Marshwood Teacher Wins Age Group in Ironman Triathlon

Science Instructor is 2^nd in Amateur Division, 6^th Best Overall

Vinny Johnson (courtesy photo)

By Timothy Gillis

Staff Columnist

SOUTH BERWICK -

Vinny Johnson, a science teacher at Marshwood High School, finished first in his age group (35-39), second in the amateur division, and sixth overall in the Ironman Triathlon, held two weeks ago in Lake Placid, New York.

The Ironman is a grueling race, one of a series of long-distance triathlons organized by the World Triathlon Corporation and consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a marathon 26.2-mile run, raced in that order and without a break.

Johnson, who instructs students in biology and anatomy courses, said he uses what he teaches in the classroom when he is out on the race courses.

“People say they have a feel for the race; I don’t,” Johnson said. “I have an analytical approach to it. Everything is planned out, even the amount of carbohydrates I need.”

Things often have a way of changing doing the race, Johnson said.

“At end of race, though, I have a sense of trusting myself. Sometimes it can backfire, but for the most part, it gets me to a performance I feel like I’m capable of.”

He also returns the exchange and takes his triathlon experience into the classroom. So many high school classes are about rote memorization, he said, so he tries to infuse his lessons with real examples from his body’s chemical changes during such an exerting race.

“Remember high school? You were usually made to memorize charts and tables<” he said. “I try to use myself as an example, to have students note reactions in the body to tie into real life.” Johnson said he uses such personal examples as heart rate data over the course of a race to illustrate the way the body reacts to adverse conditions. He also covers such topics as nutrition and how it can help an athlete perform better.

“I try to tie in my own, real-world experience in class,” he said.

Johnson’s results meant that he qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, but he declined the spot.

“Instead, this allows me to pursue the professional license, allows me to race as a pro.”

Johnson, who has taught at Marshwood for thirteen years, is already gearing up for his next race, a “half Ironman” called Rev3 in Old Orchard Beach on Sunday, August 26. This race features a 1.2 mile swim at OOB, a 56-mile bike ride inland towards Buxton and back, and a 13.1 mile run to top it off.

Triathlon from the POV of a Champion

Johnson has written extensively, from a first-person point of view about his recent race.

“We do that so people can read through it and get the planning and mindframe that goes into it,” he said. “It’s not about just going out there and running as fast as you can. It takes planning, knowing what you’re actually capable of and (being able to) execute that, instead of trying to keep up with someone you shouldn’t be.”

Here are some excerpts from his writing, which can be found at http://trifuel.com/forum/27797/imlp-race-report

Ironman Lake Placid 2012

“Coming out of Ironman Florida, I had a whole new confidence level for my run segment. After checking out both mentally and physically on the first half of the bike leg in Florida, I was able to snap out of it. Snapping out of it meant, doing a bit of an experiment on the fly. I wanted to destroy my legs on the bike, and see how they would hold up for the duration of the marathon. Needless to say, they held up. As a result I gained a sense that regardless of how I felt coming off of the bike my run would be there.

Fast forward 8 months, and I was starting to taper down for Ironman Lake Placid. The training had been great. I didn't focus on working harder, I just focused on recovering harder. This focus allowed me to maintain a consistent effort level on the days that counted. I never faded, never felt like I “didn't have it,” never bonked. I'm not saying it was easy, and I enjoyed every minute, but when I had to dig deep it was there.”

Swim: Lined up right next to the dock, on the start line. Figured there would be some fast feet in that location, but once the chatter started about swim times I realized I was going to miss out on the front group. I’m never right up there, but at least able to hang on to the back of the lead pack. Cannon went off, and swam as fast as I could for 400 yds, the whole time seeing a group take off towards the middle of the field. That 400 hurt, almost too much. I was struggling just to keep the arms moving after such a violent effort.

Swim time. 53:24 1:23/100m AG rank: 2 OA rank: 21

Bike: Heart rate was through the roof, but with the terrain and heat it wasn’t going to be about heart rate on the bike. The ability to make a hilly course flat is key to a great run coming off of a tough bike leg. So today it was all about wattage. I figured I would be able to hold 225-235 watts and then run a 3:15 marathon. When you ride and run for over 8 hours over the course of every weekend for the last 6 months, you can figure that kind of stuff out. Every 5 minutes fluids went in, every aid station two bottles of water would be poured all over me, every 30 minutes fuel went in. Salt tabs at the 2 hr mark, and 4 hr mark. 98 grams of carbs/hour, 772 mg’s of salt/hour. Ironman racing can be more like a science experiment than any else, and I like science experiments! As we know, science experiments are only valid if they have been tested over and over again with the same results.

Bike : 5:19:53 21.0mph AG rank: 3 OA rank: 13

Run: Came out like I got shot out of a cannon. This is my segment. This is where I feel confident. This is where I can dig deep, run angry, run with a chip on my shoulder. So this is where I was going to make this thing happen. This is where I was going to get to that ledge and go for it. I knew, no matter how horrible I feel, I can run. As we made our way down Main St., all I could remember was QT2 coach Pat Wheeler walking towards me, almost felt as if he was going to jump in front of me, and he yelled “Slow Down”!!!! I just remember thinking, not today.

Then I realized, I had just covered .1 miles, and had 26.1 to go. That .1 felt fast, and for the fist time, I did feel like I dug deep, worked a bit too hard. I had 3 hrs plus left of running, so figured slowing down was some great advice, and did. As a result I watched as images of the racers in front of me got farther and farther from me. So I backed off the ledge, and didn’t go for it. Figured that last 6 miles might require some ledge jumping, so I would save it for then.

Run: 3:11:16 AG rank: 1 OA rank: 6

I thought if I had an OK day, I would go under 9:50. A solid day, around 9:40. An epic day would get me under 9:40. I had an epic x2 kind of day
9:32:58 1st in AG, 2nd OA amateur, and 6th OA.

I only found this out as I sat in the corner of the changing tent, by myself, looking at the results on my iphone. Still in shock, I called Brooke. Not much could be said due to the emotion of the moment. What people see as results on paper gives no justice to the amount sacrifice that goes into a “time” you get on race day.

I’m not going to Kona. I declined my slot. I knew going into this event, I wasn’t going to go due to too many variables that just didn’t make it the right choice this year. However, due to the stars aligning just right, I did earn the right to gain a pro card for the next few years. This is an opportunity that I will cash in on. This will allow me to race with more flexibility, and get to more races. That is what attracts me to the pro level. What I will lose, is the ability to get to Kona over the next few years. To get there at the pro level, under my circumstances is impossible. Impossible are odds I like, and need, to further improve myself as an athlete, coach and person. So bring on impossible!”

Kittery Youngsters Serve Local Seniors a Lobster Luncheon

Lauren Welch and Olivia McCray of the Kittery Recreation Department's Adventure Program helped serve at the department’s Senior Lobster Luncheon held on Thursday, July 26. (courtesy photo)

KITTERY –

Nearly 100 Kittery area seniors armed themselves with bibs and crackers to enjoy the 10th Annual Kittery Recreation Senior Lobster Luncheon.  Although rain threatened in the morning, Mother Nature prevailed, providing weather suitable to chow down. Held outdoors at Frisbee Common, which is the Kittery Rec Department and the Kittery Community Center’s new home, the luncheon turned out to be a great opportunity to share friendships and enjoy a wonderful lobster lunch.

An annual event that offers the area’s seniors a chance to eat a generous portion of lobster or chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, clam chowder, and strawberry shortcake, the Lobster Luncheon is enjoyed by all who attend.

One portion of the event that continues to evolve and flourish is the relationship between the seniors and the participants in the Kittery Recreation Department’s Adolescent Adventure Program. 

Thirty-one youngsters, in grades 5 through 8, served as waitstaff for the lobsterfest.

“Some of the kids came in with aprons, others were dressed in black, like they worked in a restaurant,” said Jeremy Paul, assistant director of Kittery Recreation Department. “They really got into it this year.”

The kids have helped out for nine of the ten years the department has been hosting the luncheon. They serve the seniors drinks and chowder and don’t stop until the last cup of strawberry shortcake is finished. 

“The first year, we tried to do it with our staff of four or five, but we were overwhelmed,” Paul said.

What once began as a meal for seniors has truly turned into an intergenerational afternoon of friendship.

The success of the event would not be possible without the extreme generosity of several local businesses who donated lobsters and more. 

The following businesses all made donations for this community building event:

Greenhead Lobster Company, Island Seafood, Chrissy D. Lobster Company, Seaview Lobster, Taylor Lobster, Marshall Rental Center, and P Gagnon and Son. Weathervane Seafoods donated all of the chowder, corn on the cob, chicken, bibs, crackers, and more.

Student from Kennebunk Does Specialized Research with her College Professor

Kennebunk native Amelie Jensen, conducting research in Vermont (courtesy photo)

KENNEBUNK –

Amelie Jensen , daughter of Arleen and John Jensen of Kennebunk, was one of 46 Saint Michael's College students to be awarded grants to do research with a professor this summer. Jensen, a senior biology major, graduated from Cheverus High School in Portland before attending Saint Michael's College, which is located in Burlington, Vermont.

Jensen is carrying out a project titled U.S. Fish & Wildlife internship, and working with

Professor Doug Facey, head of the biology department at St, Mike’s.

“I’m getting as lot of field experience,” Jensen said this week from Vermont. “I’m also working with Leah Szafranski, a member of the US fish & wildlife in Essex Junction, who was contracted to do this monitoring project.”

Jensen and her partners are monitoring trees that were planted in the Lake Champlain watershed over the last twenty years to help with erosion and watershed quality.

“So we are going back and looking at these trees and seeing how they’re doing,” she said. “We’re looking at the success of these planting projects to see what works best.

Jensen said that, especially after Hurricane Irene, a lot of these streams have flooded and destroyed the banks. She is receiving a paid internship through the grant, and gets better-priced housing at St. Mike’s during the summer.

Next year after she graduates, she’d like to get some more experience in the field of biology, she said.

“I just spent last semester immersed in biology. Right now, I’m just trying to get a feel for what type of specialty I want to go into after school.”

Jensen is not all brains; she has plenty of brawn as well.

She  is president of the college’s Women’s Rugby Club.

“I've been playing since 2010. It is not a varsity sport. We do have a coach, but it is mostly student run. We have different officer positions such as public relations, treasurer, captain, match secretary and president,” she explains. “Last fall I was match secretary so I was in charge of organizing games with other teams, getting meals for away games and bringing the necessary things for games such as jerseys, food and medical supplies. This season I will be president so I am the liaison between our team, or coach and the school. I will be in charge of more logistical items.”

For her position, Jensen plays the second row in the scrum. She says that, although biology and rugby may seem worlds apart, they are actually quite comparable.

“There certainly is a correlation between my position as an officer on my rugby team and my job now. In both positions, it is important to be organized,” she said. “With rugby, it really helps when scheduling team activities and games. At work, we are collecting a lot of data every day, so it is important to have a system and keep things organized. Communication between my rugby team, coach and other officers is key and also at work. Again, in the field collecting data, it is important to communicate clearly with everyone I'm working with… In both instances tackling one job (or one player!) works much better when people work together. We could never finish our whole summer monitoring project alone, and I could never win a rugby game alone.”

Her school’s administration is proud of the work Jensen has done, on the field and out in it.

“Undergraduate research is a natural extension of some of Saint Michael's College's most strongly-held beliefs as an educational institution,” said Dr. Karen Talentino, SMC vice president for Academic Affairs. “We believe that close student-faculty interaction facilitates learning and student development,” said Talentino, herself a biologist.

The research happening at the college ranges from environmental data collection with the Vermont EPSCoR Streams project to surveying Vermont's workforce in an effort to increase the effectiveness of the Workforce Investment Act. Funding also has been provided by the college's summer fellowship program, the Vermont Genetics Network, the National Science Foundation, SMC alumni funds for research and other sources.

The wide range of research happening at the college includes, along with scientific research, history studies, and social science research, such as a study of the Impact of Technology on Religious Concepts of Community.

“We expect our faculty to pursue scholarly and research activities in order to inform their teaching and to contribute to their disciplines,” Talentino said. “We try to facilitate the growth of each student in all dimensions, and to prepare them to be lifelong learners.” She said working with faculty, who are themselves researchers, is one of the best experiences a liberal arts education provides to students.