Bikesport Ann Arbor Triathlon: Race Report

Triathlon Forum
1

-Can’t tell you what it was like out on the course since I did the announcing and basically goofed off.

A good day under tough conditions. I would go so far as to say that this was one of the most challenging editions of the Ann Arbor event in its 20 year history. Heat, humidity and high water temepratures combined to make a no-wetsuit swim and a very hot run in a dense woods on punishing terrain.

This was the highest attrition rate in the history of the race with a large number (don’t know exactly) of DNF’s. As a result, while it sounds cliche’, everyone who made it to the finish line has something to be proud of. It was a tough day.

Water temps in three places oonthe lake were 78, 79 and 81 degrees so no wetsuits. A low overcast and the Bikesport blimp made navigation on the swim course easy as did an armada of boats on the course. Security on the swim course was not an issue. The swim went well.

Bike course: For some reason there are always a few crashes at this event. A few nagging problems such as vehicle traffic on the course were sources of frustration for a couple competitiors including Jeff Goodeneau in the duathlon who reported that he lost at least 2 minutes being trapped behind vehicle traffic. I general, that was the exception rather than the rule. One major logistical challenge of this course is that it passes thorugh multiple police jurisdictions (3?) making the administration of the bike course similar to brokering mid-east peace.

The run was tough- it always is. Tougher still due to high temps and high humidity and a voracious influx of deer flies. Luckily, 700 fit triathletes don’t make much of a meal for hungry deer flies so most people emerged unscathed. Poison ivy was in effect on the trail but Lew Kidder managed to brief competitors prior to the start and it was no problem.

We may have witnessed a changing of the guard to a degree with an emerging champion Matt Wehrman. Matt was as talented as he was gracious in victory. Few athletes handle victory interviews well put Matt was poised and professional in victory. Look for big things from a very talented and classy Matt Wehrman- consider me a fan of his. Eric Fernando put together an impressive race as did his arch rival Joe Deeghan who is always rock solid. Deeghan (Deighan? sorry Joe…) races for the new Mongo Multisport Team sponsored by Yahoo! and B.D.'s Mongolian Barbeque, a very nice theme restaurant chain here in Michigan. This is a hands-on operatio too, the owner of B.D.'s is a part of the team! We have a B.D.'s Monogolian Barbeque right across the street from Bikesport and eat there often.

Another awesome perfromance on a tough day was Todd Anthes who put together an incredbile race. Same with Marc Kase and his wife.

Women’s race went to the Canadian prodigy Blair Knaizew of Ontario whose mother also raced. Cheryl Klotkowski had an impressive race as did Karen McKeachie to round out the top three.

Klotkowski prefers to race with a wetsuit and it is a testimony to her talent and determination that she put together such a fine race without one. As running is her specialty the course does favor her at least on the last 1/3rd. Klotkowski did have a bit of a secret eapon in the form of a new bike that was 3 pounds lighter and 1.5 cm shorter in the top tube than her prvious bike giving her a more powerful position, better transition to the run and better perfromance on the rolling hills. She had only been on the new bike two weeks before Sunday’s race.

Karen McKeachie had a typically impressive race and, true to form, downplayed her fitness at the start. McKeachie won the very first edition of the race 20 years ago and placed top three yesterday- an incredible record. The multi-time world champion and 11th overall Ironman Hawaii finisher was unaffected by the tough conditions. McKeachie knows how to dig deep. Impressive performance.

All in all, some pretty impressive perfromances and a good day. Thanks in particular to our friends from Energice, Emmanuel from Aquaman Wetsuits, Russ Hudson for doing a great job for us in transition and of course Jim and Joyce for putting on a great race.

2

Here is the results link:

http://www.eliteendeavors.com/05_results/05_aatri_res.htm
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3

As usual, when pressed into the duty, you did a great job calling the race. Despite the swim being a little longer than last year, I knocked 5 and 1/2 minutes and about 80 places off of my overall result from last year. Was very nice to have the Bikesport blimp for sighting on the way back on the swim as the clouds had burned off by the last swim wave.

4

Great day and a great race!

The warm water, no wetsuit swim, helped me out, but hurt Cheryl.

The only bummer was that Matt, Parker, and Ryan started in a different wave than Joe and I. I don’t think I could have held back their onslaught during the run, but it would have been interesting to see Joe and Matt racing neck and neck to the line.

5

I’m glad that thing worked. It is always fun announcing and a darn sight easier than racing…

6

Or,
How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Deer Flies.

Thanks for the race report, Tom. Appreciated you commentary as well. For someone who desribes themselves as borderline antisocial, you can really talk up a storm when you need to. Props.

Were you the one who did race commentary for the Tour de Michigan races back in the early 90’s?

All I can say about the race is thank god the sun never came out. I could barely breath in the “jungle” as it was.

Good race everyone.

7

Thanks Tom for another excellent job and for being a sponsor. The blimp is always a big help. As for the race that was a tough one this year. Calling the run course a Jungle is right on!

Got to agree with Eric on somehow getting all the possible overall winners in one wave, that would make for one exciting race. They should just pull last years top ten and put them in the first wave with the 30-39ag.

8

Tom - Thanks for your help, the race report and the kudos therein. Regardless of the conditions, it was fun.

For whatever reason I could not ramp it up to where I wanted to be, and it resulted in me losing to my arch rival known on Slowtwitch as Deeg. Regardless, that bastard knows that he is now in my cross-hairs more than ever.

The day ended for me well at Half Moon Lake as someone reported that a lifeguard found my chip floating in the lake - the chip that was ripped off my leg in the first 50 yds. Usually that little bugger is under my wetsuit, so no problem. But it begs the questions in my mind, do people intentionally go for the chip? It’s hard to believe, but that is sure what it felt like. Now that I think about it, it was probably was Deeg.

9

Sometimes I stuff my chip (with band) in my swimsuit(bike shorts) and then put it around my wrist or ankle in the transition area. This works unless you’re wearing speedos, of course.

10

With all of five triathlons under my belt, I will offer my “expert” opinion that each wave can be its own race. Last year I started in the first wave at Ann Arbor, and there was little traffic on the bike (except for everyone passing me) and not too much traffic on the run. This year, I was in the last wave, and there was a lot of traffic out there on both the bike and the run. Even though my bike is the weakest link, I was passing enough people to run into some problems, with sometimes three or four people across the road at the same time. The run was very crowded, and it definitely slowed me down a little when I got caught behind some slower runners on narrow portions of the trail. I don’t know how it all nets out, but you probably get some benefit on the bike because of legal drafting chances if you start late, but your run probably gets slowed down on a course like Ann Arbor with a narrow trail. Depending upon the race and how close the top finishers are, the differences in where you start can definitely affect your overall results. The problem is how do you account for someone that is very fast, but unknown before the race. The guy that won was not among the pre-race favorites, was he?

11

Matt was 5th last year, and 3rd the year before. He’s a phenomenal runner and both Joe and I knew we were racing the clock near the end.

12

Yeah I think Matt was a pre-race favorite. For the unproven racer problem it does get a little tougher. The race information would have to allow any racer to submit his name for consideration in the first wave and with that he/she could also submit his/her qualifications.

13

Another great display of my ignorance about the sport :wink:
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14

I think the main problem with an elite start is that USAT allows them, but doesn’t count the results in the rankings. This seems silly. I can see not allowing someone in an elite wave to get a prize for that age group, but the times should be submitted for rankings. Sure it may give a 40 - 45 year old in an elite wave a bit of an advantage, but not enough to seriously upset the national rankings. To me with chip timing it should be easy. Most of the fast guys are in the 25-35 year age group. Make that the elite wave and have anyone in any other age group start there voluntarily. You would need to use the swim exit mat as a swim entrance mat to ensure that anyone who enters the water early is caught.

Styrrell

15

It would be very good to get all the overall contenders into their own wave- male and female.

16

Great race, great time.

In response to my buddy anthes, great dual- but here is a little tip- having your wife call out where I was positioned after the swim did you no favors. Freakin hilarious.

To explain, I come out of the water pissed off with a 17 something- just dying. Top that off with looking up ahead and seeing my arch rival todd anthes about 20 yards ahead of me- I am not in a good mood to say the least. Then I hear the words from his wife- “he’s (referring to me) just behind you.” My response to her- “shouldn’t said that.” That is all it took to wake me from whatever the hell was weighing me down. Threw the smack down and put my boy anthes into my back pocket- well, at least for this weekend. 1 and 1 assbag, see you at Interlochen.

What a riot.

17

That’s funny as shit. We gotta do something about coming out of the water with 150 or so times that are faster than ours.

18

I bought some water wings at lunch today, that should help. Also bought a little propeller that you can put on your big toe, that should also help

19

Deeg

At least you and Anthes can bike… I felt like I was getting passed by everyone and their cousin out their. Ran out of real estate on the run…maybe next time.

20

Thanks Tom for the plug and the promotion you made during the race announcing with regards to Billy Downs and Mongo Multisport. I would like to add just a few things. Billy Downs and his Restaurant chain is an incredible organization. Not only do they think and act globally they also act locally supporting many charities and quality causes. This year Billy opened a Mongolian BBQ Restaurant in Monlgolia, where all the profit goes to local Mongolia childrens charity. This year their goal is to raise $250,000.

In addition to that effort he came on board with our local tri-club who’s mission is to raise funds for the Boy and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan (in Royal Oak) and to hold events with the kids at the club to promote health, fitness, and bicycle safety. Last week we held a Bike Rodeo at the B&G Club where almost 200 local kids brought their bikes to be safety checked, decorated, helmet fit and instruction, and strenght and fitness seminars. Billy brought a crew from his local Royal Oak restaurant to help with the event, even bringing is 12ft tall inflatable MONGO MAN. The event was a great success and impact with the children immediatly noticable.

Once again thanks for the props, we greatly appreciate them.

Jeff Tenniswood

PS: with all of this going on, Billy is also training to race IM Wisconsin this year. All I can think is that he must drink a lot of coffee :wink: