Question:

I should be in the Olympics if I swam 1500 in 14:30 I was generally more pleased this year as a competitor in this year’s race, last year was a 3 on a scale of 10, this year a 7.  Here are my pros/cons: Pros 1) T1 bags delivered on time, I wasn’t taking chances and handed my stuff to my wife, but from what others told me it went well. 2) The streets were in better shape this year, a lot less bumping and jarring.  The streets weren’t half as littered with stuff that had been bounced off peoples bikes. 3) Good marshalling, a lot of warnings issued (at least to the group of guys holding my wheel) which seemed to do the trick. 4) Easy access to T2 gear, nice to be able to get in get out and out of Downtown LA quickly. Cons 1) Mis-measured swim course, apparently they measured at high tide and the race started at low tide. 2) No water buckets this year to wash feet. 3) Not very spectator friendly, hard/expensive parking, poor crowd control and in some cases too much control, poor viewing spots. 4) Poor T2 location, it was one long (for 3000 competitors, very long) street, they need to find a empty parking lot or park.

Hi Tacguy, I have to agree with you 100% on your note. However: How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes! They fixed all of the problems from previous years. The swim is the weakest part of my tri, but I do appreciate at least semi accurate course measurement. Mark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, after listening to various sources complain about this race the last few years, I was determined to see if it was as bad as everyone said. This morning was a fantastic day for a race, great weather and ultimately a race that was well organized. Here were some of the things that went right: Shuttles – On time! Porta-potties – Several! Race Start – On Time ( and that is alot to say about a race that has several thousand )! Bike course closure – Well moarked and ALOT of room; the whole side of a 2-3 lane roadway to be exact! Roadway – Clean ( this is a first in L.A. )! Course Volunteers – Giving ample and extra direction, that was correct! and lastly, bags returned from T1 to the finish by the end of your race! I was very happy with the race over-all. How did your race go?

Response:

Did the elites swim the same course ?? or at a significantly different time ?? The splits listed for them don’t look out of line… although their overall times and bike splits suggest the bike course was short. ++Mark.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Tacguy, I have to agree with you 100% on your note. However: How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes!

Response:

Did the elites swim the same course ?? or at a significantly different time ?? The splits listed for them don’t look out of line… although their overall times and bike splits suggest the bike course was short.

Was it a different wave?  Another thing Pacific Sports is known for skimping on is adequate anchors for their buoys. In Cleveland they’re inside a breakwall, and even then, the only one that never drifts is lashed to a channel marker.

Response:

They adjusted the course for the pros once they saw a lot of the age groupers pulling off sub 20′ times.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Did the elites swim the same course ?? or at a significantly different time ?? The splits listed for them don’t look out of line… although their overall times and bike splits suggest the bike course was short. ++Mark. Hi Tacguy, I have to agree with you 100% on your note. However: How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes!

Response:

Why?  Because they’re a bunch of ripoff artists just looking to make a quick buck, and that’s the way a former race sponsor described them as well.  Their races cost twice as much as other local races, and are always fiascos.  Wherever the money’s going, it doesn’t go to serving the participants.  Things like no cold water anywhere on the course or after the race, when it’s 90F or hotter out, a water station with no cups – women with gallon water jugs shouting "tilt your head back and open your mouth"

I’m sure there’s an innappropriate comment to make here, but I’m not going to do it -Harold

Response:

Why?  Because they’re a bunch of ripoff artists just looking to make a quick buck, and that’s the way a former race sponsor described them as well.  Their races cost twice as much as other local races, and are always fiascos.  Wherever the money’s going, it doesn’t go to serving the participants.  Things like no cold water anywhere on the course or after the race, when it’s 90F or hotter out, a water station with no cups – women with gallon water jugs shouting "tilt your head back and open your mouth" I’m sure there’s an innappropriate comment to make here, but I’m not going to do it

I already did it for you, at the water stop, to the woman with the water, during the race. And yes, because there were several of them spaced out along 75 ft. of curb, I managed to make all the comments that are running through your twisted little head.

Response:

They are the proud director’s of National City- Rock & Roll – Metropolitan Bank Tri in Cleveland.  The big downtown race.   They have destroyed this event, so no wonder the sponsorship has changed 3 times in the last 5 years.   There was a big discussion a while back on Duathlon.com about how they messed up National City (which was the ITU world Championship in 1996)

Yup, and National City pulled their sponsorship because Jack Caress was a scam artist who always had his hand out, and none of the money seemed to find it’s way to services for the participants. The races are overpriced.

You have an amazing capacity for understatement. I also throw in this nugget (Just because I know it will piss off Harold and the penguin).  They tried to have three races an Olympic (main event) a sprint (okay I’ll buy, for the beginner’s who want to have fun), but they also added this Super Sprint (which was like a 200m swim, 8 mile bike and a 1.2 mile run), which wasn’t for kids, but meant for adult "triathletes" kind of an embarrassingly short race if you ask me.  This whole gala of events (3 races occuring simultaneously on an 8 mile bike loop) meant the first race started at like 6:30 am, which is just a tad bit too early for Cleveland (Hey I can understand if it was Arizona, where the sun actually shines) plus you have athletes going drastically different speeds on a dangerous bike course.

Don’t forget that the bike course is so rough, you find water bottle CAGES along the side of the road afterwards.  Do NOT do this race without threadlocking every fastener on your bike. I also saw a really bad bike wreck during the race.  The road surface is very poor and I saw some guy hit a pot hole or a seam and just bite it bad. I think he was out cold.

You saw just one?  I’ve seen dozens over the years at that race.

Response:

I’m not sure why it is taking Pacific Sports 3 years to get the race right. Anyone done other PS races? They are the proud director’s of National City- Rock & Roll –

Metropolitan Bank Tri in Cleveland.  The big downtown race.   They have destroyed this event, so no wonder the sponsorship has changed 3 times in the last 5 years.   There was a big discussion a while back on Duathlon.com about how they messed up National City (which was the ITU world Championship in 1996) The races are overpriced. I also throw in this nugget (Just because I know it will piss off Harold and the penguin).  They tried to have three races an Olympic (main event) a sprint (okay I’ll buy, for the beginner’s who want to have fun), but they also added this Super Sprint (which was like a 200m swim, 8 mile bike and a 1.2 mile run), which wasn’t for kids, but meant for adult "triathletes" kind of an embarrassingly short race if you ask me.  This whole gala of events (3 races occuring simultaneously on an 8 mile bike loop) meant the first race started at like 6:30 am, which is just a tad bit too early for Cleveland (Hey I can understand if it was Arizona, where the sun actually shines) plus you have athletes going drastically different speeds on a dangerous bike course. They also have a pro race, which is invite only, with only ten pros.  Why limit the number of pros?  This is just stupid in my book, but I guess I am not a marketing genius like the folks at Pacific Sports LLC. The final thing, is results.  They use the most ridiculous format for posting them on the web (just look and you’ll see, unlesst they changed it). Plus they never even proof read them.  Even 2 days after the race they had two guys listed in the top 20, with bike splits like 15 minutes faster than everyone else.  Why? the bike course is 3 loops (these guys only did two) The fact that an RD would post results with such obvious errors in them just shows they don’t even care about a quality event, and are too incompetent to time it right and to publish correct results.  I emailed them with a list of complaints (only time I ever complained to a RD) and they did fix the results within a week. I also saw a really bad bike wreck during the race.  The road surface is very poor and I saw some guy hit a pot hole or a seam and just bite it bad. I think he was out cold. BTW the last time I did it (2000) the fastest splits for the "1500m" swim was 11:00 and change, so they are quite good at shorting the swim.

Response:

For the Olympic distance race it was a loop. Straight out (west), then left around a buoy (southwest), then right (west), then right (north).  Right again (east), another right (southeast) towards center, then left (east) to the beach.  After writing that I’m surprised I didn’t get lost.

So you had left and right turns?  I’ve never seen a course do that – triathletes aren’t that smart in the middle of a race.  I suppose for a 1500m course you either need 2 laps, or something like that.   In any event, definitely not an issue of currents, then.   — Jason O’Rourke www.jor.com

Response:

2 lefts, 2 rights, with buoys on the right for the back stretch, here’s the link to the map: http://www.latriathlon.com/Images/Maps/02LATMap.gif If I remember correctly there were more buoys in the water then represented in the picture. It really wasn’t that bad once in the water, it just sounds bad on paper. It was really short though.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the Olympic distance race it was a loop. Straight out (west), then left around a buoy (southwest), then right (west), then right (north).  Right again (east), another right (southeast) towards center, then left (east) to the beach.  After writing that I’m surprised I didn’t get lost. So you had left and right turns?  I’ve never seen a course do that – triathletes aren’t that smart in the middle of a race.  I suppose for a 1500m course you either need 2 laps, or something like that. In any event, definitely not an issue of currents, then. — Jason O’Rourke www.jor.com

Response:

I’m not sure why it is taking Pacific Sports 3 years to get the race right. Anyone done other PS races?

It’s been about ten years in Cleveland, and they STILL haven’t gotten it right. They’ve chased away three sponsors, and another race here, the Towpath marathon, the sponsor just pulled them off of after two years.  They tried to start their own marathon, and it never got off the ground. Why?  Because they’re a bunch of ripoff artists just looking to make a quick buck, and that’s the way a former race sponsor described them as well.  Their races cost twice as much as other local races, and are always fiascos.  Wherever the money’s going, it doesn’t go to serving the participants.  Things like no cold water anywhere on the course or after the race, when it’s 90F or hotter out, a water station with no cups – women with gallon water jugs shouting "tilt your head back and open your mouth" A run course over century old cobblestone streets with gaps between  the stones wider than your foot and up to six inches deep.  less than 10 porta johns for 1200 plus participants. A marathon in a national park with no toilet facilities at the finish line without an intervening 20 minute shuttle ride, IF you don’t have to wait 40 minutes for the shuttle.

Response:

Cons 1) Mis-measured swim course, apparently they measured at high tide and the race started at low tide. How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes!

Was there a favorable longshore current?  The difference between low and high tide on an LA beach shouldn’t add up to 500m.  But yeah, 30 to 18 sounds like a short course if you ended up anywhere near the swim start.   — Jason O’Rourke www.jor.com

Response:

Was there a favorable longshore current?  The difference between low and high tide on an LA beach shouldn’t add up to 500m.  But yeah, 30 to 18 sounds like a short course if you ended up anywhere near the swim start.

If it’s a question of a natural phenomenon, or Pacific Sports screwing up, the latter is the more reliable bet.

Response:

It was a very long run in and run out of the surf.  I should have done a sub 25′, I looked at my watch when I stepped out and it read 14:30.  It took ~0:00:45 to run in, so I would say total water time was sub 14:00. Either my extra swim training is really paying off or Pacific Sports screwed up – I tend believe the later as well.  By most peoples account and there times at that distance the swim seemed to be ~1000m. I’m not sure why it is taking Pacific Sports 3 years to get the race right. Anyone done other PS races?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Was there a favorable longshore current?  The difference between low and high tide on an LA beach shouldn’t add up to 500m.  But yeah, 30 to 18 sounds like a short course if you ended up anywhere near the swim start. If it’s a question of a natural phenomenon, or Pacific Sports screwing up, the latter is the more reliable bet.

Response:

For the Olympic distance race it was a loop. Straight out (west), then left around a buoy (southwest), then right (west), then right (north).  Right again (east), another right (southeast) towards center, then left (east) to the beach.  After writing that I’m surprised I didn’t get lost. So in short yes, the start and finish were very close.  This was a course change from the last two years when we started south of Venice Pier and headed North.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cons 1) Mis-measured swim course, apparently they measured at high tide and the race started at low tide. How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes! Was there a favorable longshore current?  The difference between low and high tide on an LA beach shouldn’t add up to 500m.  But yeah, 30 to 18 sounds like a short course if you ended up anywhere near the swim start. — Jason O’Rourke www.jor.com

Response:

Well, after listening to various sources complain about this race the last few years, I was determined to see if it was as bad as everyone said. This morning was a fantastic day for a race, great weather and ultimately a race that was well organized. Here were some of the things that went right: Shuttles – On time! Porta-potties – Several! Race Start – On Time ( and that is alot to say about a race that has several thousand )! Bike course closure – Well moarked and ALOT of room; the whole side of a 2-3 lane roadway to be exact! Roadway – Clean ( this is a first in L.A. )! Course Volunteers – Giving ample and extra direction, that was correct! and lastly, bags returned from T1 to the finish by the end of your race! I was very happy with the race over-all. How did your race go?

Response:

Hi Tacguy, I have to agree with you 100% on your note. However: How can you put on a race with over 3000 people in it and have the swim course short by at least 1/3 of a mile? I usually swim about a 30 minute 1500 meters, but came out of the water in 18 minutes! They fixed all of the problems from previous years. The swim is the weakest part of my tri, but I do appreciate at least semi accurate course measurement. Mark – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, after listening to various sources complain about this race the last few years, I was determined to see if it was as bad as everyone said. This morning was a fantastic day for a race, great weather and ultimately a race that was well organized. Here were some of the things that went right: Shuttles – On time! Porta-potties – Several! Race Start – On Time ( and that is alot to say about a race that has several thousand )! Bike course closure – Well moarked and ALOT of room; the whole side of a 2-3 lane roadway to be exact! Roadway – Clean ( this is a first in L.A. )! Course Volunteers – Giving ample and extra direction, that was correct! and lastly, bags returned from T1 to the finish by the end of your race! I was very happy with the race over-all. How did your race go?

Response:

Question:

Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Response:

Mark, For sprint distance events I have no problems racing the following week. Last year I did 3 in a four week period. I normally have a recovery run on Mondays and a slow swim on Tuesdays, then a short and hard bike sessions Wednesdays, a good run on Thursdays and then taper for the following Sunday. Cheers, Marcus

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Response:

Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Mark, I’m 36, also a slow runner. I’ve found that while I can do races two weekends in a row, my performance really sucks on the second race. And, if one is an Olympic-distance race, it really makes a difference. I now make sure I have at least two weeks between sprint races, three between sprint/Oly, four between Oly’s. David / FEY2K IMCAL2000 16:53 I hate junk email. I’m trying VERY hard to avoid it with my new ISP. So, to reach me, reply to wuth followed by ng, all as one word (ie nameng) at bellsouth dot net. Let’s see any bot figure out how to get my email from that!

Response:

The old runners adage is 1 rest or easy day for each race mile.  For a tri or du you should double this based on the length of the run.  The run is usually hardest on the body because you start it with a fatigued body, yet still trying to race at whatever level you can hold. Individual recovery rates vary tremendously and go down with age as I’ve noticed since I hit 40. JJ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Response:

There are plenty of tri’s during the season, so don’t be afraid to experiment.  Possibly the worst senario is that you do the second one much slower than expected.  Never know if you dont try!  I have done four in four weeks…it’s a game so have no fear but test yourself. Try two sprints and build on that.  Do one on the first weekend and the second use it as a training exercise.  Most of all just have fun… D

Response:

Mark, I have a strategy that seems to work pretty good. I am doing one Olympic length each month during the season. However, I "train through" every other one, so I actually have 60 days between real races. I attend the in-between events but just treat them like another hard day of training, not too worried about finish or T times or ramping down my training schedule, etc. I am more concrened about form, holding specifc paces, etc. during these training races. I’m 43 and and still building up to a full race fitness/form. I hope to build up this year and do 1/2’s next year at 60 day intervals with Oly’s in between. BW – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Response:

I have heard the formula is one easy day for every hour of racing. Sounds about right to me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last Saturday (April 13) I finished my first Sprint Triathlon, The Dam Sprint in Perris California. I would like to do the Spring Sprint in San Diego May 4. My question is how long should I rest between events? Also when should I start training after events? I am 38 and my endurance is good but I am a slow runner.

Response:

Question:

Tickets are available online for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester. More info from their web site at: http://www.commonwealthgames.com/ There is no charge for the triathlon. In Sydney there was reserved seating at the Opera House – great seats! – and open viewing around the course. It could be a bit of a zoo in Manchester near the start/finish/transition areas with no reserved seats. Ken Ken Parker Runner’s Web <http://www.runnersweb.com A running and Triathlon Resource Portal

Response:

Another way to see the race is to volunteer. I heard from John Lunt(race Director) they are still looking for help. Since there is a series of road and MTB bike competitions why not make a holiday of it. ++Mark. ps. Don’t forget the track and field. Expect to see a few elite women traithletes appear in the track 5k/10k races as well!

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know the kind of times Lance Armstrong ran when he was a youth running road races? I knew Lance was a top HS triathlete, but I have also read that he ran in 10Ks & 5Ks as a youth, from fifth grade on to ??. Thanks, Steve

Response:

Don’t know what kind of times he ran, but I did read in the USA today that he was winning local 10K’s while still in middle school.  I would guess that would put in the mid 30’s. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know the kind of times Lance Armstrong ran when he was a youth running road races? I knew Lance was a top HS triathlete, but I have also read that he ran in 10Ks & 5Ks as a youth, from fifth grade on to ??. Thanks, Steve

Response:

Question:

Water temp. is about 70 degrees right now. We have been swimming in the lake for the last 2 weeks. A wetsuit will help but not a must have item to get throught the swim. Only 1000 yard swim. The triathlon is full. It will be a great weekend race. Alan

Response:

Anyone know what the water temp is for this race?  Or what the weather reports are predicting? — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o      o  ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)      / Darrin Bartlett

Response:

Question:

The December issue of Triathlete lists Trek as being tied for first with Kestrel for the "most commonly used bike."  I am wondering what model predominates this group?

Response:

Certainly not my 2200 (Trek). — Steve Noone ‘Everybody has to believe in something.  I believe I’ll have a beer.’ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The December issue of Triathlete lists Trek as being tied for first with Kestrel for the "most commonly used bike."  I am wondering what model predominates this group?

Response:

Probably the 5xxx OCLV frames. They are very light (as light as a Felt), very stiff, and a very good value. They also have a long top tube, which makes a forward seatpost compromise a little easier to work with. Another poster said "Surely not my 2xxx." I disagree. These bikes are very good bikes for the money, and many racers use them. I see them lots under my club buddies. The December issue of Triathlete lists Trek as being tied for first with Kestrel for the "most commonly used bike."  I am wondering what model predominates this group?

Rick Denney Take what you want and leave the rest.

Response:

The December issue of Triathlete lists Trek as being tied for first with Kestrel for the "most commonly used bike."  I am wondering what model predominates this group?

i did some of the counting for the survey, and while i didn’t specifically take notice of which models, there were an awful lot of OCLV’s. qrman

Response:

Question:

: "You got it," Jason grinned cheerfully in reply.  "It’s pretty creepy." Well, this year I had vowed to meet someone interesting to walk in the dark with if it came to that.  Passed smoking man, he wasn’t an option.   Passed a couple of Brits who were just pissing and moaning about how much it hurt.  Uh, no thanks.  Ah, there we go, she even looks like date material.  Too bad it took a few hours to realize she was out of the date range.  ;) : Jason’s face splits into a grin when he recognizes me.  "Run, Lokelani, : Run like the wind!" he crows to me.  "You wanna be an Ironman, Jason I’d been thinking about this for hours, and it was the most witty thing I could come up with….geez…… : "Jason, what are you doing back here?  I can’t be ahead of you!  What : happened?" It rained.  ;) : Not too far behind Jason I encounter Eric "Iron TriGuy" Bruce and : cheerfully inform him of Jason’s presence up ahead.  "Go get him!" I : command.  Eric grins and obligingly picks up his pace a hair.  Wow, what : am I doing ahead of both these guys? Grrr, and at about 24.5mi, the inevitable.  If it wasn’t for the nasty blisters that made it hell to run I might have had a chance.  :( : "Oh, just not a good day for me, I guess.  Come on, let’s go."  I Time for another NBC quote.  (and just think, only a month until I get 2 hrs more worth to add to my arsenal.  The ironman, a race that’s cruel to your preparation, and doesn’t care about your dreams. : banner amid all the lights.  With 15 meters to go, I reach out and grab : Augie’s right hand in my left.  Hands clasped and held high, the moment : has come—– we cross the line and I am an Iron(wo)man. …and a moment you’ll never forget. — Jason Mayfield, Arlington VA Persist, Persevere, Deny, Pursue, Pain, Survive, Ignore, Endure, Strive, Laugh, Cry, Live, Prevail, Scream, Sweat, Bleed, Sustain, Learn, Ascend, Give, Get, GO!  288 Days Until Ironman Canada ‘98

Response:

The grammar’s the giveaway:  Must be a severe case of Cardinal envy. Mike Llerandi

Response:

Riveting.  Thank you.  As much as I wanted you to finish the report, I am sad to see it end. Eric  Weiss GFT 97 – Completed IMC 98 – Considering

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not only are the horses sick and tired,  I too am tired of the endless boring storys on IMC  part one, maybe two but part XI,  enough is enough. Who are you? Five bucks says he’s a Virgin Frosh caught up in the excitement, not to mention  incitement, of his first Big Game Week.  Now naturally I wouldn’t be speaking  from personal experience, but a close friend of mine was so dedicated to the  spirit of the event that he devoted himself to trying to throw every wearer of  a red shirt into the nearest shower, fountain or other suitable body of water.   However, I’m sure he’ll feel suitably chastened to learn of your exploits for  the greater glory of Cal, and of your adoption of a Stanfurd email address —  the cyber equivilent of a red shirt — as a ruse de guerre.

Oh yeah, I forgot about its being Big Game week.  I have to admit that it was a bit chagrinning to get flamed by a fellow Bear!  Even more chagrinning is realizing  how much longer I’ve been on the Farm than I was at Cal, ouch! Of course, when I was at Cal, I always made a point of wearing a cardinal red letterman’s jacket (actually my brother’s from high school) around campus during Big Game week just to be perverse.  And of course now I always wear full Cal regalia on the Farm during Big Game Week.  I just have to be a pain in the ass!  ;-) Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

Response:

Great stories.  When does part XI come out?  I think you need to provide at  least monthly updates on how the quest for IMC98 is going. Paul Zetocha

Response:

Tri Baby, Can’t wait for more of the same stuff that got me into IMC in the first place. And as for not shedding a tear in response to Augie’s tender "Bullshit" at the portapotties, don’t fret Mate, I did it for you. Just a word of advice. When Part XI reaches the newstands, make sure to duck so that the shit slinging of guys like our friend Tom (or whoever) doesn’t stick to the crown of an ironwoman. I’ve loved every word and wait with baited breath for more. May the Tri Gods be with you… Gibbo

Response:

Great stories.  When does part XI come out?  

There will indeed be a "Part XI", really an epilogue, sometime this or next week (it all comes down to having time to write).  I think you need to provide at  least monthly updates on how the quest for IMC98 is going.

As a matter of fact, TriBaby will be enjoying a "return engagement" for the ‘98 season on the SuperCoach home page (www.supercoach.com), so there will indeed be monthly updates as I gear up to do it all over again! I have to admit that an 11-part race report is a pretty damned self-indulgent thing, but such a rich experience deserved a rich retelling.  I’d like to thank all of you who joined me with such eagerness for the ride.  Thanks for allowing me to share one of the most stirring and meaningful accomplishments of my life with you, and for receiving the story with enthusiasm, understanding, and appreciation of the experience. Any experience grows even sweeter when you can share it with others who can relate, so posting my report really has amounted to an enormous act of self-indulgence.  Thank you, everyone, for letting me do this! Cheers– p.s. The complete report (minus epilogue) is now up on my website, along with photos. Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

Response:

Not only are the horses sick and tired,  I too am tired of the endless boring storys on IMC  part one, maybe two but part XI,  enough is enough.

Response:

boring storys on IMC  part one, maybe two but part XI,  enough is enough.

Guess what – if you’re so tired of these stories – DON"T READ THEM!!! Tricia, this is the best yet. Thanks for letting us be a part of your race with you. Alison

Response:

Not only are the horses sick and tired,  I too am tired of the endless boring storys on IMC  part one, maybe two but part XI,  enough is enough.

        Then don’t read them… Shit I’m smart! I should be a hostage negotiator with my dizzying ability to solve problems! Hugs and Kisses David Barclay IMC 1997: 11:55.59 Triathlon: "Swim, Bike, Crawl"

Response:

Not only are the horses sick and tired,  I too am tired of the endless boring storys on IMC  part one, maybe two but part XI,  enough is enough.

Who are you? — "’Be a terrific innovation if you could get your mind to stretch a little further than the next wise crack." "Y’know, I tried that once, but it didn’t snap back into place." —Katharine Hepburn & Eve Arden in "Stage Door" (1937)    

Response:

"Hi, horses!" This is the third (and last) time I’ve seen these horses today.  I wonder if they’re as sick of me as I am of them?  Oh, I’m not really sick of them I guess, but I sure am happy to know this is our final encounter. "Headed for home, headed for home, headed for home."  That’s my feet talking, their steady, reassuring cadence propelling my tired body and mind forward toward that blessed stretch of road known as Main Street in downtown Penticton.   Through the cloud cover now showing breaks here and there, the sun hangs low above the western mountains on my left.  It’s nearly 5:30 pm, and I wonder how much daylight I have left.  It’s hard to tell, the clouds will steal the light away from us earlier than usual; I wonder if I’ll make it back to town before dark?  "What’s it like out there when it gets dark?" I had asked Jason (with more than a hint of nervousness in my voice) when we rode the run course on Thursday.  "It must get pitch black, there aren’t any street lights and no houses for long stretches going by the lake." "You got it," Jason grinned cheerfully in reply.  "It’s pretty creepy." "Oh.  I see." Well, Skippy wanted me to get her a glowstick anyway. I trot on.  The number and caliber of racers I can now see behind me (i.e., heading for the turnaround) surprises me.  Some of these folks look like the type that would have been done an hour ago; what are they doing behind *me*?  Sobering proof of the challenge presented by the Ironman distance; all bets are off when you’re going this long. Aid stations, portapotties, chicken soup, fruit, cookies, Allsport, water, fatigue, smiles, laughs, jokes with spectators and volunteers—it’s all becoming a long blur.  I’m quieter now, doing far less cheering for athletes I see coming the other way.  Haven’t got the energy to spare, need to conserve what  I’ve got.  I keep looking for Jason though, still wondering if he could possibly be behind me—and now, so far from the turnaround myself, so far behind me. I reach the base of the killer twisting hill that begins at about 15.5 miles (it’s the downhill we hit around 10 miles).  Don’t think about what you’re doing, just put your head down and keep your feet moving; you’ll be fine, it’s just like running the hills at the Dish.  Swing your arms, breathe, look at the lake and the shards of sunlight skipping off of it—keep moving, TriBaby, keep moving.  Enjoy the reduced pounding of running uphill.  Think of the positive here. I crest that thing and allow myself a moment of internal celebration. YES!  That is the toughest climb on this run course, so now you’re home free!  Sort of.    Never mind that you have more than 10 miles to go; just savor the moment. Now that I can run fairly upright once more, I peer down the road ahead and spy a tall figure approaching.  The runner draws nearer, but he’s not running, he’s walking.  He’s wearing arm warmers and sports orangey blonde hair.  Can it be, is it…?  "Jason!!" Jason’s face splits into a grin when he recognizes me.  "Run, Lokelani, Run like the wind!" he crows to me.  "You wanna be an Ironman, Jason Mayfield?" I reply gleefully.  "When you’ve finished your bike ride…." and together we chime, "Go run a marathon!" "Jason, what are you doing back here?  I can’t be ahead of you!  What happened?" "Oh, nothing, I just wasn’t ready.  You look great though!  Go get ‘em, TriBaby!" "I don’t know, I bet you’ll end up catching me before this thing is over. Come on, Jason, run me down!" "I don’t think so!" he laughs. "Well, I’ll see you at the finish, hang in there." Wow, a tough day for Jason.  I can’t believe I’m ahead of him— over 5 miles ahead of him at that.  He appears to be in good spirits, though, so I have no doubt he’ll finish.  Gotta be tough to be so far back right now.  I utter a silent prayer of thanks to the TriGods; if I were still headed the other way at this moment, I don’t know if I’d have the strength to keep moving.  I think luck has a lot to do with it, but in any case Jason’s doing a fantastic job.   Not too far behind Jason I encounter Eric "Iron TriGuy" Bruce and cheerfully inform him of Jason’s presence up ahead.  "Go get him!" I command.  Eric grins and obligingly picks up his pace a hair.  Wow, what am I doing ahead of both these guys? 16 miles.  I pass the 16 mile marker.  From now on, I muse, I’m in uncharted territory.  I’ve never run farther than this before.  Hope the legs hold up.  So far they’re doing ok.  They’re tired, of course, and a bit tight, but no blisters on the feet, no creaks or aches in the joints, and no outright rebellion from any muscles.  I count my blessings. I’m mentally turning more deeply inward.  Concentration is getting a little tough.  The chief component of my thoughts involves the "jodies" I’ve used to keep my cadence going in training.  The sing-song military chants keep me moving and lull my tired brain in a numbing fog. "Ain’t no sense in lookin’ down (Ain’t no sense in lookin’ down) Ain’t no discharge on the ground (Ain’t no discharge on the ground) Ain’t no sense in lookin’ back (Ain’t no sense in lookin’ back) Government’s got your Cadillac (Government’s got your Cadillac) Am I right or wrong? (You’re right!) Am I goin’ strong? (You’re right!) Sound off:  One, Two Sound off:  Three Four Bring it on down, One, Two, Three, Four, One, Two— Three Four!" Footsteps and breathing keep time with the chants and carry me along.  I run with a Canadian gal for a little while who really keeps me moving.  We chat and laugh for a mile or so, but she inevitably forges ahead and I’m left alone with my jodies to sustain me.  I pass any number of athletes reduced to walking.  I continue running from aid station to aid station. Picking up a run becomes increasingly difficult after finishing whatever aid I take on at each station, but I press on.  My walks get longer after the stations, but I don’t allow them to exceed a couple of hundred meters.  Gotta keep moving. Despite the strict rule against pacers or personal support crew on the marathon course, many mountain bikes roll alongside runners beside the lake here.  I wish I had my crew out here right now.  The distraction and support would be most welcome at this point!  The day is seeming unbelievably long. 17, 18, 19, 20 miles, all a blur.  Even at this point there are still runners on their way out.  Talk about GUTS!  As for myself, Ah, just 10 kilometers left!  This is where they always say the marathon really begins.  Oh yeah?  Well, this part looks and feels no different from the last 7 or 8 miles, it’s just more of the same.  It’s nothing but a survival thing, kids, just keep moving.  Just a 10k!  Come on, come on, you’re nearly back to town, keep it moving. Returning through Skaha Estates I begin trudging up a gradual rise around the 22 mile mark.  Gazing toward the top of the hill, I spy the silhouette of a man who appears to be waiting for me, looking down the hill in my direction.  Mmmm, wonder who that could be?  I crawl up the rise, and, drawing nearer, I realize it’s none other than Augie. "Augie!!  What’s up?  What are you doing here?  This is the Slug Section, you should have been done an hour ago!" "Oh, just not a good day for me, I guess.  Come on, let’s go."  I obediently fall in step beside my fellow RSTer, my mind awhirl with amazement and surprise that I could have caught up to such an experienced Ironvet out here.  Clearly, it’s been a tough day for many today. Augie and I exchange war stories as we trot along.  With him beside me, I pick up my pace a shade and it’s relatively painless.  I know perfectly well that he could drop me like a bad habit, yet he sticks beside me , content to trundle along at my plodding pace.  I bemoan the sorry state of affairs involving my activities for the past 4.5 hours:  "All I do is eat, drink, pee!  Eat, drink, pee!"  To prove the point, at the very next aid station I make straight for the portapotty.  Augie, the lucky guy, finds a convenient bush elsewhere along the way.  Damn, why do guys get it so easy? We reach the 24 mile aid station back on Main Street.  We’re so close now I can TASTE the finish.  However, there’s still a little business that must be attended to first.  I eye the portajohn with unequivocal lust in my heart.  Upon reaching the little blue box and grabbing the door, I tell my friend "Don’t wait for me, Augie, go on."  Without a moment’s hesitation Augie offers a succinct (and gallant) one-word response:   "Bullshit!"   I cannot describe how that silly expletive touched my heart.  I know, it sounds funny, but nothing Augie might have said instead would have sounded sweeter at that moment.  This guy is a real runner with several Ironman’s under his belt; he could blow my doors off six ways from Sunday with nary an effort, but here he is, both contented and determined to stick with me through my pokey paces and finish this race up with me.  If I had the energy to spare I probably would have shed a tear at this honorable demonstration of friendship.  Instead, I simply step gratefully into the portapotty and try to take care of business as quickly as possible. I emerge from the blue box with renewed vigor and energy.  "Come on, Augie, let’s finish this muthuh up!!" I shout.   2 miles to go.  Less than 5k.  We’re back in town, back on Main Street. It’s twilight, and there are more and more people cheering us on here.  I will my tired legs onward.  The beginnings of a nasty blister are, at last, forming on the sole of my left foot, but I ignore it.  What’s a little blister after all of this?  Just another 20 minutes or so and you’re DONE!  Keep going, keep going. Augie talks to me, but I am beyond hearing.  That finish line is so close, and I am so intent upon getting there, that I can focus on nothing else. I run faster than I have run all day, my head tilted slightly back, eyes fixed on the traffic lights two intersections away.  I can see

… read more »

Response:

Question:

Another claim I find slightly doubtful is that one should specialize. That is, to be a good runner one should mainly train running. If you want to run fast, that is true.  If you just want to get fit or lose weight, it is better to include other activities like biking or swimming.

I agree with Matt. If you’re main interest is overall fitness, I’d suggest throwing in some cross-training. It helps break up the pounding on the legs and, in my humble opinion, is more fun than just running day after day. Of course that sort of thing can lead to triathlon fever…. Mike Tennent WebRunner Running Page — Southeast USA Race Calendar FTP Race Apps, FAQ, Download The WebRunner Racing Utilities http://www.webrunner.com/webrun/running/running.html

Response:

One reason I became a little sceptical is that I noticed one place that he claimed that a 150 pound man had to run 160K (100 miles) to get rid of half a kg (slightly more than a pound) of body fat. This is obviously wrong, but it may be due to some misprint. In my calculation it should be somewhere between 50K and 60K.

You are right.  One pound of fat stores 3500 calories, or 35 miles.   Perhaps Noakes was tring to account for the fact that not all of the energy you use comes from fat. Another claim I find slightly doubtful is that one should specialize. That is, to be a good runner one should mainly train running.

If you want to run fast, that is true.  If you just want to get fit or lose weight, it is better to include other activities like biking or swimming.

Response:

I recently purchased the book "The Lore of Running" by Tim Noakes. After reading bits and pieces here and there, I realized that it was probably aimed at a more advanced runner than me. I run for recreation and health reasons, not mainly to run races. (Though I may join some just for fun.) At the moment I run nearly 40 miles a week wich is more than I have ever done before. I plan to cut down to 20 miles a week, when I have reached a fitness level that I am satisfied with in a couple of months. My question is therefore; is this book any good and will I benefit from reading it? One reason I became a little sceptical is that I noticed one place that he claimed that a 150 pound man had to run 160K (100 miles) to get rid of half a kg (slightly more than a pound) of body fat. This is obviously wrong, but it may be due to some misprint. In my calculation it should be somewhere between 50K and 60K. Another claim I find slightly doubtful is that one should specialize. That is, to be a good runner one should mainly train running. I agree that this is probably true for me with my limited amount of training, but I have doubts that it is true for elite athletes. For example have the Norwegian cross country skiers been able to increase their amount of training to a level that was unheard of some years ago by doing a lot of cross training. This has also proved to be very effective. I would appreciate some comments on these issues from someone who knows more about training than I do. —

Response:

I have several questions, and I hope some of you experts will have the patience to read through this and answer them. I finally got around to buying an HRM. I chose a Cardiosport Partner. It seemed to have all the functions I wanted, and I thought it looked better than the Polar models. Also, the price was very reasonable, $100 by mail order. So, today I went running for the first time with it. One thing that I immediatly wondered about was the length of the chest band. Even if I make it as long as possible it still feels a bit tight. I am not over-weight, but have a big frame. Has anybody else had this problem? Anyway, it was not so tight that it was unpleasant to wear, but my concern was that if it is too tight the "lock" may be destroyed, it did not seem too solid. Having got this HRM, I thought I should try to measure my max heart rate. (I should mention here that I am 30, so it should, theoretically, be around 190.) I first run about 2.8 miles to warm up (around Greenlake in Seattle if anybody is interested). The last two miles I ran pretty fast, with a heart rate between 158 and 163. But it didn’t feel like I was anywhere near my anaerobic threshold, so from this I expected my max heart rate to be at least 190. After the warm up I drank some water and started to jog quite easily for a few minutes. Then I increased my speed more and more for about 2 minutes until I was so exhausted that I had to stop. I was very disappointed when I noticed that my heart rate was merely 174. There is no way that this can be my max heart rate as far as I can understand so obviously I am trying to measure it in the wrong way. (One reason that it cannot be my max heart rate is that I often (as in the warm up today) reach a heart rate of ca. 160 during training, without feeling that I am really training too hard. So judging from that 160 should be no more than 85%, should it? Another reason is that when I started to train regularly for the first time in years 18 months ago I was in a very bad shape, and often in the first 2 months I got a heart rate of about 180. Then I was training pretty hard (compared to my shape), but never beyond the anaerobic threshold. Now, I know that training actually may decrease your max heart rate, but apparently just 18 months ago it was close to 200 and I can’t believe that it has dropped to around 180 now.) So my next question is; what did I do wrong? I have heard that you may measure your max heart rate by running 3 miles as fast as possible. Is this a good way of doing it? Another aspect is of course that it is very hard to reach one’s actual max heart rate. Does this mean that one should add a certain percentage to the heart rate one actually measures? Another question when it comes to heart rates; what is a good recovery? Today I measured a decrease from 150 to 95 in one minute, when I sat down on a bench. I think this sounds quite good, but is it? (My resting heart rate is 38-42, by the way.) Now, to something completely different. I recently purchased the book "The Lore of Running" by Tim Noakes (if my memory serves me correctly). After reading bits here and there I realized that it was probably aimed at a more advanced runner than me. I run for recreation and health reasons, not mainly to run races. (Though I may join some just for fun.) At the moment I run nearly 40 miles a week wich is more than I have ever done before. I plan to cut down to 20 miles a week, when I have reached a fitness level that I am satisfied with in a couple of months. My question is therefore; is this book any good and will I benefit from reading it? One reason I became a little sceptical is that I noticed one place that he claimed that a 150 pound man had to run 160K (100 miles) to get rid of half a kg (slightly more than a pound) of body fat. This is obviously wrong, but it may be due to some misprint. In my caculation it should be somewhere between 50K and 60K. Another claim I find slightly doubtful is that one should specialize. That is, to be a good runner one should mainly train running. I agree that this is probably true for me with my limited amount of training, but I have doubts that it is true for elite athletes. For example have the Norwegian cross country skiers been able to increase their amount of training to a level that was unheard of some years ago by doing a lot of cross training. This has also proved to be very effective. I would appreciate some comments on these issues from someone who knows more about training than I do. —

Response:

Question:

snip<< My other question relates to Tri-Fed membership apps.  I sent one of the cards from Triathlete magazine in the first week in January applying for 1995 Tri-Fed membership.  I haven’t heard anything yet.  Does anybody have a phone number I can call to ask about the matter? Thanks for any info. Suzanne

Suzanne: Call Steve Locke at Tri Fed..(719) 597-9090. If that doesn’r get you immediate help. E-mail me and I’ll help. Scott Zagarino

Response:

I need some information about Ironman Canada from you folks who have done the race before.

Check out the info at: http://iac.net/~miller/triathlon-home.html

Response:

Question:

<snip Dave Scott think wet suits are for weanies…

Gee, I wonder if Dave wrote/said this before moving to Boulder.  I have never done Evergreen, but have heard that the lake is considered warm if it is above 60 deg F.   I did do Aurora (eastern suburb of Denver) last September.   It snowed the day before, the lake had already turned over, and it was reported there was a skim of ice on the lake the evening before.  The water temp was 48 deg F and the air temp in the morning was 35 deg F. This obviously was the worst case scenario I could think of.  I didn’t buy a wetsuit until I moved to the rockies, but I consider it a necessity out here (especially for fall races)    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

Response:

: Against my better judgement I’ve been persuaded onto a Tri’ relay team : for the following weekend (7th August) 1600M swim 40K bike 10K run [...] : Also does anyone know how the organizational stuff for the change over : between team members work in these relay events I’ve done several relays.  The hand offs have been different in every event and often vary from year to year for the same event.  Make sure you get a clear ruling from the race director (not a volunteer) before the race.  I’ve seen people DQed for improper hand offs. The biggest issues are whether the biker can straddle the bike, whether (s)he can have one foot clipped in and whether (s)he must come to a full stop for the bike – run hand off. Although sometimes the officials are strict, sometimes they are pretty casual.  Last year, the runner of one team left at least a minute or two before the biker showed up.  (I don’t think they were deliberately cheating.  I think they were confused.)  Amazingly, they weren’t DQed.  The race director added a small time penalty, which he let the offenders estimate.  My team was not pleased since we ended up in second place with the offenders in first. Dave LaPorte U. of Minn.

Response:

: Hi, : Against my better judgement I’ve been persuaded onto a Tri’ relay team : for the following weekend (7th August) 1600M swim 40K bike 10K run Well, we did the race, and thanks to who that posted tips for the swim, it was all very helpful. We managed to come 3rd out of 9 relay teams in a time of 2 hours and 5 Mins mostly down to our runner doing a pb of 34.01 for the 10K I did the swim in 23 Minutes, which I was a little disapointed with, I guess it just shows the difference that experience makes. As predicted my biggest problem was navigation, even though I had been and swum in the lake a couple of times the week before the race; my next biggest problem was coping with all the other people in the water swimming over, under and around me, a real shock to lane a swimmer.   I must say I really enjoyed the event and will do the team thing again next year, who knows they may even persuade me to take up triathlon for real. Thanks again for the help John

Response:

John,         I think the best advise for an open water swim is to pick your head up every few strokes so you can navigate effectively. My biggest problem on my first open water swim was veering off to my right resulting in my having to swim significantly longer than necessary. Another tip is to draft on someone a bit faster than you are. (legal in the swim). This saves a significant amount of energy. Good Luck!!                         Al Cordes

Response:

: Hi, : Against my better judgement I’ve been persuaded onto a Tri’ relay team : for the following weekend (7th August) 1600M swim 40K bike 10K run : Now the swimming is no problem to be I’m a pretty active masters swimmer : and coach, I have zero experience of open water swims, so if anyone : could pass on any tips I’d be real grateful. Oh by the way its a lake : swim and I don’t have a wet suit, but its been warm here the last couple : of weeks. There are no lane lines so you need to watch where you are going. Most open water swimmers raise their head up every seven strokes or so to see where they are going. While you warm up for the swim try and pick out landmarks that will help you do this quickly. Since the swim is so short you may be able to swim the whole course before the race. I have seen some relay guys do this at Gulf Coast and the swim there is 1.2 mi. If you have not done this in practice yet try to swim 25 of several 100 free laps using a Tarzan stroke. This is where you do your regular free stroke but keep your head out of the water looking straight ahead the whole 25. I find it helps my flexibility in raising my head when I am in open water. Dave Scott think wet suits are for weanies. : Also does anyone know how the organizational stuff for the change over : between team members work in these relay events No advice here, relay people are always out of the water before me. : Thanks in anticiptation                    ^ I am sure you swim better than you spell. : John Good luck Tom — I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous.                  __o      o       Tommy the Tourist                            ____/o__  _ |/<_     <      

Response:

Hi, Against my better judgement I’ve been persuaded onto a Tri’ relay team for the following weekend (7th August) 1600M swim 40K bike 10K run Now the swimming is no problem to be I’m a pretty active masters swimmer and coach, I have zero experience of open water swims, so if anyone could pass on any tips I’d be real grateful. Oh by the way its a lake swim and I don’t have a wet suit, but its been warm here the last couple of weeks. Also does anyone know how the organizational stuff for the change over between team members work in these relay events Thanks in anticiptation John

Response: