August 2009
In the Bitterroot Athlete Valley

August was highlighted by the 4th annual Bitterroot Classic Triathlon (BCT) in Hamilton.  It was well attended by what seemed like half the town.  There were so many spectators compared to other triathlons, that it is my theory, people mount their bikes early because it is difficult to see where the line is??  Who knows, but I know better and I started to mount early, as well as a visiting "wrestler" (injured Justin Yetter) who did mount and had to go back to the bike rack and start over.  It was also a blow-out month to do a triathlon every weekend.  I didn't get to do it this year, but did make it to the Whitefish Triathlon, more on this later.

Lake Como Triathlon Checks Given

On behalf of the Lake Como Triathlon (LCT), participants and cash sponsors such as: Jerry Wessels Tire Center, Hilti Inc., Antara Sports, Michael Silverglat MD and Alexis Wagner APRN (Missoula/Bitterroot Valley Sleep Specialists), Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ravalli County Bank, and Valley Bike; the LCT committee donated three $500 checks to local organizations with funds raised. Mark Butler for the Ravalli County Search and Rescue, Vicki Motley for the Lost Trail Ski Patrol, and Dan Gager for the Trapper Creek Student Welfare Division of the Job Corp all accepted $500 checks in August. All organizations volunteered at the Lake Como Triathlon event and contributed to the event's success. Thank you to all of these organizations, participants, and sponsors from the LCT Committee.

The Saturday Runners

Early August, we had a great run at Coyote Coulee after a rain on Friday night. It was very fresh, scenic, and perfect running weather with fresh dew on the ferns and foliage.  It was quite an uphill challenge. Thanks to our trusty Garmins, we discovered the first .75 mile is all uphill and an elevation change of about 635 feet.  The following Saturday, we then had a nice brick workout, bike and  run, on the Bitterroot Classic course.  It was followed by rain again. It was a very rainy and cool August.  The BCT was the following Saturday, which we finally got some warm weather. (We only had four days of warm weather before the triathlon so athletes were out in the afternoon getting used to the heat again.) The last Saturday of the month, we were back to Coyote Coulee, a 4.3 mile run. It was seeming a little short for our long Saturday runs so we are headed back to Como in Sept. for a good 7.7 mile run around the lake.

Other Events

August 1st was the annual Water Daze in Polson at Flathead Lake.  Some of us headed down for the one-mile swim.  It was a nice hot day and the swim was a fun straight-across-the-bay swim.  We started at the hotel, Kwataqnuk, and swam to Boettcher Park. Hosted by the Polson Bay Golf Club and Tana Seeley, the Event Director, funds raised went to Polson's proposed community pool.  (That Susie!)

It was also the day of the Long Bridge Swim in Sandpoint (1.76 miles!) and the Frenchtown Aquathlon.  Jeremy Oury showed up for the 1-mile swim with numbers already on his arm.  He had new numbers written on top of them.  Apparently, he participated in the Aquathlon (Swim & Run) and then drove to Polson. And speaking of Jeremy, he is headed to the Gold Coast in Australia; along with his father, uncle and good friend! This is pretty major. They are all on TEAM USA!  This is the ITU World Triathlon Championships!  Here is the link where we can follow:  ITU Championships.  The event is September 9th through 13th. Hopefully, he will fill us in on more...is he in the Elite Division on the 12th or the 13th?? He has a blog about his adventures and he is raising funds for Youth Homes while he does it.  Check it out. 

Whitefish had a great triathlon again, always the week before the BCT.  It is a beautiful open water swim and nice bike and run course in the trees and away from traffic.  Some Bitterrooters headed up and participated.  I did not have my camera finger working too good at this event.  I was kind of busy.  The last two times I came to Whitefish, 2007/8, I had quite a time getting there, so this time I wanted to make sure I was set up and ready.  I'll explain briefly:  2007, I headed to Whitefish the morning of the race. I left early enough...but, I took the wrong highway.  Forty miles out-of-the-way heading to Couer d'Alene, I realized I was going the wrong way. I headed back as fast as I could. And now it was urgent! I HAD to make this triathlon because I wanted to do six or seven triathlons that year (don't remember which now).  I HAD to do Whitefish, because the BCT was the only one left I was going to do. So, let me tell you I was driving fast--but, carefully. I called Jeremy ahead and told him to stall "Stan" who puts it on.  Jeremy said not to worry that he always starts late. I am stressing out, because this was my favorite triathlon and I did not want to miss it!   So I am driving very carefully, but I got stopped in Kalispell. (Imagine that?!?)  But the kind policeman saw that I was very earnest when I pleaded, "I am just trying to get to Whitefish to do the triathlon!" He could see my bike with the aero-bars, check, my wetsuit, check, my bucket, check..."OK, I'll let you go this time, but slow down!" OK!!  I was all happy and smiling!

So I get there, throw on my wetsuit and jump in the water. It was that fast.  I didn't even have time to get nervous about the race.  Then I crashed on my bike on the new gravel, but I got up and still got first place for my age group. So it was a good race!! 

I hope I am not boring you with this, but one more short story of why I didn't get many pictures...(Does everyone have rolls like this??) The second year, 2008, I left in plenty of time...I made sure I took the right highway, but I was so tired! This time I was just setting up a booth with my clothes. So it was OK if I was late.  I learned in Helena (triathlon) I cannot do the race and a booth also. So I was just doing the booth. But, when I am tired, I am tired and I have to pull over and sleep or I will go to sleep. (Even from Missoula to Lolo or Florence, I have been so tired after a Griz Masters swim that I had to pull over and take a nap.) So I pull over along side the road as I am driving around Flathead Lake.  I snoozed a bit and I felt like I could go on.  But lo and behold, my car wouldn't start! I left my lights on!!  But I am thinking positive. I am going to get there. My car is loaded with stuff and I came all the way up here not to participate and I am going to get this stuff there.   Cell phone..."No phone service!"   But somehow there was an emergency connection only. Well, this is kind of an emergency...I am kind of stuck here.   So I called and said "this is not an emergency, but I am stuck here and I need a jump."  A little while later a cop pulls up behind me and gives me a jump...no problem. I gave him an Antara Sports ball cap. Thank you! I am on my way. Got there.

So 2009, I am ready to drive up in the morning again.....hmmm...luckily, Jeremy offered his place.  So Jeremy, his three children, Tim Meichle, Greg Bremer, his daughter Emily, and I all stayed for the night to be ready for the race. It was nice to be there early and on time! I got third place...should have tried harder!  But it was perfect running weather, overcast and mild. It was teeth-chattering for those not swimming in wetsuits, but it was fun and bigger than ever with close to 150 people attending. Stan barbecued hamburgers for all the triathletes as the rain began to fall. It was Greg and Tim's first time in Whitefish and they said it was definitely a "do-over."

The Bitterroot Classic Triathlon

This is the local favorite for your orthodontist, physical therapist, doctor, real estate agent, and your kids to be involved in. I think it could be a Chamber of Commerce event for every business owner and professional in the area to participate in the race at least once as a part of a team or solo!  It is a fun, family-oriented triathlon raising money for the Ronald McDonald House in Missoula. This year they added a kids jumping blow-up play area, which is great to use up some "kid" energy.   Although, I heard that Jim Woods wanted to jump in there too, but the kids wouldn't let him.

The Triathlon had its worst accident ever, caught on camera by Patrick Chaplin, friend of Jan King-Lagle's. The picture is of Deb Eckheart tumbling head-over handle bars on her new bike. Don't know how the bike survived, but Deb broke her collarbone, her thumb, and punctured a lung. She is doing well and recovering at home. Her doctors and nurses enjoyed seeing the picture.

The Women's and Men's Elite heats were the last ones to go at 1:05 and 1:30 in the mid-day's heat. We had some young super stars in both categories, meaning they were just super fast and most all had won first overall in other triathlons.  One woman I swam with, Jennifer Luebke, is a professional athlete. I think for some of the guys, they were at least almost semi-pro they were so good.  Given the fact that I was the oldest of my group, I held my pace until the run, my weakest link. If anyone was behind me they passed me there...I was in last in my heat. But, I still got second in my age group! So that was good.  (And the weather-heat was not bad after having practiced in it for three days.) 

Greg Bremer had a similar experience, except he had even more amazing competition. He swam with John Weston, who is an anomaly, at age 53, who keeps up with the "twenty-somethings"...FOR REAL!  From Florence, Montana, Weston still holds the Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene record swim with a time of 45:19 in 2003. (He should be going to Australia!) Five of the guys in the men's heat broke the BCT course record.  No one had done the course in less than 1:03:00 before.  But Brendan Halpin, Adam Jensen, Matt Shryock, John Weston and Geoff L'Heureux--ALL broke the record coming in at 57:45, 58:12, 59:45, 1:01:43, and 1:02:25 respectively.  Greg was the last one in in his heat too, and he ended up winning 2nd in his age group. All good. All fun. Just another good workout in the life of a triathlete.

Had to get Steve Gideon in...he says he is never in the BCT video...we pointed him out last year that he was walking in the background behind the little girl coming in from the kids race.  Steve ran around Lake Como 7.77 miles with his Darby Cross Country kids before he did the triathlon...all in the day of a track & XC coach.

Take care and until next time...at least a September update... :-)

Christophe and Deb Tanvier had their new arrival, Emmy, on August 27th!  Already saw the whole family out together at the Fair Parade, Sept. 2nd.  Amazing to see that Emmy was this little "basketball" Deb was carrying around.  (See Deb above right with Christophe...watching Justin...new meaning for "Basketball Mom.")