Ironman Texas 70.3

Strong winds and cool temperatures greeted those who participated in Ironman Texas 70.3 event on Sunday, April 6 in Galveston.

Coach Dana wins his AG at IM TX 70.3

Dana and Pam Ferguson - ready to swim!

Debbie Martin, Sara Vanderford, Gloria Shrewbury, Pamela Paling, John Tortorici look fabulous after finishing.

John Tortorici, John McGown, Zach Miller looking fierce!

Mike Loudis!

Frank and Pamela!

Finish Strong Coaching was represented by 26 hardy individuals.

Here are overall results:

Tim Monk - 4:27:28

Dana Lyons - 4:34:46 - 1st in 55-59 AG

Felix Hagemann - 5:03:22 - 1 1/2 hour PR!
Troy Cormier - 5:07:17

Alan Jones - 5:12:20

Zachary Miller - 5:12:59
Chris Wendt - 5:13:01

Jason Langridge - 5:26:22 - PR
Pamela Ferguson - 5:33:26
John Tortorici - 5:38:38

Chris Hirsekorn - 5:39:27
Geno Zicarelli - 5:43:35 - PR by 40 minutes!

John McGowan - 5:53:24 - PR
Scott Pinkston - 5:55:51

Mike Loudis - 5:57:13
Abraham Hernandez - 6:11:36

Michelle Howard - 6:13:38

Gloria Shrewsbury - 6:21:14
Danny Ratliff - 6:21:23
Pamela Paling - 6:22:45
Debbie Martin - 6:26:28

Sara Vanderford - 6:41:45
Denise Shannon - 6:56:13
Frank Halter - 7:02:15

Kari Gilley did the bike portion in a relay "Da-Lisch" and biked 2:28:58.

Travys Townson - (39:19 swim, 2:24:09 bike, DNF run)

Women's Pro Triathlete (FSC homestay visitor from Ukraine)

Olesya Prystayko - 7th women's pro - 4:25:52

Olesya takes 7th among pro women!

Check out lots more photos courtesy of the lovely Irasema, 

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A45fEtEvGiunN3

For more results, go to:

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/athlete-tracker.aspx?race=lonestar70.3&y=2014#axzz2y7Xw7RxM

Muddy Trails Bash

Congrats to all the Finish Strong Coaching athletes who took part in the Muddy Trails Bash hosted by The Woodlands Township Parks and Rec held at Creekside Park on Saturday evening, March 5.

Perfect temps for a run at Muddy Trails Bash!

5K
Anna Lyons - overall female winner - 19:08 (6:10/mi pace)
Lauren Porter - 2nd female overall; AG winner - 20:23
Gabriel Belforti - master's winner - 20:12
Ron McCauley - AG win - 20:26
Deb Lyons - AG win - 24:38
Fernando Ariza - 26:19
Gordy Bunch - 27:42
Katherine Powell - 3rd in AG - 27:45

 Anna wins the 5K race! (Proud mom above)

Bret wins his AG!

Aisha Hs places 3rd in her AG and PRs by over 2 minutes!

10K
Lars Finanger - 2nd overall - 35:28 (5:42/mi pace)
Bill Glaser - AG win - 42:18
Skip Moschell - 44:32 (I think they had you in the wrong AG.)
Edson Jones - 45:28
Bret Strong - AG win - 46:55
Phillip DePrang - AG win - 49:29
Aisha Hs - 3rd in AG - 56:42
Jeanette Hagelskaer -56:59
Angel Hoover - 1:10:12
Ronnie Delzer - couldn't find your results?

Skip Moschell looking good!

Phillip DePrang and Vera Heg win their AGs. 

2K Run with Dog
Kevin Baker
Kim Bowden and family

Kevin Baker ran fast (6:20/mi pace) with his dog at the 2K!

Katerina with her dog.

Huge thanks to Dutch Thomson  for providing his fascial stretching therapy for our athletes.  Wonderful!

For more pics, go to Finish Strong Coaching Facebook.

For more on results
http://www.athleteguild.com/running/the-woodlands-tx/2014-twfg-muddy-trails-bash/results/division

Open Water Swim

We had a great turnout last night (Wednesday, April 2) at Open Water Swim.  35 enjoyed a nice tri-swim practice in Lake Conroe and even though it was fairly windy, the 1000 meter course was protected form the southerly wind and waters were fairly calm if not a bit chilly (low 60's).

Great fun at Open Water Swim.  Photo courtesy of Steve Hardy.

Tri-For-Fun Sprint Triathlon

Results are in for the Tri for Fun triathlon held at the Conroe YMCA on March 30, 2014.  Finish Strong athletes who competed (and did very well) were Kent Morris (2nd overall), Kathy Morris (3rd in her AG), Claudia McMeeken (3rd master's), and Pam Meaux (first tri and 2nd master's finisher.)

The race was a 300 yard swim, 16.5 bike and 5K run distance event.  I'm not sure which results to post because the tri had timing issues with the swim mat at the beginning of the race. They had their timer work the numbers for both a Triathlon and a Duathlon.

The duathlon race results are posted at: 

http://www.runhoustontiming.net/race_result/1396583437_1243246_Tri%20For%20Fun%20-%20Duathlon%20-%20Age%20Groups.htm

The triathlon results are posted at:

http://www.runhoustontiming.net/race_result/1396583437_7612181_Tri%20For%20Fun%20-%20Age%20Groups.htm

Pam's swim 9 min; 1:06 bike, and 23 min run for an overall time of 1:43. Pam reports, "It was fun and a great learning experience for me.  Glad I had a chance to practice.  The swim ended up being the best part because it was in a warm pool and the shortest piece and I did OK.  I had not been on a bike on a road in 10 years (spin class only) so I had no clue what I was doing and couldn’t figure out how to work the gears so it took me 1:06 to do 16.5 miles, but I did enjoy riding the bike.  Beautiful day!  The run was a trail run filled with mud, roots, ruts, grass and little hills – I am not a trail runner so it was the longest 5k of my life!"   Way to go!

Pam Meaux (left) ready to race her first triathlon, with Geri Henry!

Practice Tri

Thirty Finish Strong athletes had fun practicing all three legs on Saturday for upcoming triathlon races.  Drills and pool workout, followed by bike and back for a run in The Woodlands.  Lots of positive feedback from the participants.  We'll plan another one soon!  Stay tuned.

Texas 10 Series Boerne

Finish Strong's Kevin Baker and Nora Wilson once again raked in the hardware at the Texas 10 Series Boerne 10 mile race held on Saturday, March 30.  Kevin achieved another 10 mile personal record of 1:04:51 securing 1st place in his 35-39 age group.  Nora Wilson also won her age group handily.  Her time was 1:20:46 - a lead of almost 20 minutes before the second runner in her AG. Kevin reports, "A nice race course with rolling hills and great weather."

Nora claims this was the most beautiful of the Texas10 series with bluebonnets in full bloom!

Kevin Baker wins his AG again and sets another PR!

Nora enjoys the view from the top of the podium.  (Thanks for the pic, Sue Griffis!)

For more results, go to:

https://www.nolimitstiming.com/results/default-mobile.aspx?event=26815

No Label Sprint Tri

Finish Strong's Bret Strong and James Vultaggio competed in the No Label Sprint Tri in Katy on Saturday, March 29. The race had a 300 meter swim / 14 mile bike / 3 mile run. Bret won the grand master's division with an overall time of 1:08:13.  Bret's splits were 4:50 swim, 40:28 bike, 20:49 run.  James finished 10th in his 35-39 age group and 66th overall with a time of 1:14:37. 5:29 swim, 42:04 bike, and 22:53 run.

James Vultaggio and his friend at the finish line!

Bret's award!

For more on results, go to:
https://www.nolimitstiming.com/results/default.aspx?event=26806