Winter Weather Running - Wind Warnings & Whiteouts

This is what Alex's run home looked like the last two days. We've had winds gusting from 40-70Km/hr causing whiteouts and giving us wind warnings:

"This is a warning that an extended period of blowing snow with poor visibilities is expected or occurring in these regions"

I took these pictures this morning around 9am, it didn't get any better by the time he ran home at 1pm.

Here's where his run home starts with the first (and worst) whiteout in sight:

The approach to that first whiteout:

Almost home:

The Crooked Creek in sight, less than 1Km to go:

Home to the shelter of the yard:

Looking at the Forecast

Friday: Periods of snow. Low minus 7. High plus 2.

Saturday: Periods of snow. Windy. Low zero. High zero.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 14. High minus 9.

it's a good thing the Freeze Your Gizzard is Sunday and not Saturday. Alex may freeze his gizzard in the colder temperatures but at least he might actually get there.

In 2005 we were getting snow and high winds and it took 45 minutes to get less than 4km from home, having driven through countless snowdrifts and under a downed power line. We realized even if we made it to Montague, a one hour trip on a good day, we'd never make it by race time. We turned around and came home (Alex was not impressed!) but 15 Half-Marathoners and 28 10K'ers braved the elements, got to Montague and ran the race (and by the looks of things likely froze their gizzards in the process!).

The weather on race day 2005:

Last year 62 runners did the Half-Marathoner and 42 ran the 10K. "It was cloudy and 1 degrees and windy"

Cutting & Running

http://redislandgoatfarm.blogspot.com/2011/02/alex-cutting-soap.html

Today is Islander Day. I went to work to make up time I missed on Storm Days. I really like cutting soap with the air powered soap cutter. Em blog me today.

After work now I running home. It is 5km.

I buy a new Salomon running jacket and Sugoi pants from Sporting Intentions for winter running. I have YakTrax on my shoes.

The Freeze Your Gizzard Half Marathon Run is Sunday February 27.

RSVP - PEI RoadRunner AGM & Banquet March 11th

Please go HERE to RSVP by Wednesday March 9, 2011.
They need to let the Legion know how many meals to prepare.
If you wish, you can RSVP to Pam Power-McKenna at 566-1031 (h).

B.A.A. to Offer Fastest Qualified Runners Early Acceptance into 2012 Boston Marathon With New Registration Process

http://www.baa.org/news-and-press/news-listing/2011/february/boston-athletic-association-announces-new-registration-process.aspx

B.A.A. to Offer Fastest Qualified Runners Early Acceptance
into 2012 Boston Marathon With New Registration Process

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today a change in its registration process for the Boston Marathon, allowing the fastest qualifiers to enter the earliest and with a rolling admission system while also offering all eligible runners an increased registration period. The changes in registration are a response by the B.A.A. to greater than ever demand by runners to gain entry into the Boston Marathon and culminate more than three months of analysis, including input from the running industry. Rather than accepting runners who have met the qualifying standards on a first come, first served approach, a more systematic, performance-based process will be employed.

2012 Boston Marathon

For the 2012 Boston Marathon, registration will extend for two weeks, beginning on Monday, September 12, 2011 and continuing until Friday, September 23, 2011. The qualifying times for the 2012 Boston Marathon will not change from recent past years since the standards had been previously announced and have been in effect since last September. However, the new registration process addresses the increased demand among qualified runners to participate in the Boston Marathon and will accommodate those who are the fastest qualifiers first.

Registration will occur on a “rolling admission” schedule until the maximum field size is reached, beginning with the fastest qualifiers. On the first day of registration for the 2012 Boston Marathon, those who are eligible for entry by having met the qualifying standards for their age and gender group by 20 minutes or more will be able to enter on the first day of registration (September 12). On the third day (September 14), registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standards by 10 minutes or more. On the fifth day (September 16), registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standards by five minutes or more. During this first week of registration, applicants will be notified as they are accepted and their qualifying performance verified.

If the field size is not reached after the first week and additional space remains, then registration will open to all qualifiers at the beginning of Week Two (September 19) and those who have met the qualifying standards by any amount of time will be able to apply for entry. The application process will remain open for the entire week, closing on September 23. At the conclusion of Week Two, those who are the fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender will be accepted. Accepted athletes will be notified on September 28.

If space remains available after this two week process, registration will remain open to any qualifier on a first come, first served basis until the maximum field size is reached.

The field size for the 2012 Boston Marathon will not represent a significant increase from the most recent years.

Registration Process for the 2012 Boston Marathon

Date	registration opens for runners with times...
September 12, 2011	20 min., 00sec. or more below their qualifying time (based on age/gender)
September 14, 2011	10 min., 00 sec. or more below their qualifying time (based on age/gender)
September 16, 2011	5 min., 00 sec. or more below their qualifying time (based on age/gender)
Second Week
September 19, 2011	All Qualified Runners
September 23, 2011	Registration closes for qualified applicants
September 28, 2011 (appx)	Qualifiers from entry during second week of registration are notified of their acceptance.

If the field is not filled at the conclusion of the two weeks, then registration will remain open and qualifiers will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until the maximum field size is reached.

2013 Boston Marathon

For the 2013 Boston Marathon, in addition to the new “rolling admission” process for registration which will be in effect for the 2012 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. will adjust the qualifying times by lowering them by five minutes from the times which have been in effect in recent past years. The adjusted qualifying times will go into effect on September 24, 2011, and are as follows:

2013 Qualifying Times (effective September 24, 2011)

Age Group	Men	Women
18-34	3hrs 05min 00sec	3hrs 35min 00sec
35-39	3hrs 10min 00sec	3hrs 40min 00sec
40-44	3hrs 15min 00sec	3hrs 45min 00sec
45-49	3hrs 25min 00sec	3hrs 55min 00sec
50-54	3hrs 30min 00sec	4hrs 00min 00sec
55-59	3hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 10min 00sec
60-64	3hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 25min 00sec
65-69	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 40min 00sec
70-74	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 55min 00sec
75-79	4hrs 40min 00sec	5hrs 10min 00sec
80 and over	4hrs 55min 00sec	5hrs 25min 00sec
*Unlike previous years, an additional 59 seconds will NOT be accepted for each age group time standard.

Registration for the 2013 Boston Marathon will begin on Monday, September 10, 2012.

“As the number of qualified runners has increased combined with greater demand to run the Boston Marathon, our new registration process enables those who qualify by the greatest amount of time to have the longest period to enter,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “Our new registration process takes into consideration the many comments we received from runners this past fall and winter, most of whom urged the B.A.A. to institute a system which recognizes athletic performance above all else.”

Additionally, to recognize and to encourage longtime Boston Marathon entrants, the B.A.A. will allow those who have met the qualifying times and who have finished the last ten consecutive Boston Marathons to enter anytime during the registration period. Currently, there are approximately 500 runners who have run 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.

The B.A.A. last adjusted the qualifying times for the 2003 Boston Marathon, relaxing times for runners who were 55 years old and older. The last time the qualifying times were made more stringent was for the 1980 Boston Marathon.

The 2011 Boston Marathon reached its maximum field size of qualifiers faster than any previous year when qualifiers rushed to fill the race and the qualified field closed in eight hours, three minutes.

Kong Hei Fat Choi

by ~zowyx

"People born in the year of the rabbit are the luckiest among "the twelve animals." The rabbit is a symbol for mercy, elegance, amiability and worship of beauty. People born in this year are kind, speak gently, peaceful, quiet and loving persons. They like to live easy lives. They are reserved persons, love arts and have a strong sense of justice. Whatever they do, they will start well and end well..."
http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/rabbit/person.asp

Alex was born in the Year of the (Fire) Rabbit, 1987.

Canada’s Mark Arendz Captures First IPC World Cup Victory

http://www.crosscountryskier.com/ccsnews/news.php?newsid=1565

Canada’s Mark Arendz
Captures First IPC World Cup Victory

Canada’s Mark Arendz captured his first IPC World Cup victory after winning the gold medal in a biathlon individual race on Sunday in Vuokatti, Finland on Sunday.

Arendz shot clean to post a winning time of 39 minutes, 35.9 seconds in a tight sprint to the wire with Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset and Russia’s Oleg Balukhto who he has been fighting for the medals with all week in the men’s standing division – one of the deepest on the IPC World Cup.

“That was amazing,” said Arendz. “My first World Cup victory and to shoot clean – nothing feels better.”

Ulset settled for the silver medal at 40:52.1, while Balukhto was third (41:56.1).

It was the third medal of the week for the 20-year-old Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I. The 2010 Paralympian won a silver and a bronze in the biathlon sprint and pursuit races respectively.

“I think the two podium finishes this week definitely gave me the confidence to know I deserve to be here with these guys,” said Arendz. “I woke up this morning and felt ready to go and said this is my day. I couldn’t be happier.”

Full Story http://www.crosscountryskier.com/ccsnews/news.php?newsid=1565

Congrats Mark!

Gulf Shore School's 20th Anniversary

Alex first told me that Gulf Shore School was going to be celebration their 20th anniversary a few months ago. He mentioned it again when he came home from work Thursday, informing me it was that night.
This is Alex's way of "expressing great interest" in going somewhere (which, aside from running/races/RoadRunner functions, is quite rare) and, since we had no plans and the weather was good, we went back to his old stomping grounds Thursday evening to check out the party......

The Gulf Shore School's 20th Anniversary was held in Gulf Shore School Thursday, January 20.
I met my teachers, principal Mary Jane Ready and students.
The school photo albums from beginning to now. Meals and entertainment at Multi-purpose Room.
It was a good time.
--Alex

Alex with his Grade 1 teacher Mrs. Gallant



This photo completes our "collection" of photos of
'Alex & his Gulf Shore TAs':

Gulf Shore Consolidated School is a Kindergarten to Grade 9 school (it was 1-9 when Alex went but he also attended the, then private, Kindergarten in the school). Alex's academic success is due, in large part, to these TAs ("Teacher's Aides" as they were known at the time) who worked in the classroom 1-1 with Alex.

Ms. Hunt, "MJ", entered Alex life when he was 3 and had been placed in a Daycare a few hours a week to hang out with "normal" kids... She followed him to school and was by his side until the end of grade 3.

Alex & Ms. Hunt at the 2007 Cornwall Classic and at Alex's Olympic Torch Run in 2009.

Miss Ross (and although she is now Mrs. Ross Shepherd, she's still "Miss. Ross" to Alex) worked with Alex for grades 4, 5 & 6.

Alex & "Miss Ross" at Alex's Olympic Torch Run in 2009 and at the 2007 Run for the Cure.

Ms. Bond worked with Alex in Grade 7 & 8.

Alex & Ms. Bond at the 2010 Month Before Christmas Run & at Buzzie's iRunman fundraiser in '06

Ms. Murphy worked with Alex in Grade 9. She also worked with him a bit in grade 2 and was around the school his entire time there.

Happy 20th Anniversary Gulf Shore School!
Alex Bain - Class of 2002

Tommy Des Brisay - "The First Fastest Runner"

We're delighted to introduce you to Tommy Des Brisay...

Tommy Des Brisay and his father, Peter Des Brisay

"Tommy is an athlete with Autism who lives in Ottawa, Canada. Tommy was always a "runner" (a term used for kids with Autism who often run off or wander), and has had an Autism Service Dog, whose role is to help keep him safe, since the age of 7. In 2006 he began running (in the correct direction!) daily with his Dad and Matrix (his dog). Soon, Matrix and his Dad could no longer keep up! His Dad now rides a bike beside him to keep him safe during runs.

Tommy races in road races, high school cross country and track races, and trains with the Ottawa Lions. He also cross-country skis, and has competed at the Ontario high school championships. Recently, Tommy began paddling with "Paddle All" at the Rideau Canoe Club. He is just one of a number of athletes in Ottawa who have overcome many different challenges to achieve remarkable things through athletics.

Tommy did not begin to talk until the age of 7, and it was primarily through learning to read that he began to learn language. While running, Tommy often chants "I think I can...", recites lines from Disney movies, or sings. He crosses each finish line with great personal pride. Empowered by athletics, he is conquering enormous communication challenges and other aspects of Autism. Tommy inspires many through his determination, enthusiasm for life, and the huge smile always on his face while competing! The Ottawa athletic community has warmly embraced Tommy's uniqueness.

Tommy's mantra is "I'm going to be the first fastest runner in the world!", which inspired the title of this mini documentary. Thank you, Jordan and Dave, for capturing the joy that is Tommy's running and sharing it with others."

I'm hoping to someday see Tommy & Alex line up side by side at a race start line, (that Great Canadian Goat Run perhaps?!) though Tommy will leave Alex in his dust by the finish line.

How fast is he? Here's his PB's:
5k- 16:43
10k- 34:32
Half Marathon 1:18:04

Track PB's:
3000m 9:21
1500m 4:23

Tommy's YouTube Channel

If you're ever running in Ottawa and spot Tommy and his big smile, say hello!

http://registerstar.com/articles/2011/01/05/chatham_courier/news/doc4d238ba955efc855584830.txt

Autistic runner moving up fast in 5K pack

Robert Sansaricq with his mother, Mary, and father, who is examining some the running medals Robert won in 2010. (David Lee/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers)

Robert Sansaricq and his father, Ralph, run at their home in Ghent. Robert, who has autism, is rapidly decreasing his 5K race time as he competes in more of the runs. (David Lee/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers)

By John Mason

Published:

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 12:06 PM EST

GHENT — Robert Sansaricq, 19, began running competitively in April. In seven months, he shaved more than five minutes off his time in the 5K run, dropping from a time of 25:37 at the Sean French Run in April to 20 minutes flat at the Chatham Turkey Trot in November.

His Turkey Trot time was good for 25th place overall, out of a field of 312.

Why has such a natural runner kept his light under a bushel?

Robert was diagnosed with classic autism at the age of 2. He is not mentally retarded, but he is non-verbal — the part of his brain that controls communication does not function normally.

His mother, Mary Sansaricq, gives a lot of credit to the Wildwood Center in Schenectady, where Robert has been a student for seven or eight years, for helping him develop his receptive language.

“They’re experts, they know what they’re doing,” she said. “He’s well-behaved and making contributions to society.”

Robert has always been a good athlete. He likes to ski, bowl and swim. But it wasn’t until his father, Ralph Sansaricq, 53, came up with a running injury earlier this year that Robert began to take up running seriously.

When Ralph was slowly working back into form, he took Robert along with him on runs.

“We started with one mile in April. I found he had good foot placement and a good stride,” Ralph said.

So they tried the Sean French Run later that month. Ralph, a former track standout at Iona College, was amazed at how well his son did.

Next, they entered the OK 5K race in Kinderhook, where Robert shaved off more than two-and-a-half minutes, coming in at 22:58. That was followed by the Silks-and-Satins 5K in Saratoga Springs, where he finished in 22 minutes flat.

“It’s a rare thing for a Special Olympics athlete to perform at a high level with regular runners,” Ralph said. “Everyone was applauding.”

Since then he’s run in about a dozen races and has five medals to show for it.

“I start with him, get him out in front with the top runners,” Ralph said. “We’re trying to get him to stay in front. Right now his pace is 6:30 minutes a mile. The top runners are 5 or 6 minutes a mile. He’s losing ground, but holding his own.”

Foot trails have been forged through the calf-deep snow around the Sansaricq house. Ralph dubs it the “Sansa Trail.” One circuit is a quarter-mile. Together, the father and son do four to make a mile.

Ralph varies their training regimen. One day a week they do roadwork with the Kinderhook Runners Club to get used to running in a group. Another day they’ll run on the track to develop speed. Another day they’ll run on Ostrander Road to benefit from the hill work. Another day they run on forest trails to get accustomed to different surfaces.

They run 15 to 20 miles a week over four or five days. They also try to get in one swim a week, sometimes as much as 40 laps.

“Robert’s significant impediment is in speech,” Ralph said. “It affects his motivation and his ability to imitate. So it’s important for him to have a trusted coach, a running buddy and a dad, all in one.”

What language Robert does have is largely echolalic — he will repeat things that have just been said to him, but will add his own variations.

Asked if he likes swimming, he said, “Do I like swimming? Yes.”

Asked if he likes running, he said, “Do I like running? Yes!” with a telling emphasis on running.

“It appeals to him because it’s a chance to express himself physically in a way he’s comfortable with,” Ralph said. “He loves to be outdoors. He likes trails and roads, not a track. That’s a little too regimented. He prefers to run in a natural environment. He loves Columbia County — he can’t help but respond to nature in Columbia County.”

Ralph said the experience has also created a stronger bond between father and son.

“Through Robert, I volunteered to be a Special Olympics coach,” he said. Robert helped Ralph get back in shape and Robert has become more connected, more verbal and a better student at school.

“We communicate non-verbally,” Ralph said. “I sense just where Robert’s at. There’s nothing like doing an activity with your son. This ongoing process has been a joy.”

“It’s so important to keep Robert engaged, keep him part of life,” Mary said. “We tried piano. He still does adaptive skiing and he goes to Paul Newman’s Hole-in-the-Wall Gang Camp every year.”

Mary is the president of the board of Special Needs in Columbia County.

“There was no Special Olympics team in Columbia County,” she said. “We’ve been looking for a team for years. I brought it to the board of Special Needs. When we first met Mark French, it solidified.”

French recently became an administrator at Special Needs.

Special Needs is now fielding teams in softball, snowshoeing, polar plunge, bowling and track and field.

“There’s so little in this county for special needs kids,” Sansaricq said. “Most of them go to Wildwood or Kingston Children’s Annex, Devereaux or Anderson. There’s nothing in the county for students to live at home with their families and get special services.”

But the Special Olympics team is “getting bigger and bigger,” she said.

“Physical engagements make for a healthier lifestyle. Autistics can languish,” she said. “But if given the opportunity to engage, they flourish.”

In July, Ralph is hoping Robert will be the first student to represent the Wildwood School in the Corporate Challenge 3.5 mile race in Albany. Ralph will run as a representative of the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance, where he is a trainer.

The pair have other plans as well. One is to break the 20-minute 5K, another is to run the half-marathon, 13.1-mile Mohawk-Hudson River Run.

My Running Highlights of 2010

Top 5 running highlights of 2010

#5.
Leg 15 at Cabot Trail Relay

Cabot Trail Relay Race
Related Posts

#4.
2010 18-29 Male Championship Points
PEI RoadRunners Championship Points Totals

2010 Males Points Totals ~ 2010 Female Points Totals

#3.
Sub 2 hours barrier at Harvest Festival 25km Run

Kensington Harvest Festival 25K
Related Posts

#2.
The Great Canadian Goat Run

The Great Canadian Goat Run
Related Posts

#1.
First Ultramarathon

The Maritime 50K Fox Run
Related Posts

New Year's Day Run for Rapha House

It was cloud and 2 degrees.

The New Year's Day Run for Rapha House at Charlottetown Rural. The loop course on North River Rd, Belvedere Ave and University Ave.

Gary Simmonds won the race and Jill Smith for the top female.

I finished in 20:10 and came in 3rd out of 39 runners. It was the first run of 2011.

Official Result: 3rd out of 39
5K in 20 minutes, 10 seconds

5K Results ~ 3K Walk Results

Photos

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness

The Great Canadian Soap Company Staff Party

December 22nd 2010

Left to right: Shannon, Em, Conor, Amy's daughter (green shirt sleeve), Katie (Em's daughter),
Amy's daughter, Wayne (Shannon's husband), Mackenzie (Shannon's son), Jordan (Em's son)

Alex's first ever staff party. On December 22nd Em opened her home to her staff, Shannon, Amy, Conor & Alex and their families for the "first annual Christmas staff party". It was a truly lovely time filled with good food, good folks and good fun.

Alex enjoyed playing one of his favourite games, Password. I love to play this game with him; his single word clue choices give so much insight into him, how he thinks and how enormous his vocabulary is (especially considering how little of it he actually shares with us in everyday conversation).

He also enjoyed the challenge (and is still very much enjoying it) of playing with this traditional wooden ball & cup game Em gave him:


Em shared these words with her staff, giving thanks for the unique gifts each of them bring to her Company:

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

from The Life and Work of Martha Graham

Alex playing "Frère Jacques" on the piano

Thank you Em & family, a great time was had by all!

Season's Greetings

Seasons Greetings

Wishing the PEI Roadrunners,
The Staff of The Great Canadian Soap Co.,
all of their Families,
our Family & Friends,
and blog readers...
A very Merry Christmas
and a very happy, safe & healthy 2011


Under the tree we have for you...

a smile



and a song...



Have a wonderful Holiday Season

My Birthday

I went swimming after work.

I playing my new Wii game.
My new book One Hundred Greatest Canadian Sports Moments.



My Death by Chocolate birthday cake.


Thank you for all the Happy Birthday Wishes!

I having a Happy 23rd Birthday.

TDISC Santa Claus Run

It was cloud and flurries and -2 degrees.

The TDISC Santa Clause Run at UPEI. The loop course on UPEI campus, Belvedere, Mt Edward and University Ave.

It was untimed fun run. There were lots of Santas!

Tonight the PEI Roadrunner Christmas Party and Run at Queen Charlotte Armories.

TDISC Santa Clause Run Facebook Page

Photos

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2010-12-11/article-2036227/Santas-on-the-run-for-a-great-cause/1

Santas on the run for a great cause

Guardian photo by Brian McInnis

Santas on the run

Published on December 11th, 2010

Several hundred Santas or his relatives took time during his busiest season to run five kilometers to raise money for the needy. The run was held at the University of Prince Edward Island Saturday and was organized by a group of tri-athletes. Last year the fun run raised more than $3,000 and they hope to surpass that this year.

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2010-12-08/article-2028679/P.E.I.-Ultraman-athlete-is-in-select-company/1

P.E.I. Ultraman athlete is in select company

Submitted photo

Paul Dalton, third from right, celebrates with his support crew seconds after finishing the Ultraman world championship in Hawaii on Nov. 28.

Published on December 8th, 2010

Jason Simmonds

ST. EDWARD - Paul Dalton had this to say after a 30-kilometre bike ride and a seven-kilometre run on Sunday, "I felt really good!"

And why shouldn't he?

Compared to what he was doing just a week earlier, that's a leisurely jog.

Upon crossing the finish line of the Ultraman world championship triathlon in Hawaii on Nov. 28, Dalton became one of only 495 athletes in the world to complete the demanding race in the event's 26-year history. He is also one of only 39 athletes from around the world to complete both the Ultraman Canada race and the Hawaiian race, and one of only a handful to complete both Ultraman races in the same year.

"More people have climbed Mount Everest than have run an Ultraman," said Dalton, admittedly proud of his accomplishment.

Despite getting caught in a current that left him churning in place for a while near the end of his 10-kilometre swim, Dalton, 52, said he was really satisfied with his swim time.

If not for his good swim, he said, he might not have had been able to complete Day 1 of the three-day race within the 12-hour cutoff. One participant, Dalton said, made the cutoff with just one second to spare.

The start of the bike race was so steep - 1,000 feet in three miles - that some bikers walked sections of it. It was a more gradual climb the rest of the way, but gale-force crosswinds kept things difficult and made biking dangerous.

"It took everything to keep from going over the edge or into traffic," Dalton said.

On a long descent, he found himself fighting against the bike all the way.

"More people have climbed Mount Everest than have run an Ultraman." - Paul Dalton

"You couldn't go over 40 kilometres (per hour)," he said, noting there was strong headwind and sharp corners.

His times were three hours 39 minutes 57 seconds (3:39:57) for the swim, and 7:56:41 for the bike. He made the cutoff with 23:32 to spare.

"It was just a hard day," assessed Dalton, adding he was still tired from that race heading into Day 2 of the competition and another 276-kilometre bike ride. At the end of it, Dalton needed help getting off his bike.

After two difficult days of biking, Dalton wasn't sure how he'd do in the double marathon run on Day 3, and surprised himself with a strong finish.

"I had a really good run," he acknowledged.

He was pleased to have his support crew cross the finish line with him, pointing out he would not have been able to do the race without their support and guidance.

Now back home and back to driving his school bus, Dalton said he will soon get back to serious training for next year's Boston Marathon and the Ironman Canada race. He wants to do another Ultraman race, but that will depend on resources. "Keep doing what I'm doing and focus more on the bike section," he said describing his game plan.

wbureau@journalpioneer.com