Fellow Triathlete....
What a weekend. Mike toasted it well in saying it was about friends BUT, in the back of our minds...there were other agendas, cmon....let's be honest. We all had aspirations of competing against Susan Williams and Chris McCormack.
I thought you would all be interested (not that you didn't look this morning or, perhaps last night) in seeing comparitive results from last year.
Things I am glad I did/didn't see or hear this weekend or, wish I hadn't heard:
1. No one breast fed in transition
2. Tommy urinated "just a little" on his bike
3. Sorry mam, there is no tofu soup tonight
4. Excuse me sir, are you on your second lap, " I was using you as my pace setter" (this from a very obese competitor)
5. BANG! Crap flat tire!
6. Water temperature....wetsuit legal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. More food...yes please.
8. Barbeque twice in one weekend for those "vegetarians" ???? Sure!
9. am I lost, where's the map???
10. and, once again, no breast feeding in transition.
and....hey, who's meeting for a brick on Monday morning...thanks for not asking.
Future Ironman Award and Most Improved: Tommy Rosenthal He apparently grew some gills and proved that drug testing will be necessary for his Race for Sight results.
Tom and Nancy prove that hard training for an Ironman benefits conquering the much easier Olympic Distance. Both improved their standings in their respective age groups including yet another top podium finish for National Champ., Nancy. Congrats to both of you proving the seniors division is still competitive....thanks a lot. It just means we all will have to continue to
train harder as us younger athletes get older.
Jeff and Bill prove that a lack of training two straght years doesn't change your time, just shifts around your strengths from one event to another (just like the shift of the extra punds both put on in the offseason....no pictures please! ).
Seiichi proves he can swim without floaties now improving his swim time but increasing his T-1 time (hmmmmm.....coincidence?) Racing to the fastest bike leg, EPO tests scheduled for he and Lance Monday.
Mike Pepper, although suffering from a potential career ending injury, came out of the gate a little better than Barboro did in the Preakness. Although no leg fracture was the result, his "calf injury" seemed to hamper him on the run. There is a theory that he backed off the run feeling he had the personal victory over the boys wrapped up only to discover Tommy held on. Thank
you to you Mike for putting together logistics again and making this weekend a special one with friends.
Professional Photographer Strassner proved once again he can "hang in there" Improving on his swim time, like Dr. Noda, may have proven a detriment as he suffered a minute longer T-1 time and slower bike. He recovered on the run ripping into it with a 8:33 pace (fastest for the weekend.) Injury for him too....I think not. Lots of sandbagging going on.
Thanks to all of you for all the fun and laughs and many more to come. It's nice that after competing we all get to cheer eachothers personal victories and laugh at all the fun and silliness.
Congratulations to newbies Amy, Roger, Pam and Steve. Awesome job all of you. May be the only time some of us will get the cance to watch them come in at the finish. They may be waiting for me instead next race. Impressive times and finishes for all of you. Sorry to miss the victory lap of Pam's...I heard it was a highlight with the support team.
Heal your aches and pains and keep training.
Bill
