Question:

Want to swap your top for my bottom?  I’ve lost all my weight from around my hips and thighs, but still have boobs out to there, and a belly.  Congrats on the loss, and I’m sure that the training will jump start the losses! — Julie. 93.5/83.1/72 kg 205.7/182.3/154 lb

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

If they call the police or the store security do they say… Man in the dairy case fondling the butter, too funny visual,,, Lee

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You could try my favorite.  Go to the grocery store, and start picking up packs of butter, the 1 lb. ones.  When you get to the amount you’ve lost, you can stop.  That’s a pretty graphic representation, and helps me to see just what my losses to date amount to.  It does tend to keep me focused on what I need to do next. It also gets me kicked out of the occasional grocery, but that’s their loss! David 335.4/304.0/185.0 Since 11/02/2002 NAFC goal 289 Thank you Its weird how 1lb never feels good enough I always want it to be more. — — Anna

Response:

Slow and steady means it will be easier to keep off.  Any loss or even a maintain is not a gain and in my book that is a successful week.  If I do gain it is only a failure if I can’t figure out why I gained.  Even if the reason is because I ate too much and I recognize that I still had a successful week, good luck with this week, Lee

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you Its weird how 1lb never feels good enough I always want it to be more. — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170 Good loss!!! Lee Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

That’s exactly what I did at Thanksgiving when I had lost about 15 pounds.  I hefted a 17 pound turkey and was duly impressed and it made it much more real. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You could try my favorite.  Go to the grocery store, and start picking up packs of butter, the 1 lb. ones.  When you get to the amount you’ve lost, you can stop.  That’s a pretty graphic representation, and helps me to see just what my losses to date amount to.  It does tend to keep me focused on what I need to do next. It also gets me kicked out of the occasional grocery, but that’s their loss! David 335.4/304.0/185.0 Since 11/02/2002 NAFC goal 289 Thank you Its weird how 1lb never feels good enough I always want it to be more. — — Anna

Response:

I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170.

Running 10 km, that’s an impressive goal. Good luck and I’d love some training tips if you have any good ones to pass on. I’m hoping to do a mini triathalon next year so I need to build up to running 3km. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body.

Bodies are funny things aren’t they? I’m similar. From the waist up I’m very fine but I still have quite a lot of fat on my hips and thighs. Still, one day we’ll both be slim and sexy from head to toe! — Erin in NZ 123.4/83.6/75 kgs 271.8/184.1/165 lbs NAFC goal 75kgs (165lbs)

Response:

You could try my favorite.  Go to the grocery store, and start picking up packs of butter, the 1 lb. ones.  When you get to the amount you’ve lost, you can stop.  That’s a pretty graphic representation, and helps me to see just what my losses to date amount to.  It does tend to keep me focused on what I need to do next. It also gets me kicked out of the occasional grocery, but that’s their loss! David 335.4/304.0/185.0 Since 11/02/2002 NAFC goal 289 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you Its weird how 1lb never feels good enough I always want it to be more. — — Anna

Response:

Good loss!!! Lee

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

Thank you Its weird how 1lb never feels good enough I always want it to be more. — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good loss!!! Lee Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

Congratulations, Anna, on losing that pound. Have fun training for that 10 km run. Elaine K 331.4/199.6/179 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

Hello Everybody, Well I lost 1 lb last week so my start weight for the no april fools challenge is 186.8. I weigh in every Saturday so I think if I understand the chart correctly that’s my start weight. I’ve started training to run 10kms  so hopefully I can give my weight loss a little jump start here and make it to my goal of 170. My body is so funny I need to take some pictures. I seem to have lost all my weight in my shoulders, face, chest and stomach. If you see me from the waist up I look tiny. But I’m carrying so much weight in my legs. I’m a small/medium when it comes to shirts, but a 14 for pants. Silly body. Thanks! — — Anna — 234.2/186.8/140 (46.8 more pounds to go!) 47.4 Total Lost LDC: 222- Achieved July 27/02 HC: 195 – Achieved October 26/02 10% Goal : 211.2- Made August 24/02 2nd 10% 190 : Achieved November 16/02 WAYOOM: 185 3rd 10%: 170

Response:

Question:

<snip training log Thanks so much for posting that, alabina.  I’ve just been asked to do an adventure race in September, so I’ll be training like mad too! Cheers, — Nicky 164/145/140 Owned and Operated by Shuck http://photos.yahoo.com/shuck_lab

Response:

Hi all, I survived the triathlon on June 2, Wow! What an amazing story.  Congratulations on finishing the race, it must have felt like such an accomplishment! Great pic too! How did you train for the race?

Hi Nicky, As for my training for the triathlon (750 meter swim / 20 km bike / 5 km run), I had already been swimming and biking for a few years. I continued to swim once weekly, 80 laps x 25 meters = 2000 meters, but I did make the change that for the first 40 laps, I didn’t touch the sides of the pool to push off, to try to simulate the continuous swim required for the triathlon. I also continued biking once weekly, on an unpaved trail with a few small uphills and downhills, about 3 1/2 hours on the trail including a few short breaks, and about half hour round trip on paved streets between my apartment and the start of the trail. It might have been better to train on flat paved surfaces, but the only place where this would be possible was too crowded on the weekends. I did this ride every week in the last 3 weeks of May; in the months before May I didn’t always have time, and then I only rode on my exercycle using a spinning video to do steady riding and intervals, for about an hour. At the beginning of May, I started jogging. During the first two weeks of May, I jogged once a week, because that’s how long it took to stop hurting! I probably hurt so much because I did too much too soon (50-60min. each time); I thought since I already exercised so much, I should do as much as I could, but I know now that I was wrong about that! The last two weeks in May, I jogged twice a week; once a week in the evening for about 35 minutes, and once a week right after my bike ride for about 45-50 minutes. This was because I had no other time for the second jog other than right after the bike ride, and anyway it was good preparation for the triathlon. I also continued to weight train 3 times a week, alternating upper and lower body. And I usually managed to get in a session of interval training using step and floor aerobics, once weekly. It probably would have been better to swim twice a week and bike twice a week, but I couldn’t find the time! Anyway, I would say that jogging is my weak link. I am very motivated to keep on jogging, to improve my condition for the next time. I really got a great feeling of accomplishment out of doing something like this. I know that I’m not fast, but to know that I can finish is enough. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to do this type of event to do it! It’s fun, and it gives you a goal to train for. My sister did a 5k run on June 2, also her first time doing any kind of race, and she says that training for the next one is her motivation to keep jogging. I am still on a business trip to Munich, and there is a triathlon on June 17 in Bad Toelz, which is very close to Munich, but registration closed for it before I got here, and the organizers told me there are no places left. I was so disappointed, I really wanted to do it, although I was not looking forward to swimming in the icy cold Bavarian lake as opposed to the Mediterranean sea. Most people who do the Bad Toelz triathlon wear wetsuits, that’s how cold the water is! alabina

Response:

Congratulations! you look great! thanks for posting this, i’m so proud of you! Julie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, I survived the triathlon on June 2, but then was not able to find the time to post here before leaving on a business trip, that’s why I’m posting this from Google. This was the Womens Triathlon in Herylizah, Israel. I did the sprint option of 750 meter swim / 20 km biking / 5 km run. It was really exciting and nerve-wracking standing on the beach at 7 am, waiting for the start. And then I messed up the navigation in the swim! Somehow I missed the first turn! When I realized my mistake and turned back to the course, I no longer had the others to follow, and I had to keep slowing down and looking for the rope marking the course, even had to call out to the pcople in the guard boat and ask them! So I was one of the last out of the water, feeling pretty demoralized and stupid, but determined to press on. In the biking, I managed to maintain a pretty consistent speed, trying to work hard but not so hard that I would run out of steam before the running. As I completed the biking, I saw that quite a few women were still biking, so I had improved my position a bit. As I got back to the area where I would leave my bike before the run, I heard them announcing the first finishers! And I still had to run 5 km!! The running was hard, it was definitely the hardest part for me, maybe not only because it comes at the end, but also because while I had already been swimming and biking for a few years, I only started jogging at the beginning of May. I just told myself to keep going, to keep taking stride after stride. Volunteers along the way handed out water and shouted encouragement to keep going. Then, about 1 kilometer before the end, there was a small bump in the pavement which I didn’t see, and I guess I wasn’t lifting my feet very high, and I tripped over the bump and landed on my hands and knees! Ouch! Well, it smarted, but I knew it was not serious, so I got up right away and kept on running, thankful that it happened 1 km before the end instead of 1 km after the start. I was so happy to see the finish line, I put on a sprint and crossed it with my hands held high! Wow, was I glad it was over, but I was also glad that I did it. I made a beeline for the port-a-potty, where I discovered that I had blood trickling down both legs from bloody scrapes on my knees. My friend who did the shorter option last year, told me that she was mailed a picture of her crossing the finish line, so I hope they did that this year too; I would love to have that picture of me crossing the finish line with blood rolling down both legs! Speaking of pictures, the organizers put a lot of pictures of the triathlon on the web, and I’m in one of them! It’s at the point where I’m running with my bike to the biking start, so no bloody legs yet! We were instructed that we were not allowed to get on our bikes until we reached the biking start, so that’s why I’m running:

http://www.shvoong.co.il/imageFromEvent/44/pages/1.asp?number=103&Tot… 245&Pages=7 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m in the foreground, in the pink helmet. FYI, I’m 42 years old, 5′4", 128 lbs, bust 35 1/2", waist 26 1/2 ", hips 36 1/4 ". As for my official results, I did finish near the bottom overall (55th place out of 71 participants), but I finished 4th out of 8 in my age category of 40-44! I was theoretically only one person away from a trophy, but  my overall time was 1:48:38, and the 3rd place winner in my age group had an overall time of 1:38:26, so that’s a pretty significant difference. Even if I hadn’t messed up in the swimming, I think that would have only have made me about 5 minutes faster. Overall I was 68th in swimming, with 26:20 minutes (this includes about 5 minutes transition between the swimming and swimming), 46th in the biking, with 50:13 minutes, and 44th in the running, with 32:04 minutes. I would definitely do this again, but I wouldn’t want to do an Ironman! alabina

Response:

Hi all, I survived the triathlon on June 2,

Wow! What an amazing story.  Congratulations on finishing the race, it must have felt like such an accomplishment! Great pic too! How did you train for the race? Cheers, — Nicky 164/145/140 Owned and Operated by Shuck http://photos.yahoo.com/shuck_lab

Response:

Hi all, I survived the triathlon on June 2, but then was not able to find the time to post here before leaving on a business trip, that’s why I’m posting this from Google. This was the Womens Triathlon in Herylizah, Israel. I did the sprint option of 750 meter swim / 20 km biking / 5 km run. It was really exciting and nerve-wracking standing on the beach at 7 am, waiting for the start. And then I messed up the navigation in the swim! Somehow I missed the first turn! When I realized my mistake and turned back to the course, I no longer had the others to follow, and I had to keep slowing down and looking for the rope marking the course, even had to call out to the pcople in the guard boat and ask them! So I was one of the last out of the water, feeling pretty demoralized and stupid, but determined to press on. In the biking, I managed to maintain a pretty consistent speed, trying to work hard but not so hard that I would run out of steam before the running. As I completed the biking, I saw that quite a few women were still biking, so I had improved my position a bit. As I got back to the area where I would leave my bike before the run, I heard them announcing the first finishers! And I still had to run 5 km!! The running was hard, it was definitely the hardest part for me, maybe not only because it comes at the end, but also because while I had already been swimming and biking for a few years, I only started jogging at the beginning of May. I just told myself to keep going, to keep taking stride after stride. Volunteers along the way handed out water and shouted encouragement to keep going. Then, about 1 kilometer before the end, there was a small bump in the pavement which I didn’t see, and I guess I wasn’t lifting my feet very high, and I tripped over the bump and landed on my hands and knees! Ouch! Well, it smarted, but I knew it was not serious, so I got up right away and kept on running, thankful that it happened 1 km before the end instead of 1 km after the start. I was so happy to see the finish line, I put on a sprint and crossed it with my hands held high! Wow, was I glad it was over, but I was also glad that I did it. I made a beeline for the port-a-potty, where I discovered that I had blood trickling down both legs from bloody scrapes on my knees. My friend who did the shorter option last year, told me that she was mailed a picture of her crossing the finish line, so I hope they did that this year too; I would love to have that picture of me crossing the finish line with blood rolling down both legs! Speaking of pictures, the organizers put a lot of pictures of the triathlon on the web, and I’m in one of them! It’s at the point where I’m running with my bike to the biking start, so no bloody legs yet! We were instructed that we were not allowed to get on our bikes until we reached the biking start, so that’s why I’m running: http://www.shvoong.co.il/imageFromEvent/44/pages/1.asp?number=103&Tot… I’m in the foreground, in the pink helmet. FYI, I’m 42 years old, 5′4", 128 lbs, bust 35 1/2", waist 26 1/2 ", hips 36 1/4 ". As for my official results, I did finish near the bottom overall (55th place out of 71 participants), but I finished 4th out of 8 in my age category of 40-44! I was theoretically only one person away from a trophy, but  my overall time was 1:48:38, and the 3rd place winner in my age group had an overall time of 1:38:26, so that’s a pretty significant difference. Even if I hadn’t messed up in the swimming, I think that would have only have made me about 5 minutes faster. Overall I was 68th in swimming, with 26:20 minutes (this includes about 5 minutes transition between the swimming and swimming), 46th in the biking, with 50:13 minutes, and 44th in the running, with 32:04 minutes. I would definitely do this again, but I wouldn’t want to do an Ironman! alabina

Response:

Question:

i think it is because campy no longer makes any wheels in the 650 size any they are a big sponsor for her

I don’t think this is the reason, her bike could still be full campy, campy drivetrain, campy hubs, campy everything, just built up on rims of choice. As far as Campy rims in 650, I Don’t know for sure on that one, I’m sure they are still readily available out there. I wouls also question how big of a financial comitment campy would have???  It is my guess that she is on a 700c  wheeled bike for Ironman distance  racing, and the 650c for shorter races.  John Hansen  Sarasota Fl.

Response:

My guesses are: 1) ITU/UCI rules – The 200 is legal, the 500 is not (no seat tube)

- are you sure about this?  Kestrel sponsors the New Balance team and people like Jackie Gallagher and a Loretta Harrop are riding 500 s in World Cup races, i think. -mike

Response:

Here’s an example (there have been others lately) of him getting more than just flamed for merely joining in a conversation and adding an opinion on a question asked of the group. What gives? I thought this was an open forum? If you think someone is a troll, it is best to ignore them and they’ll eventually go away. Insults don’t add anything but bad feelings. Give it a rest. This guy has offered advice and opinions many times on this group (as have you, Sam). He has also said some really stupid things and been taken to task for them.

Andrew, Amen.  If John is trying to make an effort to contribute, people should cut him some slack.  Not a lot…but some… -Kevin

Response:

Until January 2000 ! Then its turn back the clock to the UCI 60’s Lloyd — Curloo Bicycles web:          http://www.curloo.com                   http://www.deewal.com associate:  http://www.elitebicycles.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My guesses are: 1) ITU/UCI rules – The 200 is legal, the 500 is not (no seat tube) – are you sure about this?  Kestrel sponsors the New Balance team and people like Jackie Gallagher and a Loretta Harrop are riding 500 s in World Cup races, i think. -mike

Response:

Re: Wendy’s choice of Kestrel 200 over 500 this year at IMH. 2 explanations have surfaced…1) 500 illegal in ITU events: Since Wendy rarely, if ever, races these races, that’s of no consequence…2) Campy’s lack of 650c rims: check photo of Greg Welch (also Campy sponsored) and Wendy in Triathlete magazine’s IMH coverage.Greg has 650c Boras and Wendy has 700c Shamals. Now what? Maybe she just wanted to ride the 200 that day… cheers, Andrew — Andrew Peabody/Karen Fisher Coconut Grove, FL

Response:

Campy USED TO make 650c Shamals and Boras, but NOT ANY MORE! Check their website or catalog. If you want new 650c wheels, they ain’t from Campy! Perhaps Welchie is using older (relatively speaking) wheels. However, on their website they list a "chrono triathlon" component group which says… "…Moreover, 26 inch wheels have proved rather popular…." Soooooooo, they’ll make a "tri-specific" component group (bar-end shifters, larger chainrings) but not 650c wheels, even though "26 inch wheels have proved rather popular…." Hmmmmmmm. BilMas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Re: Wendy’s choice of Kestrel 200 over 500 this year at IMH. 2 explanations have surfaced…1) 500 illegal in ITU events: Since Wendy rarely, if ever, races these races, that’s of no consequence…2) Campy’s lack of 650c rims: check photo of Greg Welch (also Campy sponsored) and Wendy in Triathlete magazine’s IMH coverage.Greg has 650c Boras and Wendy has 700c Shamals. Now what? Maybe she just wanted to ride the 200 that day… cheers, Andrew — Andrew Peabody/Karen Fisher Coconut Grove, FL

Response:

Re: Wendy’s choice of Kestrel 200 over 500 this year at IMH. 2 explanations have surfaced…1) 500 illegal in ITU events: Since Wendy rarely, if ever, races these races, that’s of no consequence…2) Campy’s lack of 650c rims: check photo of Greg Welch (also Campy sponsored) and Wendy in Triathlete magazine’s IMH coverage.Greg has 650c Boras and Wendy has 700c Shamals. Now what? Maybe she just wanted to ride the 200 that day…

Can’t answer why Wendy did what, but it is true (unfortunately), that Campy has ceased to offer 650c wheels. G

Question:

Hello All, I’m interested in starting up  a new tri club in my area.  Are there any tips as to which is the best way to go?  I’ve been a rather good club for some time now, but politics and ego’s are starting to get in the way of the true meaning behind a ‘Tri club’. — Tri Your Hardest!   /O     ___o     o      ~~~~   _ <,_    <|        (*)/ (*)    /           Darrin Bartlett 18 weeks to the inaugural Ironman USA!

Response:

[This followup was posted to rec.sport.triathlon and a copy was sent to the cited author.] Hello All, I’m interested in starting up  a new tri club in my area.  Are there any tips as to which is the best way to go?  I’ve been a rather good club for some time now, but politics and ego’s are starting to get in the way of the true meaning behind a ‘Tri club’.

We built the Seattle Tri Club last year, by handing out flyers, creating a website, and starting an email list. But in your case, you might want to talk to the board of the club first. Rob — Rob Blomquist aka TriDog Seattle, WA http://www2.jps.net/~robbo

Response:

Question:

Well I’m probably wrong, or overly cynical, BUT…. I saw this posting up here at the top at about 12:00 noon my time, (Sweden) now I believe that Australia is around 9 hours ahead of us in Europe and the US about 6-7 (NY) hours behind that. That means it was posted at about 21:00 (9pm) local time, or on the 15th… Odd that the post date should be the 16th, couldn’t be deliberate to have it up there for a while? Nah, no way, Phil (I have waaay too little to do) Squire – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After a solid training base, Chris was prepared for a podium result at Race 5 of the St George F1 Series held at Gelong, Mebourne (Australia). In the first and second of the three sprint races, Chris was to continue his bad luck in this series with a flat tyre in the first race and a fall on the cycle leg of the second. However, Chris battled on and completed each of the races to finally finish a well deserved second place in the third after an impressive run leg. View all Chris race results online at, http://www.chrismccormack.com.au/news.html – updated frequently!!

Response:

After a solid training base, Chris was prepared for a podium result at Race 5 of the St George F1 Series held at Gelong, Mebourne (Australia). In the first and second of the three sprint races, Chris was to continue his bad luck in this series with a flat tyre in the first race and a fall on the cycle leg of the second. However, Chris battled on and completed each of the races to finally finish a well deserved second place in the third after an impressive run leg. View all Chris race results online at, http://www.chrismccormack.com.au/news.html – updated frequently!!

Response:

Phil Squire  says… Well I’m probably wrong, or overly cynical, BUT…. I saw this posting up here at the top at about 12:00 noon my time, (Sweden) now I believe that Australia is around 9 hours ahead of us in Europe and the US about 6-7 (NY) hours behind that. That means it was posted at about 21:00 (9pm) local time, or on the 15th… Odd that the post date should be the 16th, couldn’t be deliberate to have it up there for a while? Nah, no way, Phil (I have waaay too little to do) Squire

Of course it could be because his computer isn’t setup correctly and instead of posting the time for 9am local time its put 9pm. AJ (Who’s just waiting for knock-off time) — If swimming is so good for the figure, explain whales Simon Haigh Illawarra Triathlon Club – Australia http://members.xoom.com/ajsimon/index.htm   <—- New web site      

Response:

Question:

On the Inside Triathlon calendar, there is a race in late September in south central Colorado… Sept 26 Tenderfoot Triathlon, Salida, CO. 1km S/40km B/10km R. Donna Rhoads, 719/539-6738. Has anyone had any experience doing this event in the past? Thanks in advance!!! Pat Brug

Response:

Sept 26 Tenderfoot Triathlon, Salida, CO. 1km S/40km B/10km R. Donna Rhoads, 719/539-6738. Has anyone had any experience doing this event in the past?

No one has any experience with it. This is the first year they are having it. Swim is in a pool. They are only taking 79 people I heard. They don’t want to run so many waves in the pool that the event takes all day to have everyone finish. If you are not from Colorado and within easy distance I would pass this race by as there are probably enough around where you live. Ken  Colorado

Response:

Question:

Well, it looks like the ratings where great for the TV show.  Now if it had only been a great show……:) (No I’m not looking to open THAT debate again!) Glad to see the most famous, well-watched triathlon in the world is non-drafting.   Ahem…. Mark

Response:

What I never understand, if the rating are so great for IMH, why do so many local NBC affilates chose to preempt IMH for Godzilla versus Earth, etc.? Only a small portion of the USA has cable/satelite and IMH is the only triathlon they see. This year was a Great competitive race in terrible conditions, but who would know.

Response:

Mark, quit whining, the Ironman coverage was fantastic. How else could you appeal to millions of Ironman wannabes w/o using the format they did?

Response:

Mark, quit whining, the Ironman coverage was fantastic. How else could you appeal to millions of Ironman wannabes w/o using the format they did?

Well, it’s been quite some time since I posted on this topic, but maybe I’m the Mark who was "whining." I don’t whine.  I express an opinion, make suggestions, and see if anybody agrees or disagrees.  That’s the point of the newsgroup. Whine? Nope. Troll? Nope. I like the sport too much for that, and respect the people on theNG too much for that. BTW,  how many telecasts have you seen? Check out a few  of the older telecasts…they weren’t perfect but they weren’t bad…and you could actually see who was racing! Mark  

Response:

Question:

I’ve came up with a recipe that I’ve been using for "energy food." Please e-mail me and let me know what you think.  I won’t be offended if you don’t like them – I know nothing about baking!

Michael, I’ll try your recipe soon-I don’t like baking, so I am going to modify the egg whites with protein powder and make them similiar to a recipe I like. You can check it out at: http://www.slip.net/~leeway/food.html Look in the carbo load section. They are very good-too tempting for me to have around while not training! If you don’t mind the time for assembly, they are a good value if you go through a lot of bars. Regards, Lee Rudin San Francisco Bay Area Triathlon Training Sites http://www.slip.net/~leeway/

Response:

I’ve came up with a recipe that I’ve been using for "energy food." It’s basically a peanut butter oatmeal cookie, with some important modifications.  My estimate is that they are approx. 70% carbo, 10%protein, and 20%fat.   I mix together:  1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, 2 cups oats, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 egg whites, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 4 tbsp. water (or maybe a bit more if needed to stir it up).  It is very hard to mix; I think mixing it counts as an upper extremity workout.  Mix well; roll into balls (if you’re hands are wet, it doesn’t stick as much).  Flatten them out with a fork (dip the fork in water between each cookie to keep it from sticking).  I’ve been baking them on an insulated cookie sheet (coated liberally with PAM) in a 325 degree oven for 18 min.  It shouldn’t take as long on a regular cookie sheet.  I suppose you could make bars out of them too, but cookies seem easiest to me. Please e-mail me and let me know what you think.  I won’t be offended if you don’t like them – I know nothing about baking! Mike B.

Response:

Question:

Shea, this may seem crude but it works for me. I stop, bend over towards the side that hurts. With both hands, grab as much as your skin and innards as you can (just below the rib cage). Hold for several seconds and then resume.This may be psycological, but I feel like I’m squeezing the gas out of the painful spot. Hope it works for you. You may be able to help me now. In the first 26.2  mi. marathon, the race was from Windsor Castle to Whitecity Stadium (the king’s reviewing box was inside the stadium). Is Whitecity Stadium still in existence? If so, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts? ER, AMTV, Triathlon! http://www.cisfi28.demon.co.uk/

it located in London? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts? ER, AMTV, Triathlon! http://www.cisfi28.demon.co.uk/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts? ER, AMTV, Triathlon! http://www.cisfi28.demon.co.uk/

– I had a running instructor in college suggest that I take one breath from the chest and the next breath from the abdomen.  I have a fairly steady rhythym now, but if I start developing a stitch, I try to hold air in my abdomen longer, and work to release it very slowly; there is still pain as it slowly subsides but it’s bearable.

Response:

Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts?

Personally, if I need to leave at a minimum 90 minutes after eating. But I normally leave about 2 hours and it is rare that I get a stitch. If I left 60 minutes I could guarantee myself a stitch. I normally run before dinner so it is easy for me, I just don’t eat after 3:00 at work. I’d recommend trying a run after 2 hours after eating and seeing how that goes. Also the fitter you get, the less stiches you get. Cheers… — Tommy Haywood;

Response:

| | Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in | the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I | generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but | even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. | This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few | minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. | | Any thoughts? Only based on experience and not scientific study, I find that a wait of at least three hours after eating is needed to avoid the nasty stitch.  With that I never have them.  When I’ve slipped up on occasion, I get ‘em. Dick Chimenti

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | | Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in | the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I | generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but | even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. | This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few | minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. | | Any thoughts? Only based on experience and not scientific study, I find that a wait of at least three hours after eating is needed to avoid the nasty stitch.  With that I never have them.  When I’ve slipped up on occasion, I get ‘em. Dick Chimenti

There can be several reasons for stitches.  But the most common one is speed. Next time when you go on your run, and start feeling that strange feeling that you are going to get a stitch, reduce your speed.  Run at that speed for sometime, and see how it feels.  It is my experience that it generally feels much better.   If it does not help, try this:  when you are having a stitch, generally on the left side just below your ribs, exhale while landing your right foot.  Try this drill for sometime.  If the stitch continues, stop.  Dig your fingers into the stitch hard, and bend forward.  Stay there for a while (like 10 seconds).  It helps. Last summer, while I was increasing my miles and speed for my marathon training, initially I frequently had stitches after about an hour into run.  I tried all the steps listed above but no luck. Then I realized that the reason for the stitches is that I was dehydrated.   In your case, if you are not getting those late in the run, try some of these tricks.  As a long term goal, try strengthening your abs, it will help you. Ashutosh

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | | Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in | the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I | generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but | even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. | This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few | minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. | | Any thoughts? Only based on experience and not scientific study, I find that a wait of at least three hours after eating is needed to avoid the nasty stitch.  With that I never have them.  When I’ve slipped up on occasion, I get ‘em. Dick Chimenti

I’ve heard/read more about the causes of stiches than I care to mention. The bottom line is this:  In *my opinion* the root cause is too much food in the stomach for the run.  Even if you wait several hours after eating, if you ate a lot of high fat foods you’ll still get them because most of it is still in the stomach.  I, personally, have never gotten a stitch on an empty stomach, regardless of the pace. —- JAM

Response:

A friend of mine who is an avid runner suggested that to avoid a stich, inhale into that portion of your somach where you feel a stich starting. When I inhale into my stomach from the start of the run, I have always avoided painful stiches. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | | Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in | the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I | generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but | even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. | This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few | minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. | | Any thoughts? Only based on experience and not scientific study, I find that a wait of at least three hours after eating is needed to avoid the nasty stitch.  With that I never have them.  When I’ve slipped up on occasion, I get ‘em. Dick Chimenti There can be several reasons for stitches.  But the most common one is speed. Next time when you go on your run, and start feeling that strange feeling that you are going to get a stitch, reduce your speed.  Run at that speed for sometime, and see how it feels.  It is my experience that it generally feels much better.   If it does not help, try this:  when you are having a stitch, generally on the left side just below your ribs, exhale while landing your right foot. Try this drill for sometime.  If the stitch continues, stop.  Dig your fingers into the stitch hard, and bend forward.  Stay there for a while (like 10 seconds).  It helps. Last summer, while I was increasing my miles and speed for my marathon training, initially I frequently had stitches after about an hour into run.  I tried all the steps listed above but no luck. Then I realized that the reason for the stitches is that I was dehydrated.   In your case, if you are not getting those late in the run, try some of these tricks.  As a long term goal, try strengthening your abs, it will help you. Ashutosh

Response:

Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts? ER, AMTV, Triathlon! http://www.cisfi28.demon.co.uk/

Response:

Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in

Shea- How long have you been running? How far/how fast do you go?You might try slowing down-on a normal training workout, you should have enough wind to be able to talk.  Any faster and you’re doing an anaerobic workout, not aerobic. You may not llok like an Olympic marathoner when going slow, but it gets the job done. Pick up the pace as your aerobic capacity improves.  If it’s occasional, you might try taking the fold of skin between your nose and upper lip and pinching it between your thumb and forefinger-it’s an accupressure point or something. It works for some people.  Hope this helps.  Stay with it! Scott Hoffman no sig today.

Response:

Shea, this may seem crude but it works for me. I stop, bend over towards the side that hurts. With both hands, grab as much as your skin and innards as you can (just below the rib cage). Hold for several seconds and then resume.This may be psycological, but I feel like I’m squeezing the gas out of the painful spot. Hope it works for you. You may be able to help me now. In the first 26.2  mi. marathon, the race was from Windsor Castle to Whitecity Stadium (the king’s reviewing box was inside the stadium). Is Whitecity Stadium still in existence? If so, where? If not, where was it located in London? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Probably 2 out of every 3 times I run, I get a fairly painful stich in the side of my stomach. Does anyone know how stiches can be avoided? I generally wait at least 60 minutes after eating before running, but even on days when I’ve waited a lot longer, I still get a nasty stich. This evening it was so painful I had to stop running for a few minutes, and towards the end of the run I felt a bit dizzy/sick. Any thoughts? ER, AMTV, Triathlon! http://www.cisfi28.demon.co.uk/

Response:

It has allso been my experience that speed is the couse of my stich problem. When I run hard and my breathing gets out of control I sometimes get them. My sugestion is reduce your speed or PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BREATHING !! Good luck Abraham

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Only based on experience and not scientific study, I find that a wait of at least three hours after eating is needed to avoid the nasty stitch.  With that I never have them.  When I’ve slipped up on occasion, I get ‘em. Dick Chimenti I’ve heard/read more about the causes of stiches than I care to mention. The bottom line is this:  In *my opinion* the root cause is too much food in the stomach for the run.  Even if you wait several hours after eating, if you ate a lot of high fat foods you’ll still get them because most of it is still in the stomach.  I, personally, have never gotten a stitch on an empty stomach, regardless of the pace. —- JAM

Then again, there are those of us who don’t get stitches based on food in the stomach. I can run after a moderate meal with no problems whatsoever. My stitches are related to breathing patterns and intensity. Go figure. TriBop WebRunner Running Page — Southeast USA Race Calendar 200+ listings. Beginner’s FAQ, Software Download the WebRunner Racing Utilities   http://www.webrunner.com/webrun/running/running.html

Response:

Question:

 …newspaper article I am a proponent of elite waves (and an elite participant) especially if prize money is involved.  It is the only FAIR way to run the race.  If you are put into age groups, the older age groups have an advantage (at least on the run) because they know the times they need to beat.  Also, weather conditions can be drastically different from the beginning wave to the final wave which can also give a certain group an advantage.

I’m puzzled by a couple of your comments, Pat.  How does putting racers in age groups give older (and I assume starting later) groups an advantage?  Have your supporters radio-ing from finish line back on the course?  "Pigg finished in 2:03:37 so if I run 0:30 /mile faster pace the last 10 minutes I can beat his time"?  How many waves are some of the bigger races?  Greatest time differential I’ve seen is 30 minutes.  I’d think not often would weather change drastically.  Suppose this could happen for IM length when a afternoon T-storm rolls in. With an elite wave, age group riders never will know.   Even if they break away from their wave, they have to fight through the traffic of the stragglers from the age group in front.  

Seems to support my first point. BTW Pat are you doing Santa Fe?  Looking forward to seeing your name at top of race results. Gary

Response:

I am posting an article from the Dallas Morning Post from 7/15/94.  I think the article is interesting and I do not remember reading anything about this issue in the group. Your comments… DRAMATIC TRIATHLON FINISHES OFTEN SQUELCHED BY ORGANIZERS by: GREG LAUTENSLAGER (NOT ME) In case you missed it, one of the most dramatic finishes in Texas triathlon history was played out at the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series on Sunday in Austin.

snip "The majority did not want an elite wave.  Elites like an elite wave, because they’re out there in the clean air.  But other athletes don’t like them getting a head start, because they want to know how they compare against the big guys.  

I am a proponent of elite waves (and an elite participant) especially if prize money is involved.  It is the only FAIR way to run the race.  If you are put into age groups, the older age groups have an advantage (at least on the run) because they know the times they need to beat.  Also, weather conditions can be drastically different from the beginning wave to the final wave which can also give a certain group an advantage. With an elite wave, age group riders never will know.  Even if they break away from their wave, they have to fight through the traffic of the stragglers from the age group in front.  And if you have an elite wave, how do you determine who belongs in it?

I’ve been in this situation.  Once you start consistently breaking away from your wave, then you sign up for the elites. "Should we take the statistics from 1993 or what they’ve done this year based  on what’s published in triathlon magazines?"  Henderson said.  "You end up  with 60 people in the elite wave, and that’s not safe."

60 people in a (elite) wave NOT SAFE?!?  This would certainly be an exception not the rule.  The swim course must have an extremely narrow start or the bike course be extremely narrow.  In an elite wave, completing the swim should be a non-issue. Actually, elite waves are much MORE SAFER.  It makes me very nervous every time I catch the end of the previous waves in the swim.  I really feel for these swimmers who now have to unfairly contend with another wave of swimmers swimming around (probably on top of) them.  It definitely would not be a pleasurable, nor safe experience.  The same can be said for the bike– which is my only complaint about criterium courses.  It is a very UNSAFE situation to have the 26 mph+ crowd weaving through slower packs. That’s exactly how a friend of mine (who was winning 50-54 age group) crashed at the worlds two years ago.  Moyse said he was bombarded by non-elites who signed up for the elite heat,    in hopes of being pulled to faster times.

                     ^^^^^^ Sounds like drafting illegally to me "When you put those people back into the age groups, 99 time out of 100, you never hear a word back from them," Moyse said.  "They know they don’t belong in there, buth they try anyway."

A race director can’t possibly be expected to make judgments about who is an elite and who is not.  Taking myself for example,  there is only 1 tri-fed sanctioned race (tri) in my state (4.5 hours away).  The next closest one is 7 hrs away (Boulder) and finally Dallas and Phoenix (12 hrs).  I have never been in the tri-fed rankings because it is just not practical to travel to enough SANCTIONED races.  My local tri-colleagues who do fly to races (and are All-Americans) that I have beaten tell me that I consistently fall into the tri-black-hole.  I would probably never had made the "elite list" in almost any race even though I’ve won my age group in every race I’ve entered for the past two years (except one) and routinely place in the top 2 or 3 overall.  My main point is that I’m not alone.  There are many athletes for many reasons who only want to race a few times a year, or they are on business travel and they decide to do a race in a new local… Maule raced in Taggfart’s shadow for more than a year.  But Sunday’s elite wave moved her out of the shadow and into the limelight as Texas’ best women’s triathlete.

Long-live elite waves!!!    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

Response:

 …newspaper article I am a proponent of elite waves (and an elite participant) especially if prize money is involved.  It is the only FAIR way to run the race.  If you are put into age groups, the older age groups have an advantage (at least on the run) because they know the times they need to beat.  Also, weather conditions can be drastically different from the beginning wave to the final wave which can also give a certain group an advantage.

I’ll give two local NM examples… I’m puzzled by a couple of your comments, Pat.  How does putting racers in age groups give older (and I assume starting later) groups an advantage?  Have your supporters radio-ing from finish line back on the course?  

Last year at the Rocky Mtn Regional Sprint Champ. in Dexter, the top three men were separated by 5-7 seconds.  Each started in successive waves that were 5 minutes apart.  The two from the 2nd and 3rd waves had wives/friends etc… around the start of the third mile telling them the times they have to beat.  This was a big advantage since they were both of the front of their age-group waves it is impossible to know where you stand overall except for using timing.  The guy from the 2nd wave beat the 1st wave’s time by 2 seconds, and not too surprisingly the 3rd wave time beat the 2nd wave time by 3-4 seconds.   How many waves are some of the bigger races?  Greatest time differential I’ve seen is 30 minutes.  I’d think not often would weather change drastically.  Suppose this could happen for IM length when a afternoon T-storm rolls in.

Taos has a small triathlon every year in the middle of September.  The swim is a self-seeded pool swim.  Two years ago when I did this race, the first wave went off at 7:30 or 8:00AM.  The air temperature was in the low 40’s and virtually no wind.  I was in the last wave which didn’t start until 12:30 pm.  The wind was now gusting at over 20mph, but the temperature had warmed up to the low 60’s… This is obviously an extremely example.  However, it is not too hard to imagine weather situations changing drastically in 20-30 minutes as storm fronts close in etc…  On the same section of a bike course, what could have been a headwind for one rider is now  a tailwind for another… Now before I illicit some long drawn out thread regarding weather/fairness, I’ll recognize that it is a pretty minimal argument.  The main factor, IMHO, is knowing where your competition is, and also it is always easier to chase someone than to stay off the front… BTW Pat are you doing Santa Fe?

I’ll see you there…  OBTW, I’ll be in the elite wave…    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

Response:

   I would definitely like to see an elite wave at more races, but I think that entry into an elite wave should make one ineligible for age-group prizes, i.e., make it a separate division.  

This has been my typical experience that the elite’s are not eligible for age-group awards.  What about the reverse situation…  Should a hot-shot age-grouper be eligible for prize money if he/she did not register elite?    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

Response:

   I would definitely like to see an elite wave at more races, but I think that entry into an elite wave should make one ineligible for age-group prizes, i.e., make it a separate division.

That’s how the Clermont (Florida) sprint series works.  Anyone can enter, though it only makes sense if you have a realistic shot at top 5.   There’s no prize money, and you don’t have to register as a pro with Tri-Fed.  The elite wave starts first. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

Response:

        I would definitely like to see an elite wave at more races, but I think that entry into an elite wave should make one ineligible for age-group prizes, i.e., make it a separate division.  That way, those who would enter it just to get pulled to a faster time (which shouldn’t work anyway, unless they’re drafting) will reconsider, because they would be giving up the chance to win awards other than in the elite division.         Personally, I’m not nearly fast enough to turn pro, but I do well overall at regional races.  I would definitely consider racing in an open or elite wave at some of these, particularly if there were the possibility of picking up a few dollars or a prize. Timothy Gotsick

Response:

I am posting an article from the Dallas Morning Post from

oops, Should be Dallas Morning News.

Response:

I am posting an article from the Dallas Morning Post from 7/15/94.  I think the article is interesting and I do not remember reading anything about this issue in the group. Your comments… DRAMATIC TRIATHLON FINISHES OFTEN SQUELCHED BY ORGANIZERS by: GREG LAUTENSLAGER (NOT ME) In case you missed it, one of the most dramatic finishes in Texas triathlon history was played out at the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series on Sunday in Austin. Arlington’s Lauren Maule overcame a 20-second deficit after the cycling competition and sprinted by Houston rival Sally Taggart 400 yards from the finish to take the overall title and the $1,200 first prize.  But if this race had not had an elite wave – with the race’s "elite" athletes competing head to head rather than being split into age-group waves or starting off only at timed intervals – everyone would have missed it. Similar dramatics were possible at the Tri-Cities Triathlon at Lake Joe Pool on June 11.  But no elite wave was staged, and no one was certain who won until the awards ceremony hours later.  Co-director Scott Henderson said that was the right call. "We went around to different races and surveyed the athletes" Henderson said. "The majority did not want an elite wave.  Elites like an elite wave, because they’re out there in the clean air.  But other athletes don’t like them getting a head start, because they want to know how they compare against the big guys.   With an elite wave, age group riders never will know.  Even if they break away from their wave, they have to fight through the traffic of the stragglers from the age group in front.  And if you have an elite wave, how do you determine who belongs in it? "Should we take the statistics from 1993 or what they’ve done this year based on what’s published in triathlon magazines?"  Henderson said.  "You end up with 60 people in the elite wave, and that’s not safe." At the Tom Landry Triathlon on May 7, an elite wave was limited to 16 athletes.  Race director Doug Moyse selected veteran athletes based on 1993 Tri-Fed rankings.  He examined up-and-coming triathletes who showed promise in recent running and cycling races on a case-by case basis.  Moyse said he was bombarded by non-elites who signed up for the elite heat, in hopes of being pulled to faster times. "When you put those people back into the age groups, 99 time out of 100, you never hear a word back from them," Moyse said.  "They know they don’t belong in there, buth they try anyway." Moyse said it is safer to have an elite wave, because it prevents faster racers from colliding with slower ones.  However, many triathletes argue the sport is not intended to be a race against other athletes but rather a race against themselves and their own abilities. But what is a race without a race? "If you leave in increments, you never can figure out how far ahead or behind you are." Moyse said.  "Everything is so ‘iffy’.  There’s no real pure, head-to-head competition.  If you want a race – I mean really go out and race people – you’re not gonna race somebody’s shadow." Maule raced in Taggfart’s shadow for more than a year.  But Sunday’s elite wave moved her out of the shadow and into the limelight as Texas’ best women’s triathlete.         END OF ARTICLE……WHAT DO YOU THINK?? Mark Ludorf

Response: