Wright Time, Wright Pace and a Wright Finish at Ironman Texas

"Ironman Texas:  It's a day that everyone pulls together for a common goal of supporting an extraordinary event that changes so many lives." ~ Bill Dwyer

Well said.

The way a lot of what we do comes together is truly pretty special.

"Landa Wright, You are an Ironman!"
(Photo courtesy of Mary Carter)

First, though, let us congratulate Landa Wright on finishing the seventh annual Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas on Saturday, April 22 in 14 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds.

Landa, 28, spent 1:47:18 in Lake Woodlands and the Waterway Canal and was in and out of T1 in eight minutes and nine seconds.

Faster than a speeding car on the Hardy Toll Road, Landa was approximately 75 miles into the bike here.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

A double out-and-back of the Hardy Toll Road, plus getting to and from, was accomplished in 7:44:20, just a couple of minutes longer than Monday morning rush hour traffic.  :-)

In and out of T2 in 6:54 before a 4:34:57 marathon.

Starting her second lap of the run, Landa looked strong and relaxed.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Even though many in the group have completed one or more Ironman triathlons, Landa Wright's first Ironman was also a first for Volte's founder and head coach Bill Dwyer.

"Landa is the first athlete that I have coached through an Ironman so yesterday was extra special for me," Bill said.  "She managed the day perfectly as she was within six and a half minutes of her planned finish."

And it was Landa's first triathlon.  Period.

"CB&I would have been first if it was not cancelled last year," he said.

He stated that Landa's focus was for a solid debut marathon at this year's Chevron Houston Marathon - accomplished in 3:56-even -- and then work into an Ironman training schedule.

"She worked her plan perfectly," he said in addition to getting generous help from many.

"Thank you to the Conroe Triathletes [@conroetri] for hosting open water swims and group rides. They are a great group of people," Dwyer added.  "Thank you to everyone who helped Landa along the way (pretty much everyone in Volte), but especially Layton Gill who was Landa's Sunday run partner.

"He is a big part of her strong run performance at Ironman Texas.

"And thank you to everyone who was out on race day (which was about everyone), and especially to Mary Carter, who was awesome getting around the event course."

Pre-race with Landa, Bill always has a plan for each and every athlete - and an even bigger heart!
(Photo courtesy of Mary Carter)

Steady and conservative.
It's simple:  Finish.
Moderate efforts at the beginning of each leg.
Have fun and don't worry about the time.
Race your own race, don't worry about other athletes.

Those were Bill's "Five Keys to a Successful First Ironman."

And one more:  "It'll be tough, but anything worthwhile is and you are much tougher anyway."

Conservative won the day, too, Landa acknowledged post-race.

"I was definitely conservative, but literally never felt any pain or felt like I needed to pull back," she noted.  "And I was completely tech free besides overall time and overall mile count, so I did it old school."

She noted that she would never have had the confidence to attempt an Ironman if it wasn't for Dwyer.

Volte also had a trio of friends complete Ironman Texas too.

John Stocko led the way in 12:53:05.  Kelly Barnes came through in 13:52:26 followed by Anthony Serrano in 14:24:27.

So, who's next?

Nobody raise their hands too quick or pull out $700 - or whatever the entrance fee is these days!

While Ironman was front and center this past weekend, our group tends to find its ways to spread its athletic efforts around the city, country and world.

Those are age-group award place medals for Penny and Ruth,
not the numbers of post-race beverages at the West End Brew Run 5K.
(Photo courtesy of Penny Garza)

Ruth Perez and Penny Garza headed out early Saturday morning, April 22, to participate in the inaugural West End Brew Run 5K.

Using a 28:27 effort to do so, Ruth was second in her 50-59 age group.

Penny covered the distance in 31:35 and was third in hers to complete her fourth race of the month - one in each of the five-weekend month of April.

Brian Schultz jetted off to the greater Chicago area to participate in the Advocate Health Care Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon in Geneva, Illinois on Saturday.

It was Brian's fifth marathon of 2017 and his 19th career 26.2-mile finish.

Needing a 3:40 at age 55 to qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon, he shared that his splits through mile marker 19.79 were right on the money.

He passed the timing device in 2:43:49 and still had a chance at mile 23.21 with a chip time of 3:15:21, but ran out of gas.

"This race was within reach.  So close again.  Lost it on the last lap," he said.

He finished in 3:53:20.

Across the pond, Jen Smith more than got ready for this Saturday's Revel Mt. Charleston Half Marathon in Las Vegas with a strong performance in the Southhampton Half Marathon on Sunday, April 23.

The Smith family team picture from the Southhampton Half Marathon!
(Photo courtesy of Jen Smith)

Yes, that's Southhampton, United Kingdom, where she and her family currently live.

She shared that it was a pretty unique course.

The Southhampton Half Marathon elevation profile.  "Jen, Revel Mt. Charleston will NOT be like this!"
(Photo courtesy of Jen Smith)

"Mile 11 kicked my tail. Up over bridge, turn around do the bridge again," said Jen.  "Too many turns in the course.  Ten turns alone in mile one."

Regardless, she said that she "just ran" to a 1:44:30 finish.

"Very, very pleased with my time," she added.  "Didn't look at (my) watch.  Total climb of 500 feet.  Ran by feel, didn't push it."

And so did Jill Reitzel, on a course that was, ah, pancake flat.

Jill and Gabby celebrate post-race at the Divas Half with a little bubbly.
(Photo courtesy of Gabby Brockett)

Jill is a friend of our Gabby Brockett, who she ran along with for her first half marathon at Sunday's

"So proud of Jill Reitzel completing her first half marathon today in tough windy conditions," said Gabby of Jill's finishing time of 2:27:40.  "You did it!"

And before announcing in Barry Blanton's "Some Like It Hot Aid Station" at Ironman Texas where many Voltes worked once again - including Gabby, Curtis Hooper, Laura Hanyzewski, Mayra Caamano and her daughter and probably a few more that he forgot to mention and perhaps notice, Volte friend Jon Walk ran the third annual Run The Grove 5K in Houston in 29:52.

Next up for Volte?  Revel Mt. Charleston Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday, April 29.  Viva Las Vegas!