News & Events
USA Triathlon’s Winter Triathlon National Championship
January 29, 2012
Race Report by Matt Seeley
Endurance Racing Fans,
The great cherry picking John Hartpence would have been proud of my weekend accomplishment at the Powder Hound winter triathlon in the mountains east of Butte, America (6300'). A month ago, the race was suddenly given the National Championship designation when the original New Hampshire venue ended up short on snow. I figured the top dogs would have trouble finding Butte so I went over to do a fun and different race despite the fact that I was feeling less than super fit or well-prepared in any of the three disciplines. My one ace was that my daily commute probably means that I spend more hours plowing my bike through tough, snowy conditions than almost anyone.
As expected, the field only had about 60-70 racers and most of them were from Montana. There were some good athletes, but definitely not a national class group. The 5k run started fast on sometimes slippery and sometimes soft ski trails. Two guys blasted off the group and I hung back in 10th or so and figured the hills and high elevation would take their toll in a hour+ race. When we hit the big hill up to the turnaround, the pace slow and I was able to surge up to 3rd place and lead a string of runners all the way back to transition. My recently sprained ankle and long-suffering heel both performed perfectly and without pain. The bike ride was a little more of a challenge. We all had big tires and had lowered the pressure down to about 15 psi, but there was still a lot of washing out and sinking. On the first extended uphill, everyone was reduced to dismounting and pushing the bike with feet slipping and sinking. The leader was long gone, but I saw the second place guy struggling ahead, managed to remount my bike while still climbing, and caught him near the top. With improved shifting technique, careful balance, and a firmer trail, I was able to ride the whole rest of the 10k course. The second half was a roller coaster thrill ride with steep ups, plunging drops, and tight, sliding corners. I returned to transition maybe 2 minutes down and with a strong junior rider/skier named Landon Beckner (son of Randy) having moved into 3rd, maybe 20 seconds back, and gaining. The ski leg was the fastest and most exciting, especially as I felt like an aging warrior running from a youthful predator. Landon had clearly superior technique and got within 20 meters and few times, but I always managed to hold him off with gut-wrenching surges on any extended climbs. With balmy temps and fast snow, the endless corners and dips put my novice skills to the test. In the last kilometer, I still had a small gap and my biggest focus was just avoiding a crash. Landon gave one final burst in the finishing stretch, but I slid across the line 3 seconds ahead. The winner (Mike Wolfe) beat me by more than 3 minutes and had just done the OSCR 50k nordic race in Seeley Lake the day before.
I can't say my race was a masterpiece, but I put out a huge effort and avoided any significant mistakes. The real surprise came at the award ceremony where USAT presented me with a check for $450 and an invitation to Finland for the elite World Winter Tri Championships in late March. Finland sounds fun, but the reality is that I can't spare either the time or money for such a trip at this point. More importantly, it would be a little silly to see me lining up and attempting to race against those European nordic super heroes who actually take that type of training and racing seriously.
Matt
http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/articles/2012/1/012912-winter-recap.aspx
P.S. Chuck Dumke also competed and ended up 6th. He would prefer that you don't compare his time to that of the women's winner.
ITU Worlds Race Report
Race Report ITU World Chamionship, Las Vegas, NV USA~Christine Hempfill
In the pitch black at 5am transition for the Long Course World Championships opened to a very chilly 40oF/4oC morning at Lake Las
Vegas. The head ITU official was busy announcing the swim was cancelled due to the cold air and water temperatures and unknown water
quality given the rainstorm that hit the area the previous night. Instead we were to prepare for a TT bike start in race no. order, 5s
apart starting 45m later then official swim start. It was a great lesson in mental and physical adaptability. Some folk fretted, some
delighted, some got annoyed while others just got prepared for a change that was out of their control. I was relatively ambivalent.
After swimming 5 times per week last winter to finally improve what had previously been my weakest leg, I would have liked the opportunity
to use my swim and felt I could either hold my own or gain against those that were likely to place around me, however I also know that I
really suffer in the cold and it is very hard to minimize that in the water. Double caps and a great Zoot wetsuit only go so far to
protecting you.
So race start arrived and as my full experience of time trial racing was watching the Tour de France TT at Grenoble this year, I put myself
in a Cadel mentality and took off into Lake Mead National Park. I rode hard and my new PHX2 and I loved the challenging course with just
under 2000m climbing in the 120kms. I had debated wheel selection all week as winds rose and fell, but in the end was pleased to be on my
Reynolds Strike 66s. The wind was very manageable. Thanks to Pete from Valdora for the option of an alternative front wheel though. The night
before wind gusts hit 50mph so it was good to know I had a good option irrespective of the day that dawned. Rachel Joyce and Leanda Cave from
the UK passed me early on the bike and looked super strong, as did Nicola Butterfield, my Australian counterpart who was busy ripping
through the field. I rode solid and came into the run transition feeling really good and out-transitioned Margaret Bailey to run out
onto the 4 lap course in 15th place. I was really pleased that my run felt good throughout the 4 laps and I kept in rhythm and on or just
above my target time. Unfortunately in this super strong field it wasn't quite enough to hold my place so I slipped into 19th by the
finish. Still a top 20 finish at the World Champs was by my standards a great race. I believe I managed all the controllable elements as
well as I could; pacing, nutrition/hydration, course knowledge, mental prep, clothing, wheel selection etc. so I got to give all that I could
at the end of a long season.
Funnily enough one of the little mind candy things I used on the bike course through the Mohave Desert was, my lovely race bike, a Valdora
PHX2 comes from just near here. It was designed and created a few hours away in Tempe Arizona so it should feel right at home out
amongst the gulches. It certainly rode like it! Now if I could just borrow Rachel Joyce's legs for the next race ...
Enjoy your riding, wherever it is. I'm now in relax mode back in France and enjoying the off season with my rides usually involving my
husband, and / or kids and at least one coffee stop en route until the snows fall and riding is relegated to the home trainer for a few
months.
October
Boulder City Nevada -Valdora riders Rock Pumpkin Man - October 15th. Congrats to Arrick Nietert for an overall win at Pumpkin Man 1/2 Iron triathlon! 1st in age group for Dan Springborn and Skylar Rubakaba in the Pumpkin Man Olympic distance!
Race Report submitted by - Andy Brodziak IM Kona World Championship
Hi! aloha from the big island
Before I start, year after year I cherish the support from my family, so thank you and also to the sponsors that play an important role.
Andrew Jackson & Cairn Capital
Valdora Cycles
Chelsea & Fulham Chiro
Profeet - bike fit and run shoes/insoles
2XU & GU energy
I'm writing this a few days after the big event, always good to recover and reflect on your day which truly makes you go to places I know most individuals won't tap into in their life on the planet if they haven't done an Ironman. Yes, there are marathons out there which are very hard, things in life, non sport focussed that are incredible difficult too don't get me wrong. Until you compete in an Ironman I think it's hard to know how hard it is.
I arrived 10 days before this time, which was perfect I think. Had chance to recover from flights and do a longish ride in the heat and just switch off from normal life and work. My sister and family arrived few days before race and they were just fantastic! Cooking me awesome meals, taking things very relaxed and great having them around as usual.
Not many people know this, I had to take antibiotics for 3 days prior to the race to get over some bacterial infection I think I had, nuked it early on so I could race well as I have spent the better part of this year firstly qualifying for this race, but it was all geared around improving my swim and bike this year. I am a natural runner so when I want to I can run around 3.07 marathon off the bike but that's no good if I come off the bike where I have been in the past, so plan was to get faster in water, ride with better athletes and then run what feels good for me. It's working and another year of this approach and I'll be up there I think.
I have had a good year of results even after losing my Mom in June and doing Ironman UK after that.
Race day arrived I was fresh. Looked like a hot day, but it's always hot so no bother really. Turned out to be around 35-40 deg most of day.
Swim was horrible at the start, it's normally carnage but today I got pushed down under bodies and had no where to go. I went into panic mode, seized a bit, no space two swim but managed to pull out of it but that was the pack gone and swam easy back home. Swam a 1.08, same as last time but felt easy and I see most people swam slow this year so I wasn't bothered.
Onto bike, easier conditions this year, winds not as brutal and heat felt manageable at times. Amazing aid stations, ice cold water the whole 180km was fantastic and I got my eating spot on, no stomach problems so feeling confident from 2009!
Did a PB on bike by over 20mins to 2009, but felt good and strong, no pain through the ride and didn't go into discomfort which is quite rare!
Some facts from bike:
Took 25 salt tablets during the 5hr23 bike.
Lost count amount of water!
Managed 350 calories an hour of food during bike
Onto the run, the first 10miles are hot, they are in town and no moving air so just stayed comfortable to save it, running 7.30miles I think, waited until I was out on the main highway the Queen K to see how I felt, if I was keeping nutrition in and not vomiting or feeling terrible. So far so good, thought I could manage a 3.30 marathon which would bring me close to my 10 hour mark of finish time.
Once out there I saw the real main guys struggling home, Chrissie in the lead and I decided after such a year I wanted to enjoy the rest of it and not go into pain. That's what I did, stayed steady, slowed a bit then just kept on the coke, gels and loads of ice each station.
Into the last mile, sun still up which was a good sign and I decided to see what I had left! Think it took me 6 mins to run it. Loved the last mile, felt like I was being lifted by the island all the way home. My family were all lined up along the finish straight which was electric, high fives all around, no stopping just flying!
Run facts during the 3h39 marathon:
8-10 salt tabs
Lots of water & ice
Coke
6 GU gels
No cramps this time, no medical tent either and a big PB on this brutal course by 40mins! Finish time 10hr18.
Ironman number 7 complete and recovering the best I have to date.
--
Great job at IM Kona! Valdora athletes Andy Brodziak, Jackie Pearce, and Tomaz Sinke all turned in some great times!
Great job at IM Kona! Valdora athletes Andy Brodziak, Jackie Pearce, and Tomaz Sinke all turned in some great times!
July 24, 2011 - 24 hours of Duathlon!
Valdora athlete James Smith takes 1st place at the 24 Hours of Duathlon in Wisconsin this past weekend!
James completed 14 duathlons and covered 198 miles in 24 hours.
Way to go Jim!
Race Report by Valdora athlete Matt Seeley - Wallace, MT 07/18/2011
Here is a quick report for the last two stages of the race last weekend:
My race in Wallace ended pretty well on Saturday. Another rival, Josh Tack, from Missoula showed up for the mass start hill climb up Dobson. He and I had just separated ourselves from the rest of the pack and were attacking and counterattacking each other into a fog of pain when a black bear casually walked out onto the road 100 yds ahead, stood up to check us out, and then ambled on across the road. It definitely added a new dimension to the race, but I can't really blame the bear for helping Josh just manage to drop me before the top of the climb. Unfortunately, I will not be the king of Dobson Pass this time around. Jarrod Nelson finished 3rd up the hill so that put me 2 points ahead overall going into the final downtown criterium stage.
Wallace did an amazing job with the criterium. They completely blocked off a 6 block downtown rectangle with nice wide streets, and installed 5 different building top speakers so the race announcer could be heard by spectators and racers around the entire course. Folks were lined up in front of the bars, shops, and restaurants to watch. Gwen and Isabel both got a thrill out of the one lap kid's race and then it was my turn to start at 6:15 pm. I felt great in race, but every time I established a small breakaway, the other riders refused to help because I was leading in the points so I had to drag others along. This is the nature of cycling and part of what makes it so dynamic, but it can be frustrating in my position without teammates. I knew Jarrod would likely win the final sprint, so that would mean I would have to get 2nd to hold my lead. With two laps to go, I tried one last desperate attack and almost got away, but when two guys reeled me in, I could only manage third at the line. Jarrod took the win so we had an overall tie on points and he was given the victory as the last event was the tie breaker.
Inspired by my current racing form, I will take Malia and Gwen and head to the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, OR this coming weekend. This 4 stage event (road race, TT, crit, road race) is one of the biggest in the northwest and I will be up against a field of 120 riders in the Cat 2 field. I will try to send a race report if folks are interested.
Matt
Race Report - Hercules Prologue TT
Silver Spokes Omnium - Stage 1
Wallace, ID - July 15, 2011
Last night's race was a new experience for me - super short and excruciatingly hard. The course consisted of a flat 2.5 mile time trial (1.25 out, a 180 degree turnaround on a narrow road, and then 1.25 back). This wasn't exactly the ideal venue for an ironman triathlete, but I had my brand new hot pink Valdora PHX2 to magnify every bit of explosive speed I my legs could dish out. On a bike that looks this flashy and fast, there is no choice but to go all out and I was very motivated to reward the new machine with a debut victory.
The field was fairly small, but I noticed a couple serious contenders with aero helmets and disk wheels. It looked like my biggest rival would be a Cat 1 sprint and short TT specialist from Bozeman, MT named Jarrod Nelson. After a short warm-up and a few hard intervals to get my body primed, I was on the line as the first rider on the course. I consciously focused on a conservative effort for the first 25 strokes and then dug in to ramp up the speed as fast as possible. Despite holding back, my start was still a bit too fast as I was soon cranking along at nearly 40 mph and then forced to fight through a wave of lactic acid and fatigue less than 1 mile into the course. I dug deep to hold maximum speed as I rounded the bend and saw the turnaround cone.
A few easier breaths at the turnaround revitalized my legs and I couldn't believe how powerfully the new PHX2 accelerated back to speed. I maintained a very hard, but steady tempo just over 30 mph into a light headwind on the way back and crossed the line feeling like I had left everything on the course. After the other riders crossed and the results were tallied, my finish time was 5:06 for 2.5 miles (just under 30 mph including dead start and turnaround) and amazingly this ended up givng me the victory by just 2 seconds over runner-up Nelson. Winning a TT by such a tiny margin, I have to give a big part of the credit to every little aerodynamic design advantage from Valdora. Or maybe it was the extra boost of power from the striking PINK color scheme. Either way I head into today's mass start Dobson hill climb and downtown criterium with a lead in the omnium points.
Matt Seeley
IM 70.3 Kansas
Jackie Pearce of Columbia, MO just finished 2nd in her A.G. and 16th OA (including pro's) with a time of 4:53.46. Fantastic race Jackie!
Proud to have you on a Valdora! *
Morrow Bay Tri
Congratts to Jay Fiscalini for his 2nd place A.G. finish and 12th OA at Morrow Bay. Nice job Jay! *
Payson Sprint Triathlon
Results of Valdora athletes:
Lincoln Murdoch, 3rd OA, 1st A.G.
Tom Galvani, 3rd A.G.
Matt Terminel, 3rd A.G.
Kendra Olson, 2nd A.G.
Great day for Valdora riding athletes! *
June 5, 2011 -
Valdora bikes 1st and 2nd place over all! Ukraine Long Distance Triathlon Championship
Valdora bikes win two divisions 2 top ten overall - Boulder Sunrise Triathlon
Valdora bike 1st place overall at 25th annual Norfok, NE Triathlon
Ukraine Long Distance Triathlon Championship -
Two Valdora bikes at this championship race. 2 Valdora bikes finsih ONE / TWO overall !!
1st Place over all - Andriy Yastrebov, 2nd Place over all - Anatoliy Nesterov!
Andriy has promised us a race report to be posted soon....
Boulder Colorado
The two Valdora bikes at this weekends Boulder Sunrise Triathlon - both claimed 1st place division finishes as well as top 10 Overall
finishes!!
Norfolk, NE
Lincoln Murdoch does it again with an overall win at the 25th annual Norfolk, NE Triathlon!
June 29, 2011
Valdora's Lincoln Murdoch triumphs in epic 172 mile race. Read more on the challenges he faced in his blog:
March 27, 2011
Vestancia Sprint Triathlon
Peoria, Arizona USA
Winter is over! Coach Leo Jenkins of Tri Yoga Endurance from Golden Colorado get's his feet wet with his first triathlon of the season. Finishing 3rd overall, it would appear Leo is off to a good start!
Cameron Ingram of Kapolei
Cameron Ingram of Kapolei, HI not only completed his first full IM at Vineman on July 31, he did so in good fashion. Taking 11th in his AG and 76th overall, Ingram finished in a time of 11:51:11.6 on his PHX. Nice race Cameron! 
Longhorn IM 70.3
It was another great day for Valdora athlete Brad Seng, who has been having a tremendous season. Brad was the top American male, finishing 7th overall. He finished in 4:04:45 for the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run. Brad was using this race as final prep for IM Florida in Panama City Beach on Nov. 6. He will be joined there by fellow SportBean teammates Jessica Jacobs and another Valdora Pro Daniel Bretscher.
(Pictured above is Pro Brad Seng. Photo taken at an earlier event).
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