Monday, October 9, 2017

Kona Profiles: Thomas Risse

The Ironman World Championships ("Kona") is quickly approaching, taking place Oct. 14th. As you know, it's incredibly competitive to qualify and a major accomplishment to do so. Like last year, we'll be catching up with our local Cinderellas... getting to know them better as a tri community and cheering them on as they get ready for the ball!

 Here's some Q&A Thomas provided for SLTC, who recently threw him and Rory Duckworth an awesome Kona send off party. Best of luck!
  • Name: Thomas Risse
  • Age Group: M4549 
  • Qualified: via lottery under Hawaii State Resident rule - 20 slots to Hawaii residents (Thomas just moved back to the islands after previously living on Oahu for 8 years)
  • Qualifying Place & Time: had to complete a half iron this year and Thomas did two:- won his AG at Toughman Utah in 5:06 and also won AG at Brineman in 4:48


 How did you celebrate when you found out you qualified?

 Got in with a bunch of people I know from being in the tri scene in Hawaii - we all celebrated together those who were lucky enough to get entry.

 What is your athletic background and how/when did you get into triathlons?

 I was a team sport guy until I got “too old for bumping sports”. Then I started running marathons, and was fortunate to get to run Boston this year. Met a Marine in Hawaii who suggested I try a triathlon in 2012 and was hooked!


What is your favorite triathlon discipline and why?

 Probably the bike, because the swim is the least fun for me and the run is always hard because it comes last.

 What have you been doing since qualifying to prepare for Kona?

 Run both Boston and Deseret marathons, done a number of ocean swims races before leaving Hawaii and have really enjoyed the triathlon race scene in Utah, completing Rock Cliff, Jordanelle, Daybreak, Brineman, Toughman, Echo and did Escape from Alcatraz this June.

 What are you excited or nervous for about Kona?

 Mostly excited, but some nerves. I want to feel good and have a good race, though the time doesn’t matter…okay, who am I kidding…I’d like to have a strong day feeling good and not go over 12 hours. I’ve done Honu 70.3 three times…so I feel I know a bit what the heat and lava fields will be like!


How has being a SLTC member played a roll in your Kona Journey?

 It’s been great. I’ve made some friends already and a few of our team members made me pay on a ride the day after Toughman, taking me over big mountain and back. Had to go deep in the red zone! The SLTC community is awesome.

 What's your best advice for individuals making their way into triathlons?

 Start with a sprint and take it easy…getting the feel for mass swim starts and transitions isn’t natural at first. It’s a great balanced sport and my favorite part is going to events…so splurge and let yourself enter a few events. They are the best part!

Related Posts
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Kona Profiles: The Legendary Sue Pope


The Ironman World Championships ("Kona") is quickly approaching, taking place Oct. 14th. As you know, it's incredibly competitive to qualify and a major accomplishment to do so. Like last year, we'll be catching up with our local Cinderellas... getting to know them better as a tri community and cheering them on as they get ready for the ball!

  • Name: Sue Pope 
  • Age Group: F5559 
  • Qualified: Ironman Los Cabos – Oct. 2016 
  • Qualifying Place & Time: 1st - 11:28:26   (5th female overall!)
  • Splits: Swim 1:14 Bike 5:59 Run 4:04 

What's your athletic background and how did you get into triathlon?

Born and raised in San Diego, I grew up playing softball, volleyball and basketball in jr high and high school. I played and started on the varsity team as a freshman in all sports and was selected to be in the Hall of Champions for high school athletes in the San Diego area. I received a basketball and volleyball scholarship at Idaho State and then transferred to the University of Utah.



I started doing sprint and Olympic triathlons in 2004, my first sprint being Jordanelle. Two friends talked me into taking a triathlon class. I could not swim and had a mountain bike I got years before when RC Willey was giving away bikes when you buy furniture. LOL! I did two brick sessions with that bike and about killed myself trying to catch my friends. They told me I needed a better bike! I went to Bingham Cycle and they helped me get into a road bike with aero bars. 2008 was when I did my first Ironman 70.3 in Boise. I placed first and qualified for the 70.3 world championship in Clearwater, FL. I had no idea what the world championship race was, nor did I know I had qualified since I had gone back to the hotel and missed the awards not thinking I had even placed in my age group. My coach at the time, Keena Schaerrer, was screaming telling me I needed to go claim my spot for the 70.3 world championship and that I took 1st place in my AG.

What's your history with the full Ironman distance race and Kona?

I participated in other Ironman 70.3 races and the world championship in Vegas from 2008-12. In 2012, My friends talked me into training for Ironman Florida. I had been putting off signing up for an Ironman, knowing the commitment I needed to make with my training. I had chosen Florida since it was known to be flat and I did not want to die on my first Ironman. It was my first ocean swim, thank god my friend Sandy gave me a crash course the day before on how to dive into the waves and start my swim. The race went well, placing first and qualifying me for Kona 2013. I placed 4th in my age group in Kona 2013, which got me on the podium. That was so cool, I gave it my all that day. In 2015 I did Ironman Boulder and qualified for Kona 2015 two months later. That race did not go as well, placing 13th. My bike was slower along with GI issues on the run, and I struggled the entire race mentally. Not happy with that Kona race result, I decided to give it another try by doing Cabo 2016. I picked Cabo since it was a challenging course and hot. I am to the point that if I want to qualify for Kona, I want to do it on a tough course.


Any goals in mind for this year?

My Kona goals are simply to pace myself, don't go out too fast or hard, and take my nutrition as planned. And have fun, which is what my friends tell me. 

What's a typical training week?

I get in 3 bikes, 3 swims and 3 runs, along with strength training a few days, which I lack consistency. I mix hills in with flats when working out, and try to train on similar terrain that I will be racing on. I train alone the majority of the time but will catch up with friends on longer rides, open water swims, trail runs and recovery days. I like to train in the Park City, Kamas, Echo area, along with Emigration, Suncrest, Alpine mountain view and Saltair.

My coach Jo Garuccio has got me to use a power meter and a heart rate monitor, and I've been trying to focus more on zone training. I like Jo since she is a knowledgeable/ experienced triathlete, keeps me focused, pushes my ability and understands I can't train like a 30 year old. I'm 56 so recovery and schedules vary.

Sue devastated her AG at Los Cabos, where the temps were reportedly ~100 degrees

Best and worst thing about Ironman?

Best is the feeling you get while training and during the race, it is a good feeling of accomplishment. Worst, weather, sometimes the long bike ride, along with the aches and pains we get.

What are your plans for next season?

After Kona, not sure what next year will bring. This was a busy race year with 5 long distance races and other local races. I would like to spend more time with my family and friends in California, working in my yard and fixing up my home. I am thinking of doing a solo marathon since I never have, maybe the USAT National sprint and Olympic races in Cleveland, St. George 70.3 and whatever events my friends talk me into. I will see how Kona goes and assess my goal races for next year and plan out my training strategies.

Related Posts



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Kona Profiles: Dr. Jorge de Amorim Filho


The Ironman World Championships ("Kona") is quickly approaching, taking place Oct. 14th. As you know, it's incredibly competitive to qualify and a major accomplishment to do so. Like last year, we'll be catching up with our local Cinderellas... getting to know them better as a tri community and cheering them on as they get ready for the ball!

  • Name: Jorge de Amorim Filho
  • Age Group: M3034
  • Qualified: Ironman Arizona – Nov 2016
  • Qualifying Place & Time: 4th - 9:06:31  
  • Splits: Swim 56 Bike 4:48 Run 3:17


 First of all, for anyone who didn’t know, it’s “George,” not “Horhay,” correct? Did you live in Brazil as a kid or always the States, and is it true that coach Wes yells Portuguese obscenities and trash talk to inspire you mid-race?

 It is actually neither of those, but I now go by either one. It is a little more difficult to say it in the correct way so it is easier to just go with George. Wes is good at the correct pronunciation. I lived in Brazil until I was 16 then I moved to American Fork for an exchange program for a year. I moved back to finish high school in Brazil and then back to the US for college. I don't know how much yelling Wes does in a race. I know he gets mad at me when I suck at the swim. I don't know the exact words he uses, but mostly he tells me I have to go faster, hehe. My favorite one from him was in Oceanside when he told me that I had to redline the second half of the run, now that hurt. He is really good at reading the situation in terms of pushing or being encouraging. Sometimes you just don't want to hear 'go faster, you can do it' because deep inside you know your lungs and legs are at the verge of collapsing. He titrates to the situation which is very important.

What’s your athletic background and how did you get into triathlon?

 Mostly swimming. I played some soccer and tennis. I swam in college at Utah, which was awesome. That’s where I met my wife. GO UTES. I started with some sprint triathlons during medical school, then on a dare I did the Utah Half and I was hooked. Ali and I then signed up for St. George and we were happy with our races despite minimal training and Wes was there to plant the seed.

 The volumes required of competitive swimmers are notoriously insane… can you give us an idea of a typical week of practice at the D1 level? Did it ever burn you out, and what events were you best at?

 It was pretty hard. 20 hours a week according to NCAA rules. mostly swimming with some weights in there. Monday - Saturday. Doubles everyday but one. In terms of burning out, I think everyone goes through it specially when yo spend a whole season training and training and you merely drop 0.2 seconds on a fifty or even worse you get slower. That happens a lot in swimming. Frustrating. I was best at the 50. It is a great furious race.

The triathlon swim is often referred to as a “washing machine,” but for you it’s more like an Aquafina commercial. For an Ironman, how hard do you push it? For example, do you swim “hard” to maximize your strength and get that clear water or put it on cruise control and save energy?

 HAHAHAHA. I would not say it is an Aquafina commercial. The swimming part is one of the most intimidating parts of the race for me. The expectations are high so I can honestly say that the swim ALWAYS hurts. I try to push in the beginning to get in the front pack and stay. On a scale from 1-10 I would say 7 or above, mostly focusing on saving the legs for the rest of the race.


The swim leg of Jorge's races is summed up by this video:


Can you give us a brief recap of Kona last year? There’s the picture of you, Sam Hobi, and Matt Davis crossing the line together… did you guys plan that or did it happen more or less organically?

 Kona was great last year. I did not have any expectations. I went there to experience the race. I had a great swim, but crashed on the bike. Fortunately, the bike and I were ok. The run always hurt but I had Matt and Sam so we had fun. We were all close after the bike. I was in the med tent getting bandages and I saw Matt. We ran out of transition together and decided to run the whole thing at the same pace. Sam was a couple minutes ahead. He decided that suffering alone a couple minutes ahead was not worth it, so he walked a little while until we caught up and after that it was great. Misery loves company and we were all together...hahahaha...joking aside it was great sharing the experience with them just check out the picture and you will see. Priceless.

What did you learn from last year’s experience, and how is your mindset different this year as a veteran vs. last year as a rookie?

 Kona is a beast. I think the most important lesson is not to underestimate the changes in the conditions and be meticulous about hydration and nutrition. The mindset is not that much different. The pressure to PR or qualify is off. You just go out there and race and often that’s when you have your best performances. Kona is a celebration.

How many spots were there for the taking in your age group at Ironman Arizona? Were you aware of the four guys within 3 min trying to hunt you down, and how did you manage to hold them off?

 3 spots available and I was 4th. The first guy had already qualified. I had no idea those guys were coming. At mile 13 on the marathon Wes said that I was solid 4th and the guys ahead were running well. He said I had a little gap to the guys behind but I had to keep running. The second half you really have to focus on your race and dig deep. You are aware of the other competitors but you have to run your race. The goal in AZ was to try and do my best and not qualify for Kona. I had no idea I had a spot until they called my name. I was happy I qualified but I was even more excited by the fact that I put together one of my best races.
How did qualifying so early impact your training plan for Kona and overall 2017 season?

 It was great! I was able to work on some weaknesses without having the pressure to race. One advantage is planning the trip early, so I was not running around trying to find a place to stay.
testing on the bike

What was it like watching your wife (her interview coming up!) gunning for Kona at IM Santa Rosa? How were your nerves compared to your own races?

 Awful and fantastic all at the same time. I was sooooo excited and proud of her. I was running on Red Bull and Mountain Dew all day. She was not going for Kona, she wanted to be able to put together a great race. She did not want me to tell her what place she was in. I was extremely nervous about her race, specially on the bike with the bad roads and after Matt Davis crashed I was very anxious. I was happy to see her off the bike and running well. My phone ran out of battery by noon because I kept checking even though I knew it would be a while until the next check point. She works full time and takes care of Enzo and I, and still did it. BADASS!!!

On Instagram you’re known as “@D0ctorDelicious.” Are you all the way through the med school/residency/etc journey and now practicing?

 Yes I have been done for 3 years. I am still working in Elko, NV, but hoping to move to SLC permanently.

 On the local scene, last year you won Daybreak & Echo, and this year East Canyon & Brineman (all Olympic distances) and went 4:27at St. George 70.3. Who are some of your “friendly rivals,” and what’s your podium for favorite local races?

 I just like racing but it is always a little more fun when the 'crew' is there. My age group has some power houses. It’s always nice to race with Sam Hobi, Matt Davis, Andrew Hall, Rory Duckworth, BJ Christenson, the more the merrier and there are some new faces too. It's always the same story, I get out of the water and the cat and mouse race starts. I know they are coming, the fear is real and keeps you moving. Favorite races probably Daybreak, East Canyon, and now Brineman (first time this year and I loved it).

Anything else you want to share?

 I just want to thank my wife for supporting my endeavors and my coach Wes Johnson for believing.


Related Posts
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Ironman Chattanooga Race Report: Lee Weatherhead


Lee Weatherhead had a stellar 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, then went BACK to destroy the full Ironman Chattanooga two weeks later. Amazing stuff! We reached out to get a quick recap on his Kona Qualifying 2018 experience.

Lee at 70.3 Worlds

I was just coming off the Ironman 70.3 World Championships 2 weeks earlier and was hoping that I was completely recovered. I had a great race there but held back just a little so that I could be ready for this race. When I got to T1 race morning they announced that it was not going to be a wetsuit legal swim. This brought the nerves up a little but I knew I was going to be ok. It was a 2.4 mile swim down river so my time was going to be faster then normal anyway. When I got to the swim start I had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to the end of the line. Which meant I was going to be starting about 25-30 mins after the official start. When I finally got into the water it was really foggy and we couldn't see more then 50 feet in front of us. But it's easy to feel what way was down river. I had a great swim, finished 10 mins faster than I hoped. After getting through T1 I was told I was in 12th place. I knew I had to push it on the bike to get into the top of the leaderboard. It was a beautiful 2 loop 116 mile bike course. All country roads with lots of shade. I made sure I was on top of my nutrition so I would be ready for the run. It was starting to get hot on my second lap and I knew the run was going to be tough. I finished the bike a couple minutes faster then I was planning. Coming out of T2 I found out I was in 1st place in my age group.

This was a such a great pick me up going into the run. I knew I wouldn't stay in 1st but it gave me more of a cushion for 2nd or 3rd. I did my homework on the people in my division so I knew what I was up against. It was really hot and humid at this point. Almost 90 degrees and 50-60% humidity. I would run from aid station to aid station and slow jog the aid station to make sure that I was getting enough fluid. I made it to mile 11 before I had to start walking the aid stations and walking a couple of the hills. I would get updates every time I would see Emma so I knew I was in 2nd place most of the run but losing time to the 3rd place guy. I think he passed me around mile 23. My run ended up being 10 minutes slower then I was hoping. When I finally came to the finish line Emma was waiting there to tell me I took 3rd in my age group. 2nd was only 2 minutes ahead of me. I did it. I qualified.

There may have been a few tears. I left it all out on the course. No regrets. When I got my qualifying coin the next day I flipped it over and it read "Anything is Possible". This was so true for me. I was always the slowest kid on my teams growing up. They used to comment that they would time me with a sun dial or that I needed to lose the piano I was dragging behind me. Time for some rest and recovery. But most important is spending more time with my family.
Related Posts

 Locals at Ironman 70.3 Worlds - RESULTS
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)