Soggy Sunday Spritely Saturday

Saturday was a beautiful day for 55 mile and 4300 feet of climbing in and around Windsor Mass. So a bunch of us went to suffer, hoping to inflict damage, only to find that this was a weekend where damage was inflicted on us. No real damage, only perhaps a little of the psychic variety, or the keep humble type (always useful for us). But the 3.5 mile 1200 foot climb certainly created a lot of effort from all of us that raced. And we did race, in the Pro-12 field (who raced 90 miles), the 40+, the 50+ and the Cat 3 field. We were scattered across route 8, 116, 112, and 9, and back to the finish line in the State Park. Wonderful scenery. Perhaps the best time was going to the local ice cream place after. Or grabbing dinner upon arriving back in Westport. Or simply going to sleep on Saturday night.

Sunday was a different type of day. It was a day of wash-outs, or near wash-outs, as the low humidity clarity of Saturday was replaced by rolling thunderstorms. First it hit Greenwich, where Dom Gillen snuck in a win at the Greenwich Triathlon. Of course, it was run as a duathlon due to too rough waters. Mitch West got 7th overall and 2nd in his 30-39 age group. Dave Yockleson got 10th overall and 1st in the 40-49 age group. Then it hit Brooklyn. Eneas Freyre ventured all the way to the end of Flatbush Avenue to Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett field only to find out that the time trial he was ready to judge had permanently recessed due to inclement weather. Dr. Rob Weiss found himself similarly out of patience. Yes, the flood hit Floyd Bennett but they could have raced. Back in Westport, the sky opened and then just as suddenly, it stopped raining. Judging themselves lucky, Tyler and Rick took a hardy group out riding through splashes and wind for a surprisingly bucolic 2 hour Sunday bike ride.

So nothing extraordinary to report for this weekend's festivities. Scott Bodin raced for Freedom in Stirling, NJ, but he has yet to report. And the Tour De France finished, although it was missing the other best team, Astana. We do congratulate Cervelo Bicycles and the fantastic CSC-Saxo Bank team, a team that we admire and for whom we wish nothing but the best.

Charity Wine Tasting Wrap Up

We would like to take the time to thank our host, Jordan Ross, and everyone that attended our Pan Mass Charity wine tasting last night at TARGETRAINING Tri & Cycle. A good time was had by all as we were treated to tasty hors d'œuvre and fantastic wines from around the world. The Chilean and Argentinian Lafite's were exceptional, actually ... Spending time listening to Jordan's perspective on wine tasting, the art and the science behind it, made the event all that much more enjoyable and memorable. We would like to recognize all of our contributors that helped sponsor this event:

Harold Kamins
Peggy Kamins
Rob Adler
Bonnie Adler
Mike Wallace
Cathy Hausman
Michael Driscoll
Kim Driscoll
Andy Kaplan

and special thanks to Howard Jamner and family for their kind donation to the Pan Mass Challenge as well.

Thank you for all of your support,
Eneas Freyre

Sunday race day across TARGETRAINING

Now, we don't have everyone's results, so please send in results and we'll update this entry accordingly.

Lake Placid. Mimi Boyle got 9th overall woman, 5th fastest time split and second in her age group. As one of her male teammates said: "Just want to add my congratulations to Mimi for a devestating race at IMLP!!! Remarkable!!! I was out there the whole day-- some brutal conditions to race in-- did NOT stop raining from 6:40 a.m. on...Saw Mimi out on the bike course-- crushing it! 5th fastest bike split for ALL WOMEN!! As Greg said, 9th woman OVERALL! 2nd in her AG. I could go on...Way to put it all together Mimi-- there was no luck involved." I believe that one other TT'er braved the race but am awaiting results...

New York City Triathlon. Valentin Lopes and Michelle Faurot joined Dominic Gillen and Jordan Rappin what was a very competitive, apparently heavy jelly fish filled swim, with the current going north rather than flowing south. Jordan got 6th overall in a 1:52+ while Dom managed to get 9th overall in a 1:55+. Valentin did a 2:12 while Michelle did 2:28, and they both competed in the Elite Age Group Category. Lyn McCabe did a 2:35, placing 5th in the 30-34 age group. All very fast times! Congrats!

Litchfield Hills Triathlon. TARGETRAINING's newest training colleague Wolfgang Ermeling won this event in a course record 2:05:21. He did the fastest bike leg, and after riding with him on our Wednesday rocket ride, we know he is fast (and 40 -- how's that for you young ones).

We know that Kim Driscoll won her age group (but please remind me what event) and Justin Colby got 2nd in his duathlon in his age group.

In cycling, the Masters team showed up for the Naugatuck Criterium. We were defending our title from last year but this year we came up a little short. With three off the front with two to go, Scott Bodin and friend of TT Chris Pile launched off the front. Scott just missed catching third place so Scott and Chris got 4th and 5th. Stephen Badger won the field sprint for 6th place. Three in a row just not starting with 1 -- next race!

Footnote: Saturday in the brutal heat many many clients did the 100 mile ride (or at least 2 of the 3 35 mile loops). Congrats to everyone. You are now officially well prepared for the upcoming charity rides (CT Challenge and Pan Mass Challenge).

Club rats and jellyfish

She got out of bed at 4:15 only to walk down a damp dim street filled with barefoot giggling girls, their unstrapped high heel shoes dangling from a drunken post diner food finger. How was this possible, she thought out loud, how can they be still having fun when I am headed towards this test of skill and practice?

These new age cowgirls preceded her own self being crowded like cattle being loaded onto freight cars headed for slaughter, only instead of the 22 caliber hammer, she lined up for the timing chip; this modern day scarlet letter: Triathlete. It seems as if technology and Big Brother were following her everywhere she went, only to report her splits and disillusioned performance to anyone with a computer and a still sleeping bike racer. The angst of possible betrayal and disappointment loomed everywhere.

Tired, empty and confused, she walked from one transition to another, was this it? Does she go here? Who are these people in these dark rubber suits and why are they lined up in front of those fiberglass boxes? She missed her new friends with the bare feet. Surely they were having more fun? It seemed like ages ago.

The chaos and waves of the river that Henry discovered so many years ago were powerless against her. Nothing could stop her, not gloom, doom or the occasional jelly fish sting. “What else have you got to throw against me Poseidon?” she yelled to the sky. Hills flattened and curves became straight in a blur of color and speed around that park in the center of the World. Call it what you want, forty kilometers, twenty four point eight miles or even a million cubits, it didn’t take long at only 1:21. After transforming herself like a multisport Gregor, she passes the Chief Clerk again in the lot. He says good luck as she runs away with the speed of all eight legs from that classic story.

Brunch afterwards was an earned reward. She basked in the glory of besting all of her friends. They may lead happy lives in glorious places, she thought this time to herself, but personal course best by eight minutes they cannot yet begin to dream.

The train out of town was uneventful save the occasional question and stolen glance. Home again. Back to life and the hope of more events soon again. Maybe more hill training. The thoughts were endless and sleep only comes with difficulty. She lays awake yet dreaming of Westchester soon. Darkness arrives with a smile. 2:35.16; just tri to beat that.

Pan Mass Challenge Charity Wine Tasting