Since my last blog in June my group of athletes has had an incredible season... probably the best since I started Iron Fit Endurance back in 2014. As I reflect through my 21 years in this sport I realize how much triathlon as given me and how much my role in this sport has changed. I started as a young competitive age grouper at the age of 21, then turned I turned Pro at 30. At 37, after coaching for a while already, I started my coaching business “Iron Fit Endurance”. My coaching has become such a joy to me that far surpasses the joys I had as an athlete…I am amazed at how much I get out of it on a personal level, aside from a professional level. The friends I’ve made, the satisfaction I get from teaching and helping others in the sport that is a huge part of who I am.
As I waited on the waters edge, competing in Ironman Maryland this past weekend, I reflected on the past 21 years. I started that swim with a smile on my face, “I love this sport!” I said to myself as I swam, thinking of the people that have touched my life along my journey. I can honestly say that this is the best place I have ever been in in this sport, now at 41 years old giving back to others and racing because I love it. I still have that competitive edge, but I realize now that it’s so much more than that!
I’ll start my summer recap with this past weekend at Ironman Maryland. After qualifying for Kona in 2016 and not being able to race in 2017 due to injury my goal for this season was another Kona slot for 2019. This is no easy feat. The competition has gotten fierce and getting a slot is not something you can ever take for granted!
This race ended up being particularly special for me for many reasons. One of which was a special friend who I had the pleasure to train and race with. After his race in Ironman Lake Placid Bob Spina did not feel satisfied, so he decided to enter Ironman Maryland with only a few of us knowing…he wanted to see how the training and recovery went first, so we kept it quiet. Bob Spina races for LITC and I have known him for a very long time. He is a major talent. Training with him this year has been incredible for me as well as for my athletes. Not only are Bob and I closely matched in all 3 sports, but his enthusiasm is infectious, and he has touched many of us with his positivity.
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We travelled down and shared a house with Leah Jantzen a newbie triathlete and a huge talent who I have the pleasure to coach, as well as one of my oldest friends Erin Miller, who I also coach. What an incredible weekend! I felt so blessed this weekend to be surrounded by these wonderful people as well as my good friends and athletes, Scott Janicola (A.K.A. OCDAR) and Mike Mancini (A.K.A. TOOLBOX) who surprised us! George and my parents also made the trip down which I am so grateful for…the support I get from the three of them gives me a daily reminder just how lucky I am in my life. Being surrounded by all these special people made the weekend one of the best that I can remember in my Ironman career.
For both Bob and I this was number 17 and it did not disappoint! I finished 3rd in my age group, 8th overall woman and I was thrilled. I was beaten handily by two talented women, but I knew I finished this race giving it all I had on that day, so I was beyond satisfied
Bob Spina had the race of his life posting his 2nd best time (at the age off 55) and smashing his age group with a victory of over 15 minutes! The picture below captures how excited we were to find out he won his age group:
Leah Jantzen did not surprise me at all with her incredible race. There was no doubt in my mind that this woman was going to race well, but 6th in her age group with a time way below what I estimated for her was even more amazing than I imagined!
Erin Miller also had an incredible race with a PR run and a PR race! Here she is with her dad:
The weekend was topped off with a Kona slot for both Bobby and I, which was the cherry on top! We will be travelling to Kona for the World Championships again next October!
Here’s an update on the rest of my athletes since June!
Dean Bruno had a PR race in IMLP which included a harder bike course and wicked weather! He'll be back again next year and I have no doubt he'll finish even stronger!
John Burgess (JB) had a rocking season in the aqua bike improving as he goes, which is something he always focuses on. His season will culminate in November at nationals!
Joann Camhi worked so hard and tackle IM Atlantic City 70.3. She was pulled off the course with 3 miles to go on a rainy, cold bike course. I am so proud of how far she has come as an athlete and am looking forward to her coming across the finish line at IM Maine 70.3 2019! Here she is with Dale before the race as well as Sal and Darlene getting ready to support!
Christa and her husband Kevin joined us this year for the IFE World Championships! Christa is a 2-time Ironman and I am always so happy to have her part of my group.
What’s the IFE World Championships, you ask?
Well, it’s is a great way for the team to get together and compete and this year was a hit! This year was the 2nd Annual Iron Fit Endurance World Championships and we had Shayne Lewis finish 1st, Bobby Spina took 2nd and Scott Janicola took 3rd!
Laura Giardino had a fantastic season of racing at Jamesport, Smith Point as well as running races that concluded at the Hamptons Half Marathon! She always finishes 1st and 2nd in her age group! here's a picture of her rocking as well as a shot of her and Hilary!
I had the pleasure of heading up to Ironman Mont Tremblant to spectate this year… What a THRILL is was to watch every single athlete that I coach EXCEL on the course! It’s a day I will not forget!
Scott Janicola (OCDAR) posted a PR run and a smoking fast time. This one was dedicated to his family:
Michael Mancini (TOOLBOX) made his fist IM finish look easy. He's gotten better and better each year and this was a testament to that:
Mary Beth Lichtneger rocked the course with an over 1 hour Ironman PR:
Katelyn Hughes had an amazing race (her first ironman) less than two years after a hip replacement:
Sal Scilingo also had an incredible race juggling a crazy travel/work schedule and making it look easy out there:
Darlene Scilingo had an incredible race months after a broken wrist which had her doing 99% of her riding on a trainer!
Here's a shot of the husband-wife team:
Scott and Mike also raced the IMMT 70.3 in June…the most memorable finish I can remember as they ran the half marathon side-by-side and finished together…totally unplanned!
Kurt LaForest entered a few relays after battling injuries this year, but he was able to finish the season with an Olympic Triathlon and will be gearing up for the epic Roth Challenge in 2019!
Gordon Lewis also battled some injuries this year as well, but with his talent he was still able to post a few wins this year as well as some 2nd place finishes.
Shayne Lewis and I travelled up to race the HITS Hudson Valley half Ironman where he placed 4th male overall winning his age group! He finished his season with a PR race in IMAC 70.3.
Jackie Lott started her season with the Williamsburg Olympic Triathlon in July and ended with a great race at the IMAC 70.3 Aquabike battling cold rain the whole way!
Maureen Lundquist entered the Aquabike at the Mussleman Half Ironman due to a knee injury and then trained to get ready for Ironman Chattanooga which she just completed…being her first Ironman, and a cancelled swim portion, Maureen swam 2.4 miles in the pool the morning of the race, so she could officially call herself an Ironman!
Ernest Martinez also raced IM Chattanooga and posted a PR bike and a great race overall! Here's a picture of the two of them before the race:
Barbara McCoy has been working on her goal of racing a tri in all 50 states to raise money for a cause dear to her heart, LLS. She raced the Nashville Olympic in July to prep for a sweltering 94-degree day in the Augusta 70.3 in September and did a fantastic job!
Diego Valencia came to me in February to train for what would be his FIRST triathlon, Ironman Lake Placid! After training at our team camp up in lake placid he had a taste of how hard a course lake Placid was, but he was up for the challenge and now he can call himself an Ironman!
Rebecca Reilly is new to the group and is quite a talent, placing 2nd in her age group at Tobay and the Mighty Hamptons, her first Olympic distance. Next year will be her first 70.3!
Jeffrey Reynolds had quite a season with PR races and is still going! He’ll race Steamtown Marathon this weekend…After his amazing race in Eagleman he did several local events, including Town of Huntington, Tobay and the IFE World Championships of course!
Kristin Ryan had one of those seasons where everything seems to go wrong, including a crash in NYC triathlon (she was involved in a pile up) …she managed to finish anyway, and I know she will be back next season!
Mike Scanlon also had one of those seasons but he’s a competitor and he will be back! It was fun having him at the IFE World Championships!
Dale Sumner, Darlene’s mom, had an incredible race at her first 70.3, IMAC 70.3. despite the cold rain and tough swim, she finished that race in amazing fashion!
Hilary Topper had a year filled with tragedy and challenges…her race at Mighty Hamptons was no different with very choppy waters, a fall off her bike and a strong wind, but just like with the other challenges this year Hilary forged ahead and didn’t give up. I was proud to be there as she finished this tough race! She’s already working hard for 2019! Here's a picture from that race as well as from her incredible performance at the Fire Island Open Water Swim...another day filled with challenges that she overcame!
Rafael Tovar also had a year with challenges, but he was able to have a fantastic race at the Greenwich Sprint tri and the IFE World Championships!
Tania Wickes-Zuzzolo came to me after qualifying for Worlds in Duathlon…her goal this year was nationals in Triathlon. She did not have a swim background but now she can call herself a triathlete with a fantastic finish at Nationals and an incredible race at Mighty Hamptons finishing 1st in her age group and 4th overall!
I can’t believe how fast another season went by and I want to thank ALL my athletes for making it such a great one!!!
Happy Training and racing 😊
Dee