Y’all come back now, ya hear?

Did you hear the one about the Texan who didn’t like to brag about how proud he was of his state or people? Nah, you haven’t. It’s part of the DNA of native Texans and even those of us who became Texans “by the grace of God.” So, in true Texas style, I want to tell you how proud I am of my fellow Texans and my state for hosting the 2015 GCSAA Education Conference, GIS and Golf Championships in San Antonio. You may not be partial to our football, politics or style, but you gotta admit, we put on a pretty good rodeo.

I’m proud of the host chapters and their members: the Central Texas GCSA and the Lone Star GCSA. I know they took their role very seriously and wanted to be hospitable. They planned for months to make sure their members knew it was important. Many of them dressed in true Texas style so visitors would know who they could ask for directions, restaurant recommendations or just to visit a little. They delivered in a big way. The Lone Star Reception at Pat Obrien’s near the Alamo was one heck of a party. It has definitely turned in to one of the “can’t-miss” events of every conference. If you can’t have fun at a LSGCSA event, you just ain’t tryin.

"Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called 'walking.'"  George W. Bush

I’m proud of Ken Gorzycki, CGCS; Terry Gill, president of the LSGCSA; and Thomas Speakman, president of the CTGCSA, for the welcoming message they presented at the Opening Session.

It took a lot of guts to

volunteer to be a part of the program and they knocked it out of the park. Ken delivered a message that included a heartfelt welcome, some stirring Texas history and even a lesson about Texas fairy tales that none will soon forget. His joke was pretty funny, but it was also a nice tribute to a great Texan who used that joke regularly whenever he spoke – Mr. Robert Dedman. Mr. Dedman is best known in the Texas golf business as the Founder and past Chairman of Clubcorp a company that owns and operates more than 200 golf and country clubs across the US.

I’m proud of the many Texas companies who supported the GIS with their sponsorship dollars and trade show support. Way too many to name but it was great to see even some of the smaller companies stepping up to be a part of the show. I’m sure they had to be happy with the opportunity they had to connect with their Texas customers as well as those from around the world.

Proud of the Texas weather. In true Texas form, we had all four seasons in one week. Hopefully it made visitors feel at home as they got to experience a slice of their home weather while on the road.

I’m proud of the superintendents and their amazing staffs who hosted rounds of the Golf Championship. I have the privilege of being part of the GCSAA staff who works the tournament, and I can tell you participants were very impressed with the golf courses conditions all week. My position this year was course coordinator for the Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio. Tom Lively, CGCS, and his staff went way beyond the call of duty to deliver a great golf course and to make every step of the process of hosting the tournament seamless. I heard the same comments about all the hosts – Thank you Mark Semm at Cordillera Ranch, Bruce Burger at the Quarry, and Dustin Strickland at The Palmer Course at La Cantera.  Please let your staffs know how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication to the event!

“If you’ve ever driven across Texas, you know how different one area of the state can be from another. Take El Paso. It looks as much like Dallas as I look like Jack Nicklaus.”  Lee Trevino

Congratulations to Old Tom Morris Award Winner and Texan Dan

Jenkins. As a lifelong fan of his writing and a Fort Worth boy, it was a huge thrill to see him humbly accept the award. When I was a superintendent in a previous life, our club hosted a tournament hosted by Mr. Jenkins and I can tell you he is a huge advocate of superintendents and a big fan of their work.

Proud of native Texan Keith Ihms, CGCS, who completed an amazing year as president of the GCSAA. I know fellow Texans feel the same way about Keith and sincerely appreciate his commitment to the profession, the association and the industry. Also very proud of Fighting Texas Aggie Classmate of 1985, Johnny Walker, who ran an outstanding campaign for a GCSAA board of directors position.

And how about a Texan winning the National Golf Championship? Congratulations Matt Cowan for an incredible 1-under at Cordillera

Ranch in cold blustery conditions. Lots of Texans placed high in their flights and took home coveted pewter plates.

I’m proud of the folks in San Antonio. Can’t tell you how many times visiting members told me that it really felt like San Antonio wanted us there and the people were genuinely courteous and friendly. I got a kick out of that because they were just doing what comes naturally and acting like you’re “spose to.” I sure know the food didn’t disappoint. The Riverwalk was packed every night with members enjoying the fine Texas cuisine, including Tex-Mex, BBQ, or anything else their taste buds desired.

Proud of the student chapters from around the state that showed up to network and participate in education sessions. Several participated in the Turf Bowl and had good showings. Maybe if the test included a section on calf roping or reading defenses, they would do a little better – sorry couldn’t resist.

Proud of the many San Antonio superintendents that I know of who hosted their colleagues for educational events or even just for a getaway round of golf or a tour of their course. In particular, thanks to Brian Wollard at historic Brackenridge Golf Course who hosted the First Green field trip. Craig Felton of Oak Hills Country Club, who was also instrumental in coordinating the field trip. Daniel McCann at San Antonio Country Club hosted a couple educational events, and I know Bruce Burger at the Quarry had several visitors during the conference. Way to roll out the red carpet guys.

"I'm from Texas, and one of the reasons I like Texas is because there's no one in control." Willie Nelson

The numbers are still rolling in, but I’m very proud of the outstanding attendance by Texas members. They put their money where their mouths are and supported the conference in their own back yard. I know several members who brought their assistants, club officials, golf professionals and even key crew members. This wasn’t limited to Texans – all of the states in the region that I work in participated in mass, including Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas. It’s important for members in a region to support the conference when it is a “home game,” and y’all walked the walk.

I sure hope visitors to the conference got to experience first-hand some of the things I've rambled on about like a true Texan. If you didn't get to attend, I hope it gets you fired up for the next time the show comes our way. Y’all come back now, ya here?

Award winners in the South Central region

No paparazzi, sequined gowns or red carpet, but the awards given out recently in the South Central region carry every bit as much meaning and prestige as the ones they hand out in Hollywood. Several chapters and turfgrass associations handed out well-deserved hardware to recognize achievements to their members. Congratulations to these award winners, and thank you for your contributions to the game of golf and the golf industry in the South Central region.

Dr. Greg Bell
Oklahoma Turfgrass Research Foundation Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Turfgrass Research Foundation (OTRF) inducted Emeritus Professor Dr. Greg Bell into the Oklahoma Turfgrass Hall of Fame during the opening of its 69th Oklahoma Turf Conference & Trade Show on Dec 2, 2014, in Stillwater, Okla. Induction into the Oklahoma Turfgrass Hall of Fame recognizes long and exceptional achievement as well as service to the members of the OTRF and the state's turfgrass industry.

Read more about Dr. Bell’s career »



John Neese
North Texas GCSA Distinguished Service Award

John Neese was the founder of Neese Materials, a company that supplied sand and materials to golf course superintendents in Texas for more than 30 years. John’s company set the standard for quality materials and service that is second to none. He is a former golf professional who started his business through the connections he made during construction and renovation projects in the DFW area. John was honored with many accolades and praises by former customers and employees at the North Texas GCSA banquet. He was joined by his lovely wife, Alice, and their children for the special evening.

Pictures and a nice note by Alice can be found on Facebook »

Kyle Embry
North Texas GCSA 
A.C. and Garry Bearden Superintendent of the Year Award

West Texas’ own Kyle Embry was honored with the North Texas GCSA’s highest honor also at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Northwood Club in Dallas. The Muleshoe, Texas, native was honored with a twist of roast by his former employer and mentor, Scott Ebers. Kyle is the superintendent at Gentle Creek Golf Club in Prosper, Texas. He has done an outstanding job creating championship conditions for Gentle Creek’s members and the many tournaments that the course hosts each year. Kyle’s golf prowess was also recognized during the evening. He is the two-time defending champion of the North Texas GCSA Ace January Superintendent Championship. In 2014, Kyle took advantage of a little home cooking by winning the championship on his home course.

Gentle Creek proudly announced Kyle’s award on its Facebook page »

George B. Manuel, CGCS
South Texas GCSA – Sonny Dubose Distinguished Service Award

George was truly surprised and honored by this prestigious award from his peers. He was nominated along with two very deserving candidates: John Freeman of Brookside Equipment and Sean Wilson of Falcon Point Golf Club. George is the superintendent at Royal Oaks Country Club and has been in Houston and a member of the South Texas GCSA for the majority of his long career. He has been an active member of the chapter and served as a board member, officer and president. He has mentored countless young people who have had successful careers in the golf course management industry. The members of Royal Oaks are very proud and appreciative of George’s commitment and dedication.

Visit the club’s Facebook page to read more about the award and view congratulatory messages from members and colleagues »

Mary Armstrong – Armstrong Golf Architects
Top 20 Sustainable Golf Course Design Practitioner
Mary Armstrong of Armstrong Golf Architects was recognized as a "TOP 20 SUSTAINABLE GOLF COURSE DESIGN PRACTITIONER" in the world by the internationally recognized Green Planet Architects.

In his email to Armstrong, Roy E. den Hoed, president of Green Planet Architects wrote, "it is my privilege to announce that you have been elected to our elite TOP 20 AWARDS of Sustainable Golf Course Architects for 2014. This prestigious award is addressed to a select number of Golf Course Architects who have established a sterling reputation as practitioners of Sustainable Golf Course Architecture. We consider your practice as one of the most visionary in Sustainable Golf Course Architecture."

Ms. Armstrong has completed design work in all areas of the U.S. and internationally. She stated, "In all, I've designed new courses or renovations for over 120 courses world-wide. While I am semi-retired, I still have a passion for those projects, large or small, that stir my imagination."

She is a long-time member of many local superintendent associations nationwide and most recently served as executive director of the Rio Grande GCSA.

"I am very pleased to be recognized in what I consider to be one of the most relevant and noteworthy areas of my practice.  Early in my career, I worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In large part, I owe my proficiency in this regard to the experience and knowledge I gained in those positions. I also would like to recognize the landscape architecture department at Iowa State University and the emphasis they placed on stewardship in my education there many years ago."

View her profile on the Green Planet Architects website »

All day, Every day at GCSAA HQ

I’m amazed how often during my travels a member will come up to me to brag about a GCSAA employee that they have dealt with on membership questions, education, research, or many other member service or program issues. Usually it’s about an employee who you don’t see in the pages of GCM or hear give a speech at GIS. It’s usually about one of the fantastic hard-working team members who are just a phone call or email away and available to every member of the association. Like superintendents, they are ultra-committed to their work and the members they serve all day, every day. 

My field staff colleagues will certainly agree that we are lucky and couldn’t be prouder to represent such an amazing team in the field. I can’t tell you how many times a member asks me a question, and I’m able to deliver an answer or a resolution on the spot. Truth be told, it involved a quick phone call or email to someone at headquarters who is always more than willing to provide assistance. I've done it sitting in a member’s office, during a break at a chapter event and even from the golf course. 

If you ask any one of these superstars about the GCSAA Mission Statement, I can guarantee you they will be able to recite it chapter and verse. CEO Rhett Evans has a habit of calling out employees at our monthly all-staff meeting to deliver “GCSAA is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and enhancing the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf.” As far as I know, he is still 0-fer in finding an employee who doesn't know it by heart. 

I’m not foolish enough to start naming names because I will certainly leave someone out who really deserves recognition. They all deserve a pat on the back and a heart-felt thank you. One of the great employee recognition programs that the GCSAA utilizes is called Birdie Bucks. Employees write quick notes of appreciation to recognize fellow employees who have gone above and beyond to be particularly helpful to a member or a fellow employee. I sat down last week to write a few to recognize my fellow employees who have been particularly helpful to me during 2014. When I reflected on the list, I realized there isn't a single department who didn't go out of their way to help me during the year. I made a lot of “birdies” that day; wish I could do that well on the golf course once and a while.   

I’ll admit they can be a little obnoxious about their beloved Kansas University sports teams. Not surprisingly, we hear a lot out of them during basketball season but they have been fairly silent during football season lately. Since they just hired a Texas A&M trained coach, I expect they will soon enjoy their falls a lot more soon. KU isn't the only school represented at HQ, once in awhile we hear from Kansas State and Missouri fans, but they generally keep a low profile. 

Unless you are a KU Jayhawk superfan or your team is playing against them, Lawrence, Kansas, isn't the type of place you might visit on a family vacation or even pass thru on your way somewhere. It’s about 40 miles east of Kansas City on the Kansas Turnpike. A common GCSAA known truth is that once a member visits headquarters, they will be a fan and advocate for the association for their entire career. I couldn't agree more, and felt that way the first time I visited as a member sometime in the early '90s. But it isn't the beautiful building and campus that does it; there is no doubt it is the smiling faces and helpful employees who are always ready, willing and able to serve. So, if you get a chance at the San Antonio Conference or better yet, to visit them in Lawrence, please take a minute to say thank you and give them a well-deserved pat on the back. Here is a list of current staff members and their contact information: http://www.gcsaa.org/about-gcsaa/staff-contacts 

Remember, they are working to serve you, advance your profession, and to enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game we all love – all day, every day at GCSAA HQ. 

NTGCSA supports children's hospital

Every year since 1999 I have had the privilege of visiting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children through my involvement with the North Texas GCSA and the GCSAA. And every year I come away inspired and in awe of the great work that the hospital is doing every day for children with orthopaedic conditions, neurological disorders, and learning disorders.

My involvement has been as an officer and president of the chapter, as the NTGCSA chapter executive and in my current role as GCSAA field staff. During his tenure in Dallas, GCSAA President Keith Ihms, CGCS, was also very involved with getting the chapter committed to the hospital. There are way too many NTGCSA members who have been very instrumental in fostering this great relationship to mention in this blog.

Quinton Johnson (center),
TSRHC Grounds Manager
Kim Howard (left) and Brian Cloud

The hospital is located near the bustling center of downtown Dallas on a beautifully manicured campus. As hospital President Emeritus J.C. Montgomery proudly tells the North Texas members each year, "No patient or family has ever spent a dime at this hospital for any service, ever." It does not charge patients for services, or receive state or federal funding. It relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations to continue its mission.

The North Texas GCSA became involved with the TSRHC in the late 90s through the invitation of one of its most respected and founding members: Quinton Johnson. Quinton and Martha Johnson’s granddaughter was treated at the hospital following an accident, and they experienced first-hand the fantastic work being done. Soon after, Quinton became involved as a volunteer and invited the NTGCSA board of directors for a visit and tour of the hospital. He enouraged the chapter to become involved with an idea for the construction of a putting green for the patients to use during their therapy. When Mr. Johnson “encourages” members in North Texas to do anything, it has a way of happening.

During that meeting, we were treated like royalty, and during the tour of the hospital we met some of the children and their families who were being treated. From that afternoon on, the chapter has been committed to supporting the hospital through financial and equipment donations as well as agronomic expertise by its members. It has really been a rewarding relationship for all.

This year, the chapter made a $3500 donation, which extends their cumulative giving total to over $70,000. Shortly after becoming involved, the chapter started hosting an annual education meeting in the auditorium of the hospital each fall. They have brought in many well known turfgrass researchers to provide education and have a great turnout every year. This year was no different, with Beth Guertal, Ph.D., as the featured speaker discussing turf fertility and nutrition.

I am always blown away by the courtesy and hospitality that the TSRHC rolls out every year for the chapter. They treat us like we are the making the most generous donation of the year and we are the most important donors they have. During the year, I will see tv news stories in the DFW area about the Dallas Mavericks or Boone Pickens giving the hospital donations 100x more money than the NTGCSA and marvel at the way they make us feel so special.

Getting involved with a great community program like the TSRHC is easy. I encourage chapters to form relationships like this and show their support in any way they can. I guarantee your members, affiliates and sponsors will be proud of the effort and be rewarded in many ways.

In a future blog post, I look forward to telling you all about the golf programs that the hospital has initiated through the support of the NTGCSA, golf professionals and the USGA. They are one of the leaders in the country in introducing their patients to the game. The program director, Dana Dempsey, will be a part of a panel discussion at the 2015 Conference in San Antonio. I look forward to telling you all about it.

Tee it up with the First Tee - You'll be glad you did

In case you've been wondering what you could be doing with all the spare time you have, I've got a great solution that is very rewarding, fun and helps grow the game we all love. Of course, I'm kidding about spare time, but I do want to encourage you to get to know your local First Tee program. With chapters in all 50 states and four international locations, there is bound to be one near you. I know there are many GCSAA members who are already involved with their local programs, and I applaud their efforts.

Earlier this year, I visited the First Tee facility in Fort Worth for the first time because one of my mentors in the golf industry, Don Armstrong, was receiving the First Tee of Fort Worth Leadership Award for his tireless contribution during the construction and ongoing operations of the facility. I worked for Don Armstrong when he was an assistant superintendent at Colonial Country Club, back when guys named Lietzke, Zoeller and Nicklaus were winning the Colonial NIT Championship. Don, along with another of my mentors, Lindy Miller, both encouraged me to get involved with the program and introduced me to a lot of inspiring people. Part of the ceremony that night were introductions by several of the young First Tee participants, who all talked about how the program had profoundly influenced their lives in so many positive ways. I love when First Tee kids say, “And oh yeah, I learned to play golf too.”

The very next day, I signed up to be a volunteer for the program. It was an easy process, and they put me to work the next Saturday. With my history of working for Don and Lindy, I didn’t expect anything less. Like many of you, any time someone figures out what I do for a living and my background, they tend to ask for help with “that spot in their back yard where they just can’t seem to get the grass to grow.” I wanted to be helpful in that regard with the facility, but I really wanted to focus on working with kids and leave the grass growing to the real experts. I turned into the field “consultant” when my boys were in Little League and every other time I volunteered somewhere.

The First Tee of Fort Worth is located at Rockwood Golf Course, specifically in the Ben Hogan Learning Center. It includes classrooms, recreation areas, an incredible golf library and offices. The program utilizes the Rockwood driving range, practice greens and a six-hole practice course. Kevin Long is the executive director, and he and his staff do an incredible job of running the program and reaching kids. Like many parts of the country, Fort Worth has an alarming student dropout rate and a generation that desperately needs guidance and direction. Kevin’s team also manages a terrific outreach program that brings the First Tee curriculum directly to area schools.

The Learning Center also houses a museum that has great information about Ben Hogan and the impact golf has had in the Fort Worth community. As someone who grew up playing golf in Fort Worth and having had the privilege of working as an assistant at Shady Oaks Country Club when Mr. Hogan was still very active, it’s a very special place for me. I’d encourage you to stop in for a visit if you are ever in the area. In case you didn’t know, we are pretty darned proud of our golf history in Cowtown.

Since volunteering, I have advanced through the First Tee coaching system and now serve as the lead coach for a regular Saturday morning class. There are classes almost every day at this facility, so it was easy for me to find a commitment that fit around my busy travel schedule with GCSAA. Anyone who has ever teed it up with me will realize that golf ability is not a prerequisite for a First Tee coach! They give you lots of training material and guidance to help you structure the lessons. I teach a PLAYer 2 Class, which is for beginning players, so my 14+ handicap is plenty good enough to teach the fundamentals. Plus, I have a wonderful group of other volunteers and parents who help me prepare and deliver the lessons each week. Kris Traver is the “co-lead coach” of our group and the real brains behind our operation. She keeps me on script and inspires me to do it for the most important reason we give our time – the kiddos.

By far, the most rewarding part of working with the First Tee is the opportunity to deliver the lessons on the "9 Core Values." The program insists that coaches talk about the core values every week, and I believe it really puts a higher priority on this message above the golf. I love that. I’m proud to say that our students can recite the 9 Core Values by heart by the end of our time with them. We shout them each week when we do our warmups as part of our exercise cadence: Respect! Courtesy! Responsibility! Confidence! Honesty! Integrity! Sportsmanship! Judgment! Perseverance! It’s pretty funny each week to see 8 and 9 year old boys and girls doing warm-up exercises “old school” football style but that’s exactly what we do.

We are also working on ways to bring an environmental education component to the lesson curriculum at the First Tee of Fort Worth. It’s a natural fit because we have plenty of great examples of the way golf benefits the environment at the Rockwood course and kids who already have an interest in golf. I envision a “Golf and the Environment Day” where we can deliver the good news about golf and its positive impact on the environment in Fort Worth to students, parents, golfers and the general public. Rockwood sits adjacent to the Trinity River in Fort Worth, so we are hoping to partner with the Tarrant Regional Water District to provide this useful education. Every week I talk to my class about course care and etiquette on the course, but this would take it to the next level. I hope to get individual superintendents involved with this program as well as the North Texas GCSA chapter.

Kevin Long and BC enjoying The Colonial

I really hope GCSAA members will consider becoming involved with the First Tee. I think you can tell that I am proud of the work I have done and have enjoyed every minute of it. I know I get more reward from donating my time than the kids ever will. And maybe along the way, I will make a difference in some of the kids lives and futures.

For more information about the First Tee please visit www.thefirsttee.org.

North Texas bermudagrass roundtable a success

During the month of July, a considerable amount of my time and focus was spent planning, preparing and conducting the Bermudagrass Roundtable Forum held in Arlington, Texas, July 23. It all began in June, when I met with a concerned Fort Worth superintendent who asked me to assist him in putting together a roundtable forum focused on the severe impact that the extreme winter of 2013-2014 has had on bermudagrass greens across the southern half of the United States.

All types of bermudagrass greens have experienced damage, ranging from slow spring recovery to severe winterkill. This has occurred as far as South Texas and all parts north that are growing bermudagrass. Many theories have been discussed regarding the causes of damage, as well as the preventative measures that could have been implemented to lessen the effects of the severe weather conditions.

The Fort Worth superintendent, Duane Janssen, CGCS, believed it was very important to bring together a group of superintendents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to share ideas, knowledge and experience. At our initial meeting, Duane and I created a four-step plan to accomplish this goal:

Organization meeting
Duane and I assembled an engaged group of five superintendents, two vendor representatives and myself who met at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth. At the meeting, the group shared experiences regarding the issue and discussed the possible benefits of the roundtable forum. The group felt strongly that the roundtable format would be enthusiastically supported by superintendents in the DFW area. The group also determined that the best starting point for the discussion would be an electronic survey sent to all superintendents with bermudagrass greens. The results of this survey would provide discussion topics for the roundtable. The group provided feedback regarding the issues and survey questions they believed would be most informative. July 23 was set for the Bermudagrass Roundtable Forum, to be held at Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington.

Survey creation
Working with one of the vendor representatives, we constructed the survey based on the meeting outcomes. The survey included approximately 42 sections/questions that covered all aspects of the management of bermudagrass greens in the DFW area, along with questions about facilities' experiences. The survey provided ample opportunity for superintendents to provide data and express opinions about the techniques that were successful or unsuccessful during the winter and spring. The survey was posted to Survey Monkey, and an email encouraging participation was sent to all North Texas GCSA members.

Survey results and presentation
On July 22, I met with Duane Janssen and Mike Epps to review the survey results and create a plan to present the data at the forum. Twenty-seven courses participated in the survey, which was completely anonymous. It quickly became apparent that the information provided great insight into the diversity of the management practices that exist among the survey participants. Rather than attempt to digest and quantify the information in a scientific manner, the group felt the data should be presented in whole and each topic discussed individually.

Roundtable forum
Turnout for the forum exceeded our group’s expectations, with 20 superintendents in attendance. I was asked to moderate the session, and we had no shortage of discussion during the three-hour meeting.

The discussion was broken in to the following sections:

• Survey Participants and Course Information
• 2013 Management and Conditions - Growing Season
• 2013-2014 Winter - Management and Conditions
• 2014 Spring - Damage and Recovery
• Looking Back and Moving Forward 2014-2015

This event was considered a huge success by all who participated. The information provided from the survey was very helpful, but the most valuable aspect was the discussion and sharing of ideas and experiences. I am confident that my involvement demonstrated the value of the field staff program in a unique and new way. Several members mentioned that they would like to see future events address this issue, as well as others that affect members.

View the survey results and presentation used at the Bermudagrass Roundtable Forum »

I would encourage chapters to consider these types of meetings to promote information sharing among members. Contact your field representative for more information and ideas on how you can hold a successful event.

Rio Grande GCSA member represents USA!

I want to share this article by a Rio Grande GCSA member and a member of the Board of Directors: Robert Gonzales. Robert is the superintendent at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course and has been doing some serious training and preparation for this event. The article is an interesting review of the competition and his travels in Europe. Great going Robert and thanks for sharing!

Robert Gonzales

Earlier this month, I had the honor of representing my country at the 2014 World Duathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. Duathlon is a RUN-BIKE-RUN race format. There were a total of 265 athletes representing the USA and 1,400 athletes from around the world – representing 31 countries.

My family and I arrived early in the week and visited the many small towns of the Galicia province of Spain (NW corner), and we were amazed at the architecture of the region. The Spanish landscape is vastly different from the U.S., with the residents residing in many of the original buildings or living in apartment buildings. The country between the small towns was beautiful rolling hills covered with small houses and farms, as many of the residents grow most of their own fruit and vegetables. The roads are very narrow, most are one-way and are NOT in a grid. Most vehicles in Spain (Europe in general) are small, and parking is at a premium. Many of the residents walk many, many blocks to their destinations. There are small fruit and meat markets on every corner, as residents seem to buy food on a nightly basis. Café’s and small bars are also on every street, as residents pick their favorite place to grab espresso or beverage of their choice every evening.

The sun would not set until about 11 p.m., so going to sleep was always late in the evening. We also visited the town of Santiago, which is a town that many Europeans pilgrimage to. There is a huge Cathedral there, and legend has it that the remains of the apostle James were brought to Galicia for burial. In 813, according to medieval legend, the light of a bright star guided a shepherd (who was watching his flock at night) to the burial site in Santiago de Compostela.

We also drove into Portugal and saw several old forts along the coast. What was also neat to see was the sea tide being out on our way down to Portugal and the tide returning on our way back to Spain. The Atlantic Ocean was very cold.



RACE DAY

The weather for the race was perfect – low 70s, mild humidity. As I arrived at the venue, I was very nervous but also anxious about getting going. I warmed up with several of my teammates, went to the restroom many times and prayed before the race.

One of the many things that I learned from this trip is that a majority of people are caring and friendly, no matter what country you reside in.

The first part of the race was a 4 loop run (10K – 6.2 miles) around the old town of Pontevedra. My family was able to see me at several points during the run portion, and seeing their friendly faces was a great help. I finished the first run segment in 40:11 and was headed out on the bike course (2 loops).

The bike course was not what we (TEAM USA) was given in our pre-race handouts. We were told that the course was relatively flat with a small incline going out. During team practice, we found out that the small incline was about 5.5 miles of a continuous incline. This is where the Europeans have a HUGE advantage on most of the TEAM USA athletes. I did the best I could on the bike course, but was tired after the 40K.

The last segment of the race was a 2 loop 5k run, on the same run course as earlier. My legs were tired, but I still had a race to finish. I was happy to see my family during this run segment and their encouragement was greatly needed. Before the finish line, our team captain was passing out American flags that he wanted us to finish the race with. I was proud to wave this small flag across the finish line. I finished the race in 2:30:21, which was 40th out of 64 in my age group and 8th out of 16 Americans.

I was happy with my overall performance, but learned many valuable lessons. I hope I will be able to race in these championships again.