And Then, There Was Ironman Texas

What a busy, exciting week it was:  the 127th running of the Boston Marathon on a Monday and then - of course, in our own backyard, the 12th running of the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas on Saturday.

Before we tell our Ironman stories, Volte saw other fine performances that weekend.

Darren Hadden ran along for the ride as his daughter, Brooke, took second in her age group on Saturday, April 22 in the Tomball ISD Superintendent's Fun Run 5K.

Youth was also served at the Spindle Tree parkrun 5K #66 as Brayden Park raced to a winning time of 18:53 while Dad, Jerritt, finished second overall in 20:33.  

 

Volte friend Vincent Attanucci finished in 29:02.

 

We'll start to see more triathlons and duathlons in our results soon and getting in on the fun was Angel Martinez-Interiano at the Xterra ATX Trail Triathlon.

He covered the 1,000-meter swim in Lake Travis, 25K bike ride and 8K trail run in Pace Bend Park in two hours, 53 minutes and 15 seconds.

Notching a likely PR with the non-standard 6K distance, Sherry Cameron ran the XKlusive 6K in Sugar Land in 46:39.  

Volte friend Paul Blutt stopped the clock in 28:39.

The following day - Sunday April 23, we had athletes in all three races at Vintage Half Marathon, 5K and 1K.

Two weeks, two pacing opportunities for Lillian Evans and once again, she nailed her effort.

Leading a group for the 2:25 time, just over 11 minutes per mile, Lillian took them through the course in 2:24:31.

She and Roger could open up Volte Run With Me any day now!

Our good friend Dee Akers from Team Strive (the old days) and Strike Force Racing was second in her age group in 2:44:02.

 

In the 5K, Jerritt Park finished his 28th race of the year with a ninth overall and first in division time of 19:50.

Volte friends Mark and Dawn Poole grabbed first place age group awards in 21:13 and 25:08, respectively.

And grabbing the win in the 1K was Riley Park in 5:02.

And now, Ironman.

Ironman Texas never disappoints.  (Well, almost never, but we'll get to more of that later.)

Yaya Herrera nearly squeezes Tammy Grado's finish out of her with excitement!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

 

It was a great day that most of our entire team, including some we haven't seen in awhile, was out to support and cheer on Yaya Herrera and Tammy Grado as they competed with many Volte friends.

Yaya finished her second Ironman in a time of 14:10:10 and Tammy was able to put behind her unique challenges from Ironman Texas and Ironman Waco behind as she registered her first Ironman finish in 15:43:28.

Just as awesome was knowing that Volte alumni Kate Looney, who started coaching for Michelle Truesdale's Mach 5 Racing, got both of our ladies to the water ready in all facets to complete their goal.

"Yaya hit a big PR with a 1:33 swim," said Looney. "A little over a year ago, she was just learning to swim."

Amazing ... knowing that Yaya is as tough as nails out there competing athletically.

Yaya Herrera - tough as a train - on the bike.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Yaya excited, off on the run!
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

While the water has proved to be a little bit of challenge for Tammy (as it is and would be for many of us), we would have been celebrating Tammy's first finish in October 2021 if it weren't for poor information from a volunteer regarding the amount of time that the bike course would be open - because that - 2:01:37 - was Tammy's best swim of her three attempts.

Tammy Grado dialed in to finish what she started two years ago.  Well done.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

This year, after being over a little in Waco two weeks after Ironman Texas in 2021, Tammy made it out of the water in 2:14:52 - and was off for that 15:43:28 finish.

"Watching Tammy become a first time Ironman finisher brought tears to my eyes," Looney added.

Yes, we're not crying, you are!

Tammy Grado always knew that if she could get to the run, her chances were high that she'd get her Ironman finish.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Dwyer)

Seven is a lucky number, right?  Well, that's how many friends of Volte who also finished Ironman Texas.

All you can say about Volte alumni Meredith Moss' performance is "Wow."  

It was her third career Ironman finish after finishing Ironman Texas and Ironman Arizona last year in 11:40:48 and 12:45:35, respectively.

This year, she clocked in at 11:00:05 - and is going to Kona to compete in the Ironman World Championship on October 14, 2023.

"I am beyond grateful and excited for this opportunity!" Meredith said on her Instagram page.  "The race is on my birthday this year!"

What-a-birthday present!

Bob Looney decided to finally make it a two-Ironman household.

"I had done 7 half distance races, needed a new challenge, and was finally ready to give the full distance a shot," said Bob as he gave E3's Jorge Amine Martinez the coaching reins.

He finished in 11:36:09.

"Congrats Bob on the hard work you put in training this go around!" said Kate.  "Definitely re-inspired to get at that full distance again after watching your performance! Proud of you!"

Want to talk about a walking billboard for inspiration, see Reggie Bruhn with Sandra Sutherland's TXTRI.

Reggie has energy we only wish we could have.

This was his sixth Ironman finish in the last four years and his 12:18:40 was a PR for him.

Waco's Nancy Goodnight is an incredible human force of nature - and a great friend to us here at Volte.

For the first time in a while, Nancy did not do a Boston-Ironman Texas double as she shared she came into Ironman Texas with a torn hamstring.

However, she's in the Ironman Texas Survivor race as she is one of seven athletes who have finished all 12 Ironman Texas races - and the only female.

And if you're competing in Ironman 70.3 Waco, she's your race director!

Having run and worked out with us for a season, Ken Rademacher is a good friend of Volte who finished at least his fourth career Ironman (three at Ironman Texas) in 13:45:09.

It had been five years since former Team Strive - and current Mach 5 Racing athlete - John Laskowski had done an Ironman.

He did a couple of 70.3's in 2019 and had a solid showing at Ironman 70.3 three weeks before in 5:40:36, but he joked with his coach, Michelle Truesdale, after she commented, "Welcome back to long course!" that "Long course didn't like me."

Us having known John for more than a decade, if not longer, it was a tough day for John - finishing in 13:50:36; however, John has one of the more humble, pleasant dispositions in the Bubble.

And closing it all out was The Woodlands' Ram Rajagopalan who finished his second consecutive Ironman Texas in 15:43:01, slicing 45 minutes off of his time from 2022 where he got it done in 16:28:57!

So who are we going to see in 2024?

Two guys that we won't see, unfortunately, are Barry Blanton and Jim Chiles.

Barry Blanton provided this kind of personal support to our hometown folks - and other athletes every year for 12 years.
(Photo courtesy of Barry Blanton)

After 12 great years of being the co-captains of Run Aid Station #8 - affectionately known as "Some Like It Hot!", and being the creators of the world famous Third Lap Bell, they are retiring from being captains there.

Many, many Volte athletes - and their families - have volunteered there and athletes have enjoyed the support at what could have been a lonely spot on the run course.

Teamwork makes the dream work.
(Photo courtesy of Barry Blanton)

Gentlemen, thank you for what you did for all of us the last 12 years!