IN THIS ISSUE DWRM Rules……..14 Chuck Hobbs.…...1, 7 Tom Hulsey…......8-11 Letters…………......14 Peggy Munroe..…….3 Phast Lapp…..…......2 Phish Bowl..4-6, 12-14

PTN

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HOBBS:

Camp-tastic!Overthinking

From a coaching perspective, camps provide unique oppor-tunities. From an athlete’s perspective, camps provide unique opportunities. While the approach may be different, the congruencies are obvious. Any coach who believes he cannot learn from the most beginner of campers is fooling himself, and any athlete who goes to a camp with a know-it-all attitude is surely to get less from the camp than those who are more open-minded.

NOVEMBER 2010 The Dallas Area Run, Bike & Swim News Source phasttimesnews.com Vol 9 Issue 11

THROUGH HULSEY...

AND BACK! Page 8

He was motivated to try the sport after see-ing the President’s Triathlon brochure at the World Cup Tennis event at Reunion Arena in 1983. After doing Ironman Lake Placid (New York) July 25 this year, his sixth Ironman will be in Florida November 6, 2010. It will be his first time to attempt two Ironman tri-athlons in the same calendar year. “With the Ironman, there’s a sense of accomplishment, to do something so few people can do.” “When I trained for the Ironman in 1986, I knew nothing. I was on my own. Over the years, I have gained much wisdom. I am mo-tivated by past accomplishments and always strive to improve. I want to apply that knowl-edge to see how much faster I can go, even at 56 years young.” In addition, Tom was the Dallas Tennis As-

sociation Singles Champion (1983), did his first marathon at the 1985 Dallas White Rock Marathon (3:19), has done the Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred (1986, 1987), and was first in the Nike Cross Train-ing Challenge in 1989. He won first in the first ever in-line skate race (10K) held in the southwest in 1990. In 1995 and 1999, he was the four-on-four Yard Ball Champion (sponsored by Major League Baseball, like the NBA sponsors 3-on-3/hoop-it-up) with his son, Robert. And between 1988-1993, he competed in the Mountain Man Winter Triathlon, in Beaver Creek, CO. “After completing the Ironman in Kona in 1986, I was looking for another challenge. I watched the Mountain Man Winter Triathlon

in 1987 on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. The mo-ment I knew I had to do it was when ABC Commen-tator Jim Lampley stood at the top of one of the snow shoe climbs and said, ‘This is the most difficult athletic

endurance test I have ever seen.’” The elevation changes were well over 14,000 feet, starting at an elevation of 8,500 feet. “The course description was intimidating,” Tom says, reading, “The Mountain Man Winter Triathlon will be one of the most brutal tests of winter mountaineering and endurance that the hu-man body is capable of performing in one day. The three events, in the order in which they will be run, are cross country skiing (15 miles), snowshoeing (9.1 miles) and speed skating (12.4 miles). All three stages should consume most of the short winter daylight hours. Contestants should be prepared to spend the entire race in the unpredictable weather patterns that the winter mountain cli-mate has to offer.” “Don't be fooled by the distances,” he says. There were drastic elevation changes. “For a flatlander, this is tougher than the Iron-man.” As you might guess, he had a few problems. Having never done two of the three disciplines was his biggest obstacle. Showing up with rental equipment (the same as entering a professional triath-

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TOM HULSEY Let’s get this straight. TOM HULSEY is a nice guy. Anyone you speak to, asking about any time of Tom’s life and career, all say the same thing, using the same words. “He’s a nice guy.” It actually gets redundant. “Oh, yeah, he’s a nice guy.” “Tom? Nice guy!” “Yeah. He’s a nice guy.” OK! I got it. You’d think the guy had a copyright on the phrase, “nice guy.” Wasn’t there anytime that you remember or heard of that he got angry, even just a little bit? Or maybe jealous? Spiteful? Unfair? Obnoxious? “No, not Tom. He’s a –” Wait! Stop. A nice guy? “Yeah! How did you know?” Lucky guess. His ethics, morals, and integrity outstrip most of the guys he races against. He could have been a candidate for the priesthood. Having played the game myself, I don’t un-derstand how he’s played a serious level of ice hockey without racking up penalty minutes, especially in two of the bruiser posi-tions, center and defense. But, some how, he only averages three penalties per SEASON. (I had that many by the end of the first period of a single game.) He’s NEVER been in a fight, which is almost unheard of in the game. “The penalty for fighting was ejection from the game and the fol-lowing game. I wanted to play!” But that’s Tom. Nice guy. Mild mannered, quiet, and persistent. He’s called respectful and tenacious by his friends. He admits to being “quiet, and reserved, never got in trouble!” as a kid growing

up between Madison, Wisconsin, and later Nashville and Knox-ville, Tennessee. At the age of 56, he’s stopped playing the game. He’s been a pro-fessional hockey instructor with the Dallas Stars (NHL) organiza-tion since 2000. He’s on his skates many times right after, or right before, his Ironman training and races. He is loved and adored by the organization and his students so much, the Stars wrote up a feature story on him. Tom also plays a serious level of tennis, runs, bikes, and swims. At the same time he was the Univ. of Tennessee tennis champion, he was also the Captain and MVP of the school hockey team. He’s done five Ironman Triathlons (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile marathon). His first Ironman was a very respectable 12:38:09 in 1986, before aero bars, Gu, dry fit materials, carbon fiber, triathlon training books, and most things part of the “IM” culture. Back then, Ironman was considered the X-Games, for extremists, not part of mainstream sport. The sport was new. There were no rules, standards, or experience at training or put-ting races together. In one sense the sport was a free-for-all.

“After completing the Ironman in Kona in 1986, I was look-ing for another challenge. I knew I had to do it when the TV commentator said, ‘This is the most difficult athletic endurance test I have ever seen.’”

lon with a rented bike) was an-other. Training at sea level was a third. “I stuck out like a proverbial sore thumb. Not only was I out of my element, but I had rented equip-ment.” The odds were stacked against him, but Tom Hulsey over came all of them. He went from being told “no way a flat-lander can complete this race” due to the dramatic altitude shifts and steep inclines, to a Top 25 finish. He trained at sea-level in Texas

and competed at 10,000 feet in snow and ice. He had to learn how to cross-country ski and train on a NordicTrack. The company was so impressed with his tenacity and regime, they became one of his sponsors, along with the North Dallas Athletic Club (today, it is called Telos) and Mike Ramsey’s Sports Nutrition Source. For snow-shoe running, he trained in a shallow swimming pool and on a Stairmaster. Olympic speed skating coach Rob Blair, brother to five time Olympic Gold Medal Speed Skater Bonnie Blair, coached Tom for the speed skating leg (he used his hockey skates for every year except the final sixth year). He had the sev-enth fastest speed skating leg overall. “I parlayed this into becom-ing a professional hockey instructor for the NHL’s Dallas Stars.” He lists this race as his all-time favorite with a very supportive accomplished group of athletes from the Dallas area, including Ty Mahan, Peter Hummel, Scott Eder, Cookie Taylor, Ginger Turner and Robert Hulsey. When asked to remember Tom, Mike Ramsey, his former sponsor said, “He was like the rest of us back then. Go hard, go long, and go again tomorrow.” Other races Tom has enjoyed include:

IM Lake Placid, 2010 – “Lake Placid was a dream for me, racing in an area that is forever

etched in my memory with the 1980 Winter Olympics – WOW! The venue and support were outstanding. There were 2700 competitors and 3500 volunteers. The finish was on the speed skating oval where Eric Heiden won five gold medals and next to the ‘Miracle On Ice’ arena.” IM Wisconsin, 2007 – “The swim was in the lake where I learned to skate and play hockey, and I crossed the finish line with my fabulously supportive wife, Lauren.” Crossing the finish line with Lauren is his most memorable Ironman moment. IM Hawaii, 1986 – “Like for obvious reasons. I was sponsored by my employer, Zale Corp, Fitness Unlimited health club, and Ath-letic Attic as an outfitter. The year, 1986, was pre-Internet. Every-one wanted souvenirs. I had to take an empty suitcase just to bring back all the orders!” This is the race where he did his best time – 12:38:09. “I’m most proud of this because I was completely on

NOVEMBER 2010 The Phast Times News Volume 9 Issue 11 Page 9

my own. The first book I read came out AT the 1986 race. I bought it, Dave Scott’s Triathlon Training. This was before aero bars, power bars, clipless pedals, etc. My bike cost $400.” All of this hasn’t come without a price to his body. He has had his share of set backs, not all by his own doing. IM Lake Placid, 2010: “It was a ‘miracle’ that I was even able to compete, hit by a car six weeks before, while doing hill training on the bike north of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Displaced a rib.” IM Coeur d’Alene, 2009: “Broke my foot in five places immedi-ately prior to the start.” IM Florida, 2008: “Pneumonia prior to the race.” But, he also has a real job, too. He’s been the Director of Field Operations at Cyber Group for the past couple of years, where he leads the sales and marketing efforts of “an innovative security technology that expanded the corporate platform. As part of a cohesive team environment, I collaborate with the designers to customize safety and security systems based on Ethernet over power in an industrial environment to access ‘blind spot’ areas not reachable with traditional technologies. Additionally, I conducted extensive market research to identify verticals, industries, and companies that would benefit from the network; I created a go-to-market strategy based on the analysis. After significant business development and marketing efforts, I established a pilot program and identified three police departments to participate as early adopters.” Uhh,…right. Professionally, Tom has been interviewed for Standards Here To Stay, Security Products and Network-Centric Security magazine, March 2010, and authored Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)–Comparison of IP and Analog-Based Surveillance Systems, and Investing in ‘Green’ Has Real Bottom Line Value, Technology Remains the Driver, for the Metroplex Technology Business Council. He’s a Certified Sales Executive Designation (CSE), from Syracuse University, is the founding President of the DFW Chapter of International Association for Computer Operations Management, has affiliations with ASIS International (American Society for Industrial Security), North Texas Crime Commission, Texas Police Chief’s Association, and the Sheriff’s Association of Texas. He’s a nice guy. If you’re like me, you might be wondering, “Where did this guy come from? I’ve never heard of him.” I’ve known him since the late 1980’s. Tom’s profile is so low he be-comes part of the ice he skates on regularly. He was 25 when he entered the Six Miles at Six Flags run, March,

TOM HULSEY

“He was like the rest of us back then. Go hard, go long, and go again tomorrow.” - M. Ramsey

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TOM HULSEY 1979. Later that year, he ran the Dallas Turkey Trot. “I was look-ing for a way to stay in shape for tennis.” Others he considers heroes are: football coach Vince Lombardi, 1980 US Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team coach Herb Brooks (an event known as the “Miracle on Ice”), and Bobby Orr (All-Star defenseman for the Boston Bruins). “I have not met any of these people. All were born leaders and knew how to get people to achieve their best. As Coach Lombardi said, ‘the quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence.’ Growing up in Wisconsin, I idolized Coach Lombardi. Coach Brooks motivated a bunch of college kids to the greatest sports moment of the century, according to Sports Illustrated and ESPN. Wow! It was he who said, ‘The name on the front of the jersey is a lot more important than the one on the back.’” He also admires computer mogul Steve Jobs, “a technology leader, visionary and innovator who has trans-formed how we live and communicate,” Tom says, “Thinking outside the box. ” In 1984, he decided to do his first triathlon, the now fabled and iconic President’s Triathlon at Lake Lavon, held in June. Tom chose the short course, 0.9 mile swim, 18 mile bike, and five mile run, a crazy distance. Again, the sport was new. “I saw a brochure for it at a professional tennis tournament at Reunion Arena.” Tom had two problems: swimming and biking. He trained and finished his first multi-sport race. “I got into triathlons initially,” he says, “because I worked the night shift in the data center. It was difficult to find tennis players with my odd hours. Triathlon allowed me to train by myself, with-out having to be dependent on others.” While his wife, Lauren, is his hero now, she has completed the 2009 Women’s Triathlon at Benbrook and has been an Ironman Hawaii volunteer, not an easy thing to secure. They met profes-sionally through business. He was trying to sell Hilton Hotels IT

services. Lauren was respon-sible for IT services, locally. “Fortunately, vendor deci-sions were made at Hilton corporate in Beverly Hills CA. Our relationship turned personal after that.” His philosophy for life and exercise? “Life is not a spec-tator sport,” and “You are what you eat.” Simple. Just like Tom. He signs his

emails with, “Keep your stick low and goals high.” “I strive to be a role model for my kids and students and an inspi-ration to adults. I want to exhibit those attributes and qualities that make a good athlete, and exemplify those characteristics to con-tinue to motivate others to reach for their dreams.” When he was asked why he was seeking an entry into the World Championship Ironman in Hawaii, he answered, “It has been said, that to be the best in the world at what you do, you’ve got to find the very best in yourself. I want to set an example for my students and children. If you have the desire, anything is possible.” In 1986, as he was preparing for Ironman Hawaii, the editor of the

Zale Corp Employee Newsletter added to that above statement, “That wisdom, combined with a unique drive to perform, is what motivates triathlete Tom Hulsey to be the best.” He was born February 24, 1954, in St. Louis Missouri, and has two siblings; Kathy, 55, customer service representative, and Brian, 46, an architectural engineer and runner. Tom’s dad was a purchasing manager. He runs, swims, and plays tennis. His mom taught grade school. She walks for fitness. Tom grew up playing hockey on the ponds around Madison, Wis-consin, called “old school hockey.” He played piano, guitar (“now collecting dust in the attic”), baseball, tennis, and ice hockey, and was involved in Scouts, making it to first class. When he was four, a tornado ripped through their house in Mt. Vernon, IL, leav-ing Tom with head scars. He graduated McGavock High School, in Nashville, went to the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, and in 1976, received his BS in Business Administration. Tom has two children, Michelle, 22, and Robert, 26. Both exhibit Tom’s strong jaw line. Michelle is a senior at TWU working to-ward a degree in fashion merchandising. She was co-Captain of the Allen American Ice Angels ice-dancing team. Tom taught her how to skate. “She never played hockey,” he says. Robert is an E4

in the Marines, deployed to central Helmand province, near the capital of the province Mer-jah, in Afghanistan. He ws previously de-ployed to Iraq. He’s hoping to be promoted to Sergeant before coming home, November 2011. Though he hardly talks, the guy wears me out with all that he does. In between everything else, believe or not, Tom does have a life. He attends Preston-

wood Baptist Church; enjoys the Beatles, Supremes, and Lady Gaga; eats out at The Blue Goose Cantina, Jen Chi, and Subway; and likes to shop at Fry’s Electronics, Best Buy, and Lands End. As all nice guys would. He’s just finished reading “Remembering Herbie – Celebrating the Life and Times of Hockey Legend Herb Brooks,” and “Sales 2.0: Improve Business Results Using Innovative Sales Practices and Technology.” Asked if he is fashion conscious when working out, he answered emphatically. “Sure!” He wears the Vibram Five Fingers as his running shoe, except for track workouts. Though he likes training in the summer, “It’s the only time I feel loose,” he loves winter sports. During the summer, guys half his age marvel at his physique. The guy is built! “Leading a healthy lifestyle has always been impor-tant to me,” he says. “I have been teaching on-ice and off-ice classes for the Dallas Stars since 2000.” When not training for an Ironman, Tom spends about eight hours a week instructing others on the ice. During training weeks, two hours. It hasn’t been a bed of roses for Tom. Usually, anything worth

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perseverance and determination that goes above and beyond. “He does not train with a heart rate monitor and never has. Although he will listen or read about the latest training fad, he be-lieves there are no short cuts and he wants to do things the way he has always done them. Tom trains by feel and makes every effort to listen to his body. He puts in long weekend hours on the bike and run and believes his best race experiences will be realized by working hard during training. “Tom will not put anything in his body that is not wholesome. Tom won't use caffeine and does not drink coffee or caffeinated soft drinks. “Finally, and most importantly, Tom is one of the most ethical people I have ever met. When you ride for hours and hours with someone week after week you learn a lot about him. Tom has the highest regard for people and treating them with respect. He trusts everyone and constantly seeks the high road in all his dealings with others.” Then Jack finishes with what everyone already knows about him. “Tom is a great guy.” With long training days, he remembers two quotes. “They have resonated with me during those tough training sessions.” The first is by Maria Coffey, author of “Explorer's of the Infinite.” “The hardest, most challenging experiences of our lives can en-rich our existence, revealing our true identity, awakening us to greater awareness of our own potential, and opening us to the infinite beauty of the universe.” The second is from a friend from the column, The Phast Lapp. “What we have is based upon moment-to-moment choices of what we do. In each of those moments, we choose. We either take a risk, and move toward what we want, or we play it safe and choose comfort. Most of the people, most of the time, choose com-fort. In the end, people either have excuses or experiences; rea-sons or results; buts or brilliance. They either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not.” Friend, co-worker, and editor Liz Manglesdorf wrote: “Through his dedication and determina-tion to be the best he can be, Tom exhibits those attributes and qualities that make a good athlete, and exemplifies those characteristics that continue to motivate all of us to reach for our dreams.” In other words, he’s a nice guy. PTN TOM’S favorite mo-ment and favorite pho-tograph, finishing an Ironman triathlon with his wife, LAUREN.

striving for, is. At one point he stopped competing in triathlons for over 12 years. “There have been some turbulent times in my life, one of which was dealing with obesity.” He once weighed 215 lbs. Currently he is 6’ 185 lbs. “I was taking high-blood pressure and high cholesterol medications. My daughter ridiculed me about being fat. Kids are brutally honest! I am off [now] medications and my daughter is no longer embarrassed to be seen with me.” But he is not a monster mileage hound, either. The most miles he’s ever run in a single week is 55. On the bike, it would be 250, and in the pool swimming, 12 miles. “I am equally slow in all three sports. I used to be pretty good. Age has really slowed me down!” Working out is a great way to start out the day, he says. “Lots of energy!” So it’s an important part of his day. If for no other reason, Tom is part of the legacy of Dallas triathlon because of his involvement with Tri-Dallas, a super-club that be-came an immense influence on the clubs and teams of today, not only in triathlons, but swimming, biking, and running organiza-tions as well. The club died a quiet death a couple of years ago.

(There’s a story about it at phasttimes.com) Tom was the Vice President of Tri-Dallas from 1988-1990, but the position took its toll on him. After re-elections, he says, he was “burned out on the sport and subsequently left triathlons for 13 years. Yes, I feel I am part of the Dallas triathlon legacy. It’s gone now.” He enjoys the Dallas environment of racing and training, ranking it “very good,” except that “Dallas is not a bike-friendly city.” “It’s getting better each year. Much more

organized with standards, such as distances.” But he’s also seen changes. “It’s much more sophisticated than in the 80’s. Also, MUCH more expensive! In the 80’s, there were no wetsuits.” Where he swims, he must exit outside to enter the water. Even in bad weather. So how does he do it, train, get himself out the door? “I think about my next Ironman, the destination, the goal. It’s tough swimming outdoors in January when it is 20 degrees with ice on the pool deck.” Admittedly, his philosophy is “old school.” “I cram a lot into the weekends and as much as I can early in the morning,” Tom says, with his trademark eye twinkle. “My alarm goes off at 4:30am. All I can, when I can.” Among his training partners are accom-plished triathletes Willy Waks, Jack Baum, and Steve Zuehlke. Jack Baum calls his friend a great training partner, tenacious and ethical, who is a traditionalist and a purist. He writes: “Tom might have the strongest will of any of us. I have seen him train through pain. I have seen him train through issues ranging from a broken foot (in five places) to cracked ribs. Once he makes his mind up to do something he does it, period. “He seems to draw a simple line if he is hurt; he tends to ask the doctor ‘Can I do anything to cause more harm if I continue to train?’ If the answer is you cannot do any further damage, Tom will train and race. I mention this because I see many people try-ing to find any excuse to not train and derail their goals. Tom has

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TOM HULSEY