2019 was my third Iron Abe Olympic Triathlon (now Abe’s Olympic Triathlon) in Springfield, IL. During the pre-race meeting, director Steve O’Connor described the course as undulating. He was talking specifically about the bike portion of the race. I knew from previous years there were rolling hills and gradual elevation changes, but nothing very steep
Tag: Swimming
A recent visit to Vandalia, IL yielded a pleasant surprise. Shimoji Coffee opened at 7:00 AM on Sunday. The drive-through coffee shop was established in 2016 and works hard to assure a consistently pleasant customer experience. Shimoji roasts a rotating variety of beans for their shop and for consumers to enjoy at home. Hand-crafted syrups
I started competing in swim meets about five years ago and have learned a lot through the experience. I learned that forward motion after becoming set in the blocks can cause disqualification as a false start. I learned that flip turns are allowed in the backstroke portion of the Individual Medley except when switching to
What would draw a group of men to travel halfway across the United States to participate in roughly a half-hour of physical activity? Mike Freshley, Laurence Walker, Tony Ralphs and Peter Andersen have swum together in San Diego for several years and enjoy the competition of US Masters Swimming. A couple of the men recently
One nice thing about small swim meets is that they move along quickly. One bad thing about small swim meets is they move along quickly. I thought the time between my first two events was really short. That was before I saw my buddy Jon walk quickly from the finish of one race directly to
One of the pleasant surprises during a recent trip to Bowling Green, KY was a stop at Spencer’s Coffee. Knowing I would need some caffeine for the long ride home, I selected Spencer’s. The downtown location has an upscale, coffee-shop vibe. Well-appointed and spacious, the shop’s walls are tastefully filled with original artwork, including a
The Barbara Stevens Memorial Swim Meet in Bowling Green, KY was an excellent January event. The venue was not quite as nice as Western Kentucky University, where I first swam this meet. Bowling Green High School was hosting a volleyball tournament at the same time which made parking a small challenge. But once inside, the
The caffeinated athlete appreciates the schedule of the Illinois Senior Olympics. The timing of events allowed for participation in the road race and swimming on Saturday and the track meet on Sunday. After completing the 10K road race awards, I had time to go back to the hotel for a shower and a quick bite
To the countless volunteers who have made it possible for us to compete in running, cycling, swimming and multi-sport races this season, the caffeinated athlete extends a heartfelt “Thank you”. A Volunteer’s Work It’s no small feat to gather, guide and direct the legions of volunteers each event requires. Starters, timers, judges, course marshals,
Plan B can be a beautiful thing. I signed up for races on three successive weekends in September this year. I knew what I was doing, so I’m not complaining. Questioning my critical thinking skills a bit, but not complaining. Trail of Tears sprint triathlon followed by City of Roses Half Marathon then finish with
