Hawk Island Triathlon - Lansng

I completed my very first triathlon. Thank you to Shawn & Kim for your cheers on the bike ride! You gave me a much needed energy boost! Despite an asthma attack in the water at the onset, I actually finished! My times were, well a starting point! 1:40:35. The tri was a 400M swim, a 16K bike, 5K run. I would definately recommend this to anyone as a first triathlon, but... rent a wet suit. The water was cold.

And to The Dominator, I didn't 'leave it all on the course', but thank you for the recommendation! Also, thank you VERY much for your help with the GREAT hand-out and showing me how to set up the transition area. THat was a HUGE help!

The Flat Tire Challenge.

The FTC is over! There were eight STR members competing to see who could get ride of their spare tire. After 4 months, Mac chiseled his way to a 21 lbs and 10.4% weight loss to claim the over all weight and greatest percentage of body mass lost. Mac's weight loss secrets include; living in a small African Village, walking to work at a tiny hospital while providing much needing medical care to the locals, ultimate Frisbee games, and yoga by the lake. Mindy W. had an impressive 17 pounds and 7.98% weight loss. Mindy has been training for her first tri and a 300+ mile bike ride, not to mention keeping up with her 2 young children. Vinnie dropped 13.2 pounds during his 1/2 marathon and 25k training. Vinnie is looking good in his long sleeve STRength shirt. Mac will bring home both prize purses, Mindy will receive a long sleeve STRength shirt and Vinnie will also receive a prize for his third place finish. Jon was 4th with his 7.4 lbs drop, I came in 5th with a 6.2 loss, Allison, Justin and PJ all lost 5 pounds. Together we lost almost 80 pounds during the most difficult months of the year. Great job to all of those who step up and excepted the FTC. I am sure it was just a start of what is to come. Keep up the great work!

Komen Race For The Cure - Lansing

Kim and I joined over 1,200 runners today in downtown Lansing for the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure. After some heavy miles this week in preparation for the River Bank Run, we decided to enter this 5k as a “nice and easy” recovery. I say “nice and easy” for Kim, who says that when I get in a race I never take it “nice and easy”. Today was no different and our recovery run turned into a PR for both of us with a 22:26 finish. The fast pace (7:14min/mile) was good enough to earn KB another podium finish – 2nd place in her age group!

It must have been my new STR racing shirt - Ralph, you didn’t tell me they are extra speedy!

The Come Back Trail

It was a cold windy morning for the Roads End 5 mile trail run. I was a little nervous at the start of the race, it had been 4 weeks since my last run and almost a month since the car accident. Three of those weeks I was not supposed to put weight through my right leg. The last week I worked on getting rid of the crutches and reminding my muscles how to work again. During the past week of therapy I began to feel stronger and the pain was decreasing, so why not run a 5 mile trail run race. I already paid for the event so I might as well see what I can do, right? It did not make a lot of sense to me either, especially waiting for the start of the race. I have done a many races where I thought I just wanted to be able to finish, but this one was a little different, I was about to attempt a 5 mile trail run, and I could not even run 5 feet. The most I have walked in the last week was a mile and that was to get ice cream. Maybe, I should have stayed in bed. I guess you never really know what you can do unless you try. So, with my trekking poles in hand, I line up in the very back and waited for the horn to blow. I started out with a walk, which turned into a trot as I made my way across the start line. With a good luck cheer from Annette I was on my way and she was on her way back to the car to warm up. I made my way across the field, over the hills and through the woods. I was a challenging trail, I had my work cut out for me. I soon passed the 1 mile mark, and settled into a rhythm with the poles, roots, rocks and sand. I made my way through the trail, enjoying the Michigan woods in the spring, while trying not to injury myself more. I crossed the finish line around the 1:04. It felt good to be able to race again, even if I was not in racing form. But I am on my way!

Martians and Cherry Blossoms

It was a beautiful day on Sunday Morning. We had six STR members in the Martian 1/2 marathon. It was a day full of PR's and first for STR. Coach Lisa, who ran in place of me, was the first tire to cross the finish line at 1:34:15, which was good enough for a second place age group finish. Tony Boondogglato, in his first race with the STR jersey and first ever 1/2 marathon ran a solid 1:54:00. Snap, also in his first 1/2 marathon was the next tire to come a cross the line with an impressive 2:02:01. Kelley Callard, a new STR member, was the second fastest STR girl of the day with a 2:04:05. Vinnie, in his first ever 1/2 marathon and longest race of his life keep a steady pace and crossed the line smiling at 2:08:05. Todd Z made a race day decision to attempt his first ever 1/2 marathon and made it over the line in 2:14:47, not bad for a kid who could not even keep a cracker down the day before. A special thanks for Ann, Michelle (and kids), and Papa Snap who came and cheered on their fellow members. I would also like to put out a big congratulations to Brian "Big Fella" from Maryland who ran the Cherry Blossom 10 miler on Sunday. Brain was able to maintain his sub 10 min/mile pace to turn in a 1:39. Nice job, keep us updated on your race season on the East Coast.

Anyone Interested? 5k Belle Isle 4/26

The STR Invasion

STR will be well represented in the Martian 1/2 marathon on Sunday, April 6th at 8:30am. Kelley, Snap, Zynda, Vinnie, and Boondogglato will be running. I was already to dominate the 13.1 miles through Hines Park after my great 10 mile run last Saturday with Madison. But I will be going from runner to support crew and cheerer-onner after being part of a 4 car smash-up which happened Sunday afternoon. Everyone is ok, I hope to be off the crutches and back to training soon. This will be Kelley and Boondogglato's first STR event, and Snap, Zynda's and Vinnie's longest race ever! Everyone is sure to have an STR PR! Come and join us to Cheer on STR. We will have plenty of Absopure Water and Garden Fresh chips and salsa.