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Name: Erik Melis
Nickname: "Captain Blasto" or "The Erikuda"
Location: Oakton, VA
Age Group: Male 65 - 69
About Me: I've been involved in traithlons for the last 4 years. it was something my wife and I started doing after having lost a combined weight of about 110 pounds. We formed our own little triathlon team (we're the only members) called Team TriSpuds since we were recovering couch potatoes doing triathlons. We're self-professed BOPers. Since we know we'll rarely finish anywhere near the front, we decided finishing near the back was better since those at the back seem to get more cheers than folks in the middle. For me, triathlons, especially the swimming leg, was a particular challenge since I almost drowned as a teenager so getting the in water at all was quite a hurdle. During the first 9 months of our training, I went from panicking during a 25-yd pool swim when I got water in my mouth to doing my first open-water ocean swim during the Make-a-Wish Tri in Delaware.
What I do to pay the bills: I'm an Associate Director of Financial Aid at George Mason University
Who defends the ranch when I'm out training: This task is left up to our 8-year old black lab mix named Luc since my wife, Mairead, and I are usually both out trianing or racing. 2009 will be a tough season since my wife is dploying to Iraq in November with the Navy Reserve and may be gone until late into 2009.
Short term triathlon goals: Complete my 2009 triathlon race season uninjured with no surgeries like 2008
Long term triathlon goals: Try another Ironman, maybe Ironman Arizona 2009
Fantasy triathlon goals: Win a lottery slot to Kona... I entered the lottery again for the coming year.
Chocolate: Yes
Garlic: As part of my Italian food, definitely... keeps other racers at bay.
Blue Cheese: No, I only like happy cheeses.
For breakfast, I usually have: Fruit, yogurt or Kashi cereal, juice or water and coffee.
After a long day of training, my favorite meal is: Thin crust veggie pizza or chicken with veggies or spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce.
My best triathlon advice is: Try.... or, as my previous trainer put it, perceive it, believe it, achieve it... remember that the person who finishes last in a triathlon is still called a triathlete.
My best non-triathlon advice is: Do triathlons... Be yourself and have fun... Smile a lot, laugh often, it makes them wonder what you're up to
What was I thinking when I signed up for my first race: Are you nuts!!!
Everything I need to know I learned from: Star Trek, my wife, my parents and my children... oh, and of course, my trainer
My deepest, darkest secret is: I have a superhero alter ego by the name of Captain Blasto who defends the right of people to be themselves, have fun and enjoy life to the fullest


Race Summary

Race Type # Done PR Race PR
Run - 5 km 6 National Race for the Cure (Jun 5, 2004) 0:24:02
Run - 5 Mile / 8 km 4 Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler (Nov 25, 2004) 0:46:03
Run - 10 km 4 Capital One Toucan 10K (Jun 19, 2004) 0:50:37
Run - 10 mile 2 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (Apr 6, 2008) 1:32:16
Run - Half Marathon 2 Rock and Roll Half Marathon - Va Beach (Sep 4, 2005) 2:05:09
Triathlon - Sprint 8 The 14.06 Triathlon (Jul 12, 2009) 1:05:29
Triathlon - International Distance 10 Columbia Triathlon (May 18, 2008) 3:01:57
Triathlon - Half Ironman 4 Eagleman (Jun 14, 2009) 6:17:37
Triathlon - Ironman 2 Ironman USA (Jul 20, 2008) 15:13:52


Race Schedule

Date Name Type Results
Time O.A. A.G.
Sep 7, 2003 Fair Lakes 8K Run - 5 Mile / 8 km View
0:46:30 584 / 898 115 / 142
Apr 18, 2004 Plaza America 5K Run - 5 km View
0:26:48 297 / 763 27 / 52
Apr 22, 2004 GMU Victims' Rights 5k Run - 5 km View
0:28:30
Apr 24, 2004 Liz Hartwell Memorial 5K Run - 5 km View
0:26:04 8 / 21
May 16, 2004 Manassas Mini Tri Triathlon - Other View
0:03:31 45 / 116 6 / 6
May 23, 2004 Capitol HIll Classic 10K Run - 10 km View
1:05:41 708 / 854 175 / 212
May 29, 2004 Cascades 10K Run - 10 km View
0:53:44 221 / 511 25 / 43
Jun 5, 2004 National Race for the Cure Run - 5 km View
0:24:02
Jun 19, 2004 Capital One Toucan 10K Run - 10 km View
0:50:37 105 / 326 28 / 59
Jul 24, 2004 TriAmerica Sprint Triathlon - Louisville Triathlon - Sprint View
1:28:58 2 / 5
Sep 25, 2004 Make-A-Wish Sea Colony Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
3:08:11 39 / 50
Nov 25, 2004 Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler Run - 5 Mile / 8 km View
0:46:03
Apr 3, 2005 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Run - 10 mile View
1:35:11 3059 / 4324 352 / 482
Apr 17, 2005 Backyard Burn - Wakefield (Spring - 5 mile) Run - 5 Mile / 8 km View
0:52:38
May 15, 2005 Virginia Run Sprint Triathlon Triathlon - Sprint View
1:14:03 141 / 410 11 / 30
Jun 5, 2005 Backyard Burn - Hemlock Overlook (Spring, 5 mile) Run - 5 Mile / 8 km View
0:59:39
Jul 17, 2005 Muddy Buddy Ride and Run - Richmond Other - Other None
Aug 21, 2005 Summer Super Sprint Triathlon - Sprint View
0:53:03 79 / 321 5 / 8
Sep 4, 2005 Rock and Roll Half Marathon - Va Beach Run - Half Marathon View
2:05:09 5282 / 15505 377 / 778
Sep 24, 2005 Make-A-Wish Sea Colony Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
2:09:00
Apr 27, 2006 GMU Victims' Rights 5k Run - 5 km View
0:27:51
May 21, 2006 Columbia Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
3:10:35 920 / 1331 37 / 61
Jul 16, 2006 Lifetime Fitness Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
2:32:07 784 / 976 26 / 32
Aug 16, 2006 Summer Super Sprint Triathlon - Sprint View
0:53:32 84 / 304 2 / 5
Oct 1, 2006 South Carolina Half-Ironman Triathlon - Half Ironman View
7:13:31 254 / 274 9 / 12
Sep 16, 2007 Make-A-Wish Sea Colony Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
1:46:28 187 / 281 16 / 26
Sep 22, 2007 General Smallwood Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
3:06:17 104 / 133 7 / 10
Dec 15, 2007 Rudolph's Red Nose 10k Run - 10 km View
0:58:41 199 / 442 20 / 30
Dec 31, 2007 Red Ribbon Run 5k Run - 5 km View
0:28:10 349 / 635 27 / 53
Apr 6, 2008 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Run - 10 mile View
1:32:16 5698 / 12286 232 / 426
May 18, 2008 Columbia Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
3:01:57 970 / 1681 39 / 82
May 24, 2008 Jim McDonnell Lake Swim Clinic Swim - Open Water (Other) View
0:36:15
Jun 8, 2008 Mooseman Triathlon - Half Ironman View
6:33:23 485 / 723 23 / 28
Jul 20, 2008 Ironman USA Triathlon - Ironman View
15:13:52 1905 / 2340 107 / 139
Aug 10, 2008 Summer Super Sprint Triathlon - Sprint View
0:50:50 54 / 302 3 / 10
Sep 7, 2008 Reston Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
2:41:35 257 / 337 26 / 38
Sep 20, 2008 Make-A-Wish Sea Colony Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
2:28:01 230 / 340 19 / 40
Mar 21, 2009 National Half-Marathon Run - Half Marathon View
2:14:34 1581 / 1870 98 / 126
May 2, 2009 Character Counts 6 Pillars Ride - Eagleman Course Bike - Other View
3:04:17
May 17, 2009 Columbia Triathlon Triathlon - International Distance View
3:09:47 999 / 1568 761 / 1052
May 24, 2009 BRATS Salute to the Military Triathlon Triathlon - Sprint View
1:21:11 36 / 127 2 / 2
Jun 14, 2009 Eagleman Triathlon - Half Ironman View
6:17:37 1145 / 1504 62 / 81
Jun 27, 2009 Tupper Lake Tinman Sprint Triathlon - Sprint View
2:33:33 49 / 114 3 / 7
Jul 12, 2009 The 14.06 Triathlon Triathlon - Sprint View
1:05:29 66 / 303 5 / 12
Aug 23, 2009 Timberman Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Half Ironman View
6:30:16 947 / 1203 66 / 100
Nov 22, 2009 Ironman Arizona Triathlon - Ironman None


 
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