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Josh here; we headed to the UP for our normal September trip but this year we went a touch earlier which meant we were in the Pictured Rocks area while the Grand Marais Tri was going on. I’ve been doing a fair amount of Duathlons but decided this would be my first full Tri. Being a sprint, it was a good first choice and I hoped the work I have been doing in the pool pay off.

The only rough part about this tri is the swim split is in Lake Superior. BRRRRR is correct! The temp was somewhere between 58 and 60 degrees but swimming everyday during our trip prior to the race really helped take the shock value out of it. The race began and the 300 yard swim didn’t take too long to complete but I was sure ready to be back on land running up the hill. I came out somewhere around 10th to 12th overall and not wearing a wetsuit paid off as I passed at least three in transition (and I never saw them again). I was ready to get on my rocket and start hitting the hilly terrain in the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This was definitely the nicest bike route in a race I’ve ever enjoyed!

I passed a few more on the bike and entered the run split in 5th overall. I estimate running around a 23min 5K and with no one catching me, I ended 5th overall and first in my age group. I am very pleased with my first full tri and will likely do more in the future. This would be my last official race of the season, however I’m looking forward to the Battle Creek Corporate Cup time predict ride. I treat this like a time trial and go all out. This year, Devin and I will be riding this together as a mini team TT working together. It should be an absolute blast…

-Josh Haas

August 25, 2014

Kevin Bridges Louisville Ironman Report

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Katie and I spent the weekend in Louisville KY at the magnificent Gault House Hotel which was the host of Ironman Louisville. Friday was athlete check in, Saturday bike, gear check in and athlete briefing. The build up to Sundays race was nerve-racking, the weather was predicted to be hot and humid (Kentucky in August, who knew). We did get sometime to go out and see Louisville, which is a very nice town and maybe even nicer people.

On race day we all headed to the swim start, 2000 triathletes like lemmings about to jump off a cliff or a dock in this case. The swim is in the Ohio River starting up river then turning down river swimming under two bridges and exiting at Joe’s Crab Shack.

The bike course was in beautiful rolling horse country. They had water stations every 10-12 miles which helped deal with the heat. My bike leg was uneventful, I tried to keep cool and not use up too much of my legs.

The run is though Louisville past University of Louisville and Church Hill Downs. The heat became very apparent on the run, most of us were pouring ice water on ourselves at the water stations trying to keep cool. The run seemed to take forever, but the great folks of Louisville were out on the course cheering us on. The last two blocks of the run are incredible, both sides were lined with screaming people, cheering like they personally knew me.

This event had tons of volunteers that made it easy to navigate transition and get what ever was needed on the course, it was largely due to them that I was able to finish in 12 hours and 38 mins. under my goal of beating Hines Wards time at Kona of 13 hours and 8 mins.

August 17, 2014

Katie Bridges GBF Triathlon

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A Girl’s Best Friend Triathlon, Michigan. It was a cool morning, but sunny. I have participated in this event four of the last five years, first as a duathlon, then sprint triathlon. The past two years I have chosen the Olympic distance. There’s a lot to love about this race and I keep coming back to it. It was my first-ever race, the atmosphere is celebratory and the weather is always perfect. With crystal-clear water (okay, granted, being able to see all of the weeds creeps some people out, but I’m not one of those people anymore), a flat and fast bike course and a trail run, this race is built for me.

The goal: To improve upon last year’s times and place first in my age group instead of last year’s second. SUCCESS on the first part; FAIL on the second. I had an absolutely miserable bike and run after a pretty mellow swim. I felt so slow and after awhile, somewhat queasy. The running and riding I have been doing has had lots of hills, which made me wonder why this was so difficult! It should have been easy-peasy. With about two miles to go I remember thinking, I may need to throw up, but I’m waiting until after the finish line. That thought got me through and once I’d finished, I felt fine.

The data: I already mentioned, 2nd. I’m happy and I’ll take that. I have dropped about 7 seconds per 100 from my best swim time, 2.0 mph from my bike pace and below 9-minute miles on the run. My transitions were also my best this year and I shaved 14:45 from last year’s overall time. It feels great to have improved on all three disciplines, where in the past if one went well, generally another one suffered. Triathlon is a sport where finding the perfect balance when training each skill is difficult, I can definitely say it has been difficult for me. It’s funny how things like swimming, biking and running, all things I could do as a kid, toss me for a loop as an adult. I think its part of the challenge and draw to the sport. Now that my season is done, I’m wondering… if I did one more tri, and got the nutrition right this time….

The cause: This race is also the event I chose for my Pedaling With a Purpose campaign. The organization I am pedaling for is Girl’s on the Run of Calhoun County. GOTR is so much fun, and makes such an impact on the lives and futures of girls. Could you please follow my link and donate today?

August 12, 2014October 28, 2014

Cereal City Du

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Josh Running Josh here; coming off a great win at Shermanator, my confidence was back and I was ready to smoke it at Cereal City. This is a great new race sponsored by our great Team Active Cycling & Fitness shop and also brings out a ton of WSI Racers.

It was another beautiful morning and I was set for another Du. Last year I placed second overall. With longer runs, if swift runners are at this race it’s hard to gain enough time on the bike split, even averaging over 23mph, to keep enough space for a win. That is exactly what happened last year.

While runners started out faster than me, I just tried to keep them in sight. Unfortunately, one was fast enough that even with my decent bike split, I would only have enough in me if he ran a slow second run and he did not! This guy ran 20min 5Ks and compared to my 23min 5Ks the four plus minutes I gained on him on the bike just wasn’t enough.

Team

Overall, I placed 2nd and improved my times from last year so I am very pleased. Another great race is in the books and it was great seeing all the WSI participation and some of our sweet sponsors out there supporting (Team Active Cycling & Fitness and McCullough Chiropractic).

-Josh Haas

August 12, 2014

New York City Triathlon

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Who can pass up an opportunity to swim in the Hudson River? Not I! It’s fast and dirty. An epic swim that can’t be replicated because each sighting breath brings the famous New York skyline into focus.

A few years back my daughter Christi Thomas passed away from a rare cancer. She was made famous in oncology circles in part through the work of webmaster Eric Cook and Christithomas.com. As we progressed through treatment we made close friends from around the world who had children with the same cancer. One by one all of the children that we knew died. As an offshoot of that experience several of the dads formed a group of commiserating guys that became known as Sad Dads. Two of them founded a charity dedicated to eradicating this disease Solvingkidscancer.org The executive director and co-founder Scott Kennedy is pictured.

Shayne Thomas with Scott Kennedy founder of Solving Kids Cancer

So all that is to say that in New York I raced on team Sad Dads promoting Solving Kids Cancer!!

It was raining in New York so everything that the city belched out came into the Hudson. The current was swift and the water was dirty. As portrayed in the New York Times.

Remarkably I did the Olympic distance swim in 16.11. It took me over 5 minutes though to get to the transition. NYC is the longest run I have ever endured after a swim.

Team Sad Dads finished in style in the middle of chaotic Central Park followed by a relaxing brunch at Tavern on the Green.