Women

Off Season Training Tips from a Pro

January 23rd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Raquel Tavares-Torres, Team OAM Now Professional Tri-athlete

When the temperature drops and the snowy days come, a lot of triathletes take the season off, but some, those who still have goals and races, need to train, no matter the weather conditions. The question is, how, when we live in a place that experiences all four seasons, do we train through the winter, especially when it can be cold and harsh?

Keeping in mind that we are all different, including our styles, levels, preferences, and goals, after more than a year racing as a ITU professional triathlete, I would like to share my experience training in Michigan to prepare for races in hot and humid places.

Last year (winter 2013), after more than a decade out of sports, I finished my first ITU race in the Dominican Republic, with only a couple of months of training. Due to lack of experience and preparation, as well as a few mistakes, I finished in a respectable place, but suffered from heat stroke. I completed the last 5k of the run, but I have no memory of it. The worst feeling of my life was when I woke up in the medical tent with my body out of control, dizzy, and feeling like I was dying.

Even if you don’t have a race in a hot place, you can take the advantages of the winter which is what I do now, and train in the cold conditions. The key word in the off season is adaptation.
Read the rest of this entry »

Team OAM Now Strong Representation on the Podium at Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic

January 14th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Dan Yankus, Team OAM NOW Nordic Skier,

The first weekend of nordic ski racing kicked off on January 10 & 11, and Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors started off great, with 4 different teammates winning races. In both The Frosty Freestyle and the Krazy Klassic, Team OAM Now skiers took first place in both groups, with the women managing two spots on the podium for both races. Both days were raced on the Huron Meadow Metropark 2.5km man-made ski loop. It is, however, no ordinary man-made loop; it features a constructed hill and boasted some of the best grooming we may see this year.

The Frosty Freestyle 12km opened up the race season on Saturday with a 6 lap race and a cold windy morning to greet us. The men’s race started with a large group of 8 which, over the course of the first 5 laps, whittled down to 4. Alex Vanias created a gap in the head wind on the home stretch with 1 lap to go and, once he got that gap, he was able to maintain it for the win. Left behind and chasing was teammate Daniel Yankus, who finished a handful of seconds behind in 2nd, with the remains of the lead group right behind him. Mike Davis, on his first groomed trails of the season, came in 17th and Jon Morgan, who had a solid start came away in 11th. The woman’s race started with a lead group of 3 for the first half when Kaitlyn Patterson went in to full on race mode. She was rewarded with a great win to open the season. Rebecca Davis, also on groomed trails for the first time, rounded out the podium in 3rd. The Krazy Klassic 10km on Sunday was a 4 loop race and we were greeted by some mid 20s temperatures and a lot less wind. The men’s race started completely different from the day before as Daniel Yankus pushed the pace from the gun. He was rewarded with a lonely ski and a 50 second win. Behind, Alex Vanias placed 6th and Mike Davis 8th, in a very competitive race. The top of the field really looked great. Jon Morgan matched the day before’s result in 11th with a solid ski. In the women’s race, Rebecca Davis not only pushed the pace, but was on a mission to show off her paddling skills with a 3 minute win. Kaitlyn Patterson, in her first classic race since high school, finished 2nd. Full Summary below! Frosty Freestyle 1. Alex Vanias 2. Daniel Yankus 11. Jon Morgan 17. Mike Davis 1. Kaitlyn Patterson 3. Rebecca Davis Krazy Klassic 1. Daniel Yankus 6. Alex Vanias 8. Mike Davis 11. Jon Morgan 1. Rebecca Davis 2. Kaitlyn Patterson Congratulations to Team OAM Now for such a strong showing out of the gate!

Team OAM Now’s Elaine Sheikh Places Second at Yankee Springs Winter Challenge

January 12th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Triathlete

January 3rd dawned with a dreary mix of snow and freezing rain. As I squinted through my windshield, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I didn’t want to drive in that weather, but for some reason I still wanted to go run 25K on what would, undoubtedly, be slick, slushy, and brutally hilly trails.

I hadn’t really planned on racing the 2015 Yankee Springs Winter Challenge. Between recovering from an injury and the demands of veterinary school, I hadn’t run trails in months and hadn’t run longer than 11 miles since October. Still, two days before race registration closed, a friend talked me into signing up. My choices were the 10K, 25K, 50K, or 50 miler. I was in no shape to be running an ultramarathon, so I opted for the 25K. Of course, when I signed up, the trails were dry and free of snow.

On race morning, conditions were different. It was cold and drizzling rain onto the already snow covered ground, turning the trails into a slushy, slippery mess. People were hiding in their cars or in the lodge before the race to try and stay dry for as long as possible. I did a quick warm-up, then, as usual, trotted over to the start line fewer than three minutes before send-off. My original plan was to just enjoy a well-marked, supported long run through the woods. However, my competitive spirit arrived just as I lined up. I slid towards the front of the pack and scouted out my competition. My main competitor would be the stellar runner Emily Machiela. An experienced marathoner, ultrarunner, and Ironman triathlete, I knew she’d be both more comfortable on the trails and with the distance than I was. Still, she would be my carrot.

The race is a classic trail race. There aren’t any fancy timing chips or air horns, just a bunch of passionate people doing what they love – trail running. Race director Kim Owens gave a 3-2-1 countdown, and we were off. I sped off the starting line in an attempt to get a good seeding before we hit singletrack, where passing would be difficult. Emily put a good amount of distance on me off the start. I didn’t see her again until the finish, where she won the women’s field. I looked at my watch and settled into my pace for what would be a long couple of hours.

The next two hours consisted of slipping around switchbacks, sliding down and staggering up hills, trying to find solid footing. I was glad I had a pretty aggressive trail shoe, the Salomon Fellraiser. The race would have been much more difficult in a road shoe. Being out of practice with trail running, I forgot how inaccurate my GPS watch would be. I kept checking my pace, and according to the watch, I was going rather slowly. However, my heart rate was very high and I knew I needed to keep it in check to endure 15.5 miles. I decided to take the stress off myself and just run as hard as I was comfortable with. Instead of skipping aid stations or running through them, I stopped, talked to the volunteers, and savored the water and Gatorade they provided. I confess I was pleasantly surprised to see the finish line when I thought I was at only at 14.6 miles! Lesson learned – listen to your body; technology can be unreliable.

I finished with an official time of 2:16:37, which placed me in 2nd for women overall. I stayed at the finish line and chatted with two men I had run near for most of the race. Then, I realized that it was still raining and I was cold and wet, so I headed to the lodge to find teammate Roxane Kippen, who had run the 10K and finished 5th woman overall with a time of 56:33. As a bonus, there were vegan cookies and the best vegetarian chili I’ve ever had!

A huge thanks goes out to Switchback Endurance for another great race. The volunteers, as always, were amazing – it isn’t easy standing out there in the cold rain for hours on end directing parking, manning aid stations, directing runners, marking courses, or all of the other jobs that go into pulling off a race. The sure did deliver though; it was, as advertised, quite the “winter challenge.”

Iceman: A test of grit and determination

November 13th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Collin Snyder, Team OAM NOW Elite Men’s cyclist

Some races, it’s all about tactics. Being in the right spot at the right time. 2014’s Iceman was not one of those races. With temperatures hovering in the mid 30’s and rain starting the night before and lasting late into the day, this year’s edition was a test of determination, grit, and survival.

The typical race day preparations went out the window as a steady drizzle greeted racers as we made our way to Kalkaska. The crowd of riders warming up down M72 were absent this year. When we arrived at the start, riders were huddling in the warm, delaying the inevitable. I throw an extra jacket and some huge gloves on and tried to do a small warmup without getting completely drenched. I tool around and swing by the start area. I figured with the nasty conditions, people would skip the normal race to the start line 30 minutes before the gun. I was wrong. I figured the gains in a couple positions would be offset by the early onset of hypothermia so I continue riding. I finish my warmup and make it to the line with a little less than 10 minutes to go which put me near the back of Wave 1. Eying the competition, my former team mate and last years Single Speed winner, Joe Sidel was nearly all the way to the front. I had my work cut out for me.

When the gun goes off, it was the normal 28 mph sprint for the first half mile of pavement. I did my best to gain as many positions as my 1 gear would take me. By the time we reach the first dirt section, I was near the front third of the field. Riders splashed through the infinite number of mud puddles covering everyone in a fine layer of mud. Instantly, everyone’s brakes start making a horrible grinding noise. This was just a small preview of what was to come.

Despite the weather, the dual trains down the opening two track were moving at full steam. I fought for position and moved up when I had the chance, but within the first 5 miles, the field had started to thin. I made it up to Joe and asked if any SS’ers were up the road. He says he tried his best to hold onto Greg Kuhn’s wheel, with no luck. Him and a small train got away and were way up the road. Once we arrive to the first single track section, traction all but disappeared. Riders became nervous and large gaps started to open up. At this point, it was a replay of last year between Joe and I. We work together/punish each other for the next 45 minutes. Both Joe and I’s brakes start going south and made the downhills nerve wracking at best. Normally, to move fast on a SS, you have to do a constant spin, spin, coast sequence. There was none of that today. With the soft trail and brakes that sounded like they were never fully retracted, only option was solid tempo riding. If you let off to coast at all, you’d ride backwards. It was ugly.

Shortly after Willimsburg Road, along the flat open powerline section, a group of 4 geared riders opened a gap on Joe and I and he shrugs and signals he can’t close it. This was it. I put my head down and get in time trial mode. I close the gap and ride their wheels for the next couple miles. When we got to the next single track section, I felt like these guys were holding me up. When we made it to the next climb, I made my move and pulled away from the four. I was on my own. For the last 10 miles, it was just me. My cadence felt good, and I knew that just maybe I could catch Kuhn up the road. I knew as long as I stayed upright on the descents, a podium was in the bag…easier said then done as, by this point, my brakes were completely gone.

Now it was just survival time. The trail had gone from bad to worse, and I was maybe in 10th place out of wave one. I can only imagine how bad this was going to be after 5000 more riders had passed through. The single track in the final couple kilometers had become un-rideable. I was riding one legged, trying to keep it upright. When the trail went up I had no traction so running was the only option. With 2k to go, someone yells Kuhn was just up the road. I’m in near panic mode. podium at iceman I give it everything I have left, but it was just a bit too late. I stop the clock at 2:05:15. Turns out, i was nearly 2:30 behind Greg, but a solid time none the less and good enough for 2nd place. Big congrats to Greg Kuhn of RBS Racing for having nearly the fastest non pro time, on a single speed no les,s and Joe Sidel of KLM Coldstone for holding onto third.

This is one of those races that you won’t forget. When I got home my bottom bracket was nearly seized and 3 out of 4 brake pads were down to the backing. My wheels are making a nice clicking noise each rotation and my clothes had about 10 pounds of dirt on them. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

This is the type of race that makes for stories you’ll talk about for years. Remember that one ride that you did a couple years ago where everything went okay, your bike worked flawlessly, and you got a somewhat respectable time at that one race? Of course you don’t. This one on the other hand neared Epic status. Did you miss it this year? If so, pray for horrible rain next year so that you can join the fun and tell glorious tales to your grand kids about how you survived treacherous downhills with no brakes while experiencing the early symptoms of hypothermia. Until next year.

jersey at iceman I’d like to give a huge shout out to all the OAM NOW rider’s who braved the weather along with anyone who raced. This was a year to remember.

TEAM RESULTS:

Collin Snyder – 2nd SS M 39&Under (new mens team member!)

Elaine Sheikh – 4th W 19-24 (new tri team member)

Terry & Cheryl – 4th tandem

Todd Anthes – 5th M 44

Kaitlyn Patterson – 10th W Pro (in the $$ and her 1st Iceman!)

Alex Vanias -17th M Pro

Cory Stange – 1st M19-24

Tristan Greathouse – 75th Pro (new mens team member)

Kevin Long – 9th M 51

Greg Neagos – 11th M54

Roxane Kippen – 13th W 35-39

Cricket Howard – 15th M 43

Loren Simons – 21st M 65-69

Larry Strayhorn – 34th M 55 (1st Iceman)

Scott Miller – 55th M43 (1st Iceman)

Matt Gunderson – 66th M 37

Brad Field – 67th M 28-29

Chuck Grzanka – made it all the way on his new fat bike while shepherding some friends new to Iceman

Bob Schultz – DNF – only time in 17 years at Iceman he didn’t make it to the finish

Leonard Van Drunen – DNF 1st Iceman, hope he tries again

Steve Buccella – DNF like Bob and Leonard suffered mechanicals

Team OAM NOW Snags Several Age Group Wins While Charlotte Long Takes 2nd Overall Women’s at Lowell 50 Classic

November 3rd, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Mike Steele, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

The 2014 Fall Lowell 50 Classic Dirt Road Race held on October 25th lived up to it’s name. With distances of 34 and 57 miles, racers competed against one another and, despite warmer than normal temperatures, battled legendary West Michigan winds. As the last big West Michigan race before Iceman, the field of racers could not have been more prepared.

With 18 team members racing in a field with over 500 racers, Team OAM’s presence was felt during the race, and seen on the podium.

Congratulations to 16 yr old Tristan Greathouse for his 6th place overall and 2nd place age group (“AG”) and Steve Buccella for his 2nd place AG finish in the 34 mile men’s race.

At the top of the women’s 34 mile race were Charlotte Long who took 2nd place overall and 1st place AG. Rounding out the women’s field were JoAnn Cranson 2nd place AG, Roxane Kippen with a 3rd place AG and Laura Melendez 4th place AG finish.

Those brave enough to tackle the 57 mile race faced howling winds from the west. Congratulations to Dave Stebbins for his 1st place AG and Glenn Dik for his 2nd place AG finish.

Many racers noted the extreme and brutal winds and the affect it had on overall outcomes. According to Roxane Kippen, TEAM OAM multi-sport team captain, “Staying out of the wind was crucial to ending up on the podium. It was painful to push hard and stay on a wheel or in a group, but well worth it! It would have been 10 times worse pushing into the wind alone. The first steep climb left a lot of carnage with cross bikes struggling to grab the loose gravel on the 12-14% grade. Riders were crashing off their bikes, running into each other, and it was a battle to find room to ride and stay on the bike up the entire climb. At this point, I was really happy I was on my 29er and successfully navigated the carnage.”

As for me, I enjoyed an early morning helping Race Founder/Promoter Jeff Zvirzdinis set up the start/finish then marshaling several corners on the course. I even had the pleasure of testing out my post-insurane career in broadcasting as the finish line voice of the Lowell 50… sorry for all those butchered last names. Finally, a big thanks to Jim Allan who both raced and volunteered, and Bob Schultz for marshaling the transition corner, even if he had a dead battery.

The next Lowell 50 Classic race is April 11, 2015. We’re hoping for another great race, another great showing, but hopefully less wind.

Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Cyclists Rack Up More Podiums at Peak 2 Peak

October 26th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM NOW Tri-athlete

Expectations for the weather were low leading up to Peak 2 Peak, with temps averaging in the low 40s and rain predicted for most of the weekend. While the rain held off, racers still had to contend with the mercury below 40 and a chilly breeze. Alex Vanias and I lined up for the Pro/Elite women’s and men’s race which started together. Both races had strong fields including defending champions MacKenzie Woodring and Cole House, winners of their respective events for 3 years running. I lined up next to Selene Yeager who writes Fit Chick for Bicycling magazine; she came in from Pennsylvania to race.

The course was wet from a week of rain, but it was hard-packed and fast, except for a muddy portion featuring a deceptively deep mud pit that ate wheels, shoes, and toe covers alive. The singletrack was fast and flowy with little elevation change, until the climb up the back side of the mountain. The chairlift took spectators up to the top of the mountain and made for an exciting atmosphere on the climb. The Elite and Expert racers did three laps each.

Woodring was off the front from the first lap while I rode within sight of Yeager for the first lap. Yeager went off course and didn’t hear our shouts which left me solo, in second. About three miles from the finish, Yeager reappeared and caught me; I couldn’t respond. Still, I was quite happy with my 3rd place finish considering this was the strongest field I’ve raced yet.

The lead pack of the men’s field was reduced to three after a lap and a half. Jorden Wakeley and Alex repeatedly countered Cole’s attacks until he broke away the final lap. Wakeley established a gap on the mud pit and held it for second while Alex took third.

In the women’s expert race, Charlotte Long had a strong race to finish second. Roxane Kippen stepped up to the expert race after racing sport earlier this year and finished a tough race in the middle of the field.

The race was deceptively tough, but overall it was a fun and well run event. It was my first Peak2Peak, but it’s, and the podium, are definitely on my list of places to return.

Team OAM Now’s Kaitlyn Patterson Claims KOM at Gravel Grinder, Places 2nd Overall

October 13th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

At the Gravel Grinder, part of the Michigan Mountain Mayhem Series, riders shared thoughts of mud, cold, rain, and an anticipation of a tough character-building ride during packet pickup early Saturday morning on October 4, 2014 in Boyne City. Thankfully, the sun began to peek out periodically and we even saw a rainbow!

The riders headed out on the full 60-mile ride which promised, and delivered on that promise, to be one of the most difficult cycling events in Michigan. Alex Vanias once again rode a strong race, taking an early position at the KOMs (including a 2-mile uphill ride to one of 5 KOMs). Alex ended up with a third place finish overall, first in his age group, in a very tough field. Continuing their run as the fastest cycling couple in West Michigan, Kaitlyn Patterson finished 2nd in the overall women for the 60-mile event and first, among the women, in KOM points during the race.

Kaitlyn Patterson

Marie Dersham approaches the finish

Alex and Kaitlyn weren’t the only Team OAM NOW riders , with the masters riders making a good show despite suffering several mechanical issues. Mike Krywanski had a flat about 20 miles into the race, and was seen carrying his bike over his shoulder for more than a mile on the sandy seasonal roads. He was rescued by his ever-faithful pit crew and given a new wheel to ride on. However, by that time he was to far behind and, ultimately, out of competition. Leonard Van Drunen also had challenges with chain droppings and a flat. He was rescued by team mate Marie Dersham and her CO2 air pump. Terry Ritter represented in the masters field with a good finish.

Congratulations to all the Gravel Grinders who competed in the inaugural event today. Great organization, good lunch, and warm heaters were available to all at the end of the race. This team with grit will continue to grind in the sand, dirt, and gravel. We’re already looking forward to next year.

Team OAM NOW’s JoAnn Cranston Break’s Records and is Heading to the National Senior Games

October 5th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By JoAnn Cranson, Team OAM NOW Cyclist

I’ve always loved bikes. I loved riding. I did long rides with friends. I didn’t set out to race. Then, just over 3 years ago, I entered my first race. I knew nothing. I knew no one. But, I learned. I learned that I could ride CAT 4; a category for new racers. I learned how to hop on a wheel and hold my line through the corners. I learned how to race. Since then, my passion for cycling has grown with every new challenge, and there are a lot of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is that racers my age are few and far between among the women. Because they do not offer a masters category for women, I race with women ages 16 through mid-life; this makes for a challenging field from the onset. Now that I have upgraded to CAT 3, I race with all the Pro/CAT 1,2,3 racers which pushes me to race hard and train harder. I love the racing. I love the challenge. Frankly, I am hooked.

Last year, I learned about the Senior Olympics (50 years old and up) where serious cyclists like me can race against people in their age group. This was incredibly appealing because I could really see how I race when pitted against my cohort. This year was the State Trials, in Clarkston, MI, where the top 4 places qualify for the Nationals (which are held every other year).

So, I planned my training, with Mark Olson of Athletic Mentors, around these trials. Just when I think I’ve hit my peak, Mark reminds me “There is still more potential in you for you to go farther.” We worked both on and off the bike, with my core and on my strength, which has allowed me to surpass the goals I’ve set, and set my eyes on new ones. Nothing proved this more than my trip to the state trials in Clarkston. Read the rest of this entry »

Team OAM NOW Turning Heads and Dominating the Podium at Michigan Titanium

September 11th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

The ISI Michigan Titanium Triathlon (MiTi) is in its third year and continues to bring high quality competitors to the city of Grand Rapids from all over the US and even Canada. Team OAM NOW faired extremely well in the field with 2 overall wins and two 2nd place overall finishes. The race offers a half iron distance (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run) and hosts the only full iron distance (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run) in the state of Michigan.

Race weekend kicked off on Saturday morning with a kids’ race that is part of the USA Triathlon Splash & Dash Aquathlon Series which introduces youth to the world of multi-sport with swim-run events. Team OAM NOW triathletes Amy Kimber, Cheryl Sherwood, Cricket Howard, Raquel Torres and Roxane Kippen all volunteered to help out with the race by assisting with race registration, setting up the finish line area, guiding kids around the run course and handing out finisher medals to all of the participants.

Sunday was the big event and, per the usual, athletes and volunteers headed to their positions in the dark. As the sun began to rise, Cheryl, Roxane and Bob Schultz paddled out onto Versluis Lake, where the swim would take place. While not racing the event, they did choose to give back by volunteering and supporting fellow teammates and other competitors by keeping them safe and keeping them on course in the water.

Alex Vanias completed his first full iron distance triathlon and finished 2nd, behind a professional triathlete who was the event’s defending champion. Read his blog about the grueling day. Kaitlyn Patterson

Kaitlyn approaches the finish

raced the half iron distance and blew away the field with a first place finish time of 4 hours 53 minutes in the women’s field, twenty minutes ahead of 2nd place. She also finished in the Top 10 out of all 251 participants in the half, including men, women and relay teams.

Team OAM NOW aquabike specialists, Cricket Howard and Kathy Kirk, both had strong performances. Kathy grasped the overall female win in the half distance aquabike and Cricket finished 2nd in the men’s field in the half distance aquabike. Often times, the aquabike finish is a bit anticlimactic because the race ends after the bike leg and usually the finish time is recorded as the athlete re-enters the transition area. This year, aquabike athletes had a special finish chute that allowed for them to dismount and cross the finish line with their bikes which provided a greater celebration for both participants and spectators.

Both Kaitlyn and Kathy felt their confidence growing throughout the race. After passing a number swimmers from the men’s wave, Kathy put her time trialing abilities to good use and continued to catch riders up the road. She caught a glimpse of her closest rival, last year’s defending champion, on the out-and-back portion of the route and felt good about being able to hold her lead. As she worked through her nutrition on the 56 mile bike course, which she has struggled with in the past, she felt the boost from each dose of calories and pushed harder with each one. Caloric intake is a race discipline in itself and fine tuning this can truly improve one’s overall performance.

Kathy Kirk

Kaitlyn also used the out-and-back section of the bike course to gauge her position and chased down the only other female in front of her, who happened to be on a relay team. Fearing she may have gone too hard on the bike, she was set at ease during the run once she was able to spot the 2nd place female and calculated her lead to be about 16 minutes. She finished out the run conservatively to avoid hitting the wall and ended up with a spectacular win in just her 2nd half iron distance race.

Overall, the MI Titanium turned out to be a fantastic day for Team OAM NOW and its athletes. With results like these, there’s plenty to look forward to in the future.

Boyne City Tri- Team OAM NOW Wins Age Groups and Overall Podiums

September 9th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

Falling one week after the Michigan Titanium, the Boyne City Tri had remained somewhat of a question mark on my calendar all summer. Hard races at MiTi for Alex (Vanais) and I had left us tired, but after we could walk normally again we decided to race this fun event. We both raced the inaugural Boyne City tri last year, and it is where we caught the tri bug.

The morning of the race was chilly and windy, but stayed dry. There were whitecaps on Lake Charlevoix as the swimmers, in colored caps, congregated on the beach. The race organizers tried to assemble an elite field, but it consisted only of one male and one female. Alex and I both remained in our age group fields as we don’t have elite licenses.

The waves and wind made for a rough swim and a significant amount of water ingestion. I was thankful the water was clean as I repeatedly took waves to the face. I saw many people clinging to buoys as they tried to gather themselves. Despite the difficult water conditions, I was the first one in my wave out of the water; it was a minor miracle. The field was small and the elite wave started earlier, but I’ll take it. Alex, on the other hand, had some chasing to do with four minutes to make up after the swim in the men’s field which was deeper.

The bike course began with a flat portion along the lake before some significant climbing later in the race. It was strange to be first out of the water and, as a result, I was definitely lacking a sense of urgency on the bike. My bike and run were solid and I kept the lead for the age group win, but was topped by the elite racer in the overall results.

Meanwhile, Alex was in a tight race. He had chased down the leaders with three miles to go on the run. Despite an amazing effort, the Ironman last weekend caught up with him and he couldn’t match the acceleration of one competitor resulting in a 3rd place finish overall, but first place in his age group. He still had the fastest bike and run splits of the field, including the elite racer.

Our OAM teammates also rocked the hills and waves in northern Michigan. Robyn pulled out an age group win despite fighting a cold. Chuck finished 11th overall with another age group win in the sprint tri.

Yet again Boyne City tri was a well run event with lots of support and a great atmosphere. All in all, it was another fun day with OAM teammates and a great way to conclude tri season!