Shamrock Sportsfest 2009

On Sunday, March 22nd, six NORSA members traveled to Virginia Beach to participate in the Annual Shamrock Marathon and Half Marathon. This event, coupled with its flat course, strong organization, large cheering crowds, and great post race finish party featuring essentially unlimited Yuengling and all you can eat beef stew, was a hit with NORSA members last year, and so were joined by three additional competitors this year to make it one of NORSA's largest events (and without a doubt the highest female to male ratio).



Bethan repeated her performance from last year by running a strong full marathon. This year she brought along a contingent of fellow classmates to also participate in the full. Julia, Adam, Anna, Alan, and Taylor meanwhile settled for the half marathon. This was a NORSA-filled weekend for many of the competitors, as Julia, Alan, and Taylor participated in Sir Walter's HHH 800th R*n and Adam returned from the NORSA Ski Trip to Wyoming the day before.

The race conditions were perfect (if maybe a little warm by the end of the marathon) for strong finishes by all competitors.

Full Marathon:
Bethan 4:22:28

Half Marathon:
Julia 1:38:45
Adam 1:49:36
Anna 1:51:47
Alan 2:15:36
Taylor 2:49:23

After the race, all NORSA participants, as well as three of Bethan's classmates ate a celebratory meal at Olive Garden - the site of a similar celebratory meal after the 2007 Sandman Triathlon.

Legs and joints ached at the end of the day, but all members were satisfied with an excellent race and a successful challenge. Special thanks also to NORSA newcomer Jasmin and the Tidewater HHH for a motivational refreshment stop on the course.

From our family to yours ...

And a NORSAtastic New Year!

Team NORSA's EYE of the World 5K!

This past Sunday marked Team NORSA's first self-sponsored and organized competitive race, the EYE of the World 5k! Participants braved the cold and wind to race for bragging rights over this prestigious event.


NORSA regulars and Louisville Ironman participants/supporters Alan Stewart, Julia Brockman, Adam, Taylor Hinson, and Anna Blount, were joined by NORSA newcomer Reagan (Ian's 9 month old black lab).

Results:

1 - Reagan
2 - Adam
3 - Alan Stewart
4 - Julia Brockman
5 - Anna Blount (tie)
5 - Taylor Hinson (tie)

Special thanks to the ever-kind Newport News host Ian Harris, as well as the Mariners' Museum and the Riverside community for providing an excellent race venue.

140.6 Miles - Team NORSA Completes IRONMAN Louisville!

Team NORSA has reached new heights. On Sunday, August 31st, 2008, at 7:22 AM, tri-team members Alan Stewart and Adam hopped into the Ohio River in Louisville Kentucky to culminate a long year of training. Over 14 hours later, they were Ironmen.

They both signed up for this grueling day on September 13, 2007. Since that day, they swam, ran, and biked their way through training injuries, miles of pavement, and countless laps in pools and lakes. Training involved swimming in the NC State pool and nearby Lake Jordan, running half and full marathons, and spending hours on the bike - both in the frigid cold and the blistering sun. As of three weeks ago, they were as strong as they were going to be. The final long workouts were scheduled before beginning a two-week taper in timid anticipation of race day.

On Thursday at noon, the team departed Raleigh (along with supporters Taylor Hinson and EYE of the World member Anna Blount - they were later joined in Louisville by NORSA veteran Julie Brockman) in the decorated team car, and drove nine hours to northwest Kentucky.

Friday and Saturday were spent registering, prepping gear, checking in equipment, and previewing the bike and run courses by car. After a final carb-loaded dinner Saturday night, the racers went to catch a few hours of sleep. They awoke at 4:30 in the morning, made their way down to the transition area to do final preps to the bikes, and then headed to the swim start.

This race is unique in that the age groupers have an individual time-trial start. Instead of a mass start which features much unintentional grabbing, kicking, and fondling in the water, the racers stepped over a timing mat one by one before jumping in the water. The swim was a 2.4 mile up and back in the Ohio river. The water temperature was 83 degrees making it non-wetsuit legal (which are allowed up to 78 degrees and help with buoyancy).

Out of the swim and into the transition area, racers were handed a bag with their bike apparel and headed to a changing tent where helpful volunteers took their swim gear and sprayed the racers with sunscreen.

Leaving the transition area, bikers headed northeast for 112 miles in the rolling hills of Kentucky horse country. Temperatures were in the mid-90s with a triple-digit heat-index. Both the hills and heat took their toll on the racers, but were fortunately supported by 9 aid stations and 1 special needs bag hand-off. The two-lap course passed through a thick cheering crowd in the town of LaGrange twice before beginning the 30 mile descent back to Louisville.

Special note needs to be given to the Team NORSA IRONMAN support team featuring Alan's parents Dawn and Paul, Alan's sister Tana, Adam's parents Piotr and Maria, SWH3 member Doug/A.C., and of course, the 'That's What She Said" cheering squad of Julie, Taylor, and Anna. Seeing them at the transitions, in LaGrange, and throughout the run course was incredibly motivating.

This motivation came in greatest need on the run. After a beautiful and fast bike, the racers changed into running shoes and began the final portion of the event. They headed out to cheers of "You're almost done!" which were both appropriate and lies at the same time. The majority of the event had already been completed - both in time and mileage - but the thought of that didn't ease the fact that they still had to run a marathon - 26.2 miles.

Aid stations were positioned every mile. Sometimes, even that was too far. The greatest pain the racers felt wasn't in their legs or knees, but rather in their stomachs. Nutrition and hydration were the biggest challenges of the day, and it took every bit of effort to keep putting countless packs of PowerGel and Gatorade-Endurance down.

As night fell, the racers were given glowsticks, but as the night approached, so did the finish. The ultimate goal was to cross the finish line alive, standing, and ahead of the 17-hour limit. Alan and Adam both succeeded.

The Race

The Finish

Adam's stats. Alan's stats.
Adam's official race photos. Alan's official race photos.

Check out Alan's description and additional photos at http://sailnaway.blogspot.com/.

Thanks again to the support team at the race and everyone who followed online. Thanks to everyone who spent miles on the bike and pavement training with us. A super NORSA thank-you goes to the team host, David Wicks. David is a Watertribe member and three-time Everglades Challenge competitor who hosted the team at his wonderful house, took them kayaking late at night, and introduced them to the wonders of Kentucky.

And by the way, if you think an IRONMAN teeters on the brink of absurd, how about a double, triple, quadruple, or even 15X IRONMAN? That's right, a 36 mile swim, 1680 mile bike, and 393 mile run. The current world record is 312 hours and change.

What's the next grand feat for Team NORSA? Who knows, but we'll try and keep it interesting.