Timothy Monk
Ironman Triathlete
Timothy Monk
2009 Results
2009 got off to a roaring start with my best ever marathon run. I completed the 26.2 miles in 3:07.
I had tried to qualify for Boston back in 2003. Unfortunately, I failed miserably running a 3:22 after I started walking at mile 17.
This year it all came together and I qualified not only as a 35 - 39, but also made up for my 2003 collapse with 3 minutes to spare. My coach Dana Lyons said I would surprise myself, boy was he right. I was surprised how much this would hurt, but have to give him credit for being ready on race day and for having the endurance to keep the pace during the last 6 miles.
Good early season race with a 2nd place AG finish. I was hoping for first, but it was not meant to be. I got beat soundly by another racer on the bike.
I had a goal of winning my age group and that was accomplished. This was the 3rd time I have raced it and have placed all 3 years, just never first until now. We had the largest age group with 113 people in the 35 - 39 wave.
This year's victory was a bit of technicality, because the winner of the age group was a gentleman named Dean King. He also won the overall, so that bumped me up! Dean normally races as an elite athlete so I don't feel so bad. This guy tore up the course and had one of the fastest run splits I have ever seen.
The result was 1st in the AG and 2nd overall. I look like a frog in this picture.
Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 Triathlon
To sum it up, I raced much better than last year, but still learned that I have a lot of work to do to place at a real race. I finished at 11th in my AG with a 4:45. The run course punishes me with the hills and my frame is not designed for the up and down running.
My bike split was much better than last year and I still rode the last 10 miles with a flat.
I will be targeting this race next year to try and crawl up into the top 5 and get a Clearwater Slot.
My fist ever Age Group overall victory. I had a great race that included my first ever sub 1 hour bike split. I could not be happier.