Stonebridge Sprint: USAT Texas State Championship

Some of the crew at the O.G. I put down 3 bowls of the "Never Ending Pasta".

The elite wave of swimmers swimming past the mansion on the lake.

East Texas Triathletes racked up some bling with Jeff Waskowiak 2nd 20-24 male and Lindsey Moore 2nd 20-24 Female.

With my buddy Jeremy Bosco and his first open water triathlon.

This weekend me and my buddy Jeremy traveled to McKinney to compete in the Stonebridge Sprint triathlon, this year it was chosen as the Texas State Championships, so a good opportunity to move up in the South Midwest Rankings. That night we at the Olive Garden and I put down 3 bowls of whole wheat liguine and meatballs, it was awesome, but my goal was to atleast tie my old teammate RJ Cowan from the UT Tyler Cross Country team. After we got we laid around on the floor at my buddy JMAC's apartment and watched some of "Wedding Crashers" funny movie, no doubt.

I had a decent swim for me, not terrible and I sighted reasonably well. We had the sun in our face on the way back, I was using the person beside me to sight off of. Went 12.10 for 750 meters. Out onto T1 there was supposedly wetsuit strippers available but I missed them somewhere, so did other people. I was trying to beat my buddy Jacob who had an off day, I heard Aaron yell he's up 1 minute, I never thought I was going to catch him. The transition was long and down a steep down hill, when I got my wetsuit off my chip came off too. Thankfully a guy was by my rack watching and told me.

Onto the bike it felt like I could hardly breathe and it was an uphill start. I had a hard time getting into my shoes so I just waited until it got more flat. I caught up to my buddy Jacob around 3 miles and slowed down some, I think I was a little shocked I caught up to him, but he's been sick this week so we have to try again soon. I was hoping he was leading the race and I was having a stellar day, turns out there about 5 more guys way up the road. On the second 6 mile loop around a guy was on the left side and I was trying to pass him. I yelled "On your left" several times I tried to squeeze between him and a cone and made it but his aero bars hit my right leg, but luckily he didn't go do down and we became friends after the race. I think I could have hammered a bit harder. Finished out the 12 mile, two loop course in 24.9 mph for 28.58. In T2 I followed one guy out and it was the wrong way. They told us afterwards we were getting a 1 minute penalty for our time but they never added, it turns out also the first two guys must have done the same thing because we all got INC's for our T2 times.

I think the course was long for us. It says I ran the 5k in 20.17, no way did I run that bad. It did seem the first mile was all uphill and then I got a sharp side stitch that almost brought me to a stop. I felt like I was running good before that. I was able to pick it up again around the half way mark, I got extra motivated when I saw some guys at the turn around that didn't seem too far away behind me with good run turnover's.

The end result came out 3rd Overall, with a time of 1:03.50

Complete results can be viewed here. http://www.mychiptime.com/display_race.php?eID=3946&show=combined&division=Sprint+Age+Group+F++1-19

Thanks to JMAC for letting us crash at his place and Coach Poulsen for helping me train and race better and to SBR Multi Sports for helping me look super cool in the high tech apparel.

I only have two races left, the next one is the U.S. Open in Dallas in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to help Baby Scotty Brown fight neuroblastoma, by going to his Caring Bridge sight on the right hand corner of my web page.

Cedar Creek Lake OWS Clinic Last Sunday

Last Sunday after church hours about 6 locals showed up for me teach them through a grueling 2.5 hour session of open water training. The 1 hour I had planned quickly turned into 2.5 hours as I my list was long of things I wanted cover and I wanted to be sure they had it down, or at least enough where they could practice with it on there own later. We went over all kinds of things from basic body position, sighting, mechanics, and even starts. I told them from the beginning the swimming portion is my hardest part of the triathlon but I've learned a lot from a variety of individuals and it's coming along. Most of people I worked with were looking a lot better by the time I finished working with them. It's always great to see progress being made, some people this was there first open water swim and for them to build confidence in the water was great to see.

Here is what a few people said about it or me through facebook, email, or discussion forum.

Hi William, I went swimming today @ the Cain center to get a 250 yd time. I wore my tri suit and tried to work on what you taught me Sunday. I still have a long way to go but my 225 meter time was 4.34. I thought I miscounted my laps so I waited 5 minutes and did another 225, this time it was 4.44. Wow you don't have a clue to how much you helped me. All I can say is that I owe you one. Thank you so much for your help and good luck this weekend. Steve

William...thanks for putting on a great clinic today!!! Ready to apply what I learned and start seeing improvement :)

Hello!
I know everyone knows William and those who know him very well will describe him as a very disciplined man.
To me the time that he has spent with all of us at the lake has been very valuable. He is a very good teacher and very patient. Those are very good virtues.
I don't want to talk for all of us but he has earned a lot respect from me.
Thanks once again.Rocio Mullins
Keep fighting the good fight

So teaching the open water with the Cedar Creek Lake locals was fun, we will do it again. Now I gotta get mentally prepared for the Stonebridge Sprint this weekend.

Cheers!

WR

New Place with New Mates!

I just moved into a new place this week, not far from where I used to live in Gun Barrel City, Tx where tobacco is the city flower, and where you find crystal meth in just about every neighborhood, and going to Walmart is like going to view a freak show for free.

Meet my new roommates. This is Josh.

Josh is a graduate from East Texas Baptist University and is part of the Eustace ISD faculty where he is physical education teacher and the Head Cross Country coach with a young team who are ranked 2nd in the District.

He is also a real good runner how has a lot of potential to be a great triathlete. He has done a few triathlons in the last couple of years, on a borrowed a bike. I need a training partner, someone who can push me out here in the sticks. We know triathlon equipment can be expensive, so if you have anything like a wetsuit or a tri bike you would like to donate or sale then let me know.

This is Jimmy!

Jimmy is a Texas A&M graduate and part of the Mabank ISD faculty where he is a science teacher and also the tennis and basketball coach. He likes to grill steaks and he just got a 2009 Camaro.

Despite all the rain we have been having in Texas this past week training is going well and I haven't missed a workout because of it. Coach Brent Poulsen had me on the track yesterday trying to sharpen up some speed and I super excited about racing in DFW next weekend in the Stonebridge Ranch triathlon, which is also the USAT Texas State Championships.

Nearly 350 Take Part in Rose City Triathlon

This was in Sunday's Tyler Morning Telegraph. You can also view the complete age group results by clicking here. http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=216359&rsID=83742

Nearly 350 Take Part In Rose City Triathlon

LAKE TYLER -- The East Texas Triathletes team hosted its Second Annual Rose City Triathlon Saturday at Lake Tyler.

The USA Triathlon event benefited Hospice of East Texas. A total of 347 competitors, more than double of last year's 163, took part in the 650-meter swim, followed by a 14 mile bike leg and a 3.1 mile run. Despite persistent rain, many spectators cheered the triathletes during the swim and run portion of the day.

The 29 & under class begins the 650-meter swim during the second annual Rose City Triathlon Saturday at Lake Tyler.

Chauncey Deller finished first in the men's division, finishing with a time of one hour and 2.53 seconds, followed by 2008 Robert E. Lee graduate Brady O'Bryan, who finished in a time of 1:03.48 and UT Tyler cross country coach Bob Hepler (1:05.20).

Karen Robertson, from Grapevine, finished first in the female overall with a time of 1:18.19. She was followed by Natalie Bach from Marshall (1:21.31) and Joanna Hamilton from Mesquite (1:21.38).

The race was promoted as beginner-friendly, and included a relay team category which encouraged participants who otherwise wouldn't have competed. The Tyler Bicycle Club supplied cyclists to team up with local swimmers and runners to form the relay teams.

The conditions forced a last-minute altering of the swim course, but Kami Nedbalek of East Texas Triathletes said director Steve Farris oversaw a successful race.

"Steve's many years of triathlon experience prepared him well for the challenges of directing a race with such an increase in the number of participants," Nedbalek said.

Major sponsors for the race included: Peltier Nissan, East Texas Medical Center, American Gold and Diamond, Farris Machine, Hossley-Embry Attorneys and Counselors, Urology Tyler, PA, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Syler Veterinary Clinic, Alan's Lawn & Landscape, Arlington Physicians, Texas State Optical and Racquet and Jog.

Rose City Triathlon

With Lance V. and Marck M. in the post race tent.
with my mom and her jack russell dog.


Alan Harris handing me the 1st 25-29 Male award while John Cobb is announcing.

Fellow triathletes from the Cedar Creek Lake, glad to see we are growing in numbers. Early in the race, cruising at 5.35 pace, couldn't seem to make the legs go any faster.

Coming not last out of the swim, training is paying off. The start of the 20-29 and relay swim wave. Got kicked in the eye as soon as we started.

Lance and I made the trip Tyler Friday night and ate at the Olive Garden. I had the "Never ending Pasta Bowl" with whole wheat liguinie. I asked the waiter, so this means I can keep eating and eating until I can't any more right? He was like yeah, so on my second plate it was about 1/2 smaller than the first one and I said "You don't think I can eat a full plate." He was like "No, but I don't know where your gonna put it though. "

I had rained all Friday night and started raining early Saturday morning which made conditions for the race less than optimal, but we carried on the event with a great success. This race was stacked with good young athletes and old ones too. I had a good swim start for the first 0.5 seconds just like I had learned until someone's foot came back and kicked me in the eye, I settled into a good pace, my form seems to be coming along and I felt really strong all way until the last turn, when I was getting tired. Eric Deller was drafting of me, but I didn't at the the time but he kept hitting my feet and the last time he did it was a little hard, so I gave him a good kicking' and tried to tackle me or something and he came up beside me and I realized it was him a good buddy, haha. It happens. But last year he beat me by over a minute out of the water with wetsuits, I swam about the same time as I did last year without one so that is good progress I suppose. I was 11th OA out of the whole thing of the swim with 11.12. Off into T1 passed up my bike but quickly found it and I was off.

The bike course was slick, so going around the curves and turns a little cautiously slowed me down a bit. One time, I took a curve too wide and though I was going to run off the road, just glad no other cyclist were coming in the opposite direction at the time. It was also hilly, it had rolling hills the East Texas kind, I was out of the saddle a few times, I was supposed to stay in aero as much as I could but the hills slowed me down a bit but still managed over a 23 mph time in 36.30 for the 3rd fastest bike. Into T2, I went down the wrong row dang it, lost a few seconds there and almost went in the wrong direction heading back out, gotta remember to rehearse these things a little better. I think I could have gone a bit faster but it was more of a bike handeling issue for me in the crappy weather.

The run course was pretty much pancake flat, except my shoes were soaked and I was sliding around in them. I thought I would catch Saroni, but he is in cross country and it is obviously paying off as he had a faster run split than I. I felt really good actually for coming off the bike, but couldn't make my legs go any faster. It must be from the 10k pace work I've been doing. I felt like I could hold it for another 3 miles. Managed to run a 17.20, 5k which is about 5.35 per mile, which put me with the 6th fastest run, the first time my bike has out performed my run. Now only if I can get my swim up there.

I finished 5th overall in 1:06.47, which is over 3 minutes faster than last year, thanks to a better bike and training. UT Tyler graduate Chauncey Deller blasted a new course record by 3 minutes in 1:02 and change, followed by last year's winner Brady O'Bryan, then it was the UT Tyler XC/Track Coach Bob Hepler, who still has it going strong in his mid 40's, and then the youngster Mark Saroni in 4th, all were good strong runners and I couldn't make any ground up, I actually lost ground.

Thanks to my parents for coming out to support me and for the East Texas Triathletes Club Steve Farris, Duke Gill, Alan Harris, Matt Madison, Clint & Gina Bolton, John Cobb, and many others for making the Rose City Triathlon a great success even with the crappy weather. Let's not forget the many sponsors who donated lots of money, food, door prizes and many other items. Also the Good Lord for not letting the weather get too crazy and for no wrecks (that I know of).

As you may know, I am racing this last part of my season for Scott James Brown also known as "Baby Scotty" visit his link here to check his progress. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyscotty. You can donate through the website or send money through Key Bank that is mentioned on the website. The lastest news is the neuroblastoma cancer (rare cancer) had reduced a lot so keep him your prayers and hopefully he will fully recover. Thank you so far to the ones who have contributed at the Olympic Center desk where I work or who have sent it in mail or through online donations you are greatly appreciated.

Next up, since I know I need to work on my short course racing, I am doing another sprint in a couple of weeks in McKinney, Tx in the DFW area it's the Stonebridge Ranch Tri: Texas State Championships for a lot of SMW points, so I'm hoping for better weather there.