HEAT dominated the state club championship for a second year in row. CONGRATS TO HEAT! Last year, the championship was in our backyard, at the Litchfield
event, hosted by the Hartford Marathon Foundation (at what was once called the Greater Hartford Tri). This year, the championship was down state, where the
likes of the local clubs such as the Shoreline Sharks and Force Five were threatening, especially based on their strong showing at an early season half
marathon.
HEAT blazed the Healthnet Olympic. Dean Bolt, our president, had a huge Cheshire cat grin at the photo session where we as a club had just received our award for first place in the Club division. That grin was wider than usual because Dean had won first place in his age group. Congrats Dean. Bill Schuman was our first finisher with a third place overall win with a stellar performance in all legs (Bill, I tried to stay ahead of you on your second loop on the (my first loop) run as a motivator; your transition times are phenomenal (but no surprise to me). There were many age group winners, including Ken Pacileo, John Pugmire (nice bike split John (sub 1hr!); Raf who must have won the Clydes hands down, was also sub 1hr on the road (Raf, you must have been a HEAT seeking missile on those downhills that my quivering hand ( and heart) were braking the whole way down); Kathy Flodquist (who was first place in her competitve age group); veteran HEAT (or Charter) member Karen Kanastas (Karen, as expected, you were tearing up the road again on the run, it was hard passing you); Julie Spear (who placed 2nd in her age group, welcome Julie! The future of HEAT is you). A special note to some other stalwart HEATSTERS: Vin Darcy -- after I could no longer hang on Bill Schuman in the swim for a pull after 300 yards, I found Vin who pulled me along on the swim, and was also a companion on the bike after I took a wrong turn, caught up, but got passed by him on those screaming down hills; Mike Tirrel, who had a better tale of trouble than I, with his crank falling off; Gabe Jiran, with whom I rode down to the race, he came in 2nd for the HEAT team, had one of the top runs, but a disappointing, which is rare, bike split. He, like I, are aiming at much better results at some near future venues.
On that note, the North East USAT Championships, which Gabe and Coby attended last year with little support from the rest of HEAT, is at the Cranberry Tri this year. I am declaring myself the HEAT team captian, not because of my ability, but because I am committed to putting together a phenomenal team this year. Last year, HEAT got crushed at the North East USAT Championships at the Greenfield Tri (which unfortunately was the same weekend as Niantic (which I selfishly went to). That will not happen again. The Cranberry Tri is a wonderful tri, flat and fast. If you do not want to get a hotel room the night before, it is close enough to drive to (as I and Raf did) the morning of the race. The race WILL FILL UP FAST! It is August 24. I know this is the same weekend as the Chicopee Jouney for Sight, a race that I am fond of on a number of levels (including a resolution Dean and I made there a few years ago to start HEAT). But we can skip that race for one year because the championship is at Cranberry this year, a unique opportunity (and it does not conflict with a Connecticut race (maybe next year it will be at the Chicoppe race).
Congrats to HEAT for a sweep at the State Championship at Healthnet. We actually could have had a stronger team. There were many who could not attend who would have put some big points on the board (e.g. Max Wunderle, Diane Stewart). Scheduling races to races in tricking business, as I know with my triathlon at home with three small children.
I hope you can join me and the unbeatable HEAT NorthEast Regional CLUB Team for the Upcoming Cranberry Tri on Aug 24.
Jamie
HEAT blazed the Healthnet Olympic. Dean Bolt, our president, had a huge Cheshire cat grin at the photo session where we as a club had just received our award for first place in the Club division. That grin was wider than usual because Dean had won first place in his age group. Congrats Dean. Bill Schuman was our first finisher with a third place overall win with a stellar performance in all legs (Bill, I tried to stay ahead of you on your second loop on the (my first loop) run as a motivator; your transition times are phenomenal (but no surprise to me). There were many age group winners, including Ken Pacileo, John Pugmire (nice bike split John (sub 1hr!); Raf who must have won the Clydes hands down, was also sub 1hr on the road (Raf, you must have been a HEAT seeking missile on those downhills that my quivering hand ( and heart) were braking the whole way down); Kathy Flodquist (who was first place in her competitve age group); veteran HEAT (or Charter) member Karen Kanastas (Karen, as expected, you were tearing up the road again on the run, it was hard passing you); Julie Spear (who placed 2nd in her age group, welcome Julie! The future of HEAT is you). A special note to some other stalwart HEATSTERS: Vin Darcy -- after I could no longer hang on Bill Schuman in the swim for a pull after 300 yards, I found Vin who pulled me along on the swim, and was also a companion on the bike after I took a wrong turn, caught up, but got passed by him on those screaming down hills; Mike Tirrel, who had a better tale of trouble than I, with his crank falling off; Gabe Jiran, with whom I rode down to the race, he came in 2nd for the HEAT team, had one of the top runs, but a disappointing, which is rare, bike split. He, like I, are aiming at much better results at some near future venues.
On that note, the North East USAT Championships, which Gabe and Coby attended last year with little support from the rest of HEAT, is at the Cranberry Tri this year. I am declaring myself the HEAT team captian, not because of my ability, but because I am committed to putting together a phenomenal team this year. Last year, HEAT got crushed at the North East USAT Championships at the Greenfield Tri (which unfortunately was the same weekend as Niantic (which I selfishly went to). That will not happen again. The Cranberry Tri is a wonderful tri, flat and fast. If you do not want to get a hotel room the night before, it is close enough to drive to (as I and Raf did) the morning of the race. The race WILL FILL UP FAST! It is August 24. I know this is the same weekend as the Chicopee Jouney for Sight, a race that I am fond of on a number of levels (including a resolution Dean and I made there a few years ago to start HEAT). But we can skip that race for one year because the championship is at Cranberry this year, a unique opportunity (and it does not conflict with a Connecticut race (maybe next year it will be at the Chicoppe race).
Congrats to HEAT for a sweep at the State Championship at Healthnet. We actually could have had a stronger team. There were many who could not attend who would have put some big points on the board (e.g. Max Wunderle, Diane Stewart). Scheduling races to races in tricking business, as I know with my triathlon at home with three small children.
I hope you can join me and the unbeatable HEAT NorthEast Regional CLUB Team for the Upcoming Cranberry Tri on Aug 24.
Jamie
