Question:

The run didn’t go as well as I hoped.  My right side cramped up after the bike-run transition and I ended up walking the first half mile. The cramp went away and I ran the rest of the distance, but it already screwed up my time.  At least I finished running. Is this a common suffering at the bike to run transition?  I don’t really feel any trouble with the legs, but I had a terrible side cramp too that took 3 miles to fade away.  It didn’t slow me down too badly, but it certainly was a major pain at the beginning of an 8 mile stretch.

The cramp was a first for me.  Well, technically everything was a first for me.  :-)  I mean that I never cramped up in any of the bricks I ran in training, and I didn’t ride any different in the race (in fact, the bike leg in the race was shorter than I usually ride). — Jet Jaguar I have a spam blocking address.  Replying to me is like pulling teeth. Visit my crappy home page at http://home.att.net/~chmilnir/ MSTie #54297 Potato salad is a dish that is best served cold.  It is very cold in the refrigerator.

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Great race report. If I may make a small suggestion that took me an entire season to figure out, don’t go all out on the bike, even though it is your strength. Save some for the run and your overall time will improve. Congratulations!                Steve Fredericks                Oceanside, CA

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The run didn’t go as well as I hoped.  My right side cramped up after the bike-run transition and I ended up walking the first half mile. The cramp went away and I ran the rest of the distance, but it already screwed up my time.  At least I finished running.

Is this a common suffering at the bike to run transition?  I don’t really feel any trouble with the legs, but I had a terrible side cramp too that took 3 miles to fade away.  It didn’t slow me down too badly, but it certainly was a major pain at the beginning of an 8 mile stretch. — Rec.scuba strokes pics page: www.jor.com/strokes Aquashot page: www.jor.com/dive/aquashot

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Way to go Jet…I am training for my first 1/4 in september…..Hopefully I can report as positively (diff.word) as u did…keep going!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I finished my first tri last Sunday.  I ran the sprint triathlon in Clermont, FL, in the novice division. The swim was harder than I expected.  Swimming with 50 or 60 others around you is like swimming in a washing machine.  I planned on staying near the outside of the group but somehow got shuffled into the middle around the first turn.  I probably got as much water as air.  If I wasn’t well hydrated before the start of the race, I certainly was after the swim!  :-)  I ended up backstroking some of the swim, just so I could catch my breath. My transitions went well.  I practiced them beforehand, and I was like a machine in the race.  I bet I looked like I knew what I was doing.  When I was setting up my transition area in the morning, a guy racked near me (also a novice) kept going on about the advice his experienced friend gave him.  He saw me rolling up my socks and putting them in my shoes and told me "my friend says don’t waste your time with socks, it’s much faster without them".  When I carefully rolled up my shirt, he said "don’t bother with a shirt, a race belt is much faster, my friend said so".  Well, when I came into T1, he was sitting there struggling with his shoes, and as I left, he was still there fiddling with his race belt.  I thought to myself "thanks for the advice, I’ll see you later."  :-)  Turns out I had some of the faster transition times for my division. I cleaned up on the bike.  I’m a strong cyclist despite the substandard equipment I have, I figured this would be my best leg of the race.  I passed a ton of riders on the bike.  I was only passed once, myself.  There was one wicked fast downhill where my bike computer recorded a peak speed of 42 mph.  I spun out of gears around 35, so I was effectively just coasting, when a guy on a much better bike than mine went pedalling by doing about 50 or 55 mph. Considering I was on an ancient second hand bike with 12 speeds and downtube shifters, I think I did pretty good. The run didn’t go as well as I hoped.  My right side cramped up after the bike-run transition and I ended up walking the first half mile. The cramp went away and I ran the rest of the distance, but it already screwed up my time.  At least I finished running. I’m going to do it again.  The next race is in about a month.  I now have a time to beat, and I know where I can easily shave off lots of time.  I need to work on swimming, that was my weakest stage.  I also need a better bike, though it felt nice to pass people with multi-thousand dollar bikes on a crappy old road bike I bought 12 years ago for $80.  :-) — Jet Jaguar I have a spam blocking address.  Replying to me is like pulling teeth. Visit my crappy home page at http://home.att.net/~chmilnir/ MSTie #54297 Potato salad is a dish that is best served cold.  It is very cold in the

refrigerator.

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I finished my first tri last Sunday.  I ran the sprint triathlon in Clermont, FL, in the novice division. The swim was harder than I expected.  Swimming with 50 or 60 others around you is like swimming in a washing machine.  I planned on staying near the outside of the group but somehow got shuffled into the middle around the first turn.  I probably got as much water as air.  If I wasn’t well hydrated before the start of the race, I certainly was after the swim!  :-)  I ended up backstroking some of the swim, just so I could catch my breath. My transitions went well.  I practiced them beforehand, and I was like a machine in the race.  I bet I looked like I knew what I was doing.  When I was setting up my transition area in the morning, a guy racked near me (also a novice) kept going on about the advice his experienced friend gave him.  He saw me rolling up my socks and putting them in my shoes and told me "my friend says don’t waste your time with socks, it’s much faster without them".  When I carefully rolled up my shirt, he said "don’t bother with a shirt, a race belt is much faster, my friend said so".  Well, when I came into T1, he was sitting there struggling with his shoes, and as I left, he was still there fiddling with his race belt.  I thought to myself "thanks for the advice, I’ll see you later."  :-)  Turns out I had some of the faster transition times for my division. I cleaned up on the bike.  I’m a strong cyclist despite the substandard equipment I have, I figured this would be my best leg of the race.  I passed a ton of riders on the bike.  I was only passed once, myself.  There was one wicked fast downhill where my bike computer recorded a peak speed of 42 mph.  I spun out of gears around 35, so I was effectively just coasting, when a guy on a much better bike than mine went pedalling by doing about 50 or 55 mph. Considering I was on an ancient second hand bike with 12 speeds and downtube shifters, I think I did pretty good. The run didn’t go as well as I hoped.  My right side cramped up after the bike-run transition and I ended up walking the first half mile. The cramp went away and I ran the rest of the distance, but it already screwed up my time.  At least I finished running. I’m going to do it again.  The next race is in about a month.  I now have a time to beat, and I know where I can easily shave off lots of time.  I need to work on swimming, that was my weakest stage.  I also need a better bike, though it felt nice to pass people with multi-thousand dollar bikes on a crappy old road bike I bought 12 years ago for $80.  :-) — Jet Jaguar I have a spam blocking address.  Replying to me is like pulling teeth. Visit my crappy home page at http://home.att.net/~chmilnir/ MSTie #54297 Potato salad is a dish that is best served cold.  It is very cold in the refrigerator.

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Question:

I just hope everyone realizes the full reality of this situation. I know a lot of you pros have been dicked out of your money.  I sympathize with you.  I know its hard to make money and race professionally.  However, take a step back and think of Ken.  Imagine what its like to be him right now.  He’s having lawsuits thrown at him and he probably won’t be able to come up with enough money to make everyone happy. I think many people fail to realize he’s still a person here.  And a good person at that.  He has done a lot for triathlon in the United States.  He goes above and beyond to put on some great races.  I remember that after every race I have been to that he puts on, everyone thanks him and tells him what a great job he did.  In fact I can’t even recall off the top of my head a time that I’ve heard a negative comment about his races.  I know I may be babbling here, but the fact is he has helped this sport so much and now people want to dump on him. I urge you if you are a pro to think twice about suing him.  If you chose to thats fine.  You have the right to your money, and thats fair.  Just be considerate of his situation. Thanks, jOe bRAuN

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do you really think a Pro who is owed lets say $1000 for prize money is going to spend thousands of dollars and endure years of litigation? i love football and have never been a fan of the "reverse" or "end around" as they always seem to backfire and fail.   rick

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Question:

The Fort Collins race is on July 18th – Check out www.racingunderground.com for info on the Colorado Tri Scene -Darrin

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Has anyone on this forum heard when the 1999 Fort Collins (Colorado) Triathlon will be held? Thank you. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Has anyone on this forum heard when the 1999 Fort Collins (Colorado) Triathlon will be held? Thank you. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

all i can say is that: one year ago, i simply didn’t know how to swim… yet, i always wanted to tri triathlons. i bought the $13 (somewhat outdated version) total immersion book last spring break and then finished 7 triathlons last summer (including a 1/2 IM). i happen to think that Terry Laughlin is god and i totally look forward to attending one of the camps sometimes. i.e. i suggest going. btw, i was joking about the "god" stuff, i just thought it sounded funny -kevin

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Goodness. What high praise. Thank you Kevin. I look forward to meeting you at a workshop or tri one day. Happy laps, Terry Terry Laughlin Total Immersion Swimming www.totalimmersion.net

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Forgive me if this topic has come up many times, but … My generous wife bought me a Total Immersion weekend for Xmas … it was a much appreciated gift, but I want to know if it is worth it for intermediate/average swimmers or whether it would be $400 out the window. I know that this is a pretty situation specific question …. but I don’t want to feel that the gift will be a financial waste. Personally, I  swim about 35 minute miles free-style, breathe every stroke to the right, and don’t do flip turns (which I’m guessing would cut off 4-5 seconds per lap). I don’t feel like I’m floundering by any means, but don’t feel particularly efficient, either ? even though I’m comfortable enough in with being in water.  I’m trying some masters swimming this winter, and my endurance seems okay – even though I’m a heck of a lot slower than others in the pool. If physical attributes have anything to do with it, I’m 6′ and a bit and about 170 lbs (could stand to lose 5-10 lbs ideally). In other areas, I ran a sub-39 10K this summer, and probably avgd 21-22 mph on a road bike in a short (sub-20 mile) bike leg of flattish duathlon, so my overall level of fitness is reasonable (that was, before the sweet-tooth of the holidays set in). I have yet to compete in a triathlon, but would like to do one this summer. Any testimonials to Total Immersion’s claims that they can change the way you swim in a weekend would be much appreciated, as would the response of any naysayers who feel that the program’s reputation is undeserved. Thanks for any replies, George Oakes

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George, You are a luck guy to have a wife that would "invest" in you like that!  It took me 3 years before I received my first tri-related gift, (a $40 bike helmet). Anyway, about TI.  I went to the seminar 2 years ago.  After the 2 days, I had reduced my stroke count from 23 strokes per length, down to 15, and reduced my time from 2:15 down to 1:50 per 100 yds (no flip turns.)  In addition, I was able to breathe on both sides by the end of day 1!  I have not done the drill work necessary to really improve beyond what I learned at the seminar, but I am convinced that if/when I do, I will definitely get faster, and more efficient. I highly recommend the course to anyone that wants to improve their swimming.   John Welch

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I can’t speak to the course, but I know the book has helped me greatly.   From what I can tell from other posts I’ve read, I think the TI reputation is a positive one and is well deserved. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Forgive me if this topic has come up many times, but … My generous wife bought me a Total Immersion weekend for Xmas … it was a much appreciated gift, but I want to know if it is worth it for intermediate/average swimmers or whether it would be $400 out the window. I know that this is a pretty situation specific question …. but I don’t want to feel that the gift will be a financial waste. Personally, I  swim about 35 minute miles free-style, breathe every stroke to the right, and don’t do flip turns (which I’m guessing would cut off 4-5 seconds per lap). I don’t feel like I’m floundering by any means, but don’t feel particularly efficient, either ? even though I’m comfortable enough in with being in water.  I’m trying some masters swimming this winter, and my endurance seems okay – even though I’m a heck of a lot slower than others in the pool. If physical attributes have anything to do with it, I’m 6′ and a bit and about 170 lbs (could stand to lose 5-10 lbs ideally). In other areas, I ran a sub-39 10K this summer, and probably avgd 21-22 mph on a road bike in a short (sub-20 mile) bike leg of flattish duathlon, so my overall level of fitness is reasonable (that was, before the sweet-tooth of the holidays set in). I have yet to compete in a triathlon, but would like to do one this summer. Any testimonials to Total Immersion’s claims that they can change the way you swim in a weekend would be much appreciated, as would the response of any naysayers who feel that the program’s reputation is undeserved. Thanks for any replies, George Oakes

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My generous wife bought me a Total Immersion weekend for Xmas … it was a much appreciated gift, but I want to know if it is worth it… <snip …

I gave my wife, Maggie, a "TI weekend" for x-mas last year. [This year she got a TeQuilo, or whatever in that price range might fit her better; am I a sweet guy or what? 8^) Anyway...] She was at a level pretty similar to what you describe for yourself. I’ve posted here before that I was amazed at the difference it made in her stroke when I first saw her in the pool after she’d been back and working on the drills etc for about a week. (I’m a pretty fair swimmer and know what a good stroke looks like, but am not a good enough swim teacher to be able to correct all the things she was doing inefficiently.) It was like night and day. She was a _much_ better and more efficient swimmer. There are a couple of things in the TI approach that I don’t agree with (not in absolute terms so much as in the degree to which the ideas are carried; head position is one big example) but, overall, it was worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. She was not, however, a _much_ faster swimmer. Her times came down last season relative to the year before but not nearly as much as she’d (or I’d) expected based on her improved technique (although I’m sure she was burning a lot less energy on the swim). One big reason I think is that although she was a more efficient swimmer, she wasn’t a stronger or more experienced competitive swimmer. She’s since joined a masters swim program and is making a great deal of progress there through the organized group workouts. So the bottom line is I think that you’ll get a lot of value from the TI weekend but don’t give up the masters swim workouts either. Both contain valuable parts of the puzzle.   — Chuck    Department of Biology,  University of Alabama at Birmingham             http://www.uab.edu/uabbio/amsler.htm

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George, Highly recommended! I attended a class awhile back and really enjoyed it. I learned alot and it definitely changed the way I was swim training.  I came from a cycling/running background and needed alot of guidance on how to swim. I would go back if my wife would let me George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Forgive me if this topic has come up many times, but … My generous wife bought me a Total Immersion weekend for Xmas … it was a much appreciated gift, but I want to know if it is worth it for intermediate/average swimmers or whether it would be $400 out the window. I know that this is a pretty situation specific question …. but I don’t want to feel that the gift will be a financial waste. Personally, I  swim about 35 minute miles free-style, breathe every stroke to the right, and don’t do flip turns (which I’m guessing would cut off 4-5 seconds per lap). I don’t feel like I’m floundering by any means, but don’t feel particularly efficient, either ? even though I’m comfortable enough in with being in water.  I’m trying some masters swimming this winter, and my endurance seems okay – even though I’m a heck of a lot slower than others in the pool. If physical attributes have anything to do with it, I’m 6′ and a bit and about 170 lbs (could stand to lose 5-10 lbs ideally). In other areas, I ran a sub-39 10K this summer, and probably avgd 21-22 mph on a road bike in a short (sub-20 mile) bike leg of flattish duathlon, so my overall level of fitness is reasonable (that was, before the sweet-tooth of the holidays set in). I have yet to compete in a triathlon, but would like to do one this summer. Any testimonials to Total Immersion’s claims that they can change the way you swim in a weekend would be much appreciated, as would the response of any naysayers who feel that the program’s reputation is undeserved. Thanks for any replies, George Oakes

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I’m attending in two weeks – let you know.

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You ARE a lucky guy… I have not been to the workshop, but the video and workbook have worked well for me. You can teach yourself to breath on the left side in a couple of weeks.  Just stand in the pool and practice the movements slowly without actually swimming. If you feel embarassed, don’t, because some accomplished swimmer will probably come over and assist.  This is good, because they are usually good looking and can save you a lot of time. For the flip turns, practice doing somersaults in your living room and land with your feet on the wall (don’t soil the paint or no more lovely tri gifts in the future).  Then go to the pool and practice the somersaults in the water.  Get about two strokes away from the wall, dive towards it and flip. After a few trys you’ll be able to do it at the end of a lap.  Try the flip and pushoff at the end of the first lap when you are not tired yet. Gradually work them into your laps so you are doing them every time.  It also helps to go underwater and watch good swimmers do them. Hope this helps. Swimslug

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I’ve enjoyed reading all of the TI-related discussion. Thanks to all for your input. I’d like you all to know, if you haven’t checked it out yet, that we have a HUGE amount of FREE guidance on the TI website at www.totalimmersion.net. As to the question of easier vs. faster, one of the points we repeatedly make to triathletes is that it’s not our goal to teach you to swim faster. It’s our goal to teach you to swim easier – more economically. What you CHOOSE to do with the energy you save is up to you. If you only have to swim, you can choose to use that energy to swim faster. If you have to bike and run after swimming you can choose to use it to run and bike faster. Or you can choose to spend some of it on swimming faster and some on running and biking faster. But our alum who do triathlons have generally reported swimming faster than before, but the time saved in swimming paled to the time they gained from being much fresher when they mounted the bike. One example in a sprint triathlon: Swim improved 90 seconds (from 5:00 pre workshop to 3:30 post-workshop in a 200-meter swim leg, but the rest of the race was 25 minutes faster than the year before, though the individual had not improved in running and biking. One example in an Ironman distance. Pre-workshop swim time 1hr and 1 min. Post-workshop swim time 59 min. BUT, he biked an hour faster than previously because the 59 min was so much easier than the 61 min the year before. I’d take the bigger improvement from economy over the more modest improvement from speed any day. Happy laps, Terry Laughlin Terry Laughlin Total Immersion Swimming www.totalimmersion.net

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Question:

June 7th is the race formerly known as "Great Lakes Triathlon Championships".  Same course, different sponsors.  Still a great race, the run is all on trails.  You can go to      http://www.athleticventures.com for more information.

 Now I remember that race!  It’s a great run on some wild, twisting trails, have to be pretty careful about where your foot falls. — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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Thanks for the info.  That is the race I was thinking of.   I’ve done it twice before. As I remember from driving around the area last year, the roads are pretty rough.  I hope they patch some of the pot holes.  The run is great!  Twisting single track with music at points.  Lot’s of face plants!  I’m there.  Dave B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – June 7th is the race formerly known as "Great Lakes Triathlon Championships".  Same course, different sponsors.  Still a great race, the run is all on trails.  You can go to      http://www.athleticventures.com for more information.  Now I remember that race!  It’s a great run on some wild, twisting trails, have to be pretty careful about where your foot falls. — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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June 7th is the race formerly known as "Great Lakes Triathlon Championships".  Same course, different sponsors.  Still a great race, the run is all on trails.  You can go to      http://www.athleticventures.com for more information. —                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_ `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Speaking of Michigan, I get up there quite often as my wife is from Farmington.  I’m going to be up there the weekend of June 7th and noticed several race listings for the Ann Arbor area.  Any suggestion on which race to do any other good races in that area. I know there is the Pizza Man series and many members of my club say they are a really great series, so I would suggest any one of those for you.  I’m not sure about The Great Lake ones, though.  There is also a bike "race" (more of a ride, I think) out at Island Lake State Park that weekend.  I think it’s up to a 100K ride. — Tri Your Hardest!  /O     ___o      o ~~~~   _ <,_    <|       (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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I know of one other person (Andy Tumpowsky) from Michigan on this newsgroup and just wondered how many others are from this area (Detroit area suburbs)? — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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Speaking of Michigan, I get up there quite often as my wife is from Farmington.  I’m going to be up there the weekend of June 7th and noticed several race listings for the Ann Arbor area.  Any suggestion on which race to do any other good races in that area.  Also does anyone knows if the Great Lakes Tri & Du is done anymore?  I’d like to know where and when.  They moved it on me last year. Dave B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know of one other person (Andy Tumpowsky) from Michigan on this newsgroup and just wondered how many others are from this area (Detroit area suburbs)? — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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Speaking of Michigan, I get up there quite often as my wife is from Farmington.  I’m going to be up there the weekend of June 7th and noticed several race listings for the Ann Arbor area.  Any suggestion on which race to do any other good races in that area.

 I know there is the Pizza Man series and many members of my club say they are a really great series, so I would suggest any one of those for you.  I’m not sure about The Great Lake ones, though.  There is also a bike "race" (more of a ride, I think) out at Island Lake State Park that weekend.  I think it’s up to a 100K ride. — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

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Question:

Well, I started training for the 1998 tri season last November.  I’ve had to overcome some injuries which I thought would keep me from running, but everything seems OK now.  I’ve done a few warm-up races, then last weekend I did the Tom Landry and did very well, and I feel real good about it (I went from BOP to MOP, and really not that far behind the FOP). Next Sunday I will be doing the USTS/Bally race here in Dallas.  I am really hyped up for this, since I did so well last weekend!  And this will be a big time race, with lots of hot shot participants.  I feel like I will be participating in the big leagues at this race.  I am getting nervous thinking about it!  Or, maybe it is anticipation. So here it is Wednesday, I have important work related things to do, and I’m spending time on RST, planning my race, thinking, thinking…. does nervous anticipation count as training time? "Hot to tri" John…

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WAY TO GO, JOHN !! You’ll do GREAT !  Your anticipation is due to your desire to do really well;  and you will !! Best wishes ! Lynne

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So here it is Wednesday, I have important work related things to do, and I’m spending time on RST, planning my race, thinking, thinking…. does nervous anticipation count as training time? "Hot to tri" John…

You’re not alone when you’re nervous. You’ll soon discover that nervousness stems from you putting the pressure on yourself to do well, not from other people. You will always be the harshest critic on yourself, not others. I believe you’ll do well. Just remember to have fun out there and you’ll do fine.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   ‘98 IMC, GCT, BSLT IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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Question:

Having read Ruth’s posts for some time now and having had the pleasure of meeting her in person, I find the suggestion that she in some way lacks compassion to be absurd.  And the implication that this "little old lady" is battering defenseless triathletes during the swim is LOL-type funny. Timothy — Timothy Gotsick

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Matthew, You are certainly entitled to your opinions and your right to voice them. And as such, kindly respect the views and opinions of others. Understand also that you may represent a minority view. AJ Calabrese – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Forgive me if I hold of my applause on this woman. Given the views she has been espousing recently here regarding the tragedy that occurred at Mrs. T’s, it may be a little dubious to some (at least me) about how perhaps she achieved some of those results and the price others may have paid who got in her way at a swim start. I don’t really give a hoot about place finishes and age-group performances. I compete in Triatholons to see what I myself am capable of doing and don’t really care how I do versus the competition. When you start to lose your humanity and compassion for other people — as some of Ruth’s comment on this topic certainly do reek of!!!!! — who gives a shit what place that person comes in some age group competition. Just my thoughts. Matthew

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Matthew, You are certainly entitled to your opinions and your right to voice them. And as such, kindly respect the views and opinions of others. Understand also that you may represent a minority view. AJ Calabrese

AJ         To be honest, I do not understand the purpose of your message at all.         No where do I say that Ruth should not be able to express her opinions. No where do I come close to imply such a thought. People should be free to say whatever it is that they wish to say, with IMHO some exceptions for libel and an inciting a riot. I respect Ruth’s right to say anything at all that falls within those very very very broad bounds.         And of course that right should be extended to those whose opinions are within the minority as well.         As to what relevance it has whether my views are in the minority or the majority is beyond me. Sometimes the majority is right. Sometimes it is wrong.         And sometimes majority views are just interested in preserving the status quo which benefits it. The majority flexing its collective muscle. And this may well be the case here. Matthew

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Good one, Ruth! BTW, I enjoyed the article in triathlete very much. Ed

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Gotsick) says: Having read Ruth’s posts for some time now and having had the pleasure of meeting her in person, I find the suggestion that she in some way lacks compassion to be absurd.  And the implication that this "little old lady" is battering defenseless triathletes during the swim is LOL-type funny. Timothy

You obviously have never had the pleasure of seeing Ruth in the weight room. She is fully capable of battering senseless whomever and whatever has the misfortune to get in her way. I’m not really joking either- impressive is putting it lightly. Jeff Mitchell Penn State University btw- Ruth- that was me on the bike on whitehall last monday- good to      see you again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Timothy Gotsick) says: Having read Ruth’s posts for some time now and having had the pleasure of meeting her in person, I find the suggestion that she in some way lacks compassion to be absurd.  And the implication that this "little old lady" is battering defenseless triathletes during the swim is LOL-type funny. Timothy You obviously have never had the pleasure of seeing Ruth in the weight room. She is fully capable of battering senseless whomever and whatever has the misfortune to get in her way. I’m not really joking either- impressive is putting it lightly. Jeff Mitchell Penn State University

Hey, Jeff! Just because she’s "capable" doesn’t mean she *does* it! Can we please stop this Ruth-bashing and give the woman the credit and respect she is due? -Shelley

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Hi Shelley I must confess(#5?) that I sent Jeff a note saying that his post about my ability to bash everyone, based on my performance in the weight room, was fun to read.  I also accused TGCarlson of selling me short, suggesting that I lacked true pummeling ability, for which he apologized.  The whole idea that I somehow place well in triathlons as a result of my aggressive swimming is just too funny not to enjoy. Ruth "IronGal" Kazez

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She’s a little old lady…..

Score:   Kazez 1, Publish 0

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I second Tricias’s comments on this string. Why not go back and read Ruth’s comments in context? I find it laughingly implausible that Ruth or anyone in her age group got their success crawling over the backs of other swimmers. Timothy Carlson

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What a great article about Ruth!  It’s wonderful to see such a talented and dedicated senior age grouper get so much well-deserved ink! –Lee (In awe of Ruth) Crumbaugh Forgive me if I hold of my applause on this woman. Given the views she has been espousing recently here regarding the tragedy that occurred at Mrs. T’s, it may be a little dubious to some (at least me) about how perhaps she achieved some of those results and the price others may have paid who got in her way at a swim start.  When you start to lose your humanity and compassion for other people — as some of Ruth’s comment on this topic certainly do reek of!!!!! — who gives a shit what place that person comes in some age group competition. Matthew

– Matthew— What views has she "espoused" that you object to?  You certainly seem to be in a hurry to rush to judgment about her; it sounds as if you haven’t even read all of the posts involved—frankly, it sounds as if you’ve only been reading Don Herron’s posts, which have been rife with misinterpretations of other people’s posts and very short on tolerance for other points of view. You imply that Ruth has somehow condoned roughing people up in the swim, which she emphatically did NOT do!   How you ever extracted from any of her posts that she might possibly have engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct in order to achieve her excellent results is beyond me.  Please think carefully before you post personal attacks like this.  Don’t leap before you look at all the facts, which is exactly what the person who started this entire thread seems to be all too eager to do. Peace! Tricia                                    _                       o         –    o      ’               /|_      -    </_  `     ‘          _ / _       – __/    /o_         (( )  ( ))       –  /

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What a great article about Ruth!  It’s wonderful to see such a talented and dedicated senior age grouper get so much well-deserved ink! "She’s a little old lady from Pennsylvania.  Go baby, go baby, go baby go!" to paraphrase the Beach Boys. –Lee (In awe of Ruth) Crumbaugh

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What a great article about Ruth!  It’s wonderful to see such a talented and dedicated senior age grouper get so much well-deserved ink! "She’s a little old lady from Pennsylvania.  Go baby, go baby, go baby go!" to paraphrase the Beach Boys. –Lee (In awe of Ruth) Crumbaugh

Forgive me if I hold of my applause on this woman. Given the views she has been espousing recently here regarding the tragedy that occurred at Mrs. T’s, it may be a little dubious to some (at least me) about how perhaps she achieved some of those results and the price others may have paid who got in her way at a swim start. I don’t really give a hoot about place finishes and age-group performances. I compete in Triatholons to see what I myself am capable of doing and don’t really care how I do versus the competition. When you start to lose your humanity and compassion for other people — as some of Ruth’s comment on this topic certainly do reek of!!!!! — who gives a shit what place that person comes in some age group competition. Just my thoughts. Matthew

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Our own r.s.t.-er, Ruth Kazez, is featured in the new issue of Triathlete.  Finally that magazine is printing some interesting information!  Good luck at Ironman, Ruth!      TriGal

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She’s a little old lady…..

he said, not so softly, assuming she was hard of hearing.  She rocked her chair slowly, tugging at the flowered apron that covered her smooth gastrocs, and offered the nice young man another tidbit of Powerbar. "No," he said, "gotta run, doing a century today."  "A century?  Why, no, I’m not there yet."  He thought she’s gotta be close, all those wrinkles and white hair.  He looked closely at her sleeves; strange bulge above the elbows, in the area of the biceps.  These old gals have fat in funny places.  He explained he was going for a bike ride.  "Oh isn’t that nice.  I know how to ride too.  May I come along?"  Geez, he thought, she’ll either be using training wheels or an oversize trike. He didn’t know how to say no, figured the ordeal would be over in a minute.  She whipped off her apron.  Between the wrinkles were the quads he’d be working for all year in the weight room.  One foot in the left pedal, she swung the other leg over.  "Watch it, sonny, she spat out," and he wiped the dust from all over himself and his bike. Ruth Kazez

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Question:

Dear friends: I’ll be in Europe for the first half of September and am interested in possibly racing in some duathlons or triathlons, or even running or time trials.  I’ll be at conferences in the Netherlands until Sept. 1 and again on the 13-15, in England 16-19th, and will probably travel around mostly vacationing in Belgium, France, Switz., and Italy in between.  So races on the weekends of Sept. 2 and 9 would be great. Any sources of information would be greatly appreciated.  I’ve checked the standard web pages and have gotten a few things.  I’d like duathlons or tris with relatively short swims.  I’m 41 and am doing Duathlon Worlds in November and could really use more racing experience (not to mention faster run splits, more endurance, etc…). thanks John Doyle

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Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Dear friends: I’ll be in Europe for the first half of September and am interested in possibly racing in some duathlons or triathlons, or even running or time trials.  I’ll be at conferences in the Netherlands until Sept. 1 and again on the 13-15, in England 16-19th, and will probably travel around mostly vacationing in Belgium, France, Switz., and Italy in between.  So races on the weekends of Sept. 2 and 9 would be great. Any sources of information would be greatly appreciated.  I’ve checked the standard web pages and have gotten a few things.  I’d like duathlons or tris with relatively short swims.  I’m 41 and am doing Duathlon Worlds in November and could really use more racing experience (not to mention faster run splits, more endurance, etc…). thanks John Doyle

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Question:

I am an aspiring triathlete.  Is it worth it to put TT bars on my bike? What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Please e-mail me.  Thanks.

I think aero bars are one of the best and *cheapest* ways to increase your efficiency.  You can usually pick up the standard Scott bar for around 40-50 bucks.  The next best and cheapest accessory would be Disk covers, again their around $60.  Well hope this helps!!  TRI HARD!!

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I am an aspiring triathlete.  Is it worth it to put TT bars on my bike? What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Please e-mail me.  Thanks.

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 I am an aspiring triathlete.  Is it worth it to put TT bars on my bike?  What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Please e-mail me.  Thanks.

Hi buzboy;         Lets just say, "Don’t leave home without them"         Try the Syntace, # 1 choice for comfort, or the Profile Air Strike. They both offer both the aero position and comfort. Once you try them you will love them. Wayne

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I am an aspiring triathlete.  Is it worth it to put TT bars on my bike? What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Please e-mail me.  Thanks.

I felt kind of silly doing this until I saw a pro criterium on TV where the leader did the same thing after he had broken away from the pack.. But anyway, for my first few races, I just rested my elbows on my regular handlebars, kind of imitating where my arms would be if I had aero bars.  It’s not as comfortable or as fast as aero bars, but it is free.  Once you decide if you want to stick with doing triathlons, aero bars are probably one of the best investments in equipment. — Dan Reiley, Ph.D.         AT&T Bell Labs    Naperville, IL

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Question:

:I’m not Bruce, but I’ll throw out a few possible rules (1994) that might :disqualify the recumbent that QRman is thinking of designing. :Note that at least in 1994, the front-center rule is still in effect :for Tri-Fed.  I think the most likely candidate for ruling it :illegal is 5.11c, unless you decide to create an extremely long :saddle, in which case 5.12 could probably be used. :     — John Well I am Bruce, and John has nailed this one on the head. Also of note: Due to the passage of NAFTA, Some tri Fed rules had to be changed, one that may  be of interest, Dan, states: All bicycles manufactured by a company with a mexican name must be wholly produced in Mexico , penalty will be DQ.   I just realized that giant sucking sound is actually triathletes replenishing fluids with a HED water fairing…,oops I mean bottle. Bruce Platt

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<<I’m not Bruce, but I’ll throw out a few possible rules (1994) that might <<disqualify the recumbent that QRman is thinking of designing. <<Note that at least in 1994, the front-center rule is still in effect <<for Tri-Fed.  I think the most likely candidate for ruling it <<illegal is 5.11c, unless you decide to create an extremely long <<saddle, in which case 5.12 could probably be used. I have not paid too much attention to the rulebook lately, except to note that it has always been a policy of Tri Fed to mirror the UCI rulebook, a policy which I note (gladly) is no longer followed. I remember when Bob Langan and I were discussing the nose of the saddle thing, specifically a requirement regarding how far IN FRONT the nose could go.  The old UCI rulebook said that if you drew parallel vertical lines from the nose of the saddle and from the bottom bracket, those lines could be no further than 15cm apart.  Back in 1989, I think it was, I brought Liz Downing to the Record Challenge in Moriarty, NM and she set the new national record for 40km.  They didn’t measure the bike, but I was there with a hacksaw just in case, as the nose of her saddle protruded a couple of cm in front of the BB. I had had heated discussions with the "then" person in charge of the rules for USCF, who insisted that the rule MEANT 15cm BEHIND the BB, but could not go in front of the BB.  I asked him which OTHER unspoken rules there were that I didn’t know about, at which point he went a little ballistic.  He got fired a few months later. Bob Langan in his wisdom recommended that proper rules go in the book, so that there would be no question.  It is therefore an easy "riddle" to figure out why a recumbant wouldn’t be legal in triathlon, however a similar question posed for an audience of USCF racers would be much more difficult to answer, with their rulebook as it currently is. QRman

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<<Recumbents are not legal, the design does not fit the dimensions <<stipulated in the rule book. A ruling that I have used as a head official <<is that they may also be a safety hazard ( not trying to be anti recumbent <<) but being low they could become a hazard if a pack should form. Because BDPLATT has a good sense of humor and I feel like being a stinker, here goes: 1.  What exactly do you mean "recumbant" (both front and rear)?  Caution, though, when you answer, that you don’t describe a bike with aero bars. 2.  Which rule disallows recumbants?  Obviously there is the 2 meter rule (overall length).  But some recumbants might fit inside that.  The UCI has, I believe, thrown front/center out altogether as a description criterium of a bike, as has the USCF. Also, I think I’ve seen rear recumbants which would have no trouble with any front/center rule. 3.  What if I had a recumbant, and it met all stated rules, and I demonstrated that I could ride it with at least the same amount of skill as another person could ride a standard bike? QRman

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