Question:

After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage? thanks jeremy b

Response:

After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage? thanks jeremy b

Could be a couple of possibilities. First possibility is that you have been building up for Wildflower so much that when it’s finally over, you are suddenly directionless and lacking another goal to help carry you through the season. I’ve been there before; you’re not alone. What you would want to do is schedule another key race (it doesn’t have to be a long race for it to be your key race, it could just be setting about smashing your old PR in a sprint tri in August you’ve done last season for example) and schedule your training around that. With your direction set again, you’ll probably find the hunger to get back into training again. If you still can’t get back into the groove of things after setting a goal, the second possibility is that you might be experiencing mental burnout from all the training you’ve done in the spring. Symptoms here include yearning to do other things other than going out for a run or riding your bike, ext. You’ll need to be careful with this one; if you force your training upon yourself when you really don’t want to, you’ll end up hating training in general, and ultimately getting discouraged with triathlon in general. You might need to take at least 2 weeks off (or maybe longer) and catch up with other priorities in your life before you can get back into training again.  The mind is a tricky thing and is usually the hardest thing to understand when training. Having a greater understanding of what you really want is key to having a successful training plan. After 11 years in this sport, knowing the mind is still the most complex puzzle that I’ve ever faced. Hope this helps.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMC’99: 10:45:03          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

Response:

After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage?

Just make yourself do it.  Make a decision and carry it out. When you don’t train, it’s because you make a decision not to, so make the opposite decision.

Response:

I disagree with the advice to "make yourself do it".  After an intense build-up for St. Croix, followed by a tough olympic distance race two weeks, I’ve experienced some of the same problems with motivation and consistency. I think this is usually a sign that you need a break both physically and mentally.  My solution has been to take a few days off, reduce training volume and move away from structured training for few weeks.  Take the pressure off yourself and just do what you really feel like doing for few weeks.  Like Pete mentioned, eventually you should find a race that focuses your training, which should restore motivation and consistency.  The key is to allow yourself to recover first. good luck, Todd

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage? Just make yourself do it.  Make a decision and carry it out. When you don’t train, it’s because you make a decision not to, so make the opposite decision.

Response:

Oh my God. Mosi’s a junior?!?!?! Mike "Where’s my Geritol" Tennent

MR.T. —– I SAID "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!" D.J. "probably next to his depends" (IRONKID)

Response:

Ruth pass this on to Brianna: I got grounded for being eliminated  in the first round of the National Spelling BEA!!!  Everyone get this straight—- I’m not smart—– just CUTE!!!!!!! BTW — Ruth remember, a long time ago,  the pictures of me with my bike at the Ironkids National Championships that I sent you? I don’t remember which bike I had back then but I just received a frame I got off ebay. D.J. "but I still weigh the same" (IRONKID)

Omigod, 63cm.  But you really were cute and your bike really did look like your dad had just taken off your training wheels.  I still have the photo, of course, and the ones with Clinton and members of the US Olympic team, including Evans and Hamm.  When I told a friend I had a pic of you shaking hands with Clinton he thought I was being fooled by a cardboard thingie with just your head sticking out.  It was actually you being congratulated for your performance in triathlon kid championships.  Those were the days, and look at you now.  Who woulda thought.  A spelling flunky!  Some snotty nosed kid hankering to get caged in four wheels and go slobbering around the block, out cruising for what he doesn’t need and shouldn’t have.  Go to your room!  Do not pass go. Leave your dad’s magazines out at the door. Ruth K

Response:

Ruth pass this on to Brianna: I got grounded for being eliminated  in the first round of the National Spelling BEA!!!  Everyone get this straight—- I’m not smart—– just CUTE!!!!!!! BTW — Ruth remember, a long time ago,  the pictures of me with my bike at the Ironkids National Championships that I sent you? I don’t remember which bike I had back then but I just received a frame I got off ebay. D.J. "but I still weigh the same" (IRONKID)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I looked for you on ESPN the other night.  It was my favorite sporting event, the National Spelling Bee.  If you’re riding your trainer during the winter, forget about that S.I. special issue and get out your unabridged dictionary. And with those 4 exams coming up, pay special attention to "your" vs. "you’re" (see your post about being ungrounded from the car. (Gee, isn’t your language arts coaching supposed to be TriBaby’s job?)  By the way, exactly what did you do to get grounded in the first place?

Response:

It’s been about 2 years since my last race and I think I am over my problems, of no time, and you might have the IRONKID to worry about again!! 2 days and 4 exams and this dude is A High Skuhl JUNIOR. I’m happy to say that I am up for the SFS- RIDDANCE AWARD. Every teacher has said they hope the best for me and GOOD RIDDANCE!!!! Pretty Good, HUH? I looked for you on ESPN the other night.  It was my favorite sporting event, the National Spelling Bee.  If you’re riding your trainer during the winter, forget about that S.I. special issue and get out your unabridged dictionary.

And with those 4 exams coming up, pay special attention to "your" vs. "you’re" (see your post about being ungrounded from the car. (Gee, isn’t your language arts coaching supposed to be TriBaby’s job?)  By the way, exactly what did you do to get grounded in the first place?

Response:

Don’t press it Mr. T— one more day and 2 exams!!!! Brian, your safe until Thursday, that’s when I get UN-grounded from the car!!!!!! D.J. " bad to the bone" IRONKID – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh my God. Mosi’s a junior?!?!?! Quit yer whinin’ – at least YOU don’t have the imminent prospect of him operating a motor vehicle in your area.

Response:

It’s been about 2 years since my last race and I think I am over my problems, of no time, and you might have the IRONKID to worry about again!! 2 days and 4 exams and this dude is A High Skuhl JUNIOR. I’m happy to say that I am up for the SFS- RIDDANCE AWARD. Every teacher has said they hope the best for me and GOOD RIDDANCE!!!! Pretty Good, HUH?

I looked for you on ESPN the other night.  It was my favorite sporting event, the National Spelling Bee.  If you’re riding your trainer during the winter, forget about that S.I. special issue and get out your unabridged dictionary. Ruth K

Response:

It’s been about 2 years since my last race and I think I am over my problems, of no time, and you might have the IRONKID to worry about again!! 2 days and 4 exams and this dude is A High Skuhl JUNIOR.

Oh my God. Mosi’s a junior?!?!?! Mike "Where’s my Geritol" Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 Great Floridian ‘99, ‘00

Response:

Oh my God. Mosi’s a junior?!?!?!

Quit yer whinin’ – at least YOU don’t have the imminent prospect of him operating a motor vehicle in your area.

Response:

I have to say that everything I’ve studied about training says you need some time to recover after big events.  Assuming that Wildflower was a key event in your season (how could it not be?), I would slack off and relax for a few weeks afterwards. A lot of my training philosophy comes from marathoning where you would typically plan to do two races each year.  The rule of thumb was to take one day off for every mile you raced, so it was common to have nearly a full month of taking it easy after each race.  That means no workout longer than 30-45 minutes and lots of cross training/fun stuff like rollerblading, etc.) Tri’s aren’t as hard on the body as marathons (why do you think I switched?), but it is still worth some time off after any major effort. I find that when I do take it easy after a big race I’m soon itching to get rolling again — and that is something worth waiting for. My 2 cents worth. Ray Daniels Chicago

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage? Just make yourself do it.  Make a decision and carry it out. When you don’t train, it’s because you make a decision not to, so make the opposite decision.

Response:

A lot of my training philosophy comes from marathoning

we call the let down after a marathon PMS  post marathon syndrome.  takes time, but you do get past it. Ellen

Response:

It’s been about 2 years since my last race and I think I am over my problems, of no time, and you might have the IRONKID to worry about again!! 2 days and 4 exams and this dude is A High Skuhl JUNIOR. I’m happy to say that I am up for the SFS- RIDDANCE AWARD. Every teacher has said they hope the best for me and GOOD RIDDANCE!!!! Pretty Good, HUH? Only a few questions. I see some of the same discussions are on RST, only the names have changed. Is it still proper to pee on your bike or should you get on it and ride to the nearest restroom? Thanks in advance for the info. D.J. "anyone seen my speedo" (IRONKID) .. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method that they use to get over this stage? thanks jeremy b

Response:

I disagree profoundly.  Most triathletes I know and talk to are highly motivated and focussed people, capable of long term vision and effort.  This must be one of few amateur sports in which people will train for a year or more for one event.  So decision making is not the problem.

Yes it is.  When you don’t train, no one is holding a gun to your head to stop you, and even if they were, you would be making the decision to give in to the threat. Training or not training is not some kind of involuntary spasm, it is an act of volition. Balance sometimes is.  As IronPete implies, the mind is crucial to personal enjoyment and therefore success: note I place enjoyment BEFORE success.  If we are not enjoying our sport, why on earth are we doing it?  Making yourself do it is the shortest route to burnout and drop out there is.  You MAKE yourself perform unpleasant duties or chores.  An activity that takes up 10-15 hours of our free time a week should not be a chore, there are enough of those in life.

We do many things in life that are unpleasant, for a variety of reasons.  There are days when anything becomes a chore.  Surveys indicate that many people married for a significant period of time occasionally view even sex as a chore.  That doesn’t change the fact that whatever we do, we decide to do.   As to why do it if you don’t enjoy it, the original poster, by asking his question, made it clear that he had some reason to do it, despite the fact that he didn’t enjoy it.  If it’s important to hom to do it, then he can make himself do it.  Things we do or don’t do are of our own choosing, not something external that happens TO us.

Response:

After my last race–Wildflower, its been difficult to get geared up and  race and train consistently and intensely again. Does anyone have a method  that they use to get over this stage? Just make yourself do it.  Make a decision and carry it out. When you don’t train, it’s because you make a decision not to, so make the opposite decision.

I disagree profoundly.  Most triathletes I know and talk to are highly motivated and focussed people, capable of long term vision and effort.  This must be one of few amateur sports in which people will train for a year or more for one event.  So decision making is not the problem. Balance sometimes is.  As IronPete implies, the mind is crucial to personal enjoyment and therefore success: note I place enjoyment BEFORE success.  If we are not enjoying our sport, why on earth are we doing it?  Making yourself do it is the shortest route to burnout and drop out there is.  You MAKE yourself perform unpleasant duties or chores.  An activity that takes up 10-15 hours of our free time a week should not be a chore, there are enough of those in life. I have no problem about taking time off if I feel I need it.  After the end of the season I will stop all but low level maintenance training for up to a month.  I don’t sweat my diet or my mileage. After a month I figure my perspective is restored enough to start thinking about cleaning my road bike and looking at next season. If you’re having difficulty getting motivated for training again, don’t bother until you want to train again: it will come around.  At a micro level, if I feel like I’m not sure whether I want to run this evening, I’ll give myself the option of turning back after a mile.  I haven’t turned back yet, but I know I can if I want to.  My suggestion is: take it easy for a while, don’t beat yourself up, start again when you want to. Best of Oscar "not tonight" Franklin

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Question:

Has anyone out there had experience training with powercranks?  I am trying desperately  to improve my IM bike split and want to know if they really help. Additionally, does anyone have a used set of 172.5 powercranks?   Thanks,   Erik

Response:

Hi Erik – If you go to www.deja.com and do a powersearch of rec.sport.triathlon as well as the cycling newsgroups then I am sure you will find plenty of past info. Personally, I think there are two keys to a good IM bike split – squats and hills. Cheers, gordo

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Question:

How can I get an entree form for Embrun (France) on 15th August. Thanks. Tonny

Response:

How can I get an entree form for Embrun (France) on 15th August.

Hi Tonny, I don’t think that entry forms are already available. I’m sure I have the postal address of the race director at home, I’ll mail it to you. Feel free to recontact me if you have no news from me in the coming days. Nicolas.

Response:

quelqu’un conna

Question:

Enjoyed your report Lance.  Did my first race two weeks ago, loved it! Good luck, and maybe we’ll see you at the races. Mike Mike Mauldin Charlotte, NC

Response:

Hi there RST.  This weekend I completed my first triathlon — with no small amount of inspiration and help from the folks in this newsgroup.  What follows is a long race report for anyone who is interested.  This is also posted at http://www.panix.com/~lmb/triathlon/races/gold_coast_98.html with pictures forthcoming.  Enjoy! 1998 Long Island Gold Coast Triathlon: Race Report Sunday, June 21, 1998 Port Washington, NY .75km Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run The Preparation The Gold Coast Triathlon was my first race barring one I did in college about 10 years ago. I decided in November or December that I wanted to do this thing called triathlon. I had been running some, and was swimming to recover from a stress fracture in my left tibia. This cross training peaked my interest, and I started looking around for a race to do sometime in the early summer. After a few weeks, I decided on the Gold Coast Tri. This is a small community event on Long Island, not too far from Manhattan where I live. I could get there without too much hassle and it was the right distance for me (a sprint). It’s not really fair to say that I was a runner; I had only been doing about 10 miles a week for a few months. So I basically came into this from a very low fitness level. Anyway, the swimming got me to thinking that I could probably do triathlon and enjoy it. In February, I found a used 1996 QR Special Edition through rec.sport.triathlon and fell in love with riding it. Through the months of February, March and April I spent a lot of time on a Cycleops Mag Trainer, and on nice days would ride around Central Park a few loops. Once the weather got nicer (though this winter was pretty nice overall), I started pushing myself to go farther and faster around the loop in the park. When I was capable of maintaining an average speed of 18-19 mph for about 20 miles I ventured out on longer rides into New Jersey and upstate NY, culminating in a 50 mile ride on the Thursday before the race, maintaining a pace of 20mph. I also kept up the running about 3 times a week after my stress fracture healed around the first of April. I usually put in about 15 miles per week, trying to increase my pace to less than 8 minute miles. In May, I managed 4.5 miles at a 7:53 pace which I felt was pretty good for my level. I also kept up the swimming a couple of times a week until the beginning of June when the weather became so consistently nice that it was much more fun to run or bike. The last 3 weeks before the race, I only swam twice! Needless to say, my training routine was not very scientific. I tried keeping a log and I got a heart rate monitor which I wear, but haven’t used to really increase my speed or endurance yet. I found that I really just enjoyed the exercise, and that I could obsess about pace and distance after I make it through race number one. My peak weeks were in April, when I had a couple of 10 hour weeks. My worst were the two weeks prior to the race when I justified sleeping late as "tapering" (Ha!) and ended up with a couple of long rides, an 8k road race the week before, and a couple of short runs. Despite my "taper", I felt pretty good, and was eager to do the race. Pre-Race Preparations Because I love to eat out, and I’m really not very disciplined, I went out for a seafood dinner the night before the race. My fiancee and I waited for a table at a little restaurant in Port Washington for over an hour before we were seated. The food was good, but we didn’t get back to the hotel until about 11pm. By this time I was kind of freaking out. I still had to get everything ready for the next morning, and go over the transitions before I went to bed — and I wanted to wake up at 5:30am to be nice and warmed up by race start at 8:00. At the hotel, I laid everything out, double and triple checked my tire pressure, practiced getting into and out of this wetsuit that I bought used a couple of days before, and finally got into bed at around 11:45pm. At 1:30am, the air conditioner in our hotel room fell apart, making tons of noise and sending me bolt upright in bed. Needless to say, I did not get a very restful night before the race. However, because of nerves, I probably wouldn’t have slept too well anyway. I awoke at 5:50, and managed to get out of bed by 6:00. The roads were closed at the race location at 7:30, so I rushed around packing things up and eating a powerbar, and left the hotel at about 6:45, so that I could arrive at the race around 7:15. When we got there, there were already a bunch of people setting bikes up in the transition area, and a few volunteers marking people up. I took my bike and bag from the car and hauled it over to the transition area. I kind of just watched other people to figure out what to do. After setting up my bike and stuff, I went to be marked. Since I was so eager to get my race application in (months ago), and this was a small event, I had a pretty low number (7). This was a little private boost. I kept telling myself that elite athletes got to wear the low numbers. Obviously, I do not fall into that crowd, but private fantasies never hurt anyone, right?! After getting instructions from the race director, we all walked along the beach to the race start. The swim was a point-to-point in the Long Island Sound, and would begin in waves. First would be the 35 and older men, second would be 34 and under men, and third would be women and relays. We all splashed around in the water a bit to warm up (and for those of us who had never worn a wetsuit before, to see what it would be like to swim in one). There were about 250 people competing, so it was not really a madhouse. In fact it was really nice to have such a small field. Family and friends were hanging out on the beach with us. My fiancee was great and kept giving me words of encouragement. At last, about 8:05am, we were given final instructions and the first wave was sent off. Five minutes later, the horn sounded for the second wave, and I was off! The Race The Swim I ran from the beach into the cold water of the Long Island Sound. I had positioned myself near the back of the pack since swimming is not my forte, and I had never participated in a mass start like this. I wasn’t really ready for all the elbows and feet I encountered, but eventually got used to it, and as the pack thinned out (it’s lonely at the back) I could swim without having to swim on top of people. Once I got going, I realized that I was having a tough time breathing. I still don’t know if it was the cold of the water, anxiety, or the wetsuit (which I think is a little small). My breaths were shallow and gasping for about the first 5-7 minutes. Also, I had never done an open water swim before. Even point-to-point, navigating is hard. I found myself zig-zagging from right to left a lot. I imagine I could have shaved a couple of minutes off my time if I had just gone in a straight line. My goal time for the swim was modest, I was shooting for 15 minutes. With this swim, it seemed like it would take an eternity. There was not the familiar touch-the-wall-ten-laps-to-go feeling that gives one a sense of pace. I had no idea how I was doing, but I did know that I kept having to stop and reorient myself with the slowly approaching finish. When I finally reached the shore I stumbled out of the water and tried running to the transition area. Man, I was tired! That was harder than I thought it would be. I saw and heard Katie on the shore cheering me on. That gave me a little boost, and as I made it to the pavement, I rememberd to hit the split on my watch: 17:11. Yikes! That was more than 2 minutes longer than my goal. Oh well, "just keep moving," I thought. When I found my bike, I stripped out of my wetsuit. Underneath I was wearing a racing singlet with my number already pinned on, and a pair of biking shorts without the padding. All I had to do was put on my shoes, glasses, helmet and be on my way. But I found it hard to do all of this without sitting down. So I sat on my towel and donned my cycle gear, got up and grabbed my bike and started running for the exit. Once there, I mounted and was off. The Bike I was still a little shakey from the swim, so I had trouble clipping in. Once I did, I remembered to hit the split on my watch. T2 was 2:37 — O.K. I guess, but I probably could have sped that up a bit. The bike course was two 6 mile loops with a couple of rolling hills, but mostly flat. Perfect! This is exactly what I’ve been doing in Central Park all spring. As I found my rythm in the pedals, I started to feel pretty good about things. That familiar feeling of spinning was great. I maintained a cadence of about 85-90, and didn’t bother to push the really big gears. I didn’t do a single brick in my training, so I wanted to be sure I had something left for the run. I was averaging about 20-21 mph and began to pass all those folks who burned by me on the swim. There were two U-turns on the loop, and I was a little tentative the first time around, but as my confidence built, I started hitting corners hard, and by the second loop, I was moving around the U-turns at a respectable pace. Towards the end of the first loop, I began to realize how thirsty I was. The salt from the ocean was giving me cotton mouth and my water bottles became my friends. I was worried about drinking too much right before the run and cramping, but that turned out not to be a problem. As I finished the first loop, I saw Katie again cheering me on. It was really great to have her there. Moral support is incredible sometimes! Just before the end of this first loop, the only people to pass me on the bike blew past me on their way to the finish. I assumed these were the leaders, because they were moving pretty fast, looked like incredible athletes, and their bikes made me drool. After wiping my chin, I focused on the last loop, and finished the bike … read more »

Response:

Question:

There was one on June 1st and another coming up on June 28th. Did anyone here participate?? I’d like to enter one next year and wanted to get an opinion on which of the two is better. Thanks, Meika

Response:

There was one on June 1st and another coming up on June 28th. Did anyone here participate?? I’d like to enter one next year and wanted to get an opinion on which of the two is better.

Man, I must sound like a broken record, but here goes.  The verbiage below is coddled together from several posts I’ve made on the topic over the past year: There are two Alcatraz triathlons, one on June 1st and one on June 28. They both are the same course.  The difference is who puts them on, and who races at the two events. The June 1 event has $$$ and pros, and this year will be its second year. They have decided after all to use the course of the original Alcatraz tri. The June 28 event is produced by Envirosports.  It will be their 17th annual Alcatraz Tri.  Envirosports put on the original Escape from Alcatraz.  Through some tricky legal maneuvering, the "other guys" legally stole the name "Escape from Alcatraz" so that Envirosports could no longer use it.  Envirosports is a relatively low-budget operation.  When the "other guys" started doing their Alcatraz tri, they took all their $$$, broadcast/TV production rights, and prize purses for the pros with them. Basically, though, the two courses are the same, although the Envirosports run is longer.  To see personal reports from the ‘95 and ‘96 events, which include vivid course descriptions, check out the following web page: http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie/96Reports/Triptych.HTML See you on June 28! Envirosports, a local Bay Area race production organization, put on the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon for 15 years, 1980-1995.  For the last 4 or 5 years of that (maybe more) they contracted with Golden Gate Productions, a local broadcast production company, to produce the television coverage. Envirosports never offered any sort of prize purse for the pros, but many of them showed up every year because of A) the TV exposure and B) the challenge of the race. In 1996, Envirosports and GGP had a falling out.  Somehow, through shady legal maneuverings, GGP succeeded in spiriting away title to the name "Escape from Alcatraz" and decided to put on their own triathlon, at the same time forbidding Envirosports from using the name of the event they’d been putting on for more than a decade.  There’s actually some interesting behind-the-scenes dope on this, but I won’t go into that…. Anyway, so in ‘96 GGP and 24-Hour-Nautilus put on their own triathlon, and because they had tons of $$$$ and the TV coverage, all the pros came to their race.  Dave Horning (race director of the original) put on his race as "Alcatraz XVI", still with no prize purse for the pros, and the only "name" who showed up was Holly Nybo, who’s a local anyway. In ‘96 the GGP Escape had a circuit bike course that many racers found dangerous, so in ‘97 they’ve gone back to the "original" bike course, and now the events are nearly identical. So as far as choosing which one to do, the venues are the same.  I always encourage folks to do the Envirosports event as a way of supporting "the little guy" who’s been shafted by the Big Guy with Big $$$.  Envirosports were the originals, so I’m loyal to the originals. If you don’t really care about that, just do whichever one fits into your schedule better.  June 1 is the GGP "Escape" and June 28 is the Envirosports "Alcatraz XVII". Hey, Tom, can we put this in the FAQ?? Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 *** http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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There was one on June 1st and another coming up on June 28th. Did anyone here participate?? I’d like to enter one next year and wanted to get an opinion on which of the two is better. Thanks, Meika

In a nutshell:  The June 1st event is glitzy with TV coverage.  The June 28th event is put on by Envirosports who is a first rate outfit. My suggestion would be to watch the June 1st (I did, it was fun), but give your money to Envirosports and race in the June 28th race. Doug Kraus tri-turtle

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Question:

I recently started using a polar HRM to improve the quality of my triathlon training (running, cycling). As I learned from the little booklet that came with the device, all intensities of the exersices are related to the maximum hart rate. They also suggested that since the theoretical value of 120-age may not be sufficiently accurate for performance athletes, I should check my maximum hart beating rate. Here comes the problem: Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. You can imagine my disturbance when I tell you that I was born in 1968. What is wrong with me?

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… Here comes the problem: Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. You can imagine my disturbance when I tell you that I was born in 1968. What is wrong with me?

Most likely nothing, as you get into better cv shape it becomes harder to reach max heart rate. Also those formula are vague generalities, grt your max heart rate and VO2 max check by a professional to find out your true numbers TriRef

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here comes the problem: Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. You can imagine my disturbance when I tell you that I was born in 1968. What is wrong with me? I’m 50 (or so), and I have the maximum heart rate (MHR)of a 60 year old. Some other 50 year old will likely have the MHR of a 40 year old. Any predictions of MHR are subject to a reasonable standard deviation. I use a Training Heart-Rate chart (which was published in the MAY 1993 Running Times) as my bible. It’s a nomograph which relates resting heart rate (RHR) to MHR, and provides a corresponding training heart rate for 60% through 100% in 5% increments. Assume a MHR of 170 and a RHR of 50. The graph returns the following target heart rates: 65%=128; 70%=134; 75%=141; 80%=146; 85%=152; 90%=158; 95%=164. The April, May and June 1993 issues of Running Times were devoted to HRM traning. The graph is especially useful for determining target heart rate, especially to make adjustments as the resting pulse rate improves with continued training. Denny  8~}

Remember that predictions are just that. Not only should you expect "reasonable deviation",  obviuosly you should accept what is true in practice.   MHR tables are designed to fit the population, not a single individual.  If you are an extreme outlier this may give you something to think about or investigate, but doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem.  Start tracking you heart rate in workouts (graph it) and use this to evaluate your training, not some statistical measure. JWH 96

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Here comes the problem: Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. You can imagine my disturbance when I tell you that I was born in 1968. What is wrong with me?

I’m 50 (or so), and I have the maximum heart rate (MHR)of a 60 year old. Some other 50 year old will likely have the MHR of a 40 year old. Any predictions of MHR are subject to a reasonable standard deviation. I use a Training Heart-Rate chart (which was published in the MAY 1993 Running Times) as my bible. It’s a nomograph which relates resting heart rate (RHR) to MHR, and provides a corresponding training heart rate for 60% through 100% in 5% increments. Assume a MHR of 170 and a RHR of 50. The graph returns the following target heart rates: 65%=128; 70%=134; 75%=141; 80%=146; 85%=152; 90%=158; 95%=164. The April, May and June 1993 issues of Running Times were devoted to HRM traning. The graph is especially useful for determining target heart rate, especially to make adjustments as the resting pulse rate improves with continued training. Denny  8~}

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Here comes the problem:

Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. << First, I’d try a more intense workout to test MHR.  Something along the order of 4-8 X 800m, not allowing recovery to go below 70% of …, oh, well, just don’t sit around for 5 minutes between reps. Second, even if you don’t go higher than 171, don’t sweat it.  Charts and graphs and formulas can only take you so far. Perceived excersion has a lot to be said for it. Mike Stewart

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writes: Here comes the problem: Whatever I try (two times 1 km at max speed, 800 m or all-out dash) my heart does not seem to be able to better a value of 171 bpm. According to all the tables, this means that I am 50 years old. You can imagine my disturbance when I tell you that I was born in 1968. What is wrong with me?

I recommend running a little further to try to get your rate up higher.   To determine my max I ran a mile.  Taking my fastest known mile time, I ran the first 1/4 at 80% pace, the second 1/4 at 90%, third 1/4 at 100% pace, then the last lap as fast as possible.  I hit a max of 203, and I was also born in 1968. Since then I have exceeded this max only once, and it was in an all out short race which ended on a long hill.  I hit 206 this time. Anytime you try to find your max it is a good idea to have someone nearby in case your heart decides not to cooperate. Good luck, Neal HawaiiSportsNet http://planet-hawaii.com/~raceplc

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Question:

I’ve done Triathlon’s for the last 3 years without too much trouble. This winter was the first time that I did a winter race (The Iceman in Prince George, BC, recommended). I was fine with my training until the end of February, where between work, school, and training; training lost out. I’m done school, but for the last 3 weeks, my left knee has been hurting walking up stairs, being bent for more than 5 minutes. Any suggestions?? I’m not sure what to look at, and whether starting to get "back in the saddle" again is a good idea. Karl Strauss

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I’m done school, but for the last 3 weeks, my left knee has been

hurting walking up stairs, being bent for more than 5 minutes. Any suggestions?? I’m not sure what to look at, and whether starting to get "back in the saddle" again is a good idea. Karl Strauss<<< Take good care of it, using your pain level as a guide.  My experience with knee problems taught me that treating them usually involves a combination of many things — stretching, strengthening, heat, ice, motrin, rest, refitting your bike — and some patience.  But don’t abuse your knees.  You really need them.   Steve Irish

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: I’m done school, but for the last 3 weeks, my left knee has been : hurting walking up stairs, being bent for more than 5 minutes. Any : suggestions?? I’m not sure what to look at, and whether starting to : get "back in the saddle" again is a good idea. IMO, knee problems can not be diagnosed over the net.  The knee is a very complicated structure, including lots of tendons, ligaments and cartilage deposits.  There are MANY different problems that can develop and the specific treatment depends on exactly what the problem is.  Get a diagnosis form a competent medical professional. The problem is finding the medical professional.  People who claim an expertise in sports medicine often have little real training or experience in that area.  Even those who do may not have what you need.   For example, hockey players will have different problems than triathletes.  Interview lots of these people and find someone who really knows your sport.  It doesn’t have to be a physician.  I’ve found a great physical therapist who really knows cycling.  (He was Greg LeMond’s PT a few years ago.)  If you simply can’t find someone good, at least get the diagnosis.  People on the net may be able to suggest triathlon-specific solutions. Dave LaPorte U. Minn.

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Question:

In Death Valley it’s dry heat. It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. <- Alltime favorite Minnesota line.

I too thought it was too hot at Grandma’s, and I didn’t even do the marathon. I was in town for the weekend, and since the half was full, I decided to run to the 23 mile mark from the place I was staying (about 12 miles). I was HOT on the hill, and didn’t get any relief by the lake. I watched the leaders go by the 23 mile mark, and the folks in the trailing pack were not looking like happy campers. Admitidly, noone is REAL happy at 23, but these folks looked worst than normal, considering their rankings. Of course, being a former Minnesotan, I coming back this winter with a bunch of "It’s not the cold, it’s the lack of humidity" t-shirts. — |\ ///| Crewstone Consulting ltd.    | Fax:   (910) 777-1191 |/// \| 1001 S Marshall Suite 118    | "Opinions expressed were the

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Kail) writes:

| [deleted stuff] | | WIMPS!  I know a guy who’s doing the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney | race (146 miles) next month.  It will probably be 125 degrees at the | start and below freezing at the finish. In Death Valley it’s dry heat. It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. <- Alltime favorite Minnesota line.

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The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. I guess you never ran in Florida.  Typical summer weather is 75-78 F and 100% humidity at sunrise, climbing to 90-93 F and 60-70% humidity by mid day.  Of course, summer here is May through October. I guess that explains why all the locals were wearing sweats and complaining about the cold for the entire length of the Disney Marathon this year, while I ran in shorts and no shirt.  I think starting line temperature was around 45 F, which most of us would consider ideal.

That explains it.  I put on a shirt to run when it’s below 55 F, which happens 2 or 3 days a year around here.  I have some of my best runs when it’s in the 70’s. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

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WIMPS!  I know a guy who’s doing the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney race (146 miles) next month.  It will probably be 125 degrees at the start and below freezing at the finish.  HE’S not complaining about the weather.

Hey, you won’t hear any of us complaining about the weather in Death Valley either. Mark Sandrock — Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   "Fruechte reifen durch die Sonne, Chemical Sciences Computer Center        Menschen durch die Liebe." 505 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801                   –Julius Langbehn

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | | | The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. | | I guess you never ran in Florida… | yeah, but people _expect_ that in Florida… | | WIMPS!  I know a guy who’s doing the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney | race (146 miles) next month.  It will probably be 125 degrees at the | start and below freezing at the finish.  HE’S not complaining about | the weather. | | #include "disclaimer.h"                |____| There is a FINE line between pride and stupidity…

I’m with Mahoney. It was over 80 when we started our triathlon at 9:00AM Sunday. 64 would have felt cold.

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The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. I guess you never ran in Florida.  Typical summer weather is 75-78 F and 100% humidity at sunrise, climbing to 90-93 F and 60-70% humidity by mid day.  Of course, summer here is May through October. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

I guess that explains why all the locals were wearing sweats and complaining about the cold for the entire length of the Disney Marathon this year, while I ran in shorts and no shirt.  I think starting line temperature was around 45 F, which most of us would consider ideal. — Bob Sarocka Lombard, IL

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| The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. | I guess you never ran in Florida… yeah, but people _expect_ that in Florida…

WIMPS!  I know a guy who’s doing the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney race (146 miles) next month.  It will probably be 125 degrees at the start and below freezing at the finish.  HE’S not complaining about the weather. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

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| The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. | | I guess you never ran in Florida.  Typical summer weather is 75-78 F | and 100% humidity at sunrise, climbing to 90-93 F and 60-70% humidity | by mid day.  Of course, summer here is May through October. | | #include "disclaimer.h"                |____| | yeah, but people _expect_ that in Florida.  The appeal of Grandma’s is the (usually) cool temps with low humidity.  Last Saturday was a very rare occurrence. — | Mike D. Kail                      AT&T:   (612) 945-8044      | | ProviderLink Developer            FAX:    (612) 945-8430      | | "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."         | |  - Ralph Waldo Emerson                                        |

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| | | The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. | | I guess you never ran in Florida… | yeah, but people _expect_ that in Florida… | | WIMPS!  I know a guy who’s doing the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney | race (146 miles) next month.  It will probably be 125 degrees at the | start and below freezing at the finish.  HE’S not complaining about | the weather. | | #include "disclaimer.h"                |____| There is a FINE line between pride and stupidity… — | Mike D. Kail                      AT&T:   (612) 945-8044      | | ProviderLink Developer            FAX:    (612) 945-8430      | | "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."         | |  - Ralph Waldo Emerson                                        |

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| …Florida….  Of course, summer here is May through October. For Minnesotans, Florida has a 12-month summer. Of course, you probably figure Minnesota has a 12-month winter. — Gordon K. Chace                                 voice (612) 482-6524 OpenVision Technologies, Inc.                   fax   (612) 482-2383 RISC: Really Invented on the Sixty-six-hundred by CDC

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Does anyone have the results of Grandma’s Marathon which was run earlier today ?    How was the weather ? —

The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start. The next day’s paper said something like 700/5600 runners ended up in the medical tent, 1600 didn’t finish, and 12 required hospitalization, instead of the usual 1-2.   I started getting dizzy at 16 miles, backed off on my pace, and stumbled in at just under 3:07 (I was hoping for high 2:50’s).  I have never felt worse at the finish of a marathon.  I went and layed down in the shade for 15 minutes before making my way to the beer tent, which I usual get to in under 5 minutes. Linda Sommer won the women’s race in 2:33:?? (time may be off). Some guy from Michigan won the men’s race in 2:18:??, followed by a Mexican 6 seconds later (Grandma’s closest finish).  Doug Kurtis took third with another sub 2:20.                               Bob — Bob Sarocka Lombard, IL

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The weather sucked.  64 degrees and 90% humidity at the start.

I guess you never ran in Florida.  Typical summer weather is 75-78 F and 100% humidity at sunrise, climbing to 90-93 F and 60-70% humidity by mid day.  Of course, summer here is May through October. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

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Does anyone have the results of Grandma’s Marathon which was run earlier today ?    How was the weather ? — Bob Kneisel

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Does anyone have the results of Grandma’s Marathon which was run earlier today ?    How was the weather ?

     Bob Kneisel Women’s National Marathon Championships 1st   Linda Somers (33) Danville, CA         2:33:42 2nd   Kellie Archuletta (32) Las Vegas, NV   2:38:08 3rd   Roxie Erickson (31) Omaha, NE          2:39:08 Linda Somers took the lead at the second mile and was in command by five miles.  She literally ran away from the field. (note: Janis Klecker did not run due to a sore heel) Men 1st   Don Johns (29)  Ottawa Lake, MI        2:18:19 2nd   Jose Ramirez (30) Mexico               2:18:25 3rd   Doug Kurtis (42) Northville, MI        2:19:46 (last year’s winner)       (note: this is the 75th time in 155 marathons he has run in under        2:20 – a world record) The men’s race was close and come down to a sprint in the last 200 meters between Don Johns and Jose Ramirez.   weather:  temperature around 70, partly cloudy day with light wind           more humid than normal [Information is from the Twin Cities Star Tribune newspaper.]

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Hi!   Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?   Because:     1) Then everyone would have to buy yet another thing to be competitive        (and a *very* expensive thing at that).  One bike for bike races, one        bike for triathlons .  .  .     2) HPVs would severely limit the kinds of courses that could be used (no        tight corners, no steep descents etc.)   In Germany the german triatlon union has rules which don’t allowe to use HPV’s.   I think this is ok. Because HPV’s are allowed somebody has an easier bike part   as the one without HPV. < Everbody has got expensive cycles with aerobar, discwheels or trispokes etc. One with a affordable conventional racing bike wouldn’t have any in the bike part. So price or technical advantage can’t be the reason.

Hmm – why outlaw flippers, hand fins, and floatation devices during the swim?   Why don’t we just make all the courses shorter and save people the money they’d spend on all these new things?

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   Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?    Why not just make all the courses about 30% shorter, achieve the same    purpose, and save everybody a bunch of money?<< How much does your bike costs? How often do buy a new one? To save money for everbody you have to have other limitations on bikes then just not using HPV. An HPV costs about the same as a good Tri-bike, no argument! Stefan P.S.: I just discussed this theme with anotherone, the result was       that costs and technical advantage/diaadvantage are no arguments,       when you compare it with an ordinary, affordable racing bike.       The only thing was that Triathletes are probably more conservative       than they believe themselves and that the ITU doesn’t want to go       to far away from the UCI.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?   Why not just make all the courses about 30% shorter, achieve the same   purpose, and save everybody a bunch of money?<< How much does your bike costs? How often do buy a new one? To save money for everbody you have to have other limitations on bikes then just not using HPV. An HPV costs about the same as a good Tri-bike, no argument! Stefan P.S.: I just discussed this theme with anotherone, the result was      that costs and technical advantage/diaadvantage are no arguments,      when you compare it with an ordinary, affordable racing bike.      The only thing was that Triathletes are probably more conservative      than they believe themselves and that the ITU doesn’t want to go      to far away from the UCI.

Have you ever raced a du/triathlon where there were multiple laps required?   This is very common in the US, where insurance/course control problems lead people to choose a 4-6 mile loop instead of dealing with busy intersections, etc and stretching the course out to 30-40K. In short, you lap people.  A lot of them.  While you’re going 30 mph into a turn, coming up on them going 18 mph.  I’ve encountered this situation in national caliber races, because later waves enter the bike course while you’re on your 2nd or 3rd lap.  A bunch of folks on HPVs would only make this a more dangerous situation. Have you ever thought that a bike is primarily a form of transportation, that we have adapted to racing?  I ride my race bike into work on a regular basis.  My ride include a 120 meter decent over a little more than 1 kilometer, then sharing a busy road with cars, and a climb of about 1/2 kilometer almost as steep as my initial descent.  Then I do it again at the end of the day.  I don’t think that most HPV’s I’ve seen are adaptable to these conditions, and what’s more, the better (more aerodynamic) the HPV for a flat, straight course, the less it’ll handle these.  So what, now we need an HPV for flat courses, and an HPV for hilly courses, and an HPV for courses with turns?  Because the guys with sponsors/money will sure have that advantage in no time at all. Finally, what’s the GOOD arguement?  In time, with all the technological improvements we could throw into the concept of a human powered vehicle, we’ll end up climbing out of our little plastic bubbles after finishing the 40K segment of a bike course in 36 minutes.  And then we’re all going to start bitching that the bike segment has gotten too short.  In there a fundamental problem with accepting a technology standard that provides:  (a) affordability for the entry level athlete  (b) maximum adaptability to a wide range of riding/racing conditions  (c) an enjoyable riding experience under normal conditions (unlike, for example, going out on a 32 degree (C) day in an airstream capsule)  (d) maximum safety in close quarter riding conditions (oh, yeah, these never happen in Triathlons ) I don’t know … I still have this revisionist ideal that the guy who rides further than Eddie Mercx in an hour should actually expend more KW to do so…

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Hi! Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?

Because:    1) Then everyone would have to buy yet another thing to be competitive       (and a *very* expensive thing at that).  One bike for bike races, one       bike for triathlons .  .  .    2) HPVs would severely limit the kinds of courses that could be used (no       tight corners, no steep descents etc.). —    LSC (aka Larry Chapman)    (303) 229-3117

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Hi! Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV? Stefan Roessinger

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Hi! Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV? Because:   1) Then everyone would have to buy yet another thing to be competitive      (and a *very* expensive thing at that).  One bike for bike races, one      bike for triathlons .  .  .   2) HPVs would severely limit the kinds of courses that could be used (no      tight corners, no steep descents etc.)

In Germany the german triatlon union has rules which don’t allowe to use HPV’s. I think this is ok. Because HPV’s are allowed somebody has an easier bike part as the one without HPV. Frank Juston Muelhausener Str. 26 D-65203 Wiesbaden

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Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?

Why not just make all the courses about 30% shorter, achieve the same purpose, and save everybody a bunch of money?

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    Hi!         Why triathletes use normal bikes and not HPV?        Because:           1) Then everyone would have to buy yet another thing to be competitive          (and a *very* expensive thing at that).  One bike for bike races, one          bike for triathlons .  .  .           2) HPVs would severely limit the kinds of courses that could be used (no          tight corners, no steep descents etc.)    In Germany the german triatlon union has rules which don’t allowe to use HPV’s.    I think this is ok. Because HPV’s are allowed somebody has an easier bike part    as the one without HPV. < Everbody has got expensive cycles with aerobar, discwheels or trispokes etc. One with a affordable conventional racing bike wouldn’t have any in the bike part. So price or technical advantage can’t be the reason. Stefan Roessinger

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Question:

(2) Pedro Delgado, a Tour De France winner on the Banesto team, was found to be using steriods after a Tour.  Now let me say that I don’t recall which Tour or what happened exactly.  But here is a case of a cyclist using steriods.

During the 1988 Tour, Delgado tested positive for a drug whose only legitimate use is in the treatment of gout.  It can also be used to mask other drugs e.g., steroids.  It is unlikely that Delgado was suffering from gout. However, the drug was not on the UCI’s list of banned substances.  It was on the IOC’s list, and for some reason the officials at first consulted that list, which is simply not relevant in a professional bicycle race. Delgado was not disqualified; rules are rules. — "Wind in my hair – Shifting and drifting – Mechanical music – Adrenaline surge"         – Rush

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I was in Pentiction to watch the 1993 Canada Ironman, and our motel made the following offer: "One free accommodation for a good triathlete. Call early" The motel involved is:     The Village Motel     244 Robinson Avenue     Box 194     NARAMATA, British Columbia     V0H 1N0     Phone: (604) 496-5535 Naramata is about 20 minutes drive up the east side of the lake from the start area. We found the motel quiet, clean, and comfortable. I can answer some questions about the motel, but contact the above address if you are interested in the offer.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [stuff deleted] I think that anabolic steroids are much more relevant to weight lifting, rowing, sprint running, and swimming.  One thing all of these sports have in common is large, heavily muscled athletes.  By contrast, marathon runners, road cyclists, and triathletes tend to be very lean.  For example, at 195 pounds, I am a small rower, but a very large triathlete. What a steroid will allow you to do is recover faster after a workout. A weightlifter will thus be able to lift more frequently and build up bulk. A cyclist or triathlete will be able to work out harder and more frequently without the feeling of running out of gas. From what I understand (and this may or may not be medically correct) a steroid itself does not build bulk, but does help in recovery from workouts. They could therefore help weighlifters and triathletes. A triathlete could work out harder more frequently…this would presumably help in preparing for races.

Three comments: (1) According to my Molecular Cell Biology text, steroids increase glucose levels and metabolism (which could help recovery) AND promote tissue growth. (2) Pedro Delgado, a Tour De France winner on the Banesto team, was found to be using steriods after a Tour.  Now let me say that I don’t recall which Tour or what happened exactly.  But here is a case of a cyclist using steriods. (3) A pro triathlete friend of mine – NOT Holly Nybo or Andy Kelsey, but someone else who will go unamed – told me that she knew of a lot of steriod use among the pros. This is clearly a third hand report, so yes it’s hearsay, but she didn’t tell me that none of the pros used steroids. I’m not trying to say that there is a problem with the pros using drugs. However, I am presenting what I see as evidence that it could help pro triathletes, and there may be some pros who are doing so. t — Porpise: run, bike, swim, make cookies

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In his post, Bill Nunan voices his opinion that "steroids are best for building heavily muscled athletes".  While this is true for most of the instances in which steriod use is reported, it is not the complete story.   As a later poster mentions, steriods allow the body to recover quicker and train harder.   Any intense physical activity, be it weightlifting, rowing, running, cycling or swimming, breaks down muscle tissue.   This tissue must then be rebuilt by the body.   If I remember correctly, a chemical called cortisol (sp?) is released into the blood stream.   This chemical works against muscle re-building (I cannot remember why this is exactly).   Steriods were originally thought to actually "build" muscle, hence the common name "anabolic", meaning muscle building.   Recent research has show that sterioods are _anti catabolic_, meaning that they prevent the breakdown of muscle.   This is accomplished by blocking the body’s absorption of cortisol, thereby allowing much quicker muscle growth.   However, when going off of steriods, the body has to deal with a surplus of cortisol and does so with drasticallly reducing muscle mass.   This makes it very difficult to keep muscle gains from steriod use their use in discontinued. Though distance running and triathalons do not reward heavily muscled competitors, there is an unfortunate "place" for steriods.   I have read several different articles that mention elite distance running and steriod use.   Taking steroids allows atheletes to train harder and more often (i.e. allowing one to run speed workouts three times a week combined with very fast paced distance runs and still improve condition and race performance.)   This is not to say that one needs to do such things to compete, but when at the highest levels of competition some may find it necessary to do so. The largest instances of steroid use in swimming has been (reportedly) in women’s swimming.   Because heavily muscled women from the Eastern Bloc once dominated the sport and many coaches and athletes later admitted to doing so, it is assumed that drugs were the root of their success.   The Chinese women’s performances at the Barcelona games raised quite a few eyebrows as well.   In men’s swimming there is not nearly the premium placed on actual muscle size, merely on size.   Most of the top freestylers are exceedingly large people – 6′6" seems not uncommon.  Unlike track sprinting, where steriods are most commonly used, swimmers in shorter events tend to be very thin and very quick through the water, rather than quick and overpowering like sprinters.   Even at the longerr distances swimmers tend to be long and lean.   Though the distance running analogy could also be applied to swimming, I do not believe that drug use is widespread in swimming. The hazardous side effects of steriods are still very much in question, even by those with vast experince with their use (i.e. bodybuilders, powerlifters, football folk, and sprinters – nothing against these groups as a whole, just  a generalization of those areas most associated with and shown to be involved with steriod use.)   However, it is safe to say that if you are so concerned with your physical appearance or athletic perofrmance that you will use drugs that are illegal and (some feel) life threatening, then your goals and values may be a bit skewed.  In some pursuits it seems impossible to compete at the highest levels w/o such drugs, leaving athletes with the choice between cheating to merely compete or staying clean and never reaching the pinnacle of their field.   This is unfortunate but seems unlikely to change. In the sport of trithalon, I feel that those that reach the highest level do so because they are extremely gifted physically and have the motivation and toughness to train at the levels that are needed to succeed.   However, where there are gains to be made through illegal means those means will be exploited by those not quite able to reach the top.   (I would think blood doping would be far more effective in trithalons than steriod use and unfortunately harder to detect.)   Hopefully the spirit of competition against oneself and the clock that characterizes endurance sports for most of us will keep performance enhancing drugs out of trithalons.                 -bjk

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   [stuff deleted] was it just a coincidence he was using this – draw your own conclusions!

All I know about this case is what I have read on the net, but this comment strikes me as quite unfair, given that: Andrew   *was*   congested   and  "wasn’t   thinking"   when  he  took  the over-the-counter medication. The  drug  was  Pseudoephdrine.  It is  the  most  common  non-prescription decongestant in the U.S.A.  It is also on the IOC banned  substances  list. It is a banned  substance  because it’s a stimulant just as methadrine  and caffeine are.  Ever popped a couple Pseudofeds right before bed?

                                     ^^^^^^ If you mean "Sudafeds", then my answer is yes, just about every time I have a head cold.  It doesn’t stop me from sleeping in the least.  The effect must be tiny. I’ve never heard anything  about steroid  masking wrt this drug.

I seem to recall (possibly from rec.sport.rowing) that some people think decongestants, antihistamines, etc. cause steroid metabolites to be flushed from the body more rapidly, and/or can screw up the detection of steroid use.  All of this leaves open one huge question:  Why would triathletes use steroids? I think that anabolic steroids are much more relevant to weight lifting, rowing, sprint running, and swimming.  One thing all of these sports have in common is large, heavily muscled athletes.  By contrast, marathon runners, road cyclists, and triathletes tend to be very lean.  For example, at 195 pounds, I am a small rower, but a very large triathlete. Gaining weight, even pure muscle, would probably make me slower, not faster in triathlons.  If it is true that, "Andrew was congested, and wasn’t thinking," when he took the Sudafed, then this suggests that drug testing may be something that triathletes do not think about.  From a thread on rec.sport.rowing, I gather that EVERY world-class rower gets a couple of books about banned drugs, and a wallet card with a hotline number to check out every single drug before they take it.  In that culture, nobody could say they "weren’t thinking" when they took a drug, because everybody is aware of the lurking problem in the sport. Perhaps triathletes, marathoners, etc. are a bit more innocent about performance enhancing drugs, because growth hormone, steroids, and such do not make one magically better, as they do in football and other sports dominated by "beefy" characters.  Maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part, but I think it is possible.

Response:

Hi,

 This is sort of a follow-up post to a previous post I sent about the suspension of Andrew McMartin for only 90 days after being caught for using a stimulant – the stimulant was some sort of over the counter antihistamine/decongestant (pseduo.. something or other), well someone asked if this enhances performance, well not exactly, the reason this drug is taken is to mask the use of certain types of steriod detection – was it just a coincidence he was using this – draw your own conclusions! FYI, Bert Sandie

Just an addendum to this post(aka-my .02 worth)- the drug that McMartin was suspended for was pseudoephedrine (commercial name=Sudafed). While Bert’s motivation for this athlete’s actions are entirely viable, the main (illegal) use of this drug is for its effect as a stimulant. When I ran high school track, it was not uncommon to hear of sprinters downing half a bottle of cold syrup before a race.——ACEY

Response:

[stuff deleted] I think that anabolic steroids are much more relevant to weight lifting, rowing, sprint running, and swimming.  One thing all of these sports have in common is large, heavily muscled athletes.  By contrast, marathon runners, road cyclists, and triathletes tend to be very lean.  For example, at 195 pounds, I am a small rower, but a very large triathlete.

What a steroid will allow you to do is recover faster after a workout. A weightlifter will thus be able to lift more frequently and build up bulk. A cyclist or triathlete will be able to work out harder and more frequently without the feeling of running out of gas. From what I understand (and this may or may not be medically correct) a steroid itself does not build bulk, but does help in recovery from workouts. They could therefore help weighlifters and triathletes. A triathlete could work out harder more frequently…this would presumably help in preparing for races.

Response:

Hi, This is sort of a follow-up post to a previous post I sent about the suspension of Andrew McMartin for only 90 days after being caught for using a stimulant – the stimulant was some sort of over the counter antihistamine/decongestant (pseduo.. something or other), well someone asked if this enhances performance, well not exactly, the reason this drug is taken is to mask the use of certain types of steriod detection – was it just a coincidence he was using this – draw your own conclusions! FYI, Bert Sandie

Response:

Hi, This is sort of a follow-up post to a previous post I sent about the suspension of Andrew McMartin for only 90 days after being caught for using a stimulant – the stimulant was some sort of over the counter antihistamine/decongestant (pseduo.. something or other), well someone asked if this enhances performance, well not exactly, the reason this drug is taken is to mask the use of certain types of steriod detection – was it just a coincidence he was using this – draw your own conclusions!

The  drug  was  Pseudoephdrine.  It is  the  most  common  non-prescription decongestant in the U.S.A.  It is also on the IOC banned  substances  list. It is a banned  substance  because it’s a stimulant just as methadrine  and caffeine are.  Ever popped a couple Pseudofeds right before bed? I’ve never heard anything  about steroid  masking wrt this drug.  Ephedrine   is on the IOC "stimulant" list. Andrew   *was*   congested   and  "wasn’t   thinking"   when  he  took  the over-the-counter medication. Bert — this kind of "mis-information"  can be very damaging even with your "dis-claimer".  Please be careful. — LSC (aka Larry Chapman)    (303) 229-3117

Response: