TARGETRAINING's Summer of Fun

TARGETRAINING's Summer of Fun! click on each to find out more.
Summer Swim Program
Summer Simulated Triathlon Summer Series
Charity Wine Tasting July 23rd
Summer 10 Session Pack
Summer of Speed: TARGETRAINING Tuesday's
Summer Customized Bootcamp Program

The Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon

In July 1987, Ironman triathlete Walt Tajmajer and others organized a local sprint race, which was then held at Bantam Lake. There were approximately 250 triathletes, and Honorary Chairman was Pat Griskus. Pat was a nationally recognized runner and triathlete who competed using an artificial leg. He had lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident at age 19, but he ultimately accomplished his goals of running road races, marathon, ultra-marathons, and triathlons, all over the U.S. and Canada, setting world records for amputees. He completed the prestigious Hawaii Ironman Triathlon (140.6 miles total) in October 1985 and 1986. He was the first amputee to do the Ironman, and at that time, the only one to have accomplished this twice. In October 1987, he was in Hawaii training for Ironman, when he was struck and killed by a truck. The sprint triathlon was renamed in memory of Pat Griskus. Now in its 21st year, there are over 500 triathletes, and many volunteers and sponsors involved. The race has earned a fine reputation as a quality event and has raised over $180,000 for charity. See original here .

Dom Gillen grew up in a neighboring town. If I recall correctly, the Griskus was the first triathlon he raced in and the first he won. Dom and Tyler Johnson, who is his cousin, went up to this race conducted in Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury CT. The competition was fierce, with Chris Thomas, from Easton CT, who is another registered pro triathlete with a full time job, there to test the cousins. And our friends Wolfgang Emerling and Ian Ray. There was even a special guest appearance by our old pro team manager, Tom Schuler (hey Tom! you should have called!). A bunch of TARGETRAINING clients went, including Mike Driscoll.

The official results are here. Looks as if Dom and Tyler were able to come in first and second, but Tyler had to run fast to make up ground. We are hoping Dom will be able to put together a brief race report with more action in it.

The Republican American Milford's Mark Jaffee wrote a cool article on it as well. Here. MIDDLEBURY — While the predicted thunderstorms never showed up at Quassy Amusement Park on Wednesday evening, thousands of spectators and nearly 500 competitors certainly were present.Including Domenic Gillen.The Milford resident captured his third BMW of Watertown Pat Griskus Sprint Tri- athlon championship at Quassy Amusement Park.Under ideal water temperature of 78 degrees and air temperatures in the 90s, the former UConn swimmer and ex-New Preston resident completed the half-mile swim, 10-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run in 56 minutes, 37 seconds. He beat out his cousin, Tyler Johnson of Chester (58:15), by not quite two minutes.“If the race was a little longer, Tyler would have caught me,” said Gillen, 30. “He made up a lot of ground.”Johnson, 28, a former distance runner at Auburn University, wasn’t so sure that he could have outrun his relative.“Maybe, but I don’t know about that today,” said Johnson. “I don’t think Domenic is giving himself enough credit. It was a real good race.”MIDDLEBURY — While the predicted thunderstorms never showed up at Quassy Amusement Park on Wednesday evening, thousands of spectators and nearly 500 competitors certainly were present.Including Domenic Gillen.The Milford resident captured his third BMW of Watertown Pat Griskus Sprint Tri- athlon championship at Quassy Amusement Park.Under ideal water temperature of 78 degrees and air temperatures in the 90s, the former UConn swimmer and ex-New Preston resident completed the half-mile swim, 10-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run in 56 minutes, 37 seconds. He beat out his cousin, Tyler Johnson of Chester (58:15), by not quite two minutes.“If the race was a little longer, Tyler would have caught me,” said Gillen, 30. “He made up a lot of ground.”Johnson, 28, a former distance runner at Auburn University, wasn’t so sure that he could have outrun his relative.“Maybe, but I don’t know about that today,” said Johnson. “I don’t think Domenic is giving himself enough credit. It was a real good race.”

Ride to the top of the world

I realize that this is nothing compared to Jaroslaw's recent conquest of the world's highest peak on foot, but I thought I'd share a couple pictures of my recent ride up the country's longest continuous climb that you can do on a bicycle. The ride up the Haleakala volcano on Maui starts at sea level and climbs to 10,000 feet in 36 miles of road. The overall average grade is between 5% and 6%, but that is deceptive because the first 14 miles of the ride are more "rolling" than climbing, while the last 22 miles are unrelenting, switchback after switchback, with not a single break in the climb. And it gets progressively steeper as you go, with the last 3/4 of a mile at 12-13%, which is absolutely brutal after 4+ hours of nonstop climbing into thinner and thinner air.

The ride back down, however, is a blast.

The first picture is me with my riding buddy Toby, whom I met the morning of my ride when we both rented bikes from the same bike shop. The picture was taken in front of a little food shop at about 3,500 feet, which is the last place to get any food or drink (not quite - there is a lone water fountain about a mile from the summit). Alas, Toby did not make it - he was probably the smarter one, and bailed at about 5,000 feet. The next 5,000 feet were pretty lonely.

The second picture is me at the summit (wearing a surfing rash guard under my jersey, as it was about 45 degrees up there at 10,023 feet, and I had not brought any cold weather cycling gear to Maui, so I stuffed a rash guard in a jersey pocket).

Third is "Science City", the USAF radar station that is the only thing at the summit besides a tiny national park ranger station.

Fourth is the peak of the big island of Hawai'i poking above the clouds, as seen from the summit on Maui.

Last is the start of the road back down. You can see that the terrain looks very much like the surface of Mars, with the barren red volcanic dirt and the scattered volcanic rocks.

Best,

Jim (member of the TARGETRAINING Cycling Club)

My Ride...Cannondale Slice Review

The new 2008 Slice from Cannondale is the first full-carbon tri/TT bike from Cannondale. The improvements over 2007 are remarkable. The geometry has changed a bit to better accommodate a steeper (78+ degree) riding position. The ride quality has improved due to the the carbon fiber chainstays designed to dampen road vibration. No longer is Cannondale synonymous with teeth rattling stiffness. This bike is made for the long haul. I spec'd mine out with the SRAM Force grouppo, which includes lots of cool carbon bits. The crank, rear derailleur cage, shifters and svelte brake levers are all carbon, making this a lightweight and affordable option for a tri bike setup. I opted for the FSA Vision aero/base bar and stem combo. The armrest cups are rock solid and instill confidence when all your weight is resting on them.

My first ride on the Slice was during a combo hill climb workout in East Rock Park, New Haven. 3 climbs to the top of the park and then 3 six minute runs around a grass field. The ride to the park goes through some sections of really crummy city pavement. The bike is smooth through the rough stuff and wants to ridden hard. In fact, the faster and harder you go, the better this bike feels. The climbs are steady at around 5-6% grade for 7-8 minutes. The seated climbs in the aero bars felt great both in the big ring at 85 rpms and in the small ring at 105 rpms. Out of the saddle the bike feels like, well, a bike that wants to be ridden in the saddle. Descending on this bike takes some practice. I found myself sliding off the back of the saddle MTB style to navigate the fast switchback descents of East Rock. The geometry of this bike is set up to be ridden flat, straight, and fast, fortunately most triathlon courses are set up the same way.

Cannondale specs this bike out with a cool rear mounted water bottle holder and has an option of an integrated SRM using the BB30 bottom bracket and the Hollowgram Crank. I would like to see a better seat clamp that makes adjustment of the saddle angle easier. I spotted Bill Keith, the Cannondale product manager at the Health Net triathlon, he was sporting a slick white slice with new graphics so you can bet to see that color option in 2009.

In conclusion: Smooth is fast, fast is smooth. This bike makes me feel fast even when warming up. I can't wait to give a go in my first race.

Kick off Summer Practice Triathlon at Sherwood Island

Today Dom Gillen, head of the TARGETRAINING triathlon program, ran the first of TARGETRAINING's summer series of practice triathlons. He successfully coached a group of clients through a sprint distance triathlon. Another way to say it is that a bunch of TARGETRAINING clients completed an early Sunday morning triathlon on July 5th at Sherwood Island, Westport CT.

These simulated TARGETRAINING triathlons are held at beautiful Sherwood Island in Westport CT. Sherwood Island is a great venue with a great beach, an excellent, flat cycling and running loop closed to traffic except for beach goers, and nice facilities. It costs $7 to get a pass for the day (it's fun for the entire family), but you can also bike there from TARGETRAINING (which is only a few minutes away by bicycle).

Dom spends time coaching the athletes through the entire triathlon, including both transitions. It is a fantastic way to be prepared for upcoming races. And it is just plain fun.

You may use the TARGETRAINING summer 10 pack to attend these sessions. You can sign up for a single practice triathlon too for $30. These practice sessions offer no prize money and no timing system but you get to go fast while getting coached (all sorts of pointers). Write to Dom@TARGETRAINING.com to find out more.