Luray Sprint Triathlon

On Sunday, August 16, veteran NORSA members Matt W., Russ M., Jon S., and Leo W. joined newly minted NORSA members Brian B. and Mike L. to compete in the Luray Sprint Triathlon in Luray, VA. This was a challenging race consisting of a 750 meter swim in Arrowhead Lake, a 16 mile bike through the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley, and a 5K run.

Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew

Well, it finally happened for real. After setbacks from inclement weather a few weeks before, the Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew went down on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The Virginia extreme team, comprised of NORSA triathletes Matt White, Russ Morton, and Jon Spurlock, biked up the trail to meet up with the Maryland Bn'B participants. Dressed in full kits and riding their road bikes, the extreme Virginians blasted the word "leisurely" right out of the Bike n' Brews' usual lexicon of descriptors.

Guest participant Steve-o was way too busy with law school finals coming down the barrel this week to do the full CCBn'B, but he joined up with the Maryland crew, comprised of Tom and NORSA newbie, Allison Tully, outside his driveway to bike to Fletcher's Boathouse for a partial Bn'B. After meeting the Virginians just north of the DC border, the team was complete with a full compliment of six riders.

Setbacks were not completely out of the picture as Russ blew a tire before getting to the C&O Canal. Matt White, despite earlier having been abandoned in the rain by Russ, decided to stay behind until the flat was fixed up. The rest of the crew biked to catch up to Spurlock who had led the pack and not noticed that Russ had flatted out. Jon, however, had already decided to wait up for the others since he'd been caught up at Fletcher's Boathouse for the Creekside Anglers' annual DC fly-fishing event for which the canal had been stocked. While waiting for Matt and Russ, the rest of the NORSA bikers saw a pretty cool chameleon on the gangplank near the boathouse.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Spurlock biked back up the trail to meet up with Matt and Russ and returned with them in tow shortly thereafter. Russ, unsure of his tires, and Jon, who hadn't read the event e-mails closely and who had decided beers at the marina was not extreme enough, decided to bike directly back to their vehicles in Virginia rather than complete the Bike n' Brew. Steve had to part ways to get back to studying for his finals. The remaining party of Matt, Allison, and Tom pushed on to Georgetown, the Arlington Memorial Bridge (where they saw a black Northern water snake by the trail), and beyond towards Reagan National Airport before finally arriving at Daingerfield Island.

After resting for a while, the crew hung out and enjoyed some frosty cold "20 oz." beers that were served to them in 16 oz. plastic pint glasses. Despite Indigo Landing's shysteriffic fluid measurements, the beers were actually still not a bad price. Good times were had by all and after a few cold ones, the bikers decided to call it a success and head home. Future Bike n' Brews are certainly not out of the question, so come out and join us next time around.

From our family to yours ...

And a NORSAtastic New Year!

Team NORSA Wins One for the Gipper at the Nation's Triathlon in Washington, DC

On Sunday, September 14, Team NORSA tore down another wall by finishing the Nation's Triathlon. NORSA veterans Adam, Steve, Matt White, Leo Weitzenhoff, and Jon Spurlock were joined by NORSA newbie Russ Morton for this olympic-distance triathlon running through downtown Washington, D.C. The race started with a 1.5 kilometer swim through the AIDS-infested waters of the Potomac river, followed by a 40 kilometer bike up and down the Clara Barton parkway and a 10 kilometer run (or walk, for some) around Hains point and the Mall, finishing up on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Newcomer Russ Morton stunned the rest of Team NORSA by coming in with the best time on the team. He was followed by Leo Weitzenhoff, Steve, Jon Spurlock, Adam, and Matt White. This was a special day for Matt, who almost beat the guy in the wheelchair. Almost.

NORSA Triathlon Team Debuts at the 25th Sandman!

Sunday, September 16, 2007, marked a new milestone in NORSA history when several members of NORSA coalesced into the small, but growing, NORSA triathlon team. The Sandman Triathlon, which is held during Virginia Beach’s Neptune Festival every year since 1982, was to mark the tri-team’s tri-umphant entrance into the exciting world of triple-disciplined competition. Those who participated in this historic event were co-founders and charter members Adam and Tom Saffell, charter member Matthew White, and new NORSA members, Jon Spurlock and Leo Weitzenhoff. Leo’s membership was clinched by doing the triathlon, which was also his first participation in a NORSA event. Unfortunately, long-time member in good standing and several-time triathlon competitor, Steven Long, was unable to compete and his inspiration was missed greatly by the whole team. However, Steven was able to offer invaluable advice to the new racers in training sessions and in the hours before the race itself.


Of the five participating members, only Adam had competed in any triathlons before, and, in fact, had finished a half-Ironman the preceding weekend. The other four competitors came as a rag-tag crew with heavy nerves and borrowed equipment, their only snappy attire being their comfy, yet elegant, NORSA team jerseys. The goal of the day for the newcomers was to do nothing more than to finish the triathlon without complication, but they accomplished so much more. All members had respectable, if not excellent, finish times and excelled in their individual categories and age groups. Despite choppy seas, two-way headwinds, and general exhaustion, all five NORSA team members were able to cross the finish line running with large smiles on their faces.

The Sandman Triathlon is on the more grueling sprint distance triathlons that the East Coast has to offer. The competition this year began with a 1,000 meter swim down the beach in extremely choppy seas. Some new NORSA tri-team members remarked about their uncertainty to complete the swim, and, to further demonstrate the tenacity of the team they were 5 of 540 to complete the triathlon – 750 people originally began the race and 210 were eliminated in the early stages of the swim. After the race marshal announced that the buoy marking the end of the swim had come loose from its mooring and drifted away, those members new to the triathlon scene were a little anxious to say the least, but after several mouthfuls of delicious Virginia Beach saltwater, all were able to successfully emerge from the ocean to enter the transition area.

Following a short and stumbly run on the sand to the transition area, the NORSA team athletes tore their goggles and swim caps off and were finally able to sport their NORSA pride in the form of their bright yellow NORSA tri-team jerseys, featuring former president Ronald Reagan on the right breast. Mounting their bicycles, the team biked into a heavy headwind that slowed them to a team average of 16mph down Virginia Beach’s main beach road. Heading north they entered Fort Story, the local Army base and turned the halfway loop in order to return down the beach road. All were looking forward to having a tailwind to propel them at greater speeds. However, nature had a different plan and somehow, bafflingly, the racers were slapped in the face with another headwind much to the amazement of all. None of these discouraging events brought down the NORSA team’s spirit, though, and all five racers pushed on to the biking finish line and back into the transition area.

After hastily throwing on a pair of good running shoes, the NORSA athletes ventured on to the boardwalk to finish the race with a 5K run. With the end in site, all of them valiantly pushed themselves to their limits despite the fatigue. After rounding the halfway marker at the end of the boardwalk, though, the same headwind that had hindered them on the biking portion again plowed into them for the final portion of the run. Still, compelled by the urge to show the world what NORSA members are capable of, all five competitors crossed the finish line running.

Following the race, the team posed for a fashionable photo shoot in their jerseys for expert photographer and Adam’s dad, Piotr, who had come to spectate and to immortalize the event in digital imagery. Some of the photos have been included in this e-mail for your viewing pleasure. After the photo shoot and a hearty meal, the athletes said their goodbyes and headed back to their respective homes. Adam has since gone on to enter himself in an Ironman triathlon, one of the most grueling competitions imaginable that is comprised of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26 mile run. Wish good luck to Adam if you see him. All in all, the 25th Annual Sandman Triathlon was another success for NORSA and a grand entry for the brand new NORSA triathlon team.

See the full results at http://www.sandmantri.com/sm07res.htm.

The NORSA tri-team gives its thanks to all of you for all your support and encouragement, and, it hopes that maybe you’ve been inspired to be out there with them next time.