Assisted by a couple of number crunching fellow triathletes, we'll be breaking down 2016 results race by race. The idea is to show everyone's percentile for each discipline, which is simply your swim rank, bike rank, etc. divided by the # of total participants. That way you can better compare your performance from one race to the next. Lower # the better!
As always you can click on any of the snapshots below to make them a little bigger. After breaking down Jordanelle (also taking place today), we'll unleash updated age group rankings... stay tuned!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the wo/man who points out how the strong wo/man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the wo/man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends her/himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if s/he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her/his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
As always you can click on the pics below to see them a little better.
If Teddy's inspired you, I believe there are still a few hours to join the arena yourself!
When it rains it pours! We haven't really had a local UT race since the Toughman Utah Half, but now we have two falling on the same day. We need to work that out, right? In addition to Jordanelle, RaceTri's Black Ridge (or "Escape From Black Ridge") tri in Herriman is a great race in the Salt Lake valley.
Escape From Black Ridge has been around for 6 years or so, historically as a sprint only race. However, last year they added an Olympic distance option as well.
Here are a few notes about the race from people who have done the event at least 2x - whether you're a newbie or a veteran, we encourage you to go for it!
There are 2 transition areas, so make sure you allow enough time to set up.
Black Ridge reservoir is small, a great first open water triathlon for beginners but fun for all levels
The water is usually warm and (if doing the sprint) it's short enough that you don’t necessarily need a wetsuit, although you'll always be faster with one.
T1 used to be on the beach and it was a big disadvantage to be at one end vs. the other (carrying bike across the sand). Now that it's all paved and built out, it's less important where you position yourself.
Big descent with some twists coming right away. RaceTri says people occasionally end up in front yards. Could be worse… be smart!
There's a long incline as you head west, then a steep incline on bacchus. You have time to recover after that with some nice downhill all the way to Herriman high school though, so don’t be too cautious
Be alert on where to turn and know the course. Last year I followed someone on a relay team who will remain nameless (cough cough Aaaaaustin Swayt) down a wrong path, cost us some time. That's on me though!
Just be aware there's a descent into T2. Saw someone wipe out pretty hard last year.
Good run course.. decent sized hill in first mile. Slight decline heading north. Turn onto a path halfway through which is kinda cool. Slight incline once you turn back north.
As you approach the finish, you'll turn along the fence the same way you came out, then turn left…. that section is an incline and kinda rocky terrain right there. You’re almost to the finish line but not close enough to turn on the jets yet. Be tough thru that stretch, then let it rip to the finish once you turn onto the grass.
Just a quick shout out to yet another amazing Utah athlete doing amazing things... yesterday Kathryn Throolin went 10:10:03 at Ironman Boulder, finishing 1st in her AG, 2nd female, and 39th overall. Incredible!
Evan Santo is a crazy fast kid (both locally and nationally) who will soon be trading in his race kit for a white shirt and tie. Among other things, here he talks about his triathlon career thus far, his decision to go on a 2-yr LDS mission, and trash-talking us all in German upon his return.
Thanks for the time, Evan, and best of luck in Germany and beyond!
How did you get involved with this crazy sport of triathlon at such a young age?
When I was on my high school swim team, my coach said that if I wanted to get faster I should look into getting a technique coach (I too, at one point, had a ugly stroke ;) ) That is when I met Heath Thurston. Working with Heath, I learned you really have to practice good technique before you can get faster. During a practice he suggested I should try racing the RaceTri Escape from Blackridge (2013). I won my age group and fell in love with the sport!
How has Wes/ BAM helped with your progression, and what would you say are the three highlights in your triathlon career so far?
BAM has created a group of athletes that support other athletes like no other. You’ve all seen #bamfam. It truly is a tight family that I have grown to love! All who are in it are there to build up each other, to reach new potentials. Wes took on a lot when he made a Junior Elite team but because of his support and dedication to us we’ve been able to have experiences like racing nationally.
My top 3 highlights: 1. My top 5 finish at the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge. It was at this race that I realized how far I had come in triathlon and what was soon to come.
2. When I qualified for World’s at the Age Group National Championship in Wisconsin.
3. When Skye Moench took first in Clermont and stole my man bun!
Do you have any friendly rivalries among the young guns at BAM?
Me and Chris always have a little rivalry going on at races. I have still yet to beat him in a race, but one day I hope to be able to beat him.
The first year I joined BAM, it was always a competition between me and Tucker Hathaway. He beat me in every race last year! Now, our rivalry has turned into a brotherhood.
Ty Perkins, my other “brother,” likes to remind me that swimmers don’t make the best runners by making painful track workouts and shuttle runs look effortless.
We saw that you’re going on an LDS mission to Germany, correct? When do you leave and how are you feeling about it?
Yes! I was called to serve in the Berlin Germany Mission. I leave November 2nd and I couldn't be more excited!
You choose to go or not, correct? Was it a hard decision?
It is a personal decision to serve a mission. You know, at first it was a hard decision but as I prayed and thought about it, I realized how important it was for me to serve. Kade Hunter’s example of putting a pause on his career has had a great impact on my decision.
With Kona winners past & present (Frodeno, Kienle, Stadler, etc), Triathlon is huge in Germany. Have you mastered any triathlon-related words in German you can share with us yet?
Sie schwimmt. Sie fahren Fahrrad. Er rennt. My parents both speak German, so I’ve picked up a little...ein Bisschen. Haha! (Editor's note: can someone get us a translation here? :)
Sources have told us that fellow BAM star Kade Hunter is on a German-speaking mission as well… when does he get back, and will we all be the recipients of foreign trash talk upon your returns?
He is speaking the southern dialect which is a butchered version of the German I’ll be learning. But yes! German slurs will be heard throughout races to come. Kade gets back in the middle of November of next year.
LDS missionaries are recognized worldwide for their white shirts and ties, but also their bike-riding prowess. Do you see yourself “accidentally” leaving the others in the dust on a regular basis? What kind of ride & gear will you be rocking over there?
No, no, I would just be giving them a draft ;) I'm hoping that I can get some form of stationary trainer halfway through to start bringing back some of my fitness before I come home. Riding on a Waffenrad (World War II military weapon bike, very heavy) surely will slow me down.
he'd still out-split you
Will you be able to swim and run at all?
I'm allowed 30 mins of exercise a day. Rumor has it that you can get permission from the Mission President to get more exercise time. Swimming is not allowed, which kills me to think about not swimming for 2 years. I’ve been asked what will I do if I get a companion not capable of keeping up with me on runs. The answer is simple he rides a bike next to me while I run. If anyone has ideas for amazing 30 minute workouts, send them my way!
More just a question on how swim fitness works: as two examples, you swam 4:25 at Icebreaker (300m pool swim) and 9:25 at Echo (sprint) this year… theoretically, the day you get back, how much slower would those times be? Seconds slower or more like minutes? (Regardless, you’ll re-gain it very quickly for sure)
They say that to get back in the shape you were before the mission, it will take roughly a year. But those Wienerschnitzels und Apfelkuchen will make their impact on me! It's hard to know how out of shape I'll be. I hope that I won't lose too much fitness over the years. But I am looking at the mission being a good time to let my body recover from non-stop training and give my body time to grow….a “foot or two.”
Anything else you want to share?
Missionaries love receiving letters anyone can feel free to email me at evan.santo@myldsmail.net
