Chris Noda Crushes The Field

The Strassner Family Bundles Up For The Pumpkin Run

Chris accepts his award at the Pumpkin Run

Chris shows off his newest medal

It was sunny and cool for the Gumbo Flats Pumpkin run today. Warm jackets and strollers were plentiful as we all headed out to Long Road for the 5 and 10k runs. Highlights of the day included Suzy Strassner running in her first 5k race. Her time was very respectable considering that she pushed Alexandra in the jogger all the way. Tommy and Kevin Rosenthal ran the entire way around the 5k course! Jack and John cruised through the 10k although Jack was a little unruly from mile 5 to 6. Mike helped keep Jack in line by pushing him for the majority of the time. The BIG story of the day was Chris Noda who turned in a time of 19:50 for the 5k. This was good for first in his age division and seventh overall. This kid is truly unbelievable and clearly possesses more natural ability then his father. Expect great things from this up and coming triathlete.

Truxton - The OTHER Windy City

Group shot in front of Wal-Mart

The turn around point in Truxton

The Innsbrook Irwins and Mr. Robert Denlow were nice enough to organize a group ride around the city (I use this term loosely) of Truxton. The ride began in the Wal Mart parking lot and wound through the Madison County country side. We rode 17.5 miles out to the Truxton City Limit sign and then headed back home. The ride out was lovely. A nice, leisurely ride that was enjoyed by all. The return trip sucked. The head wind coming off of the lake (hey, there wasn't a lake) was atrocious. It didn't matter though since Tom and Bernice were kind enough to host a brunch back at their Innsbrook home. Tom Stringer's Ironman video headlined the afternoon's entertainment even though Vic refused to show any interest. As always, a good time was had by all.

My Ironman Jacket

Things would have been much easier if Seiichi wouldn't have taken the very last MEDIUM SIZED IRONMAN FINISHER JACKET off of the display model. Things would have been much easier if Pepper would have grabbed a jacket for me in THE RIGHT SIZE. Things would have been much easier if Rosenthal would have given me his MEDIUM that doesn't fit him. Things would have been much easier if Suzy would have remembered where she parked so that I could have gotten her loaded up sooner thus getting me to the Ironman store BEFORE THEY RAN OUT OF MEDIUM SIZED JACKETS!!!

Since NONE of that took place, I am now resigned to the brutal realities that are the ECM IRONMAN MERCHANDISE ONLINE STORE.

I know that you all are looking for an update on MY MEDIUM SIZED IRONMAN JACKET - well, here you go...

According to the supplier, it is being produce right now (overseas). It will be done mid November and they will ship it on November 16th via air freight. It will take 2 to 3 days to get to Vancouver. The ECM store should receive it a couple of days after, then they have to embroider the jacket. To sum it up, they'll be able to ship it to me by the end of November and they will ship it via express post.

If Rosenthal was a true friend then he would let me wear his jacket for Larry's run since it does not fit him anyway. After all, the main reason anyone does an Ironman is to be able to flaunt IM FINISHER apparell in public.

IM Entry Process

Boulder, CO – Over the past few years, entry spots to North America Sports full Ironman Races have become highly sought after by the triathlon community. In response to this NA Sports will be instituting the following process for entry to their full Ironman Races going forward.

Athletes entered in the event for the current year will be allowed to register for the next year’s event the DAY BEFORE the current event. Entries will be accepted, on-site at the race site, from 9:00 am – 11:00 am, athletes will be required to present photo ID and their athlete wristbands at the time of entry. Athletes will only be able to register themselves.

General entry for all others will be made available, on-site at the race, from 9:00 am – 11:00 am, the morning following the race. Participants may register themselves at that time, they will not be able to register another person at any North America Sports event. ID will be required at the time of entry.

Entry spots remaining for general entry will be available via Active.com beginning at 12:00 noon, local race time. Subaru Ironman Canada has not typically had ANY spots available on-line and it is expected that this may become the case at some of the other NA Sports events as well in the future.

Registration for the Ford Ironman World Championship for ALL events will be from 9-11 a.m. the day after the event at the race site. Athletes who qualify MUST REGISTER in this window and complete payment for their entry at that time. No exceptions will be made.

The rolldown of remaining spots for the Ford Ironman World Championship will begin promptly at 11:15 a.m., the day after race day, at all full-distance events. Athletes must be present to claim their spots and pay for them at this time. No exceptions will be made.

After general entry has closed, an announcement will be made with regard to the availability of Ironman Community Fund Spots. These spots will be available through the individual race websites.

For more information, please log onto http://www.blogger.com/www.nasports.com

Ironman Philosophy (courtesy of NBC)

There are really just two types of people. Those who say I can't and those who say I can. These people have been summoned here, by themselves, for their 1700 different reasons. Their unity comes from their mantra, I can. And their destination, a place they absolutely have to get to. What they will do to get there is monumental by anyone's standards, even their own. The unknown, we all fear it and right now there is an ocean full of it. This is also about limits. Reaching them, exploring them, exceeding what you thought yours were. Or maybe, coming to the conclusion that there aren't any limits.

THIS IS THE IRONMAN.

CCFA GALA & THE PUMPKIN RUN

I gotta tell you that Saturday, October 27th is shaping up to be quite the day!!! The 25th Anniversary Crohns & Colitis Gala in the evening (for tickets call 991-0220 today!) and the Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run in the morning. What more could you ask for??? Call me with any questions about the GALA - here is the information about the Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run:

Put on your running shoes and join hundreds of others at the Gumbo Flats 6th Annual Pumpkin Run/Walk Saturday, Oct. 27. The Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce is proud to bring the community this annual event that has become a fall tradition. The 2006 race saw over 1100 runners compete in either the 10K or the 5K! The 10K (6.2 mile) course and the 5K (3.1 mile) course are FLAT, out and back courses starting at the corner of Edison Avenue and Chesterfield Business Parkway. The 10k returns to the airfield this year with a 2-mile stretch on the new runway.Both runs begin at 8am. More information and registration can be found by clicking here. The first 850 registered runners/ walkers to pick up their race packet will receive a classic long sleeve T-shirt. Shirt sizes will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Product Of The Month

Click here for the latest and greatest from the Ironman Wisconsin merchandise store. This Descente Flatiron Long Sleeve Tech T ($57.95) is made of a lightweight nylon-poly material that pulls moisture away from the body, D-Vente mesh for great ventilation under the arms, crew neck, contoured pattern for athletic fit and has reflective chevrons on the back. Features the Ironman Wisconsin race logo on the back. Color/Sizes: Orange (S,M,L,XL) and Red (M,L,XL).

There is no doubt in my mind that TPR will be wearing this shirt BEFORE my finisher jacket arrives - HOW WRONG IS THAT!!!

Kona

I will admit that I was glued to the internet Saturday checking out live coverage of the Ironman World Championships on Ironman.com. I don't know if this was part of my Ironman withdrawal or if I was genuinely interested in the event but I found myself captivated by the coverage. I am telling you that I had this going for the better part of several hours. That's what Ironman does to you - it constantly pulls at you, beckoning you to come back. At least that is how I justified being in front of the computer for six hours on Saturday. I think that I watched more of this than Tom Rosenthal!

Here are the top 10 finishers in both the men and the women...

MEN'S LEADERBOARD: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Chris McCormack 8:15:34
2. Craig Alexander 8:19:04
3. Torbjorn Sindballe 8:21:30
4. Timothy DeBoom 8:22:30
5. Marino Vanhoenacker 8:23:31
6. Chris Lieto 8:25:49
7. Eneko Llanos 8:26:00
8. Luc Van Lierde 8:30:01
9. Michael Lovato 8:33:28
10. Patrick Vernay 8:35:10

WOMEN'S LEADERBOARD: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Chrissie Wellington 9:08:45
2. Samantha McGlone 9:14:04
3. Kate Major 9:19:13
4. Joanna Lawn 9:26:47
5. Rebecca Preston 9:26:55
6. Rebekah Keat 9:27:19
7. Dede Griesbauer 9:33:34
8. Leanda Cave 9:36:10
9. Belinda Granger 9:37:54
10. Erika Csomor 9:39:47

Sold Out

Muskoka 2008 is now officially SOLD OUT!!! That's right boys and girls, this race is closed. I will be monitoring TicketsNow.com to make sure that Pepper doesn't try to scalp his registration.

Recplex

Tommy, Seiichi and Julie headed out to St. Peters today for the October edition of the Recplex Sprint Triathlon. Pepper and I claimed that we were still recovering which provided for a good excuse to grab the cameras and head out in a spectator role. Noda's head was not completely in the game as he arrived in St. Pete sans his running shoes and swim goggles. Not to worry though as both members of Team STL sported Ironman apparel throughout the race. The same was true of both team photographers. The big story of the day was Julie Pepper who if not for a flat tire would have bested Tommy Rosenthal. Look for great things from this teacher turned triathlete in 2008.

Thank You

It is going to take quite some time to go through all of the pictures from Ironman Wisconsin. In some way, going through all of the pictures from the day gives me an opportunity to relive all of the great memories from IM Moo. This picture, taken the evening before by Nancy Lieberman, shows just how lucky we all were to have had such an incredible experience. As Scott Stern pointed out, none of this would have been possible if not for the support of all of our wives and kids. Obviously, there were late nights and early mornings and we all missed dinner and traveled on weekends more than we would have liked. Thanks to everyone for all of the support. None of us could have done it without you.