KEN FRANKENBERY

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Ogden Utah -Xterra National Championships 9-17-2016

Morning was a cool 50 degrees’- but sun was out and weather map showed gradual warming. With the altitude, cold water- I opted to hang back at start- let stronger swimmers go, and not hyperventilate by starting to fast. With altitude- I was having issues getting a full breath as it was- so wanted to start slow and ease into swim-lake is at 4200 feet elevation.
I felt ok on swim- slow but steady- and avoided the kicking/punching with 350 swimmers going for a small buoy ½ a mile away (1-mile swim)

I got out of water and sprinted past several racers- then had a smoking fast transition. Hit the bike hard, was still in 50’s so with a wet thin tri suit on was shivering for first 2 miles down the road. I started passing people right away. We hit wheeler canyon and started the long climb to top of Snow Basin ski resort- just under 7000 feet

I passed people in groups, and pushed hard on the bike- the altitude felt like a bear squeezing my chest. After the canyon climb there were a few short flat sections, then the final climb to the peak- a never ending series of switchbacks. I continued to pass people, and as I neared the peak I passed another rider in my class-which I knew put me in second place. At this point my lungs were screaming, my legs were starting to cramp from 90 minutes of nonstop climbing and I knew I had 2 choices- back off the effort and take a safe second place- or continue on the pain train and try to catch 1st

I knew I was on the edge- and continuing at this pace might leave me walking on the run course. I kept pushing- and on the downhill got held up some by a few riders- but ended up finishing bike passing well over 100 riders. I made another fast transition- and headed out for the run. You leave the parking lot of snow basin- and go right up one of the ski slopes- its torture! My legs were really screaming now- begging me to slow and walk some -but I kept pushing, looking for the 60 on the back of every runner I passed, which designates 60 plus age group I was in. The final mile is all downhill, it’s a tight boulder covered trail where I took some big chances passing people. I pushed it all the way to the finish- never seeing 1st but never had a person pass me the whole day ( could just be because my swim was so bad!!)

Taking home, a National Championship would have been great but I had no regrets. I always give every race my all- but this race I pushed past my limits- and I had spent the last 18 months doing everything I could to have my best race- and it worked. Leaving with second place felt fine.

Ken

SCOTT ORLANDO

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Ledges to The Lake Adventure Triathlon

Hinckley Ohio

7th overall and 2nd in 45-54 age division

Finish time: 1:19:00

Race Review

This was the 5th year that the Cleveland Metroparks hosted the Ledges To The Lake Adventure Triathlon At Hinckley Lake Park. The race consists of a 3.5 mile run, 2 mile kayak, and 9 mile bike. This year’s race conditions were not ideal. Heavy rains made this short but challenging course even harder. Temperatures were in the high 60’s at race start with mild winds. The run course is a combination of dirt trails and paved trails starting at the spillway and ending at the boathouse. The course is challenging and technical especially this year as the heavy rains made the rolling hills of the dirt trails very muddy and slippery. The kayak leg of the race is 1 1/2 laps around the lake. I was challenged this year as I had a rudder issue and found it very difficult to steer my boat and stay on a straight line with the winds and rain pushing off course. The bike course is 3 laps around the park on the paved roads. This bike course is hilly on the front side with several faster downhill sections on the back side. The rains finally stopped as most of the participants started the bike leg making it much safer and more enjoyable. Cleveland Metroparks did a nice job organizing the race. They still have a few quirks and bugs to workout. They only give first place overall awards and I would recommend awarding 1st – 3rd place overall winners and then age groups. They did extend age group awards this year to 3rd place and awarded participants that have raced in all 5 years of the event. The age groups are a bit funky as well and I would recommend the standard 10 years per age group. I competed in a 45-54 year age group which is a little bit out of the normal for these types of races. Other than the weather this was a great race that I look forward to competing in again next year.