1st Place Ultra/Mixed/Master's Team @ Ragnar Relay Florida

Well Team Hendryx/Fleet Feet ended up getting 6th overall out of about 62 teams that started. We were 1st Ultra Team (which consist of only 6 runners), 1st Ultra Mixed and Master Team overall.

The day started out with Bill picking Rene' and myself up at 10:00 in Clermont. Bill drove us over to the start and we waited around until 2:00 to start the race.

Order of our runners:
Lauren
Mike
Rene'
Stacey
Bill
Sean

We were off at 2:00 on our way to head to Daytona. Lauren took off on her first leg and Bill, Rene' and myself ended up stopping off at Subway to get a quick bite to eat which ended up being our last good meal for the rest of the time. The first three legs were in day light and then the fun began in the dark. We had to put on headlights, vest and blinkies. It was a little challenging at times because the shoulder on the road would run out so we ran on the road. The challenge was dodging the cars that were coming right at us. I was lucky after my first leg of 10 miles there were outdoor showers available so I ended up taking a shower. While I was taking a shower Lauren was on what was probably the worst running leg possible. She had to run down dirt roads and in an area that wasn't too safe. There were cops in the area telling teams that they needed to shadow the runner because it wasn't the safest area. We ended up catching up to Lauren and I jumped on the mountain bike to ride beside her. As she was running, I was thinking that I wouldn't want to run this section by myself as we were running down a bike trail in the middle of nowhere. Lauren ran well over a section that was really hilly and on some dirt roads. She tagged Mike and he was off running down Hwy. 50 and then Rene' had to run down 50 as well into Mascotte. Stacey ended up running down 50 to Hwy 19 where she tagged Bill and he was off running down 19 into Howey-in-the Hills. Then it was my turn to run down 19 into Tavares then to Mt. Dora. We were all catching teams that had started several hours before us at this time so that kept us going. After my second run Bill and I ended up driving down the road the next exchange and we took a 15 minute nap on some picnic bench. We woke up when a couple of men were walking past us (we thought they were the forest rangers). I guess 15 minutes is better than none at all. At this time I wasn't feeling the greatest. I was getting sick. My head hurt. I had a fever and didn't feel like eating which isn't a good sign. Bill and I made ourselves drink some chocolate milk and then I ended up eating a banana. We were trying to get ourselves ready for the last section of our run as we new it was going to be hot. Now that Lauren, Mike and Rene' had finished their last run we asked if they could shadow Stacey for her first part of the run and we went up to the last half of her run to help her out. Stacey came through looking really good but you could tell it was getting hot out there. Now it was time for Bill to take on the heat. I knew he would be good because he had run a 50 miler in the heat earlier this year. Bill was running strong but it was getting really hot so I decided that I would go ahead and make up some water bottles and ice bags so when I run they could hand them off to me. As Bill was running at the end of his run I could tell that he was hot and I started thinking that I needed to be smart and not get to crazy on my last run. I took off and was feeling really good but by around mile 10 of my 16 miles I started getting some bad thoughts in my mind. Then when I got near the bridge that I had to run up I starting thinking that I should be coming to the finish had they not added an extra 4 miles to my leg so I started shutting it down. I had to walk a little as I was completely depleted. Well I finally made it to the last mile marker and I put on my Fleet Feet Racing Jersey for the finish line. As I made the last turn to the finish the whole team was there waiting to run in with me. I don't really remember much after that. I do remember eating one piece of pizza, getting a massage and drinking a coke. Rene' drove home as my eyes hurt so bad that I had to keep them closed and put my hands over them. I ended up going to bed without food and falling asleep at 7:00 p.m and didn't wake up until 3:00 a.m which I ended up eating two muffins and drinking a glass of milk before I fell back to sleep. Then I woke up at 7:00 a.m and Rene' and I ended up going out for breakfast.

Overall an awesome experience and really enjoyed the company I was with. Not only did I have my wife with me but some of the best group of people around as well.

This was a learning experience. I had never done anything like this without any sleep and lack of food. Bill and I spoke what we would do differently if we were to do this again. I believe we will become better coaches after this experience.

Don't forget to check out Bill's blog as well.

Team Hendryx @ Miami Man Triathlon

I felt like a proud parent on Sunday watching all our Team Hendryx athletes compete in the Miami Triathlon. We had 17 athletes competing and all of them made the cut off time. Most of our athletes were competing in the 1/2 and this was their first attempt at this distance. As I watch each and every one of the cross the finish line my eyes got misty just thinking about what they had accomplished. We had several place well in their division. You can read more in Coach Bill's blog and along with each athlete's blog as well.

Debbie Sweezey 3rd overall in the Duathlon
Alison Cooper 1st overall in her division
Beth Wenner 5th overall in her division
Michael Radi 3rd overall in his division

http://www.multirace.com/miamiman/

Kevin Johnson goes Big

Congrates to Team Hendryx athlete Kevin Johnson for placing 1st in his age division at the Florida Challenge Triathlon. Kevin improved in all segments of the triathlon and is looking to step it up next year and race the Florida Ironman. Way to go Kevin.

Awesome Job to the Epic Challenge Participants

Congrates to all the Epic Challenge Participants in the Florida Challenge Triathlon. Three out of the four had never done a 1/2 before and two of them placed in their division.

Mandy McLane 4th overall
Darrell Stott 2nd age division