2009 Nation's Triathlon a Great Success!!

A record-setting 8 NORSA members and affiliates competed in the 4^th Annual Nation’s Triathlon. This was the third consecutive appearance by NORSA-mainstays Steven L., and Adam. They were joined by Matt, Leo and Russ, who each finished their second Nations Tri. Newcomers this year included Mike, Brian and Marie.

The Nation’s Triathlon is a Standard Olympic-Distance race. It consists of a 1500 meter (0.93 Mile) Swim, a 40 kilometer (24.85 mile) Bike, and a 10 kilometer (6.21 mile) Run. The Nation’s Triathlon is one of the biggest triathlons around. While 6000 people registered, 3933 actually competed in and finished this year’s race. The attrition is probably due to the fact that the race sells out months before the competition. When race day arrives, many competitors FTA due to scheduling problems they couldn’t foresee months in advance, as well as regular sickness, injury, etc.

Like last year, all competitors had to go to a few events before the race. Packet pickup was at the Washington Hilton on Friday and Saturday. There is no packet pickup on race day because the logistics of distributing 1000’s of packets in the hours before the race would be mind-boggling. Additionally, competitors were required to leave their bikes at the race site the day before the event. This allowed many competitors to take shuttles to the race site from the host hotel.

The weather for this year’s race was perfect: mostly sunny skies with a high of 83 and a low of 63 for the day. The race was started at 7:00AM, so the NORSAites got to compete in that perfect 70-degree range.

This year’s course was modified slightly from the previous year. Competitors swam in the Potomac under the Memorial Bridge. The water this year was a little browner and a little less clear than in previous races. The water temp was about 71 degrees. Most competitors wore wetsuits, most NORSA members did not.

Between events, competitors had to find their bikes in the mega-massive transition area (see photo). Hopefully, they remembered their row number.

The bike took racers into Rock Creek Park, up the Whitehurst Freeway, then out-and-back on Canal Road, the Clara Barton Parkway, and the Cabin John Parkway. This course was heavily shaded (good), but may have been a little narrow for so many competitors.

The run was around Haines Point and the Tidal Basin. As the race expands each year, there seems to be less of an ability to host it on the Mall. There was no Pennsylvania Avenue Finish this time. However, traffic in the city was significantly less affected and racers were able to finish next to the transition area, rather than miles away as in previous years.

Results:

How long is a race of this magnitude supposed to take, you ask? Well, the overall winner finished with a time of 1:55:59. Mayor Adrian Fenty finished with a time of 2:21:18. The last competitors crossed the line around the 5-hour mark.

Everybody on the NORSA-squad finished with these highly respectable times:

This year, Russ again came out on top, with an overall time of 2:33:23. He was followed by Steven L. (2:40:57); Leo (2:50:08); Marie (2:50:15); Matt (2:52:40); Mike (2:54:49); Adam (2:57:41) and Brian (3:08:51). Complete results with splits are available here.

Congratulations to all the NORSA members who competed in this year’s race and thanks to the family and friends who came for support! I hope you all enjoyed this year’s post, which unlike last year's post, contains more than 2 paragraphs, more than 1 picture, and has hyperlinks, results, descriptions and adjectives.

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.

Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest 8K Recap

On Saturday, July 18th, 2009, many NORSA members ran in the 24th annual Rockville Twilight Runfest in Maryland. Returning NORSA members Matt White, Russ, Leo , Nora, and Tom S joined new and aspiring members Laura, Laurel, Jared, Mike, and Vic. This race brings Laura on board as a full-fledged NORSA member, too. The Twilighter, a race sponsored by the Rockville Rotary Club, has been a race in which NORSA has had solid representation for several years now, and this year was clearly no exception.











Race-day conditions were fair, with the heat dying off a little as the night approached. The official start time was 8:46 PM, and night was creeping in swiftly as the runners left the start line. The course winds through downtown Rockville, its surrounding neighborhoods and schools, and Montgomery College's campus before popping the runners out on to Rockville's main drag of 355. After crossing the finish and removing their timing chips, all runners were invited to head over to the Michelob Ultra beer tent and enjoy four frosty beverages.

Results are available here: http://mcrrc.org/racing/2009/09twilighter.htm

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.

Mock Bike-n-Brew 2009

Saturday April 11, 2009:

The NORSA spring bike-n-brew features an easy 15-mile ride from Bethesda, MD along the Capitol Crescent and Mount Vernon trails to a local watering hole near the Reagan National airport in Arlington, VA.

Team NORSA members Steven S, Matt, and Russ gathered near Francis Scott Key bridge on a gray Saturday morning to ride to the rendezvous point in Bethesda. In true NORSA fashion, the event was advertised as "rain or shine." Russ showed up on time (for his NORSA debut!) Matt was late.

The three departed on what would be a cold and soggy ride, with temperatures in the mid 40s F and under a steady drizzle. Then, in his anger at Matt's tardiness, the god Poseidon unleashed new storm clouds, and the fury of the four winds befell the cyclists. Unflinching, they advanced in the onslaught, but Poseidon took aim with his mighty trident and punctured Matt's tire. As Matt set to work on the repair, the other two continued as the god of the sea pelted them with heavy bursts of spring rain.

Needless to say it was still raining when they got to Steve-o's house. No other NORSA members (including Tom, Steve-o, Adam, and the Neil) were willing to ride in such conditions. Hot tea was poured for all. Russ wore a woman's coat to stay warm. Matt contemplated the idea of moral causation, or karma. Everyone else went to brunch. Tom was unsuccessful at ordering a bagel sandwich.

Russ and Steven S. rode home in the rain. Mock bike-n-brew was a success in that there was minimal biking and brews. Stay tuned for upcoming actual bike-n-brews!

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.