Ironman Texas

Our inaugural Ironman Texas in The Woodlands on Saturday, May 21 was quite an event! Forty-eight Finish Strong Racing athletes along with the rest of the 2,500 age groupers waded into Lake Woodlands at 7 am to begin the journey with a 2.1 mile swim. The temperature of the lake was deemed too warm for wet suit use, hence only those not wearing wet suits would be counted in the battle to earn a spot for Kona. All forty-eight Finish Strong athletes swam and made it back to shore before the two hour and twenty minute cut-off time. Next, came the 112 mile bike ride winding through Montgomery County. Conditions were brutal but all the athletes plodded on returning to the Woodlands to begin their marathon run in increasingly hot and humid conditions. The first three FSR athlete to cross the finish line and hear the words "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN" were Ronnie Delzer (10:26:48), Tommy Sustala (10:37:02), and Scott Peterson (10:57:32.)

This was the first Ironman for 24 of our Finish Strong Racing athletes. Wow!

Here's finishing times for all our Finish Strong Racing IRONMAN athletes:
Manuel Abascal 15:16:07
Mike Bard 13:47:54
Carolyn Barron 15:25:19 First IM!
Gordy Bunch 16:35:18 First IM!
Winston Cervantes 12:44:42 First IM!
Kristie Chandler 13:33:33
Casey Clark DNF
Jose Contreras 15:30:56 First IM!
Shannon Crowe 12:36:16 First IM!
Chad Degges 12:54:55 First IM!
Ronnie Delzer 10:26:48
Phillip Deprang 15:36:14 First IM!
Chelsea Estes 12:51:45 First IM!
Jaime Fonte 14:38:46 First IM!
Jody Gaddy 15:36:14 First IM!
Laura Gaddy 12:53:29 First IM!
Greg Gibbons 11:04:14
Maureen Gibbons 14:46:39
Hector Gonzalez 11:35:46 PR by over 1 hour!
Jossie Gonzalez Velazquez 12:57:19
Steve Hardy 12:12:21
Jim Harrington 11:52:30
Brad Johnson 13:24:44 First IM!
David Kayda 13:17:33 First IM!
Kimberly Krueger 14:36:10 First IM!
Dana Lyons DNF
Gavish Mago 11:47:16 First IM!
Kyle Mays DNF
Charlie McDougall 15:10:49 First IM!
Kim McElligott 12:30:03
Marshall McInnis 13:01:31
Dave Molthen 12:08:39 Won spot for Kona!
Leandro Morales 13:07:40 First IM!
Sharon Morin 14:17:26 First IM!
Kent Morris 12:43:30
Michelle Nelson 14:36:02 First IM!
Chris Normyle 14:57:00 First IM!
Javier Valdes Noyola 12:29:57
Scott Peterson 10:57:32 First IM!
Scott Pinkston 13:29:47
Rip Reynolds 13:10:47 First IM!
Patrick Sexton 12:04:53
Buck Snyder 12:45:52
Bret Strong 14:31:16
Tommy Sustala 10:37:07
Tim Taylor 14:46:55 First IM!
Danny Watterson 13:05:18 First IM!
Ed York DNF

It seems inadequate to merely list finishing times as each finisher has his or her own personal story to share about the trials and triumphs of racing this Ironman. Congratulations to all the athletes!!