August 1
Our postponed final Elmore Triathlon of 2024 had perfect weather for racing resulting in lots of season bests! Lance Parker completed his 2nd year in a row of winning all 3 events with a new best time of 45:58! He just missed Darby Thomas’s 2011 course record of 45:52. Sean McLoughlin also did his best time of the season completing a sweep of 2nd place in 2024. Deb Vogl broke the 1 hour barrier winning the women’s division in 58:23 with Katie Hulbert just over the 1 hour mark in 1:00:10.
Variety and adaptability is a hallmark of the Elmore Tri’s. For example, this event included a Youth distance for 12 yo Atticus Bailey, Woody Clifton’s solo win of the Aquabike, a fun relay team of Jakobi, Colleen, and Ambiana and bike mechanical problems leading to an impromptu aquathlon by the Senesacs.
I want to extend congratulations to Ben Kidder for Perfect Attendance for 10 Years! 2018 was his peak racing (so far!) as he won all 3 events. Here are Ben’s results over the 10 years.
Thank you to our fantastic volunteers: Eric Ryea, Dot Helling, Michaela Stickney, Ryan Hulbert and Gordon McFarland. Thank you to the Elmore Store for making delicious pizza once again.
June 27
The 2nd Elmore Triathlon of the 2024 season was an exciting one. For the 1st time, we exactly hit the permitted number of 45 participants, including many 1st time triathletes, many who were 1st time at Elmore, and 3 international athletes who were scheduled to fly back to Europe the following day! Events included the usual triathlon, a duathlon, an aquabike, and a youth distance event.
Swim times were varied since the fastest swimmers, who were seeded to start 1st, had an approximately accurate distance, while the slower swimmers had to go a bit farther as the buoys started to drift out in the fierce wind. Luckily, everyone made the final turn before Shamu completely lost anchor and wandered far out into the lake. Destabilizing cross winds and gusts also challenged racers on the bike, but thankfully everyone managed to stay upright!
In the men’s race, Prem Linskey improved his time by over 2 minutes to take 3rd while 1st and 2nd places were repeats by Lance Parker and Sean McLoughlin respectively. Elsa Chinburg smoked the run course in 16:30 to take the women’s win with Joyce Holsten repeating in 2nd and Deb Vogl repeating in 3rd. The popular aquabike event was led by Brooke Decker while the Fainsilber brothers, ages 11 and 13, completed their 1st triathlon with a youth distance swim and bike and the full 2.5 mile run.
As always, I am indebted to the team of volunteers who kept racers on course and produced accurate results. Thank you to Ryan Hulbert, Steve Maas, Eric Ryea, Sally and Sigh Searles, and Amy Sparks. Special thanks to Rich on the paddleboard, for helping those dismayed by the changing swim course and retrieving a drifting Shamu.
GMCF Swimmers Ready To Race!
June 13
36 Athletes expected a beautiful evening for the 1st Elmore Triathlon event of 2024. An unforecasted downpour during race announcements and swim created some tough biking conditions, but the rain stopped soon enough for people to warm up and race well. At least we didn’t have thunder and lightning and it was so much better than 2023 when there was a 58 degree rain during most of the event.
Lance Parker, on a mission training for the Mont Tremblant 70.3, raced to a PR, taking 1st place over Sean McLoughlin racing in the 50-54 AG. 18 year old Anders Linseisen had a fantastic Elmore debut, finishing in 51:19. Emma Duffany took 5 minutes off of her 2023 time to win the women’s race, outpacing Joyce Holsten in Joyce’s Elmore debut. Both women broke the tough 1 hour barrier at 58:02 and 58:42, while Deb Vogl hit the 1 hour time exactly.
Several finishers were 1st time triathletes and ages ranged from 13 to 70. Meredith Naughton led the 4 aquabike finishers in 43:19, while 15 y.o. Jakobi Kmiecik swam in her 1st Elmore leading her relay team of Elmore veterans Colleen Kutin and Ambiana Glavin to a 1:09 finish.
Once again, I am indebted to the team of volunteers who managed to keep the timing equipment and results sheets safe, dry and accurate while also keeping the triathletes on course and safe. Thank you to Dot Helling, Michaela Stickney, Eric Ryea, Pam Sills, Sally and Sigh Searles and Amy Sparks who got her husband, Rich, to be our lifeguard too!