Dr. Corrado
Dr Corrado works with and develops training programs for athletes at all levels. His athletes are always looking for the best way to fuel their training and optimize their recovery in order to compete at the highest level possible. The question they all ask most often is, “With so many supplements, sports recovery and energy drinks available to me, what, if anything should I be taking to provide for optimal recovery and performance?
As Dr. Corrado researched the market to determine the best formula or regimen for training, recovery and competition, he realized that something was lacking. While there were plenty of food and drink options out there claiming to, for example, optimize recovery, most of the products were supplements that contained formulations that had chemically refined sugar and sale byproducts that are retained by the body in an unhealthy way over the long term.
In his research, Dr. Corrado looked at the difference between synthetic and homeopathic methods of recovery in order to optimize training. He soon concluded it wasn’t what athletes were ingesting as much as how their body utilized the nutrients entering their body. “I changed my focus from looking for something synthetic —like a power drink—to aid in recovery, to looking a how our bodies are optimizing performance from the foods we eat.”
In 2008, Dr. Corrado and his partners launched BioGenix Sports Optimization, a Sports Recovery and Performance Company that develops specialized sports recovery systems: not just another sports enhancement supplement. The concept behind BioGenix products is that they work on the molecular level. The products work to enhance our bodies, so that we are better able to maintain hydration and electrolytes.
The system that feeds us energy is called the ATP system, hydration and electrolytes regulation. BioGenix Systems are designed to stabilize and maximize that energy system so that fluids and nutrients are better absorbed—in essence, athletes who take the BioGenix Systems during their sports maintenance and performance phases are less tired after workouts and are better able to recover to further train and compete at their maximum potential.
“When you drink something, you are merely going through the process of hydrating yourself. Depending on how your body absorbs and utilizes what you are drinking, you may need more or less water or whatever fluid you are drinking. Our products are meant to work with cells in the body, as a supplemental system, that is taken each day to help our bodies continuously absorb the necessary minerals and electrolytes required to retain optimal hydration.”
“Our products address concerns in the hydration and electrolyte arenas with an extremely focused approach on the primary, secondary, and tertiary energy systems in our bodies involved in sport-specific performance.” he explained.
For athletes requiring explosive actions in sports like hockey, sprinting, weight training, wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts, for example, the BioGenix Optimal Power System is needed to promote the maximal muscular contraction, maximal speed and agility, and efficient lactic acid removal to enhance the ability to quickly repeat the sport specific action
For endurance athletes, like IronMan, Triathalon and Marathon athletes, the same holds true. BioGenix Optimal Endurance System opens the pathways for optimal oxygen and nutrient usage while providing valuable catalysts for being “in it” for the long haul. Optimal Power is for the athlete that depends on efficient usage of oxygen and fuel which leads to the ability to push right thru to the end.
“I’ve been using the product for years,” Dr. Corrado said. “The product is very concentrated. You add droppers’ full to your water or any other drink. It’s virtually tasteless and allows your body to better absorb the fluids you are taking.”
There are three BioGenix Optimal Systems available for athletes:
Optimal Endurance System – for endurance athletes, such as runners, cross-country skiers and cyclists.
Optimal Power System – for sprinters and athletes who compete in shorter-distances sports up to the half marathon.
Optimal Mineral and Electrolytes – for anyone, athlete or not, who wants to have a better nutrient balance.
There are about 3,000 drops in each bottle of BioGenix performance solutions. The liquid supplementation absorbs quickly into the body.
To learn more about BioGenix Sports Optimization and each system, visit www.Bio-Genix.com.
TESTIMONIAL: DR. JOHN WINTERDYK
Winner of 1984 Ironman Canada Triathlon and First in the World Masters Triathlon 2005 (first CDN to break the 10 and 9 hour barrier in an Ironman, nine-time National Age Group Team members, over 140 races and still ‘ticking’).
“I have been a competitive triathlete for almost three decades. Yes, I started racing back in the days where helmets were optional, aero bikes did not exist, and there were no swim wetsuits. However, I did learn early about the value and importance of good nutrition as being an integral part to fueling my success. Early in my racing career I also learned and benefitted immensely from augmenting my nutrition with various natural supplements. Because when you demand the best of your body, it is often difficult to ensure that the body is properly supported,” Winterdyk said.
“Recently I was introduced to the BioGenix Optimal Endurance System. The system includes three main product – Optimal Power, Optimal Mineral and Electrolytes, and Optimal Recovery. Each formulated into a water soluble solution. You use them essentially like you would a homeopathic. The trio are the perfect complement to any serious Endurance athlete who wants to optimize their workout and performance. In the few months that I’ve been using the Optimal Endurance System, I’ve seen a noticeable increase in power output, a quicker recovery rate, and an overall feeling of well being. There have also been no ill side-effects. Hence, even though I must resign myself to giving up some speed and strength that comes with being almost 60 years of age, my race performances clearly speak to ‘doing something right’. I’m sold, and I’m happy to share and spread the good news.”
]]>
Mike Wardian’s name is synonymous with achievement. The 38-year-old Virginia native has created a name for himself not only around DC, where he is well-known in the community, but around the world. Wardian, a marathoner and triathlete gone endurance runner, has crushed records and has impressed some of the most prolific ultra runners with his top finishes at globally significant races. He has competed in more 150 marathons, 60 ultramarathons, and 20 triathlons around the world…
…And Wardian is unique: he has achieved a couple of Guinness World Records—one for fastest marathon while pushing a jogging stroller and one for competing in a superhero costume. Wardian, who is self-coached, is also a former record holder of the fastest marathon on a treadmill. He’s also qualified and participated in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Men’s Olympic Marathon trials. Wardian’s racing career has been charmed, and each year he stretches the limits of what he can do by running as much as he can with great reward. In mid-April 2010, Wardian finished 3rd at the Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 251 km (156 mi) ultra marathon (equivalent to six regular marathons) in 23 hours 1 minute 3 seconds. This was the best time ever achieved by an American male. On July 1, 2010, Wardian set the record for fastest indoor 200-meter track marathon record, with a time of 2:27:21. Wardian has also won the Nation’s Marathon three times, as well as the USA 50 km Championships three years in a row.
In 2011 Mike Wardian had an epic year. For starters, in February 2011, the International Association of Ultrarunners named Wardian its inaugural Athlete of the Year. In March, he received the Guinness World Record at the Lower Potomac River Marathon for being the fastest person to run a marathon in a Spider-Man suit. In June 2011, Wardian was the first American to cross the finish line at Comrades, the world-renowned (54-56)-mile race that stretches between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His 11th-place finish was the best placement of any American male ever at Comrades. He went on to place 3rd at the Badwater 135-miler in Death Valley, Ca., in July 2012. On top of that, Wardian won 6 marathons (his average pace was a 2:21 marathon; his fastest was 2:17) and was ranked 8th in the world at the 100k. “2011 was indeed epic,” Wardian commented.
Sidetracked by Injury and His Son’s Health
Just days before the October 27, 2011 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), Wardian’s youngest son, Grant, had a seizure. The time leading up to and after the MCM was a period of high stress and sleepless nights as he and his wife Jennifer tried to come to terms with their son’s condition and learn how to manage it. Grant would be diagnosed with Epilepsy. Despite worrying about Grant, Wardian came in 2nd at the 2011 MCM. The following week, as he prepared for the IMG NYC Marathon, Grant had several more seizures. That same week, Wardian went running, fell, and split his face open. He pulled out of the NYC Marathon, but travelled to California and ran a 2:21 at the Santa Barbara Marathon on November 10, followed by a second-place win at the JFK 50-miler. Both he and winner David Riddle broke the course record.
The sleep deprivation and constant running started to take its toll. Grant sometimes had seizures on the way home from races, and so Wardian’s family, which include his wife Jennifer and sons Pierce and Grant, stopped travelling to races as frequently. Wardian started to feel strain in his hips during the fall of 2011; but he didn’t stoptraining and competing. Despite the pelvic discomfort, Wardian had a great start to his 2012 season. In January 2012, he ran 2:21 at the US Olympic Trials in Houston on Saturday, January 14, and 2:31 at the Houston Marathon the next morning. He finished 62nd at the Trials and 16th at the Marathon. Soon, however, things slowed down: Wardian came in a disappointing 35th at Comrades in the spring of 2012, and had slower times at some of his more signature races in the spring.
In summer of 2012 he was attempting to run a half marathon— and pulled up after 5 miles with excruciating pain. His whole pelvis was hurting to the point that he went to an orthopedist.
“Dropping from the race was the sign I needed to go to the doctor,” Wardian said. “I went to an orthopedist and they didn’t see anything on an X-ray—but they saw five stress fractures throughout my pelvis on the MRI.”
Wardian took a leave from running in September 2012 and keeps fit by cycling and aqua jogging. He pulled out from the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon and the IMG NYC Marathon (which no one ran, due to Hurricane Sandy). “The aqua jogging is a good workout. I was surprised,” he said. “The cycling, however, has been great. I went out and bought a good bike and am cycling all over the place.” Wardian was scheduled to run The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k on November 17, 2012 and the Kinhaven 5k on November 18, 2012 (a race he and his wife, Jennifer, put on) as well as The North Face 50-miler in December; but right now, racing in general is tentative. “The worst would be to push coming back and then have to start over again,” Wardian mused. As for Grant, medication has helped—his last seizure was in April 2012; but there is always that concern for him.
Community Ties
When Wardian is not racing, working or spending time with family, he is out in the community – and even more so now as he rests in order to heal his pelvis. He often posts on his Facebook page that he’ll be attending a local event and invites his fans to join him. Often, Wardian is asked to speak at events. Lately, he’s even served as support staff at races.
“It was nice to help people get through a race, and I liked giving back. It’s weird not being in the race, though,” he said.
Despite not running, Wardian loves the visibility and the interaction with other athletes. “It’s important to inspire people,” he said. Currently Wardian is volunteering with High Cloud Foundation, an international non-profit that works to help alleviate world poverty for children, orphans, families and mothers who are victims of violence or natural disasters occurring throughout the world. They build schools around the world, and use runners as ambassadors.
Planning for 2013
Wardian has signature races that he likes to do each year, but oftentimes he hops into races that people invite him to because he enjoys racing so much. Often, he’ll be traveling to race each week. “Competition is really rewarding,” said Wardian. “I have seen so much. I can be alone in a race and see a mountain pass and love how cool it is.” All of his sponsors have been very supportive. His North Face team comprises a bunch of top-notch athletes with whom Wardian loves to train and compete. His list of signature races next year includes The North Face 50-miler, the IAU 100k World Championships, and Comrades. His other goals for next year include the Hard Rock 100-miler, the Western States 100, the North Face® Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc® and numerous other marathons (including Miami, Disney, and Tallahassee—all in February 2013).
Wardian wants to win one of his 100-milers and/or get on the podium. He’d like a top ten finish at the Two Oceans Marathon, a 56 km / 35 mile ultramarathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa, where he came in 16th last year. He’d even like to get to the 154-mile Spartathalon Ultra Race in Greece in September 2013.
First, however, is Wardian’s pelvis. That needs to heal, so he can persevere.
]]>Paul Thompson, England native, experienced some early successes as a triathlete in the 5 short years he has been competing. At age 42, he travelled to Lichfield in the West Midlands, UK, to take on the Enduroman Triple Iron UK in 2010—which comprised a mind-boggling 7.2-mile swim, 336-mile bike and 78.6-mile run. He won the event and was rewarded with £300 and free entry to the Lanzarote Double Ironman in 2011 in Canarias, Spain which he won in 2011.Of the races he’s competed in, Lensahn Triple Iron—which Thompson also won in 2011—is what he calls “the Big Daddy” of world ultra triathlon races. We caught up to Paul to learn more about what makes him tick.
ERM: What drove you into racing?
Thompson: I made a decision in 2003 to stop drinking alcohol. This was followed a year later by giving up smoking. Ihad reached a point in my life, at age 36 and weighing in at 240 lbs., that enough was enough. A friend who was a competing triathlete inspired me to go watch an event in 2005. From that point I was pretty much hooked. I trained for a marathon (Berlin) and at the same time trained for the Iron distance race, The Longest Day (a race I had already watched), to be held the following year. I did the race and finished in 12.25 – and had a great time along the way.
ERM: How old were you when you raced your first Ultra?
Thompson: I entered and raced my first Ultra in 2008, which was the Enduroman Double IRON – the first ultra triathlon to be held in the UK. I was 40 at the time. I enjoyed it. I finished in 28 hours, 23 minutes, which gave me 8th place. I was left with a feeling that I could go faster.
ERM: How did you get to where you are today?
Thompson: I had several years of racing regularly and in 2010 decided to get a coach. I figured that I would try it for a year and see if anything changed. I felt that I would regret it in years to come if I didn’t. I approached Steven Lord at Everyday Training who provided a more progressively structured method of training. I took it on board and gained the results. In 2010 and 2011, I qualified for the 70.3 World Championships. In 2011, I became IUTA World Champion by winning the Lanzarote Double, Lensahn Triple, Switzerland Double and Virginia Double. I also improved my Lanzarote Ironman personal best by 1 hour 8 minutes, but I missed out on qualifying for Kona by 11 minutes.
ERM: What kind of training routine do you follow?
Thompson: My training schedule is quite strict; there aren’t many rest days. Training in the week is generally lighter, leaving the longer sessions for the weekends. I’m very fortunate that my youngest son races triathlons, so I get to swim most mornings with him in our masters squad. We have recently started training and racing with our local cycling club, so hopefully this will lead to bike leg improvement.
ERM: Are you sponsored? What products do you use?
Thompson: I have recently gained sponsorship from a great company, Endura.They’re based in Scotland, but export all over the world. They have supplied me with a superb custom race and training kit. My local bike shop, Velosport, also helps me with my cycling needs. Thule of Sweden kindly supplied a transportation box for my bike, which is pretty robust. For race nutrition I generally use Powerbar products, simply because they work for me and manage to stay appetising throughout long races.
ERM: What about family life?
Thompson: I live with my partner, Stephanie, and two boys, Josh (20) and Fin (15), in Lincolnshire. Stephanie is Trifriendly. Both boys are keen riders, which is helpful when it comes to training partners. I am a manufacturing carpenter who builds and fits kitchens, bedrooms and offices in and around London and Lincolnshire. I endeavour to maintain training whilst working away from home.
There are ample places to swim, bike and run in London, so it works quite well. I have a nice run loop that takes me along Chelsea Embankment, over Chelsea Bridge, through Battersea Park and back over Albert Bridge. Additionally, I run around Wandsworth Common. I like to cycle to Richmond Park and put some effort in on the loop. Swimming options are plenty – with Tooting Bec Lido and Balham Leisure Centre being my preferred places.
ERM: What are your goals? What drives you?
Thompson: Maintaining sobriety through triathlon is a great driver in my life, because through sobriety I am able to take part in all these great events and meet lots of great folk. I would like to continue racing ultra triathlon; and I can see races in Austria, Slovenia, Hungary and Florida being on my to-do list. Also, I would one day like to qualify for Kona.
ERM: Do you budget for races?
Thompson: Yes, I budget. I have started to realise the financial cost of racing as well as the physical expenditure. In 2011, I spent 143 hours racing—that sort of outlay took some recovery.
ERM: What was your Epic Race?
Thompson: This would have to be Lensahn Triple, where I raced the whole distance and came first—six minutes ahead of 2nd place. I could not imagine a situation that required more effort.
Paul’s website is www.paulthompsonultratri.com.
For more information on Enduroman Races go to
http://www.enduroman.com/#/events/4567940583.
By Chelsea H. Bryan
Chuck Kemeny went into the 2012 Tampa Double IRONevent bent on breaking the record…and he almost did. While he broke the Double IRON bike-portion record with a time of 10 hours, 51 minutes—nearly an hour under the previous record of 11 hours, 39 minutes and an hour under the world record pace at the 140.2-mile marker, he had to pull out due to electrolyte imbalances. Kemeny knew something was off with his body and when his electrolyte imbalances started to create issues he decided to quit. “I would get blood draws and a whole slew of tests done to figure out how it relates to what I’m feeling,” says Kemeny.
Kemeny is relatively new to the triathlon. He started racing in 2006 at the age of 30 with much success. In 2009 he qualified for and competed in the Ironman World Championships and in 2010, he qualified for his professional triathlete license and won the 25th Anniversary of the Virginia Double IRON triathlon which takes place in September each year. “I started coaching in 2009 and turned professional in 2010. I did let my pro card expire this year though. I might turn pro again in the future should I find the time to train and requalify. I am sure if time were not a constraint, I could be competitive as a professional,” he said. Among the many challenges of racing, Kemeny cites nutrition as a huge factor. In 2010 Kemeny decided he wanted to use his talents to raise money for MS research.
“Knowing what a debilitating disease MS can be, I wanted to choose an event that would test me on a number oflevels. I had completed and been successful at the Ironman distance prior to deciding to fund raise. Knowing this, I knew an Ironman was not going to be the challenge I was seeking. I researched a number of utlra events and found the Virginia Double IRON race.”
To Kemeny the challenge of going 4.8 miles swimming, 224 miles cycling, and 52.4 miles running all in one day seemed perfect. He knew he had to train differently; for example he had to teach his body to accept solid foods while cycling and running. To improve his mental training, he trained through the night.
Nutrition was the biggest challenge. “I had to figure out what my nutritional needs would be for the Double IRON. It presented the physical, mental, and strategic challenge I felt was fitting for the cause,” he said. The central problem with a 3,000-calorie workout in Kemeny’s case is the time needed to eat all those calories. “As you get older,” he says, “you get into having a very opportunistic schedule. When you’re getting up at three-something in the morning, how muchearlier are you gonna be getting up to eat?” He shares his experience with athletes he coaches, through his training company, Revolutions Triathlon Coaching.
“The majority of my clients who start are targeting something they’ve never done before.” And that’s what Kemeny is targeting, too: something never done before. “Every year I set my sights and goals higher and higher.”
But after the Tampa Double IRON something set him off and he considered retiring from racing; but when he told his family about his intention
to stop, his son asked him: “Dad, if you stop racing, who’s gonna inspire me?” There are a lot of people out there who love to push themselves, and this is both an admirable and a sometimes obsessive quality. Kemeny balances priorities in training for these things—after all, he has a family—he radically says that “racing should never be first priority.”
“I’m a husband and father first,” says the married father of three, a full-time associate director of infrastructure and operations in the IT department at Florida State University— who just happens to take routine 3,000-calorie-burning-runs in his spare time. And even with a full time job and a family life, Kenemy chooses to race Double IRONs. They have big startup costs, including the food to fuel the race, the vacation time off, and the cost of transporting the family who lovingly comes along and even tag-team races beside. Racing takes some creative planning and budgeting for an endurance athlete to even conceive of getting to the starting line—forget swimming, biking and running heroic distances.
“Life, it’s imperfect. Some people have the perfect training, the perfect race, other people have bumpy training, a bumpy personal life. You’re gonna have highs and lows.” He adds, “People get very obsessive. It’s important that they have something else in their life to focus on in their low points.”
He talks about that golden training time between 3 a.m. Saturday morning and noon, before the slew of kids’ activities, such as cross country and swim meets, debate clubs and the like roll in. So he naturally doesn’t want to waste a minute more than he has to eating. When he coaches his runners, he has to debunk the common theory about training.
“People say ‘You’re over-trained,’ I say, ‘Nah, you’re malnourished.’” He laughs and says, “If you’re fueling correctly you can run 30 to 40 miles a day and not be wasted on the floor.” So he races on, kids in tow, flying by the seat of his pants, always keeping it chill in his own ultra-intense way.
]]>On Lake Anna at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, there is a group of swimmers a half-mile away from the boat landing, parallel to the shore; they are nothing but arms, arcing like fish in the air, cutting through the water, glinting in the sun. This group has been swimming for an hour and a half now, and the best of them are still laps—half-mile long laps—away from finishing this swim. And the swim is only the beginning of the trial ahead of them: the Triple IRON triathlon, an epic distance of a 7.2-mile swim followed by a 336-mile bike and a 78.6-mile run.
Twenty four hours from the Triple IRON start time, the Double IRON will begin, with a 4.8-mile swim, 224- mile bike and a 52.4-mile run in store. These are the Lake Anna Double and Triple IRON 2012 events, and despite the whispy rippling clouds of its first morning, the race is not going to be pretty. Sleep-deprivation, blisters, “saddle butt,” chafing, hallucinations, exhaustion, demoralization and grown men crying—that’s what’s ahead.
Compared to what they’ll experience later, this grueling swim is bright and easy; come sunset, they’ll be pedaling through their first long, dark night—and they won’t even finish in the daylight of the next day. In fact, the fastest of the Triple event racers won’t clock out until prime time Saturday night. While the racers freestyle, spectators, such as fathers, wives, one husband and children sit on the Lake Anna shore. They wade to a big orange buoy at the lap turnaround point every fifteen minutes to offer their racer fuel. “Chocolate milk next time!” one lifts his head out of the water to shout. Some swimmers stop and chat, make jokes, say hello to the cluster of spectators on the shore; others don’t stop at all.
Everyone has their plan, their pace, their own exact routine. These triathletes have been training for months or even years on end—they know exactly what they can and cannot eat, how much—if at all—they can sleep during the endurance event and most importantly, what they need to focus on to get through the sheer amount of time they’ll spend racing. As many will echo throughout the weekend: “it’s as mental as it is physical.”
Some, like Triple IRON competitor, David Jepson from Fort Collins, Co. fill that space peripherally. “You have to fill that time with something and what I do is focus on the people around me,” Jepson said. And while most of the ultra triathletes keep close track of their own lap number, few could tell you that of their competitor’s, like Jepson. That’s why when the slated-lead, Beat Knechtle from St. Gallen, Switzerland, was told by the timers that he needed to do another lap as Jepson was coming out of the water, he got concerned. “I knew he was [ahead in the race]. I thought they would figure it out, but they didn’t. At first I was concerned, but I didn’t let it affect me.” He added, “You can take this however you want, but I think it’s nice for Americans to come here and do well.”
Once the last swimmer was out of the water, and all theracers stripped of wetsuits and off on their bikes, all the “crews”—the racers’ support teams, mostly consisting of family members who provide food and liquid, advice and support of every kind—head back to “tent city.” The cluster of lit-up tents surrounding the main timing station and the run and bike turn around point—also the eventual race finish line—was dubbed Tent City by Steve Kirby, event organizer, who “runs around like a chicken with his head cut off,” says John Wall, longtime event volunteer who, like other event volunteers, pulls 10-hour days or more throughout the weekend. Tent City is the community center of the race, the place that feels like a family reunion to the crew members—after all, how many people in the world run ultra triathlons in their spare time? Few enough to bring 10 different international flags to Spotsylvania, Va., a small town which is not exactly an international center of commerce.
By early afternoon, the bikers are pedaling hard and the crews have set up home base under tarp-topped tents where falling acorns rain in sporadic, thumping showers; the puttering is charming during the day, but becomes a trying spook on fried nerves and exhausted crews in the night. To the bikers, the acorn showers sound like animals moving in the woods. But psychological perils are just one among many concerns: without the heat and comfort of the sun, racers have to struggle with hypothermia, hallucinations and plain rock-bottom spirits. And it’s the crew members who must deal with the consequences of all that. While some are cheerful about their role, others find the pressures on both parties trying.
When asked whether she likes crewing, Johan “Taz” Desmet’s wife Hélène says: “It’s his hobby and he just drags me in, so not really, I think it’s too much. I don’t want to let him go on.” However, Hélène sees the bright side of the Lake Anna event too. She says, “What I like about this one is there’s no comparing, ‘look at my bike,’ ‘I have the most expensive bike.’ But it’s gonna be tough, hours on your feet in keeping awake. It’s gonna be hard for me.”
“What I like about this one is there’s no comparing, ‘look at my bike,’ ‘I have the most expensive bike.’ But it’s gonna be tough, hours on your feet in keeping awake. It’s gonna be hard for me.”
Triple IRON racer Tom Melshuish’s father Simon Melshuish, who flew all the way from the UK to meet his son, also takes the cons of crewing to heart. “Sometimes I feel like it’s maybe easier to be the athlete than the crew. You stay up long hours, it gets boring.” I could see the real burden on Simon’s shoulders, however, was having to watch his son go
through pain. He managed to note the pros too: “He traveled from Sydney, I traveled from London… it’s nice to see him, I haven’t seen him since Easter.”
But the real threat of the event is not sleepless hours, hard-tofind vacation days and irritable, emotional racers, but the lurking risk of death—or at least that’s what the infamous case of Caballo Blanco, who died of a heart issue at the age of 58 while running extreme distances with the Mexican Tarahumara tribe, would suggest. When doctors on staff for the event were questioned on the controversial nature of racing, they balked at mentions of arrhythmias, sudden death, scarred heart muscle tissue and the like.
“You read about that; it’s not common,” said Doctor George Wortley. He mentions Caballo Blanco. “Here’s what the data shows: if you’re doing these things, your life is half the all-cause mortality from someone who’s sitting on the couch.” He adds, “If something’s gonna happen, something’s gonna happen. We’ll deal with it.”
Wortley sits right by the turnaround, the perfect place to check in with bikers, who have to slow down to make a u-turn around the orange cone marking the end of each lap. Most bikers don’t stop between laps, which take on average 15 minutes. Crew members trot off, keeping pace with racers, handing them sandwiches, bars, gels, carb-infused drinks—whatever they’ve prepared in the interval. After five or six hours of pedaling, however, most bikers do need to make a pit stop for the dinner meal, hot and steaming stews served up right beside the timing tent, the first landmark in Tent City. Also, bathroom breaks, salves for rash-prevention are needed; but no naps—not yet. The crew members that hailed the IRON as “not intense,”—citing naps, a general lack of cut throat attitudes, etc.—may have been right in a sense. But David Jepson wouldn’t hear it. Intense is the only word to describe him. He stopped for nothing.
By the time of the run, everyone had hit a low. Even the racers whose background was in biking could be seen haggardly slumped, grimacing, towards the end of their 67th lap—or 45th for the Double. During the run, some dropped out or lowered their distance to a Double or “Double Plus.”
But no one was in as much pain as Chris Trimmer, the lone athlete looking to complete a quintuple IRON. The thin, wiry runner—few had seen him at the time of his swim or bike, which took place during the arcane times of Wednesday morning through Thursday night—ran like an energizer bunny, pushing himself with a smile and a wave. Around Saturday evening he couldn’t smile anymore though. Afraid his Achilles might literally tear, he started to consider dropping out. He had decided to race last minute for Wounded Warriors, though, and no one wanted him to fail.
Caroline Brosius, a fellow endurance athlete who was at the timing booth, kept encouraging him, and race doctors told him as long as he kept going at his current pace, his Achilles would be intact. He kept on. As he moved through the Triple IRON, David Jepson kept the lead since coming out of the water. His pace was higher than anticipated on the run, but as his wife Amanda Bestfelt-Jepson said, “He feels good, so he’ll keep going.” She also said, “David is extremely competitive and will bury himself physically. He’s starting to feel sore, mentally he seems in really good spirits.”
This was on Saturday, by which time the Double IRON event was in full swing. Steve Harvey from Plymouth, England and his rival Ghislain Marechal from Braine L’Alleud, Belgium were going at it—Harvey was ahead but Marechal was in second. The two are neck-in-neck for the International Ultra Triathlon Association World Cup, a series of races, some Doubles, some Triples, each with assigned points. Ultra triathletes like Harvey and Marechal race in a series of events, and at the end, the racer with the most points gets the world cup.
But at Lake Anna there was one racer coming in between them— David Bush, from Columbus, Ohio, who beat Marechal to come in second. However in the IUTA, Marechal still has a firm hold on second place with 223 points to Harvey’s 340. Harvey finished at Lake Anna with a low time of 23:53:31; Marechal finished third, at 26:30:59. Bush came in second just an hour over Harvey’s time at 25:06:55; he beat Marechal by almost an hour-and-a-half. While the three Double IRON contenders were biting at one another’s heels, Jepson was actually running—not slogging, or “slow jogging”—on to beat Beat Knechtle by seven-and-a-half hours at a new course record of 39:11:37. Last year’s record holder, Kamil Suran, ran with him in a selfless and excited effort to help Jepson break a new course record. Knechtle came in at 46:36:50. Tristan Vinzent, from Wörrstadt, Germany, considered by some to be the greatest threat to Knechtle’s supposed win, came in third with a time of 49:07:21.
Among all the men vying for the medal was a petite powerhouse named Andi Ramer, hailing from San Diego, Ca. Though she was the only woman officially competing in the race, she raced so intensely it seemed she might beat the boys. She came in first for the women and placed fifth among the men, with a time of 53:05:03.
At the end of the day, 19 out of 22 racers in the Double IRON finished before the cutoff time (two did not finish and a third completed an IRON Plus) and 10 out of 12 contenders in the Triple IRON finished, the other two still completing a Double PLUS for the record. Race Director Steve Kirby says, “The race went well overall, [we] had more people finish the race than we have had in the past.” As Jepson said, “We really appreciate what Kirby’s doing. This is a pretty big production for the $400-500 cost. I mean, do the math.”
Perhaps the most grateful, inspiring and intense racer was Chris Trimmer, who finished his epic Quintuple IRON— five times the IRON distance—with a time of 102:41:00.
He said while running on his fourth day of the race, “When it gets really hard, I just cry and cry, and then when I’m done, I thank God.”
Trimmer ran to benefit Wounded Warriors. When I got the chance to run a lap with him on Saturday, he ended the lap with a word of encouragement, “You’re a warrior,” he said. Maybe the echos around Tent City are true in a way: maybe you really can’t be too intense at the Lake Anna races.
]]>By Jay Danek
Race Directing today is a lot different than it was 10 years ago. Now with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, race feedback is instantaneous. What was once a well thought-out email or letter to the Race Director (RD) after a race is now an emotion-driven one–liner, visible for all to see before the RD can respond. Knowing that reality, and seeing it play out on the Internet over and over again, I’ve gotten more frustrated about the way my fellow runners handle their complaints.
Before I go any further, let me say that I’m not perfect; and I have issued a complaint before – but I would never call out someone on a public forum for the way a race went. I issued a complaint earlier this year after a race, but did it through email directly to the RD. I explained the situation, the RD apologized for the slight mishap, the incident was resolved and we both moved on. Over the past year I have participated in several endurance races and volunteered at others, and the underlying issue seems to be that everyone thinks they’re entitled to getting a 100-mile buckle. I’m not sure who said any hundredmile race was easy, let alone some of the races that take place in elevation or on rough terrain. These RDs put their hearts, souls, money and time into putting on a race, and some of the comments I see and hear just blow me away.
Being an RD isn’t easy; to even have the opportunity to become one, you must have a passion for the sport, be extremely organized, have a great bond within the racing
community, and be willing to sacrifice your time and your family’s time in order to put on an event. And you can’t be a person worried about making a dollar, but instead must be okay with losing a few. I want to touch on a few topics that always seem to come up with a few runners – and respond from the perspective of an RD.
The Volunteers Weren’t Helpful
We’ve all heard people say that race volunteers weren’t helpful or didn’t know anything – but let’s remember what they are. They’re volunteers, who have given up the day or night (oftentimes both) with their family to help you, the runner, succeed. Yes, some aid station workers are better than others; but when you’re an RD, it’s not always easy to find enough help. There are so many things that we as runners can do to assist the volunteers in getting us in and out of the aid station, but very few people realize it. If you’re wearing a hydration pack, don’t just hand it to the volunteer; explain to them where the bladder is and how to open it up. Those things stick together and some are buried deep into packs, so it takes a little extra time for the people to figure them out. If you have bottles, tell them exactly what you would like in your bottles (such as half Gatorade/half water). Don’t expect that they will know what you want just because you’ve been to that aid station before. We all change our minds during a run, and sometimes certain drinks or foods nolonger taste good. If you have a drop bag, have your pacer call out your number and bag color so they can easily access it. They want to help you and get you your items, but with 200 bags it is not always a quick process.
The Course Markings Were Poor
Again let me start by saying I’m one of the worst, if not the worst, navigators in all of trail running—so I’m careful about my selection of races. There are races that I know require navigation skills, and there are races where I know they will idiot-proof the course (and I will probably still go off track!). I try to avoid courses that are extremely long between aid stations, because I like confirmation that I’m going the right direction. Most trail markings are done on a volunteer basis, and the RD explains certain areas to look out for; but remember, the person marking the trail often does a section by what they think will be the most valuable to the runner. I’ve seen markings around cairns on the ground because the section was so steep and they knew no one would be looking up; flour at junctions; flags; and usually there are no markings or confidence markers along forest roads until you need to make a turn. This is usually done to keep you from second-guessing yourself, and it allows the runners to relax and make up some time over that section. If you’re constantly looking for markers along a road it will slow you down, and a missed marker or two can lead to serious confusion. RDs have pre-race meetings to go over areas that might be questionable; so if you’re like me, make it a point to be there and listen. Don’t just assume the person in front of you knows where they’re going, because it could be me! Knowing and navigating the course is ultimately the responsibility of the runner.
The Cutoffs Were Too Tight
I bring up this issue only because it’s a common complaint among runners; but let’s face it, most cutoffs are extremely generous. I ran Javelina Jundred last year and the cutoff was 30 hours – 16.5 hours after the winner came in – but yet I still heard people say they needed more time. I understand that only the elites are going to run a 13.5-hour, 100-mile race; but for the safety of the runners, they have to set cutoffs. As I mentioned, signing up for a hundred-mile race does not guarantee you anything, and any given day you could DNF.
I had to DNF at mile 67 of Pine to Palm. I was in the best shape of my life, but I just couldn’t pull myself together. I was sick, and while I had 16 hours to finish the last 33 miles, I thought it was in my interest to drop. I’ve been at races where the 50-mile cutoff is 16 hours, and people are coming in around 17-18 hours and complaining that the cutoffs are not fair. I don’t think an RD can send you back out with a good conscience, because they don’t want you to get hurt or end up in the hospital. If you do the math on some of these cutoffs, they’re giving you an average of 20 minutes a mile.
Most of us will have a few of those during a race, and maybe even a 40-minute mile if you include a hard climb and an aid station, but the rest of the miles will not be run anywhere close to a 20 minute per mile pace. Very few runners will start a race at a 20-minute pace and finish. Most start around 12-15 minutes, so getting 20 minutes is more than sufficient. Aid stations seem to be the biggest killers for most runners; spending just 3-5 minutes at 18 aid stations results in a 54-90 minute slowdown. I think it’s important to plan beforehand and decide which aid stations will require you to spend more time at them and which ones you can be out of with just a change of bottles. I’ve seen so many people lay down or go to their car for a few hours and then rally to finish a race; but if you miss a cutoff because you decided early on to rest, it is no one’s fault but your own. Remember to avoid the chair: it’s a death trap, and in my personal opinion is the number one cause of DNFs.
What a Runner Can Do
As a trail runner, I want to see RDs succeed—because without their time, money, knowledge and inspiration, we don’t have a race to run. I know we all have a gripe or two sometimes; and as I acknowledged, I’ve raised issues before…privately. Respect the volunteers; if you have an issue, bring it up with the RD during or after the race. It’s not fair to the race or to the RD to air your grievances on Facebook or Twitter before they even have a chance to address the issue. RDs want everyone to succeed at their race, not just the elites. They’re always open to suggestions, and most RDs welcome them. We need to remember that if running a hundred miles was easy, everyone would do it. It’s one of the greatest accomplishments in running, so be proud of yourself for just toeing the line—and if it’s not your day, don’t trample on everyone around you. Don’t be afraid to sign up and volunteer for a race. It’s through giving back that you learn just how much RDs put into race planning, how much they love the sport and how much they want to give us all the opportunity to compete against friends on the trails. Their job is not exactly fun or profitable—so why do they do it? They do it because they have a love for the sport and want to give back to the trail community by providing a place for us to compete and have fun with our friends.
Jay Danek is from Scottsdale, Arizona.
Read more about him at www.mcdowellmountainman.com.
]]>
Alix Shutello is second from the left. Photo taken at the 2012 Gulf Beach Half Marathon in Milford, CT.
I was very excited when this issue ended up being full of top-notch women from the fields of Olympic and professional racing.
I made an executive decision this time, after interviewing two amazing women who compete at the top of their fields to change my definition of endurance distances racing. Why? Because Lisa Buohler (Team USA duathlete) and Sarah Haskins (Olympian and nationally ranked sprint distance triathlete) are unique in their fields.
Lisa Buohler, for example, became a professional athlete when many of us are hanging up the towel. At 40, she became an elite masters runner and last year alone, competed in over 30 races competing against some of the best athletes in the country. She is also a Boston qualifier and has competed internationally. Further, she is racing on behalf of the USA in Spain this fall, and given Olympics this summer, I felt she would be an amazing addition to this magazine.
Sarah Haskins is an Olympic distance triathlete who competed in the Bejing Olympics and who is breaking course records. At the young age of 31, Haskins has been a professional athlete for the last 8 years….and she’s not slowing down any time soon. You see, endurance sports of any kind, is really any race beyond a sprint. While many of the people in the pages of this magazine may run only one or two really long endurance races or challenges, folks who compete in dozens or more races a year, running half marathons, Iron-distance races, marathons, or sprint duathlons or triathlons are testing their endurance another way. They are competing week after week. That in and of itself requires a lot of discipline and endurance. It also requires sturdy and very focused mental training so that these athletes can continue to compete at the top of their game week after week, month after month.
So in that light, I have featured five amazing female athletes (among others), in this issue of Endurance Racing Magazine. Missy Kuck, Caroline Brosius and Michele Santilhano are the amazing endurance athletes who were featured this month as well. Kuck, like Buohler, went pro later in life. She was an amateur athlete for 15 years before going pro last year in the triathlon at the age of 35.
Brosius is an endurance kayaker who’s competed globally and who is one of the world’s best known endurance racers in her field. Having competed in numerous races she continues to do well and inspire others.
Michele Santilhano is our mega distance athlete in this issue. Having competed in a DECA IRON distance race and having swam the English Channel, she is an inspiration for anyone wanting to go really long!
And while we didn’t do a full article on her, no one can deny Cheryl Zwarkowski as the queen of distance running. This summer she ran THREE Badwater 135-milers back to back, becoming the world record holder for running over 400 miles in the desert in her age group (over 50).
Other athletes who appear in this issue include David Heckman and Marshall Ulrich who were also busy after Badwater this past July. While Cheryl continued on after she finished Badwater onto her second leg, Heckman and Ulrich took a short break and prepared for the 400-mile plus journey around Death Valley. Ulrich and his wife, Karen, blogged and showed pictures on Facebook during the trip.
David DeNeire of Ontario will be running the NYC Marathon this fall. Why? Because he’s been running like a madman. So much so that his continuous streak of over 50 races this year caught the eyes of the NYC Marathon staff and they invited him to the Big Apple to do a little filming and become one of the NYC Marathon’s Clydesdale spokespeople.
Ghislain Marechal, the French super athlete who competes in double and triple IRON races around the globe slowed down enough to share some of his travels with me. Once of his crew members wrote a tale of Marechal’s Enduroman in Europe this summer. I look forward to potentially seeing him again as he makes his way to Lake Anna, VA to compete in the Triple IRON this October.
Shawn Burke, 51, was kind enough to do an advertorial and I’ve featured him on a product he uses called ASEA. He’s garnered tons of success since starting on the product this summer.
And a big thanks to my endurance couple, Brady and Dr. Shawna Wendtlant, who allowed us to talk to them about their lives as a married couple and ultra runners.
I was also happy to receive a submission from Dr. Frank Lieberman, ultra athlete, whose article, Mental Toughness, and book, It Has Nothing To Do With Age, debut will be a great read!
Read and enjoy!
Your friendly editor,
Alix Shutello
Like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/EnduranceRacingMagazine.
Note: There was purposely no July/August issue. This issue, now the September/October issue is the 4th issue this year. The November/December issue and a Special Product issue will round out 6 issues for this year. Look for announcements on the Special Product issue online at EnduranceRacingMagazine.com and EnduranceRacingMagazine.co.uk.
]]>
It’s not every day that the staff of the New York City Marathon calls you up and invites you to the next ING NYC Marathon, but DeNeire and three other athletes, all of whom had unique achievements in the world of running, were invited to come to NYC and while they were there, a photoshoot, and shot some videos in the Big Apple.
DeNeire started running last year to lose weight and get in shape. This year alone he’ll be running over 50 races, including a couple double marathon weekends (two races back to back).
DeNeire runs to benefit several charities and you can read more about his endeavors on his Run Like A Clydesdale Facebook page.
When it comes to training, DeNeire is practical.
“Typcially during the week I will rest on Monday and sometimes even Tuesday from running, however I do live on a lake so have the ability to get out for a morning swim regardless of how tired I may feel from my long run (sometimes 2) and the travel (sometimes Jetleg) on the weekend.”
DeNeire joined Steve Mackel’s Sole Runner’s Marathon Training program (http://marathontraining.tv/solerunners/) and is on schedule to perform well this fall.
DeNeire supports the following charities
Kids Fit Foundation (http://kidsfitfoundation.org)
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(http://www.llscanada.org/)
Multiple Sclerosis Society
(http://mssociety.ca/en/)
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6319851/k.BDBF/Home.htm)
Susan G Komen (http://ww5.komen.org/)
]]>
Sarah Haskins, 31, shows no sign of slowing down. On July 14, 2012, she won the Life Time Fitness Minneapolis Triathlon – beating the course record by 8 seconds and making this her 25th win in her 8-year career as a professional triathlete. This year, Haskins has a total of 11 races on her schedule – and has won 5 of the 7 in which she has already competed.
“I appreciate every win, and cannot ever take any win for granted,” she said.
Haskins completed her first Olympic distance triathlon just after graduating from college. She had a strong background in swimming and running, and wanted to try a sport that combined the two. Fortunately, Haskins was able to pick up on the cycling quickly, and was racing at the professional level one year after her first race.
“I remember watching the Sydney Olympics – when the triathlon made its first appearance – and secretly thinking that I could be there one day. In 2008, I competed in Beijing. Qualifying for the Olympics had been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and to make that dream a reality was really special. I ended up finishing 11th and gave it all I had on that day.”
Haskins barely missed the 2012 London Olympics and ended up in the alternate position. “If I ever get the opportunity to make it to an Olympic start line again, I will be hungry to earn a medal for the USA,” she said.
Getting Sponsors
From the time she turned pro, Haskins started networking and working with some great sponsors. She has an agent who has helped her with contacts, but often its people she’s met at races who are interested in sponsoring athletes.
“I have found it’s important to be able to give back to your sponsors and help to promote their company. My sponsors take care of me, and I feel it’s important to take care of them as well. I do not feel it’s right to accept a sponsorship unless I am 100% behind the product,” she said.
Training
Haskins trains with her husband, Nate, who also happens to be her coach. Nate coaches three other athletes as well.
“Having my husband as my coach has helped me tremendously over the past three years in that he knows me better than any other coach I have had. He knows when to back off in training and when to keep pushing. Over time, I have learned more and more about my body and how to progress in training. I have been so fortunate to be sponsored by so many great companies that really take care of their athletes and are 100% supportive,” Haskins said.
So far, Haskins has competed in only Olympic distance triathlons (both draft-legal and non-drafting), but in the next couple of years, she’d like to progress to the 70.3 distance.
As a professional athlete, the triathlon is Haskins’ full-time job, with a routine segmented into hours of time for training and for other duties. She spends approximately 25 hours a week training, and another 5 hours working on stretching/massage/chiropractic appointments. Haskins also spends
10-12 hours a week doing administrative tasks, such as booking flights and responding to emails. Despite this demanding schedule, Haskins finds time to coach her dad and her brother, who both recently began participating in triathlons.
Mental Fortitude
When it comes to the mental side of training, Haskins reports that mental fortitude is just as important as physical training.
“Often, when it comes time for the race, mental factors can play more of a role than physical factors. It’s important to keep a positive attitude, even when illness and injury arise throughout the course of the season,” she said.
During competition, Haskins tries to stay focused on the “now” and not think too far ahead in the race. If something happens in a race, like a poor swim or a wrong turn on the bike, she’ll focus on getting back on track rather than getting down on herself.
“Never give up in a race until you cross that finish line!” she exclaimed.
Note: Just as we were going to press, Haskins had another epic win. Her post on Facebook:
“Very pleased to finish with my 4th win at the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series—Race to the Toyota Cup Chicago Triathlon. Was not easy in the pouring rain and so glad I did not get too beat up crashing into T2. Thank you for all the support!”
- Sarah Haskins
]]>
Lisa Buohler, the number 1 ranked female duathlete in the US, went out on her bike one day and didn’t come back. After being hit by an SUV traveling 60 MPH, Buohler woke up in the hospital with multiple spinal fractures, a lacerated liver, a fractured sternum, fractures in her foot, hand and knee, and a lung contusion. She had been literally stitched and stapled together – but despite this, Buohler asked when she could get up to go to the World Championships, only a few days away.
Lisa Buohler was a “gym rat”, but in 2006, at the age of 36, she ran a local 4-mile race. She had wondered if she could even run 4 miles without stopping; but not only did she finish the race, she came in first in her age group with a time of 30:27 (she would go on to drop that time to a personal best of 24:46).
Buohler began running more regularly and jumped into as many 5Ks as she could fit in her schedule, then started increasing the distance to the half marathon. By age 40, she had become an Elite Masters runner (because of the number times she placed at the top of her age group). From there, Buohler advanced to the marathon, and qualified for Boston after running her first marathon in Athens, Greece in November 2010.
Discovering the Duathlon
In 2009, competitive cyclist Angela King invited Buohler to start cycling. She went to the Trek store and purchased her first TT bike, a Guru Crono.
“My thoughts were to do a little cross training through the summer of 2009 and spice things up a bit,” she said.
In December, Buohler competed in her first sprint duathlon, in Pasco County, FL. She had so much fun, she went home and signed up for the Xxtera Caloosahatchee duathlon on the very next day. She finished as the first female in both events.
Next, she signed up for a series of duathlons around Florida and on April 15, 2010, Buohler traveled to Richmond, VA to compete in the National Duathlon Championships to try to qualify for Team USA.
It wasn’t meant to be, for a flat tire slowed her down and she didn’t make the qualifying time.
Despite not qualifying for Team USA that summer, 2010 had been an epic year for Buohler. She competed in 38 races: 8 half marathons, 10 duathlons, a 15K, a 10k, a 4-miler, a 5-miler, 15 x 5K’s and her first marathon in Athens, Greece, where she qualified for Boston. Buohler hit all her goals, which included winning the Multirace Publix Duathlon series championship, receiving her Road Runners of America running Coach certification, getting a sub 17.30 5K, PR in the half marathon, and running a full marathon in Greece and qualifying for Boston. What a year indeed.
Becoming a US Citizen
In 2011, Buohler’s English citizenship would create some controversy, as she was winning American races but wasn’t an American.
In the first couple of months of the year, Buohler competed in footraces of varying lengths almost every weekend, including the Masters Half Marathon Championships in Melbourne, FL in February. In May, Buohler competed in the USAT National Duathlon Championships in Tucson, AZ. By this time, she was the number 1 ranked female in the US. She didn’t need any more qualifying races to earn her a spot on Team USA, but because she was not officially an American citizen, there were rumblings about her status on any US team.
“I had pre-qualified for Worlds through USAT rankings, and I was still determined to go out to Nationals in Arizona to do what I had intended to do out in Virginia last year, to place top with a podium finish and qualify to be on Team USA and compete in Spain. I was almost not eligible for awards because of my British citizenship, which was suddenly an issue. So, in June 2011, I became a US citizen,” she explained.
The Accident
Buohler’s plan for the fall of 2011 was to compete in the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Gijon, Spain, and 6 weeks later compete in the NYC Marathon. But in early September, just days before she was to leave for in the World Championships, Buohler’s life changed.
“I was ready to leave for Spain in just two days for the Team USA, to compete against some of the top duathletes of the world. I had been training hard and consistently since the National Championships in Arizona,” Buohler described on her blog post of September 14, 2011, just 9 days after her devastating accident.
“During a 20-mile training ride I was struck from behind by an SUV going approximately 60 mph. The motor vehicle impacted my left glute, which took a laceration and severe bruising that is now lumps and knots of old blood and damaged nerves. My lumbar spine fractured in three places and my thoracic fractured in two, fractured sacrum, liver laceration, lung contusion and sternum fracture, bruising of the ribs and chest, a couple of staples to cover my exposed elbow cartilage, stitches to a deep penetrating laceration to my left calf, avulsion fracture of the foot and knee, torn shoulder, road rash, and a pretty bad head bruise,” she reported.
In total, Buohler’s recovery included a week in the hospital and three months in a back brace.
Once Buohler was out of her brace, she started training slowly. By now it was the winter of 2011 and the Disney Half Marathon was looming in the near future. This was a race she’d run for the past 5 years, and despite having pain when she inhaled deeply (due to the sternum fracture and lung bruising), in January 2012 she ran and finished the race.
And all was fine – until she couldn’t breathe.
“Then I was there. I had made it!! I finished! The beautiful Donald medal commemorating his 15 years of running was placed around my neck. Almost immediately after I stopped, I went to take a deep breath, but there was no air! I couldn’t breathe; it was like my lungs had decided to close up. My first thought was, What have I done? “
Buohler walked toward the medical tent and as she walked, her breathing improved and slowly became normal.
“How embarrassing that would have been to tell the medical crew that I was in ICU with five broken vertebrae and a lacerated liver, fractured sternum, knee foot, etc., 14 weeks ago, and I just jogged the half marathon and now I can’t breathe,” she said.
Buohler made it past this scare, enough so that she ran the 2012 Boston Marathon this April in a little over 3:30, averaging 8-minute miles.
“I was so close to qualifying again I could have pushed a little harder, but I wanted to take it easy,” she said.
Just seven months after a devastating accident, Buohler ran the Boston marathon with a top time in her age group and after having only run a couple of 6 mile runs before the race. She has been training again for the duathlon and looks forward to racing with Team USA in France; and, six weeks later – as she had planned last year before her tragic accident, Buohler will be running the NYC marathon.
]]>