Question:

Hi — I work with Joe as a coach. I’m using Joel Friel’s "Training Bible" as a guide.  Should I include weight training in my training hours as part of my annual training plan?  I have this notion that the training plan only includes aerobic activity…

Yes, include your strength training volume as part of your overall volume. Also, the weight training program leaves me pretty sore and feeling very heavy.  I find it difficult to get good aerobic workouts due to muscle soreness, particularly in my legs.  Should I cut back to a point where I feel better or push through this difficult time in hopes of better performance later?  I’m inclined to cut-back some on the weight used and maybe the number of sets until the soreness is less pronounced.

During the MS phase your sport specific sessions will suffer.  However, if you are experiencing persistant soreness or soreness that does not leave in 36 hours post session — this is a sign that either you have gone too heavy, too quickly or need a longer AA phase. If you are experiencing significant soreness in the AA phase then you are lifting too much weight and should back off the intensity in order to let your body adjust. You might also enjoy an article that I wrote on lifting… http://www.xtri.com/article.asp?id=489 g

Response:

Hi, I’m relatively new to triathlon, although not to sports and weight training in general.  I’m an age-grouper and have been in the sport for about a year.  I’ve intermittantly done some weight training throughout my athletic career, however, I have a couple of questions concerning weight training specifically for triathlon. I’m using Joel Friel’s "Training Bible" as a guide.  Should I include weight training in my training hours as part of my annual training plan?  I have this notion that the training plan only includes aerobic activity… Also, the weight training program leaves me pretty sore and feeling very heavy.  I find it difficult to get good aerobic workouts due to muscle soreness, particularly in my legs.  Should I cut back to a point where I feel better or push through this difficult time in hopes of better performance later?  I’m inclined to cut-back some on the weight used and maybe the number of sets until the soreness is less pronounced. What do you think?  Am I wimping out or what?

Response:

Question:

Cyclists travel at approximately what speed during an ITU event? (a) As fast as an average group of Sunday cyclists (b) As fast as my friends Grandfather (c) As fast as my slow ass on a good day (d) Slower than the top finishers at the local small time Triathlons all around the country (e) All of the above

As a Grandfather, I know that (b) is wrong – they are a little quicker than me anyway. Cheers jeff — Jeff Cook At work: Phone: +64-9-424 5388 At home: Phone: +64-9-424 0336

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hmmmm…  A multiple choice question regarding international triathlon competition… OK, here’s one: Allowing drafting during the bike leg of a triathlon: A)  Sucks. B)  Has ruined the international version of a perfectly good individual sport. C)  Sucks. D)  All of the above. Hope this helps. -Kevin "Feeling the winter bitterness" Munday

HHhhhhhmmmmmmm! (scratching my head)…..that would be (D). Yes, thats my final answer. : ) B.Oliver

Response:

Kevin, that was downright silly.  I’ll see what I can do to help our friend Marcel out. Drafting during a triathlon: A) Bites. B) Blows. C) Is an international conspiracy by a bunch of idiots that should be forced to sit in an air-tight room with the Olympic Flatulance Team. D) Sucks. I trust this was insightful.

Excellent, Doug. I’m sure Marcel is getting the picture. -Kevin "becoming more of a heavy-weight by the minute" Munday

Response:

Cyclists travel at approximately what speed during an ITU event? (a) As fast as an average group of Sunday cyclists (b) As fast as my friends Grandfather (c) As fast as my slow ass on a good day (d) Slower than the top finishers at the local small time Triathlons all around the country (e) All of the above tim(dogspot1) buaidh no bas

Response:

Cyclists travel at approximately what speed during an ITU event? (a) As fast as an average group of Sunday cyclists (b) As fast as my friends Grandfather (c) As fast as my slow ass on a good day (d) Slower than the top finishers at the local small time Triathlons all around the country (e) All of the above

Sorry, Tim.  I like the question and its educational spirit, but I think the correct answer should be: "F-Exactly the same speed as the superior cyclist who is towing his sorry, freeloading butt around in his draft". -Kevin Munday

Response:

Hmmmm…  A multiple choice question regarding international triathlon competition… OK, here’s one: Allowing drafting during the bike leg of a triathlon: A)  Sucks. B)  Has ruined the international version of a perfectly good individual sport. C)  Sucks. D)  All of the above.

Kevin, that was downright silly.  I’ll see what I can do to help our friend Marcel out. Drafting during a triathlon:  A) Bites.  B) Blows.  C) Is an international conspiracy by a bunch of idiots that should be forced to sit in an air-tight room with the Olympic Flatulance Team.  D) Sucks. I trust this was insightful. — Cheers, Doug "and wait till the heavy-weights show up" Fuller

Response:

i agree!!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am searching for nice or interesting multiple choice questions about triathlon (international competition) for my website. Hmmmm…  A multiple choice question regarding international triathlon competition… OK, here’s one: Allowing drafting during the bike leg of a triathlon: A)  Sucks. B)  Has ruined the international version of a perfectly good individual sport. C)  Sucks. D)  All of the above. Hope this helps. -Kevin "Feeling the winter bitterness" Munday

Response:

I am searching for nice or interesting multiple choice questions about triathlon (international competition) for my website.

Hmmmm…  A multiple choice question regarding international triathlon competition… OK, here’s one: Allowing drafting during the bike leg of a triathlon: A)  Sucks. B)  Has ruined the international version of a perfectly good individual sport. C)  Sucks. D)  All of the above. Hope this helps. -Kevin "Feeling the winter bitterness" Munday

Response:

 I am searching for nice or interesting multiple choice questions about triathlon (international competition) for my website.

Response:

Question:

Hello, I have been developing an online news reader for rec.sport.triathlon. It is a fully functional online version of a MS Outlook etc. I am looking for 5-6 people to beta test it for me. It is live and I am using it to post this message. If anyone is interested please let me know at Thanks….Rob Walters

Response:

We have had a few responses so let me know. Thanks…….Rob Hello, I have been developing an online news reader for rec.sport.triathlon. It is a fully functional online version of a MS Outlook etc. I am looking for 5-6 people to beta test it for me. It is live and I am using it to post this message. If anyone is interested please let me know at Thanks….Rob Walters

Response:

Last test message and we are going to open it up to the beta testers. Hello, I have been developing an online news reader for rec.sport.triathlon. It is a fully functional online version of a MS Outlook etc. I am looking for 5-6 people to beta test it for me. It is live and I am using it to post this message. If anyone is interested please let me know at Thanks….Rob Walters

Response:

Question:

Thanks for the references.  I guess it all depends on how you define "easy workout." Cheers, Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t see how easy workouts would refuel glycogen stores either.  If you deplete your glycogen stores (in liver or muscles) your body will try to replace them as quick as possible, whether you sat drinking beer in a bar or ran a couple of miles.  You will of course need a supply of glucose in the blood for this to happen.  If you don’t eat any carbohydrate, your body will either utilize fat stores or protein, depending on the level of fat in your body, to create the glucose.  It will be slower and less efficient than eating a bagel with cream cheese, but will still happen.  Actually, I wonder what the carbohydrate:protein ratio of Samuel Adams is? Regards, Dave I think the issue is faster recovery (glycogen restoration and muscle repair).  Active recovery appears to accelerate recovery by increasing blood flow to the muscles thus increasing the inflow of nutrients.  The key to active recovery being usefull is that it is actually recovery and not a further stressor therefore it is important that there is fuel in the system that can be converted to glycogen. For some interesting reading on the topic of recovery see: Brunner, R. and B. Tabachnik (1990) "Soviet training and recovery methods." Sport Focus Publishing. Farber, H.W. et al., (1991) "The endurance triathlon.  Metabolic changes after each event and during recovery." Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23 (8). 959-956.

Response:

Wrong. You cannot run fast by scientific data. You can read all the science literature you want and it will not get you there. You run fast by training properly. You learn by first hand experience. You try to use as many different training systems as you can and then you begin to focus down on the ones that gave you the best results and then try to improve on them. Sometimes that’s risky. In the past, I’ve made changes that have completely screwed me over in races but that’s how you learn. I’d rather have done it that way and refined my techniques than have just trained one way and never learned what’s good and what’s bad. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  You may be impressed but I’m not. I was well aware of this effect more than 20 years ago before it was ever scientifically investigated. You misread what I said.  I am impressed that you were that close to being correct about something.  Although to your credit, this time around I have noticed that you are closer to being correct about a few other things as well.  I am thinking that perhaps in your time away from the group you got your hands on some decent training material.  Your obvious lack of intelligence shows in your lack of understanding of many elemental physiological issues, but you are at least making an attempt.

Before you buy.

Response:

Wrong. You cannot run fast by scientific data.

You can’t prove that you run much less run fast.  I learned how to maximize my running potential by training with world class athletes (in the real world not your fantasy world) and by reading scientific journals to understand the mechanisms behind training principles.  From this I experimented on what works for me and what does not.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly. Wow, I am impressed, you are almost right.  Recent research has indicated that the optimal time for for glycogen refueling is in the 30 minutes following exercise.  After the first 30 minutes gylcogen refueling is still enhanced but declines until about 2hrs post-exercise when it returns to normal.  The research has indicated that the best results come from ingesting easily broken down foods with mostly high glycemic index CHO and some protein (in a CHO to protein ration of 4 to 1).

BTW, the rest of the equation <according to an article I read last month is that if you eat properly that evening, your glycogen stores are fully replenished – independent of whether you ingested something in the optimum period. The immediate refueling is most critical if you are doing multiple workouts in one day, or something like a soccer tournament with multiple games. Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03 Great Floridian ‘99, 17:13:38

Response:

OK, so I’m relatively new to running and to this newsgroup, but I have one burning question to ask here: who is this "macelroy" and will he go away if we ignore him?  ;-) good day, all, Cam ===

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  You may be impressed but I’m not. I was well aware of this effect more than 20 years ago before it was ever scientifically investigated. You misread what I said.  I am impressed that you were that close to being correct about something.  Although to your credit, this time around I have noticed that you are closer to being correct about a few other things as well.  I am thinking that perhaps in your time away from the group you got your hands on some decent training material.  Your obvious lack of intelligence shows in your lack of understanding of many elemental physiological issues, but you are at least making an attempt.

Response:

BTW, the rest of the equation <according to an article I read last month is that if you eat properly that evening, your glycogen stores are fully replenished – independent of whether you ingested something in the optimum period.

Hey Mike, You wouldn’t happen to have a cite for that article would you?  I’d like to take a look.  Much of the research that I was discussing is from Ed Burke. Their focus was less on glycogen stores and more on muscle damage.  Their findings were ingesting the proper ratio of CHO and protein during the optimal period results in less muscle damage (that’s a bit of an oversimplification).  He focuses on cyclists, but it is also highly relevant to tri-geeks who sometimes do hard workouts on back to back days.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW, the rest of the equation <according to an article I read last month is that if you eat properly that evening, your glycogen stores are fully replenished – independent of whether you ingested something in the optimum period. Hey Mike, You wouldn’t happen to have a cite for that article would you?  I’d like to take a look.  Much of the research that I was discussing is from Ed Burke. Their focus was less on glycogen stores and more on muscle damage.  Their findings were ingesting the proper ratio of CHO and protein during the optimal period results in less muscle damage (that’s a bit of an oversimplification).  He focuses on cyclists, but it is also highly relevant to tri-geeks who sometimes do hard workouts on back to back days.

I knew you’d ask. <g It was in August’s "Running Journal" and written by Nancy Clark. I just checked their web site and the article is in their "Tips" section: http://www.runningnetwork.com/db_rng/TIPS.html 2000-08-16: Recovery from Hard Exercise, Part 1: How to Rapidly Refuel                       By Nancy Clark, MS, RD Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Operating HO Scale Traffic Lights http://www.catalog.com/webrun/ipe

Response:

Do you think that we could pay someone to hack his account again and make him go away forever?     Mark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, so I’m relatively new to running and to this newsgroup, but I have one burning question to ask here: who is this "macelroy" and will he go away if we ignore him?  ;-) good day, all, Cam I’ll answer the second question – No!! The reason I say ‘no’ is because there are still too many respondants to him and he has a supporter(s) in the group as well. As long as you feed the troll; he owns you.

Response:

I don’t see how easy workouts would refuel glycogen stores either.  If you deplete your glycogen stores (in liver or muscles) your body will try to replace them as quick as possible, whether you sat drinking beer in a bar or ran a couple of miles.  You will of course need a supply of glucose in the blood for this to happen.  If you don’t eat any carbohydrate, your body will either utilize fat stores or protein, depending on the level of fat in your body, to create the glucose.  It will be slower and less efficient than eating a bagel with cream cheese, but will still happen.  Actually, I wonder what the carbohydrate:protein ratio of Samuel Adams is? Regards, Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Hard workouts deplete glycogen stores, easy workouts refuel them. Please explain the mechanism as to how easy workouts refuel glycogen stores. I always thought that ingesting glycogen refuels glycogen stores.  It is my understanding that easy workouts assist in converting ingested fuel into forms usable to the muscles. BTW, I have trained with athletes that have real times much faster than your fake times and none of them train like to say you train.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t see how easy workouts would refuel glycogen stores either.  If you deplete your glycogen stores (in liver or muscles) your body will try to replace them as quick as possible, whether you sat drinking beer in a bar or ran a couple of miles.  You will of course need a supply of glucose in the blood for this to happen.  If you don’t eat any carbohydrate, your body will either utilize fat stores or protein, depending on the level of fat in your body, to create the glucose.  It will be slower and less efficient than eating a bagel with cream cheese, but will still happen.  Actually, I wonder what the carbohydrate:protein ratio of Samuel Adams is? Regards, Dave

I think the issue is faster recovery (glycogen restoration and muscle repair).  Active recovery appears to accelerate recovery by increasing blood flow to the muscles thus increasing the inflow of nutrients.  The key to active recovery being usefull is that it is actually recovery and not a further stressor therefore it is important that there is fuel in the system that can be converted to glycogen. For some interesting reading on the topic of recovery see: Brunner, R. and B. Tabachnik (1990) "Soviet training and recovery methods." Sport Focus Publishing. Farber, H.W. et al., (1991) "The endurance triathlon.  Metabolic changes after each event and during recovery." Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23 (8). 959-956.

Response:

Great info!  Just what I’m looking for.  Can you give me some good suggestions as what to eat after long runs?  And what do you consider a long run (how many miles.)

Hey marie, You would probably be surprised to find that a number of foods fall in the 4 to 1 ratio.  In the first 30 min after a long run you want to stick with carbohydrates that are have a high glycemic index (eg. potatoes, frozen yogurt, rice) and of course protein.  Endurox R4 is a drink that contains carbohydrates and proteins in this ratio.  There is nothing magic about R4, but it is convenient and if you like the taste it might be worth using. After the initial 30 min you want to stick with the same ratio, but with lower glycemic index carbs (eg. yogurt (not frozen), kiwifruit, lentils, peanuts) and protein.  Just keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be the exact ratio (for instance it can be a meal that contains 24g of carbs and 5g of protein).  As for what I consider a long run… I am an ultra endurance mountain biker so the races that I consider a lot of fun are ones that typically take between 12 and 24 hours.  As "cross training" I like to do trail running, typically between 30 and 50km with the occasional 50 miler. The point of that is that it doesn’t really matter what I consider a long run.  What is more important for you is what do you consider a long run.  I think that you should get in the habit of thinking about recovery after every run.  You should pay special attention after runs that are not at a high intensity, but of a long enough duration that you feel fairly tired when you are done.  That is what I would consider a long run. Good luck and happy training Jeremy

Response:

Hi Marie, I red something about this in an article of Frank Horwill about the twelf essentials about marathon success: http://www.serpentine.org.uk/advice/coach/fh54.asp The points 7 and 8 are about low/high glycemic carbohydrates and why one want to eat high glycemic carbohydrates immediately after training.Also there are some hints which food has low/high glycemic carbohydrates. Hope this helps. Cheers, Rudiger – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Great info!  Just what I’m looking for.  Can you give me some good suggestions as what to eat after long runs?  And what do you consider a long run (how many miles.) Thanks, Marie   It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly. Wow, I am impressed, you are almost right.  Recent research has indicated that the optimal time for for glycogen refueling is in the 30 minutes following exercise.  After the first 30 minutes gylcogen refueling is still enhanced but declines until about 2hrs post-exercise when it returns to normal.  The research has indicated that the best results come from ingesting easily broken down foods with mostly high glycemic index CHO and some protein (in a CHO to protein ration of 4 to 1).

Response:

  You may be impressed but I’m not. I was well aware of this effect more than 20 years ago before it was ever scientifically investigated. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly. Wow, I am impressed, you are almost right.  Recent research has indicated that the optimal time for for glycogen refueling is in the 30 minutes following exercise.  After the first 30 minutes gylcogen refueling is still enhanced but declines until about 2hrs post-exercise when it returns to normal.  The research has indicated that the best results come from ingesting easily broken down foods with mostly high glycemic index CHO and some protein (in a CHO to protein ration of 4 to 1).

Before you buy.

Response:

 You may be impressed but I’m not. I was well aware of this effect more than 20 years ago before it was ever scientifically investigated.

You misread what I said.  I am impressed that you were that close to being correct about something.  Although to your credit, this time around I have noticed that you are closer to being correct about a few other things as well.  I am thinking that perhaps in your time away from the group you got your hands on some decent training material.  Your obvious lack of intelligence shows in your lack of understanding of many elemental physiological issues, but you are at least making an attempt.

Response:

Great info!  Just what I’m looking for.  Can you give me some good suggestions as what to eat after long runs?  And what do you consider a long run (how many miles.) Thanks, Marie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly. Wow, I am impressed, you are almost right.  Recent research has indicated that the optimal time for for glycogen refueling is in the 30 minutes following exercise.  After the first 30 minutes gylcogen refueling is still enhanced but declines until about 2hrs post-exercise when it returns to normal.  The research has indicated that the best results come from ingesting easily broken down foods with mostly high glycemic index CHO and some protein (in a CHO to protein ration of 4 to 1).

Response:

  It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly.

Wow, I am impressed, you are almost right.  Recent research has indicated that the optimal time for for glycogen refueling is in the 30 minutes following exercise.  After the first 30 minutes gylcogen refueling is still enhanced but declines until about 2hrs post-exercise when it returns to normal.  The research has indicated that the best results come from ingesting easily broken down foods with mostly high glycemic index CHO and some protein (in a CHO to protein ration of 4 to 1).

Response:

   I read an article about it once though I can’t be one hundred percent sure that it is correct but it makes some sense. All I know is that everyone says I am right about it and that it works and that they notice the difference. Though it may be more than just what that article said.    It has to do with increasing the speed of which glycogen is reabsorbed into the muscles after the muscles have been depleted due to medium to hard workouts. Glycogen refueling occurs the most during the several hours right after a run and then drops off significantly. Apparently, after light running which doesn’t deplete your system much, Glycogen still refuels at that significantly higher rate and so it speeds up the recovery process. You are supposed to eat and drink something some time soon after the run for this to work the best. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Hard workouts deplete glycogen stores, easy workouts refuel them. Please explain the mechanism as to how easy workouts refuel glycogen stores. I always thought that ingesting glycogen refuels glycogen stores.  It is my understanding that easy workouts assist in converting ingested fuel into forms usable to the muscles. BTW, I have trained with athletes that have real times much faster than your fake times and none of them train like to say you train.

Before you buy.

Response:

References please. I would be inclined to agree with you if ever read any thing about "easy workouts refuel them." That would sort of explain why I could run 2 miles in 12:53 and yet normally have trouble running 2 miles in 14 minutes. Roger – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  NO. NO. NO. Your half marathon race has depleted you. You now need to refuel. Normally, a race will deplete you more than just a hard workout. It most likely will take you 4 days to completely refuel from that half marathon. You cannot refuel your glycogen stores by doing nothing or doing very little. You must continue to do at least one hour runs to restore glycogen. You people just cannot get this through your heads. Hard workouts deplete glycogen stores, easy workouts refuel them. How do you know when you have refueled your stores. You know when your 10 mile runs come back to a medium pace from several days of struggling after a major depletion like after a race. A medium workout will deplete you as well but it only requires one easy workout to refuel. That’s the difference.  By what you are doing, the chances are that you will have worse results than what you expect. Marathons require enormous stores of muscle glycogen and you are probably going to have very little for the race. I just ran a 1 hour and 25 minute

Question:

After an Ironman distance race, my throat is so sore that I can’t even enjoy my post race pizza and beer! I’m assuming it’s just from my throat getting very dry during the race. Has anyone else experienced this, and do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Bruce

Response:

After an Ironman distance race, my throat is so sore that I can’t even enjoy my post race pizza and beer! I’m assuming it’s just from my throat getting very dry during the race. Has anyone else experienced this, and do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Bruce

Bruce,  I also get the same thing. Sort of a dry burning feeling on the roof of the mouth when eatting. I have come to beleive it is caused by as you say drying of the mouth and posibly the affects of dehydration. It usually goes away after about 2 days on its own.  B.Oliver http://members.aol.com/triathltb/index.html for all your tri info and links

Response:

That’s IT!? Your throat is sore? You may have a bug, symptoms such as you might get from breathing hot dry air don’t generally last very long. Last summer during IM buildup I had a totally, acutely sore throat but felt fine otherwise and the doc said it was a virus that would clear up. It did. This is amusing, not because you’re sore, but because when I got back from IMUSA last year two days later I went to the doctor because an old pain returned in my foot, and when the doctor asked me how it happened, I told him the distances I did that Sunday past, and he said "AND THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT!? Go HOME and rest for a week, I hate you guys" Mike

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After an Ironman distance race, my throat is so sore that I can’t even enjoy my post race pizza and beer! I’m assuming it’s just from my throat getting very dry during the race. Has anyone else experienced this, and do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Bruce

Response:

Well, this hypothesis doesn’t have anything to do with triathlon but I often have a sore throat before I am about to catch a flue. —

Response:

Bruce I have experienced a similar thing after an Ironman, but it was more the top of my mouth (ie, palate) that was sore. It was unconfortable to swallow for a number of days after the race. I was told it was due to dehydration – but I am not sure if this is true. Regards, PB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After an Ironman distance race, my throat is so sore that I can’t even enjoy my post race pizza and beer! I’m assuming it’s just from my throat getting very dry during the race. Has anyone else experienced this, and do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Bruce

Response:

: I have experienced a similar thing after an Ironman, but it was more the : top of my mouth (ie, palate) that was sore. It was unconfortable to : swallow for a number of days after the race. I was told it was due to : dehydration – but I am not sure if this is true. : After an Ironman distance race, my throat is so sore that I can’t even : enjoy my post race pizza and beer! I’m assuming it’s just from my throat : getting very dry during the race. Has anyone else experienced this, and do : you have any suggestions? As with Paul my main discomfort has been the roof of my mouth and top of my throat, really raw after every Ironman.  Not so much right after the finish, where I seem to be able to have drinks and broth and various salty food, but within a few hours and then on into the next day it gets almost intolerable.  It’s very uncomfortable and really detracts from the post race meal and/or next day’s huge breakfast.  I think a combination of lots of raspy mouth open breathing, maybe continually saturating the tissues with the sports drinks and gu, and maybe dehydration.  It seems to subside after 24 hours or so.  Haven’t had it at all after ultra distance bike rides longer in duration than Ironmans and of similar intensity, or half ironmans, and I’ve talked to many people after ironmans who didn’t seem to have the problem.  I think for me it’s from breathing and gatorade/gu on the run. Wade

Response:

Question:

Has anyone heard who has been awarded world triathlon champs ( Olympic Distance ) for 2002 and 2003

Response:

Gary, They announced the 2003 World’s over the load speaker this weekend in Perth. It was difficult to hear because of a helicopter overhead, but, I believe Melbourne, Australia has been awarded the 2003 World’s. Not sure – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone heard who has been awarded world triathlon champs ( Olympic Distance ) for 2002 and 2003

Response:

Question:

From Bottom up. Your Club, your reginal Triathlon Federation your national Triathlon Federation your continental Triathlon Federation finaly the ITU. I’ve just started in Germany. Jens

Response:

Through all this anti-drafting and anti-ITU debate no one has described in detail the process to replace Les Mcdonald, Mike Gilmore, etc.  How did they get elected and how can we replace them? Can anyone answer this

Response:

Question:

   I am interested in buying a Polar heart rate monitor and would like to know where I can get the best price.  I remember seeing some ads in Triathlon Today magazine awhile ago from a place that had extremely good prices.  Unfortunately I don’t have the issue anymore.  Thanks.    Andy Ross

Response:

  I am interested in buying a Polar heart rate monitor and would like to know where I can get the best price.  I remember seeing some ads in Triathlon Today magazine awhile ago from a place that had extremely good prices.  Unfortunately I don’t have the issue anymore.  Thanks.   Andy Ross

i’ve seen some pretty good deals at steve’s multisport.  they even have a web page so you can check out the prices and shop around.  hope this helps. http://www.netaxes.com/~steves/ joel falk Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.   USA

Response:

:   I am interested in buying a Polar heart rate monitor and would like : to : know where I can get the best price.  I remember seeing some ads in : Triathlon Today magazine awhile ago from a place that had extremely : good : prices.  Unfortunately I don’t have the issue anymore.  Thanks. : :   Andy Ross : i’ve seen some pretty good deals at steve’s multisport.  they even have : a web page so you can check out the prices and shop around.  hope this : helps. : http://www.netaxes.com/~steves/ I couldn’t get the page at this address, but I found it at: http://www.source.net/steves/index.html : joel falk : Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.   USA —

Response:

they have a 90 day price guarantee Bruce Platt

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   I am interested in buying a Polar heart rate monitor and would like to know where I can get the best price.  I remember seeing some ads in Triathlon Today magazine awhile ago from a place that had extremely good prices.  Unfortunately I don’t have the issue anymore.  Thanks.    Andy Ross

I have one Accurex II Night Vision for $190 plus $3 for ship. Allyn Cutts "Be the best you can be every minute of your life"

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It seems as though Polar is one of those companies whose prices do not differ that much from store to store unless they are factory refurbished. I would recommend sticking with your LBS which will make warranty issues much easier to deal with. —     Ryun Pavlicek                                 Dept of Sociology     University of Virginia                      

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i’ve seen some pretty good deals at steve’s multisport.  they even have a web page so you can check out the prices and shop around.  hope this helps. http://www.netaxes.com/~steves/

Should be: http://www.netaxs.com/~steves/                           ^^ no ‘e’ — Sylvan Smyth Victoria, B.C. Canada

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Question:

You may want to check out the FAQ posted at the start of each month. It is well written, has a lot of good info, and lots of references if you wish to get more involved. Best of luck. Wassil wassil

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also if there are any beginning triathlons in the Sacramento area, and the Bay Area. thanks, roni

Roni, there is a "tri for fun" series in sacto that you will find listed in Inside Triathlon mag. as well as the Davis great north sprint race. john

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: also if there are any beginning triathlons in the Sacramento area, and : the Bay Area. : thanks, roni There is a Tri For Fun series put on by Fleet Feet: 6/3, and 7/1 in Sacramento.  I believe there is also a series in the Bay Area. Another good race is the Great North Triathlon in Davis: Sprint is 8/19 and the international is 8/20. Janet

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We’re a little to the west (is 2 hours considered "a little")…but there is the Vineman International Triathlon on Sunday June 11th in Santa Rosa. You can get race info (hopefully) by calling the Vineman office at (707) 528-1630, but if you have trouble getting a response please email me at Best of luck to you! Dana Martin Vineman Triathlon Medical Director

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hi, i have ben trying to train for a triathalon for a couple of years, but have never had any sort of guidelines. any ideas on how often and what types of excercises i could work on? also if there are any beginning triathlons in the Sacramento area, and the Bay Area. thanks, roni

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Question:

Hey Larry, how ’bout this idear? Give every official on the Tri course a paint-ball gun. Any competitor who breaks the rules _BLAM!!_ he’s got orange paint all over him. Everyone along the route then knows who’s been DQed even the TV cameras. Nah, probably would be too hard to hit moving targets anyway.      Of course, then other competitors would start to carry the paint-ball    guns, and if they feel someone they are riding with is too much of    a threat, BLAM!!  So then everyone goes out and starts carrying    paint-ball guns.  Oh yea, then Profile and Scott come out with    aero holters to hold the guns, or better yet, they mount an aero    paint-ball gun turit on the handlebars.

And a rearward facing paint-ball gun could do wonders to solve drafting problems :-}                                         — John — John Walker                Metaphor Computer Systems

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|   I think that you may have misunderstood the context of "drafting" |   in this case.  What we are refering to here is drafting on the |   bike.  There can be a real advantage gained by drafting, especially |   if those involved form a paceline, where everyone in the line takes |   turns pulling at the front of the line, breaking wind (so to speak) |   for the other riders, and then rotating to the back of the line to |   rest for the next turn at the front. | Nah, I understand what drafting is, and why it is so advantageous, esp. on a bike, but because my only exposure to cycling races has been to see a few road races (or watch the lousy coverage of the Tour de France on tv), I’ve assumed that drafting is an integral part of racing. |   I believe drafting was first outlawed in triathlon as a safty |   concern.  Riding in a paceline requires a skill level in biking |   that would limit greatly the number of qualified triathlon |   participants. | |   Because the bike portion of a triathlon is basically a time trial, |   the bicycle equipment used has become specific to time trials.  The |   most notable of these is the Aero handle bars, where the rider is |   tucked in with his/her hands straight out in front, in an attempt to |   become more aerodynamic.  This is a much less stable riding position |   and noone should ever try to ride in a pack or paceline in the aero |   position! | Okay, these two reasons make sense.  As my wife also pointed out last night, governing boards of sports are allowed to make arbitrary rules that sometimes baffle the understanding of those who did not make the rules.  Thanks for the clarification. —

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Hey Larry, how ’bout this idear? Give every official on the Tri course a paint-ball gun. Any competitor who breaks the rules _BLAM!!_ he’s got orange paint all over him. Everyone along the route then knows who’s been DQed even the TV cameras. Nah, probably would be too hard to hit moving targets anyway.    :-)

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Here’s  another idea that has been kicked around (and tried in one duathlon in Calif.): When you are nabbed for drafting you must pull to the side of the road, and place both feet on the ground before you can continue. I happen to think that this could be very  dangerous.  Can you see an angry athlete  pulling  out of a pack of riders in the middle of a race to stop & start as fast as possible?  Yuch. — LSC

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Hey Larry, how ’bout this idear? Give every official on the Tri course a paint-ball gun. Any competitor who breaks the rules _BLAM!!_ he’s got orange paint all over him. Everyone along the route then knows who’s been DQed even the TV cameras. Nah, probably would be too hard to hit moving targets anyway.  

        Of course, then other competitors would start to carry the paint-ball         guns, and if they feel someone they are riding with is too much of         a threat, BLAM!!  So then everyone goes out and starts carrying         paint-ball guns.  Oh yea, then Profile and Scott come out with         aero holters to hold the guns, or better yet, they mount an aero         paint-ball gun turit on the handlebars.         Oh-oh, don’t tell me were going to get into the guns and bike flame         war from this summer again…         ’s, of course..

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Not being a triathlete, or even biathlete (either kind), I’ve never understood the need for a drafting rule.  So what if people draft?

I heard that the reason that drafting is illegal in triathlons is that it gives an unfair advantage to a weak cyclist who is also a strong runner. The cyclist may be able to draft behind a strong cyclist.  On a similar vein, it would discourage strong swimmers from pushing too hard in the swim to get a solo lead, just to be eaten up by the pack on the bike portion. Of course, drafting in swimming allows weaker swimmers to take advantage of slightly stronger swimmers, but (I’m guessing) making drafting illegal in the swim segment would be too hard to enforce because of how tightly packed the athletes are at the start of the race.

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Not being a triathlete, or even biathlete (either kind), I’ve never understood the need for a drafting rule.  So what if people draft? [deleted stuff] Could someone please clarify the need for such a rule? You see "drafting" (the effect is mostly mental, though on a windy day, it’s nice to tuck in behind someone else) in footraces all the time, though I believe there is a TAC rule against pacing, or otherwise "aiding" your competition. —

        I think that you may have misunderstood the context of "drafting"         in this case.  What we are refering to here is drafting on the         bike.  There can be a real advantage gained by drafting, especially         if those involved form a paceline, where everyone in the line takes         turns pulling at the front of the line, breaking wind (so to speak)         for the other riders, and then rotating to the back of the line to         rest for the next turn at the front.         I believe drafting was first outlawed in triathlon as a safty         concern.  Riding in a paceline requires a skill level in biking         that would limit greatly the number of qualified triathlon         participants.         Because the bike portion of a triathlon is basically a time trial,         the bicycle equipment used has become specific to time trials.  The         most notable of these is the Aero handle bars, where the rider is         tucked in with his/her hands straight out in front, in an attempt to         become more aerodynamic.  This is a much less stable riding position         and noone should ever try to ride in a pack or paceline in the aero         position!         Drafting is legal on the swim and run however.  You’d be suprised         how much of a draft you can achive in the wake of another swimmer.         Just don`t let them know you are there, or they will do a couple of         quick rolls to one side, and you’ve lost your draftee.  Yea, and         don’t swim up there back or you might get kicked in the face:).

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| | ** ** Triathlon Federation/USA Rule Changes for 1991 ** ** | | New Penalty Structure: | [stuff deleted] | | The other item on Mark Sisson’s (TriFed Executive Director) agenda for next | season  is  to  do  some  experimentation  with  penalty  enforcement.  For | example,  do you wait for the athlete to cross the finish  line  before the | time penalty is accessed or do you force  him/her  into a "penalty  box" at | the Bike/Run  transition?  The idea is to pick some races and try different | enforcement scenarios before we make any sweeping rule changes. | | |   An interesting concept; a penalty box.  What is the reasoning for |   and against this?  And what are the specifics for implementing this. |   What about an appeal?  If the penalty is reversed, do you subtract the |   penalty time from the final time?  How to you factor in the time |   the athlete has to rest during the penalty v. the fact that there |   legs may tend to tighten up during the time in the penalty box. | |   I for one would like to see some additional information on this |   topic. | Another alternative would be to impose penalty loops, much as is done with the biathlon (skiing/shooting).  When a competitor misses a shot, depending on the race, either penalty time is added, or the competitor skis a penalty loop.  However, there is more judgement at work in a triathlon penalty, and thus an appeal process, whereas there isn’t much doubt about hitting or missing a target.   Not being a triathlete, or even biathlete (either kind), I’ve never understood the need for a drafting rule.  So what if people draft? Why can’t drafting strategy be an element in the competition?  Or does the fact that many triathlons are started in waves, and therefore the competition is more or less against the clock, and not particularly against other people, change the rationale for how race rules are set up? Could someone please clarify the need for such a rule? You see "drafting" (the effect is mostly mental, though on a windy day, it’s nice to tuck in behind someone else) in footraces all the time, though I believe there is a TAC rule against pacing, or otherwise "aiding" your competition. —

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** ** Triathlon Federation/USA Rule Changes for 1991 ** ** New Penalty Structure: Infractions relating to safety:   DQ Infractions relating to course cutting:   DQ Infractions relating to drafting/blocking:    Sprint    1 minute    Olympic   3 minutes    Long      6 minutes    Ultra    12 minutes Other Infractions: 1 minute Each time an athlete is cited during a race for an  infraction  with a time penalty  that time will be added to the final  race time for that  athlete. An  athlete  may be cited  multiple  times  for the  same  infraction.  All penalties will be listed next to the specific rules in the 1991 guidebook. The feeling of the board, the pros, the officials, and myself is that these new  penalties  are fairer and should be easier for  marshals to cite.  The hope is that if marshals  feel better  about a time  penalty for  drafting, rather  than a DQ they will cite  more  athletes  and we will see a general decline in the drafting problem without increasing the size of the drafting zone. US PAC is still considering stricter rules for pros in specially sanctioned races. The other item on Mark Sisson’s (TriFed Executive Director) agenda for next season  is  to  do  some  experimentation  with  penalty  enforcement.  For example,  do you wait for the athlete to cross the finish  line  before the time penalty is accessed or do you force  him/her  into a "penalty  box" at the Bike/Run  transition?  The idea is to pick some races and try different enforcement scenarios before we make any sweeping rule changes. — LSC

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   An interesting concept; a penalty box.  What is the reasoning for    and against this?  And what are the specifics for implementing this.    What about an appeal?  If the penalty is reversed, do you subtract the    penalty time from the final time?  How to you factor in the time    the athlete has to rest during the penalty v. the fact that there    legs may tend to tighten up during the time in the penalty box.    I for one would like to see some additional information on this    topic.

First of all, remember that we plan on EXPERIMENTING at a few key races to see how something like this might work. The key idea here is that the media doesn’t like filming the top  finishers only to find out later that they were either DQed or penalized time.  Also the athletes,  while  running, would know exactly who they were  competeing against. A con is that communication from the officials to the "penalty box" area must be tight!  You can’t allow a penalized athlete to "slip through" the system. Drafting is a "judgement call" and therefore can’t be appealed.  This has always been the case. If you got penalized and then your legs "tightened up" in the penalty box my answer is:  Don’t get penalized! — LSC

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PLEASE think these through carefully. ANYTHING is preferable to disqualification surprising a competitor and observing fans. 1.The mechanism has to quickly inform the competitor. 2.Please remember the audience as well.  I love watching the competition as well as participating (in similar but _shorter_ events) and we know how valuable spectators can be to sports. "As simple as possible,… but no simpler."              (paraphrase) from Einstein I beleive. Two more cents in the fountain with a wish for even better days for all.

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** ** Triathlon Federation/USA Rule Changes for 1991 ** ** New Penalty Structure: [stuff deleted] The other item on Mark Sisson’s (TriFed Executive Director) agenda for next season  is  to  do  some  experimentation  with  penalty  enforcement.  For example,  do you wait for the athlete to cross the finish  line  before the time penalty is accessed or do you force  him/her  into a "penalty  box" at the Bike/Run  transition?  The idea is to pick some races and try different enforcement scenarios before we make any sweeping rule changes.

        An interesting concept; a penalty box.  What is the reasoning for         and against this?  And what are the specifics for implementing this.         What about an appeal?  If the penalty is reversed, do you subtract the         penalty time from the final time?  How to you factor in the time         the athlete has to rest during the penalty v. the fact that there         legs may tend to tighten up during the time in the penalty box.         I for one would like to see some additional information on this         topic.

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