Posts made in July, 2008

Hiking the Swiss Alps Days 1-2 of 7: Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Posted by on Jul 28, 2008 in Adventures, Blog, Hiking the Swiss Alps | 0 comments

Hiking the Swiss Alps Days 1-2 of 7: Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Days 1 of 7: July 17, 2008 My friend, Dave Tipler, and I spent a week traipsing through the Swiss Alps in July. Dave was in Darmstadt, Germany for business, and I was in Roth, Germany for the Quelle Challenge. The timing worked out perfectly! On Wednesday, July 16, I took the train from Roth (near Nurembourg) to meet Dave in Darmstatdt (near Frankfurt) and we drove down to Randa near Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. To get to Zermatt, we took a car train from Kandersteg to Goppenstein via the Lötchberg Tunnel. The train was able to carry tourist buses in addition...

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Follow up to the Quelle Challenge: Crossing the Finish Line

Posted by on Jul 27, 2008 in Blog, Challenge Roth, Ironman, Race Reports, Triathlons | 0 comments

Follow up to the Quelle Challenge: Crossing the Finish Line

Yep, that’s me traipsing through the finish line at the Quelle Challenge in Roth, Germany a few days before the actual race. Note the lack of cheering fans and the obvious fact that I’m wearing jeans. As planned, I completed only the swim and bike on race day then stopped in T2. My own unofficial aqua bike race with me as the only participant. I had mixed feelings about doing an event that I knew that I was not going to finish. On the one hand, I was already in Germany and had spent the time and money to make the trip. On the other hand, I was racing in the pro category with a...

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Quelle Challenge #4: Racing for Other Than a Fast Time

Posted by on Jul 12, 2008 in Blog, Challenge Roth, Ironman, Triathlons | 0 comments

Quelle Challenge #4: Racing for Other Than a Fast Time

I’ll be racing at the Quelle Challenge in Roth tomorrow morning for the fourth year in a row. When I first came to Roth in 2005, I came to experience the legendary atmosphere of what is the largest Ironman-distance field in the world with more than 2,500 individuals and 500 relays competing and more than 100,000 spectators cheering. I was not disappointed in the experience. I also came to break nine hours again in an Ironman after first going “sub nine” at the inaugural Blue Devil Iron Distance Triathlon in 2007. Because of the fast times posted at Roth including the 7:50...

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SOF Academy: Ghost and the Power of Team

Posted by on Jul 2, 2008 in Adventures, Blog, Special Operations Force Academy | 0 comments

SOF Academy: Ghost and the Power of Team

The Power Of Team: Three Ordinary People and Their Run to Greatness by Peter Wortham I had the opportunity and privilege to meet Joel Burrows AKA “Ghost” when we both participated in the Special Operations Force Academy in the last week in April. With an extensive background in endurance events including Ironman-distance triathlons and marathons, Joel was the one participant at the Academy with whom I could most closely identify. Joel earned his nickname “Ghost” by maintaining a low profile during the week – by staying under the radar. Yet, on the final day...

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