Training Table

USA Triathlon logo Training Table July 2007

T.J. Tollakson’s Triathlon Newsletter

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www.tollakson.com for the latest information about my races and 2007 calendar

Measured Success

While it would be difficult to follow up my June racing with as much success in July, but it all depends upon the measure of success. I won four races in June and set four new course records. I was only planning on racing three weekends in July and while I did manage to win the Cornman Triathlon in Gladbrook, IA on July 8, 2007, I also managed to meet my goals for the other two races of the month. This was my first year invited to the prestigious Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis, Minnesota and my goal was simply to prove I belong by placing in the top ten and taking home a paycheck. While it may not have been my ideal race I did manage to place ninth and take home a paycheck with hopes of being invited back next year. My final race of July was the Vineman Ironman 70.3 in Sonoma County, CA. I definitely wanted to win this race but my goal was to finish on the podium. I know that winning takes a special kind of day at a big race but placing on the podium is what makes a champion consistent. You can’t win every race but you can put yourself in the hunt for the win and I was in the hunt at Vineman against some of the best competition.

Race Report: Cornman Triathlon, Gladbrook, IA

July 8, 2007, The Cornman Triathlon was my very first triathlon back in 2001 during college. I competed in this race for the first time as preparation for the Olympic Distance Big Creek held later that summer. I would return to Gladbrook this year to compete for the third time at the sprint distance race. With a nine o’clock start this race is one of the warmest sprints around. There would be no wetsuits today as the water was warm and balmy. My only warm-up before the race was a swim of the complete 500 meter swim course. Turns out is was sufficient for the day. I was out hard in the swim trying to simulate what it would feel like next weekend at Lifetime Fitness. Once out of the water and on my bike I was redlining the whole way. I had moments were my legs felt great and then moments were my legs felt like concrete blocks trying to turn the pedals. Overall it was still my fastest bike split on the course on a very hot and windy day. Once on the run I was in pain immediately; as the first mile ends on a quarter mile up-hill that gave me thoughts of crawling to the top. Once on the downside I caught my breath and cruised into the finish and managed to break my own course record. Another great training race in the books and a great start to July.

Place	NAME	SWIM	Pace	T1	Bike	MPH	T2	Run	Pace	Finish
1	T J Tollakson	6:24	1:11	0:52	31:33:00	26.6	0:43	17:49	5:44	57:20:00
2	Mike Morrison	7:01	1:17	1:00	34:31:00	24.3	0:42	18:50	6:04	1:02:01
3	Jason Maurice	8:12	1:30	1:02	35:49:00	23.5	0:57	18:10	5:51	1:04:08
4	Jason Halfpap	7:45	1:25	1:10	34:30:00	24.3	1:02	20:19	6:33	1:04:43
5	Reed Rinderknecht	7:09	1:19	1:07	34:08:00	24.6	0:57	21:57	7:04	1:05:16

Race Report: Lifetime Fitness Triathlon, Minneapolis, MN

July 14 , 2007 my dreams of someday racing the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon would finally be realized thanks to a special invite and some encouragement from Kevin O’Connor at Gear West Bike. I traveled to Minneapolis after a morning swim and run on Thursday. There are not many Saturday races but this is one exception. The race organizers put us up in the Crowne Plaza hotel downtown for three nights. My roommate for the weekend would be Greg Remaly from Oakland, CA.. The pro meeting was intense on Thursday evening as the room was filled with champion triathletes, but the mood relaxed at dinner that night at Lifetime Fitness Club’s Martini Blue Restaurant. I was nervous on race morning but I knew I had nothing to lose. My specialty is no longer Olympic distance races so I just wanted to have a solid race and prove that I could compete with the big boys of short course racing. My goal was a top 10 finish. The swim would prove to be my biggest challenge once again as I was gapped around the first turn buoy and unable to make up the distance so I ended up pulling in David Thompson and Peter Robertson. Not a glorious job by any means but that is what happens when you lose the feet in front of you. Out of the water Thompson took off like a rocket and I was left chasing all alone. I managed to pass a few guys on the bike but for most of the race I was all alone with nobody in sight. The bike course was rough with a lot of turns and damaged streets. It was not my best bike by any means and when I got off the bike I found out I was in 9^th place. I had a big gap in front of me and a big gap behind me so I just really wanted to run smart and hold on to 9^th. My legs felt good on the run and I didn’t have to dig super deep on this run but still had a solid 34 minute split. I finished in 9^th place, not overwhelmed with joy but content with a top 10 finish and another solid race. I hope to return to Lifetime Fitness next year and improve upon my finish.

Name

Swim

Bike

Run

Finish Time

Place

Time

Place

Time

Place

Time

Place

Time

Place

Time

Greg Bennett

18:16.1

0:56.1

57:27.4

1:07.7

30:58.9

1:48:46.3

Bruno Pais

18:12.8

0:57.8

56:36.1

1:08.0

32:14.9

1:49:09.8

Craig Alexander

18:29.8

0:56.1

57:11.7

1:05.1

31:38.5

1:49:21.3

Hunter Kemper

18:04.9

0:57.3

57:35.7

1:06.2

32:03.2

1:49:47.5

Rasmus Henning

18:18.2

1:00.3

57:00.3

1:04.5

32:34.4

1:49:57.9

David Thompson

19:25.1

0:59.4

54:53.8

1:06.6

33:45.6

1:50:10.7

Bevan Docherty

18:06.8

1:03.0

57:30.8

1:06.0

33:33.5

1:51:20.3

Stephen Hackett

18:08.3

0:58.5

57:31.9

1:08.8

34:03.4

1:51:51.2

Tj Tollakson

19:26.5

1:03.7

57:28.4

1:17.6

34:12.1