In the last two years of coaching I have come to realize that helping someone else accomplish their Ironman dreams/goals is almost as rewarding as accomplishing my own.
It is quite a thrill for me to speak with an Iron Virgin many months before their race and then slowly, as the season goes on, watch them progress as an athlete. I consider it quite an honor to be a part of these peoples' journeys. In many cases my athletes are total strangers when we first meet but as the season goes on I begin to know them very well - what is going on with their families, when they are sick, when they struggling at work etc.
I get to watch as they go through breakthrough workouts and training races that leave them feeling exhilarated and others that shake their confidence and belief that they will ever be ready to accomplish the goal they have set for themselves. I get to talk them down from the "ledge" as their race grows near and they start to wonder if they have done enough of the right things. I also get to speak with them after they have finally been able to cross the finish line and hear Mike Reilly scream out their name and proclaim they "are an Ironman!"
These last two weeks have seen some great Ironman performances and I wanted to recognize and thank the following people for letting me be part of their Ironman experience, I am very proud of each and every one of you!
IM Louisville - SWIM / BIKE / RUN / OVERALL / DIV.POS.
Maggie Bradley - 1:27:02 / 6:18:37 / 4:24:18 / 12:23:06 / 15 of 86
Tim O'Donnell - 1:17:52 / 5:57:23 / 5:20:31 / 12:45:14 / 91 of 260
Troy Oliver - 1:16:15 / 5:48:03 / 5:30:18 / 12:46:31 / 116 of 342
IM Wisconsin - SWIM / BIKE / RUN / OVERALL / DIV.POS.
Rian Sanders - 1:19:45 / 7:41:35 / 5:02:42 / 14:33:03 / 291 of 382
Preston Williams - 1:08:12 / 6:02:12 / 4:28:27 / 11:54:54 / 31 of 82
I would also like to recognize Aimee Warnke from Rolla, MO. She is a very special athlete who, at age 18 travelled all the way to Almere, Holland to represent the United States at the ITU Long Course World Championships. Despite a second degree concussion suffered during the swim, she finished the event's 2.5 mile swim, 70 mile ride and 18 mile run in 9:24:12. Aimee was the only girl racing in her age group which says a lot about this young lady's focus and determination at such a young age; I expect Aimee is going to have a great triathlon career ahead of her!
It is quite a thrill for me to speak with an Iron Virgin many months before their race and then slowly, as the season goes on, watch them progress as an athlete. I consider it quite an honor to be a part of these peoples' journeys. In many cases my athletes are total strangers when we first meet but as the season goes on I begin to know them very well - what is going on with their families, when they are sick, when they struggling at work etc.
I get to watch as they go through breakthrough workouts and training races that leave them feeling exhilarated and others that shake their confidence and belief that they will ever be ready to accomplish the goal they have set for themselves. I get to talk them down from the "ledge" as their race grows near and they start to wonder if they have done enough of the right things. I also get to speak with them after they have finally been able to cross the finish line and hear Mike Reilly scream out their name and proclaim they "are an Ironman!"
These last two weeks have seen some great Ironman performances and I wanted to recognize and thank the following people for letting me be part of their Ironman experience, I am very proud of each and every one of you!
IM Louisville - SWIM / BIKE / RUN / OVERALL / DIV.POS.
Maggie Bradley - 1:27:02 / 6:18:37 / 4:24:18 / 12:23:06 / 15 of 86
Tim O'Donnell - 1:17:52 / 5:57:23 / 5:20:31 / 12:45:14 / 91 of 260
Troy Oliver - 1:16:15 / 5:48:03 / 5:30:18 / 12:46:31 / 116 of 342
IM Wisconsin - SWIM / BIKE / RUN / OVERALL / DIV.POS.
Rian Sanders - 1:19:45 / 7:41:35 / 5:02:42 / 14:33:03 / 291 of 382
Preston Williams - 1:08:12 / 6:02:12 / 4:28:27 / 11:54:54 / 31 of 82
I would also like to recognize Aimee Warnke from Rolla, MO. She is a very special athlete who, at age 18 travelled all the way to Almere, Holland to represent the United States at the ITU Long Course World Championships. Despite a second degree concussion suffered during the swim, she finished the event's 2.5 mile swim, 70 mile ride and 18 mile run in 9:24:12. Aimee was the only girl racing in her age group which says a lot about this young lady's focus and determination at such a young age; I expect Aimee is going to have a great triathlon career ahead of her!
1 comment:
We did it Ken! Thanks so much for all your help and guidance along the way. I would not be an Ironman (for life!) without you. Thank you again! - Rian
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