29th Annual Real Florida 5k & 10k in Wekiwa Springs

Cold start at 37 degrees for my bagel run (Thank you Panera Bread) but the temp rose by race start to 53'.  It was brisk though and we had 242 people start the 2 races.  I took off too fast as usual (8:06 first mile) but soon settled down by mile 3 on the Tramway.  I made the turn at marker 15 and began my singletrack journey back.  The 2nd waterstop was set up at the wrong place but I made good time, finishing with 56:31 for a 8:58 pace.  I placed 2nd out of 5 in my age group, 1:32 back.  Kevin Casey and his daughter Megan did the 5k and she won the 14 & under age group.  Great job Megan!

Hammered to the finish!

Megan and Kevin Casey

Superbowl Duathlon in Clermont

On Sunday, the Clermont Triathletes hosted their 2nd Annual Superbowl Duathlon.  This event consisted of a 2 mile run, 12 mile bike, and a 2 mile run.  I asked my friend Kevin Casey to join me and his daughter Megan decided to compete also.  The race was held at Lake Louisa State Park, just south of Clermont on US 27.  This is a loosely organized training event so a good time was the goal.  However, since Clermont is now a hotbed of pro triathletes residing there, a number of very fit people with very serious gear showed up.  The rain ended at midnight but it stayed at 44'f for the entire race with an overcast sky and gusty winds; not really Florida conditions.  We all took off on the first run together but were strung out within a 1/2 mile.  I did the 2 mile run quickly but still felt cold getting on the bike.  My bike speed suffered on the first lap, feeling cold and bundled, and it did pick up on the second lap.  I ditched the heavy bike jacket for a windbreaker on the final run (forgetting my gloves in the process) but running hard warmed me up quickly.  I caught the guy that passed me on the bike and finished in 1:22:16.  Kevin and Megan finished a bit after me with Megan flying across the line.  Hopefully, next year's event will be warmer than today.  We then adjourned to the Planet Smoothee inside the National Training Center for refueling.

Kevin and his daughter Megan   (Note flag blowing)

Very cold day!

Start/Finish area.

The SPEED and I.

Megan runs hard to the finish!

Everyone had a good time!

Clermont Tri Series surprise!

A surprise package arrived in the mail last week from Sommer Sports in Clermont.  A nice beach towel accompanied by a note stating that I placed Third in the 4-race Clermont Sprint Series.  My finishes were 4th, 6th, 8th, and 7th but I gathered enough points by doing all the races for a 3rd.  Looking forward to next year!

# 136 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in September

Saturday, September 12, was the final triathlon of the 4 race series put on by Sommer Sports.  My training was slightly compromised by my taking 3 different prescription medications so I approached the race with a bit of trepidation.  I'm always happy getting to Clermont early and get set up so with registration opening at 5:45, I left the house at 4:45.  Sommer Sports was organized as usual and everything was effortless.  I set up my bike in transition and then met my friend Kevin Casey who was also competing.  The eastern sky began to brighten and we headed over to Lake Mineola for the start.  There was a big crowd as usual but the start went off on time, with me being in the third wave.  My swim went well, taking 10:29 before the long run to the bike.  I again rode my Moulton SPEED, enjoying zipping along the lakeshore and then hitting the hills.  Averaging 17.40 mph over the course, I returned to transition to start my run.  At the beginning, I was following a guy who's leg/age was either 53 or 63.  He was pulling ahead of me and I didn't want to blow up in the first mile, so I ran my own pace.  I gathered speed after the turnaround but didn't see anyone ahead or behind that I was concerned about.  However, just before the finish, Mike Pettis passed me and I surged hard down the chute, beating him by one second.  My 1:16:46 was good for a 7th place out of 13 but I know if I was feeling better, I would have gotten 6th.

Quietly waiting

Jack and Kevin

Big field!

Kevin at the finish!

The Moulton and I.

# 135 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in August

Good but not great triathlon yesterday in Clermont.  All the usual fast guys showed up with a few additions.  Dr. Randall Brown, who I've raced against many times was there, so I knew I'd have some serious competition.  A bit breezy to start so there was a little chop on the water, adding a bit to my swim time, and the breeze made the bike harder, resulting in my slowest average speed, 17.6 mph, this year. The breeze even slowed my speed off the big hill to 37.4.

I felt good coming off the bike and Randy was 2:06 ahead of me.  I pushed hard and saw him at the turnaround on the run, giving me the eye.  With him in my sights, I really pushed it and at the bend in the course, I saw him turn and he spotted me closing.  We then battled the last half mile and I got to within 9 seconds when we hit the finish line; I finished 8th out of 16 with a 1:16:43, my slowest time for the 3 races.  Time to ramp up the training for the final September race!

The Ken Junkins/James Mayer battle continued for 1st with Ken beating James this time. Race #4 should be quite a battle.

I'm right in the center of the photo.

The AM SPEED performed perfectly!

# 134 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in July

Today was # 2 in the 4 race series in Clemont.  This always presents an interesting training review as all 4 races are the same distance and the same course.  All four of my nemesis' (nemesi?) were there, Ken Junkins, James Mayer, Will Hathaway, and Charles Best.  I finished 4th last month to them (Will had a flat) so I was able to approach this event with a goal of improving my time.  Kevin Casey was there too.  The race went according to plan, with me taking a little time off each of the three legs and even both transitions.  My final time was 1:14:14 which was more than 2 minutes faster than last month.  I rode the Moulton SPEED again, going from an average of 17.7 mph to 18.3 over the same course.  I maxed out at 39 mph coming down the big hill!  Oddly enough, I ended up with 6th out of 19; last month I was 4th out of 17.  The fast guys finished 1-2-3-4 and a guy from Sebring was 5th.  I would have caught him if the run was longer so I'll be watching for him next month.

Big crowd

A guy actually recognized the Moulton!

Kevin on a slant

Race is done!

# 133 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in June

This was the first Clermont Sprint Tri of 2015.  Big turnout, with 469 finishers, on a beautiful day.  I brought the Moulton AM SPEED for it's second test for this year.  All my tough competitors, Ken Junkins, James Mayer, and Will Hathaway were here; James won the Tomoka Tri three weeks previous to my third place and Ken has been beating me for years.  Lots of friends from Seminole County Triathletes raced also.
Men 50+ were in the last wave, number 8.  Quite a lot of people on the swim but I finished in 10:05 and headed out on the bike.  This is a very hilly course with several long, steep climbs and I averaged 17.7 mph with a max speed of 38.6!  Passing people elicited a lot of comments about the Moulton too!  New bike finish had us turn before the old finish with a bit of a longer run in.  And the run is a new course with no hills and a straight out and back on the bike trail.  Ran the 5k leg in 26:00 (8:22 splits) and  finished with a 1:16:23.  This placed me in fourth place out of 17 in my age group.  Ken and James finished over 10 minutes ahead of me, 2 seconds apart.  Will Hathaway DNF'd and Charles Best got the third with 1:09:05.  Really had a great time!

Racked and ready!

Running in after the swim.

Heading out on the bike.

Back from the hilly ride!

Strong finish!

Susie from Seminole County Triathletes.

Thank you Dr. Moulton!