And the group just keeps getting bigger. CDA should be our largest group of athletes in one race to date! Very exciting. Watch for them on Sunday as well:
Scott Alexander – This will be Scotts third IM and first time in CDA. Scott’s swim training has been ‘great’. He has a goal of swimming faster for an IM swim than an ex-girlfriend so this could the year for it. This will be his first IM race with power meter. He has high hopes that with the aid of the power meter he will race the bike such that he can run the run and take him to his overall goal of a race PR! Scott says he has had a tendency to hammer the bike and have less than enough for the run in previous IM’s. So how’s his run training been? Well, he is reporting a case of sesamoid-itis (swollen bone in his right foot that is only fixed by lowering – if not completely eliminating his run volume). So it sounds like that is what he did and that could mean he’s got a rested 26.2 in those legs Sunday. Scott’s ‘one thing’ – to beat his previous IM times (those were near 13:51).
Erik Sandhu – This will be the first IM for Erik. He sounds very pleased with how his training has progressed since February 1st! Erik has struggled a bit with downtime of the taper which is usually a good sign that he actually DID taper. Erik sounds like he is ready for the experience of the race. His goals is of course to ‘finish’. (We know he will!) But he is looking to enjoy himself Sunday. His words are ” I have no idea whether I will ever do an Ironman again so I really want to relish every minute of this one.” His ‘one thing’ will be realizing something he never thought he would do – and think about his family and the sacrifices they have made to support him in his quest to be Ironman.
Mark Baumli – This will be two for two for Mark – second IM in CDA racing his first CDA in 2005. This is also the first IM for Mark with a power meter. He says he expects to be riding slower and smarter for this CDA but feels stronger on the bike this time around and, at 48 years old, is in the best shape of his life. He is also looking to do more running for the marathon with his second. His ‘one thing’ like most in their second year, he is focued on ‘I know I can do this…and I know I can do this better’.
Paula Ericson – a former marathoner turned Ironman. Paula accomplished marathons qualifying and racing Boston in 2003. Then a friend loaded her a road bike and the rest is history. This will be her 4th IM and 3rd one in CDA. Her other IM was Arizona in 2007 where she placed 4th in her age group. She is also racing with power for the first time this year and feels stronger than ever on the bike thanks to that little meter. Paula participated in the Off Season training and had a PR for her early season Half marathon. She says she is running faster than ever off the bike and is really looking forward to a good run at CDA this year. She is reporting NO INJURIES, not even a twinge! Sounds like her head is in the right place. I think anyone racing in the 50-54 Women’s age group is gonna have their hands full up against Paul on Sunday. Her ‘one thing’ to get back on that podium.
Alan Cunningham – This will be number two for Alan and his first CDA. He has five buddies he will be racing with (or more accurately, against) on Sunday. Alan is the only EN Koolaid drinker in the group. Sounds like a slam-dunk for Alan already. Alan is very pleased with his EN training and says he has not had too many hiccups along the way; a little illness here, a little life there. He feels good and that is giving him alot of confidence. Alan is going to use his confidence for his ‘one thing’ on Sunday hoping for big dividends and no jinx because he just feels so ready!
David Wonn – Another member of the Arkansas Mafia, and apparently the founder! David raced Louisville last year with ENers Marianne Park and Heather Bender – but first dragging them to Rich’s training camp in Louisville. (not even a full seven degrees of separation of this one) This will be Davids fourth IM and first in CDA. He says his training has started to come to life as the weather has been warming up. His race day goal is to beat his IM Lake Placid race time (LP was his first IM in 1999). His ‘one thing’ will be to run the run course!
Heather Bender – this will number two for Heather and first time in CDA. Another member of the Arkansas Mafia. She has been drinking the EN koolaid regularly. Heather will have the support of this supportive group of training partners as well as the EN groove that should start happen Thursday as our ENers start to arrive in Idaho.
Kris
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