Dwyer Qualifies for 3rd Straight ITU Worlds at USAT Age Group Nationals

            Ryan Lynch, 21, of Porter led all athletes from the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area at the USAT Age Group Olympic National Championships on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as he covered the Olympic distance course (1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run) in 2:12:13.

            Outrival Racing’s Doug Cooper, 42, finished in the top half of his age group (30th of 82 finishers) as he stopped the clock in 2:17:07.  Cooper, who lives in The Woodlands, was 11th out of the water in his age group in 23:04 and 32nd best on the bike in 1:04:46, but fell out of contention for ITU Worlds roll-down consideration – the top 25 in each age group -- on the run.

            Twenty-five competitors in Cooper’s age group finished the run in under seven minutes a mile – 19 spots ahead of his 45:56 time.

            Conroe Triathletes’ Stuart Simmons, 44, of Willis, had a rough day on the run en route to a 2:43:41 finish in the same age group.

Stuart Simmons - Courtesy of Jon Walk/Runner Triathlete News

             But it was another Conroe Triathlete – The Woodlands’ Michael Dwyer -- who nailed down a third consecutive trip to the International Triathlon Union Worlds as part of Team USA.

Michael Dwyer - Courtesy of Jon Walk/Runner Triathlete News

            The 62-year-old dentist finished fifth in a very competitive 60-64 age group in 2:28:54 to earn the right to travel next September to Beijing, China.

            Dwyer was eighth in his division in the water and on the bike, but used a 47:08 10K – fourth-best in the group – to move up three spots.

            Like Cooper, Team Strive’s Rick Parker, 46, of The Woodlands, was just five spots away from ITU Worlds consideration as he finished 30th in a 69-competitor division.

Rick Parker - Courtesy of Jon Walk/Runner Triathlete News

            Parker was 27th out of the water in 25:34, 36th in his division on the bike in 1:08:17 and 25th on the run in 46:55, but was two minutes and two seconds shy from the top 25 with his 2:24:51 performance.

            He, though, nearly replicated his 2:22:02, fifth-place age group performance at the Avia Austin Triathlon on Labor Day on a more challenging bike and slightly more challenging run course.

            Team Strive was also represented by a pair of Spring teammates – Leslie Watts, 41, and Vanessa Gnatzig, 28.

Leslie Watts - Courtesy of Jon Walk/Runner Triathlete News

Watts and Gnatzig met their time goals for the event by completing the course in 2:51:27 and 2:54:16, respectively.

The Woodlands’ Jarrett Hubert, 27, posted a time of 2:29:57 just four weeks from his debut Ironman finish of 13:12:47 at Ironman Louisville.

Kent Morris - Courtesy of Jon Walk/Runner Triathlete News

        Finish Strong Racing’s Kent Morris, 50, of Conroe - and the Conroe Triathletes, who is training for Ironman Florida in November – turned in a 2:32:09 performance in an age group that put more than half of its finishers in the top half of the entire race.

Outrival’s Mary Kay Cooper, 38, of The Woodlands was 11th out of the water in her age group in 25:50 on her way to a 2:51:52 finish in her first appearance at the USAT Age Group Nationals.

2:12:23 – Ryan Lynch, 21, Porter

2:17:07 - Douglas Cooper, 41, The Woodlands (Outrival Racing/TWRC)

2:24:51 – Richard Parker, 46, The Woodlands (Team Strive)

2:28:54 – Michael Dwyer, 62, The Woodlands (Conroe Triathletes)

2:29:57 – Jarrett Hubert, 27, The Woodlands

2:32:09 – Kent Morris, 50, Conroe (Finish Strong Racing/Conroe Triathletes)

2:43:41 – Stuart Simmons, 44, Willis (Conroe Triathletes)

2:51:27 – Leslie Watts, 41, Spring (Team Strive)

2:51:52 – Mary Kay Cooper, 38, The Woodlands (Outrival Racing/TWRC)

2:54:16 – Vanessa Gnatzig, 28, Spring (Team Strive)

In Sunday’s USAT Age Group Sprint National Championships, two Conroe Triathletes – David Boyette and Jimmy Fleming -- took to the terrain of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Now residing in Eutaw, Alabama, the 71-year-old Fleming captured the national championship in his age group with a 27-second win over St. Petersburg, Florida’s Donald Ardell by covering the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run in 1:22:10.

Conroe’s David Boyette, 61, finished ninth of 14 competitors in the 60-64 age group with a showing of 1:22:42.

Kona Send Off-Party Caps Busy Weekend in Woodlands MultiSport Coverage Area

           Woodlands MultiSport will host a Kona Send-Off Party at 7 p.m., Sunday, September 26, for The Woodlands' Amy Barr and John Laskowski at Rico's Mexican Restaraunt, located at Woodlands Parkway and Kuykendahl.
           The party, with a Hawaiian theme, of course, will wrap-up a full slate of multisport activities in and around the area – and out-of-state - for area athletes.
           As the general meeting room at Rico's, where Lonestar Multisport holds its monthly meetings at, holds approximately 40 people, it is important to RSVP on the Woodlands MultiSport Facebook page or to wmsportnews@gmail.com so Rico's can be advised how many may spill over into the general dining area, if necessary.
          Locally, the weekend will kick off with the Woodforest Charity Run 5K and 10K, the second race of the fall racing season in Montgomery County, debuting in downtown Conroe’s Heritage Park at 7 a.m. on Saturday, September 25.
          An hour earlier in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one of the world's top age group triathletes, the Conroe Triathletes' Michael Dwyer of The Woodlands, will lead 12 area competitors in Olympic distance competition at the USAT Age Group National Championships.
          On Sunday, nearly 30 area triathletes and duathletes will be part of 1,100 participants to compete in the Houston Triathlon and Duathlon at Towne Lake in Cypress.
          Later in the afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Shadowbend YMCA, the Bill Crews Remission Run, the second largest spring event in Montgomery County earlier this year, will host its first "Mission Moment" in preparation for its Saturday, February 5, 2011 event as Chris Arthey and his wife, Denise, share their inspirational story.
          Chris was the only amputee to run Remission Run in January. He ran in honor of his son who has cancer.

Filing Our 10-Q: Vanessa Gnatzig

Open your dictionary, look up the word "busy" and there you'll find a picture of Vanessa Gnatzig.

There are also a whole host of adjectives, though, that could also describe the 28-year-old who will join 10 other athletes from the WoodlandsMultiSport coverage area at the 2010 Age Group National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday, September 25.

We'll let you figure out what those adjectives are in our latest edition of "Filing Our 10-Q":

1.)  The stress charts say that you should probably be ready to be committed by now. Let's see if we get this straight: An Olympic distance tri in April that qualified you for the Age Group Nationals, coaching summer swim team, your first IM 70.3, you get your Masters last month and Ironman Florida coming up in November. Wait, you change jobs too! Seriously, though, you must be loving life?

I should have been committed a long time ago.  But in all seriousness, this past year has been amazing.  I really feel blessed that I have been able to accomplish so much given my insane schedule.  I would like to mention how grateful I am that Kim (Hager) deals with my crazy schedule.  She has been supportive every step of the way, good or bad, she has kept with me. Having a coach like that makes this journey that much more meaningful.  On another side note, I keep telling everyone that there is a reason I am single, I barely have time to sleep!

2.)  You have both swimming and running in your past athletic profile, but what pushed you toward triathlons this past year?

It all started when I joined Team Strive.  I originally planned to have Kim coach me through marathons.  Then one day, she moved me to Tuesday night track with the Tri athletes and they kind of sucked me in.  Strive is much more than just a team, we are friends.  That easily pursued me to want to train with them.

I used to compete in triathlons back when I was 10, so it wasn’t anything new to me.

I stopped after I had a bad crash on the bike during a tri in Katy.  I never wanted to get on a bike again.  So it took nearly 18 years for me to realize that I wanted to get back into the sport again.

3.)  Obviously, you chose Kim Hager's program with Team Strive to help you reach your goals. Why Kim and what has been the biggest thing that you've learned about the sport and yourself as part of your training?

I was introduced to Kim through Amy Gage.  I coach her kids on my swim team and she knew I was looking to start seriously training for a marathon.  So I looked into Kim’s training program and how she coaches her athletes and knew it was a perfect fit for me.

Being a coach myself, I know how I coach my athletes and I wanted someone like that.  One of the best qualities of Kim and her program is that you can contact her by phone, text, email anytime you need to.  There is no limit on communication with athletes.  I value that so much.  In order to have a good relationship with your coach, you need communication.  And Kim is always open and available for you when you need her.

4.)  You ran high school cross country and track at Klein Oak. What events did you compete in on the track and why the switch from the pool as you entered high school?

I swam competitively for ATEX when I was in elementary school and then switched to TWST until high school.  I really got burnt out on the swimming.  It was something that was becoming more of a chore than a passion and I knew it was time to go with running.  I knew there was no way to swim and run in high school.

I competed in the 1600 and the 3200.  I occasionally ran the 800 and was also on the regional qualifying 4 x 400 relay team.  My best year was my sophomore year.  I almost qualified for regionals in the 3200 until I was out kicked on the last straight away to end up third.  I suffered a stress fracture my junior year which put me out for several months, but came back and had a good end to my high school career.

5.)  Many people may not be aware that your father, Larry, was not only an accomplished cross country and track coach (leading Aldine MacArthur to two cross country state championships, three state runner-up finishes, two regional championships and 22 district titles), but he was also a very respected teacher with a huge heart for special needs children. Talk about your Dad's influence in your life, both athletically and personally.

I really took my Dad for granted growing up.  He and I argued a lot over my training.  I look at it now and wished I would have listened to him, but it’s hard to hear that from a parent.

Growing up I knew my Dad was well known in the high school running world, but it really hit me how much of an impact he had on his athletes when we had his retirement party.  He had so many past athletes from the early 90’s attend.  They even made a video for him highlighting his successful career as a coach.  I love hearing people talk about my Dad.

My dad is very shy and doesn’t like the spotlight on him.  He was a nervous wreck when the Aldine ISD school board recognized him and renamed the Aldine ISD cross country meet to the “Larry Gnatzig Invitational”.  Knowing that my Dad still gets calls for former athletes and students makes me realize how special he is.  He was like a Dad to his runners.

He has a tremendous heart and would do anything for anyone. That is why he loved when he had the special needs students in his PE class. He has a heart of gold and made each and every one of those students feel that they could do anything.

I know that everyone says they are proud of their Dad, but my Dad has accomplished so many things in his teaching and coaching career. I have big shoes to fill, but my dad knew I was on the right track when my John Cooper girls won their first SPC State championship last February.  I knew I made him proud!

6.)  Having earned a scholarship to Sam Houston State University, what was it like to be a collegiate athlete?

Being a collegiate athlete is something that is hard to describe.

I remember getting the call from Coach Hinze.  It was November of 1999, and SHSU wanted me to run for them. It was like a dream come true.  I knew from early on that my goal was to go to college and run.

But when it came to signing day, and my parents and I were in the principal’s office signing the official papers, I knew I had made my dad proud.  All he ever wanted was for me to run to my ability.

It was hard juggling two-a-day workouts and get used to the college life.  Luckily we had a great athletic advisor who helped us keep our studies in line.

7.)  Talk a little bit about your very first triathlon – the Olympic distance event at the IM 70.3 in Galveston this April -- and, as a result, qualifying for the USAT Age Group Nationals coming up next weekend in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I was so nervous for my first race, but I was looking forward to the swim part of the race because I knew that would be the only open water swim in the ocean that I would get prior to Florida.

Well, the weather was not on my side the day of the race. Not too long before the start of the race, the race directors decided to cancel the swim due to high winds. I was not happy at all.  I had really been working on getting back in shape with swimming and was ready to rock and roll.

My bike at the time was still coming along so I knew I would get a pretty good lead coming out of the swim, but I had to quickly change my race plan when they scratched the swim. I started thinking and decided to just use this as a brick workout.

Well much to my surprise, my brick workout turned into a National Qualifier.

8.)  Ironman 70.3 Racine was an obvious choice for your first half Ironman, given that your family is from Badger country (Wisconsin, for the uninitiated), what were the biggest challenges that you faced - other than getting your bike to and fro - and how have you been making the adjustments for Ironman Florida?

The biggest challenge for Racine was my lack of training.

I got real sick in May and had to really focus on my health and coaching. So my workouts were hit and miss for a little over a month.

The bike is what has been my biggest challenge. I have really been focusing on getting in those longer bike rides.

9.)  I've heard the Kim Hager speech about throwing out the time goals with a first Ironman, but what expectations - overall, time aside - have you set for yourself this November at Ironman Florida?

Being a competitive athlete my entire life, throwing out a plan was very hard for me to do. I am always used to going into a race with a goal.

I listened to Kim and threw out any goal time I may have had for Racine, and ended up having a great time.  It was the first race in my life that I actually took in and enjoyed every minute of it.  No expectations, but to finish and have fun.

That’s exactly what I am going to do in Florida too.

10.)  We were on the same warm course in New York City for your first marathon in 2005, but in January you posted a 3:49:34 at the Chevron Houston Marathon. You're signed up for Ironman Texas, so when do you plan on gunning for a Boston qualifier?

The New York City Marathon was an amazing marathon.  I think everyone should put that one on their list to do – a great crowd the entire 26.2 miles and so many runners.

My original plan was to compete in Florida and then do a marathon in February to try and qualify for Boston, but then Ironman Texas came along and threw out that option.

After Ironman Texas, I will sit down with Kim and see what the next step could be. My goal when I started training with her was to qualify for Boston, so I hope to make that happen, but it will have to wait a little longer than planned.

Tim Monk's 5 Top Keys to IM Wisconsin Success

We asked Tim Monk, the individual who has the second fastest time ever - 9:53:19 - of any Ironman in Montgomery County and Spring - and on the Ironman Wisconsin course, to give us his five (5) keys for success tomorrow for his fellow University of Denver alum, Kim Hager.

Tim, who made his coaching debut this weekend by helping Finish Strong Racing's Dana Lyons with a half-Ironman camp at La Torretta Resort - the site of November's Iron Star Triathlon, prefaced his comments by saying that Kim "does not need much help; she is the best!"

Hager is the owner of the fastest women's time ever by someone in the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area with her 10:20:47 at Ironman Florida in 2006 - her last Ironman.

Monk's top five were as follows:

1.  Ride the first loop on the bike easy.
2.  Ride the first loop on the bike easy.
3.  Don't forget to ride the first loop easy!
4.  Enjoy the first loop on the run and hold the pace steady.  It can be hard with all the crowds.  (You will want to run fast because your legs are fresh from the ride.)
5.  Take in the crowds at the end.  There is no other north American race like it!

He closed with, "Go Kim!"  Just like, "On Wisconsin!"

Conroe Triathletes Get New Jerseys

Let's face it, Montgomery County has three training groups and clubs that have very, very recognizable team jerseys (not listed in any particular order) -- Lonestar Multisports, Team Strive and Finish Strong Racing.

They make a photographer or finish line announcer's job very easy in identifying their club or group's members.

Well, the Conroe Triathletes are joining the fray with brand-new jerseys of their own.  Here's a look at what you'll be seeing at upcoming area triathlons:

Three New Montgomery County Road Races Set For This Fall

The fall road racing season in Montgomery County just became a little bit busier with Wednesday's announcement of a new 10K race that will start and finish in The Woodlands' Northshore Park on Saturday, November 13.

The Team Red, White and Blue Veteran's Day 10K is being organized by Chris Widell, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, two-time Bronze star recipient, proud US Army Ranger and an endurance athlete. The race is raise monies for wounded veterans and their families.

A visit to the race's website at http://www.teamrwbvetsday10k.info/ will reveal a course that is very similar to a description of the potential Ironman Texas course discussed by Dana Lyons on his Finish Strong Coaching blog last month.

The race will be the last of three new races in Montgomery County this fall.

The first two will take place on each of the next two weekends.

Jones State Forest, located on F.M. 1488 just outside of The Woodlands, will play host to the inaugural Speak Up For Kids 5K Run on Saturday, September 18 at 8:00 a.m. The 1K Kids Fun Run, for youngsters 12 and under, is $10 and will proceed the 5K, which will begin at 8:15 a.m. The entry fee is $30 until Friday, September 10.

The event website is www.casaspeaks4kids.com/5K.html

Saturday, September 25 brings to downtown Conroe a brand new event -- the Woodforest Charity Run 5K and 10K -- that benefits the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

Registration forms can be found online at http://www.woodforest.com/ or at any local Woodforest National Bank location.

The entry fee through September 18 is $20 for the 5K and $25 for the 10K, and it goes to $25 and $30, respectively, until race day.

The races will start and finish at Heritage Park in downtown Conroe and will go north into a shaded, older subdivision.

Two weeks later, the second biggest road race in Montgomery County - the rebranded Memorial Hermann Ten For Texas - will celebrate its fifth running on Saturday, October 9.

The 10-Miler will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the One 4 Texas Kid's Fun Run.

Online registration is currently available through The Woodlands Township's website at http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/. The 10-Miler is $48.75 currently while th One 4 Texas Kid's Fun Run is $16.25.

There is one more Saturday left in the Liberty Mutual Registration Days promotion.

On Saturday, September 18, bring five (5) canned or non-perishable food items to the Liberty Mutual The Woodlands parking lot, located at 3000 Research Forest Drive - at the corner of Research Forest Drive and New Trails, and you will receive $10 off your registration.

After The Team Red, White and Blue Veteran's Day 10K takes place on Saturday, November 13, the traditional Thanksgiving weekend races will occur with GE Run Thru The Woods on Thanksgiving Day, starting from Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, and the more recent addition to the racing calendar, the 5th annual City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K at Carl Barton, Jr. Park on Friday, November 26 at 8:00 a.m.

The Willis Wildkat 5K, which is likely to take place at Lynn Lucas Junior High in Willis, is slated to be set by Willis High School cross country Dana Fossmo for either Saturday, December 11 or Saturday, December 18. This event traditionally had been held in December, but moved to February for last year's running.

Additionally, every second and fourth Saturday is Run The Woodlands 5K at Barbara Bush Elementary in The Woodlands at 8:00 a.m.  Entry fee is just a $1 for the Luke's Locker-hosted event.

The Woodlands Running Club also hosts its Sunday Night 5K the first Sunday of every month at Barbara Bush Elementary as well.  While there's no entry fee, any monies contributed are placed towards the Club's Dan Green Running Scholarships.

Area Athlete Report - September 4-6, 2010

Kent Morris, 50, led area athletes at Sunday's Summertime Blues Sprint Triathlon in Freeport by winning his age group in a time of 1:13:40 -- 34 seconds ahead of Iron Star Triathlon race director Greg Pennington. Morris' daughter, Brittany, 15, also reached the podium in her division by taking second in 1:41:42.

The Conroe Triathletes also took a number of athletes south and were led by Jimmy Fleming, 71, with an age group win in the 70-and-over division. Fleming needed just 1:24:52 to cross the finish line.

Recent Ironman Lake Placid finisher Paris Menefee was fourth in the 40-44 age group as he posted a time of 1:15:20. Amy Antley and Jill Bennett had sixth place age group finishes in the 30-34 and 40-44 divisions, respectively.

At the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anaheim, California on Sunday, The Woodlands Running Club's Patrick Morein and Rachel Wilcox-Pereira didn't need a fairy tale to help them finish in 1:46:46 and 2:02:26, respectively. Additionally, Drew George, 45, and Henrita Van Wyngaarden, 41, of The Woodlands also finished in 2:01:39 and 2:01:40, respectively.

Montgomery's Laurie Paschal, 35, and Magnolia's Sara Vanderford, 48, rounded out the area's top six in California with a times of 2:11:07 and 2:11:11, respectively.

The race had 12,358 finishers, including 238 from Texas.

The Woodlands' Sergio Roldan, 37, led all men in the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area on Monday in the sprint division of the Avia Austin Triathlon with a time of 1:31:27 over the 700-meter swim, 27-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run course. He was 37th overall and ninth in a competitive 35-39 age group.

Magnolia's Lundin Matthews, 22, was fifth in his age group in 1:38:53.

He was followed by The Woodlands' Stewart Comrie, 43, and Spring's Ben McHenry, 32, in 1:40:09 and 1:40:22, respectively. It was Comrie's first triathlon ever.

The best women's time from the area was posted by The Woodlands' Stacey Aubuchon, 26, as she registered a one hour and 42-minute time on the course, but it was Alexandria Bouthillette, 13, of The Woodlands who went to the podium with a second place finish in the 19-and-under division with a 1:44:30 showing.

However, the bulk of the local activity took place in the Olympic division.

The Woodlands' John Laskowski, 41, who is one of approximately 15 Texans who have won a lottery slot for next month's Ford Ironman World Championship, took fifth in his age group with a personal-best time of 2:19:48.

Team Strive teammate Rick Parker, 46, and Finish Strong Coaching's Jim Harrington, 46, both of The Woodlands, took fifth and seventh, respectively, in their age group with times of 2:22:02 and 2:26:28.

Mike Novelli, 53, of The Woodlands grabbed sixth in the 50-54 division with a 2:36:01 clocking while his 20-year-old daughter, Becca, also scored a sixth place finish in her division with a time of 2:39:44.