Featured Athletes
Click below for more information about Performance High's featured athletes:
Brian Shields, Triathlete
Chad Fisher, Endurance Runner
Dale Nelson, Triathlete
John Kormanik, Triathlete
Kim McDonald, Triathlete
Rachel Corey, Triathlete
Ryan Kelly, Triathlete
Racing and Training Stories
John Kormanik's Governors Island Swim Race Report
August 1 dawned warm & humid. We (fellow PH athletes Patty & Michelle Kormanik & I), along with my mom, Barbara, & daughter Allie hit the road at 5:07 a.m. As we drove over the George Washington Bridge into New York the sky began to brighten with the rising of the sun. We were on our way to the “Battery Maritime Building” at the foot of Manhattan for swimmer sign-in! It was time to swim, sans wetsuit, in Hudson River Harbor. It was time for the Governors Island Swim, organized by NYC Swim!
Swimmer sign-in was a breeze. Our arms were marked with race numbers & we received our swim caps. In order to get to the start, we had to hop on a ferry from Manhattan to Governors Island…a quick ride as Governors Island is a mere 1 k from the lower tip of Manhattan.
Once on Governors Island we & 247 or so of our closest friends received the swimmer briefing. We were told about the ferries we would take to the start, about the jump from the ferries into the water, & about the “swim angels” who would be there for anyone who needed them. We were briefed on the course - “keep the Island to your left & the swim buoys to your right.” We learned that at the bottom of the Island the current coming up from the Verrazano Narrows would be working against us. Our timing chips were distributed…again, very organized. We boarded the boats to the start.
When we got to the start we leaped off the ferries into the water & made our way to the starting buoys. The water felt good. It is salt water which is a buoyancy benefit as we were swimming “naked”...without wetsuits. After a minute or two in the water, the countdown began & we were off!
The swim itself was FANTASTIC. The views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Narrows suspension bridge, & Brooklyn were all AMAZING. At times it was difficult to focus on my swim stroke & technique because of the sights. A better venue for a race I cannot imagine.
I grew up in New Jersey &, when I lived there (until 1986), it was difficult to imagine swimming in that body of water. At times, I firmly believe that I was, to quote a line from Finding Nemo, “swimming with the jellies.” I would feel something at the tips of my fingers, like the wake of a swimmer in front of me. But when I looked to sight there was no swimmer in my area! What can I say! Actually, the water was surprisingly clean.
There were plenty of safety kayaks & other vessels in the water to guide swimmers on their 2-mile swim around the Island. There were also many spectators on shore cheering us on (& likely wondering what the heck we were doing!).
My swim ended at 56:56. Not too bad for my first “official” open water swim. At the end, there were many volunteers handing out metals & food. One gentleman was manning the fresh-water hose to rinse the saltwater off.
Check out NYC Swim’s website at www.nycswim.org. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend taking advantage & swimming around Governors Island or participating in any other swim organized by NYC Swim. They did an excellent job!
Rachel Corey's Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon Race Report
The Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon was one of those races where it was better not to know the course ahead of time. However, when I saw that this Bend, OR race was 99% trail, I signed up immediately knowing that the distance would be good training for my A race - Ironman Arizona.
After completing a 5hr workout the day before (4hr ride + 1hr run) I had no goal other than to get a good workout in & enjoy the race. In order to remind myself to have fun & not “race” (as per coach Michelle’s instructions!) I wore my fav polka-dot sunglasses, running skirt, bright pink top, & flashy pink & orange shoes!! Definitely fun...but maybe a bit out of place??! At race start many competitors were glistening from mosquito spray & wearing gators & trail-running shoes along with their hydration packs, What type of race I had gotten myself into?!
The race director was a peppy guy who shouted out last-minute instructions while I danced around at the starting line trying to keep warm. He then told us to remember to look at the view at the top of the 14mi climb. 14mi climb!!!! What??? Luckily, the gun went off not giving me a chance to ponder what was ahead.
The race started out on curvy singletrack with a gradual incline & a few short, steep speed bumps. My legs, heavy from my previous workout, kept me from surging at the start to try to keep up with the leaders. Soon the small field of 150 or so runners spread out & I was on my own. Due to the tall shadowing trees & the varied terrain only small sections of the trail were visible at any point in time. So I focused not on the miles ahead of me but just on what was around the next corner. Scattered flags marked the course so it became a game to look for the next flag. The softness of the trail was forgiving to my legs & I began to loosen up & enjoy myself.
Just when I got into a rhythm & thought, “This isn’t so bad.”, the singletrack turned into rocky forest service road headed up a very steep hill. The racers ahead of me looked like ants crawling up a mountain. Convincing myself that the road would eventually flatten out I surged ahead determined to pick off as many people as possible. After catching up with the 1st place gal & passing her I was beginning to wonder if she knew something I didn’t! She was walking, conserving energy for what lay ahead!
I broke the long hill into sections telling myself that the top would appear if I could just make it to the crest of each hill. This strategy worked! The 14mi climb ended so quickly that I nearly missed the sharp turn onto another singletrack trail. Luckily there was an ad station volunteer directing me!
Looking at the view from the top, however, made all the climbing worth it. The remainder the race was like a roller coaster. The trail twisted & turned over rocks & streams under enormous aspen trees. Now I knew how the race got its name! Having so much fun, I couldn’t believe it when I saw mile marker 18! It suddenly dawned on me that I had taken in no nutrition! Due to the nature of the course aid stations were sporadic making it difficult to plan my nutrition.
After sucking down a gel renewed strength kept me going until mile 22. The course had began to flatten out & my legs were beginning to feel all the terrain changes. Hearing footsteps behind me, I sped up slightly but was soon passed by that 1st place gal I had previously passed. She looked strong!
Soon I could hear cheering & after rounding a corner the finish line appeared. Not believing it was the end I surged to finish. The 1st place gal later came to thank me for the challenge. She added that she just couldn't be beat by a gal who looked like she would be upset by a broken nail! Little did she know I was in disguise! We then retreated to the river to soak our legs & talk of various race adventures!