Tim Schopen enroute to a 5th place finish at the Wildcat Epic 100 mi. MTB Race
Featured Athletes Erica Ruge and Shawn Jackson, as well as Race Team Member Raphael Bingert and Brian Kuczma qualified for the event back in June. Brian will be racing Timberman 70.3 to prepare for his first Ironman in Sept as the others tackle the best in the country.
We wish them well!
Hy-Vee Triathlon - US 5150 Championships:
2011 marks the first year for the 5150 series. Athletes around the world have competed at select events and only the top athletes are offered to compete for the series championships on Sept. 4th in Des Moines, Iowa.
Both Kelly Heady and Vinni Schek qualified at the Nautica NYC Triathlon.
Congrats Ladies!
West Point Triathlon:
409 athletes took on the 2011 West Point Triathlon. Of those, five Team Bikeway.com athletes shined at the race including Mark Donohuge's son Rowan qualifying for the Championship Wave at the ToughKids Championships.
Overall Results:
4. 1:10:56 Shawn Jackson
28. 1:18:34 Erica Ruge 1st O/A Female
48. 1:23:27 Mark Andrews 1st O/A AG
59. 1:25:06 Dave Fernekes 6th O/A AG
255. 1:43:16 Vinni Schek !st O/A AG
290. 1:46:23 Mark Donohuge
Mark's Race Report:
I had a great race after barely training for the prior two weeks. Even with the rain.
My legs were, and still are, rebelling (cramps, tightness, etc). Too much, too soon with regards to cycling. I went from 12-14 mile rides straight to 25+ mile threshold rides after they opened the new section of rail trail. Add some hilly runs to that and my legs were pretty much toast.
I was going to pass because the 800-yard swim is the longest I would have attempted. I hadn't been in the water since Hudson Valley. I was chickening out big time.
Then I took my son Rowan to the kids tri on Saturday (more on that later). I even gave him the Yankz laces I bought from you last month for two reasons: (a) I was resigned not to race the next day, and (b) to keep him from doing another bike leg barefoot - he did this at the Hopewell tri after he couldn't get his shoes on fast enough.
Then I got caught up in the atmosphere and decided if I wasn't going to try for a PR then I would at least do a leisurely triathlon (if there wasn't such a thing before, there is now). Ironically, I had the best race so far this season.
I finished 290/462 so, still solidly MOP (BOP for my AG).
Swim: 22 min. This is what I usually do in the pool where I get an extra breath every 15 yards. I purposely went slow -- slower than I wanted even. It was the easiest swim I've ever done.
Bike: 51 min. I averaged just over 18mph. This is faster than both prior races. And, it was pouring. AND, I was intentionally going slow to save my legs.
Run: 30:18. This is the fastest 5K I've run ... ever!
Not stellar times compared to Erica and Shawn's but, for me, unexpected. This was the first time I'd finished the bike leg and felt good about running (the Yankz worked great by the way!).
I'm puzzled but happy.
The real good news is about my son, and future Bikeway featured athlete, Rowan. He got third place, boys 7-10, in his second tri ever. He would have won first but he got swamped in the swim start and ended up toward the back of the pack. It was tragic but funny. Twice his head popped out of the water with this WTF?!?!? look on his face. He was 11th in the bike (on his new "vintage" 1986 steel jobby with wheelchair tires !!!) and he crushed the run -- 1st overall. He wasn't even winded afterward. The kid flies. He is my triathlon hero.
Rowan qualifies for the Champions Wave at the ToughKids championship on Sept. 10. He's totally excited to compete.
My racing is done for the season. I'm going to nurse my legs back to normal and concentrate on losing weight. I think I will try for the ToughMan in 2012.
See you around,
Mark D.
Wildcat 100 MTB:
Tim Schopen placed 5th at the Wildcat 100 mi MTB race. The event traveled 50 mi on both Saturday and Sunday around the Greater New Paltz Area.
"The race was EPIC!" said a exuberant Tim. "My Bikeway bike made all the difference."
No comments:
Post a Comment