Timberman 1/2 Ironman Triathlon.
Lake Winniepausekee N.H     (Aug 18, 2002)    
                                            by Walter Burgess                      
   Do I want to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 and run 13.1? That was the question I asked myself in January when registration opened for the Timberman 1/2 Ironman triathlon. I have been doing triathlons for years but always at shorter distances, so this will be a big step up. After giving it a thought, I said "sure, why not, this will be a great challenge," so along with Pam Bashian we registered for the event. We soon were joined by Louise Brooks and Keith Shields who also decided to take on the challenge. This will be a first 1/2 Ironman for all of us     
     After months of training, the big day was upon us. This triathlon consists of a 1.2 mile swim in Lake Winniepausukee, a 56 mile bike over a fairly hilly course and a 13.1 mile run. The whole event starts and ends at Ellacoya State Park in Gilford NH. Pam and I arrived at the park at 5:30am to start getting ready for the 7am start. We soon met up with Keith and Louise and here we were, all 4 of us, excited and wondering how the day will turn out. One thing we were not looking forward to was the weather. The forecast for the day was for very hot and humid weather with the temperature in the 90's. Not good for an event that will take all four of us at least 6 hours to finish    
      As the clock ticked closer to the 7am start, an  announcement was made that the start will be delayed till 7:20am, so Pam and I went to the Lake to check out the swim course. The boats had just finished putting into the water the bright orange buoys which will mark the swim course. Let me tell you, 1.2 miles looks pretty far when you see it laid out in front of you. I was wondering can I really swim that far? and the answer was "yes!" I cant turn back now, so after a quick trip back to check on my bike and make sure I had everything laid out that I needed, we all wished each other good luck and headed to the lake for the start      
      The swim is broken into 10 waves. I happened to be in wave 5 which gave me time to see the other swimmers in front of me take off. After the first 4 waves were underway it was now time for wave 5 and we headed into the water. Here i am standing in knew deep water looking out at the swim course and saying "boy that is far, am I really going to swim that far?" and the answer was "yes!" I trained for this and I am ready,and besides, it was to late to turn back now. After a couple of minutes waiting an announcement was made and my swim was underway   
      Now I am not a fast swimmer by any means, so a couple of minutes into my swim I noticed I was dead last in my wave but that didn't bug me, I kind of expected to be last and anyway I will probable pass a few of those swimmers who are right in front of me now when I get on the run, so I just concentrated on my own swim and continued my 1.2 mile journey around the lake. As I approached the final buoy and took the turn and headed back to shore, I was very happy. I was feeling well and knew I am going to finish this swim. As I neared the shore, my feet finally touched the ground and the swim was complete. I stood up and just looked back at the course one last time and said "Wow!" I did it. My swim time was slow but I was happy with it. I then headed to the transition area to get ready for the bike       
      The bike course is an out and back course with a few hills at the beginning and end of the course. The bike course for me was uneventful. I hit the turn around point at mile 28 feeling great and doing better then I thought I would. On the way back I saw Pam on the other side heading out on her bike ride. I yelled over "Way to go Pam! Looking good" and got a big smile. I finished the bike in 3:19 which is so much faster then I ever dreamed of doing. I was hoping to finish around 4 hours, so doing the time I did made me very happy.   
       I got off the bike, changed into my running gear and was off on the 13.1 mile run. The part of this event that I was waiting for. This is my strong suit and where I will make up some ground As I headed out on the run, I was amazed at how I was feeling. My legs felt so good. I was expecting to feel a bit worse. Did I just bike 58 miles? I headed out on the run course with lots of confidence. The run is a 2 loop course with a couple of hills. I was doing very well until mile 5. That is were the heat and humidity began to take its toll. By mile 7 I was starting to struggle and was thinking "Oh boy, these last few miles are going to be tough" but then something happened. At the water stop at mile 7, they had the usual, water and Gatorade but they also had Pepsi. I took a drink of Pepsi, ate some Powerbar and was on my way. After a few minutes I began to feel so much better and started picking up the pace. At mile 8 is where Keith passed me on the run. I tried to stay with him, but his pace was to fast so I had to back off   
       By mile 10 I was feeling great and by mile 11 my pace really picked up and the last 2 miles were my fastest of the run. As I approached the end of the run, i took the turn back into Ellacoya State Park, where this all began and headed for the finish, smiling and feeling good and 6 hours and 42 minutes after starting this event I crossed the finish line  
       What a sense of accomplishment I got crossing that finish line. When I first registered for this event, I had no idea what to expect and here I am standing at the finish line with a medal around my neck and feeling great. After taking a quick dip in the lake to cool off, I met up with Louise and Keith and we talked about our day. We were all happy at how we did   
       After resting for a bit, I put my running gear back on and went back out on the course to find Pam and help run her back in. I was so happy to see Pam cross the finish line. This is only her second year doing triathlons and to see her cross the finish line was amazing. Great job Pam!    
     This is a day I won't soon forget. I had an amazing experience and felt great the whole way. Now after feeling this good after a 1/2 ironman I am wondering, is there a full Ironman in my future, and I am now asking the question, Do I want to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run 26.2? Hmmmmmm!
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           Stormy Saga on Cape Ann                 
                            by Brian Savage
   Rain spilled out a slick track for the Parkway drivers as they headed northward to Cape Ann.  Three carloads included Joe Green, Jim Lalonde, Stephen Peckiconis, Sarah Hull, Walter Burgess, Jim Sweeney, and Jon Connor, John Donnelly and myself.  Mike Jasko migrated solo, completing his eleventh trip to Cape Ann.  Joe, perhaps battling overhydration, captured club honors by setting a club record time from the Y to Cape Ann.
    With dry clothes and provisions, we were ready to embark on a three hour tour of this seafaring community. Gloucester's perfect weather -- low sixties and pouring rain -- led us right to the registration forms.  Though pens skipped and reluctantly marked sagging paper on this moistened morning, we officially chartered off together.
      The initial rain brought the foreseen burdens.  After slogging a couple of miles, our heads and arms were dripping.  Above, the invisible rain fell while gentle winds intermittently touched off showers of thickened drops from drooped fans of leaves.  On this saturated day, the water tables, with their orderly rows of single serving reservoirs, seemed oddly inessential.
     By the fourth mile, our pants darkened with wetness following our shirts' lead.  This advancing surf of dulling colors threatened our capability to discern one another.  We strained to keep our sights aligned and any permeating panic at bay.  A familiar article - Jim's cap or Joe's bandana -- bobbed on the crowded horizon, brief buoys of assurance for the ebbing Parkwayers.  Soon, with widened distances, trepidation rose.  The weather's heavy press through Pigeon Cove threatened to capsize the band's mission.  Yet, all stayed true to the traditional Cape Ann loop, following the winding tributaries engraved by seven decades of wayfarers.
        Still, time and travel slowed under the weight of the showers.  At the midway point, our sole vessels bowed to the consequence of soaked uppers and the violent thrusts of foot-slapped puddles.  "You're feet now belong to the water" were Walter's unusually eerie words, a chilling concession in the competitive foam.  "It happens, you know it's going to happen sooner or later" Mike affirmed, draining any hopes we harbored for easy passage.
     Joe and Karen's victual house was now a coastal speck from our blurry-lensed perspective.  Far from sure were good-spirited reminiscences at that edge of day.  The immediate was all important.  Now only the desperate need to overtake each swell in the undulating course.  Unrelenting in nature, the Parkwayers tirelessly cast themselves into each looming rise only to skid back down into the next ominous trough.
     Heroics emerged in the tumult.  Jon's instructive incantations tumbled over the corps, then faded from friendly ears as he struggled to get through the squall alone.  Jim Sweeney's pacific discursions about weather or knots soothed frayed nerves.  The hours passed as Stephen accurately predicted each successive surge height and an Argus-eyed Sarah kept lookout over our hill-pitched hull of travelers.
     At last, past the tempest reach, the flattening course through Gloucester wrung out fears.  Secure paces reemerged and the crew all but savored the oatmeal squash