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Spartan Death Race v2011
Andy Weinberg, Double and Triple IRON Finisher and swim course record for both, is the RD for the Spartan Death Race, which finsihed the weekend of 24-26 June. The competitiors that finished (35 out of 158) did so after competing for 42 hours. The thing with the Death Race is you don't know what is next. Some tasks are known, some are not, plus you don't know when the finish is so you can't gague yourself, your time or your energy. You just have to keep going till Andy tell you that you have finished.
This past event, you were told you needed to have your task finsihed by 3:00 Sunday afternoon and congregate at the church for a meeting, then you would be allowed to go back and continue your tasks and the course. Some decided not to show up at the church and quit the event, they had enough. For the ones opting to attend church with the intent of continuing along, THEY were told that they had indeed finished. Order of placement was how far you had gotten along in the race.
Our family was fortunate to have one alumni of the Double and Triple IRON finish, Joshua Zitomer. We also had long term staff member John Wall finish. And two participants that will be doing their first Double (Rebecca Hansen) and Triple (Frank Fumich) completed the event as well. It takes tough people to finish the Double or Triple and those are the ones that can compete in the Spartan Death Race. Congrats to Andy, and his wife Sloan who puts up with so much leading up to and over the weekend, for putting on such a fantastic event - according to most of the competitors. Tho it kicked their butts, and then some, they all raved about it. Click here for the website!!
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Maceration
June 23, 2011 by John Vonhoff
Filed under: Foot Care, Health, blister care
A BAD case of maceration
This weekend is the running of the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile race from Squaw Valley to Auburn, over the California Sierras. While around 375 will start the race, the finisher’s numbers will probably fall between 200 and 250.
The main reasons for not finishing will include being under trained, stomach issues, simply missing cutoffs, and injuries.
Injuries are big. There will be sprained ankles, cuts and scrapes from falls, possible wrist injuries from falls, tons of blisters, and this year - a lot of problems from maceration. With higher than normal snow levels, and this week’s hot temperatures, runners will be in the snow more than normal. Plus runoff from the snow will affect trails and stream crossings. These wet conditions will affect many of the runners - leading to maceration. To read the rest of the article, click here for John's Website!!
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Race Across America
Click here for the link to the RAAM Website
The 2011 biking of RAAM just finished and we had 3 alumni of our Double's and Triple's competing in it. Kathy Roche-Wallace, 7 time solo finisher of the Triple IRON competed in the 50-59 age category and finsihed 2nd out of 5 women altogether. The overall winner of the 2009 Triple IRON was Steve Teal, and he raced on the 4 pers team Strategic Global Advisors. And super suport crew for Dave Gaudette (Double and Triple IRON finisher) and his wife Linda (Double IRON finsiher) was Randy Mouri, who raced solo and finsihed 4th out of 11 in the 50-59 men category. Well done to these three.
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Bike, Run and Awards Ceremony/Banquet photos of Lake Anna
Our timing system. Works similar to the big boys but costs much much less. Instead of a mat on the ground, I have a 2'x4' gate at the edge of the road that captures your time. I have a 37" TV that shows your results, which are uploaded to the website every 5 mintues. There is a whoosh sound you hear for the bike segment and a beep for the run segment, as long as you hear that sound, you were captured. We have someone sitting there all the time to input your time if for some reason it didn't get caputured, but it is very rare.
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You can see the bike chip underneath the seat tied on with plastic zip ties. We will attach it under your seat depending on what kind of structure you have. It measures 5 inches long and about the thickness of your thumb. We use this chip as I have gotten almost a 9' read range with it. We don't like having a mat on the ground as we have cars/trucks driving in the park and this makes for a more safe race, plus you are not having to ride over a mat 45 or 67 times (well times that by two because there is another system at the bike turnaround).
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A view looking down the road with the shelters along the side. Triple athlete Peter Lefferts (FL) getting rid of his sweatshirt circa Oct 2009. This side of the road only allows shelters to be set up, as the tree line is right behind them.
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Shelters on the other side of the road, this side has a large field where tents can be set up as well.
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A close up view of a pretty well stocked shelter - thanks to the Canadian athletes Michael Gagne, Francine Amyot and her dad and sister racing a Double IRON as a team.
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Another view looking down the lane with shelters on the left side and the view of the lake you get to see as you come in each lap. What a beautiful course to race in. Double athlete Michael Ward (Channel Islands, England)in the front circa Oct 2010
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Triple athlete Bill Lane (PA) making a turn at the Main Transition circa Oct 2010. You do the same at the front of the park, however that turn has a little more space to it. Gets pretty tricky in the middle of the night when you are tired, be careful!
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A longer view showing the turnaround cone and heading back out, the timing station is at the far end on the right. Triple athlete Beat Knechtle (Switzerland) circa Oct 2010, he is the guy to "beat" in the Triple.
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A view on part of the bike course showing the slight elevation. You ride 2.48 miles from the main transtion to the front of the park. The first 1.2 mile does have a bit of rolling uphill to it, but the rest of the 2 miles is similar to this. Triple athlete Michael Gaertner (Germany) circa Oct 2009.
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Three amigos coming in towards the main transtion to turn around and do it all over again. Triple athlete Garrett Mulrooney (MN) leading the pack with Triple athlete Bob Abate (FL) following circa Oct 2007)
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This view shows a few bikers with vehicles following. This is a State Park and is open to the general public. The speed limit is 25 mph inside the park and we really haven't had any issues in the past, I do remember one year when it was quite busy because the weather was so warm and everyone was bringing their boats and jetskis to the park, they were being too cautious (driving too slow) and our bikers were passing them. Just make sure you race safe!
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What our little village (main transtion area) looks like at night. This was taken a few years ago and since have replaced the light bulbs with ones that are not as bright.
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Being a Support Crew is a tough job! Pro Duathlete ANdrew Thompson crewing for his Double IRON wife Leslie Holton circa Oct 2007.
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We do it different than those "others". The whole family can help out with support, handing out food/fluids etc as well as going for a run with you. Only on the run can you have a pacer with you, it is not allowed on the bike. Triple IRON athlete Nick Crutch (England) with wife Helena and daughter Phoebe.
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Another support crew hard at work! Geez - do they get paid enough do you think.
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Triple IRON athlete (and first physically challenged athlete to finish a Triple IRON) Dan Jensen's (SD) wife Robin taking her turn supporting the grandbaby instead of Dan, circa Oct 2008. May she rest in peace upstairs, she passed away from cancer the following year.
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I have three of these signs we put out on the course, hopefully other people coming to the park will notice and watch out for us.
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Our massage therapists work hard at the race, in the front is Sara Heretick, the staff therapist.
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Triple athlete Sergio Cordeiro (Brasil) modeling our run chip circa Oct 2007, we have the nice neoprene ankle straps. Shoes are recommended for most people for the run section.
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Athletes Francine Amyot and Michel Gagne (Canada) on the mostly tree lined run course circa Oct 2008.
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Another group showing off a bit of what the run is like, opps did I say run. Looks more like a stroll in the park, which it is at times. I call it a slog (slow jog). From left Triple athlete Todd Zagurski (CA), Race Staff Anton Struntz and Triple athlete Michele Santilhano (South Africa) circa Oct 2007.
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And one more shot of a group of runners on the course. Triple athlete Sergio Cordeiro on his way to almost cathcing Beat Knechtle, he finished 15 minutes behind at the end, circa Oct 2007. Behind is Beat, on the right, keeping an eye on him.
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The Run Turnaround shelter and chip timing system. Race staff Kathleen Gerwein manning the station, keeping herself busy kitting, circa Oct 2008.
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A view of the Main Turnaround with a Triple athtlete Kale Poland heading out on the bike, Triple athlete Kathy Roche-Wallace coming in on the run and a support crew doing something, circa Oct 2009.
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Our furry freinds are invited to come along as well, just make sure they are other dog friendly as well as with us humans please. Kids are welcome as well as this turns out to be a great family oriented event, however the safety of the athletes, staff, volunteers and support crews come first. Besides all of us around the "village" area, there are vehicles coming into the park to use the lake, some are just swimming while others are pulling in boats and jet skis. We have not had any problems in the past and would like to keep it that way.
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Girl Friday (Cooking, Photography, Timing, Banquet Setup, you name it) Cindy Kirby with Marco trying to sneak in a kiss.
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Triple IRON athlete Tamas Zsolt hamming it with a Halloween spirit circa Oct 2007.
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Triple IRON athlete Bob Abate coiming in for the finish hamming it up as well with Superman, circa Oct 2007.
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Double athlete Tony Reed dressed up for the biking section circa Oct circa Oct 2007. Guess 2007 was the year for alternative race gear.
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What can I say - she's my wife and the best! We try to get the great shots and unique ones, gotta do what you gotta do!
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Our stand of flags just waiting on you to finish, this is where our younger helpers (our kids hanging around) will take your countires flag up to the turn so you can run in with it while your national anthem is being played.
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Double IRON athlete Tamas Zsolt (Hungary) pumping and expressing his joy of finally finishing circa Oct 2008.
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Triple athlete Dave Gaudette (VA, standing next to the flag) and his large entourage of support with him at the finish line circa Oct 2008. Even Mr. Dog was with them.
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Triple athlete friends Sergio Cordeiro (Brasil age 53), Arthur Puckrin (England age 69) and Tamas Zsolt (Hungary age 37 and the baby of the group). As you have noticed, the majority of the athletes are mid 30 and up, and Arthur shows what you can still do at his age. Go Arthur. He was attempting the Double Deca in Monterrey Mexico 2010 at the age of 72. He finished the swim and bike but not the run so credited with a Double Deca Duathlon.
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The back view of Lake Anna Winery, where we hold our awards ceremony and have the banquet.
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Inside view where the awards ceremony and banquet are held, at the front of the picture is the wine bar, which is inculded with your meal. Can't get much better than that.
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Some of our staff and volunteers from Oct 2010.
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The athletes that showed up for the awards ceremony and banquet circa Oct 2010.
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