BEST CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY WISHES

What a beautiful Christmas Evening we are having today. Sunny and cold with a trace of snow on the ground - a picture perfect, indeed - just as this burning sky earlier this morning.

From our family to yours - Wesolych Swiat, Merry Christmas, and Feliz Navidad.

THE POLISH CAPTAIN "SULLY" AND HIS BEAUTIFUL "DRY LANDING"

This Polish airliner took to the skies from Newark, New Jersey bound for Warsaw. About 30 minutes into the the flight the crew learnt about the plane's landing gear malfunction, but elected to continue on across the Atlantic Ocean. In the end, the landing was so precise, according to the passengers, that the only indication of this unconventional touch down was the increased noise caused by the plane's belly sliding over the landing strip.

A THIRTY-YEAR MILESTONE

2011 commemorates a significant milestone in my life. Thirty years ago I embarked upon a journey abroad which continues until this day. Needless to say, time flies and trains don't change much.

TAKING IT OUTSIDE

Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring, I am known for doing all my bike training on my computrainer, indoors. So, this time, I decided to break my habit and take advantage of a gorgeous weekend and take my bike outside ;o)

IRONMAN LOUISVILLE 2011

After a great weekend in the Midwest, I am back in New England having raced Ironman Louisville in Kentucky a week and a half ago. Ironman Louisville was a non-wetsuit legal race where the swim took place in the Ohio River. It was my first 2.4-mile official race swim without a wetsuit, and needless to say, I was not sure what to expect, even though, I have spent many hours in the pool and the lake training for this particular event. Unlike my all other races, the swim required a time-trial start in which athletes jumped in the water in 2-second increments. Despite my initial concerns I pulled-off one of my best swims, ever – 1hr. 14 min. Unfortunately, one athlete did not make it. He drowned a few minutes into the race. Autopsy pending, he has likely suffered a heart attack. It was his first Ironman race. He was 46 years old.

A bird's eye view of the swim course

Polish triathletes getting ready to jump in the Ohio River

In a full daylight, exiting the water with a smile

Happy with my first-leg performance, and followed by a quick transition, I set out for a 112-mile bike ride. The bike, with its steep hills and the relentless rolling hills took triathletes into the country side. The roads were in a very good condition and most of the streets were closed off to the vehicular traffic, thus providing the necessary safety. Even though, the bike portion of the race was more challenging than I initially anticipated, I was still able to average about 18.5 miles/hour.

This could have also been the race I did not finish. At mile 10, I started noticing a noise coming from the bottom bracket. By mile 30, the noise became embarrassing. By mile 70, the noise became so loud and concerning that I decided to “milk” each downhill for all I could to minimize the need for pedaling, and hoping the cranks will not cease. In the end it worked out fine. I made to T2 in 6 hrs. 6 min.

With the city in the backdrop, the bike race is on

Out of the saddle on one of those relentless hills

After a reasonably good transition into the run I was off to tackle the marathon. The run offered a flat course that took runners through downtown and the adjacent neighborhoods. My run performance was definitely not what I expected that day. I felt “flat” and experienced some respiratory issues. My marathon run was about 90 minutes slower than my previous run at Ironman Lake Placid. Nevertheless, tired, but happy, I crossed the finish line at the 4th Street Live in 12 hrs. 43 min.

Mile one on the run. heading towards Indiana. There will be a turn-around just before crossing the state line

Feeling good with the "Yum" Center in the background

Finish line at the 4th Street Live where the celebration never ends

Memorializing Ironman #15. Until the next time

With a bit of time to analyze Ironman Louisville, I have began training for the Great Floridian at the end of October (www.greatfloridian.com). Stay tuned.

A WEEKEND IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

I returned from Ironman Louisville a few days ago. I enjoyed being back in the Midwest, for the first time, since moving to New England eighteen years ago. Especially, because it gave me the opportunity to see again friends I have not seen for many, many years – indeed, I had a great time there.

The weather was awesome. Warm days (in the mid 80’s), cool nights, and very low humidity made it for a very comfortable weather and race-day conditions. Here are a few picks from the days leading up to the race. The race report will be forthcoming.

Louisville was ready for the athletes

Muhammad Ali is a fixture in Louisville's landscape

And so is the White Castle Hamburgers

New York City has its cows, Louisville has its horses - blue .......

..... and checkered

KFC's Colonel Sanders on break having a smoke

Fourth Street Live - a famous entertaintment and business center. Will also turn into a lively finish line of Ironman Louisville

Ironman Expo - also a very lively place

The bike transition area on Saturday. In the distance, the mighty Ohio River, the race's swim venue

Swim start. Athletes will be jumping-off those docks in the "trial start" method - every 2 seconds - approximately, 2,500 of them

The first few swim markers

Happy just thinking about it

Not many opportunities for practice swims due to the boat/barge traffic on the Ohio River

Friday night. All packed up and ready to go

THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

Well, all equipment is packed up and ready to go, as I am setting out for the trip to Ironman Louisville tomorrow morning. The day will start with a 2:30AM wake-up call and a drive to Manchester for an early filght to Louisville. I hope "Irene" will leave us alone on Sunday, but that is still a few days away. Will keep in touch.

IRONMAN LOUISVILLE 2011

The race day is fast approaching (August 28th). The race numbers have been assigned and my BIB is 2565. I have found my namesake (last name) in my age group. Perhaps, I will meet him there on the course.

Ironman will have a live coverage of the race at www.ironman.com

Photo by Dave Rench

UPPER VALLEY TRIATHLON TEAM

The team at UVAC

Photo by UVAC Staff

THE PHANTOM HAS ARRIVED

The Team IronTOM mascot has finally arrived. PhanTOM is Dave's new training partner as he prepares for the Vermont 50 at the end of September, a fifty mile race to explore new depths and dimensions within himself. Go D!!!



And here he is pushing hard at The Fairlee Triathlon

ANOTHER IRONMAN 70.3 ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO

Yesterday, turned out to be a great day for racing. Low humidity and a beautifully sunny day made the racing conditions near perfect. There have been a few changes this year as compared to the past years. In fact, all racing venues have been altered. The swim has been moved from the ocean swim to a state park lake which, according to Ironman regulations, disallowed wearing a wetsuit as the water temperature exceeded 76F. The bike course took athletes from a previously flat course to negotiating challenging rolling hills and longer climbs. And finally, the run course was altered by adding more uphill running.

I personally liked the new bike and run courses (the degree of difficulty). The only demoralizing aspect of the bike course was the last 11 miles on an approach to Providence which provided for a very poor-quality surface conditions, boarding upon dangerous. I am sure Ironman (WTC) is going to hear about that one from many athletes, yours truly, included.

In any event, I posted the seventh fastest bike-split, a fifth fastest run split in my age group, and a 55th fastest/slowest swim splits. This combination placed me in 11th position in M50-54.

And here is how it all looked in pictures.

Body-marking at 4:45AM

Getting ready for a warm-up swim

With MajorTOM shortly before the race start

Not a happy face exiting the water

This is where the race always begins for me

Transition into the run

6.5 miles left to go

There is a true joy in racing

MajorTOM finishing strong

And it's my turn to finish, now

Final celebration with Aaron

Photos by Rebekah Tolley

IRONMAN PROVIDENCE 70.3 IS THIS SUNDAY

The forth edition of Ironman Providence 70.3 will start on July 10th at 6AM at the Lincoln Woods State Park Beach. Aaron and I will be toeing the starting line with many others. The weather is supposed to cooperate and the new bike course promises to be more challenging than in the prior years. You can follow us on www.ironman.com

IT DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TRIATHLONS. OR DOES IT?

WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY

Ironman San Juan 70.3