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Timex Multisport Team Tip: Kelly Fillnow
Kelly Fillnow’s family were so dedicated to her tennis future that they moved to Hilton Head so she, her twin sister and older brother could all attend a tennis academy to hone their skills. The results paid off – she played tennis for Davidson College. These days, though, the talented member of the Timex Multisport Team spends her time swimming, biking and running.
Fillnow “got into running” during her junior (third) year of college. She ended up competing for Duke University for one year as a runner, too. Her entrance to the sport was both a fluke and a sign of how talented an athlete she is.
“After college I randomly decided to do a triathlon in my running shorts and [on] a borrowed bike and ended up getting second in it,” she says. “So the next year I decided to get a bike and get into it. I won my first half Ironman and decided to do an
Ironman the next year and qualified for Kona. It took off from there.”
You think? In just a few years Fillnow has gone from being a talented tennis player to an impressive runner to a professional triathlete. Last year she went 9:29 at Ironman Austria as an age grouper. Her rapid rise in the sport makes her a great role model and mentor for athletes of all levels. Since she doesn’t come from much of a swimming background, she can relate to the fears many athletes have about our sport’s opening leg.
“The first time I did a half Ironman I didn’t think I could swim 1.2 miles,” she remembers. “Just to see the progression I have made has been amazing. Its great to have been able to make a difference – I coach and work with a lot of athletes who are trying to reach their goals, too. So, to be able to tell them that if you believe in yourself you can reach your dreams is great.
“To this day I get that little anxious feeling when I’m in the water, especially when the gun goes off,” she continues. “Doing some visualization and relaxation has helped me get through the fear.”
As different as tennis is to long-distance triathlon racing, Fillnow feels that her old sport has helped her immensely with her new one.
“Tennis has helped me with the mental strength. I’ve had tennis matches where I’ve been behind five love in the second set and come back to win. You have to keep working and stay in the moment. In tennis it’s one stroke at a time. In Ironman it’s one stroke at a time, one pedal-push at a time, one stride at a time. What I learned in tennis was that all I had to do was worry about that moment. I had to worry about that one point, then I could move on to the next one. In Ironman you might have dark periods, but if you get through that specific moment, you’re probably able to get through anything that you’re dealing with at that time. Tennis has helped me learn to stay positive.”
Fillnow exudes lots of positive energy and even manages to look forward to the long training hours that many others might dread. “I get to figure out a lot about myself during all the long training hours I do,” she says. “It’s a great chance for self-reflection. It’s nice to have a goal and work really hard for something and to do something I never thought I would be able to achieve.”
All those years as a tennis player have helped Kelly Fillnow become a pretty impressive triathlete, too. Seems like the sacrifices of her tennis-loving family worked out just fine.
You can reach Kevin Mackinnon at kevin.mackinnon@ironman.com
Ironman Lake Placid Spotlight
Ironman Lake Placid, the second oldest Ironman in North America, is one of the most popular events in the sport. This mid-summer event takes place in the beautiful Olympic village of Lake Placid, New York. Less than 3,000 people are permanent residents of Lake Placid however, during race week more than 20,000 converge on this picturesque town. This high demand race attracts athletes from all over the world who compete for 50 coveted slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hawaii in mid-October. The race director, Greg Borzilleri, comments “Ironman Lake Placid is the granddaddy race on the Ironman continental U.S. circuit, volunteers and staff alike rave about the great atmosphere, fun things to do, and overall spirit of race week and the race itself.”
The day begins with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a calm, pristine lake right in the heart of Lake Placid. It is an excellent spectator course with an exhilarating mass start. This is typically a wetsui-legal race with water temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s degrees Fahrenheit. The swim is followed by a challenging 112-mile, two-loop bike ride through the Adirondacks Mountains on state, county, and local roads. The course starts with a quick downhill followed by a steady climb out of town, surrounded by a cheering crowd. However, be prepared for a challenging ten miles of rolling uphill to bring you to the finish.
The journey continues with an exciting, spectator-friendly, two-loop, 26.2-mile run course that passes by the downtown area four times. This incredible route features some spectacular tree-lined river scenery, coupled with lakeside running. Athletes end the day at the coveted and prestigious finish line located on the Olympic Speed skating Oval.
New York’s Olympic Region is one of the great playgrounds of North America, offering fun and exciting outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, rock climbing, white water rafting, and fishing. Lake Placid’s Main Street has everything from a local bakery, Adirondack restaurants, an old fashioned movie theater, to high-tech mountain gear and designer clothes; shopping in Lake Placid offers the full spectrum of unique gifts, necessities and distinctive mementos. Other attractions include the Olympic facilities used for the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Santa’s Workshop, and Highfalls Gorge all of which make this area fabulous for family adventures.
Defending champion, TJ Tollakson comments, “Lake Placid is truly a gem of a community that embodies the spirit of Ironman racing. Pristine waters in Mirror Lake and a challenging and scenic bike through the Adirondacks are only complimented with an exhilarating run that finishes on the Olympic oval in the heart of town. Lake Placid is an Ironman event athletes and spectators will enjoy in a town famous for embracing the journey and rewards of competition.”
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 3 p.m. EST, there will be a live chat on the official Ironman Facebook page featuring Greg Borzilleri, race director of Ironman Lake Placid. He will be available to answer all your technical and race-related questions. For more information on the event and how to gain entry, visit www.ironmanlakeplacid.com.
Fast Racing Expected in Mallorca
Alcudia, Mallorca is famous for its lovely landscapes and beautiful cycling routes. Every year there are thousands and thousands of riders who take in the Balearic island. But now the training’s done on Mallorca – it’s time to race: Thomas Cook Ironman 70.3 Mallorca is just around the corner for the 2,300 athletes from 63 nations. On Saturday, May 12th the second edition of this race will take place in Alcudia, which is located in the north of Mallorca. In 2011 Andreas Raelert, from Germany, won the debut race ahead of Bertrand Billard and Sylvain Sudrie from France. This year it could be his brother’s turn: Michael Raelert is the favorite of the pro’s field.
“We are pleased to welcome a great and very international field,” Kai Walter, Managing Director International Operations at the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), says. “2,100 amateur athletes, 45 pro athletes and 50 relay teams are ready to start into the European season of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 on Mallorca. The course offers beautiful views, but it is a challenging one.”
After the swim in the bay of Alcudia there is a tough bike course. It starts through the famous bay of Pollenca, where there is usually is a lot of wind. After that there is a climb of eight kilometers and an up-and-down-section. On top of the hill, the competitors reach the region of Kloster Lluc in the Tramuntana mountains. A fast, but technical, downhill section leads the racers into the second half of the bike course. On their way back to Alcudia they’ll ride through some nice villages in the heart of the island.
Finally, there will be a three-loop run course at the beach of Alcudia. In 2011 Andreas Raelert managed to win the race on this course with an extraordinary run split of 1:11:46. The world’s fastest athlete over the full distance won the first edition of this race in 3:53:07.
On race day, starting at 8 AM CET, his brother Michael Raelert will be at the starting line, ready to keep the title in the family. The 31-year-old from Rostock in northern Germany is a two-time winner of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Due to a puncture on the bike course and a cold he was not able to really compete for the victory at Ironman 70.3 Texas last month. He took fourth and was a little disappointed. “I’m really looking forward to racing at Thomas Cook Ironman 70.3 Mallorca,” Raelert says, “my brother Andreas won the debut race here – and now I hope that I can follow into his footsteps.” Andreas Raelert will also participate on Saturday – he’s is the swimmer of a Thomas Cook relay team. Andreas is preparing in Alcudia for his season debut at Ironman 70.3 Austria one week later in St. Pölten.
In the men’s pro field there are some more athletes who can legitimately be seen as favorites. One is 2000 Olympic silver medalist Stephan Vuckovic, from Germany. And there are even more German racers to watch, including
the fast swimmer Johann Ackermann, who will likely challenge Michael Raelert during the swim leg. Moreover, there are three more fast Germans in the competition: Swen Sundberg from the Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, Stefan Schmid and Ironman icon Lothar Leder. From Switzerland there’s the strong swimmer and biker Manuel Wyss.
Emma-Kate Lidbury from Great Britain is after her second victory in Alcudia on Saturday. Last year she started a winning tour at Thomas Cook Ironman 70.3 Mallorca: after she had celebrated the victory in Alcudia in 4:33:18, she dominated the Ironman 70.3 races in UK and Augusta. The 32-year-old is chased by serious competitors: Tine Deckers from Belgium, for example, is a strong biker and seems to be the co-favorite on paper. Deckers already has two Ironman 70.3 races under her belt this season: she was fifth at Ironman 70.3 Panama and third at Ironman 70.3 South Africa. In the women’s field there are also strong athletes like Sofie Goos, from Belgium, who was third at Ironman Texas and Ironman Florida last year. And there are also tough German competitors including Meike Krebs and Kristin Möller.
Obviously the European season opener will be a fast and challenging race – the weather forecast promises warm and windy conditions on Saturday. Follow the race – our text coverage starts at 7:30 AM CET.
St. Croix 70.3: A look back in pictures
Every time I cover an Ironman event I come away thinking, That was the best venue ever. So I can’t claim much credibility if I were to say it now, yet again, but I’ll say it anyway because I mean it: St. Croix is my favorite place on the circuit.
First off, it’s an island in the Caribbean. That right there is enough to get it into the top three. Second, unlike a lot of tropical islands, it’s relatively unspoiled. That means its charms haven’t been manufactured by Acme Genuine Authentic Authorized Quaint Reproductions-on-Demand , Inc., nor do boatloads of coupon-wielding tourists descend in hordes on outlet malls measured in square miles. There are no cruise ships here and, for that matter, far fewer tourists in comparison with neighboring stops in the other U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
That’ s not nece
ssarily a happy situation. St. Croix was once a bustling commercial port but has seen better times. Deterioration and dilapidation are everywhere, and in the town of Christiansted where the race originates and ends, nearly every shop and restaurant is in or next to a half-ruined building where once-proud columns, brick facades and sidewalks are visibly crumbling. These are often very picturesque, and the town is heaven for any photographer with a creative eye, but they’re also a constant reminder that this is a real place, where real people live, often in dire poverty.
Which brings me to the best part of St. Croix, and a question: Why is this place home to some of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet? I don’t mean the kind of “nice” you get in the neighboring Shopping Capitals of the Western Hemisphere where practiced, vacuous smiles come freighted with hands held out with palms upward. People here are nice, they’re friendly, and they seem to have made an art of instant connection and easy banter. It’s a pleasure to walk the streets, to deal with shopkeepers (one who sold us a Cruzan bracelet invited us home for dinner), to crack a few jokes with taxi drivers waiting for fares, but not looking terribly stressed about getting one.
This kind of easy informality extends to the race itself. Race director Tom Guthrie’s attitude seems to be, “As long as you don’t do anything stupid, we don’t need a lot of rules.” So you don’t see miles of barricades or phalanxes of officious security people. Spectators can get within inches of the finish line. Locals set up “tailgate shops” selling all kinds of unpronounceable food throughout the day. The main roads are closed, and there’s no easy way in and of town, so you might as well relax, hang out and enjoy the intimate atmosphere.
This being a tropical isle, there’s no knowing what the weather will bring. Race week, it brought torrential rains that seemed to come up out of nowhere, wreak havoc for a few minutes, then spin off down the road. Much of the bike course was treacherous, with mud and gravel run-off to contend with and several calf-deep pools of standing rainwater to navigate. Remarkably, there were no serious injuries, although crashes and road rash were the order of the day.
The big news, of course, was that Lance Armstrong was racing. This gave Andy Potts the opportunity to seal his reputation as one of the best Ironman 70.3 athletes in the world. Lance was first off the bike (insert big “Duh” here) but Andy patiently ran him down for a decisive and impressive win. Lance came in third, two minutes behind France’s Stephane Poulet, and bolstered his reputation as a serious contender.
On the distaff side, Angela Naeth demonstrated some major chops when she flatted a few miles from the finish (there were a lot of flats) and elected to just keep going. As bone-jarring an experience as that must have been, it didn’t stop her from powering her way to a solid victory and a new course record, and later that evening graciously handing out leis and awards.
Happiest camper of the night had to be Mitch Gold, my neighbor in Palm Springs, who placed third in Men’s 40-44. Badly disappointed at first because only two Kona slots were being awarded in that division, Mitch caught wind of a rumor that Hunter Temple, sole occupant of Men’s 75-80, hadn’t finished under the cutoff. He did a quick mental calculation, and hope dawned. Sure enough, Hunter was awarded a trophy but was ineligible for the slot, which rolled down to the most populous category, 40-44. Trying hard not to betray any overt signs of Schadenfreude, Mitch bounded up to the mike and claimed his slot. Personally, I thought his expression of remorse and sorrow over Hunter’s misfortune were profound and genuine.
Herewith, a few shots of the day. And when you’re doing your race planning for 2013, remember: St. Croix is da bomb.
(Music by Iki.)
Bottle Trained: Four Ways to Hydrate Right
Meet three innovative new bottles that make hydration more convenient, stylish, and sanitary.
by Jennifer Ward Barber
Clean Bottle and Clean Bottle’s “The Runner,” $9.95-$24.95
I discovered these bottles when the company introduced their new cell phone sleeve, “The Runner.” I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of them. Just days before I’d spent a good hour grumbling over my slimy water bottles in the kitchen sink, attacking them with bleach and scrubby brushes in hopes to restore them to their original sanitary standards.
If you’ve never tried a Clean Bottle, do yourself a favor and buy one. At just $9.95 per bottle, these things are an investment in frustration-free germ elimination. The company also donates 10 percent of its profits to eco and cycling friendly charities, so you can feel clean in more ways than one.
And there’s more. Consider this a two-in-one review; as I already mentioned, the innovators at Clean Bottle recently debuted a cell-phone carrying case for their already tricked-out bottle.
Unlike cycling, with its longer treks, heightened safety issues, and multiple carrying options, running used to be largely a phone-free activity. Clean Bottle’s new “The Runner” case has changed all that. The case ($14.95 without a bottle, $24.95 with) features a clear front pouch so you can see—mid-run—whether it’s your boss or your boyfriend trying to reach you. It also fits your ID, up to three gels, and a house key.
I must admit that running and swimming for me are two activities where I like to stay off the grid, but this bottle has excellent crossover potential for the bike, where smartphones tend to be more welcome companions. For anyone who’s fond of aerobar-mounted hydration, this sleeve could help bring nutrition into the area of bike real estate where our favorite training apps (like Strava or Wahoo Fitness) live.
Besides its genius design, behind these products lies a dedicated triathlete. Founder David Mayer (who we’ll be profiling in our July 2012 print issue) is fearless. In 2010, he donned a giant water bottle costume to chase riders in the Tour de France, generating over $70,000 in sales. On January 20 of this year, Clean Bottle was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, where Mayer was offered support from billionaire Mark Cuban to help expand the Clean Bottle line. To top it all off, Mayer finished the grueling last installment of Ironman St. George this month, in 11:49:55. (Click here to watch a video of Mayer explaining how the Clean Bottle works.)
Hydrapak Wooly Mammoth, $15.99
This 20-ounce bottle comes in blue (above) or red (below) and features Primaloft insulation—which looks a lot like wool—as its chief draw. Thought wool kept you warm? Here the fabric does double duty. Wedged between two walls of plastic, the wool keeps your liquids cool and your hands dry. No more warm, mid-ride electrolytes or slippery bottles.
The polypropylene bottles are lighter in weight than standard bottles, and of course, BPA free. I’ve washed mine dozens of times and the bottle has stood up just fine. The Big Gulp valve comes out for easier washing, is softer on the teeth than the usual suspects, and has great flow.
On an unusually hot day last week, I left this bottle in my car while completing a 3.5 hour brick workout. I returned to find my Kona Cola-flavored Nuun so nicely chilled that I was almost surprised when I took a sip. If there’s anything worse than warm water after a hot run, it’s warm cola-flavored water.
FLEXR Sports Lined Bottles
You know you’re a triathlete when you drink seven of your eight-glasses-a-day from a plastic bottle. My bottle collection had certainly started to show signs of wear, with slimy insides, black spots, and funky smells. New this year, these bottles have a BPA-free disposable liner that keeps everything as fresh as a new pair of cycling shorts.
The treehugger in me was a little skeptical at first of something that I thought meant more waste. The “fully biodegradable” promise helped nail that one, and really, the cheap-o plastic bottles you get at every race are probably much worse, given how much plastic they use in comparison to these thin liners. The bottles keep bacteria and odor residue at bay, and the outer plastic is remarkably soft and flexible. Though I found them to be a little difficult to sip from while running (the liner shrinks down as you sip, making it tough to cycle air through for the proper pressure), the idea is a good one worthy of being refined. FLEXR bottles are available in a 28 ounce aerodynamic bottle, a 21-ounce bottle with neoprene sleeve, and a standard 16-ounce ergonomical option. Replacement liners come with each purchase.
Originally from lavamagazine.com
Bron: http://feeds.ironman.com/~r/ironman/topstories/~3/wdEiETHvyrM/say-goodbye-to-plain-old-plastic
Ironman 70.3 Mallorca Field Gets Ready
A competitive European field will be on hand for this weekend’
s Ironman 70.3 Mallorca. Highlighting the men’s field for the race on the beautiful Spanish island is Michael Raelert, a former runner-up at the Ironman World Championship and the holder of the world’s fastest time for the full distance. The women’s race promises to be an interesting one with a number of top Ironman and Ironman 70.3 athletes on hand.
The women’s race sees Belgian Ironman champions Tine Deckers (France 2009 and 2010) and Sofie Goos (Ironman Florida 2009) taking on defending champion Emma Kate Lidbury from the UK. (Lidbury went on to win two more times in 2011 – Ironman 70.3 UK and Augusta.)
Germany’s Raelert might highlight the men’s field thanks to his world-best time, Kona finishes and a win at the 2010 Ironman European Championship, but he’ll face some stiff competition from countrymen Stefan Vuckovic (Ironman Florida champion, 2007 and silver medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games) and Swen Sundberg, whose team-mate on the Abu Dhabi team, Paul Amey, just took the Ironman Australia title on the weekend.
We’ll have live text updates from Mallorca here on Ironman.com this weekend.
Here are the pros registered for Saturday:
Men:
Ackermann Johann MPRO GER
Bischof Marcel MPRO GER
Dreitz Andreas MPRO GER
Hotchkiss Jonathan MPRO ENG
Howard Ben MPRO ENG
Huttunen Anssi MPRO FIN
Johannessen Oyvind MPRO NOR
Johannessen Håkon MPRO NOR
Kharin Ivan MPRO RUS
Lassonde Cedric MPRO FRA
Leder Lothar MPRO GER
Lindberg Pontus MPRO SWE
Moldan Johannes MPRO GER
Nikitin Evgeniy MPRO RUS
Nosarev Dmitrii MPRO RUS
Pernold Daniel MPRO AUT
Pinosto Joni MPRO FIN
Raelert Michael MPRO GER
Remman Tom MPRO NOR
Santamaria Alejandro MPRO ESP
Saukko Ari MPRO FIN
Schmid Stefan MPRO GER
Snilstveit Gudmund MPRO NOR
Strijk Erik-Simon MPRO NED
Sundberg Swen MPRO GER
Threlfall Mark MPRO ENG
Van Beijnum Kamil MPRO NED
Vander Hoogerstraete Tom MPRO BEL
Vuckovic Stephan MPRO GER
Wihlidal Nikolaus MPRO AUT
Woodward Alun MPRO ENG
Wyss Manuel MPRO SUI
Women:
Deckers Tine FPRO BEL
Eikre-Telle Marthe FPRO NOR
Goos Sofie FPRO BEL
Hufe Mareen FPRO GER
Koivula Venla FPRO FIN
Krebs Meike FPRO GER
Larsson Camilla FPRO SWE
Lewis Tamsin FPRO ENG
Lidbury Emma-Kate FPRO ENG
Liebendörfer Christine FPRO GER
Möller Kristin FPRO GER
Nelen Corine FPRO NED
Neuscheler Evi FPRO GER
Schmitt Natascha FPRO GER
Wiegand Kristina FPRO GER
Ambrose and Mitchell blaze to Ironman Australia wins
For one pro athlete the URBAN Hotel Group Ironman Australia for 2012 will reflect the very best of races with an emphatic gun to gun victory. For the other it will remain even more special as she battled two determined opponents with a never say die attitude that made her maiden Ironman victory all the sweeter.
(photos courtesy FinisherPix.com)
Outright winner, Paul Ambrose, tasted Ironman victory for the second time with an amazing win that started with crossing the swim finish first and then saw the Aussie build on that lead to establish a 12-minute buffer to his pursuers in the latter stages of the bike leg.
He then ran a controlled marathon, though felt it all in the last lap, as he came home to win in a time of 8:17:38.
“My game plan was to go from the start, which I did, and I’m still not sure about that,” said Ambrose. “During the race I just pushed, trying to stay in my own rhythm and stay at a good tempo. I tried to keep it all streamlined and went out in the bike and held the tempo, but the course threw me a little as it’s very difficult and it took more out of me on the bike than I planned. It’s very undulating, so you’re always grinding against the gears, but I was happy to lead off the bike.”
“The last lap of the bike was great, though, and I actually got a look at the surf break on the way out and I was actually in awe and thought ‘Sh**’ I could be surfing out there, I couldn’t have had a better day.”
“I did feel the marathon. I had so many blisters and the last lap was agony, but the finish line was a great highlight.”
Behind Ambrose it was home town hero, Tim Berkel, who finished in 8:21:11, having pegged around four minutes back on Ambrose on the run. In third, and storming home was veteran, Jason Shortis, running a 2:51:57 marathon to claim a podium placing from Leon Griffin, who long held third in the race, but suffered a penalty on the bike and lost ground in the run to finish fourth.
In the women’s race the day’s racing was exciting from the get go as American Hilary Biscay led them out of the swim in 50:40 and also for a long time on the bike. Chasers Nicole Ward and Michelle Mitchell pushed each other to the limit also overwhelmed Biscay for a time. In the end the American led into T2, but it was Ward who had the fastest time at 5:28:57. Ward passed Biscay out of T2 and onto the run before the diminutive Mitchell fired up and ran into the lead, never to be headed.
Mitchell came home in 9:34:57, with a very solid 3:08:38 marathon.
“I was really excited to get off the bike and excited to get through the swim with no damage to my hand (Mitchell had broken her hand shortly before Ironman Melbourne).” It hurt a bit on the bike – I was supposed to wear a sling. The ride was tough and all the time I thought of that hill. We knew that Hillary could struggle on the hills but she was so strong on the flats. I had a big smile on the last corner of the bike ‘cause I just like getting off the bike! It’s really special to win – it’s very exciting my parents didn’t make it down because my dad is sick – so yes…”
The leading age group athletes in Ironman Australia were Matt Burton, home fifth outright and winning the M18-24 age group in a time of 8:57:10, while Kym Jaenke took the age group women’s crown going 10:08:20 to win the F35-39 age group.
Over 1,450 age groupers entered this race, and the day held as very special for many of them.
Racing was held in ideal cool but fine conditions with light winds all day.
Top five male and female placings:
1 Michelle MITCHELL 09:34:57
2 Nicole WARD 09:44:40
3 Hillary BISCAY 09:58:19
4 Kym JAENKE 10:08:20
5 Kathleen BOURCHIER 10:11:57
1 Paul AMBRSOE 08:17:38
2 Tim BERKEL 08:21:11
3 Jason SHORTIS 08:40:02
4 Leon GRIFFIN 08:55:54
5 Matt BURTON 08:57:10
Tough, Tough Day in St. Croix
The St. Croix Ironman 70.3 was held on Sunday in some of the toughest conditions ever. Oscar Galindez, the 40 year-old Argentinian who has raced here many, many times proclaimed as such. But, it wasn’t the “3 H’s” that struck this year (heat, humidity, and hills),it was the rain. After several days of on again, off again rain, everyone was hoping the roads would dry up overnight, and minimize the huge puddles throughout this already very difficult course. It was not to be. (Photos courtesy Lee Gruenfeld.)
While most of the locals – who came out in droves – had their eyes on seven-time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, the 500 or so triathletes had their eyes on the sky … and we’re met with intermittent showers all day. While this resulted in more flat tires and crashes (none serious) than ever, incredibly it resulted in one course record, and a very disappointed Lance Armstrong.
The Women
How do you not start with the performance of the day: Angela Naeth setting a new course record (4:28:12)! Naeth, the 30-year-old Canadian who splits her time between Boulder and Tucson, was known as the “70.3 Bridesmaid,” for having so many second-place finishes in 2010-2011. However, her fortunes changed last August, when she claimed her first 70.3 Championship in Boulder. This year, with victories at Ironman 70.3 Panama, Leadman 125 and a strong second-place at the long- distance Abu Dhabi Triathlon, Naeth has clearly established herself as one of the top 70.3 women in the world.
Last year, Naeth set the St.
Croix bike course record. Biking is clearly Naeth’s strength; but, on this day, the diminutive Champion had the fastest run as well: 1:18:48. While her bike time was nearly five minutes faster than runner-up, Mary Beth Ellis, the most incredible part of that was she rode the final six miles on a totally flat tire. ”I had to be a bit more careful; but, I’m fearless sometimes, so I just said ‘go,’” Naeth said after the race. ”It was a blast. It was awesome. I love the rain. I love the mud. Maybe I should do Xterra,” she beamed to the crowds at the finish line.
Ellis, who won three consecutive Ironmans last summer, including the fastest debut ever by a female, is just revving up her season. Set to race Ironman Texas in just two weeks, Ellis conceded that “she (Naeth) is a better biker than me right now, and she’s also running really well.” Ellis had the second fastest swim, bike and run splits, en route to a 4:33:34, ahead of third-place, Sara Gross (also, from Canada), who finished in 4:46:43.
The Men
Undoubtably, the crowds were there to cheer on everyone, however the “Lance Effect” was in full force. More media, more security, more attention was given to the 40-year-old from Texas than ever seen on this Island. It was a “stealth” Andy Potts, however, who would come in, and get the job done. Long known as one the greatest swimmers in our sport, the former Olympian from Colorado Springs, Colorado, exited the water with fellow uber-swimmer, Stephane Poulat, just 1:22 ahead of a strong swim by Armstrong, who exited third. It took 20 miles – at “The Beast” – for Armstrong to catch the two and, according to Lance, “I figure I may have waited a little long on the bike to make my move,” staying with Poulat and Potts for awhile. ”Every one of these is gonna be a learning experience,” he would add later.
Armstrong would enter T2 with just over a two minute lead, riding 2:22:39, vs. Potts’ s
solid 2:26:13. Potts was fully anticipating the catch by Armstrong on the bike: “No big surprise … Lance is probably the best cyclist ever – hands down.”. But, it was the run today that was most meaningful. Potts’ run course record of 1:12:50 was incredible on such a difficult course. Mind you, it only stood for about four minutes, when fourth-place finisher, Alessandro Degasperi of Italy, crossed the line eight seconds faster. In all due respect, however, this may have to have an asterisk, as a jubilant Potts was high-fiving anyone in site for the final 150 meters or so.
The pass on Armstrong was made at approximately eight miles, according to the champion. ”He said ‘go get ‘em, Andy,’ which was nice.” Poulat would also pass Armstrong before the finish to take second.
Frederik Van Lierde, Belgium, went into the race quite sick ( his voice was terrible after the race), but was stoic and classy after: “You must be 100 percent to be competitive; so, today, I just had to say it was a good training day.” he would finish eighth. Another “big name” in St. Croix was Terenzo Bozzone. The St. Croix 2010 champion did not have any big expectations for this race, as he continues his comeback after last year’s Achilles injury, but his strong 1:14:02 run put him into fifth, and further proclaimed we’ll be seeing this affable Kiwi on the podium lots more this year.
Maxim Kriat, the 2011 St. Croix 70.3 Champion, just didn’t seem to be on the top of his game today, finishing seventh; but, joined the masses in his clear respect for Lance. At a private function Friday evening, Kriat was overjoyed to meet Lance, while asking for him to sign his (Lance’s) book – nice!
In The End
And, how do you not give a shout out to Karen Smyers? This former ironman World Champion, ITU World Champion, and USAT Hall of Fame inductee finished tenth professional woman … she turns 51 this year!
Despite the rain and clouds, the people in St. Croix filled the streets. The love and feeling of the Island is second to none. ”For this Island to shut down the Island for one day, on an Island that’s one of the prettiest in the world, is amazing,” said Lance Armstrong right before he departed. Truer words have never been spoken.
Top 10 men:
1 POTTS, ANDY 4:03:31
2 POULAT, STEPHANE 4:05:25
3 ARMSTRONG, LANCE 4:07:08
4 DEGASPERI, ALESSANDRO 4:08:53
5 BOZZONE, TERENZO 4:10:04
6 GALINDEZ, OSCAR 4:12:31
7 KRIAT, MAXIM 4:15:41
8 VAN LIERDE, FREDERIK 4:16:41
9 CASTILLO, ANDRES 4:16:48
10 HOLTHAM, ELIOT 4:24:59
Top 10 women:
1 NAETH, ANGELA 4:28:12
2 ELLIS, MARY BETH 4:33:34
3 GROSS, SARA 4:46:43
4 KRAFT, NINA 4:47:44
5 KOZULINA, TAMARA 4:47:51
6 LOEFFLER, KIM 4:49:24
7 FLETCHER, JENNY 4:59:40
8 JONES, STEPHANIE 5:01:01
9 DANAIS, MARIE 5:01:50
10 SMYERS, KAREN 5:08:07
Barry Siff jumped into the Sprint race at the last minute, loved it, and then went work. He has been unofficially proclaimed a bona-fide “Cruzan,” by the Governor of the virgin Islands … and, is proud of it! He can be reached via www.5430sports.com.
Lance Armstrong drew quite a crowd to the race.
Bron: http://feeds.ironman.com/~r/ironman/topstories/~3/R_kj8uPb0hk/naeth-potts-prevail-barry-siff-reports
Hoffman and Kessler Win in St. George
Once they got to the front, Ben Hoffman and Meredith Kessler stayed there and took the overall titles at the final Ironman-distance race in St. George yesterday, ensuring their names will remain in the history books. (The event becomes an Ironman 70.3 race in 2013.) (Photo of Ben Hoffman courtesy FinisherPix.com.)
Kessler’s domination of the day started in the water. She was out of the water more than six minutes ahead of the next fastest woman and never looked back. The day was a nice comeback after her collapse last year at the 22-mile point of the marathon.
Hoffman led off the bike and ran a solid 3:01 marathon to get across the line with a comfortable 18-minute buffer to runner-up Maik Twelsiek.
High winds, which started shortly after the swim start, made
the day incredibly difficult for both professional and age group athletes.
You can catch up on the entire day’s coverage by clicking here.
Top 5 men:
Hoffman, Ben 4/1/1 29/MPRO 00:52:44 05:10:01 03:01:24 09:07:04
Twelsiek, Maik 3/2/2 32/MPRO 00:52:42 05:10:35 03:18:23 09:25:58
Zeebroek, Axel 2/3/3 34/MPRO 00:51:22 05:26:52 03:12:53 09:35:33
Gerlach, Thomas 9/6/4 31/MPRO 00:59:19 05:33:54 03:12:14 09:49:00
Sheeks, Matthew 10/9/5 29/MPRO 01:04:09 05:48:41 02:55:37 09:52:03
Top 5 women:
Kessler, Meredith 1/1/1 34/FPRO 00:52:42 05:57:14 03:18:23 10:12:59
Donavan, Jessie 6/3/2 36/FPRO 01:18:51 05:55:24 03:18:58 10:37:30
Bromme, Uli 4/5/3 31/FPRO 01:09:10 06:10:21 03:29:40 10:53:20
Clayton, Gillian 9/8/4 31/FPRO 01:34:00 06:20:12 03:15:13 11:15:38
Spitler, Erin 7/6/5 33/FPRO 01:19:37 06:07:22 03:45:30 11:16:42
Record field Tackles SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton 2012
Yesterday in Busselton Triathlon WA welcomed 3000 athletes and over 10,000 spectators as well as a range of professional athletes to SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton 2012. The event comprises a 1.9km swim, a 90.1km bike ride followed by a 21.1km run, that was tackled by both individuals and teams. Ashleigh Davis, Event Manager stated “Busselton is a perfect venue for this type of racing. Not only are weather conditions mostly favorable, the venue forms a central hub for spectators enabling family and friends to watch their loved ones participate on all parts of the course. The Busselton community are extremely welcoming and more than 400 volunteers lined the course assisting in the delivery of a safe and enjoyable race.”
First across the line in the Mens professional field was 20 year old James Hodge from Tasmania (3:55:08) who upset a stellar mens field containing multiple top 20 world ranked athletes. South Australia’s Matty White (3:56:33) took 2nd place for the second year in a row with Callum Milward from New Zealand (3:58:07) who rounded out the podium.
It was a West Australian one, two with Felicity Sheedy-Ryan(4:21:31) passing Kate Bevilaqua (4:22:19) in the dying stages of the race to take line honors. Lisa Marangon (4:24:46) from NSW, who lead off the bike, finished in third place.
SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton is Triathlon Western Australia’s premier event. Ashleigh Davis said “this sport continues to grow at both and junior and social level and this year’s event is a testament to that. The 2013 event promises to be even bigger and better and given this year sold out in record time there will be many eyes on the Triathlon WA website (www.triwa.org.au) eagerly waiting next years registration”.
“Busselton is once more on the world stage as one of over 50 Ironman 70.3 series races across the globe as the biggest in the southern hemisphere.
St. Croix Ironman 70.3 Preview: Unrelenting
I have been to the St. Croix Ironman 70.3 five times now, and have always come away – and written about – the hills, heat, and humidity of this extremely challenging race. Well, after speaking with several pros on Friday at the practice swim, I have a new, more simple theme: “unrelenting.”
Mary Beth Ellis (“MB”) comes into the 70.3 on Sunday as the clear co-favorite with last year’s runner-up, Angela Naeth. After an incredible 2011 Ironman season, this will be MB’s first long-distance race of 2012. She knows what she’s in for. “It’s gonna be tough, with heat and humidity on the bike, and the run. The bike is (you guessed it) unrelenting,” says MB. “If you’re not going up, you’re going down, sideways, and all sorts of directions,” she laughs (kind of).
While I earlier reported that Angela Naeth – runner-up here last year, and winner of this year’s Panama 70.3 – should be Ellis’ main rival … one former Ironman and ITU World Champion surprised us all on Friday, when she showed up for the morning practice swim: none other than Karen Smyers! She told us that she hadn’t done a whole lot of training this winter … “But, all of a sudden, my training was feeling better and the biking came back a lot faster than expected.” Once she decided to come to St. Croix, though, she had another big decision. At age 50, would/should she race as a pro, or as an age grouper? “After seeing Natasha (Badmann) win Ironman South Africa at age 45, I thought if she could win, all I want is to be in the prize money!” So, indeed, we will have the pleasure and opportunity to see this USA Triathlon Hall of Fame legend tackle the Beast one more time … and race against other pros 25+ years younger! (sorry, Karen, had to throw that in there)
While Lance Armstrong and Andy Potts are certainly getting much of the attention in St. Croix on the men’s side, along with Belgian, Frederik Van Lierde, two 27 year-olds are eager to go: last year’s Champion, Maxim Kriat, Ukraine and, New Zealander, Terenzo Bozzone. Coming off a tough 2011 season, hampered with an achilles injury requiring surgery, Bozzone is ready to regain the status and stature he earned in 2008, when he won the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, as well as 2010, when he was the Champion of Ironman 70.3 St. Croix. “I felt a lot of pressure to win early in the year, and be back to where I was straight away,” the always affable Kiwi told me on Friday. “But, I backed off the pressure last week at St.
Anthony’s, raced the race because I love the sport, and I enjoyed being out there, pushing my body to the limits.” A strong 32:58 run (10K) helped Terrenzo to a solid sixth place against a stellar field in this Olympic-distance race. Asked about the St. Croix course, Bozzone used one word: “relentless.”
Kriat, last year’s winner, is out to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. It was also his “dream” to race Lance Armstrong here. “This is my favorite course, and when I heard that he (Armstrong) was going to race Texas (Galveston), I said ‘ why Texas,
why not St. Croix?” Now, I will get to race him here, and it will add to my adrenaline,” Kriat said on Friday. He also said he did not have the perfect race last year, that he made some mistakes that he does not intend on repeating. “This is the kind of course where your challenge is against the course, not against somebody.” But, it is clear that Lance is on his – and everyone’s mind.
As for the “Lance Effect,” it was evident on Friday at the practice swim. Race Director, Tom Guthrie, said that this was the largest Friday practice swim ever, and registration is 25% ahead of last year. With 800 volunteers lined up for Sunday, the athletes will be well attended to.
And, as for Lance, he not only brought out more swimmers on Friday; but, also, more media to St. Croix than ever, as well as the Governor of the Virgin Islands at a special reception for the professional athletes Friday evening. Everyone – including the Governor – was jockeying for pictures and autographs. Armstrong was most accommodating, reserved, and extremely professional. Interestingly, Terrenzo Bozzone told me that he felt one aspect of the “Lance Effect” would be to increase the professionalism of the pros, while also increasing media and sponsor attention.
And, oh yes, Lance doesn’t remember much from his first time here as a 16 year-old, racing in the very first “America’s Paradise Triathlon” in 1988, He does remember The Beast as “difficult … extremely difficult,” and added “[I] should never have been here” – I think a reference to really pushing himself toward the top of the top, against the very best, perhaps a bit early. Now, 24 years later, we’ll see how a much more mature, 40 year-old, seven time winner of the Tour de France can do against the young guns.
Barry Siff decided just last week not to race the 70.3, but will enjoy watching and reporting on the race this year. He is a member of the Timex Multisport and PowerBar Elite Teams, and is also on the USA Triathlon Board of Directors. He lives in Boulder, CO with his wife, Jodee, and dog, Jackpot.
Ironmanlife: Andrew MacNaughton
So, do you know who Andrew MacNaughton is? Lance Armstrong sure does. During some of my research on Armstrong’s first triathlon career, he talked about my old high school buddy and the man I can credit with getting me into the sport. Armstrong remembers MacNaughton because he was the guy who used to ride away from the competition in triathlon events. In fact, the Canadian was the first person to win a triathlon on aero bars – a feat he accomplished when he rode away from Mike Pigg at the Crawfishman triathlon in Louisiana in 1987. (Photo courtesy andrewmacnaughton.com)
Now, before all you triathlon historians start sending e-mails, I am fully aware that my MacNaughton wasn’t the first to win a multi-sport event on the infamous Scott DH bars that started the tri-bar revolution. Earlier in 1985 Brad Kearns won the Desert Princess duathlon (beating no-less a name than Kenny Souza in the process) on a set of DH bars.
OK, back to my buddy Andrew.
Armstrong talks about MacNaughton in reference to his big breakthrough race, the President’s Triathlon. In John Wilcockson’s book “Lance: The Making of the World’s Greatest Champion” Armstrong talks about the 1987 race – he was just 15 at the time.
“That year the race went down to the shorter international distance and moved over to Las Colinas Country Club, near the Dallas- Fort Worth Airport. We swam in a small man-made lake, and I came out with the big boys. The Canadian, Andrew MacNaughton, just blew us away on the bike. I stayed with Mark Allen and came off the bike in second, then ran as hard as I could.”
Allen would eventually run MacNaughton down that day, but pretty much had to leave a lung on the side of the road to do it.
(There’s a reason the guy’s nickname was “The Grip.”) Armstrong would go on to finish an astounding sixth, which got things rolling for his budding triathlon career that saw him race as a pro for a few years.
Shoot – this was supposed to be about Andrew.
“Andrew MacNaughton was one of the greatest,” Kearns wrote on his website a few years ago. “There have been only a handful of triathletes with the cycling ability that Andrew displayed throughout his career as he shattered course records and cruised to over 20 victories around the globe. Andrew competed on the professional circuit from 1986 to 1993. Among west coast athletes he is best known for his three Wildflower wins and a bike course record that stood for nine years. Few can forget the off-the-bike leads he forged of 13 minutes at the Monterey Bay Half and the seven minutes at the Wildflower Event 1987, or his “double-half” week in May of 1990, when he won Wildflower Half and then Bakersfield Half the following weekend.”
In high school MacNaughton and I were inseparable best friends. In those days we weren’t triathletes – he was a downhill skier and runner, I was a tennis player who ran, too. I’d like to think that the two of us were pretty funny, but our sense of humor wasn’t exactly shared by many of our teachers. (I could write thousands of words about our crazy antics, but I’ll save you that ordeal.) In the winter of 1985 I went out to Los Angeles to train with MacNaughton as I prepared for the university provincial track and field championships. By then he’d become a triathlete and was quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, especially on the bike. A foot injury forced me to just swim and bike with him for the week I was there (minimum 50 miles (80 km) on the bike every day – MacNaughton averaged over 300 miles (500 km) of biking pretty much ever week of his triathlon career). A few months later I did my first triathlon. I’ve been involved in the sport ever since. Both of us retired from pro racing in 1993.
While MacNaughton never really competed in any Ironman events, his legacy remains an important part of the sport. It was athletes like him that a young Lance Armstrong aspired to emulate. After Ironman 70.3 Panama, Armstrong was surprised to see how tactical racing had become at the front end of the race. It wasn’t like the good ol’ days when he, Mike Pigg, Andrew MacNaughton or Jimmy Riccitello would hammer away at the front of the race right out of the water and try and ride away from everyone.
This weekend Armstrong is competing at Ironman 70.3 St. Croix, an event that has historically catered to the “ride-away-from-everyone” style of racing. His good friend, Jimmy Riccitello, won in St. Croix twice to go along with a few runner-up finishes, as did Mike Pigg on numerous occasions.
Now we all take for granted they’ll do that on aero bars. It was Andrew MacNaughton who led the way on that front. After he beat Pigg at the Crawfishman, every pro on the planet got on the phone to Boone Lennon, the man who invented the bars for Scott, and begged for a set. I think I got the 67th set made. (MacNaughton called in a favor, I’m sure.)
I have no idea if Lance Armstrong ever used the original DH bars, but I do know that, as a historian of not one, but two sports, he’s all-too-aware of the difference Andrew MacNaughton made to ours.
You can reach Kevin Mackinnon at kevin.mackinnon@ironman.com
