Rev3 Full

I'm generally happy and sore today after finishing my first iron distance race (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run).  I finished in 3rd place in 8:36:40.  Here's the breakdown of the race: 53:53 swim, 4:35:57 bike, 3:04:07 run.  Going into the race I didn't know exactly what to expect except that would be tired and sore whether it went well or not.  I figured the swim and bike would go well, but big question was the run.  Based on my experience with halfs, I wanted to run 2:40 something.  That would be a good day.  An average day would be 2:50 something.  Over 3 hours would be okay but disappointing.  I'm going to skip commentary on the swim and bike because running the marathon is what decide this race.  The only highlight on the bike was I ate a McDonald's McDouble and felt good at mile 90.

The run started off well.  I spent the first 6 miles working out some sore muscles from the bike.  Around mile 9, I started to feel good and decided to open up the throttle I little bit.  I had been running around 6:20-6:25 min/mi.  However, my knee that was slightly sore starting the run got suddenly worse in one or two strides at mile 11.  I was on pace to go through 13.1 miles in just over 1:20, but slowed to 1:22.  I thought I would have to drop out at 13.1 miles because I've had chondromalacia in my knee before, which is season ending.  This pain felt similar.  I decided to keep going to see how Bjorn was doing and to made sure I wouldn't regret a DNF.  He was 18 minutes ahead of me starting the run.  Halfway through I had made up 9 minutes on him.  By mile 14, I had to start walking.  However, Daniel Bretscher and Eric Limkemann, who were heading opposite way towards the turn-around, yelled to me that Bjorn was walking.  I did the math in my head and if I just finished the race I would get some series money.  If I just walked faster than Bjorn I might win the series.

After I started walking James Cunnama and Jason Shortis passed me moving me to 4th place.  After 5 minutes of walking I tried running again and was relieved to feel that the pain had dissipated.  I passed Bjorn who was still walking and moved back in to 3rd around mile 15.  The tendinitis wasn't completely gone. I had to keep run/walking as the race went on.  Around mile 21, it became clear that Keegan Williams from team TTB was going to pass me to.  However, during our brief conversation as he went by I learned that my next biggest treat the series title had dropped out.  Victor Zyemtsev had quit after the bike.  Now, the series title was almost a certainty, which made walking tolerable.  I wasn't that disappointed when Zach Ruble caught me, putting me in 5th.  I was happy to cheer him on and inform him that Keegan was only about two blocks ahead.  After walking through the next aid station, I started to run and got on Zach shoulder.  I thought to myself that if I can just put up with the pain for 3 miles I can out kick Zach for 4th.  At following aid station (mile 23), Zach went for extra drink, so I just decided to push the pace on my own.  I am familiar with running a 5k, and after having to walk so much I actually felt fresh.  At mile 24, an age-grouper heading the other direction yelled,"If you hold that pace you'll catch him."  Sure enough, I could see Keegan on the slight rise in front of me, but it was still going to be hard work to close about 60 seconds in two miles.  The catch was made with 1200m to go.  I'm guessing my pace for the last 3 miles was 5:40.   Keegan was probably slowing down too.  I didn't run 2:45 but it was a great way to finish the race.

Photos courtesy of Steve Stenzel

Duathlon World Championship Edinburgh, Scotland

This was one of the best World Championship I've been too.  The venue was great.  The race was held at Holyrood Park, which is located in Edinburgh.  There were plenty of accommodations close to the race site and transition.  Edinburgh was cheap and easy to get around.  There was no need for a rental car.  Hannah and I walked to anything we need or wanted to see.

Holyrood Park is beautiful green space in the heart of the city on the site of an old volcano.  There around three peaks the rise high above the city and are great for hiking, mountain biking, and just being out side.  The race course is on a park road the circumnavigates the peaks of the park.  The road climbs about 600 ft, which made for a challenging bike course because of the multiple laps.  Each lap had tough climb and technical descent.  The run course was on the same road and adjacent bike path or "cycle path," which also had a climb and descent.  The elite race as 4 laps for the first run, 7 laps for the bike, and 2 laps for the second run (10k, 39k, 5k).  For the elites, the race is draft legal which isn't my preferred format because I'm a stronger cyclist.

I was hoping to get a good effort out of this race in preparation for the Rev3 Full the following weekend.  I didn't except a great result because I've haven't been doing as much speed work to run a 30 minute 10k.  My run training has been more focused on long course running.  The first run I ran 31:50 and the majority of the group went around 30:10.  I did manage to bike passed half the field and come in to transition in 17th.  My second run was much better relative to my competition.  I caught one of the guys from the bike group ahead of me.

Chicago Triathlon

This will be quick.  I need to get some sleep.  I had a poor swim and got hammered by other swimmers at the start and missed to group I need to be in.  My bike split was okay but nothing to write home about.  I did have a good run.  The slipt was probably slow on paper but it hot.  Someone told me we were racing in 94 degree heat after the race

Overall the race ended up great for me despite the poor start.  I finished 4th, and I'm still 1st in the Toyota Cup Standings.

Men's Results
1. Mark Fretta (USA) 1:52:22
2. Kevin Collington (USA) 1:53:05
3. Filip Ospaly (CZE) 1:53:54
4. David Thompson (USA) 1:54:16
5. Chris Foster (USA) 1:55:23
6. Joe Maloy (USA) 1:55:34
7. Matty Reed (USA) 1:55:49
8. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) 1:55:52
9. Jordan Jones (USA) 1:56:45
10. James Hadley (USA) 1:57:56

Pigman Half

This was the hottest Pigman I've ever experienced.  The good thing is that the race gave everyone something to talk about.  If you finished the race, you have a great story of perseverance for the water cooler for the next 10 years.  If you didn't finish, you have a great near death story for the water cooler for the next 10 years.

Personally, I had a good day.  I was hoping to make it a good training day.  When I can get out in front early, I can race at my own pace the rest of the way.  I go fast when I feel good and slower when I don't.  Racing someone adds unwanted periods of overexertion.  In the swim, Thaddeus Ingersoll gave me a good draft the whole way.  We did have a problem with the fog.  Thad got off course twice, but a boat and I got him back on track.  Thad and I came out of the water with a big lead, so I was able to practice my pace for my up coming Rev3 Full (ironman distance race) on Sept 12.  The bike went perfectly.  I had a good lead at the the bike turn around (mile 25.5) and extended it to T2.  Fellow Gear West athletes Josh Riff, Dan Cohen, and Thad Ingersoll were in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th at the turn around.

With the heat, the run was the worst leg of the race.  The air felt like it was in the 90s and humid.  I can't verify this because Honda doesn't make a temperature gauge standard on it's Pilot model.  Aid stations were spaced about a mile apart, so I was able to manage my body temperature by putting ice down paints, pouring water over my head, and drinking energy drink at every aid station.  I set out at a conservative pace and held it the whole way.  The plan was to run an additional 6 or 7 miles after the race, which I felt good enough to do.

I started running my extra miles carrying an ice cold beer which tasted great, but probably looked odd to the spectators.  I'm glad I ran back out on the race course because I got to see some good racing.  Josh Riff cruised to a second place finish, but things were radically changing for the remaining money spots.  Dan Cohen who was in 3rd had circum to the heat.  Thaddeus who was in 8th at the run turn around had moved up to 5th, but looked like death.  However, his pursers didn't look much better except for one, Barry Breffle.  Kevin and I stopped to cheer for Thad at about mile 11.5.  At that point, I thought Thad could still hold onto 5th.  I had been in a similar situation in 2001 at the same race at point in the race.  Barry did pass Thad around mile 12 and the other 2 close chasers got by him too.  However, when you get passed by a guy who can't swing one of his arms anymore, you know both of these guys are at their limit.  I wish had video camera.  It was the race of the zombies.  Thad finished 8th in the elite wave but was out split by 2 guys in the age group waves.  Thad tough work did way off because he helped Gear West claim the club title.

Everyone who finished that day had a good race.  The condition were tough.

Men's Results

1 David Thompson      4:01:26

2 Josh Riff                   4:15:31

3 Adam Bohach           4:18:37

4 Scott Bredehoft        4:24:33

5 Dave Lyon               4:28:20

6 Barry Breffle             4:32:31

7 Jason Maurice          4:33:47

8 Lee Saeugling           4:34:01
9 Rick Lapinski           4:34:50

10 Thaddeus Ingersoll 4:35:14

House Race Weekend

DKT - second lap at Brew House

This was the weekend of the house races - Fire House 50 Time Trial on Saturday and Brew House Triathlon on Sunday.  The Fire House 50 four man team time trial didn't go so well.  One of our team members missed the start and two of us got flat tires.  We did manage to get three guys across the line for a slow but official time.

Devon told us he missed the start because he rode by a port-a-potty during warm up.  He had heard of these things before but had never seen one.  He had to stop and check it out.  Time just flew by as stood in line to see the port-a-potty and thus missed the start.

Kevin got the first flat of the day at mile 16.  There was no mistake about Kevin having a flat.  His tire ruptured with head jerking pop and supersonic whistle.  Fortunately, there was no loss of control before he wished Curt and I good luck and pulled off the road.  Curt and I continued on for another 30 miles before I flatted on the home stretch.  I went through a patch of rock and a few stuck to my tire.  The incident create a concerning grinding sound as rocks bounced off the aero cut-out on my bike frame.  There were a few seconds of relief after the noise passed before a mild whistle indicated I would soon be riding the last 4 miles with no air in my rear tire.  Devon finish about 15 minutes after Curt and I, so we were not even close to our record.  However, Kevin and I did ride some extra miles after the race.  I got in a 100 miles in before heading  to Duluth.

Only Devon and I did the Brew House Triathlon the following day.  Kevin and Curt headed back to spend time with there families.  I ended up winning 1 hour 33 minutes and change.  Fellow Gear West teammate, Thaddeus Ingersoll, lead me through the .8 mile swim and ran hard for a 6th place finish.  Devon finish 2nd and should be happy with his result after time trailing solo for 50 miles the day before.  The weather was perfect.  I hope everyone else enjoy the race as much as I did.  See this link for the Duluth New Tribune race coverage.

Mens Results


1.David Thompson 1:33:33
2.Devon Palmer 1:37:31
3.Rhett Bonner 1:40:21
4.Chris Leiferman 1:41:00
5.Josh Blankenheim 1:42:02
6.Thaddeus Ingersoll 1:42:56

Chisago Half

Mile 12 Chisago Half

Pre-race Game Faces

The weather has been perfect in Minnesota so far this year for races and training.  Great weather makes racing so much more fun. The sunny day at Chisago helped the race go well for both Hannah and I.  Hannah did the sprint and then rushed off to work.  I did the half and then rode home from the race with Dan Hedgecock.  I finished in a tired 3 hours 55 minutes if I remember correctly.  You can verify my time here.  I came out of the water 1st and was able to cruise most of the race.  The heat on the run did tire me out, and I was ready to be done.  Thanks again to everyone who had words of encouragement for me on the run.  I hope you enjoyed every minute of the run too.

If you haven't done this race before, I would highly recommend it.  The bike course has change over the last three years.  I thought the changes to the bike course this year were great.  It was 56.3 miles according to my bike computer and the road surface was almost perfect of 80% of the ride.  Yes, there was a rough section on the North part of the course, but this is Minnesota.  Frost heaves are inevitable.  The run is relatively flat.  The three hills are perfectly spaced to prevent boredom.

Results

1 Thompson, David St Paul, MN    3:55:24
2 Riff, Joshua Edina, MN         4:07:59
3 Payne, Matthew Columbia, MN    4:11:00
4 Henkel, Justin Kohler, WI      4:14:11
5 Landgraff, Todd N Mankato, MN  4:20:47

Running Partner Gets Knee Surgery

Henry "The Dawg a Dawg" Thompson had knee surgery on July 16.  He tore his cranial cruciate ligament in his  right rear knee in late June.  The injury is similar to a human having an anterior cruciate ligament tear.  The surgical options are Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) and Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO).  Both surgeries aim at correcting the movment of the tibia in the knee joint caused by the tear of the ligament.  He was good candidate for TTA, and had surgery at the Cottage Grove Animal Hospital the Friday I left for New York City Triathlon.  Henry got a titanium plate, band and screws to hold his knee together.  It's a good thing I won some money at NYC Triathlon.

Now seventeen days into recovery his 8 week recovery, he making excellent progress.  The incision is healing nicely.  He got his stitches out 5 days ago and no longer has to wear the dreaded "cone of shame."   Henry will be able to swim this coming Friday in a pool.  This is a big mile stone for Henry because he has not been able to do any exercise besides short walks to use the facilities.  He spends most of his time in his kennel on the porch sleeping with one eye open.

Mile Stones Achieved

• Off narcotic pain medicine (Narcotics make Herny whine and prevent Hannah from sleeping)
• Pink cast removal
• 3 short walks a day
• No more cone
• Stitches removed

Mile Stones to come

• Swimming in a pool (He has to be lowered in - no running or jumping)
• Long walks and free range of the house including stairs
• Dog park
• Wresting with Sparky and 60 tempo runs