BERLIN MARATHON (9/16/18)
Cristian Neumann - 4:18:28
Dirk Neumann - 4:18:28
Jen Smith - 4:38:59
Lauren Hoffart - 5:27:43
PACIFIC NORTHWEST HALF MARATHON, Coburg to Harrisburg, OR (9/15/18)
Juan Flores - 1:36:56
SANTA FE (N.M.) THUNDER HALF MARATHON (9/16/18)
Gabby Brockett -- 2:32:35
TOUGHEST 10K KEMAH (9/16/18)
Jerritt Park - 48:56
Volte Friend
Sabina Lorca - 51:40
TUNNEL LIGHT MARATHON, Hyak to North Bend, WA (9/16/18)
Adelle Beaumont - 4:07:23* (27)
Andrew Smith - 3:47:43 (47) PR by 42 minutes, per coach
Breezy Beaumont - 3:19:32* (24) BQ
Carrie Hyde - 3:53:17 (48) BQ Best time in five years
Drew George - 3:08:17 (53) BQ 5th best time of 38 finishes
Gabby Westbrook - 3:58:22 (34) PR first sub 4
Greg Nettleton - 4:10:58 (51)
Keri Amador - 3:30:57 (35) BQ/PR
Jill Tresaugue - 4:11:05 (43)
Judith Albarran - 3:59:04 (38) PR first sub 4 and 20-min PR
Laura Godfrey - 3:44:54 (43) BQ 3rd best time of 15 finishes
Laura Hanyzewski - 4:17:03 (40) 2nd best time of five
Layton Gill - 3:59:14 (38) PR first sub 4 and 30-min PR
Leanne Rosser - 3:56:10 (49) BQ 2nd sub 4-hour of 17 finishes
Letty Gonzalez - 7:17:07 (53)
Marta Mixa - 4:26:03 (61) PR by 7 mins
Mayra Caamano - 3:43:44 (40) BQ 2nd best time of 9 finishes (10, but TW short)
Meredith Moss - 3:18:56 (36) BQ/PR of 21 minutes
Michelle McGill - 3:51:37 (51) BQ 21st sub 4 of 34 finishes
Mimi Torrez - 3:50:26* (47) BQ
Rob Myers - 4:08:25 (53) PR of 33 minutes
Sandra Tezino - 3:38:23 (50; BQ/PR pacer Scott Sebelsky in front)
Tammy Grado - 3:56:47 (50) BQ 2nd sub 4-hour of 20 finishes
Tim Russell - 4:11:17 (48)
Todd Hunter - 3:30:06 (50) 2nd best time of 29 finishes
Yaya Herrera - 3:36:14 (43) BQ 2nd best time of 6 finishes
Volte Friends
Andy Brock - 4:20:47
John Trocko - 4:55:56
Kim Hamilton - 4:17:28
Rebecca (Holt) Trocko - 4:55:56
Sonia Jackson - 3:27:18
* Not certain as of 9/16/18 if today's time is a PR or not for Volte athletes
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Friday, September 14, 2018
Dwyer Says Volte's Ready For Sunday's Tunnel Light Marathon
Volte Endurance Training founder and head coach Bill Dwyer is a pretty happy, go lucky type of guy.
So for him to admit that he’s just a little bit superstitious might come as a shock to some as he gets ready to head to North Bend, Washington as 28 of his group’s runners will run Sunday’s Tunnel Light Marathon.
“We also have seven very good friends of our group running with us,” he said.
Just don’t ask him for a forecast of what he thinks his group is capable of on Sunday.
Yes, he’s plugged all of his athletes’ numbers in the various marathon race time predictors, but his counter to the numbers is the impressive work they’ve put in the last five to six months.
Including some who have never before committed to training through the summer for an early fall marathon.
“Our group is in great shape and I’m very blessed to have such a great group to travel with,” Dwyer said excitedly. “The weather will be good. There has been light rain this week so the course will be a little extra fast.”
And the 42 degrees weather – even with showers in the current forecast - at the start of Sunday’s race in Hyak located on Snoqualmie Pass will be a welcome respite from the many miles trained by Volte athletes in shoes filled with humidity-induced perspiration.
“The historically good temperatures, great organizers and volunteers set up athletes for a good day,” he said.
This will be Dwyer’s second group to take to Washington state.
Volte’s engagement with Tunnel Light began two years ago after Jen Smith – who will be running the Berlin Marathon on Sunday - moved from Katy to The Woodlands and shared with the group that a friend of hers had run the race in 2015 and posted a 14-minute personal best.
“It was immediately on our runners’ radar,” he said.
Laura Godfrey and Sandra Tezino both ran the race in 2016, each posting times of 3:39, qualifying for the Boston Marathon and recording a personal best. (It was Tezino’s debut marathon.)
“With their success and trying to qualify some of our runners who had run The Woodlands short course, we had 20 make the trip last year,” he added.
Even though the course drops more than 2,000 feet over its length, Dwyer is loathe to call it a “downhill course.”
“Tunnel Light isn’t the same type of course (as the Revel races),” he said. “(The drop) makes it a very gentle 1.5% downhill grade on a re-purposed railroad track.”
“It is more like a trail run, but a smooth and fast trail.”
He stated that – on average – Tunnel Light was four minutes faster than a flatter course like Houston, but data from MarathonGuide.com confirms that it is actually 20 minutes faster.
2012 – 4:16:33 (81 finishers) – Houston 4:24:52
2013 – 4:08:59 (195 finishers) – Houston 4:30:14
2014 – 4:07:48 (143 finishers) – Houston 4:28:50
2015 – 4:08:06 (438 finishers) – Houston 4:30:29
2016 – 4:08:12 (505 finishers) – Houston 4:25:45
2017 – 4:07:56 (427 finishers) – Houston 4:37:03
2018 – Houston 4:27:26
This year’s “Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon” race, held on the same course, but in early June, drove the average finishing time down – for that race – to 4:00:41 (with 504 finishers).
And it isn’t just the fastest of the fast that benefit, he said, but one thing’s important as with any marathon.
“Training is the key. Everybody can benefit,” Dwyer noted.
Dwyer’s runners, who have prepared for Tunnel Light under three different Volte coaches including a few self-coached runners that joined in on group runs and workouts, really didn’t change its traditional marathon training approach.
“For the steeper Revel races, we’ll run League Line or Flintridge, use the downhill setting on a treadmill with additional core work,” he said. “It is very hard in our area to train for an event that starts at 7,600 feet and ends at 2,500 feet (as with Revel Mt. Charleston).”
For those who have previously qualified for or are on the cusp of qualifying for the Boston Marathon for the first time, the race is held literally between the two weeks of registration for the 2019 race in Beantown.
“Those who qualify on Sunday will have three days to enter for 2019,” Dwyer noted. “And historically it's the first weekend for qualifying for the next Boston (2020).
“We won't know that for sure until Boston announces that after the 2019 registration is completed.”
Volte’s roster (with their coaches) for Sunday looks like this:
Self Coached (Drew George, Sandra Tezino, Layton Gill, Leanne Rosser and Mike Coleman)
Coached by Bill Dwyer (Todd Hunter, Keri Amador, Laura Godfrey, Yaya Herrera, Mayra Caamano, Mimi Torrez, Gabby Westbrook, Michelle McGill, Jill Tresaugue, Tammy Grado, Carrie Hyde, Laura Hanyzewski, Judith Albarran, Tim Russell, Erica Coleman, Rob Myers and Letty Gonzalez)
Coached by Leanne Rosser (Meredith Moss, Andrew Smith and Marta Mixa)
Coached by Mary Carter (Breezy Beaumont, Adelle Beaumont and Greg Nettleton)
Friends of Volte will include Andy Brock, John and Rebecca Trocko, Sonia Dhodapkar, Kim Hamilton, Katherine Kusik and Claire Smith.
Nine of this year’s group of 28 ran Tunnel Light a year ago – and five of those qualified for Boston.
And for some of the 19 that are new to Sunday’s race, their reasons are as varied as Texas weather.
Volte’s marathon leader with 37, Drew George, his were two-fold: “to participate as a member of the Volte team and as a training run in prep for my Grand Canyon rim-to-rim crossing in two weeks.”
Mayra Caamano seeks to run a marathon in all 50 states. Sunday’s race will be her fifth, with her Marine Corps Marathon counting as Virginia.
And for Letty Gonzalez, it’s a bit more than the run itself.
“I chose Tunnel Light this year as a challenge to myself. The past year was a tough one on me as my Dad lost his battle with cancer in late January,” she said. “Being part of a team, Volte, has helped me cope with my loss.
“Everyone is supportive. The pain of my loss does not go away but knowing that I have friends that care about me and what I’m doing makes each day a little brighter, and it also helps to have a coach that believes in me.”
In addition to coach Mary Carter, Dwyer said Volte’s team on Sunday will be benefit from a six-person support crew, which will include Alfredo Gonzalez, Juan Flores (who qualified for Boston at Tunnel Light last year), Jimmy Baker, Debra Myers, Llana Bingham and Jim Rosser.
“Most of our support won't be on the course as it's pretty tough to get around and you run the risk of missing people,” he said. “We'll have support at the start, and at the finish and one person on the course.
“Support is mostly helping with the team dinner Saturday, keeping everyone calm, and getting to the shuttles on time Sunday morning.”
In addition to keeping mostly everyone calm, one of Dwyer’s masterful skills, though, is tapping well into the psyche and confidence of each of his group’s runners, making even the most recreational runner feel like an elite.
His basic advice for those 19 who haven’t run it before is course awareness.
“The Tunnel Light course has limited access so other than the aid station volunteers and a few adventurous friends and family there are not many spectators,” he said. “It is also a hike and bike trail and is not closed off to the public so know that going in, stay on pace, and enjoy the scenery.”
And don’t stop – even though they might be tempted to do so before -- to give their coach a hug until after they finish – and have collected their medal.
Tammy Grado thought about it a year ago.
After driving her 4:24:09 in Chicago five years ago down to 4:04:41 two years later at Houston, she had overcome an injury or two and a disappointing (to her) 4:12:13 result in the fall of 2016 at Wineglass to smash through with a 3:51:37 at Tunnel Light last year.
However, the difference between her time underneath her age group’s qualifying standard and the registration cutoff for Boston was – one second.
Don’t stop, keep moving.
One second is something Meredith Moss knows a little bit about -- and has been thinking about for six months.
Sunday’s marathon will be her second.
Her first?
The Woodlands Marathon earlier this March where she finished in 3:40:01 – one second over her age group’s qualifying standard.
BQ, PR or a great race with even better friends, Volte’s primed well for its biggest out-of-town race experience in the group’s seven-year history.
Also on Sunday, three Voltes will be running the Berlin Marathon.
Joining Jen Smith, who is currently living in England with her husband and three kids, will be joined by statesider Lauren Hoffart and Criss Neumann, who lives in Germany with her husband.
So for him to admit that he’s just a little bit superstitious might come as a shock to some as he gets ready to head to North Bend, Washington as 28 of his group’s runners will run Sunday’s Tunnel Light Marathon.
“We also have seven very good friends of our group running with us,” he said.
Just don’t ask him for a forecast of what he thinks his group is capable of on Sunday.
Yes, he’s plugged all of his athletes’ numbers in the various marathon race time predictors, but his counter to the numbers is the impressive work they’ve put in the last five to six months.
Including some who have never before committed to training through the summer for an early fall marathon.
“Our group is in great shape and I’m very blessed to have such a great group to travel with,” Dwyer said excitedly. “The weather will be good. There has been light rain this week so the course will be a little extra fast.”
And the 42 degrees weather – even with showers in the current forecast - at the start of Sunday’s race in Hyak located on Snoqualmie Pass will be a welcome respite from the many miles trained by Volte athletes in shoes filled with humidity-induced perspiration.
“The historically good temperatures, great organizers and volunteers set up athletes for a good day,” he said.
This will be Dwyer’s second group to take to Washington state.
 |
| A majority of Volte's team that traveled to Tunnel Light Marathon a year ago. (Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer) |
“It was immediately on our runners’ radar,” he said.
Laura Godfrey and Sandra Tezino both ran the race in 2016, each posting times of 3:39, qualifying for the Boston Marathon and recording a personal best. (It was Tezino’s debut marathon.)
“With their success and trying to qualify some of our runners who had run The Woodlands short course, we had 20 make the trip last year,” he added.
Even though the course drops more than 2,000 feet over its length, Dwyer is loathe to call it a “downhill course.”
“Tunnel Light isn’t the same type of course (as the Revel races),” he said. “(The drop) makes it a very gentle 1.5% downhill grade on a re-purposed railroad track.”
“It is more like a trail run, but a smooth and fast trail.”
He stated that – on average – Tunnel Light was four minutes faster than a flatter course like Houston, but data from MarathonGuide.com confirms that it is actually 20 minutes faster.
2012 – 4:16:33 (81 finishers) – Houston 4:24:52
2013 – 4:08:59 (195 finishers) – Houston 4:30:14
2014 – 4:07:48 (143 finishers) – Houston 4:28:50
2015 – 4:08:06 (438 finishers) – Houston 4:30:29
2016 – 4:08:12 (505 finishers) – Houston 4:25:45
2017 – 4:07:56 (427 finishers) – Houston 4:37:03
2018 – Houston 4:27:26
This year’s “Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon” race, held on the same course, but in early June, drove the average finishing time down – for that race – to 4:00:41 (with 504 finishers).
And it isn’t just the fastest of the fast that benefit, he said, but one thing’s important as with any marathon.
“Training is the key. Everybody can benefit,” Dwyer noted.
Dwyer’s runners, who have prepared for Tunnel Light under three different Volte coaches including a few self-coached runners that joined in on group runs and workouts, really didn’t change its traditional marathon training approach.
“For the steeper Revel races, we’ll run League Line or Flintridge, use the downhill setting on a treadmill with additional core work,” he said. “It is very hard in our area to train for an event that starts at 7,600 feet and ends at 2,500 feet (as with Revel Mt. Charleston).”
For those who have previously qualified for or are on the cusp of qualifying for the Boston Marathon for the first time, the race is held literally between the two weeks of registration for the 2019 race in Beantown.
“Those who qualify on Sunday will have three days to enter for 2019,” Dwyer noted. “And historically it's the first weekend for qualifying for the next Boston (2020).
“We won't know that for sure until Boston announces that after the 2019 registration is completed.”
Volte’s roster (with their coaches) for Sunday looks like this:
Self Coached (Drew George, Sandra Tezino, Layton Gill, Leanne Rosser and Mike Coleman)
Coached by Bill Dwyer (Todd Hunter, Keri Amador, Laura Godfrey, Yaya Herrera, Mayra Caamano, Mimi Torrez, Gabby Westbrook, Michelle McGill, Jill Tresaugue, Tammy Grado, Carrie Hyde, Laura Hanyzewski, Judith Albarran, Tim Russell, Erica Coleman, Rob Myers and Letty Gonzalez)
Coached by Leanne Rosser (Meredith Moss, Andrew Smith and Marta Mixa)
Coached by Mary Carter (Breezy Beaumont, Adelle Beaumont and Greg Nettleton)
Friends of Volte will include Andy Brock, John and Rebecca Trocko, Sonia Dhodapkar, Kim Hamilton, Katherine Kusik and Claire Smith.
Nine of this year’s group of 28 ran Tunnel Light a year ago – and five of those qualified for Boston.
And for some of the 19 that are new to Sunday’s race, their reasons are as varied as Texas weather.
Volte’s marathon leader with 37, Drew George, his were two-fold: “to participate as a member of the Volte team and as a training run in prep for my Grand Canyon rim-to-rim crossing in two weeks.”
Mayra Caamano seeks to run a marathon in all 50 states. Sunday’s race will be her fifth, with her Marine Corps Marathon counting as Virginia.
And for Letty Gonzalez, it’s a bit more than the run itself.
“I chose Tunnel Light this year as a challenge to myself. The past year was a tough one on me as my Dad lost his battle with cancer in late January,” she said. “Being part of a team, Volte, has helped me cope with my loss.
“Everyone is supportive. The pain of my loss does not go away but knowing that I have friends that care about me and what I’m doing makes each day a little brighter, and it also helps to have a coach that believes in me.”
In addition to coach Mary Carter, Dwyer said Volte’s team on Sunday will be benefit from a six-person support crew, which will include Alfredo Gonzalez, Juan Flores (who qualified for Boston at Tunnel Light last year), Jimmy Baker, Debra Myers, Llana Bingham and Jim Rosser.
“Most of our support won't be on the course as it's pretty tough to get around and you run the risk of missing people,” he said. “We'll have support at the start, and at the finish and one person on the course.
“Support is mostly helping with the team dinner Saturday, keeping everyone calm, and getting to the shuttles on time Sunday morning.”
In addition to keeping mostly everyone calm, one of Dwyer’s masterful skills, though, is tapping well into the psyche and confidence of each of his group’s runners, making even the most recreational runner feel like an elite.
His basic advice for those 19 who haven’t run it before is course awareness.
“The Tunnel Light course has limited access so other than the aid station volunteers and a few adventurous friends and family there are not many spectators,” he said. “It is also a hike and bike trail and is not closed off to the public so know that going in, stay on pace, and enjoy the scenery.”
And don’t stop – even though they might be tempted to do so before -- to give their coach a hug until after they finish – and have collected their medal.
Tammy Grado thought about it a year ago.
After driving her 4:24:09 in Chicago five years ago down to 4:04:41 two years later at Houston, she had overcome an injury or two and a disappointing (to her) 4:12:13 result in the fall of 2016 at Wineglass to smash through with a 3:51:37 at Tunnel Light last year.
However, the difference between her time underneath her age group’s qualifying standard and the registration cutoff for Boston was – one second.
Don’t stop, keep moving.
One second is something Meredith Moss knows a little bit about -- and has been thinking about for six months.
Sunday’s marathon will be her second.
Her first?
The Woodlands Marathon earlier this March where she finished in 3:40:01 – one second over her age group’s qualifying standard.
BQ, PR or a great race with even better friends, Volte’s primed well for its biggest out-of-town race experience in the group’s seven-year history.
Also on Sunday, three Voltes will be running the Berlin Marathon.
Joining Jen Smith, who is currently living in England with her husband and three kids, will be joined by statesider Lauren Hoffart and Criss Neumann, who lives in Germany with her husband.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Two Marathons, Two 5K's and a Multisport Event for Volte in Early September
Labor Day weekend is not the biggest to race on of the annual U.S. holidays; however, Voltes and friends found something to kick the tires on their training.
The first two weekends of September show two marathons, a triathlon and a pair of 5Ks.
Where there’s a 5K, there’s Jerritt Park. (Well, and Texas 10 Milers too.)
At The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K on Sunday, September 2 at Barbara Bush Elementary in The Woodlands, Jerritt led all Voltes with a 21:34 effort while Faith Craig posted a time of 29:34.
Volte friends finishing included Edson Jones (23:51), Mike Kelly (28:41) and a pair of “streakers” – that is, runners who run at least a mile every day, Vincent Attanucci (32:45) and Ken Johnson (40:16).
The following morning, Monday, September 3, at the Back to School 5K in Katy, Jerritt and his son, Brayden, ran the race in 20:50 and 23:35, respectively.
In Cypress, three of our Voltes, a pair of alumni and a trio of friends competed in a race at the Towne Lake Triathlon on Labor Day morning.
Mike Kuykendall and Hector Lopez completed the Sprint Triathlon – 450-meter swim, 12-mile bike and 5-kilometer run – in 1:30:00 and 1:40:41, respectively.
It was Kuykendall’s sixth triathlon of the year, and the weather was in his favor.
“So grateful for cool race day temps after so many scorchers this summer,” Mike said. “It began raining sideways transitioning from swim to bike and never let up.”
He was pleased noting a “good overall time considering the weather and shoes full of water.”
In his great ability to laugh at himself, he noted that he added 100 yards to his swim because he thought he was swimming to the next orange buoy before realizing that it was a volunteer in an orange shirt in an orange kayak who filled their ride well.
Volte alumni Justin Bui was second in his age group in the Sprint Triathlon in 1:08:24.
Paolo Biagi competed in the Sprint Duathlon, which replaced the 450-meter swim with another five-kilometer run, and finished in 1:42:35.
Alumni and friends competed in Olympic Triathlon, which covered 1,500 meters on the swim, 24 miles on the bike and a 10K to boot at the end.
Alumni Kate Looney was first in her age group in 2:11:35.
Mandi Fowlkes led all of our Volte friends in 2:39:50 followed by Scott Farrand and Sabina Lorca in 2:49:25 and 2:58:15, respectively.
Back on the shuttle to Colorado was Drew George, who competed in the American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs on Labor Day.
Stating that he’s been “forever humbled by the mountains,” Drew covered the distance in 3:50:22.
It was his 37th career marathon finish, which leads Volte.
Derek Bailey and Michelle McGill are tied for second with 33.
And at the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon in Geneva, Illinois on Saturday, September 8, where he qualified last September for this year’s Boston Marathon, Brian Schultz finished what we believe to be his 25th career marathon in 3:50:11.
The first two weekends of September show two marathons, a triathlon and a pair of 5Ks.
Where there’s a 5K, there’s Jerritt Park. (Well, and Texas 10 Milers too.)
At The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K on Sunday, September 2 at Barbara Bush Elementary in The Woodlands, Jerritt led all Voltes with a 21:34 effort while Faith Craig posted a time of 29:34.
 |
| Faith Craig running strong at The Woodlands Running Club 5K (Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer) |
The following morning, Monday, September 3, at the Back to School 5K in Katy, Jerritt and his son, Brayden, ran the race in 20:50 and 23:35, respectively.
In Cypress, three of our Voltes, a pair of alumni and a trio of friends competed in a race at the Towne Lake Triathlon on Labor Day morning.
Mike Kuykendall and Hector Lopez completed the Sprint Triathlon – 450-meter swim, 12-mile bike and 5-kilometer run – in 1:30:00 and 1:40:41, respectively.
 |
| Hector Lopez looks like he brought Towne Lake to the run portion of the Sprint Triathlon. (Photo courtesy of Towne Lake Triathlon) |
“So grateful for cool race day temps after so many scorchers this summer,” Mike said. “It began raining sideways transitioning from swim to bike and never let up.”
He was pleased noting a “good overall time considering the weather and shoes full of water.”
 |
| It almost looks like Mike Kuykendall is running on water. (Photo courtesy of Towne Lake Triathlon) |
Volte alumni Justin Bui was second in his age group in the Sprint Triathlon in 1:08:24.
Paolo Biagi competed in the Sprint Duathlon, which replaced the 450-meter swim with another five-kilometer run, and finished in 1:42:35.
 |
| Even though he competed in the Sprint Duathlon, Paolo Biagi couldn't dodge the rain. (Photo courtesy of Towne Lake Triathlon) |
Alumni Kate Looney was first in her age group in 2:11:35.
Mandi Fowlkes led all of our Volte friends in 2:39:50 followed by Scott Farrand and Sabina Lorca in 2:49:25 and 2:58:15, respectively.
Back on the shuttle to Colorado was Drew George, who competed in the American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs on Labor Day.
 |
| Half of bib #74 is 37 career marathon finishes for Drew George as he completed his third race in Colorado in less than a month. (Photo courtesy of Drew George) |
It was his 37th career marathon finish, which leads Volte.
Derek Bailey and Michelle McGill are tied for second with 33.
And at the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon in Geneva, Illinois on Saturday, September 8, where he qualified last September for this year’s Boston Marathon, Brian Schultz finished what we believe to be his 25th career marathon in 3:50:11.
Volte Ran Long, in Far Away Places and Steep Distances in August
You can almost hear John Denver singing “Rocky Mountain High … Colorado” in this month’s Volte Endurance Training racing report.
If not for you, at least it’s certainly ringing in the ears of Dave Campbell and Drew George as the duo “raced across the skies” in Manitou Springs, Durango and Leadville.
Saturday, August 18 put the duo about 150 miles apart from one another as they participated in two of the sport’s classics – the Pikes Peak Marathon and the Leadville Trail 100.
Here are the basic Wikipedia descriptions:
The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a racing event that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,815 feet to the top of the 14,115-foot peak.
The Leadville Trail 100 Run is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend 15,600 feet, with elevations ranging between 9,200–12,620 feet.
Drew finished Pikes Peak in 8:07:21, one of 40 finishers from Texas where the average finishing time from the Lone Star competitors was 8:02:54.
“It was incredible and the weather was perfect: 58 degrees at the start, 36 degrees at the summit and 71 degrees at the finish,” he said.
There was not a single bit of disappointment in his voice, despite having his right calf lock up at mile 18 and missing his footing later causing a crash out.
He reported that the last mile to the Summit took 40 minutes, 16 seconds – and running Flintridge all day, every day has nothing to do with altitude – while mile 25 was 8:53.
Dave, meanwhile in Leadville, got to run on Saturday and Sunday. (Only 11 made it in under 20 hours as Leadville starts at 4 a.m.)
He completed the arduous course in 28 hours, 32 minutes and 29 seconds.
He was 191st out of 376 finishers. And with 712 starters, 47 percent of the race’s competitors did not finish.
Dave, though, was most greatful for his race support.
“The one thing that I take away is that it is not an individual accomplishment,” he said. “I could not have done it without my wife staying up the whole race crewing for me.
“Taking care of anything I needed at the aid stations and the support along the way made it possible.”
And just when Drew couldn’t get enough of The Centennial State, a week later, he was in the field of the Thirsty 13 Half Marathon in Durango on Saturday, August 25.
Why the Thirsty 13? Race materials say that there are 50 breweries in Durango. Wow, even from this teetotaler!
“This was a spur of the moment trip. I was back three days after the Pikes Peak Marathon and the mountains were calling,” he said. “The Thirsty 13 was sold out but the Race Director was cool and let me in.”
In thanks, he ran well, putting down a 1:40:06, good for second in his 50-54 age group and 45th overall.
“I hammered the downhills and walked all but one of the uphills,” he said. “My legs felt good considering six-days post Pikes Peak.”
The race started at 8,000 feet and finished near 6,500 feet and he said that he got a “nice beer glass for the post-race brewfest in lieu of medal."
Paolo Biagi and Alfredo Gonzalez got the rest of August started for Volte at the Southern Star Brewing Company 5K in Conroe on Saturday, August 4.
Paolo logged a time of 25:48 while Alfredo stopped the clock in 41:49.
Second place age-group finishes went to our friends Mary-Ellen Wilderman-Hay and Ken Johnson in 24:23 and 43:12, respectively.
Sean Kusick led the remaining Volte friends in 20:07, while Cristina Gray and Brad Hay finished five seconds apart from the other with Cristina leading in 29:54.
The following morning – a 10-hour flight from Houston, Monica Morino ran the NB15K Buenos Aries in Argentina where she now calls home.
“I ran a PR (of 1:36:27) yesterday,” she said. “The weather was beautiful, shiny and very cold.”
Her coach, Rich Cooper, made note of Monica’s development.
“Her story is amazing,” Rich exclaimed. “Just over a year ago, she has improved from a 14-minute per mile runner to a 10:30 runner.”
From Buenos Aires to the Bubble, a host of Volte runners and friends ran – later that day and in much warmer climes – The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K.
Our Jerritt Park led the way with a time of 22:25.
Volte friend Curtis Barton and Volte’s Faith Craig scored under 30 minutes in 28:59 and 29:48, respectively.
Getting ready for the Berlin Marathon, Lauren Hoffart ran a steady 30:40 while Marta Mixa followed in 31:21.
Mayra Caamano and her daughter, Chloe Kramer, passed Volte friend Jon Walk just beyond Alden Bridge Park and outlegged him to the finish line by a second in 31:36.
Katie Gill and Jimmy Baker ran together for a time of 37:34, while Volte friend Ken Johnson finished his second 5K in as many days in 41:57.
Three weeks later at the Friday Night Lights community two-mile race at Bear Branch Sports Park in The Woodlands, Volte friend Adrienne Langelier celebrated her inclusion in Kara Goucher’s new book, “Strong: A Runner's Guide to Boosting Confidence and Becoming the Best Version of You”, with being the first female finisher in 13:08.
Jerritt Park ran the first of his two races in less than 24 hours with a 13:45 finish while his son, Brayden, wasn’t far behind in 15:11.
The next morning, Saturday, August 25, at Conroe’s Carl Barton, Jr. Park, father and son went 1-2 in the Running 4SFC 5K.
Jerritt led Brayden by two minutes as Dad was first in 20:50.
And in North Carolina, where she and her husband have moved for work, Dana Formon took second in her age group at the Small Hands Big Hearts Java Jive Jog 10K with a 1:00:23 finish.
If not for you, at least it’s certainly ringing in the ears of Dave Campbell and Drew George as the duo “raced across the skies” in Manitou Springs, Durango and Leadville.
Saturday, August 18 put the duo about 150 miles apart from one another as they participated in two of the sport’s classics – the Pikes Peak Marathon and the Leadville Trail 100.
Here are the basic Wikipedia descriptions:
The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a racing event that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,815 feet to the top of the 14,115-foot peak.
The Leadville Trail 100 Run is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend 15,600 feet, with elevations ranging between 9,200–12,620 feet.
Drew finished Pikes Peak in 8:07:21, one of 40 finishers from Texas where the average finishing time from the Lone Star competitors was 8:02:54.
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| Wouldn't you be smiling - like Drew George here -after being able to run up and down Pikes Peak? (Photo courtesy of Drew George) |
There was not a single bit of disappointment in his voice, despite having his right calf lock up at mile 18 and missing his footing later causing a crash out.
He reported that the last mile to the Summit took 40 minutes, 16 seconds – and running Flintridge all day, every day has nothing to do with altitude – while mile 25 was 8:53.
Dave, meanwhile in Leadville, got to run on Saturday and Sunday. (Only 11 made it in under 20 hours as Leadville starts at 4 a.m.)
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| You'd flex your muscles like Dave did here at the Leadville Trail 100 last month. (Photo courtesy of Athlinks) |
He was 191st out of 376 finishers. And with 712 starters, 47 percent of the race’s competitors did not finish.
Dave, though, was most greatful for his race support.
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| Dave is all smiles after finishing the Leadville Trail 100. (Photo courtesy of Athlinks) |
“Taking care of anything I needed at the aid stations and the support along the way made it possible.”
And just when Drew couldn’t get enough of The Centennial State, a week later, he was in the field of the Thirsty 13 Half Marathon in Durango on Saturday, August 25.
Why the Thirsty 13? Race materials say that there are 50 breweries in Durango. Wow, even from this teetotaler!
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| Who needs a stinkin' medal? A beer glass will do just fine for a second place AG finish for Drew. (Photo courtesy of Drew George) |
In thanks, he ran well, putting down a 1:40:06, good for second in his 50-54 age group and 45th overall.
“I hammered the downhills and walked all but one of the uphills,” he said. “My legs felt good considering six-days post Pikes Peak.”
The race started at 8,000 feet and finished near 6,500 feet and he said that he got a “nice beer glass for the post-race brewfest in lieu of medal."
Paolo Biagi and Alfredo Gonzalez got the rest of August started for Volte at the Southern Star Brewing Company 5K in Conroe on Saturday, August 4.
Paolo logged a time of 25:48 while Alfredo stopped the clock in 41:49.
Second place age-group finishes went to our friends Mary-Ellen Wilderman-Hay and Ken Johnson in 24:23 and 43:12, respectively.
Sean Kusick led the remaining Volte friends in 20:07, while Cristina Gray and Brad Hay finished five seconds apart from the other with Cristina leading in 29:54.
The following morning – a 10-hour flight from Houston, Monica Morino ran the NB15K Buenos Aries in Argentina where she now calls home.
“I ran a PR (of 1:36:27) yesterday,” she said. “The weather was beautiful, shiny and very cold.”
Her coach, Rich Cooper, made note of Monica’s development.
“Her story is amazing,” Rich exclaimed. “Just over a year ago, she has improved from a 14-minute per mile runner to a 10:30 runner.”
From Buenos Aires to the Bubble, a host of Volte runners and friends ran – later that day and in much warmer climes – The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K.
Our Jerritt Park led the way with a time of 22:25.
Volte friend Curtis Barton and Volte’s Faith Craig scored under 30 minutes in 28:59 and 29:48, respectively.
Getting ready for the Berlin Marathon, Lauren Hoffart ran a steady 30:40 while Marta Mixa followed in 31:21.
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| Lauren Hoffart and Marta Mixa make it look easy at the TWRC Sunday Night 5K. (Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer) |
Katie Gill and Jimmy Baker ran together for a time of 37:34, while Volte friend Ken Johnson finished his second 5K in as many days in 41:57.
Three weeks later at the Friday Night Lights community two-mile race at Bear Branch Sports Park in The Woodlands, Volte friend Adrienne Langelier celebrated her inclusion in Kara Goucher’s new book, “Strong: A Runner's Guide to Boosting Confidence and Becoming the Best Version of You”, with being the first female finisher in 13:08.
Jerritt Park ran the first of his two races in less than 24 hours with a 13:45 finish while his son, Brayden, wasn’t far behind in 15:11.
The next morning, Saturday, August 25, at Conroe’s Carl Barton, Jr. Park, father and son went 1-2 in the Running 4SFC 5K.
Jerritt led Brayden by two minutes as Dad was first in 20:50.
And in North Carolina, where she and her husband have moved for work, Dana Formon took second in her age group at the Small Hands Big Hearts Java Jive Jog 10K with a 1:00:23 finish.
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