Ride the Drive in Madison, WI: Bikers take to the streets
On Sunday, June 5, 2011, tens of thousands of cyclists are expected to take over the streets of downtown Madison, WI.
It’s not a conspiracy, or a Critical Mass ride, or a competitive event. It is simply a Sunday on which major thoroughfares are traveled by many, many vehicles…all of them having two wheels, and powered by lungs and legs.
The Madison Ride the Drive event has been held since 2009 and is modeled after similar rides held in cities around the world, from the Ciclova in Bogota, Columbia to Bike the Drive in Chicago.
In each case, municipalities coordinate closing streets to motorized traffic and invite cyclists to pedal with gusto.
And pedal they do.
On new bikes, old bikes, fast bikes, rusty bikes, tandems, unicycles, in costumes, and carrying boom boxes. The allure of being able to ride in large groups on roads that are free of car exhaust beckons to many bikers on a nice Sunday in June. The atmosphere is festive, with traffic noises amounting only to the click of gears, kids giggling, and the occasional spontaneous melody from street musicians.
Last year, Focal Flame Photography captured memories for one family participating in a City of Madison Ride the Drive event in August 2010. Parents Jo Ann and Doug rode with their young son, Cooper, who enjoyed a front-row seat of the Ride the Drive in a Burley trailer. Over 20,000 riders participated, many hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity guest Lance Armstrong.
Cooper, however, was simply enjoying the ride. “Our goal was to get to the kid's bike decorating area,” said Jo Ann, describing one of the community activity areas. “I thought we'd avoid the Lance Armstrong crowd. Funny part was that 10 minutes after we got there, we find out that he's headed there to lead the kid's bike parade,” she laughed. “Everyone was looking for him - we all thought he'd be in yellow - he ends up being this guy in red in front of me who just got off his bike and started writing his name in chalk on ‘the drive.’”
Cooper was enchanted all the while. “The best part was riding the streets and having the whole road to cruise on and not be worried about traffic,” said Jo Ann. “It was a little crazy at times because of so many riders. But a good crazy.”
Cooper and his parents visited the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, made arts and crafts at booths staffed by Madison Sports and Recreation (MSCR) members, and adorned their bikes with streamers.
When asked about the highlights of the day, Jo Ann responded, “How cool it was to see SO many people on bikes and hanging out with friends on the Square. Plus the big grin on Cooper’s face while he was watching his pinwheel fly with him in his bike trailer. And thanks to Clint we have shots of it!!!”
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Thunderbird Bolt: Thoreau Elementary Students Take Wing and Fly
Any adult who has ever been around elementary school-aged children for more than 5 minutes (or who is within spitting distance of their own childhood) can attest to the amazing capacity that kids have for movement – jumping, fidgeting, playing, and chasing each other on the playground.
And anyone who has been involved with public schools in recent years is aware that the need for financial support is great due to declines in funding and increases in student enrollment, as well as increases in demand for student services of all kinds.
So pairing together a 5K race and 1-mile run/walk event to benefit a neighborhood elementary school seemed like a natural fit to Audra Smanski, Kindergarten Teacher at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin.
“My inspiration for the run came from my personal love of running as well as my involvement over the years in a 5k fundraiser for my husband's old elementary,” said Smanksi. And with the help of dedicated volunteers, parents, staff, and students, the dream became a reality on Saturday, May 14, 2011 – the Inaugural Thunderbird Bolt.
Despite overcast skies, sporadic rain, and low temperatures in the upper 40 degrees F, about 100 families or individuals participated in the event. “It is super neat to see so many families out running together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school,” said Smanski.
In some cases siblings ran together; in others, teachers encouraged students and vice versa. The Thunderbird Bolt served as a neighborhood-wide accompaniment to the longstanding tradition of the Thoreau Fun Run, a school-wide run for students that has been held on a Friday in May for the last 21 years.
The confidence that the students gained from participating was apparent in their enthusiasm, and for the Thunderbird Bolt, the fact that parents and children could join together during the race made for some wonderful memories. “The best part for me was to see families walking and running together!,” said Smanski. “It is super neat to see so many families out together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school.”
Funds raised from the event will be spent to buy portable playground equipment for each classroom such as balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops. “Our [Thunderbird Bolt] committee really wants to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among our students through movement,” said Smanksi.
And of course, to continue making the Thunderbird Bolt a neighborhood tradition, help will be needed in the future. Smanksi suggests contacting the school to let them know about your interest in volunteering and donating a gift of time on the day of the event. “We really could have utilized many more volunteers on the race route, directing runners/walkers, biking ahead and behind runners/walkers, and keeping time,” she said.
Photos from the 2011 Thunderbird Bolt are available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales will benefit Thoreau Elementary School.
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2011 Spring Madison Mud Run: Here's Mud in Your Eye
Mud. It’s not fancy. It’s not pretty. But it’s pure magic. Need proof? Take a bunch of adults, add a metric ton or two of mud and some general silliness, say “On your mark, get set, GO!” - and you turn them into kids again. Kids that love to jump, run, dress up, and leap over tall obstacles in a single bound.
The Madison Mud Run by Race Day Events debuted in 2010 and quickly became one of the most popular races in the area. Offered in both spring and fall, it’s a race that requires a sense of humor and a strategic approach to post-event laundry. And for the Spring 2011 Mud Run, superhero costumes were optional.
Yes, superhero costumes.
It helped if they were insulated, considering that the temperature at starting time was about 49 degrees F. Of course, with time and exertion, things warmed up. Many racers altered their costumes accordingly as they went along, which for racer Kimberly Olney was one of the funniest memories of the day. “Pieces of [costumes] ended up on the race course as racers stripped them,” Olney said.
Focal Flame Photographer Clint Thayer took photographs of the 1,263 mud-soaked participants. “I love this race,” he said. “The smile ratio is so high. You have to be ready for some splatters on the photography equipment, though,” he joked.
Many runners participated as teams. Racers could also compete in special categories such as Military, EMT, Firefighters, Police, or Fraternity/Sorority, with military and police/fire/EMS racers required to wear full work boots and uniforms or other work-related clothing while racing.
Focal Flame Photography caught up with several members of the Fleet Feet running store team and asked them to share their experiences.
“I always wanted to do a mud run since I've heard they were fun,” said Cheryl Weiss. “So when I found out about one being held here in Madison I signed up to see what it was all about. I wasn't disappointed at all.”
More than a running race, the Mud Run involved 16 obstacles such as climbing walls, teeter-totters, a slip-and-slide, and (of course!) a knee-deep mud pit. Olney said that the most challenging one was a sheer-faced wall near the finish. “[It was difficult] mostly because I was cold,” she said. “But being short, [I] could not get a grip to pull myself over, so I had to go around.” Olney suggested the addition of a hay bale or rope on one side of the obstacle to help the vertically challenged.
Weiss had a memorable encounter with the waist-deep water crossing at the start of the course. “I was caught off guard by hearing my name being called as I was about to take my first step into the water. Since I was caught off guard I pretty much slid into the water up to my neck [and] at the same time, I figured out it was one of the firefighters watching that obstacle who happened to know me [and called my name].”
The monkey bars also proved tough for Weiss. “I had a problem reaching the bars just to start, but once I got a little boost it was fine only made it halfway, so next year's goal is to get all the way across.”
Kelly Engle said, “How many times does a mom get to jump in a creek, fly down a slip-n-slide and get disgustingly dirty?” With joyful enthusiasm, she added, “I would do it again in a heartbeat!”
First place overall male was Will Smith of Mt. Horeb, WI, finishing in 26:42. The overall first place female was Tiffany Virag of Middleton, WI with a time of 35:04, and the top team was Madison Multisport, with a combined team time (four participants: Tom Zuhlke, Daniel Hearn, Troy Blodgett, and Erin Blodgett) of 2:32:08.
At the finish line, racers warmed themselves up and enjoyed laughing over their experiments. Refreshments including chicken wings from sponsor Quaker Steak & Lube and beer from Capital Brewery were on hand. “[I loved] running into other people I knew and hearing their stories from the race,” said Weiss.
But make no mistake, although the race may have been pure whimsy, the athletic acheivement was serious. “This was one of the neatest things that I have ever done in my life, as far as inner feeling of accomplishment,” said Terri Tessman.
So could plain old mud be the fountain of youth? Take a look at the photos, the grins, and the hugs – you be the judge.
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And if you’re ready to join in with “Madison’s Dirtiest Race,” the Fall Halloween Challenge version of the Madison Mud Run will be held on October 29, 2011. Registration is open!
2011 Lake Monona 20K and 5K: Runners Chase Away Rainclouds
Photo by Focal Flame Photographer Josh Zytkiewicz
It seemed like spring would never come this year. Even the weather experts agreed - 2011 has marked one of the coldest springs on record for south-central Wisconsin, complete with April snow and a somewhat maddening one-step-forward, two-steps-back trickle of sunlight and warmth.
Even the night before the Lake Monona 20K running race, it seemed as if it would be a cold and damp affair. But instead, the forecasts were wrong, the rain held off, and runners enjoyed a beautiful race alongside the shores of Lake Monona. "This makes three years of good weather following two years of not-so-good weather," said Ryan Griessmeyer, owner of Race Day Events, LLC.
In all, 692 runners completed the 20 km course and 152 runners enjoyed the 5 km event, which was new for 2011. "The response about the 5K course was that it really was GREAT," said Griessmeyer. "We heard from a number of spouses that the addition of the 5k was a good idea so they could participate while the spouse was doing the 20k, and we also had about 40 kids ages 8-12 from the Cambridge Activities Program that participated and loved it," he added. Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer agreed. "The kids all looked like they had fun - giving high fives to each other as they crossed the finish line, and hamming it up for the camera." As always, Thayer was honored to photograph the runners. "I really enjoy seeing everyone rejoice in finishing their own race for their own reasons," he said.
The Lake Monona 20K is the only race in the area that uses age/sex graded scoring, which is a way of tabulating race results that takes participant age into account so performance can be compared across different age groups. More information on age graded scoring is available here.
Winners of the men's division of the 20 km route and 5 km route were both Madison residents and both employees of Movin' Shoes, a running shoe store. Corey Hayden ran the 20 km race in 1:05:59 and Matthew Giesfeldt sped through the 5 km in 16:18. Top female racers were Wendy Miller, finishing the 20 km course in 1:22:02, and Zoe Knops, who sped through the 5 km in 22:43. Full race results provided by Sports Management Associates, Inc. are available here.
When asked about improvements planned for next year's Lake Monona 20 km race, Griessmeyer mentioned an increase in the 5 km field, cash purse for the overall winners, and increased local sponsorship and event awareness. Lauren Waterson of Race Day Events was also keen on increasing the popularity of the race. "I talked to a few people who had suggestions....but I'd like to hear more about what people liked and didn't like about the race." Have feedback? Make sure you tell Race Day Events staff at ryan@racedayevents.com or lauren@racedayevents.com.
The event wrapped up with food provided by Quaker Steak and Lube, award-winning beer from Capital Brewery, and live music from Madison's own Mighty Short Bus. And the rain even held off for the entire post-race party, as well.
Feel free to view all the photos in the Focal Flame Online Store
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Shamrock Shuffle 2011: Serious fun, serious fundraising
Story by Robyn M. Perrin
Photos by Clint Thayer
Editor's note: A version of this story was published in the Off the Couch blog of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Sunday, March 13, 2011 brought clear skies, brilliant sunshine, and a few thousand little green men, women, and children to Madison. Nearly 3,000 Irish-themed runners and walkers filled State Street in the downtown area for the 5K, 10K, and 2-mile walk courses of the Shamrock Shuffle. The races began just a few blocks from the Wisconsin State Capitol - the scene of historic labor protests over the preceding four weeks.
Despite the proximity to the Capitiol, aside from one or two politically-inspired costumes sheer whimsy was the order of the day. Runners donned everything from green fishnet stockings to green wigs, leprechaun costumes, feather boas, tutus, stovepipe hats, and at least one full-length superhero cape. Music provided by Marc Lovicott, race DJ and news anchor at WISC-TV3, echoed throughout the downtown area. Teams, friends and families hugged each other at the start line and high-fived at the finish.
First-place finisher of the 5K race was Ryan Novak, 34, of Madison, WI, completing the course in 17:58. The 5K women’s race was won in 21:33 by Ainsley Cray, 25, of Fitchberg, WI. For the 10K distance, Timothy Willcox, 32, of Madison took the men’s award in 33:48 and Shannon Ring, 28, of Belvidere, IL won the women’s race.
Given the festive atmosphere, it’s hard to imagine that the event was borne out of tragedy a few years ago.
In October, 2003, Middleton runner Jim Beyer was hit and killed by a drug-impaired driver while on a training run. “He left his wife and children and his kids were very young. It was pretty tragic for the running community, so people were looking for a way to help out,” said Steve Donovan, Vice-Chair of the 2011 Shamrock Shuffle organizational board.
Donovan teamed up with several other Madison-area runners including former collegiate runner Julia Voss, Megan Sisson, and Jessie Bathe to organize a St. Patrick’s Day-themed race to benefit the Beyer family. Voss said, “We all enjoy running and became good friends, [and thought] – ‘Why not organize a Madison race together?’”
The first year of the event included a few hundred participants and raised money for a college scholarship fund for the Beyer children. Having accomplished their goal of helping to support the Beyer family in wake of James Beyer’s death, Shuffle organizers began to think about ways to benefit children throughout the entire community. “At that time, the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County was looking for capital funding for their Allied Drive location,” said Donovan. “There was a huge spirit behind it and they were very ambitious, and we thought [The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County] was something that was not only going to be around but was always going to be an ambitious organization.”
Ambitious doesn’t even begin to describe the scope of services that the Boys & Girls Club has launched for area youth in recent years. Currently led by Executive Director Michael Johnson, himself a participant in Boys & Girls Club programs while growing up in the public housing development of Cabrini-Green in Chicago, BGCDC offers dozens of programs in education, leadership and character, arts, sports, and fitness at two Club centers, serving 2,177 youth in Dane County during 2010.
With a comprehensive approach to support the educational, emotional, and career-readiness needs of at-risk youth, BGCDC and its partners have had a tangible impact on the community. “One hundred per cent of the kids in our College Prep program graduated from high school, and more than 90% of them are in college this semester,” said Executive Director Michael Johnson. “We were able to do that because of the support of the Shamrock Shuffle and their runners. We’re able to keep our doors open six days a week because of that support. We’re able to provide certified teachers to support the academic needs of our kids in our clubs because of their support,” he said.
Indeed, the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle was the single-biggest outside fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County that year. Having recently joined as Executive Director at the time the 2010 race was being planned, Johnson recalled, “I heard from [BGCDC] staff about the unbelievable support from nearly 2000 people that either run or walk doing the race, and so I met [Donovan], and I ran the race last year. I really didn’t know how much financial support that they were going to provide for our clubs. So we had a meeting in April, and they surprised us with a $30,000 contribution…it made an unbelievable difference in our work for our kids.”
Board Members of the Shamrock Shuffle are as strongly committed to leaving use of the Shuffle funds to the discretion of Boys & Girls Clubs leadership as they are to raising the money. “We like the direction [BGCDC is] going in and we believe in their vision, so [when] we give them capital we want them to decide where it goes.” This allows Johnson and his team the flexibility to focus immediately on areas of greatest need.
“I don’t want people to look at the Boys & Girls Club as a charity case,” said Johnson. “I want folks to see BGCDC as an investment vehicle to support young people in our community and to improve the quality of life for young people in our community.”
The energy of doing good while having fun was palpable on Sunday. Given a long winter of short days, the crowd was clearly ready to step forth in style. One of the most meaningful moments of the race occurred when DJ Marc Lovicott played the song “Jump Around,” turning State Street into a vibrating mass of hopping green humanity. The tradition sparked spontaneously at the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle, said Lovicott. “We thought, you know, it works at Camp Randall, why don’t we just try it here. And so we threw it on a couple years ago, and the folks loved it.”
“To see 3,000 people jumping up and down to the song, and they’re all wearing green at the race we organized all by ourselves – was just amazing. It just tells you everybody’s ready to have fun and is really excited,” said Donovan.
The grassroots success of the Shamrock Shuffle serves as a case study in how community-organized endurance sports events can build a better world, putting a new spin on the phrase “Serious fun.”
Could its success be replicated elsewhere? Yes, says Johnson, who urges race directors and nonprofit leaders to work closely with one another. “One of my advice to my peers is… to focus on partnership, to partner with other groups and to build awareness about what [nonprofits] do in the community,” said Johnson. Working together is critical, he says. “If we had to organize an event like this, it would just take so much of my time, of our development director’s time. And so to have a group out there advocating and raising funds to support the programs that we provide to young people in this community makes a world of difference.”
The satisfaction involved in getting the job done is a two-way street. “I have to tell you what is even better than the event itself - it's the day we get to attend the annual Boys & Girls Club of Dane County's April luncheon and present our donation check,” said Voss. “Think you got enough smiles from the race day? Come and see these kids and BGCDC Board Members when they see their educational and program goals can be accomplished that year. That's what this is really about.”
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2011 Shamrock Shuffle - photos available soon!
The 2011 edition of the Madison Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday, March 13 was fantastic! A total of 2,850 runners and walkers had an amazing time on the 5K, 10K and 2-mile walk courses. There were stunning displays of green attire - from emerald-hued fishnet stockings to full leprechaun ensembles. There were bagpipes, kilts, and St. Patrick himself! And thankfully, sunshine was abundant and new snow was absent. The mid-March weather couldn't have cooperated more beautifully.
All photos have been processed and are uploading now. They will be available by late Tuesday, March 15. Racers, watch your email for a message about your photos. Thanks again for participating in the Shamrock Shuffle! Due to your efforts, tens of thousands of dollars will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County to help youth in our communities.
Wisconsin Cyclocross 2010: Best When Shared
You gotta love cyclocross. Said to have originated in Europe about a century ago, the sport involves fitting "road" bikes with fatter tires and cantilever brakes, then racing off-road in circuits punctuated by hurdles and hills. It's been described as the cycling equivalent of steeplechase, quite literally: the first cyclocross racers would chase each other across farmers' fields to the next town, with the town steeple as the only guiding point. It's part obstacle course, part mountain biking, part criterium, with a large helping of raw and raucous cheering.
In Wisconsin, cyclocross is a big deal. So much so that the 2012 and 2013 Cyclocross National Championships will be held in Madison, Wisconsin...in January, no less. So it comes as no surprise that CX racers in the Midwest take the Wisconsin 'cross schedule pretty seriously, while still having some serious fun.
"I love photographing this sport," says Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer. "Absolutely love it. The chance to catch riders bunny-hopping over hurdles, carrying their bikes up hils, all set against a backdrop of falling leaves and crowds cheering like mad - it's just a blast." Throughout the 2010 season, Thayer photographed clients at various cyclocross races throughout the state - and always, additional racers would approach and ask if by any chance they might purchase some prints or digital photos. Cyclocross is best when shared among friends, and photographs are key to reliving the joy of the race.
Orders Fulfilled Faster than a Speeding 'Cross Racer
After looking into various possibilities for an expanded online storefront, we think we've found a solution for buying prints and digital files that will be easy and accessible. Colors that run true are critically important, and the quality of our print vendor really blew us away. They also offer some hard-to-find options, like fine art-quality giclee watercolor prints and ready-to-hang photos printed directly on metal.
We hope you like the new and improved storefront. We will be adding additional races over the next few days so check back often and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for release updates! Please let us know your thoughts. And most of all, keep riding, keep cheering, and keep sharing your love of the sport.
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Capture That Moment
On the eve of IronMan Florida in Panama City Beach, photographer Clint Thayer took an oceanside walk. While a boy played in sunlit water, Thayer re-discovered photography memories from his youth. Here, he shares his thoughts.
I grew up in northern Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. The first subject matter I studied with my trusted Pentax ME Super film camera were 15- to 20-foot storm waves breaking over the ~600 foot long dock in my hometown of Lakeside. For a teenager living in a small town these sessions bridged both my early love of photography, and my more rebellious side. Getting the images I dreamed of involved some small amount of risk, and more importantly, a rhythm. I would stand halfway out on the dock (closed due to the storms) - wait for the waves to hit a specific corner - watch them - crouch down and SNAP! I wasted a great deal of film, and got really wet.
I had almost forgotten these first days with my beloved Pentax until tonight. I was walking along the beach in Panama City on the eve of shooting another IronMan race. As I waited for the sun to dip low enough to paint the sky an amazing spectrum of pinks and reds, I noticed a kid having a little fun in the water. Instantly, I was back on the Lakeside dock. Watch the waves - wait for the right one - there it is - crouch and SNAP!
There were no storms, no 20-foot swells, but capturing that simple moment in time reaffirmed my desire to pick up a camera. In a few days I'll be strapping on photo gear. My field bag is filled with maps, supplies, and my trusted notebook with logistical information needed to capture that moment in time when a human does something truly amazing. And I'll be looking for the rhythm, the motion, and those split-seconds that tell a story.
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Ferociously Dedicated: Arrietta Walker Clauss
When you meet Arrietta Clauss, ask her about her five children. Her eyes will brighten. Contagious, irrepressible laughter will echo as she shares stories gleaned from the zaniness of zone defense parenting. Her offspring are now grown and scattered from Wisconsin to Singapore, but they are still very much present in the lives of Arrietta and her husband, Allen.
Having shifted from a career as a chemist in the consumer-products industry to being a stay-at-home mom for sixteen years, she will be plainspoken about the challenges of raising a family even as celebration of her children shines through in every sentence. She will tell you about lost cell phones and annual Christmas letters in which she and Allen mercilessly tease each child in turn, to mutual delight. She will describe living abroad with the family in China and Japan for seven years. She will share parenting advice, saying, “Our objective in raising the kids was to give them as much independence as possible. It was theirs to lose.” She will stop mid-sentence and shake her head slightly at her good fortune, saying simply, “I’ve really had a charmed life.”
And then, ask her about sports. Watch her hands become animated when she describes her 2010 competitive cycling season or her longstanding devotion to swimming. Then, watch her become still and lean forward with deliberateness, quietly sharing a fundamental truth: “You have to have your own thing. It can be music, photography, whatever. That's what sports was for me. You have to have something that centers you.”
A lifelong athlete, Arrietta competed in swimming from an early age. She continued to swim competitively throughout all of her pregnancies and well into her childrens’ high school years. “My mom’s first sport was swimming, and most of our summer days as children were spent at the YMCA outdoor pool. My mom would get her workout in and then we would spend the rest of the day by the pool,” wrote Anna Clauss, age 26. “I am pretty sure that swimming is what kept my mom sane with 5 crazy kids in the house.” Rider Clauss, 24, wrote, ”She had previously been a masters national champion in swimming when we were all young children. She then started swimming competitively again when I was in high school and set just about every masters record in Wisconsin.” But by 2002 or 2003, Arrietta’s continuation in competitive swimming would have meant traveling to meets every weekend – and this was increasingly difficult given the younger Clauss’ forays into athletics. (Four out of five children would eventually compete in swimming or running at the collegiate level.) When she developed a shoulder injury, it sealed the deal. Competitive sports was off the plate for a while.
Which is not to say that Arrietta's interest in sports ever waned. Rider Clauss recalled a memory from his senior year of high school when he ran on the cross country team, writing, "Before every meet, as part of the warm-up, the team would jog the race course with our coach. As we ran, Coach would give us our race strategy...my mom, loving all things sports, wanted in on this...While all the other cross country moms were in the parking lot drinking coffee and sharing team gossip, my mom was out jogging the course with the team trying to learn more about the upcoming race. To date, I think she is the only team mom ever to warm-up with the team."
And when Allen and Arrietta marked their 25th anniversary, they wanted the celebration to involve both travel and time with their children. So in 2004, they signed up for a family bicycling vacation through the Loire Valley, France, capped off with cheering on Lance Armstrong's sixth win of the Tour de France.
Never mind that, in Arrietta's words, "We knew nothing about biking."
Despite this the family quickly fell into a cycling rhythm, with Allen and Arrietta splitting up sheparding duties to make sure that everyone finished the day's miles without mishap. Arrietta said, "It was just - the scenery was beautiful. We had a fun time as a family. It was something that Allen and I could do together. We liked it." Arthur Clauss, 21, wrote, "My favorite moment on the trip was when my brother and I took off from the rest of the family during the last fifteen mile stretch after along day of cycling. Although I could tell it pained my mother, she stayed back and rode at a leisurely pace with our sisters." Alluding to Arrietta's competitive side, Arthur continued, "It is not like my mother, despite the fact that we are younger and stronger, to ever let us beat her easily."
Upon returning to Madison, Arrietta and Allen decided to seek out more opportunities to bike together. They became regulars at the Wednesday Night Bike Ride series, which has a local reputation as being fast-paced. They enjoyed the time spent together, the rural scenery, the camaraderie, and the realization that they could in fact keep up with some of the swiftest riders.
But it wasn't perhaps quite the bonding experience that they had expected, because as it turned out, Arrietta could more than hold her own. She could sprint away from the pack - at will. "I mean, she was dropping a lot of guys from the tough bike rides, including me," said Allen. After a lifetime of aerobic training, it became evident that Arrietta had some serious biking chops. Demurely, she recalled, "All of a sudden it got very intriguing."
While some spouses might invest in flowers, Allen decided to splurge on a professional bike fitting and a VO2 max test for his wife's birthday present. The results of the testing left them dumbfounded. "She was off the charts for all women," said Allen. "And then we started to go to the male charts. And we started going down in age groups. And she would be a normal 15-19 year old male [based on] her VO2 max." Recalling their dawning realization, Allen said, "So then we started going back and saying, well she's got some real, natural talent, both genetic and honed by years and years of endurance workouts - she's got some incredible capacity."
They began to dedicate increasing time and resources to the sport of cycling, and Arrietta sought out professional coaching. She also began setting competitive goals and relying on the self-discipline that had served her not only through collegiate swimming and rowing, but years of parenting. "I don't know many people that I've met in my life who have the regimen and discipline that she has," said Allen. Echoing this sentiment, Eulalia "Layla" Clauss, 23, wrote, "She does not take any short cuts, but diligently pays her dues on the bike day in and day out, never losing sight of what she wishes to accomplish."
By the start of the 2010 season, she was working with coach Gordy Paulson and had decided to focus on time trials, the "race of truth" format that pits each rider against the clock. With all five children in college or living on their own, she also had for the first time in many years the ability to focus on her own personal goals. In her entry into the Focal Flame Photography "Honoring the Athlete" contest, her nominator stated, "Now she has time and tonnes of energy for her own training. She is training for Master's Nationals to be held in Louisville in Aug. - and I think she is going to win!! She is a tough, competitive woman with a big smile!"
Training six days a week for up to two and a half hours at a stretch, Arrietta carefully worked up to the USA Cycling Masters National Championship held during the first week of August. "This year, I went with a purpose, which was to win," said Arrietta. During pre-race preparation, she spent six hours studying every landmark on the time trial and road race courses. "I really studied [the time trial] course," said Arrietta. "It was a straight out, 180 degrees turn, and coming back, with some hills." She reviewed race strategy with Paulson. "This was the first Nationals that I had my coach there, and Gordy was familiar with the courses and could tell me even what gear to be in on some of the hills, which was helpful," said Arrietta. She also looked over her cycling equipment meticulously, and was grudgingly convinced by fellow cyclist Jeff Otto to change her wheels not long before the time trial. "He was saying, 'This equipment is better. It will give you a few watts.'" Concerned about the possibility of flatting a new tire, she insisted that Paulson change the tubes.
On August 3, the date of the time trial, the temperature climbed well into the 90s while racers launched themselves from the starting chute and hurtled into the heat. And for 29 minutes and 50.27 seconds, Arrietta drew on months of training, hours of pre-race preparation, a lifetime of exercising and relentless willpower. As results rolled in, a dream was realized. Arrietta Clauss was the new USA Cycling Master's Time Trial National Champion, clocking in at a hair under 25 miles per hour and setting a pace faster than any age group competitors, male or female, who raced the 20 km distance (all women age 55 and up, and all men age 65 and up).
The next day she competed in the road race, medaling again with a second-place finish in a mentally grueling race. Joined by her nearest competitor, Ann Marie Miller of New York, Arrietta attacked off the front to break away from the field on the third lap. "And then, [Ann Marie] continued to accelerate, and that was my breaking moment, when I thought, 'She's stronger, I'm not, I'm going to get second and she's going to get first,'" said Arrietta. "And then for the next three laps, we time trialed it." Miller finished two minutes ahead of Arrietta, followed by a minute-and-a-half gap until the third place finisher.
Photographer Clint Thayer caught up with Arrietta at her last race of the 2010 season, the Mid-America Time Trial Series Finale in Garden Prairie, IL on September 18. Though Arrietta had intended to finish the season with the ABR State Championship Time Trials, a death in the extended family prevented participation. The MATTS Finale gave one last opportunity to not only launch into full flight, but also to race an event along with her husband Allen and end the season on a high note.
On race morning, drizzles crescendoed in dramatic fashion when a fast-moving thunderstorm brought lightning, high winds, and in the words of the race director, "buckets of rain". The race continued over a 35-kilometer course. Slate-colored skies provided dramatic backdrop for Arrietta, who bowed over her bike into the wind, tires mirrored on water-slicked asphalt. Thayer recalled, "At one point I had moved ahead on the course, and had about thirty seconds to set up a shot before Arrietta would pass. Fifteen seconds before she arrived, I heard a ZIP-POP-HISSSSS then BOOOOM that literally shook the ground. I looked up at the top of a telephone pole not more then 10 to 15 feet from me and I saw the line had snapped - it was sparking and flying in different directions." Thayer turned his attention back to Arrietta, took the shot in a dead downpour, and continued. Despite the fact that the MATTS Finale was not a primary competitive objective, and despite the conditions - or, perhaps, because of them - the images show Arrietta at her most elemental: focused, relentless, and ferocious. In the end, Arrietta took overall women's first place. Allen also had a rewarding race with a fourth place finish for his age group.
When asked to comment on Arrietta's qualities and approach to athletics, her coach Gordy Paulson said, "Apart from her obvious physical gifts as an extraordinary athlete, Arrietta has a level of determination and commitment to both her training and competition that are unmatched. When Arrietta sets her mind to accomplish something, she approaches it with fervor, intellect, and passion. When Arrietta has done her training and preparation, by the time she lines up at the start, she has already got the race won." Rider Clauss expressed similar observations. "I guess I wasn't really surprised that my mom won the time trial at nationals," wrote Rider. "She seems to be able to accomplish whatever she puts her mind to. She has an amazing combination of athletic ability, discipline in training and competitive drive." Anna Clauss wrote, "I do not know anyone else who approaches life with as much energy as my mother. She even dusts as if her life depended on it (which set a pretty high standard for Saturday morning chores)."
When asked what she hoped to share with her children as a result of her cycling endeavors, Arrietta flashed a quick smile and answered readily. "When you put time into something, and effort into something, you can achieve great things," she said. "You don't have to be limited by your age." And her family? They've taken notes. "She has demonstrated that it is never too late to go after one's passion," wrote Arthur Clauss, 21. "No one expected a biking career to emerge from a leisure family cycling trip through France, but it did." Warren Clauss, Arthur's twin brother, wrote, "She has inspired me. Inspired me not to give up on my passions despite where I am in life or amidst all the obstacles that I am up against. That good will flourish from hard work, drive, and heart. And it is never too late to seek your goals." And when asked what one thing he would want to tell Arrietta about her sporting endeavors, her partner of so many years, Allen, simply said - quietly, and with clearly evident emotion - "I think I would say that you're a great role model. Your kids are really proud to have you as their mom."
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Under a Clear Blue Sky: 2010 Ironman Wisconsin
Under a Clear Blue Sky: 2010 Ironman Wisconsin
On every second Sunday in September since 2002, the city of Madison, Wisconsin has turned out in force to support the Ironman Wisconsin. And by “support,” we’re not talking about small clumps of bored volunteers languidly handing up water bottles. No, we’re talking about scream-till-you’re-voiceless, dawn-until-midnight, thickets-of-fans support. We’re talking about bike course directors with a 1 am wake-up call, and kayak-dwelling life guards who saw all the athletes through the swim safely and then cheered and cheered – all they way up until midnight. We’re talking about a race course lined with fans waving cowbells, flags, and – in one case – dressed up in a full Native American headdress, bellowing support to cyclists during the long grind up Timber Lane, one of the toughest points in the technical, rolling bike course.
The weather at this time of year is, in a word, capricious. Past Ironman Wisconsin races have ranged from scorching with a helping of humid to hypothermia-inducing blustery rain driven by high winds. The 2010 conditions were, though, nearly perfect. Triathletes toiled under an impossibly blue sky with gentle winds and a high of 81 degrees F. Perhaps not surprisingly, course records fell starting with a new swim record set by John Flanagan III of Hawaii, who swam 2.4 miles in 44:56. The Capital Times reported that Flanagan swam for the University of Wisconsin from 1993-1994, so Lake Monona served as a homecoming of sorts. The overall men’s record was broken by Joe Gambles of Australia, who finished the 140.7 mile event in 8:32:32. Women’s winner Gina Crawford, New Zealand, also demolished the women’s course record, finishing in 9:27:26 and inspired by thoughts of her hometown of Christchurch, which experienced a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on September 4, 2010.
Photographer Clint Thayer turned his lens towards the race, following the action of elite and first-time Ironman triathletes alike. Below is a photo essay showing some of the 2,550 Ironman Wisconsin athletes competing this year.
More photos in the Ironman WI 2010 Gallery
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