HEATHER GOLLNICK

Despite a poor swim I was excited to get out and race my new hot pink and white Dulce Bike from QR.  For all you gals who loved it this week QR will be doing a limited edition to be out later this year!!  It was a blast as the bike was making its debut at IM CDA and was a real head turner!!

I had a good ride, I passed Tina Bowman at about 8 miles and Sara Gross at 25 and could see Desiree about 1-2 min up ahead for the first 60 but was not making up ground.  Finally, I passed Desiree and I worked my way into second by about the 65 mile mark.  The leader however was steadily gaining and about 10-11 minutes up at that point.

Out onto the run I was a little slow to get my rhythm, but the first section was an out and back and close behind I saw third, fourth and fifth place all close behind with Hailey Cooper two minutes back, then Tina Bowman at four minutes and Desiree Ficker around five to six minutes.  During the next out and back turn around I could see I had put time into Hailey and Tina but Desiree was making up a lot of time.  I knew she was running fast from her concentrated run focus for the Olympic Trials but I was determined to get the U.S. National Championship (Heather Wurtele being Canadian).

Despite having significantly picked up the pace Desiree caught me and I picked it up even more to stay with her.  We ran together a while but I was going about 10k pace and decided to back off so I didn’t blow.  Desiree got a sizeable gap but within ten minutes, (I couldn’t believe it) she was 100 meters in front of me.  I passed her back.  Ok, National Championship Title was back in reach.  I have not raced the National Championships since 06 where I was 2^nd. 

 I dug deep and managed to remain in second throughout the remainder of the race finishing with a 3:17 run. Congratulations to all my CDA training buddies who had great races as well as the athletes I coach for their great performances. 

To my wonderful Sponsors:

QR for my awesome new pink camo bike and for there time and attention to my needs, (it was a hit!!!), and Zipp for outfitting me with the fastest wheels in the market today.  To my friends at Jaggad, I appreciate your very comfortable and fashionable race gear.  Robert Kunz and First Endurance I believe very strongly in the effectiveness of your wonderful array of products – they are a very specific part of my daily regimen.To Ed Levins and the Village Bikes family, you know how much I value and respect each and every one of you!!  To Chris Miller at Wigwam, and Holly Bennett at GU your personality and passion for Iroman is contagious. Holly thanks for the extra Roctane Boost on the Run, it gave me the final push I needed!  And Holly – nice race!!!  Ironman Helmets thanks for a quality product and your continued support!!  My new Hot Pink Oakley’s were a welcome addition to my Race Day Gear – thanks Greg.

And to the folks at Physician’s Pain Relief Cream your product was a welcome addition to my post race cool down.  To William at The Center4 thanks for the top-flight massage – thanks to you I can train at a continuous and high level.  Dr. B, Norma and Chiro Kinetics you have invested your time and talents into my health and well-being – I am grateful!!  Thanks All!!

Contact:

Charlie Patten

Trakkers

Phone: (703) 637-2321

info@trak-kers.com

www.sharetheglory.com

Heather Gollnick to partner with Trakkers  

Centreville, VA—Trakkers is proud to announce its title sponsorship with Heather Gollnick, an accomplished Professional Triathlete and Five-Time Ironman Champion.

Gollnick, a resident of Florida, has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in the sport of Triathlon over the past several years. In addition to being an Ironman Champion, she is a past National and World Champion at both the Duathlon and Triathlon level. Moreover, she is a USAT Certified Coach and CEO of IronEdge Coaching, which provides training programs and coaching to a wide range of endurance athletes and events.

“The data provided by Trakkers Technology will be invaluable to me both as an athlete and a coach,” said Gollnick. 

Trakkers is honored that Gollnick chose to be the first professional athlete to wear its GPS technology during her forthcoming races. Designed specifically for the endurance athlete, Trakkers transmits real-time racing performance data directly to the Trakkers website where family and friends can view her progress as the race unfolds. As a wife and active mother of three children, this feature is extremely important to Gollnick since it will allow her family to be a part of all her races.

“I am fortunate that my family can be with me at many races, but in the event that they cannot be part of my special day I feel great knowing they can follow me all day using the unique Trakkers Technology.  Even when present it will make watching an Ironman with 3 children much easier as my husband can “track” my progress throughout the day using his cell phone,” Gollnick said. 

In addition, Gollnick will be able to receive up to the minute information on her race performance such as time, location, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through the Trakkers break-through use of GPS technology. Once the race is over, the data will be stored for her post-race analysis. The Trakkers devise is light-weight and waterproof and can be worn comfortably on the wrist, waist, and arm or simply in a jersey pocket.

Trakkers will be released to the general public in early fall 2008. For more information please view the company website at: www.sharetheglory.com.

Ok for my blog readers who have asked where I have been, I have been in bed…. 

I’m signed up and ready for Ironman CDA but I’ve hit a road block (a major one) I have a sinus infection and double ear infection.  The training had been going fantastic.  I have had the pleasure of looking at Sam Picicci’s rear for a few days (he’s also doing CDA and going to kick some butt!!!!!.  It was fun to have him push me to a new level.  I was getting in great back to back hard training and then bam!!!!  I know all the training is done and I have to rest but what if I am not better – this time is very important.

What is winning to you right now?
-It’s overcoming being sick
-Getting the rest I need to compete
-The training is there – winning is believing it is

Letting go of fear of not placing
-Is placing what’s important or is being there and being part of it?

The Process of your life – what you are going through as a person and how you handle it
-How you are teaching your children to handle being sick.

Inner Victory – comes from knowing you have done your best

Have joy in the process – the route to the goal – enjoy your training – satisfaction does not need to come from outcome but from the Process.

External victories will come and go but internal victories are here to stay.

Heather Gollnick’s (Heathenator’s) Race Report 

Once again I was looking very forward to a return to Arizona for Ironman.  We have established some great friendships in the community and it’s always fun to return to the desert.  I was especially excited to meet Aaron Dewees who won the Ford Everyday Hero Award.  Aaron contacted us several months ago while on duty as a soldier serving in Iraq.  He asked if I would answer a few questions during his training journey.  We got in contact and very quickly became friends – we were both so impressed with his determination to train under these conditions all for the benefit of others.  When Todd and I heard about how he was attempting to train from his base in downtown

The wide variety of media obligations leading up to the race along with another great Ironprayer service kept our entire family very busy.  I love it when my husband and kids can travel with me and we can share these unique experiences as a family.   

RACE DAY:

Race morning came quickly with the usual butterflies.  But as a wise man once told me, “the butterflies are fine as long as they are all flying in the same direction.”  Besides getting hit in the ear by someone’s ring causing a nice flow of blood, my swim time was great and I was very happy to be at the tail end of a nice draft line.  I’m not even sure what happened but someone’s hand must have got caught on my cap in the initial fray – thankfully I was able to stay on there feet despite the discomfort – Isn’t Ironman about overcoming the pain??  I have been doing some work on my new Vasatrainer and certainly feel like it has helped my swim stroke and efficiency in a noticeable way.  Thanks Robert!!

We have been taught to keep a positive attitude throughout as Ironman is a LONG DAY.  When I got out of the swim and felt the blood on my cheek – I had an internal panic – Oh holy…. I kept running through transition but my mind was spinning.  I put my aero helmet on to act as a compression against my ear, knowing it will be on for five hours – so it should stop – right??  (The internal worry didn’t go away for a while). 

I moved as quickly as I could through transition and took off on the bike trying to stay close to the lead pack.  So out onto the bike…. it was once again an extremely windy day (felt it even more than last year) but I stayed in the hunt throughout the bike and was feeling very confident in the day I was having.  I appreciate all the time the Team at QR has spent with me trying to get things dialed in on my Chiquilo – its paying off – Thanks!!  I am on a smaller frame with 650 Zipp Wheels that are Hot!!  This was my first Ironman back on 650’s in two years and I am convinced that it is the correct wheel for me. 

As I mentioned the conditions I thought were harder than 2007, windier and hotter but my time was faster and the areas I was trying to improve in – I did!  Overall, I was very happy with my race.  I felt great for the first part of the run.  As with every race you learn something.  I didn’t get my special needs bag on the run.  I actually didn’t see it as I was focused on other things.  I was making up time from 8 minutes down on Michelle to 3:45 and then I bonked!!  Lesson = Stop for fuel even when you feel good!!  Yes, I know this – Rookie mistake.  After racing so many Ironmans I think I took my nutrition for granted and need to re-assess my plan. 

Michelle Jones has been racing a long time and quite well for that matter.  The former World Champ is a real class act.  To all my Shark buddies, congrats to all on pushing through a very difficult day – you are all winners!!  To my support team you are the best and I couldn’t do this without you.  First and foremost my great family!

I also want to thank my wonderful Sponsors.  QR for my new bike and for there time and attention to my needs, and Zipp for outfitting me with the fastest wheels in the market today.  To my friends at Jaggad, I appreciate your very comfortable and fashionable race gear.  Robert Kunz and First Endurance I believe very strongly in the effectiveness of your wonderful array of products – they are a very specific part of my daily regimen. To Ed Levins and the Village Bikes family, you know how much I value and respect each and every one of you!!  To Chris Miller at Wigwam, and Holly Bennett at GU your personality and passion for Iroman is contagious. Holly thanks for the extra Roctane Boost on the Run, it gave me the final push I needed!  Ironman Helmets thanks for a quality product and your continued support!!  My new Oakley’s were a welcome addition to my Race Day Gear – thanks Greg.And to the folks at Physician’s Pain Relief Cream your product was a welcome addition to my post race cool down.  Thanks All!! 

I have known John Schelp from SCS Multisport and he was bringing a small group from Minnesota down to Florida for some training.  I always love the Triathlon Camps but this was the 3^rd Camp in four weeks.  I didn’t expect anything out of the usual, swim - bike – run – coach – socialize – eat – and teach but this group was special. Each athlete I can honestly say was so amazing I can’t even explain it.  Coach John is a Christian and I think he just attracts (coaches) these personalities.Maybe it was because they all know each other? No – it was just because they are great people because we did have Amy Hanrahan join the group and she fit in like she had known everyone for years.  I had scheduled a goal setting/mental prep lecture on Thursday after our feast that my husband Todd prepared (chicken, sweet potatoes, corn, salad, fruit and yes a little chocolate to cap things off).  Friday we had an open water swim lecture and swim followed by a short break then underwater video-taping and a bike scheduled. 

During the break I was going to my daughter’s school to run a bunny-hop event that had all the classes competing against each other.  The contest was how many laps the class (with parents or friends) could complete around the field.  Last November the classes competed in one (not nice) child made a snide comment as my daughter Jordan who has Cerebral Palsy only completed 3 laps, (truth be told for a girl with CP that uses canes to walk she worked her butt off – she worked like an Ironman Athlete).  Anyway, don’t get me started – so she begged mom please come and run laps – please – your fast, etc….. so when I told the campers/athletes where I was going to be Friday afternoon they all wanted to run for Jordan!!  We all had matching IronEdge Shirts on and we ran at McNeal Elementary for Jordan.