Year In Review (2010)

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the past season. In 2010, Multisport Mastery athletes achieved many personal bests and accomplished many inspirational performances at races around the world. What I hope will become a yearly tradition, I would like to recognize some of the standout performances that highlighted this past season.

Below, I’ve listed several performance categories. Within each category, I’ve selected the athletes/performances which best represent the category. My hope in doing this is that we, as Multisport Mastery, build a sense of passion, pride and recognition for all of that we achieve throughout the year. In addition, I hope this will inspire you to strive for the best as you pursue your goals for the 2011 season.

To all those who were a part of Multisport Mastery in 2010, I’d like to extend a sincere thank you. Whether you are returning in 2011 or moving on to new adventures, it was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to share your season with you and work with you toward your athletic goals.

All the best for a healthy 2011 season filled with achievement and good fortune.

Best Personal Best:

• Dave Gordon for setting a 67 minute PR at Rev 3 Cedar Point Ironman
• Char Popp for setting over 60 minute PR at Troika Half Ironman
• Randy Soibel for setting a 51 minute PR at Ironman Wisconsin
• Tom Irwin for setting a 45 minute PR at Ironman Wisconsin
• Sara Reinthaler for setting a 34 minute PR at Musselman Half IM, then a 20 minute PR at Timberman 70.3
• Elizabeth McGrath for dropping 43 minutes from her best marathon time at Philadelphia Marathon

Best Comeback:

• Vanessa Berg for placing 1st in AG/4th amateur overall at Lonestar 70.3, placing 4th in AG at Buffalo Springs 70.3, winning her AG at Boulder 70.3, 4th in AG/7th overall at Ironman Arizona all less than 1 year after being in a cycling accident that involved multiple serious injuries.

• Patrick Davis at Toyota US Open for getting up after wrecking out of T-2, returning to the race to go on to run a personal best 34:26 10K off the 40K bike.

• Erika Ostrander at Ironman Wisconsin for getting back on to her bike after crashing horrifically before the halfway point and then going on to complete the race (she later required stitches at the hospital).

• Nate Berg for capturing 4 top-3 in age group placements and a sub 10-hour Ironman finish less than a year after having hip surgery.

• Sara Reinthaler for dropping 50 minutes from her half Ironman time one year after breaking her foot.

• Tom Irwin for completing Ironman Wisconsin and setting a huge PR less than one year after what he thought would be athletic-ending foot surgery at age 60.

Biggest Breakthrough Season:

• Jill Bonniwell for placing top 10 in age group at Oceanside 70.3, Buffalo Springs 70.3 and Boulder 70.3, overall course win at Lake Holiday Triathlon, setting a new 5K PR, 1st in AG at Big Shoulders Open Water 5K, 10th overall elite amateur at Chicago Triathlon, new PR at the 70.3 distance, 3rd overall at Quarryman 10-Miler, 5 top 3 in state finishes at the Illinois Masters State Championship.

• Tami Ritchie for placing 10th amateur female overall at the 70.3 World Championship, 2nd overall at Dallas US Open Triathlon, 1st amateur female overall at Branson 70.3 ahead of the next competitor by 20 minutes, 3rd overall at Steelhead 70.3, 2nd overall elite amateur at Lifetime Fitness, 2nd overall at HyVee Triathlon, 4th overall at Pigman Triathlon, earning the slot to to represent Iowa at Best of the US, 1st overall at Bluff Creek Triathlon ahead of the next competitor by 13 minutes, 2nd in AG at Drake Relays Half Marathon.

• Doug Gibson for placing 6th in AG at Buffalo Springs 70.3, qualifying for the 70.3 World Championship, 1st in AG at Galena Triathlon, overall win at Niles Triathlon, overall win at Lake Carroll Triathlon, overall win at Lake Holiday Triathlon, 1st in AG at Cantigny 5K, 1st in AG at Fall Color 5K, 2nd overall at a local 5K, 1st in AG at Big Shoulders 5K Open Water Swim, 13 minute PR at Boulder 70.3.

• Colleen Sullivan for rocking her 40th birthday year by earning the slot to represent Washington at the Best of the US competition, placing 8th in AG at Lake Stevens 70.3, qualifying for the 70.3 World Championship, 2nd overall at ChelaMan Triathlon, 3rd overall at Clear Lake Triathlon, 2nd in AG at the local Olympic triathlon, 6th overall at the local 25K.

Performance of the Year:

• Elizabeth McGrath running a Boston qualifying 3:26 and 43 minute PR at the Philly Marathon
• Vanessa Berg winning her AG at Boulder 70.3
• Sara Reinthaler setting a 20 minute PR at Timberman 70.3
• Nate Berg going 9:58 with a sub 5-hour bike split at Ironman Arizona
• Erika Ostrander completing Ironman Wisconsin despite a bike crash and one year after missing the bike cut off by one minute

The Overall Winner:

To the athlete with the most overall course wins – Doug Gibson for his wins at Lake Holiday Triathlon (his first course win ever!), Niles Triathlon and Lake Carroll Triathlon.

Most Improved Athlete:

• Pam Sinel with a 17 minute PR at Boulder 70.3, 7 minute PR at Boulder Peak Olympic and an 11 minute PR at Boulder Peak Sprint.
• Randy Soibel with a 12 minute PR at Soldier Field 10 Miler, 7 minute PR at Galena Triathlon and a 51 minute PR at Ironman Wisconsin.
• Char Popp for setting over a 60 minute PR at Troika Half IM, 8th overall at Grand Coulee Triathlon, 1st in AG at the local sprint triathlon, 2nd in AG at Clear Lake Triathlon.
• John Wagner for setting a 26 minute PR at Steelhead 70.3, 11 minute PR at Johan’s TriFest, 90 second PR at the local 5K, finishing his first Ironman after earning a lottery slot to the Ironman World Championship.
• Rebecca Irons for placing 2nd overall at the local sprint, 3rd in AG at DeGray Lake Sprint, 2n in AG at DeGray Lake Olympic, setting a 6 minute PR at Memphis in May, 3rd in AG at Four States Triathlon, 2nd in AG at the local 5K, setting a new PR at the Little Rock Half Marathon.
• Kris Mahadocon setting an 11 minute PR at Big Sur Half Marathon, a 33 minute PR at the local half Ironman, a 6 minute PR at the local Olympic triathlon, a new 10K PR, a 9 minute PR at Silicon Valley Triathlon, over a 2 minute PR at the local 5K

Most Impressive Win:

• Patrick Davis at Steelhead 70.3 with an impressive 4:06 finish for his first ever 70.3 distance race.
• Jill Bonniwell at Lake Holiday Triathlon, leading start to finish with a swim time that beat all but a few of the men, her first overall win good enough to place her in the top 6 including men.
• Tami Ritchie for her stomping overall amateur win at Branson 70.3, finishing over 20 minutes ahead of the next competitor.
• Elizabeth McGrath for her first ever win at Loray International which also earned her the slot to represent Virginia at the Best of the US competition.
• Matt Moehn for his age group winning performance at Branson 70.3, qualifying him for the 70.3 World Championship and finishing 15 minutes ahead of the next competitor.

Best First Time Performance:

• Blake Ilstrup for executing a nearly flawless 11:30 performance at his first Ironman in Wisconsin
• Steve Cox for going from sprint to half Ironman in less than a year by completing Steelhead 70.3 in under 7 hours
• John Wagner for completing his first Ironman ever at the Ironman World Championship
• Jamey Cox for completing her first half Ironman as a F50-54 in under 6:30

Most PRs Set This Season:

• Molly McNamara set 7 PRs this season
• Kris Mahadocon set 6 PRs this season
• Jill Bonniwell set 6 PRs this season

Most Hardware Brought Home:

• Leslie Brahm bringing home 9 awards
• Patrick Davis bringing home 8 awards
• Tami Ritchie bringing home 7 awards
• Kristi Warren bringing home 5 awards
• Kara Bruzan bringing home 5 awards
• Jill Bonniwell bringing home 5 awards
• Rebecca Irons bringing home 5 awards

Overall Wins By Multisport Mastery: 12

Top 3 Overall Placements by Multisport Mastery: 25

Top 3 in Age Group Placements By Multisport Mastery: 80

2010 USA Triathlon All-American Triathletes

Tami Ritchie (8th overall F25-29)
Vanessa Berg (F30-34)
Patrick Davis (2nd overall M20-24)
Todd Byers (M25-29)
Doug Gibson (M30-34)
Nate Berg (M30-34)
Christian Waterstraat (M35-39)

Congratulations to all athletes for a stellar 2010 season!