My last blog post was
two-weeks prior to my last Ironman in Madison, Wisconsin, on 08 September 2013.
It was not my best Ironman Wisconsin finish, and it was not my worst. What I
remember is the thousands of volunteers and spectators that cheered and
encouraged the 2336 finishers across the line. I remember watching Dan Rotert,
the last official finisher, cross the line at 17:00:10 and cheering for my many
friends that raced and finished that day. I also remember that this racecourse
has my number, that someday I will be back, and eventually we will reach common
ground and make peace.
That last post was 576 days ago, holy
hana-banana, no wonder my readership has gone in the tank…I guess life has a
way of doing that sometimes. It has been quite the rollercoaster ride since
then, and I hope to share some of those stories with you over the coming months,
but for now, I just want to get a post out there with my 2015 event schedule; this
way you can plan your vacation accordingly and be there to jump, yell, and
cheer this now 51-year-old, middle of the pack, endurance athlete across a few
more finish lines.
04 April 2015
Half Marathon - 13.1 mile run
Bald Eagle Lake Park
Bald Eagle Lake Park
White Bear Lake, MN
The half marathon course is challenging and
scenic. This has been an intimate event with good support. My son and
daughter-in-law bought a home that I get to pass twice on the 13.1 mile run
around Bald Eagle Lake. The ice will most likely still be on the lake, so the
breeze can be bone chilling at times. I ran my best ever half-marathon here in
2011. I am not predicting a PR in 2015 but hope to have a solid training run
and put together another awesome 13.1-mile play list. For the low-low price of
an email with some shipping info, I will mail you the high pumpin’ CD.
Additionally, my daughter-in-law is planning to run the 11K (she is training
for the Twin Cities Marathon this fall, her first). Plus, the event is on Holy
Saturday, so burning a few extra calories before the Easter feast is a nice
bonus.
07 June 2015
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Buffalo, MN
website: http://www.tribuff.com
Buffalo Triathlon is my favorite triathlon, and I have done the event every year since 2007. Last year was the first year that I did not do the Olympic distance event. I was suffering a quad/calf/hip injury and opted for the sprint distance race. The event officially changed hands last year and is now one of three Graniteman Triathlons. They have added the Olympic distance to each of their 2015 event,s and I will be doing the entire series this year.
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Buffalo, MN
website: http://www.tribuff.com
Buffalo Triathlon is my favorite triathlon, and I have done the event every year since 2007. Last year was the first year that I did not do the Olympic distance event. I was suffering a quad/calf/hip injury and opted for the sprint distance race. The event officially changed hands last year and is now one of three Graniteman Triathlons. They have added the Olympic distance to each of their 2015 event,s and I will be doing the entire series this year.
My daughter-in-law (Liz) grew up in Buffalo,
and her parents still live there. Their home burned to the ground last January
and they are in the process of rebuilding on the original property. I have
always enjoyed this event weekend and look forward to it again this year. I
have had some great results in Buffalo, not that I am predicting anything extraordinary
for 2015. The 2011 race here was my best Olympic distance performance.
12 – 14 June 2015
C.H. Robinson MS 150 Ride 2015
Duluth to the Twin Cities
A new event for me in 2015, the bike MS ride
is not a race, but a cycling weekend with great support and for a great cause.
My son (Christopher) works for Cummins, and they have put together a team for
the event; I am just along for the ride. I am looking forward to spending the
weekend with Christopher. I am planning a little twist for the event. Instead
of riding the bus up to Duluth on Friday, I plan to ride my bike up. I will
ride 150+ miles on Friday from my house to Duluth and then make the return trip
of an additional 150 miles on Saturday and Sunday. I am hoping for decent
weather. If you are interested in supporting Team Cummins and me financially
with a tax-free donation to the MS Foundation, please follow the link below:
Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=6889257&pg=personal&fr_id=24936&et=2ot863XV98HTBPvtDwh8bg&s_tafId=395811
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=6889257&pg=personal&fr_id=24936&et=2ot863XV98HTBPvtDwh8bg&s_tafId=395811
03 - 06 July 2015
2015 National Senior Games Presented by Humana
2015 National Senior Games Presented by Humana
/Minneapolis, Minnesota
website: http://www.nsga.com/2015-national-senior-games.aspx
The ‘Old People Olympics’ makes it way to the Twin Cities in 2015. This is a really big deal and will include opening and closing ceremonies and everything. For me, it is all about the swimming. I qualified for the event last year and will swim the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle over a three-day period, 03 July – 06 July. The swimming events will take place in the aquatic center on the U of M campus, which is a great swimming venue. I have put a lot of energy thus far into my swimming this year. I have been swimming with SEMS (South East Metro Sharks) since October this past year and have been swimming 4 to 5 times a week. I am not expecting miracles, but I am hopeful for a few new PR’s this July, which at the ripe age of 51+ will be a real accomplishment.
website: http://www.nsga.com/2015-national-senior-games.aspx
The ‘Old People Olympics’ makes it way to the Twin Cities in 2015. This is a really big deal and will include opening and closing ceremonies and everything. For me, it is all about the swimming. I qualified for the event last year and will swim the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle over a three-day period, 03 July – 06 July. The swimming events will take place in the aquatic center on the U of M campus, which is a great swimming venue. I have put a lot of energy thus far into my swimming this year. I have been swimming with SEMS (South East Metro Sharks) since October this past year and have been swimming 4 to 5 times a week. I am not expecting miracles, but I am hopeful for a few new PR’s this July, which at the ripe age of 51+ will be a real accomplishment.
11 July 2015
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Clearwater, MN
website: http://granitemantri.com/index.php/event-details/graniteman-clearwater
This tri is the second of three Olympic distance triathlons for 2015 and a new event for me personally. As stated earlier, I will be doing the entire Graniteman series this year and look forward to comparing the three venues. The three events are 4 weeks apart and should give me some indication of my overall fitness. I hope to stay healthy and injury free.
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Clearwater, MN
website: http://granitemantri.com/index.php/event-details/graniteman-clearwater
This tri is the second of three Olympic distance triathlons for 2015 and a new event for me personally. As stated earlier, I will be doing the entire Graniteman series this year and look forward to comparing the three venues. The three events are 4 weeks apart and should give me some indication of my overall fitness. I hope to stay healthy and injury free.
26 July 2015
Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Chisago, MN
website: http://www.dutrirun.com/page/show/845808-toughman-minnesota-july-26-2015
Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Chisago, MN
website: http://www.dutrirun.com/page/show/845808-toughman-minnesota-july-26-2015
I volunteered at the 2014 event and spent 6+
hours directing traffic, cheering, and encouraging the athletes that
participated. A friend and training partner of mine has done this event several
times, and I look forward to competing with him in 2015. The event has new
ownership in 2015 and has been re-branded as Toughman Minnesota, which is now
part of a national triathlon series and concludes with its championship in NY
on September 13, 2015. This will be the first of two half-iron distance races
for me in 2015.
08 August 2015
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Big Lake, MN
website: http://granitemantri.com/index.php/event-details/graniteman-big-lake
Olympic Distance Triathlon
Big Lake, MN
website: http://granitemantri.com/index.php/event-details/graniteman-big-lake
The third and final official Olympic distance
event of 2015, One Last Tri, my last triathlon of 2015 which is in September,
is not an official Olympic distance race. This is a new event for me and I look
forward to experiencing a new venue. Graniteman took over the Buffalo Triathlon
in 2014 and did a good job, so I have high expectations of the two additional
events this year.
13 September 2015
Long Course Triathlon
Stillwater, MN
website: http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/event/square-lake-triathlon-long-course-sunday
Long Course Triathlon
Stillwater, MN
website: http://www.frontrunnerusa.com/event/square-lake-triathlon-long-course-sunday
This is where it all started for me in 2006. A
family friend was diagnosed with cancer, and I did this event as a fundraiser
that year. I bought a bike (which I still ride and Christopher will be riding
for the MS 150 and for the bike leg of the Buffalo triathlon) from not-for-profit
bike shop in St. Paul for $200. It was cold, it was drizzly, it was miserable
that day. I flatted on the bike at mile 30, and I shivered for hours after I
was finished. I swore I would never do another…
Now ten-years later, I will be back to do this
course again, and Katie, I will be thinking of you as I swim, bike, and run my
way around Square Lake. I pray that you will watch over me and the other athletes
as we complete the nearly 71 miles of this challenging course, and I hope you
know how much we love and miss you here.
20 September 2015
International Distance Triathlon
White Bear Lake, MN
website: http://trifitnesswbl.com/as_one-last-tri
International Distance Triathlon
White Bear Lake, MN
website: http://trifitnesswbl.com/as_one-last-tri
My
final triathlon of 2015, which is an odd distance race that we in the triathlon
world refer to as an International distance race; an 800-yard swim, a 27-mile
bike, and a 10K run. I started training with Tri-Fitness in 2014 and have
thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I have been a customer of Tri-Fitness for
many years but have trained on my own for most of the past ten-years. Although
I do not have an official coach, the tri-club coaches have been very helpful
and encouraging (you know who you are). But even more importantly has been the
comradery of the other Tri-Club members. I look forward to another year of
racing, telling stories, and training with like-minded, motivational, comrades.
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24 October 2015
50-Miles Trail Run
Savage, MN
I have not officially registered for this
event (registration does not open until June) but I am planning to attempt the
50-mile distance this fall. A lot can happen between now and then but forgoing
an
injury or other life-changing event, I am in! 50-miles is a long way to run,
hell, it is a long way to drive. However, I am hopeful that I will be healthy
and able to toe the line this October. I just need to find the right costume to
wear…
I hope to share some of these experiences, the trials and tribulations, some stories, and new this year some video highlights, of this 2015 endurance sport season...Are you ready for the ride?
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