2008 MS150 RIDE - TEAM SCHELLER'S RAISES OVER $12,000

Please take the time to read this!

This year marked our team's 3rd year of commitment to fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis during the 2008 MS150 mile Bike the Bluegrass. As in the previous years, riding with my teammates over the hilly Kentucky countryside is tough going and made even more challenging this year with the sweltering 95F heat. What is also tough is the fundraising, for both the fundraiser and the people making the generous donations and so I would like to  share with you some very moving moments of the weekend.

On Saturday evening there is an open air buffet for the riders to gather, share stories and replenish their muscles after the arduous riding of the first days 75 miles. At the end of evening gathering there are some speeches from the organizers with recognition given to individuals and teams that have amassed amazing fundraising results. There was a speech given by Bob Wolz an Army Veteran of the Gulf war and Iraqi Freedom. His story was captivating, funny, showed dogged determination and was tragic to hear because he was misdiagnosed for a long time before an MRI revealed all the lesions on his vertebrae and brain that he had Multiple Sclerosis. He was emphatic in the message that we all want to convey, and that is, no matter how small a donation it still counts, it always counts and he was eternally thankful for every one who helps. I am pictured here with Bob who braved the heat to give the speech. He is wearing a cooling vest that prevents him from getting to hot because on top of all the debilitating characteristics of MS, in what we consider a beautiful warm summers evening he blacks out.

On the second day it felt really hot because there was hardly a cloud in the sky. We were supposed to ride 75 miles each day, but due to some navigational difficulties (all right it was me) we rode 84 miles on Saturday and 90 miles on Sunday. At the end of the ride I was going up to the organizers tent to collect my "I rode the MS150" T-shirt, I noticed a young lady around twenty years old in front of me looking a little unsteady on her feet. As she was being handed her T-shirt the volunteer handing them out asked her if she was registered for the 2009 MS 150 ride. She replied with a shaky voice and slightly slurred speech (which reflected exactly how tired I felt after the ride) that she did not think she could ride next year. The volunteer implored her to register and said that everyone was so grateful for her efforts and would she please come back. The young lady replied again in a shaky voice and said that she did not think she could ride next year because she had Multiple Sclerosis and that she did not think would be able to balance or have the strength to ride a bicycle in a years time. I collected my T-shirt and sat on the bus for the 1 hour ride back to my car in silence.

To everyone that found the charity in them to donate, I thank you, for those of you who felt pressured by me and did not want to disappoint me personally so donated, I thank you, if you did not really feel connected to this cause I hope my letter shares with you how important your donations are in helping people live with MS and that your donations will help one day find a cure.

Thank you for participating in this event and helping raise money to find a cure. Scheller's was once again the 4th highest fund raising team!!!

Frank.

2007 World Duathlon Championships
Richmond Virginia

Sunday, October 21^st marked the day of the first Duathlon Long Distance World Championships on United States’ soil.  It was a spectacular day and a very well run event.  Four hundred and seventy-five athletes from 25 countries qualified in their home countries to race the Long Distance Duathlon World Championships’ 9.2 mile run, 49 mile bike, and 4.6 run course through the streets of Richmond Virginia.   

Since 1993, I have had a goal to finish in the top 10 of the World Duathlon Championships.  My only prior WC attempt was in 2003, when I qualified for Team USA in the 45-49 age group, traveled to Switzerland, and finished 28^th.  Since 2003 I have run 3,500 miles and ridden 23,000 miles in hopes of the Top 10 finish. 

The WC race course was scenic but very difficult.  I was able to do one recon of the run course and one recon of the ride course prior to the race but due to heavy traffic it was impossible to ride the course at race day speeds.  The number of turns, bridges, cross walks, lane changes, etc was daunting.  We racers knew this was a technical course favoring criterium racers over roadies.

The first run was 9.2 miles; some on a dirt path, then on a road, then over a James River bridge (the Mayo), then city streets to the River walkway and back to the transition area.  We did this 4.6 mile loop twice on the first run.  There were only two minor hills to deal with so the run was pretty straight forward.  I entered the transition area in 11^th place in my age group. The bike course was not “big guy friendly” and I am considered a “big guy”. The course was four laps of 12 miles.  Each lap contained three long bridge crossings (with expansion joints that punctured a dozen racers’ tires) and city streets with 30 turns of 90 degrees or more.  This meant 120 total turns in 48 miles. 

The temperature increased to 75 degrees during the ride segment making hydration a key to finishing the race without cramps. I completed the bike segment in 2 hours and 15 minutes, re-entering the transition area in 7^th place in my age group.  Overall, my bike leg averaged 20.9 mph and was 72nd out of 475 competitors. 

The second run was one circuit of the previous run course.  It was, as they all are, very painful.  It took half of my energy reserves to physically propel myself forward; the other half to concentrate on relaxing, fending off cramps, seeking secure foot placement on the cobblestones, etc. I completed the second run in 34:43 (7:27 pace) which was 10^th in my age group and 106^th overall.

I crossed the finish line in 8^th place in my age group and 90^th overall and I am pleased with both results.  A top 10 finish amongst this level of committed athletes is very rewarding.  Victory, or medaling would be nice but most of the competitors at these World Championships considered qualifying for this event to be the victory and representing their country to be the primary award.  There was very little “coulda, woulda, shoulda” post race talk and excuses by the partcipants.  Instead, there were a whole lot of sincere and genuine congratulations being shared amongst teammates and competitors alike.  It was a beautiful moment, and for me, the icing on this cake was that Sara, and son Charlie, were there to share the experience. 

At the starting line, I dedicated this World Championship race to my wonderful wife Sara for all the tolerance and support she has given me over the past 15 years of my racing and training.  It may sound corny to some, but I truly feel like a world champion everyday by being married to her. 

Finally, this race was different in another way, too.  I prayed three times during this race; and none of those prayers were to go faster!  They were all prayers of thanksgiving for possessing the ability, skills, circumstances and support (family, friends, SIMRT teammates, and business associates) to be able to compete at this level.

And, now on to a new chapter…..I wonder what it will be…..

Duathlon National Championships 2007 

Wow, what a day.  The weather was perfect; 59 degrees for the first run (5.1 miles), 63 degrees for the bike (38 miles) and 69 degrees for the 2^nd run (5.1 miles).

I aged up to the 50-54 group this year.  For fifteen years it has been a goal of mine to medal in the Nationals Championships.  I figured this year would be my best chance.  Interestingly, my age group is an anomaly because it is a big bubble of athletes moving through the Duathlon age group ranks.  It has been one of the largest groups for the 15 years I have been racing.  I know most of the top 20 guys.  At this year’s National Championships 300 racers participated and the 50-54 group was the largest with 28 guys racing for the top three medals.  Also, bringing out the top racers were the six slots still available for Team USA/World Championships in Richmond, VA on 10/21.  Since I qualified for Team USA in July I at the Kansas Qualifier, I was here to race for a medal. 

I knew I didn’t have a chance for the gold medal.  Curt Eggers is a multi-National Champion. He is in a league of his own.  It doesn’t hurt that he is married to a duathlete (and she is also a coach) so Curt gets a lot of grace in his training regiment.  So, when you combine his natural ability with ample training…he is untouchable.  I hoped for a 2^nd or 3^rd place which I knew would be a challenge given the quality of the competitors and the toughness of the course. 

Both the run and ride courses were very, very hilly.  The first hill was just ½ mile into the first run - a 1 mile long hill with 8-22% grades; followed by more hills.  The ride course had four significant hills requiring 39x25 out-of-the saddle work.  It was all I could do to keep the bike from falling over on these tough pitches.  I saw a couple racers running their bikes up these hills.  Suffice it to say, the course was friendlier to the 5’8” 140 lbs guys than the 6’1”, 180 lbs guys.

The preliminary results showed me as the 50-54 3^rd place/bronze medal winner.  I was 7:00ish minutes out of 1^st (Eggers) and just 20 seconds out of 2^nd place (Henderson). It wasn’t a perfect race…but then there never is a perfect race.  All racers make mistakes or think they could have gone faster in one of the disciplines….this must be what keeps us coming back.  I met my goal to medal in the National Championships.  Now, it is on to the World Championships on October 21^st where my dream goal has always been to get a top 10 finish.

Charlie

2007 ABR WORLD TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONS 50+

Fantastic result this weekend by the Scheller's team of 50+ the guys who once more dominated the championships with a convincing win!

This year was a particularly rewarding win especially for the 2 newcomers to the event Charlie Scott (left) and Preston Conrad (center left), who joined the seasoned veterans of the event Frank La Rondie (canter right) and Terry Martin (right).

The team set a blistering time for the conditions which had the younger teams of riders in awe of their accomplished performance.

They firmly put down their success to their camaraderie and communicative teamwork and our congratulations go out to them, their win is richly deserved...well done team!.