WHERE I STAND - THE PRE-NATS REPORT

Monday, July 29, 2013 8:30 pm MDT

So here we go. Exciting write-up for a few friends. And what's the current mood? Snarky, I'd say. 

LET ME CATCH YOU UP

Injured

Seriously injured

Can currently only run 1/2 mile at the pace needed for a whole 10K at Nationals just to grab the 18th spot for 2014 Team USA.

This miracle change needs to occur in 12 days in the face of the injury having kept me from run training for 28 days.

Feeling weak overall because, for fun, I sought to find out if one can overtrain without the damaging, high stress impact of running. Answer: Yes you can.

Ready for the H.S. to zap me and energize me and make be able to run. Unfortunately, I am not a Christian. I know a few, though. So I'll accept some of that grace (unmerited favor) they talk about.

WHERE DO I SIT?

If one were considering the goal of podium-ing then, without injury, that might look possible, almost given, based on the current USAT rankings. I'm 1st nationally among the list of Olympic distance entrants (87) and 2nd nationally among the Sprint distance entrants (67). 

But-but-but (five 'buts' will work, too, if you got the right rhythm).

But #1: One has to consider the 59 year olds aging up in 2014 since they are included in the 2014 Worlds team selection. 

But #2: I'm injured. Seriously so. (Did I mention that?) I look for smooth concrete to do my pseudo-running on. The garden hose is a scary obstacle to negotiate. I become even more of a short-step prancer when I encounter 1/2-3/4" of dirt washed by rain across the concrete river trail. Grass is completely non-negotiable since all unevenness is hidden. 

SO WHY AM I JAZZED?

Trying to get that final spot for 2014 Worlds is as scary and daunting as trying to podium was in prior years. And that final spot is way, way slower than the time will be for anyone who podiums this year. I admit, it did take some mental work to move to this position from sitting in the northern Wyoming desert emitting pregnancy push grunt-screams (while keeping an eye out for rattlesnakes). But this sport does nothing if not provide opportunities for self-challenge whatever one's position is. (2014 Worlds is a big deal since it is in an affordable place to travel to -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I usually forego World Championship events because of costs.) 

ASIDE

Another scare this morning. No need for details. Suffice it to say I hit my foot wrong on a log and froze in pain for a while, wondering how trying to walk would be once the pain ceased. Good news: Later swimming and cycling went ok. 

RANKING NOT THE STORY

I mentioned national rankings but they aren't the story. For example, three key people have aged up to 60 this year. One is a multi-time national champion and also multi-time world champion who has been laying low this year. One is an ex-pro who was on the first cover of one of our seminal triathlon magazines as the first winner of one of our most historic races. The third would have won Sprint Worlds last year had he been 60 in 2012. (All three will kill me in the swim, something that just ain't been working right this year.) 

So even uninjured, with all the new players in my 3rd year of this age group I'd say that I'd be doing good to make 5th-10th in either the Oly or Sprint Nationals. And, of course, being one of the few doing BOTH national championship races on back-to-back Saturday-Sunday means I'll definitely lose a few places in the Sunday morning Sprint Nats. 

FEARS

Oh, it's a simple list of fears. Someone could hit my heel wrong in the swim and send me into paroxysms of pain. Beach and grass running during transitions is very uncertain and fraught with danger. Pulling my wetsuit off in a hurry is painful to the injured lower left leg, ankle and foot. Putting my shoes on quickly in transition cannot be done. etc. At least it won't be another trail run -- which is how the original injury and re-injury occurred. 

WELL?
And that's what I'm facing, folks. What you got on YOUR table?
Quick racing year note: 
No race, not one of the six, has gone well this year. Multiple reasons. What's the lesson the universe is trying to teach me, kids? It certainly ain't how gloriously wonderful and indestructible I am, eh?

LEADMAN EPIC 250 - 9/22/12

Updated 10/2/12

     And so it begins.  Another tale interesting only to me.  How do I know that?  I’ve seen the glassy stare as I begin this tale directly with another human being. 

 

     The Leadman Epic 250 – a private set of dreams in the public domain.  The Epic 250 resulted in two dreams fulfilled and one still awaiting realization.  Dream 1:  Back in the 1980’s, when living in Klamath Falls, Oregon and beginning the adventures in the triathlon world, I wanted to do a half-iron distance in the Cascade Lakes region near Bend, OR – just a short travel up Hwy 6 from K Falls.  That race died before I could do it.  Dream 2: I’ve long wanted to jump into an endurance triathlon at the end of a tri season without proper preparation and months of worry and focus.  Fulfillment: A family related decision was going to put me in Oregon so I looked around for a tri to do.  The Leadman Epic 250 boldly and seductively called to me.  A still valid discount code found via the Slowtwitch forum made it possible to answer the Siren’s call.

 

     Nominal distances: 5K Swim, 223K bike, 22K run (= 3.1/138.6/13.7).  Elevation gain on the bike: 7100 to 7400 ft depending on data source.

 

     Challenges besides distance, climbing and no long distance training?  Well, cold water (58F), cold air (in 30’s on start morning at Cultus Lake), loneliness due to small field and then always the surprises of old age.
 

SWIM: Multiple challenges arose for me within the first kilometer of the swim – one of which I had never experienced before in the water.  The new one?  I became nauseous and actually threw up three times, mid-stroke, as I swam.  I previously did not know that was possible (and felt sorry for anyone behind me).  My calves, which had been threatening to cramp the day prior to the race, cramped early on in the swim – enough that I stopped dead three times to stretch and massage the cramps.   Plus I often had to kick with my foot at a 90⁰ angle trying to stretch the calf taut to prevent it’s cramping into a ball.  My arms became weak like wet noodles due to the nausea.  With only four buoys left to the finish I looked at them wondering if I could make it to the swim finish.  And what would I feel like in attempting to move on land?

 

      Not being a very fast swimmer even without my troubles, I ended up with an unglorious 79^th best swim time out of 97 finishers.  After two attempts at standing up and walking out of the water I did the usual routine, but more patiently and more thoroughly – toweling off at the bike (eschewing the heated changing tents) and donning extra clothing (full-fingered gloves and cut-open tube socks as arm warmers).  I kept searching for the non-existent cap on my head as my forehead was still so constricted from the cold water as I worked in T1.  I take off wondering what I also wondered in the swim – “How the heck am I going to bicycle 138 miles of mountainous terrain?”

 

CYCLING:  Gorgeous course.  Its beauty was my salvation.  In the midst of beauty one can become entranced and forget one’s troubles, which for me were significant though singular on the bike.  Old man issues combined with drinking too much on the bike and being ill made pedaling quite often slow along with the occasional dead stop – and tri singlets are not quick when it comes to port-a-john breaks. :)  I hadn't done LD training, as noted, so I was scared about not hydrating enough – a foolish fear I paid dearly for.  But I took it as easy as I needed to and was continually surprised as the miles kept going by.  Reaching the final descent into Bend, a long descent, I finally had hope of finishing the bike.  7.5 hours of cycling means I had the exalted position of 69^th best bike among the finishers.  Oh yeah, the glory is piling up this day. :)

 

(Before moving on let's remember again how gorgeous the climbs were and how scarily fun the high-speed descents were.  Oh yeah, even in the midst of pain.)

 

RUN:  After an insane T2 in which I searched frantically, as a brain-dead racer does, for my shoes (someone had taken my bike rack spot and covered up my shoes) and then took another long pit stop, I was off – still having to pee quite often as I continued running (or doing a semblance thereof).  Even though I had abandoned most all fluid the last couple hours of the bike the excess fluids continued to painfully demand escape.  But I was in much less pain than on the bike so the run can be simply consolidated into: In-between peeing I was able to push hard for the first time on race day.  That felt good.  I ended up, on a hilly course with some dirt and rock trails, with the 25^th best run time including pro’s, among the Epic 250 finishers though I was peeing again a mere 100 yards from the finish.  Yeah, gross is right.  (Would it show up in the finish line pictures?, I wondered.)

More Medical Gore: So much blood in my urine that, regarding my tri-suit, it took a good hand-washing and several clean water rinses before the tri-suit was not iron rich enough to stop me from throwing it, and other delicates, into the washing machine. :)

 

RESULTS: The run moved me smack dab into the middle of the finisher pack, 49^th of 97.  10h45m put me under the 11 hour mark the organizers had set for getting a belt buckle (just as with the Leadman MTB 100 and Leadman Trail 100 which they also own). Only one other guy in my AG. He finished about 4 hours back, if memory serves me well.

 

RECOVERY: Confession: I did it all wrong (didn't get to bed on time the week following the event) and am still paying as I write this on September 30^th. 

 

THE FUTURE: One more tri to go for this non-competitive season.  At the end of October I hope to do the Xterra Epic in southern Arkansas (tied in with a wedding anniversary bit of fun).

The Good News from the Boulder Sprint Tri

Many, too many, heard me moan and groan about the great difficulty of completing the Boulder Sprint Tri two days ago, Sunday.  And it was tough, particularly tough to keep going on the run.  I would have had to walk if it had been a 10K instead of a 5K for the run portion.  But, ah, the good news now arriveth.

That good news began to peak it's head into the picture when I finally got my bike after the awards ceremony on Sunday.  Beginning to pedal after putting the gear bag on my back and climbing onto the bike I had the feeling of "Hey, this isn't so bad."  It was actually a pleasant ride back to the Schuckies who let me stay as a guest for the tri.  And then on Monday morning I was able to enjoy a 1.5 hour easy ride.  In the evening I did not dread going to the pool, at which I had a very pleasant, generally steady state, hour swim (actually swam too hard at times).  The final test was being able to enjoy getting out with Charlie Gray this morning for a run workout.  He's only 3 years younger than I and a much better runner.  He took me on a route where we did uphill tempo runs at various spots.  Though I faded badly behind him the first mile of the first 1.3 tempo run was 6:38 uphill.  That's pretty good for me after a race working uphill.  

So, is there hope for 2012?  Yeah,  some.  I'll never get my cycling up to par after having extended my racing season too long last year and then not doing the usual long winter mtb rides on the desert trails I live nearby.  Quite surprisingly, my run in Sunday's tri was the 3rd fastest 5K among men placing in the various 50+ age groups.  (I'm 61.)

This Sunday it's finally back into the Xterra world when I and a sold-out field of other fun-loving folks do the Xterra in Curt Gowdy State Park of southern Wyoming, between Cheyenne and Laramie.

Oh, I made a commitment to Susanne Divelbiss (local owner/head coach of the Pueblo Swim Club) to do nothing but left-side breathing in the swim for 30 days.  Whoops, after speaking I then remembered the upcoming tri.  I was particularly worried about directional open water control while breathing from the left side.  It worked out fine, surprisingly.  My swim was a bit slower than if I'd done my standard right-side breathing I think, but who knows, I had fun focusing on this challenging change and I still beat my "miracle" time predict for the Tri.  (I always enjoy projecting 3 times before an event: (1) a "miracle time, (2) a "I really should make this time" time and (3) a "if I'm not back by this time then come looking for me" time.)

Finally it starts

Finally it starts.  Tomorrow.  Sunday.  First tri of the 2012 season.  Had truly planned to type out my self-centered thoughts to noone much earlier for the tri season.  You know, all that boring training stuff.  Well, the audience of zero sits disappointed.

Been feeling crappy all week, actually for the last 10 days.  Why?  Probably just old.  Actually spent two hours sleeping in the middle of today.   Tomorrow I'll try to pretend I'm ok but I know that doesn't work anymore.  That's only a trick one can play when young.  In old age the body accepts no lies.  The first few steps of the run will declare that emphatically as the reverse order tri begins.

I don't ask to not wake achy on Sunday morn, only to not wake "too" achy.  I'm on my knees universe.  I'll pretend you care.

Interview re USAT award.

This being the site for self-centered thoughts I figure the interview about being selected USA Triathlon Grand Master Triathlete of 2011 should be conducted by myself.  I hope this satisfies those folks who have asked me about 2011 and what made it any different than any other year since I started in this sport in 1982.  M1=Michael1 or Me1.  M2=Michael2 or Me2.  Actually, I could probably come up with a Me3 and a Me4 to take part in this interview.  (What?)

M1: Well, Michael.  So you got some big award in your sport, eh? 

M2: Uh, yeah.  But I don’t think it’s gonna get me much other than a few slaps on the back.

M1: What?  You’re complaining?  Oh, man, I might just cut this interview off right here.

M2: Sure, as if you too wouldn’t like to get some goodies for free whenever you can.  I’ve seen you around.  You’d eat a hot dog off a table in the park just ‘cause you found it for free.

M1: Ok, ok.  You got me there.  So tell me.  What would you like to get? 

M2: Well, Santa Claus, if you’re ready to part with a few bucks how ‘bout a nice set of racing wheels.  I think I abused my friendship with Gwen a bit much by borrowing her race wheels for some road races.  And I abused my pocketbook renting road race wheels for a couple of races.  Can you put those on the list first, please.

M1: Gotcha.  What else?

M2: Oh my, the list goes on but I don’t think that’s what you’re supposed to be interviewing me about.  Maybe we better move on.

M1: Hmmm.  I suppose.  But did you really do anything all that interesting in 2011?  Wasn’t it just a bunch of boring races that only you enjoyed ‘cause you were the one doing them?

M2: Don’t think I’ve ever been so flattered by an interviewer.  Boring?  Hah!  Interesting?  Of course.  Everything I do is interesting.  For instance, yesterday I was tying my shoes in the living room . . .

M1: Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Let’s get back to the triathlons that got you this award.  I hope they happened somewhere other than your “exciting” living room.  Where’d you go this year?

M2: Let’s see.  12 triathlons.  The apexes of the travel triangle were Calgary, Canada (half ironman) in the north, Las Vegas, NV (70.3 Worlds) in the southwest and Richmond, VA (Xterra East regional championship) in the east.  Let’s make that an irregular rectangle and add Burlington, VT (road nationals) as another apex.  All travel, except to road nationals, was done by car, either sleeping in the car or a tent or bumming places from friends and family.  All results were wins, except 70.3 Worlds.

M1: Man, that’s a bunch of travelin’ for an old man.  How’d you hold up? I can’t handle those long, multiple days in cars anymore myself.  Plus, how’d you get in the training to stay competitive while you were on the road so much?

M2: You think I’m gonna spill secrets to you?  Can’t trick me that easy, fella.  It was a significant challenge of 2011 of course, ‘cause I’m just as old as you are, you know, but let’s get back to the races.  Here’s a simple list.

Date	Days Betwn	Event	Type/ Distance	Site	Comment
5/14		Xterra Moab	Off-road/ Standard	Ken's Lake, Moab	Crazy rocks on the ride.  Wind and sand on the run.  Intense mental focus to maintain form with the intense pain of each running step due to foot injury that played throughout the season..
5/28	14	Pelican Fest	Road/ Sprint	Windsor Lake, CO	3rd fastest bike split overall, though I'm 60.  Shocker.  Good bikers in the crowd.  Last time for fresh biking legs this season.
6/4	7	Xterra 4 Corners	Off-road/ Standard	Farmington, NM	Sand, sand, sand.  Foot injury made me give up the chase of younger folks on the run.  Too bad since shooting for a top ten finish.
6/12	8	Xterra East Regional	Off-road/ Standard	Richmond, VA	Ended up in the X-country runners medical tent the day BEFORE the race due to crash while pre-riding the bike course.  So a very cautious first place the next day.
6/25	13	Loveland Lake to Lake	Road/ Olympic	Loveland, CO	Flatted with about 3 miles to go on the bike.  Race over so took time (5.5 min) to change tube while watching the race go by.  Took it relatively easy on the run.  Surprised.  Still won age group.
7/10	15	Boulder Peak	Road/ Olympic	Boulder, CO	Did this race because I flatted in Loveland and needed to get in a full effort Oly distance race prior to the national championship race.
7/24	14	Xterra Wild Horse Creek	Off-road	Bozeman, MT	Tied in with gathering of family from WA, MT & WY.  Small, small race but with the most family I'd ever had at an event.  Great venue.  Raced for points to get Xterra Nationals invite.  Rest of story later.
7/31	7	Calgary 70.3	Road/ Half-ironman	Calgary, Canada	Another bucket list item.  Saw Banff.  Camped out in place with no water or even outhouses.  Used old 1997 bike I got free third-hand some years ago.
8/20	20	USAT Nat'l Champ	Road/ Olympic	Vermont	The original focus of the season (see below).  Came back from 2 min swim deficit to win by over 2-1/2 min.
9/4	15	5i50 US Champ	Road/ Olympic	Des Moines, IA	Wanted to have the HyVee experience in Des Moines.  HyVee folks didn't disappoint.  Staging of both amateur and pro races were great.
9/11	7	70.3 Worlds Champ	Road/ Half-ironman	Henderson, NV	The alternative to running (see below) that I had to do bit me hard here 'cause I hadn't been doing my post workout stretches and self-massage.  Muscle cramps meant I barely finished the bike and had trouble even stepping over the dropped cooling sponges on the road.  Wow.  Could I finish?  Could I race at Xterra Nationals in just two weeks?
9/24	13	Xterra USA Champ	Off-road/ Standard	Ogden, UT	Knew I had half an hour to spare in this race.  Exhausted at the end of a long season.  Still injured.  Flatted at the end of the bike so rolled over rocks and such on the rim.  Strategic racing got me the championship.  I was pleased. (Or shouldn't we admit such things?)

M1: That’s quite a list.  I’m startin’ to be impressed.

M2: Well, golly gee whiz, Michael1, you’re startin’ to embarrass me.  Want to know some more?

M1: Can I go grab an ale, first.  No offense, but this is starting to get a bit long.

M2: Sure, I’ll wait.  Get me one, too.

M1: I’m back.  Hey, this AB ain’t bad.  So you gave us some cryptic highlight comments but before getting into a bit more about some of the races what’s this about running in pain?  Every triathlete out there is pushin’ their limits, struggling with something.  What was so different for you this year.

M2: Ah, that.  Yes.  Actually quite a challenge.  You see, near the end of January I was still getting around on crutches with a removable splint on my right foot.  I hadn’t run because of that for about 4 months.  That left me unmotivated to do swimming for about 3 months.  I had been cycling on the mountain and commuter bikes.  But the foot pain just walking around was still fairly severe.  I’d injured both plantar fascia in late September.  (Some new racing flats with soles too inflexible).  The right plantar fascia would not heal and then as I tried to race anyway I developed Achilles tendinitis and calcaneal bursitis, to boot.  Generally I ran once a week or less.  The longest distance would be 8 miles, and that only at an aerobic pace.  So I had to do a lot of alternative workouts to running – plyometrics and just simple jumping in place was a lot of it.  Unfortunately, I didn’t do what I knew I should also do to accompany this – that is, stretches and self-massage.  So I ended up paying big time at 70.3 Worlds – barely finished as I noted above.  Plus, I was really concerned I’d ruined my chances at Xterra Nationals which were only two weeks later.  If I wasn’t such a procrastinator when it comes to making decisions I might not have finished 70.3 Worlds.  I was still debating about whether to continue or drop-out when I crossed the finish line.  See, procrastination has its benefits.

So the run portion was quite a challenge in each event as every landing of the right foot involved a significant amount of pain.  The mental focus to maintain form and try to push off used all my brain power – a limited commodity.  I had to give up chasing people in more than one race.  But the enjoyment I had in each event was worth it.  I assume the folks who race regularly in the Physically Challenged category would say the same thing  The inspiration they provide increased for me this year as each event had this additional mountain to get over.

M1: I agree.  Those PC racers are an incredible lot.  They put our efforts into proper perspective. Do you have any other comments about individual races?  I know we can’t go into all the detail (as much as your ego would expound forever) but think a bit on each and tell me what comes to mind.

M2: OK, let’s see.

Xterra Moab:  I reemphasize the crazy rock garden riding we had to do on that course.  Just insane trying to go at anything close to race speed.   First off-road tri in which I still saw Dawes Wilson at the end of the bike after he passed me, as he always does.  I was pretty stoked about that.  A couple of women racers helped me keep going on the run as the pain built up.  Kim Baugh, who was 3^rd place female overall, was particularly helpful as we ran the last half of the 2^nd lap together.

Pelican Fest Tri:  I can’t re-emphasize enough the shock of seeing I had the 3^rd fastest bike split overall.  Yes, it was a smaller sprint tri.  But still, at age 60, who’d a thunk it?  Swim wasn’t that great as I led my wave in the water so I knew I was losing time to friends in lower age groups I was competing against.  And the run was the standard pain control bit of fun.  So the bike split is what gave me a glow from this race.

Xterra Four Corners:   

Xterra East Regional Championship:  I really need to have a light 26er in my arsenal.

Loveland Lake to Lake:  The other guys in or near my age group reminded me why I still like road racing so much.  Until I flatted it was a lot of fun being pushed and trying to hang on when passed.

Boulder Peak:  The surprise out of this race was qualifying for the 5i50 U.S. Championship race.  Melinda got excited about going.  I’d never raced in Des Moines, IA.  The HyVee folks, a major Midwest grocery chain, have an excellent reputation as a event sponsor – particularly of the pro races that were to follow us age-groupers.

Xterra Wild Horse Creek:  Got to check off another bucket list item – an off-road race in the mountains of Montana.  How do I explain that to folks outside the sport?  Family came over from Billings, MT.  Plus, family was out from the Seattle area to visit our aging father in Wyoming.  The family hung in there with a sport that’s not spectator friendly.  And, since I was just racing for points to get a spot at Xterra Nationals while trying to save some energy for the Canada half-ironman just seven days hence, I could relax while racing and interact a bit with family as I passed by them at different points.

We did have a little incident during the awards ceremony.  I told my family they didn’t have to suffer through it but, to my build up of guilt, they did.  The announcer got to my age group, 60-64, and without looking at the next page of results decided that noone in my age group could have finished yet.   So the awards ceremony just flat out ceased.  For almost an hour!  Finally, it was decided to restart the award ceremony.  My name was announced but when the announcer began to read my time she stopped dead again and explained there must be an error in results so they were going to double-check and be back with the waiting crowd.  I was just coming out of a quick 2^nd swim in the lake trying to get their attention that I really was 60.  That doubt of results being accurate was one of the best compliments of the year, but I hated to have my family suffer through another hour of just waiting around at a triathlon site.

Calgary 70.3: Had left my sleeping bag in Montana.  The cold, 7º C, would eventually penetrate the tent, my blanket and clothes as I slept at night.  Not the best series of nights before a challenging, hilly bike and run course. The bike ride in Banff (Canada’s first national park) was great during the week even in cool rain. On the old 1997 bike I did set a new age-group course record, though I struggled, as usual, mightily on the run and failed to get under 5 hours.

USAT National Championship:  Met Gerry Foreman here. 73 years old and began his triathlon career at age 70 -- another inspiring story.

5i50 U.S. Championship:  As before, an excellent presentation by HyVee for all three races – age group championship, age group non-championship race and the pro races.  Unfortunately, the Ironkid races had to be cancelled due to weather.

70.3 World Championshp:  My ego took a big hit in this race – certainly no competitive glory on this day  That last 12 miles of the bike I was just trying to get to T2.  I had no clue if I would continue on past that point.  I did.  But in the first mile of the half-marathon I had to stop and sit on a curb, in some wonderful tree shade, to massage my leg muscles so I could keep moving.  Just picking up my feet for another step was a challenge for over 2 hours.  Scary.  Here’s something really goofy about this race, though.  USAT actually put my 7^th place finish into one of their press announcements as if it had something to do with being selected Grand Master Triathlete of 2011.  What could they be thinking?  It's actually a reason to NOT be recognized.

Xterra USA Championship:  Now here’s something USAT should have taken note of instead of that silly result at the 70.3 World Championship.  I’m actually kinda proud that I’m the only person to be both the road and off-road USA Triathlon champion. After this race I was told, quite seriously by an age grouper below me, that I should get a decent bike so I could race well.  You see, my whole bike probably cost me less than his front fork alone would have cost me.  

------------

And so the season of fun came to an end.  Now a thanks to my “sponsors”. J

Sponsor thanks list:

The Schuckies for giving me already out-of-date Perpetuum (which I’m finally just about to use up in March of 2012) that they had in some back room or garage.  (They’re important triathletes who actually get sponsor stuff as age groupers – something I can only dream of.)

Melinda Orendorff for exempting me from househusband duties during the tri season of travel.

Gwen Steves for lending me her road racing wheels in 3 of the road tri’s

Multiple family and friends for providing floor space for sleeping, with the occasional upgrade to a bed, and a bit of food in my belly.  The conversation and camaraderie always beat the room and board.

·         Jack & Hollie Chapman in Richmond, VA

·         Patricia & Nahum Arav in Blacksburg, VA

·         Ann & Chip Crickard in Columbus, OH

·         Dennis Coombs & Kristen Kinard in Longmont, CO

·         Eric Edgerton & family outside of Aztec, NM

·         Jeannine & Larry Cozzens in Billings, MT

·         SinClair & Helen Orendorff in Powell, WY

·         Pam & Warren Schuckies in Boulder, CO

·         David & Vickie Orendorff who appeared in WY and MT though they live in WA

Bruce Wacker for being a friend every step of the way.  And for bringing Nicki Rosa into the equation.

Tim Yount for being a great cheerleader for many years.  He’s a pillar in our sport in multiple ways.  Worthy of the hall of fame.

Campground mates:  Especially, the 4 ex-Mormon bikers (the kind with big hog motors) outside of Bryce Canyon National Park.  One in particular I had stunning conversations with.  What a well-read fireman from Arizona he was.  Also of special note were the helpful folks at KOA’s in Illinois, Missouri and Virginia (though I did camp in other states as well.)  The fellow in Illinois got me to one of the better public lake swim sites I’ve ever been in.

2011 Triathlon Fun - in brief

With the receipt of USA Triathlon's recognition as the Grand Master Triathlete of the Year I need to give a few folks an idea of what 2011 entailed. Below is most of a December letter I sent to a friend, slightly edited, which gave an "executive" summary of the year -- bullet points, therefore, being a must. :) I'm going to do a longer post within a day or two.

Dear _________,

2011 has been such a one-off year that I’ve wanted to get a note to you. The challenge in writing such a note has been keeping it from moving very quickly into the tome category – not a good thing to send a busy friend. So I’ve set an arbitrary writing limit which requires an abbreviated list without many of the details. I even employed incomplete sentences. :) Thus, here is a taste of what you were a significant part in helping me to enjoy during a season of 11 triathlon events.

• Enough pain in the runs of each event to feel like I was in my own PC category. (Of course, at this age we are all in a PC category of some sort it seems.) (Note to non-triathletes: PC is the term for the physically challenged categories of racing such as missing appendages, blindness, etc.)
• Struggling mightily in late January just to get myself to begin working out again after three months of no running or swimming. (I was still using crutches and a removable splint, companions throughout the season.)
• Being the only, I think – not verified, person to be both the USAT road and off-road national champion.
• Setting an age group course record in a 70.3 (half-ironman) race in Calgary, Canada on an old 1997 round tube aluminum bike I received free third-hand, while also hobbled by the foot injury during the run. This only one week after the Montana Xterra event done to earn enough points to qualify for nationals.
• Traveling by car, except for road nationals, to get around the country – sleeping in the car at campgrounds or staying with friends or family. The toughest series of trip-event challenges was a consecutive three weeks doing a sprint road tri in Northern Colorado, an Xterra tri in northwestern New Mexico and then driving cross country to the Xterra East Regional Championship in Richmond, VA.
• Crashing on a mountain bike pre-ride the day before the Xterra East Regional and then using the medical tent, set up for the trail runners, the day before the race. Humorous. And also made me a very cautious winner the next day.
• Borrowing road race wheels from a friend to maintain my status as the poor man’s triathlete representative.
• Having the third fastest bike split in a road tri at age 60 – the last time I entered a 2011 event with fresh legs. Sure it was a smaller sprint but the event was near enough to Denver to have some good riders.
• Being told after winning Xterra Nationals that I should get a decent bike so I could race well.
• Somehow coming back from a two minute swim deficit at road nationals to win my age group.

It’s difficult to stop sharing. You’ve been too kind to listen in the past though you hear better stories regularly at your various levels of involvement in our sport. The great interactions with family, friends and strangers as I traveled and camped were numerous and always a bit surprising. You should be glad we are not sitting, having some coffee or tea. You would have to just get up and walk out as I doubt I could stop once I started on the other stories of events and people.