including my bro Ryan, Aaron, his wife Kristin, and Lauren. None of us ever hit a spot where we had to slow down drastically or walk (even though there was some rain, hills, potholes, dark roads...).
After the race we tried to enjoy downtown Chicago but were too tired and looked pretty funny limping around everywhere. It was an early night. The time frame lasted from 1:00 p.m. in Madison (left) to about 2:00 p.m. in Chicago. One of the best times was running in the middle of the night on 5 mile trails with no turns and complete silence. It was a very peaceful and wonderful experience. Everyone had to run with reflective vest, head lamp, and flashing red light on their back.
I recommend this race to anyone interested in having a great team/group fun. The distance is a little longer than a marathon but overall the race seemed easier because of the breaks.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
LAKE MILLS TRIATHLON
Weather-rainy and chilly
water temp-warm
wind- not much
I recently raced the Lake Mills Triathlon. I have done this race many times before and was glad to be back. There was a minor change to the bike course due to construction but the rest stayed the same.
I started in the elite heat and from past experience know the swim starts out fast. I sprinted the first 25 yards or so and began drafting the leader. I lost him at the buoy and spent the rest of the swim next to someone so I didn't need to look up at all. I came out 3rd and felt good.
The bike was fun and I felt good although I was passed by many people. At the turn around I saw friends Cindi and Ryan behind me. There wasn't as much drafting on the bike this year that I noticed which was nice.
My run felt good as well. This course is great for people like me who like flat and fast runs.
In the end I finished 5th in my age group and 20th overall. It was a fun race except for the rain.
water temp-warm
wind- not much
I recently raced the Lake Mills Triathlon. I have done this race many times before and was glad to be back. There was a minor change to the bike course due to construction but the rest stayed the same.
I started in the elite heat and from past experience know the swim starts out fast. I sprinted the first 25 yards or so and began drafting the leader. I lost him at the buoy and spent the rest of the swim next to someone so I didn't need to look up at all. I came out 3rd and felt good.
The bike was fun and I felt good although I was passed by many people. At the turn around I saw friends Cindi and Ryan behind me. There wasn't as much drafting on the bike this year that I noticed which was nice.
My run felt good as well. This course is great for people like me who like flat and fast runs.
In the end I finished 5th in my age group and 20th overall. It was a fun race except for the rain.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Fleet Feet Warner Park Aquathlon #1
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
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
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