Richmond Training Team Updates:

Brochures: We now have brochures at the YMCA promoting our team. The Y asked that we not put up flyers, so it will be largely word-of-mouth that will bring in any new members. If you need a brochure be sure to pick one up, or just ask me to get you one. If you need extra brochures to give to friends, let me know that as well. I have an insert that I use to give details on the Rocky Mount team.

Information Meetings: I have two meeting scheduled at the YMCA for people interested in the training team. The first one is June 5th at 7:00 p.m., and the other is June 9th at 8:00 a.m. The meeting on the 9th will be followed by our first group run. Without having flyers posted, we very well may get zero participation in the meetings, but I am hopeful to have at least a few show up. I encourage you guys to come as well. Having a positive endorsement from people who ran last year could help to recruit.

Group Runs: The official 23-week training plan starts this Saturday. I am out of town that day, but still encourage everyone to meet to run. Now is the time to start building the right habits. I will post a Run RSVP shortly. The first run for our group that I will be at is on the 9th. This will follow the informational meeting I mentioned above.

Training Plans: I will post the week 1 plans tomorrow once I get them from Don. There will be a beginner and an intermediate plan. If you have any questions about which plan to follow, ask me. I will need to know what you select, so I can order you the correct training notebooks. Many of you will be well ahead of where the plans start. We can talk about how you should get started if you have questions. Stay tuned!

Xterra Triathlon Results

Jeff and Dave just cannot seem to shake this triathlon bug that has bitten them. Both went to Fort Bragg this weekend to compete in the Xterra Smith Lake Triathlon. This is not your typical tri. It begins with a 1000m lake swim before switching to an 18 mile mountain bike ride that is largely a very technical single track course. After the bike, they are still not "out of the woods", as they finished with a 4.5 mile trail run.

The weather was brutal last weekend, and Fort Bragg was no exception. Both finished the race hot and covered with dirt. Jeff finished 43rd in 3:04:04, and Dave finished 53rd in 3:11:27. Looking at the splits, it would appear Jeff is becoming quite the swimmer.

Jeff Splits:

• 21:05 - Swim
• 3:34 - T1
• 2:04:05 - Bike
• 0:24 - T2
• 34:53 - Run

Dave Splits:

• 24:06 - Swim
• 04:17 - T1
• 2:03:20 - Bike
• 1:13 - T2
• 38:30 - Run

Great job guys! Your results have been added to the 2007 result page.

Duke Tri Team Update

The Duke Live Center Triathlon relay teams are growing everyday! Looks like we have stuck an interest in the younger crowd, and we are quickly approach nine relay teams and are looking for a tenth team! It is not too late to join in for the race.

Team 1*: (S) Mary, (B) Kinnie, and (R) Patti
Team 2*: (S) Mike, (B) Jeff, and (R) Dave
Team 3*: (S) Doug, (B) Eric, and (R) Michael
Team 4: (S) Elizabeth, (B) Ursula, and (R) Jenni
Team 5: (S) Carol, (B) Tracy H, and (R) Andy
Team 6*: (S) George, (B) Tim, and (R) Ryan
Team 7*: (S) Rebecca, (B) Val, and (R) Tracy P
Team 8: (S) Mathew (B) Cliff, and (R) Matt
Team 9: (S) Brandon, (B) Larry P (R) Name Coming Soon

* Designates entered

Cliff and Matt were looking for a swimmer, and it looks like Mike Schuttinga found them one. Matthew is a college distance swimmer for Wingate College. Sounds like he will fill the position well. I am trying to track down an email to put the three in touch. I do not know as much about team nine. Brandon is a high school swimmer I believe, and I think Larry and the runner are both college students.

If anyone is still interested in participating, post here. Also, Mike has another female swimmer that would like to do the Tri if there are any ladies interested in assembling another team.

Looking for a Title Sponsor

We are looking for a title sponsor to the Tar River Trek Half Marathon (tentative name) this coming December. If you know of anyone who would be interested, please let me know as soon as possible. Butch Robertson has several prospects but would like to have as many options to consider as possible.

Richmond Team is Growing

Our list of Richmond runners appears to be growing already. Here are the names that are at least considering joining the Richmond training team: 1 Elaine, 2 Misty, 3 Scott, 4 Tracy P, 5 Ryan, 6 Michael, 7 Frank, 8 Russ, 9 Tim, 10 Arthur, 11 Matt, 12 Cliff, and 13 Larry.

The official SportsBackers plan starts next week. We will have a group run scheduled for Saturday morning, but I have a prior engagement that will keep me out of town. I need to check with the YMCA, but I would like to have our official Rocky Mount kick-off the following weekend. I will be able to explain the program to anyone who is new, pass out brochures and applications, and layout the training plan.

I would still like to add new members to our group, so please try to encourage anyone you know to join us. I hope to pull together an informational meeting this week and/or next to see if any others are interested. I will let you know what I find out.

For those that are new, the SportsBackers program includes the following:

• 23 week training program
• Training notebook with week-by-week plans
• A training team t-shirt
• A training team technical race shirt (for race day)
• A message board with 800+ runners to ask questions and help give answers
• Supported weekend runs with planned routes, and fluids/gels (when needed)
• Running Clinics: Shoe/Gear purchase, Stretching, and potentially more
• Optional road trip to run the last 20 miler on the race course with the full team
• Race entry (which includes 30th anniversary hat and technical shirt)
• 80+ coaches on the race course to help and motivate you to a great finish

The total fee is $135, but again this includes you race entry fee. I will do everything possible to ensure you get real value from your fee. If you ask those who ran last year, I think you will find out it is money well spent.

We are a miniature version of the full program in Richmond. We do not have the luxury of a state of the art stadium, 80 coaches, paid employees, volunteers, etc. so we need to work a little harder to pull it off. I will be looking to our team for help whenever possible. Setting out fluids, writing directions to our routes, helping to arrange speakers for our clinics (we would still love a speaker on proper eating for example).

Bottom line, is that training for a marathon with a team bring amazing benefits. 23 weeks is a long time to train. Doing it with friends makes it an enjoyable experience.

Shirt Update - Any Updates?

Here are the updates on shirt orders based on the responses I have. I need to submit the order next week, so please let me know if you would like a shirt, or need to make a change. There are lots of you I never heard from. The shirts may actually be about 75 cents more then I anticipated due to a potential art charge. Here are the details from the previous post.

# Name .............M/W... Size.. Style
1 Scott Wingfield... M ... L .... Micromesh
2 Scott Wingfield... M ... L .... Dry Release
3 Michael Forrester. M ... L .... Micromesh
4 Michael Forrester. M ... L .... Dry Release
5 Ursula Forrester.. W ... M .... Micromesh
6 Ursula Forrester.. W ... M .... Dry Release
7 Tim Shea.......... M ... L .... Dry Release
8 Tim Shea.......... W ... M .... Dry Release
9 Tracy Proctor..... W ... L .... Dry Release
10 Larry McKeel..... M ... M .... Dry Release
11 Ryan Bullard..... M ... M .... Dry Release
12 Tracy Hicks...... W ... M .... Dry Release
13 Tracy Hicks...... M ... L .... Dry Release
14 Arthur Bennett... M ... L .... Dry Release
15 Patti Miller..... W ... M .... Dry Release
16 Jeff Miller...... M ... L .... Dry Release
17 Russ Hinsley..... M ... XL ... Dry Release
18 Kinnie Pruden.... W ... L .... Dry Release
19 Cliff Amos....... M ... L .... Dry Release
20 Jason Irvin...... M ... L .... Dry Release

I am working with Carol on black cotton t-shirts too. So far I have the following request for those. Some folks are ordering shirts for their kids in case you are interested in doing the same:

# Name Size
1. Scott Wingfield .....XL
2. Michael Forrester ...XL
3. Ursula Forrester ....M
4. Tracy Proctor .......L
5. Larry McKeel ........M
6. Ryan Bullard ........M
7. Tracy Hicks .........M
8. Kayla Miller ........Kids 6-8
9. Patti Miller ........S
10. Henry Forrester ....Kids 6-8
11. Caroline Forrester .Kids 8-10
12. Russ Hinsley .......XL

Final Update on November Marathon

Thanks to everyone who replied, called, or emailed about our fall marathon plans. When you add it all up, it looks like Richmond is the preferred option for a full marathon, and that a half marathon group will be in the works for the City of Oaks.

7 - Richmond
2 - City of Oaks
2 - Either Race
5 - Oaks Half
1 - Other Marathon
2 - Undecided

If the "either race" and "undecided" people jump in, that increase Richmond to 10 runners.

So what does this all mean:

• I had planned to go with the majority regarding a training team which is why I picked Richmond.
• It appears everyone fully appreciates my time commitment, and is willing to accept my availability this summer.
• Ryan and Tracy P. have both agreed to co-coach the team, between the three of us and every one's willingness to help set up weekend runs, we will have things easily covered.
• I will still be the point person for Don Garber, and will update the blog, send emails, make maps, schedule clinics, etc.
• Any weekend when I know I will not be available, we will plan ahead and make sure those weekend are covered.

What if I do not want to run Richmond?

• First of all. . . not a problem. I went with the majority, but that does not mean we all need to run the same marathon.
• In fact Tim (Jacksonville), and Patti (Chicago), are doing a different marathon this fall.
• If you would still prefer to run City of Oaks, please do. You will not be alone, as it appears we will have at least five people doing the half, and probably many more.
• Everyone will continue to be welcomed during our weekend runs regardless of what you are training for.
• Don, will supply us with enough supplies for those paying to run Richmond. For those running something else, we will need some some help to get extra fluids and gels.
• No one however should ever feel that they can not partake in what we put out for our runs.
  The last thing I want is to create a "haves" and "have-nots" scenario. We are all one team, regardless of what race you are running.

What comes next?

• We need to get running!!!! Practice starts next weekend. Details will follow soon.
• We need to sign up. Don is sending applications to me right now. We need to get them filled out, and sent back to the SportsBackers ASAP.
• I need you to show up! What made our team so successful in 2006 was the commitment that everybody had.
• Recently, we have had great crowds some weekends, but other weekends we have had none.
• Starting next weekend, you are in training, you need to be there for the Saturday runs as often as possible. The yellow shirt brigade is back baby!
• We need to get some weekday groups going as well.
• Lets hit the ground running for 2007! Come on! I am pumped up now! My fingers are flying on the keyboard. . . get excited. . . you are running another marathon. . . thump your chest. . . shout out "heck yeah! Bring on a marathon!"
• Once we sign up, training notebooks will be sent from Don.
• Also, as an added bonus, Richmond is giving a 30th anniversary technical shirt and a hat to all runners this year. This is in addition to the SportsBacker t-shirt, and technical race shirt we get.

More Runners?

• We need more runners! I will check with the YMCA about hosting an information session late next week. Start recruiting!
• The training plan has two fewer weeks for 2007, this means any participant really should be able to finish 3-4 miles comfortably right now.
• 21 people did this last year, I enjoyed themselves get more to join us this year.

What about a half marathon team?

• I really would like to see us add a half marathon team this year. Although we will train together, it would be independent of the SportsBackers team.
• Because the training cycle is much shorter for a half, I would like to delay the official start of a half team.
• This allows time for me to host some information sessions to encourage more people to join us.
• This would require some more co-coaches, to help pull it off. Some of you have already said you may be able to help with this.

RUN RSVP: 05/26

Not sure who is in town this weekend, but I plan to run Saturday morning, and welcome anyone else to join me. We can meet at the Harris Teeter as normal. I will do my last 20-miler on Monday with Ryan and Tracy, so I plan to go between eight and 10 miles. It is going to very hot (71 by 9:00 a.m.), so I pushed the start time to 7:30 a.m. If that causes problems, I can move it back, just let me know.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 7:30 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: 9.75 miles (route can easily be trimmed for less mileage)
• Route: Link
• Supported: No
• Weather: Forecast

November Marathon: NEED REPLIES ASAP

5/25 8:00 AM UPDATE: Because I am getting emails, phone calls, and blog posts. I will try to update here what I am hearing. I am making everyone fit into one of the six categories below:

2 Prefer City of Oaks Marathon
6 Prefer Richmond Marathon
2 Will run either Marathon
5 Prefer City of Oaks Half
2 Will run a different fall marathon
3 Still waiting to make a decision

For those considering the Half Marathon, we can create a half team, but will need help pulling it off. Based on the responses so far I do not think getting that help being a problem at all.

I have put off countless times trying to make a decision for a fall marathon training team, but I am running out of time so we need to make a decision. I have been writing this email for three weeks, but have never sent it. As a result it is a very long email, but this is the best way I could get all my thoughts and concerns out there for everyone to see and understand. Some of you who run with me already have heard me say these things countless times. Others may be hearing it for the first time. So here goes.

Based on the survey results, I really think it comes down to the Richmond Marathon or the City of Oaks Marathon (Raleigh) if we are to create another Fall Marathon Training Team. There are several reasons to run either race. Here are what I see as positives and negatives for each race:

Richmond:
+ 30th anniversary event
+ Race with proven track record of success
+ SportsBackers Training Team affiliation
+ 80 coaches on the course (this is a big one)
+ Spectators - well supported event
+ I love Richmond
- We ran it last year
- More expensive of the two options
- No half marathon

City of Oaks:
+ Inaugural event
+ Support something local
+ Has a half marathon
+ We could train on the course
+ The race seems to be well organized and off to a good start
- Potentially tougher course (portion is in Umstead Park)
- Fewer spectators (I assume, but could be wrong)
- The unknown - it is a new race

First and foremost, I want to see our group train again for another race. Now, here are my comments and concerns about doing this again in 2007.

• My Time: Last year I fully committed myself to our training team, and loved every second of it. Those who participated paid for an organized program, and I think you got your money's worth on that investment. My biggest fear for 2007 is my time availability. I fully intend to commit to our training team and continue to organize weekend runs the way we did when we trained for Richmond (supported, maps, directions, etc.). We will also have a training plan to follow, although I expect many will customize it to their needs this time. Last year, I was here almost every weekend, and although I plan to be there as often as possible I do not think I will have the same availability in 2007.
• Your Money: If we run Richmond again, I think we would miss out by not participating with the SportsBackers again. The survey you all completed indicated this as well. The extra money we pay to have access to a program, coaches, an online community, and race day support in my opinion is easily worth the cost. When we sign up with the SportsBackers, the expectations of me goes up a great deal, because I am representing the SportsBackers, and Don Garber. This again goes back to my time. I do not want anyone to feel slighted by my time commitment being less than it was last year. When you all pay for something you rightfully expect value in return.
• My Marathon: I am trying to get into the New York Marathon. If my name is pulled in the lottery, it is the same weekend as the City of Oaks Marathon. I would feel like a schmuck if I help train everyone for a race, and then I was not there on race day to support you all. The odds of me getting in New York are small, but there is a chance it could happen. I would hate to work with everyone for 23 weeks only to miss your "graduation". (This is not a concern with Richmond)
• Co-coaches: With the Richmond SportsBackers, they have several co-coaches for each team and Don as an overall head coach. This obviously makes it simpler to manage. Both of my concerns above get easier if I know I have someone who can help with the organization of the training. Those who did our team last year know that the term "coach" is a relative term. To some of you I was a wealth of knowledge, and to others I probably never told you something you did not know. What I did offer was organization and motivation (I hope). I really need someone to step up this year to help pull it off again. I can still do the main organization, but putting out fluids, and writing running routes, being there every weekend, etc. takes up time that I will not have as much of this summer. I would expect if we do Richmond, Don Garber and Joe Zelinski would join us a weekend or two again this year.
• My Job: RBC Centura announced last week a reorg. The direction of my department is still up in the air. Our jobs all appear safe, but there is a chance my job could relocate to Raleigh. This would obviously turn things upside-down. I was already having a tough decision before this even came up. If it happens, I would still plan to be back in Rocky Mount on some weekends to run, but my ability to run the program from Raleigh would be nearly impossible. This is why having some strong co-coaches would be so valuable. I wanted to wait to see how things settle out before sending this email, but the truth of the matter is we need to get training. The Richmond team starts June 2nd, and that race is a week later than the City of Oaks. So we need to get moving.

If we run City of Oaks, I feel like we could probably negotiate the early entry fee if we bring a large group. Also if we do City of Oaks, we will need to discuss if we want to have everyone chip in to cover training expenses (water, gels, cups, coolers, shirts, etc.). These things are included with Richmond.

So, this is a lot to digest I know, but I need your feedback ASAP. I wanted to put all my cards on the table before I tried to convince people to train for another marathon.

• Do you want to run?
• Which race do you want to run?
• Can you help coach/organize?
• What are your concerns?
• Would you prefer to run the City of Oaks Half Marathon instead? (We may create a half team too)

I would prefer people post comments here so we can have an open discussion. You are also welcome to email me if you prefer to not have your comments public. I strongly encourage your honest opinions. I have thick skin, and do not easily have my feelings hurt. If my availability is a concern, speak up.

About the Richmond SportsBackers: Lastly, for those who are not familiar with what we did in 2006. Here is a very brief explanation. The Richmond SportsBackers organizes the Richmond Marathon, but they also have a training team that runs for 23 weeks. There team has 80+ volunteer coaches and assistants, and over 800 runners. (Yes, 800 runners!)

We were a satellite version of this team; the only one in fact. Our team was 21 members strong. We followed the same training plan as the Richmond team, and got weekly emails from the head coach, Don Garber. They also supplied us with training notebooks, gels, cups, PowerAde, t-shirts, race shirts, handouts and more. We also held a few clinics (shoes, stretching, etc.) at the YMCA. If you have 10 minutes to spare, and want a better idea of what we did check out this link.

NC Triathlon Options

There appears to be some increased interest in completing a triathlon based on emails and phone calls that I am seeing. I thought I would point out some options for those that are interested. I know very little about what makes a good or bad triathlon, but I do know that Set Up Events is an outstanding race organizer, so the ones below should be run well. I intentionally focused on event with shorter swims (less than half a mile), because I know most of us have the greatest fear with the swimming leg. After all, you can't drown on asphalt.

• 07/08 Triangle Triathlon: 750m swim, 15 mile bike, 5k run. This event is in Raleigh, and has a lake swim. Not the shortest swim, but it isclose by.
• 08/12 UNC Wellness Super Sprint: 250 yd swim, 9 mile bike, 5k run. This event is in Chapel Hill, and is probably the best option for a first time tri. The swim is very short and in a pool.
• 08/25 Endurance Challenge: 500m swim, 16 mile bike, 5k run. This event is in Hillsborough, and is another good option to get started. The swim and bike is a bit longer, but it is once again in a pool.
• 09/08 Time Trial Challenge: 14 mile bike, 750m swim, 5k run. This event looks like fun. It is a time trial, so all participants start on 15 second intervals. Each leg is run as an individual event, with roughly an hour rest in between each one. At the end, all of the times are added up to determine your finishing time. This is far from a tradional tri. Plus, it is at crystal clear White Lake. Also, you can save $10 if you volunteer to help on Sunday's race (see below).
• 09/09 Dash for Divas: 750m swim, 14 mile bike, 5k run. This event is the day after the Time Trial Challenge at White Lake and shares the same course. As the name implies, it is a women's only event. It could be a fun weekend to have a group race Saturday, and then watch the women race Sunday.

If you have any interest in an event, post a comment so others will know you plan to participate. There are some great options above to try your first race. Don't wait until they are filled.

Surf & Turf Recap

Well, the Surf & Turf Tri is now over, and what a great weekend! Here is my very long personal recap of the event.

The Swim: Saturday started off very chilly, with clouds in the air, and a mist over the crashing waves. The water actually felt warmer on our feet than the cold sand did. Jeff, Dave, and I watched the first four groups take off, before joining the other neon green swim caps in the knee deep water (waste deep for Jeff - only kidding). The air horn went off and we barreled into the waves.

After getting knocked back a time or two, we were all on way. In a matter of minutes Jeff and Dave had reach the first buoy, and were swimming parallel to the shore. . . me on the the hand was having panic set in. After eight weeks of pool swims, I felt pretty prepared. The pool however does not push you backwards. I had not yet made it to the buoy, and was starting to panic. I check to see if I could still touch bottom [GULP!] I could not.

I could see other green caps around me calling for help, and getting taken back in. I stopped and calmed myself. I looked at the surfboards and was ready to quit. I then spun around and looked at where I still needed to go. "Oh my God. I can't make that! What am I doing?" I look back at the surf board pulling people in, and for some crazy reason, I decided to keep going. I think it has something to do with another eight people sitting on surfboards waiting to rescue me further down the course. They looked pretty fast, so I did not think I would drown.

So I get to the first buoy, and grab on for a few seconds (literally). This is when I found out how much the ocean is moving. In the blink of an eye the enormous pyramid shaped buoy shoots out of my tired hands and it is now ten feet away from me. Oh well, no turning back now. So off I go, following the other green caps. For some stupid reason, I assume the other novices must know what they are doing, so I barely pay attention to the next buoy. After another five minutes of paddling (not swimming) I notice I am probably about 40 yards further out then I need to be.

At this point me and the other green caps are making friends. "So, how are you doing?" "Not so good, what about you?" "I hate this!" "Me too." "My name is Mark." "Nice to meet you, I am Michael." Seriously, it was like having lunch with old friends by this point. If I had a dollar for every time someone shouted "This isn't anything like a pool swim!" I could have paid for my race entry.

Eventually we turn at the second buoy, and I am swimming. . . err floating back to shore. I finally felt the best feeling in the world. Sand on my feet! I look back at my new best friend Mark, and tell him excitedly. "Hey Mark! We can touch!" Mark then disappears under water, and pops back up. "No I can't!" Hmmm. . . by this time I am in almost waist deep water. Mark must be very short I think to myself.

I see our cheering squad and they are all pointing at me. Caroline is jumping and clapping, and Ursula is snapping pictures. I am honestly laughing out loud at this point. As I ran across the sand towards the transition area, I had already won. I was 80% ready to quit after five minutes in the ocean, but mustered up the courage to survive another 12 minutes in the water. The rest of the morning was going to be fun!

Bike #1: I run to the transition area and quickly look for my bike. At this point I learned a new lesson. Count the number of rows so you know where your bike is. I ran down the wrong row at first. As I was struggling to take of my wet suit, I saw another participant putting on his running shoes. I almost jokingly told him he needed to bike first, but I knew he has already completed the first bike leg.

So off I go out the transition area, running with my bike. I get to the road, and try to jump on. 90 seconds later, I finally snap my shoes into the pedals. It was never that hard to do at home! About mile one into my four mile bike ride, Jeff goes flying by me (the other way). He was about to finish. I later find out Jeff locks up breaks and skids 15 feet so he could dismount his bike in time. I continue to pedal down the street, and next pass Dave, again, going the other way.

Now that I am on dry land, I started to pass people with good frequency. Of course when 95% of the race participants are in front of you (seriously), you can only go up. I start passing bikers and feel pretty good. After all, I trained the least for the bike portion. The more I pedaled, the more I passed. Then I started to notice, I was passing the locals on their mountain bikes, and beach cruisers. . . didn't matter! Eat my dust you slow pokes!!!

Run #1: I make it back quickly to the next transitions and quickly slip into my running shoes (hello old friends!). Now I am back to where I belong. I fly out of the transition area, and head down the street, I am counting every person I pass. Rubber soles pounding the asphalt. . . you are in my world now! And then, everything changed. . . We climb a steep set of wooden stairs and head to be beach. Not my normal running surface, but I figure I can run on the packed wet sand. I was wrong. The tide was coming in, so if you ran on the wet sand, you would have to be very agile, or you would be running in wet shoes too. The alternative was running in soft sand where you would sink 2-3 inches with every step.

Only a few minutes into the beach run, I see Jeff again. He smiles, and streaks by in a blur. After passing 20+ runners, I stopped counting. There were not many PRs set on this leg of the race. Once we returned to the stairs we were back on the roads, and heading back to our bikes.

Bike #2: I once again change shoes, and go running out of the transition area. I can hear them announcing the winners coming into finish the race by this point. I turn down the road, and begin the process of trying to snap into my pedals again. This time it took a solid two minutes to complete the task. I nearly fell off the bike twice thinking I was already locked in, only to have with foot shoot off the pedals.

So I am off on the same roads again. The race is spread out by this time, so I am not able to pass many bikers on this leg. No one was able to pass me either, so I was still feel pretty good. Despite my pedal blunder, I was able to make better time during this leg. I guess it helped that I was not still tasting salt water. I again see Jeff and Dave, but even sooner then I did before on Bike leg #1. Both look great, and serious. . . they could not possibly be having as much fun as I am I thought. HA!

Run #2: My transition went well this time, as I quickly threw on my trusty running shoes. I once again flew out of the transition on the roads. I apparently went too fast, because when I came back to get my bike, it had fallen off the rack on to the ground. This time, we only had to run a mile. It was an out and back route, and all on asphalt thankfully.

I pushed on the run, but for some crazy reason, I felt chatty, and was wishing everyone well that I passed, and passing out motivation snip-its like "Come on, lets go. . . they are about to announce your name!" I see my cheering section by now, including a well rested Jeff and Dave. I smile for the cameras (ha ha), slap fives with Caroline, and turn into the finishing chute. DONE!

Post Race: WOW! What a great experience. I had always wanted to do a triathlon in my younger days when I was fit. I never did, and thought I would probably never get another chance. I am so glad I did this, and so glad I never waved for help during the swim. A marathon is about overcoming physical exhaustion. This was about overcoming new obstacles, and true fear. I can't wait for another one. I honestly encourage each of you guys to give this a shot. If a "land-loving-chubby-runner" can do an ocean swim tri, then anyone can.





Results: Now that I have taken up this entire blog entry with stuff all about me, I would be remiss if I did not share the results of Dave and Jeff. Both did outstanding once again! These two guys are unstoppable right now, and are poised to get better and better. Jeff won the Novice Division, and Dave won the Master Novice. Truly amazing! These guys are becoming triathlon machines!

Mens Overall:

• Jeff: 1:01:04 - 58th overall
• Dave: 1:03:18 - 73rd overall
• Michael: 1:11:10 - 128th overall

In the swim:

• Jeff: 12:42 - 89th
• Dave: 13:43 - 112th
• Michael: 18:07 - 154th

Total Bike Time (8 miles + 2 transitions):

• Jeff: 26:38 - 91st
• Dave: 27:29 - 107th
• Michael: 29:44 - 139th

Total Run Time (3 miles + 2 transitions)

• Jeff: 21:36 - 28th
• Dave: 22:08 - 37th
• Michael: 23:30 - 54th

Golf (9 holes)

• Michael: 45
• Dave: 46
• Jeff: 48

Sorry guys, I had to show I beat you in something this weekend!

RUN RSVP: 05/19

Hopefully there is enough interest in a group run this weekend again. Last week we had seven runners even with the rain. I will be out of town this weekend, but there are plenty of RMEC members still around to organize a group run. I put very few details below other than the starting location and time. If anyone has other ideas for a group run, feel free to make a recommendation in the comments. Thanks!

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:00 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: Various
• Route: TBD
• Supported: No
• Weather: Forecast

Race Options: Bigfootrunning.com lists seven different race locations this weekend if anyone is interested in a race. Most of the options however are not very close to Rocky Mount.

Surf and Turf Tri

Dave, Jeff, and myself are heading to Surf City this weekend for the Surf and Turf Triathlon. This is an odd format for a tri, as it has five legs. Fortunately for me, only one of them is swimming. This event has a 750m swim, followed by a 4 mile bike, a 2 mile run, another 4 mile bike, and then a one mile run. Part of the first run is even on the beach.

After completing a half ironman, this race will be a fun "little" event for Jeff and Dave. Me on the other hand. . . I just hope to make it out of the water. Regardless of the outcome, it should be a fun event. Good luck to everyone involved!

I have not heard of anyone else racing anywhere this weekend. Lets us know if you are.

Rocky Mount Half Marathon?

A meeting was held with the Rocky Mount Police Department to discuss the possibility of running a half marathon here in Rocky Mount yesterday. The meeting went very well, and it looks like things are heading in the right direction to pull this off.

The tentative date of the race is Saturday, 12/08/07. The course is currently planned to start and finish at Sunset Park, which sets up well for a potential finishline festival for runners and their families.

The first half of the course will use many of the same roads as the Chase of Champions 10k. The second half will venture into the park system of Rocky Mount along the Tar River and down to Martin Luther King Park and back. The course will be very unique, and offer runners great views of the river, and takes in two different bridges.

It is far from a "rock 'n roll" style course, but we are hopeful that this original course will draw in runners from up and down I-95. The inaugural Dismal Swamp Stomp in Virginia is a similar event, and was able to attract over 1,500 runners. Not sure ours will be that large in it's first year, but I do think this could turn into a special event.

The next step is to start securing sponsors, so please let me know if you know of anyone who would be interested, so I can get them in touch with Butch. Stay tuned for more information on the Tar River Trek Half Marathon!

REPOST: Mudcat's Group Night?

I have heard from Arthur, the Hicks, the Forresters, and the Buntings. That gives us about a dozen. We have 30+ people who check this blog now, and most of you have kids. Is there anyone else who is interested in joining in? I need to know ASAP, so we can check on tickets. Thanks!

With the warmer weather, longer days, and summer approaching, I thought we might want to try to organize a group outing. I fully expect we will have a cookout or two during the summer, so I was trying to come up with something different, cheep, and nearby.

I thought a Mudcats game may be a good option that would work for everyone (families included). We can get Box Seats for $5.75 per person if we can arrange a group of 25 or more. Assuming we are bringing families, we could easily hit that number if there is any interest.

On Friday, May 25th, they will also have fireworks. That game starts at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, May 26th, there is a 6:15 p.m. game, and it is a Louisville Slugger Bat Giveaway.

Right now I am just trying to see if there is any interest. If so post a reply, and let me know if either of the dates would work for you, and how many you would likely bring. If May is too early, we can pick a date in June or July as well. Thanks!

Contact List: Updates Needed

Our group has grown be leaps and bounds since the Richmond Marathon and the contact list is therefore out of date. Please take a look at the list and let me know if you information is up to date. If you are not on the contact list, and would like to be, please post your information here. Lastly, if there is any information you would like removed, let me know that as well. As a reminder. . .

if you live near Rocky Mount and run, bike, or swim. . . you are a member
if you have ever posted on the blog. . . you are a member
if you are fast. . . you are a member
if you are slow. . . you are a member
if you want to be a member. . . you are a member

Because our blog is not published to the public, we have all avoided SPAM from the contact list. Now that more people are coming to this site, I may actually "hide" the contact list, and give you all an unpublished link if I think it will become a problem.

RUN RSVP: 05/12

We are running again this weekend from the Harris Teeter at 8:00 a.m. I have not had time to create any route options yet. Depending on how many people respond, I will update a route below. I am running 17 with Tracy, so if others are coming out, I will put a shorter option too. Probably about 10 miles.

Run Details:

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 8:00 a.m.
• Where: Harris Teeter
• Distance: TBD
• Route: TBD
• Supported: TBD (If several are running, I can put water at the tracks)
• Weather: Forecast

Race Options: Also, there are two local race options if any one is interested. Clayton and Dunn both have 5ks. Clayton has a short tot-trot as well, but Clayton has a "full" kids race if you were looking to take the family. Check the upcoming races links for more information. I have an entry form for Clayton if your are interested just shoot me an email.

Duke Tri - Scout Ride

Message from Eric Seale: Hello all, I think work may have calmed down enough to actually get out and ride this week. I am going to try to ride Thursday (5/10) evening at 6PM from the Dentist office on Winstead. I would also like to do a longer 30 to 40 mile ride on Saturday morning, 7:30 to 8AM start time. (I am thinking of either riding out to Elm City/Wilson/Nashville or the Red Oak/Castalia area - adjustable according to interest.

Finally, I know some who will receive this are planning to take part in the Duke Liver Center 1/2 Ironman in September. I am thinking of doing a scout ride the morning of 5/19 or 5/20. I would plan to leave RM early enough to arrive at the Jordan Lake start point at 8 and start riding at 8:30. I can take 3 or 4 besides myself in the vehicle. It is 56 miles, and looks to have a few hills in it. I expect it to be about a 3 to 3.5 hour ride - 17 mph pace. Please let me know if you are interested in any of these rides.

Marine Corp Opens Today!

Just a reminder, that the Marine Corp Marathon opens for registration today at noon. This race will sell out as soon as this evening. If you plan to run don't miss the enrollment window. In case you do, I picked up a stack of " guaranteed" entry forms at the Cooper River Bridge Run. Let me know if you need one of these. I think this gives you until August to enter. I can check on the cut off.

Race for the Cure

Tracy Hicks pointed this race out to me last week. This one is not until June, but it a big race (thousands of runners), and I believe can fill up. This event is part of the Susan G. Komen organization. Event's like this happen all over the country, and one of them is in Raleigh starting at Meredith College. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

The event is very family friendly. It has a KidZone with play areas and activities. They also have the Little Road Runner Race for kids 3-5. If your children are older they can participate in the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk.

This race is obviously designed to raise money for the foundation. For this reason participants are encouraged to raise money through pledges. This can actually be setup online, with a link directly on our blog (I think). You can also collect pledges the old fashion way through a check. If the RMEC was interested, we could enter a team into this event. To have a team, you must have 10 members entered in the race. By June, we should have our RMEC race shirts, so we could wear those too.

I think this could be a great event to participate in. Anyone interested in being a captain and setting up a team? Tracy???

Race Results Part 2

What a week for the White Lake Tri group! Saturday's weather was perfect for a race, and the results show it. Below are the results from the Rocky Mount crew:

• 5:40:32 - Jeff Miller
• 5:41:02 - Jason Irvin
• 5:53:19 - Cliff Amos
• 6:04:37 - Dave Lavely
• 6:10:52 - Mary Whitwell
• 6:36:21 - Kinnie Pruden

This was Jeff's first ever triathlon, and he finished 2nd Place Overall Novice! Great Job Jeff! After the 1.2 mile swim, and 56 mile bike, Jeff showed the field where his strength was, running a 1:41:47 half marathon to finish. WOW!

Next in line was Jason. Many of you met Jason at the Chase of Champions last week. Jason was only 30 seconds behind Jeff in overall time and finished just one place behind him. Jason's best leg was on the bike where he averaged 20 mph over the 56 mile ride.

Behind Jason was Cliff in a time of 5:53:19. Cliff had an outstanding race, knocking roughly 30 minutes off his time from 2006, and breaking the six hour mark for the first time.

This was not Dave's first tri, but his first of this distance. Dave took 2nd Place Overall Master's Novice! Despite very limited running due to some knee injuries late in his training, Dave came strong out of the water in under 40 minutes, and finished strong in the running right at two hours for the half marathon.

Not be be outdone by the men, Mary also took home some hardware. Mary finished 1st in her age group. She started out strong in the water and never looked back. Her swim time was an amazing 36:27. . . that is for 1.2 miles y'all! Overall, only 109 women finished in front of Mary.

Kinnie completed her first triathlon in 20 years, and her first ever Half Iron Man as well. Some hydration issues landed her in a medical tent post race, but nothing was going to stop her from finishing. She also started strong in the water. Who knew this cyclist (that converted to a runner), could be such a strong swimmer too!

What all of you did is truly outstanding. Regardless of time or place, just having the guts and the drive to complete such a grueling event deserves recognition. Much like a marathon, I have always said the most challenging part of an endurance event is the commitment it takes to prepare. What each of you sacrificed to get ready for the event is commendable. Congratulations to you all on a job well done!

• Fastest Swim: Mary Whitwell @ 36:27
• Fastest Bike: Jason Irvin @ 2:49:26
• Fastest Run: Jeff Miller @ 1:41:47

I cannot help but think that we are going to have some strong teams performing in the Duke Half Ironman team event this September. If anyone is interested in being on a team, let me know. We have seven entered so far, and would love to add more!

Complete White Lake Results

Photo Album

Updated RMEC Race Results

Race Results Part 1

I have lots of updates this week, so be sure to check the blog often, as there will probably be new information each day this week. As mentioned before, this was a busy week for the Rocky Mount Endurance Club. There were 5ks, half marathons, and even triathlons on the agenda for our team. I will save the triathlon update for a separate post, and stick to just the foot races in this one.

Indianapolis Mini Marathon: Russ ran back closer to home on Saturday, and completed an old favorite of his. This was Russ' first "long race" back after surgery. Looks like the legs are doing just fine, as he finished in 2:24:52. Not a PR for Russ, but considering his condensed training schedule, this is clearly a race to be proud of, and shows that many more races are in his future.

Wilson 5k: First of all, what a fun race! Mascots, child care, hot food, cold drinks, kids races, and more! For a small town race, this was a great event. the RMEC was well represented at this race. Several PRs were set, and four runners even left with some hardware. Below are the results for names you will know, to include RMEC members, friends, and others at the Rocky Mount YMCA.

• 20:38 - Michael Forrester
• 21:57 - Brent Brondyke
• 22:05 - Larry McKeel
• 23:21 - Angela Barnhill
• 25:07 - Michael Barnhill
• 26:22 - Andy Barker
• 26:41 - Ursula Forrester
• 27:16 - Arthur Bennett
• 32:15 - Amber Poole
• 32:20 - Jon Shingleton
• 37:13 - Carol Dickens

Some of us took home some age group hardware (aka, plastic trophies). Larry, Carol, and Angela took 2nd in their respective categories, and Ursula took 3rd. Great jobs guys! Whenever a name from the RMEC was announced, the cheers got louder. You could tell our little group had an impact on this event. Put this one on your calendar for next year, and bring the kids.

To my knowledge, Ursula, Arthur, and Jon all set 5k PRs. If I missed someone else, let me know.

Big Foot Running: There is a link to the right for BigfootRunning.com. This site is an excellent race calendar for all events in North Carolina. They also have race reviews completed by runners. This is a new site, so they are short on review right now. I strongly encourage you guys to review the Wilson 5k (or any other race you have done), to help get this database started. It will only take you a few minutes to register. This site is giving me a lot, because I am able to tell all of you about race opportunities, so take a few minutes and give something back to BigfootRunning. This is a great online resource that we don't want to see go away.

Update: RMEC Shirts

Okay, I need to know who is interested in ordering a shirt or shirts with the RMEC logo on them. I have been working with BaySixUSA on this. They are a sponsor of the City of Oaks Marathon. I feel like we are getting a good deal on the shirts. You can check out their website to see we are buying well below their retail price. Here is the run down of the details and costs of the shirts. I need to know ASAP if you are interested, so I can order the correct quantity and sizes.

Logo: Same as the RMEC logo on this page.

Color: Shirts will be white. Women will have a pink/black and the men's shirts will be blue/black logo.

Shirt: There are two options for shirts. Both are technical shirts, and both have sleeves. They do have a women's cut available as well.

• Micromesh - The first is the standard 100% Poly "dry release" style shirt. This is what most race shirts are like and will be the cooler option.
• Dry-release - The second option is a 85/15 Poly/Cotton blend shirt. This shirt is still a technical "wicking" shirt, but is a better quality shirt

Cost: The cost will vary based on how many shirt we get. I am going to assume 35 shirts for my numbers below. I plan to order extras, because I hope we will continue to discover new Rocky Mount runners in the future.

• Micromesh - $12.50
• Dry-release - $14.50

I have been asked by several of you about getting t-shirts made as well. I thought the logo would look good on a black t-shirt. See below for a mock-up. Black is a bad color choice for racing because of the heat, but would work well on a cotton t-shirt. I do not have pricing on these yet. I am checking with Carol to see if this is something we can do here in Rocky Mount.

The more shirts I order, the cheaper the cost, because we can spread out the one time fixed cost of creating the screen. Please reply if you are interested in a shirt ASAP. In your reply, please include the following. If you want a technical shirt, but not a t-shirt or the reverse put that in your comments too. Likewise, let me know if you want extra shirts:

Name: Michael Forrester
Technical Size: Men's L (2 shirts)
Technical Shirt Style: Dry-release
T-Shirt Size: XL

James River Scramble

Looking for a 10k that is anything but ordinary? Then check out the XTERRA James River Scramble 10k. Run over a unique course bringing together some of Richmond's greatest riverfront attributes, including Brown's Island, the Canal Walk, James River Park, Belle Isle and the Flood wall.

You literally hop over rocks, splash through the river, and take in all kinds of terrain. Leave your new shoes at home for this event. This SportsBackers race has grown in popularity every year. It is just a short drive down I95 to race. The event is not a race for walkers!

Big Race Weekend!

A big race weekend is ahead for the Rocky Mount Endurance Club! There are lots of people racing this weekend. Here is a run down of what is going on this weekend.

White Lake Tri:
I will begin with the White Lake Triathlon. Several people are doing this race, and many of those are doing their first every tri. Here are the names I know that are signed up for Saturday's Half Ironman. Jeff, Dave, Clif, Mary, Kinnie, and Jason. On Sunday, Patti will be competing in the Sprint distance of the Tri. I admit, I am impressed with all of you. Over the past several months, you have made your training preparations look ordinary, when in actuality, you are all about to do something that is nothing short of amazing! Good luck to all of you!

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon:
Russ is continuing his comeback by running one of his favorite races. He will be running a half marathon back in Indianapolis. This race is part of the 500 Festival going on this weekend. The race is this Saturday, and will enable Russ to put his old knee pains in the past. Good luck Russ!

Wilson 5k:
Many of us have picked something shorter and closer to do this weekend. The Wilson 5k is also on Saturday. To my knowledge, Larry, Arthur, Amber, Ursula, and myself (and kids) are running this race. I think John T. will also be running the 5k as part of the Corporate Challenge series. I expect others will be running that I have not heard from yet. Good luck to all Wilson 5k runners too!

In total, we will have at least 13 from our group participating over the weekend. Be sure to check back next week to see how they all did. With so many people racing this weekend, and a local 5k, we will not have a group run on Saturday.

City of Oaks Price Increase

If you are interested in the City of Oaks Marathon or Half Marathon, today is the last day before the first price increase. The deadline has caused a spike in entrants, as there are now 382* total. This is up 30% over the past few days.

• Half Marathon - 209
• Marathon - 173

If you are on-the-fence about entering, you can enter the half marathon for only $30.00 today. You can then upgrade to the full marathon at any time for only $20.00 more. For example, if you enter the half today, you can upgrade to the full on 11/03 for only 20 bucks. If you were to sign up on 11/03 for the full marathon, the entry fee is $80.00.

*05/03 Update: There are now 473 entered. (263 Half, 210 Full)