Step 1: Nationals
The 17 hour training day crew traveled out to Tuscaloosa, Alabama this weekend to compete in the USAT Age Group National Olympic Distance Championships. This is the first in several steps of back to back triathlons for the team. The weather in Tuscaloosa was much milder than fretted over. Temps rose on race day but remained manageable. What none of us expected was an uphill swim.
Due to flooding several days prior to the race the Army Corp of Engineers opened the dam below the race course the evening before the Championships. This resulted in an extreme current. The swim was mostly up-current thus turning the Championships into a "swimmers race". It's a common phrase in triathlon that "the race is neither won or lost in the swim". Saturday was the exception.
The 17 hour training day crew battled through the adverse conditions, remained focused and determined, and persevered through a challenging day. Steve ran over the finish line secure in a 15th place age group finish, Anthony in a 20th age group slot, and Sonja in 14th. Steve and Sonja secured guaranteed slots into the 2010 World Championships in Budapest Hungary. The jury is still out for Anthony.
The goal of nationals for the team was to complete the race in a manner to facilitate a quick recovery. In this goal we were successful. 2 days later Steve, Anthony and Sonja are totally recovered.
Next up? Eight days after Age Group Championships we will stand on the beach next to the Giant Peach, waiting for the bullhorn to begin our first Ironman experience. Canada here we come!
Due to flooding several days prior to the race the Army Corp of Engineers opened the dam below the race course the evening before the Championships. This resulted in an extreme current. The swim was mostly up-current thus turning the Championships into a "swimmers race". It's a common phrase in triathlon that "the race is neither won or lost in the swim". Saturday was the exception.
The 17 hour training day crew battled through the adverse conditions, remained focused and determined, and persevered through a challenging day. Steve ran over the finish line secure in a 15th place age group finish, Anthony in a 20th age group slot, and Sonja in 14th. Steve and Sonja secured guaranteed slots into the 2010 World Championships in Budapest Hungary. The jury is still out for Anthony.
The goal of nationals for the team was to complete the race in a manner to facilitate a quick recovery. In this goal we were successful. 2 days later Steve, Anthony and Sonja are totally recovered.
Next up? Eight days after Age Group Championships we will stand on the beach next to the Giant Peach, waiting for the bullhorn to begin our first Ironman experience. Canada here we come!
well i guess the over training theory or 17 hour training day as you call it proved to be a bust. The times of all 4 of you were average. Other athletes who train much less have posted similar results. You will probably delete this post because it speaks to the truth that this is just a marketing gimmick that went bust.