Question:

. Might still be able to, haven’t tried it lately…

one would’t stretch up there..  must be losing some flexibility in my old age…  darn!

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oh yeah.. and it was about toes, don’t forget.

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. Might still be able to, haven’t tried it lately… right one would’t stretch up there..  must be losing some flexibility in my old age…  darn!

I guess this means that you are no longer appealing to those who like young contortionists.  <veg How can you stand the pain and rejection? sam Don’t push the red button, Never push the red button!       Daffy Duck

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Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! I had planned to quit on Oct 1 (seemed convenient time, what with being unemployed and kids away for two weeks), but the WTC tragedy got in the way, and the darn date came and went……. but now I think I’m ready. Okay, I KNOW I’m ready. Today I’m preparing my strategy, debating my new quit date, exhausting my last lame excuses….. actually, I think the quit date just may be tomorrow, or maybe when this pack runs out this afternoon. Or maybe I will symbolically flush the darn pack down the toilet, and get this over with right now…..! My plan is to try cold turkey first, three days of misery & then it’s over, it worked last time.  But if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a box of patches to try next, and as a very last resort, an Rx for Zyban which I can fill if I need to. I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….. I already failed my first attempt yesterday. But from previous experience (when I quit cold turkey and it lasted 7 glorious smoke-free years), the more I fail, the closer I’ll eventually get to succeeding. So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… ! Also, if any of you have yahoo instant messenger, and would offer your online services to support and distract me through the worst of my battle with the ugly nicotine monster, please email me with your jen

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Good luck!!  :-)

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I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….

Isn’t preparing to fail the same as failing?  You’ve already convinced yourself that it might happen so there’s no real "penalty" for failing.  Make some horrible outcome if you fail, like, "if I fail I must acknowledge BET as my leader" or something. Good luck.  I’ve never smoked cigarettes, there’s something in the smoke that I can’t stand.  However, in my younger days, I’d occasionally smoke a pipe or a cigar but haven’t in years. Joe

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go on wellbutrin a drug doc cam prescribe it may help.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! I had planned to quit on Oct 1 (seemed convenient time, what with being unemployed and kids away for two weeks), but the WTC tragedy got in the way, and the darn date came and went……. but now I think I’m ready. Okay, I KNOW I’m ready. Today I’m preparing my strategy, debating my new quit date, exhausting my last lame excuses….. actually, I think the quit date just may be tomorrow, or maybe when this pack runs out this afternoon. Or maybe I will symbolically flush the darn pack down the toilet, and get this over with right now…..! My plan is to try cold turkey first, three days of misery & then it’s over, it worked last time.  But if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a box of patches to try next, and as a very last resort, an Rx for Zyban which I can fill if I need to. I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….. I already failed my first attempt yesterday. But from previous experience (when I quit cold turkey and it lasted 7 glorious smoke-free years), the more I fail, the closer I’ll eventually get to succeeding. So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… ! Also, if any of you have yahoo instant messenger, and would offer your online services to support and distract me through the worst of my battle with the ugly nicotine monster, please email me with your jen

Response:

You CAN do it.  I did, it’s now been two years for me and I’m still amazed I’m not smoking.  It really takes a combination of willpower, being sick of smoking and a "tool" to quit.  I used that Zyban stuff.  Took me two trys with Zyban but I did it.   Don’t feel bad if you don’t make it the first time or even the next time.  Use each time as a learning opportunity.  Took me at least 20 tries over the years and I finally found whatever that was inside me to do it. One thing I did notice that was different – in the past I was always afraid I’d miss smoking.  Now I’m afraid that if I take even one puff, I’ll never be able to quit again.  Perhaps just a change in perspecitve will help. Good Luck Zimm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! I had planned to quit on Oct 1 (seemed convenient time, what with being unemployed and kids away for two weeks), but the WTC tragedy got in the way, and the darn date came and went……. but now I think I’m ready. Okay, I KNOW I’m ready. Today I’m preparing my strategy, debating my new quit date, exhausting my last lame excuses….. actually, I think the quit date just may be tomorrow, or maybe when this pack runs out this afternoon. Or maybe I will symbolically flush the darn pack down the toilet, and get this over with right now…..! My plan is to try cold turkey first, three days of misery & then it’s over, it worked last time.  But if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a box of patches to try next, and as a very last resort, an Rx for Zyban which I can fill if I need to. I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….. I already failed my first attempt yesterday. But from previous experience (when I quit cold turkey and it lasted 7 glorious smoke-free years), the more I fail, the closer I’ll eventually get to succeeding. So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… ! Also, if any of you have yahoo instant messenger, and would offer your online services to support and distract me through the worst of my battle with the ugly nicotine monster, please email me with your jen

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Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!!

  Yay!   As to method, one thing that helped a friend with it was to run more.  He’d started running while still smoking and decreased the smoking level as time went on because he could really feel the difference in his running if he smoked less.   Another take, which helped a friend finish his first Ironman distance triathlon (he was out there for a bit over 16 hours (!)), from Yoda:   Do, or do not.  There is no try.   You will _do_. — Robert Grumbine http://www.radix.net/~bobg/ Science faqs and amateur activities notes and links. Sagredo (Galileo Galilei) "You present these recondite matters with too much evidence and ease; this great facility makes them less appreciated than they would be had they been presented in a more abstruse manner." Two New Sciences

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 Oh, and you might also have figured out (before making this remark) that the speaker to whom you refer as having a "lack of ability with the english language" is a Ph.D. with an IQ well over 160, and could, if she didn’t have so much class, make you and me and most everyone else here feel like monkeys with our limited command of the English language

Just cuz someone has a high IQ doesn’t mean that they have a good command of the English language.  From what I understand, Einstein didn’t have a firm grip on language skills but he managed to get a bagel shop named after him, along with that stuff about relativity.

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 Oh, and you might also have figured out (before making this remark) that the speaker to whom you refer as having a "lack of ability with the english language" is a Ph.D. with an IQ well over 160, and could, if she

AND SHE’S DARNED SMART, TOO!!!! didn’t have so much class, make you and me and most everyone else here feel like monkeys with our limited command of the English language Hehehe… I hate it when I stick my foot in my mouth, don’t you?

Monkeys CAN, can’t they!!!  :-)  Actually, i used to be able to stick my big toe in my mouth.. Might still be able to, haven’t tried it lately… hmmmm…

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Maybe we need to moderate the language here – comments like the one on the bottom of the post are thoroughly offensive and show a huge lack of thinking and ability with the English language…..

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary Lou added: So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason? WOW!!  NObody ’round here would to THAT, would they?  :-) Just SHUT THE FUCK UP, Ms. Sarcastic! . . . . . . . . . . OOPS! Dr. Kathryn Litherland, rent-a-prof Triton Community College and North Park University

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ROTF !!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary Lou added: So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason? WOW!!  NObody ’round here would to THAT, would they?  :-) Just SHUT THE FUCK UP, Ms. Sarcastic! . . . . . . . . . . OOPS! Dr. Kathryn Litherland, rent-a-prof Triton Community College and North Park University

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ROTF !!!

me too!  Before i looked at who that post was, i was like "HUH?" then it all made sense.. got me there! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary Lou added: So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason? WOW!!  NObody ’round here would to THAT, would they?  :-) Just SHUT THE FUCK UP, Ms. Sarcastic! . . . . . . . . . . OOPS! Dr. Kathryn Litherland, rent-a-prof Triton Community College and North Park University

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So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason?

WOW!!  NObody ’round here would to THAT, would they?  :-)

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Mary Lou added: So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason? WOW!!  NObody ’round here would to THAT, would they?  :-)

Just SHUT THE FUCK UP, Ms. Sarcastic! . . . . . . . . . . OOPS! Dr. Kathryn Litherland, rent-a-prof Triton Community College and North Park University

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Yay!!! Jen!!! Woo-Woo! I am so happy for you. Taking that first step – the *decision* to actually quit – is the hardest. My daughter did the same this past week – went to the Doc and got the patch. Supposed to last the month and then she is free! Feel free to e-mail me anytime – I have never smoked, but will be there if you need to scream and yell. Peace, Donna

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Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… !

So you are saying that some of your posts may be harsh, rude and you might snap at some of us for no apparent reason? How are we supposed to differentiate between your normal posts and the posts made under the stress of quitting smoking?     Just kidding, just kidding!   Please accept my encouragement for the task that you have chosen to undertake.  I wish you well, Jen. sam Don’t push the red button, Never push the red button!       Daffy Duck

Response:

Something which helped me was a dramatic increase in daily exercise – that was 20 years ago and I just stopped. Never gone back to it, maintained the exercise, no longer felt so bad in the mornings or smelled like an ashtray or spent a fortune on dry cleaning clothes, or on frequent redecoration of the house etc etc. And I don’t get nagged by the medics on my annual check – or the dentist! Aren’t  there just truckloads of reasons to give motivation? Finally, I’ve saved a fortune in tax…!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! I had planned to quit on Oct 1 (seemed convenient time, what with being unemployed and kids away for two weeks), but the WTC tragedy got in the way, and the darn date came and went……. but now I think I’m ready. Okay, I KNOW I’m ready. Today I’m preparing my strategy, debating my new quit date, exhausting my last lame excuses….. actually, I think the quit date just may be tomorrow, or maybe when this pack runs out this afternoon. Or maybe I will symbolically flush the darn pack down the toilet, and get this over with right now…..! My plan is to try cold turkey first, three days of misery & then it’s over, it worked last time.  But if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a box of patches to try next, and as a very last resort, an Rx for Zyban which I can fill if I need to. I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….. I already failed my first attempt yesterday. But from previous experience (when I quit cold turkey and it lasted 7 glorious smoke-free years), the more I fail, the closer I’ll eventually get to succeeding. So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… ! Also, if any of you have yahoo instant messenger, and would offer your online services to support and distract me through the worst of my battle with the ugly nicotine monster, please email me with your jen

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Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!!

That’s terrific. I only ask one thing please don’t turn into one of those born-again reformed smokers. You know the ones whose nostrils turn up in derision and roll their eyeballs in disgust every time they pass a poor lonely abused self- flagrated smoker lying in the gutter of his own miserable failures…Hey that’s me! Roy

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Good Luck Jen, I know it’s  ahrd thing to do.. I wish there was a way I could give up food

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Good Luck Jen!!!  I’m pullin for ya! Daisy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, Just wanted to give you the head’s up that I’m in the process of working up my courage to quit smoking, once and for all! Naddah, never, forever!!!!!! I had planned to quit on Oct 1 (seemed convenient time, what with being unemployed and kids away for two weeks), but the WTC tragedy got in the way, and the darn date came and went……. but now I think I’m ready. Okay, I KNOW I’m ready. Today I’m preparing my strategy, debating my new quit date, exhausting my last lame excuses….. actually, I think the quit date just may be tomorrow, or maybe when this pack runs out this afternoon. Or maybe I will symbolically flush the darn pack down the toilet, and get this over with right now…..! My plan is to try cold turkey first, three days of misery & then it’s over, it worked last time.  But if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a box of patches to try next, and as a very last resort, an Rx for Zyban which I can fill if I need to. I’m prepared to fail miserably the first few attempts….. I already failed my first attempt yesterday. But from previous experience (when I quit cold turkey and it lasted 7 glorious smoke-free years), the more I fail, the closer I’ll eventually get to succeeding. So please bear with me……. if you see me posting here and I don’t quite seem myself, that’s my excuse. And I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone…… ! Also, if any of you have yahoo instant messenger, and would offer your online services to support and distract me through the worst of my battle with the ugly nicotine monster, please email me with your jen

Response:

Question:

It may be the case that you burn less calories when it’s cold. If you model the body after an engine, you can see that lowering the environs temperature raises the engine’s efficiency. More bang for you buck. However, I don’t have a degree in thermodynamics or physiology, so, with a grain of salt.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I burn more calories when I run when it is cold? Wendla

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Yes, you burn more calories in the cold. The Canadian Military did studies on this years ago and while I do not remember the exact caloric numbers, troops exercising in Canada’s cold north required a surprising number of calories more than their southern counterparts. Ken Do I burn more calories when I run when it is cold? Wendla

Ken Parker Runner’s Web A running & triathlon resource site. http://www.runnersweb.com/running.html

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Yes, you burn more calories in the cold. The Canadian Military did studies on this years ago and while I do not remember the exact caloric numbers, troops exercising in Canada’s cold north required a surprising number of calories more than their southern counterparts.

But this isn’t exactly the same.  First were they running?  Were they standing around doing jumping jacks? Also, I would imagine the northern parts of Canada would be rather extreme compared to the conditions most of us experience. -jeff

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Yes, you burn more calories in the cold. The Canadian Military did studies on this years ago and while I do not remember the exact caloric numbers, troops exercising in Canada’s cold north required a surprising number of calories more than their southern counterparts.

Was this a scientific study ? I mean, did it take into account what shape people was in beforehand, things like weight etc ? I know that a a soldier, you often spend long time just waiting, and in that case, you will burn more calories to keep warm. When I run in the cold, I spend extra calories trying to stay warm for the first 10-15 minutes, then I can drop my gloves and use my hands to get rid of the heat. All depends on how you are dressed. A couple years back, there also was a study that suggested most people overdress. Eskimos (people from Greenland) dresses ligther, and had more dark fat, which supposedly is better and less likely to cause bad effects. A side result of dressing ligther is more calories burned. But remember: 1 calorie is the energy needed to warm 1 gram water 1 degree Kelvin (or Celsius). Thus 1 kg of water can be warmed up 1 degree with 1 kcal. And when you are warmed up, you try to dispose of the extra heath, which can then be used to warm the body for free.

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Yes this was a scientific controlled study with detailed measurements of caloric intake and activities. One of the doctors involved was also an avid runner/marathoner and that’s how I got to learn about it. Ken – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, you burn more calories in the cold. The Canadian Military did studies on this years ago and while I do not remember the exact caloric numbers, troops exercising in Canada’s cold north required a surprising number of calories more than their southern counterparts. Was this a scientific study ? I mean, did it take into account what shape people was in beforehand, things like weight etc ? I know that a a soldier, you often spend long time just waiting, and in that case, you will burn more calories to keep warm. When I run in the cold, I spend extra calories trying to stay warm for the first 10-15 minutes, then I can drop my gloves and use my hands to get rid of the heat. All depends on how you are dressed. A couple years back, there also was a study that suggested most people overdress. Eskimos (people from Greenland) dresses ligther, and had more dark fat, which supposedly is better and less likely to cause bad effects. A side result of dressing ligther is more calories burned. But remember: 1 calorie is the energy needed to warm 1 gram water 1 degree Kelvin (or Celsius). Thus 1 kg of water can be warmed up 1 degree with 1 kcal. And when you are warmed up, you try to dispose of the extra heath, which can then be used to warm the body for free.

Ken Parker Runner’s Web A running & triathlon resource site. http://www.runnersweb.com/running.html

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Do I burn more calories when I run when it is cold? Wendla

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You shouldn’t if you are dressed properly and normally put out enough effort to keep yourself warm.  If shivering and feeling cold are par for the course, you might burn a few more than usual but I doubt if even under these circumstances the difference would be huge. In other words, don’t eat that extra piece of pie just because it’s winter. -jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do I burn more calories when I run when it is cold? Wendla

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Question:

Congratulations on your perseverance. Nice race report, too.

Response:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: – The swim was choppy but I didn’t die – A section of the bike was hilly; sucked going up, but an E ticket downhill – A portion of the run required climbing gear in spots THE (sort of ) LONG VERSION The Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Triathlon is an olympic distance, USAT certified course called the Scenic Challenge for a good reason.  The USAT Age Group Championships will be here on Labor Day in ‘01 and ‘02, but will not follow the same course as described here, since some areas could not handle the number of participants the USAT race will bring. But enough of that… THE SWIM "Oh Neptune, we pray for calm seas…" I’m not sure why it didn’t register with me; perhaps it was race focus, but more likely it was denial.  I could feel the steady, strong wind in my face as I stood on the beach looking at the choppy lake.  Not exactly the mirror flat surfaces I’d swam in previous races this summer.  Let me think as to when I’d swam in chop…  oh, yes – never.  I violated my own time proven aid by standing on the beach holding casual conversation with my friend Brian while the first waves started – I should have been getting 5-10 minutes of warm-up time in the water. My wave got their countdown and we were off.  It seems now like I got at least 50m before it hit – panic amongst the waves.  I tried getting into a rhythm, but the chop screwed with my breathing.  My heart was racing –  I couldn’t calm down.  I tried breast stroking, side stroking, and even backstroking to breathe and calm down.  I began thinking "I am in waaay over my head" – trying not to think of a DNF.  Since I was wearing a full wetsuit I was pretty sure I wouldn’t drown, but I wasn’t totally convinced of that, either.  The rest of my purple capped wave disappeared over the chop, making their way towards the bobbing sailboat that marked the first turn.  Jeez, that boat looked a mile away.  An older man bearing a striking resemblance to Burl Ives paddled up behind me on a kayak.  OK, so I’m tail end charlie now.  Burl serenely gazed down on me while I floundered along. Then it happened – my stroke arrived like a late guest of honor. ("7:30?!?  I coulda sworn you said 7:45!!  Whoops, my bad!")  Stroke, breathe, stroke, breathe, WHAP – my hand landed on something hard.  I looked up to be face to face with fellow purple capper.  "Sorry!" I gasped.  "No problem," he said and swam off, heading exactly the wrong way.  Puzzled, I swam on. Eventually I got to the boat and found several swimmers hanging around it like seals hoping for scraps of chum.  I pressed on, now fully into this whole swimming in the chop thing.  I spied the second boat and began concentrating on an efficient stroke, all the while checking out the bottom of the lake.  (I’ve worked very hard to overcome my imagination – there really aren’t dozens of dead bodies trapped in wrecked boats along the lake floor)  Another kayaker pulled along and shouted above the wind "You’re off course!"  Feeling confident with my new skill, I decided she must be wrong.  "I’m on line with the boat!" I replied.  "Yes, but the course is over there!" she yelled back.  I looked to my left and by gosh, she was right; I was about 10m outside of the lane.  A case of all thrust, no vector. I made the second turn and kicked it in to head for the finish.  I spied a swimmer ahead of me and began following him to the finish lane marked by a row of buoys on either side.  Counting on his navigation skills I put my head down and swam mightily until I swam over a buoy line.  Seems I’d followed him over the left side buoys, and we both turned to go back over the buoy lines and into the lane proper.  A fitting end to a disastrous swim. THE BIKE Thinking of Lance at Hautacam I huffed into the transition area; it seemed like there weren’t more than five bikes left.  I decided then that I would take my time and finish this race at a steady, even pace, as all hopes for a 2:45 or less seemed gone.  I got out of my wetsuit, onto the bike, and headed off. The first leg took us parallel to the lake and I realized how strong the wind was.  I settled into my seat and headed up Northwest Boulevard, then up an exit ramp to Highway 395.  Small hills so far; nothing too taxing.  A 6 mile loop down and back a side road convinced me that I wasn’t going to be last across the finish line – lots of people ahead and behind me.  I headed towards the major hill of the ride. I knew this hill would be a mother – I’d driven with friends the weekend before.  Somehow driving a steep hill never really translates into how it’s going to feel on the bike – is that just me?  I quickly ran the gears down and ended up in 42/28 trying to keep the rpms up.  "Lance, Lance, Lance…" I was thinking as this hill seemed to get steeper and steeper.  I was passing people, so that felt good.  Another thing about driving the hill – you never get a good feel for how long the climb is going to last.  My legs began suggesting that we pull over and take a break; "Ya know, we’re thinking of you  - don’t want to get burned out for the run, do you?" my quads said.  I looked across the road and got instant motivation seeing some of the leaders screaming down the hill. Sure it sucks now, but that downhill is going to be a blast! I finally got to the flats at the top of the hill and decided I needed to eat.  In previous races I’d only done a Powergel and decided I need more, so I’d torn half a Powerbar into three sections and placed them on my aerobars.  I grabbed the first section and shoved it into my mouth; immediately I nearly spit it out as my air intake suddenly decreased 50%.  How could I have been so stupid to shove it in all at once?  To make matters worse my gum became one with the bar as I desperately chewed to clear my mouth (aka main breathing port).  Finally I choked it down and followed it with some Cytomax, half expecting to drop the water bottle to round out this comedy of errors. As I approached a descent from the flats a guy pulled alongside and said, "I’ll lead for a while, OK?"  It took me a minute to realize he was offering a draft – what the hell?!?  I kept my distance until the descent got steep enough that gravity began pulling my 210 lbs faster than his 160.  I whipped past him and wished him a good race.  He shot me a disgruntled look; I thought hey, I didn’t enter some pact with you – and try checking the rules next time! The course switched to a country road that slowly climbed back onto the flats.  The lake appeared on my right; this was the scenic part of the Scenic Challenge.  Back to the flats and then the much anticipated Big Descent.  I was not disappointed; I was soon spun out in 54/11 and watched the computer hit 41 mph.  I put my feet at 3 and 9, eased back in the seat and got as aero as possible.  I flew past another rider and skillfully dodged around a cone marking the edge of the lane and beginning of the shoulder.  Ahh, sweet reward!  I hit the bottom of the hill and headed into town.  A female relay team rider insisted on passing me several times, including once on a bridge.  Having read the race instructions I knew there was no passing on this bridge – it emphatically said so in bold caps.  I guess you would’ve had to read the rules to know that…  About a 1/2 mile from transition I finally dropped her like a bad habit.  Ha. THE RUN Didn’t need a belay I took my time in transition, talking for a second with Brad, a guy sharing the same rack.  As I trotted off I saw Steve, my LBS owner.  "I had a terrible swim!" I yelled to him.  With is ever-present smile he shouted, "You’re doing great!"  That felt good. I ran about 1/2 mile before deciding I needed to make a potty stop.  (I could’ve made it the whole way had I been doing better, but at this point I thought what the heck…)  When I came out Brad was just coming along; I smiled and said hi before I ran on.  At just over a mile the run entered Tubbs Hill where it became a cross country adventure.  The trails were steep in parts, and the dirt was loose after 30+ days of no rain.  Up the trail, over the slick rock, picking my way down the path – all while trying not to sprain an ankle (which I’ve done in much less precarious terrain).  "Way to go, John!" I heard several times from behind.  Each time I turned and saw Brad 10m behind.  I pumped my fist and shouted words of encouragement back. I finally hit The Wall about the time I had to scramble up a steep section of trail.  Brad caught up and we ran the rest of the trail together, laughing about the swim and comparing notes on the bike.  We came out of the trail section and hit the streets of CdA.  At one water station we passed what seemed to be an older man being paced by a much younger woman with large augmented breasts shoved into a sports bra.  We joked about motivation, then talked about our jobs, families, and how you can set Windows 2000 to optimize slow modem speeds.  At mile 5 Brad was fading and I was raring to go.  He encouraged me to go on, and I did.  Thanks, Brad; you made it fun. I caught up to my friend Bob at about 5.5 and called out encouragement to him.  The course looped us behind the finish area along the top of a levee that keeps the lake out of North Idaho College where the race begins and ends.  I made my way along the levee and turned on the street that took me the final 500m to the finish.  About a block from the finish line I spied two beautiful women – my wife and Taz, our 4 year old pit bull.  I ran over and got kisses from both of them. THE FINISH Still under my own power I crossed the finish line at 3:19:58 – over 30 minutes off of my goal. I’d lost serious time on the swim, but I’d also taken it very easy on the run.  I don’t think I could’ve done much better on the bike (my strongest event). It’s a tough course – certainly not the multi-looped flat ones you see at ITU races.  Just because it’s olympic distance doesn’t mean it covers comparable terrain!  If you end up in CdA for the

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Response:

Question:

Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid of a cold?

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REST ?!?!

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    There have been several studies investigating the effects of severe cardiovascular exercise (i.e. triathlon, marathon) and the body’s immune system. The results are pretty conclusive- your immune system gets a severe kick in the groin in the few hours following a race.  Most of the damage, I believe, is due to an elevation in the body’s Cortisol hormone levels, which trigger a number of responses that can severely lower the immune response.  A couple of the studies have also shown that an intake of carbohydrates immediately after exercise will decrease the severity of the immune response being lowered.  Some people speculate that an intake of protein also helps as well (jogmate.com), because cortisol hormone is a powerful catabolizer that breaks down protein (i.e. your muscles, bones, nerves).  So the intake of protein may reverse some of the damage of protein breakdown.     Bottom line, eat like a pig and drink like a fish after races, preferrably something with lots of carbs and some protein.  What you could do now is treat your cold like you normally would- back off a little on the training, maybe take an extra day off, drink liquids like a fish (mostly water), good nights of sleep, and eat a good balanced diet.  If you have a HR monitor, shoot for the lower end of your HR range spectrum until you start feeling stronger.  Also, an intake of zinc may help (i.e. Coldeeze, zinc tablets).     Hope this helps. Mark Luttrell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid of a cold?

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Wait 10 days? If there were a way of "getting rid of a cold" I think the corporations would have packaged it and sold it by now. Phil

| Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid | of a cold?

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If you catch it early, sudafed and twice hourly gargling with Listerine can keep the post nasal drip (usually the first stage from traveling down the repiratory tract, but if the sore throat has set in you just have to ride it out.  But then, that which does not kill you….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wait 10 days? If there were a way of "getting rid of a cold" I think the corporations would have packaged it and sold it by now. Phil | Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid | of a cold?

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Question:

Say Hil… Been doing these things for 15 yrs. and have never finished last… Although, I have made sure everyone made it across the finish line one or twice. ;-/ Joe "If there still triathletes on the course, then they must be bodies" Moya   a.k.a – The "Bob Eucker" of Tri’s I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience? Before you buy.

Before you buy.

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I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience?

It’s been scientifically proven that there is a last place finisher in every race. Enjoy yourself and don’t worry about it. I’ve finished next to last at a half IM and (at last year’s GFT) about third from last. Come to think of it, it’s more of a distinction to be last instead of third from last. Maybe I’ll slow down this year. <g Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03 Great Floridian ‘99, 17:13:38

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I know many  people that come in an hour after everyone is finished. Dont stress it, as long as you finish that is the key to success. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience? Before you buy.

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I was third to the last in my most recent half ironman. In this particular race they had already taken the bike racks down and  they had laid my bike and stuff down in the grass. This particular RD seemed quite eager to get going, I think.. the fact that it was beginning to rain cats and dogs had something to do with it, too, I bet. I wouldn’t worry about it. In most races, they seem to wait an hour or so after the official cut-off to strike the set. I did get a lot of cheers from triathletes leaving in the cars on the running route. A friend of mine finished dead last in a oly distance last month and she still won her age group! Johanna "forever young" Young

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I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience?

Hilary, Most race organizers will specify, either on the race app or at the starting line, what the time limit is. It’s usually about 4 or 4 1/2 hours for an Oly; they are prepared to provide course support for that length of time, and then they drive around the course and scoop up stragglers. I’ve never organized a race, but no, I wouldn’t think it would be any problem. As a fellow slowpoke, I’m becoming a bit of an expert on the subject. Vanessa Wool Capital (Olympic Distance) 1999 3:58:24

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No, in fact quite the opposite.  The last finisher often gets as much fanfare as the winner.  Your fellow competitors recognize that you struggled and won the same as everyone else. Fast or slow, you’re still a triathlete. Larry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience? Before you buy.

Response:

I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience? Before you buy.

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Man, NOT AT ALL. Just race and have fun. -Bill-

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I finished my first two sprint triathlons in almost last place (2-3 people finished after me). I am contemplating doing an Olympic distance event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience? Before you buy.

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event, where I will almost certainly finish dead last. Does it annoy race organizers if someone comes in like 10 minutes after everyone else is done? Is it a great inconvenience?

no way. go ahead and race, and have fun. wipe the fear about finishing last out of your mind and you will have a much better time! even if you do, it is not an inconvenience. the race director creates/ directs the race for the participants- they are not an inconvenience- we are all doing the same thing out there-

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Question:

Anyone know if, when and where the Latta Triathlon Results will be posted? Thanks Geoffrey Janes

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www.runcharlotte.com

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a newbie road biker dude. maybe you could explain a few things to me. First what is a kilo? and second I have 26" wheels and added a 50 tooth crank gear to a 13 rear sproket. Im trying to build up some speed but just cant seem to get it past 25mph. I’m on a suedo road bike,(converted mtn bike (cannondale m800)). I kilo is a Quintana Roo Kilo, which is their better tri-geometry race bike. Their best is the Kilo Private Reserve, and their lower-cost alternative is the Tequilo (cute). Look on Quintana Roo’s web page (can’t remember the URL at the moment, but a quick search will find it). I think it is http://www.rooworld.com but I could be wrong. Don’t worry about speed as a newbie. Beginning runners often show improvement over several years that far outstrips their improvement in fitness. They are seeing improvement in technique, which reads efficiency. I can roast on the bike many new bikies who are much more fit than I will ever be, because I’ve been doing it forever and get more out of my tired body than most newbies. You will find the same thing as you gain experience. So don’t worry about gear inches. Concentrate on spin, and therefore stick with lower gears. As your pedaling stroke smooths out, you will be able to migrate to bigger gears and faster speeds automatically. Don’t think about what gear you are in. Think about turning those pedals 90 or 100 times a minute, and pick the gear that allows that pedaling pace at the desired perceived effort (bigger gears for more intensity, smaller gears for less). Get used to using the gears to keep you spinning at that pace no matter what the condition of wind or hills. Once you are grooved, you can experiment with bigger gears and a slower pace for time trialing (and triathlon). A good lesson I’ve always had to learn the hard way: Do not break the rules before learning them. By the way, the standard top gear for road racing bikes 15 or 20 years ago was a 52-tooth big chainring and a 13-tooth cog. I never used a cog smaller than 14 in those days. So don’t worry. Just keep riding, keep your spin up, and you’ll make progress surprisingly quickly. Good luck.

OK, I’m new to this too. Please explain what you mean by "bigger" gears. Are those the easiest("granny") gears or the harder gears. Thanks. Lemuel Gorden

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…much pedantic snippery from yours truly… OK, I’m new to this too. Please explain what you mean by "bigger" gears. Are those the easiest("granny") gears or the harder gears. Thanks. Lemuel Gorden

"Bigger" means "harder". In the front, it’s the bigger chainring. In the back, it’s the smaller cogs.

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I’m trying to decide how to sink another couple grand into the sport and was curious if anyone had an opinion on a these frames: Radman RA-1 (offered by Nytro)…uses Easton 7005 and similar geo to Felt Tri, but offers 700c wheels. Javelin Trilite 700 (offered by Bicycle Sports)…again, a Felt wannabe, but with 700c.   I want to stick to 700c so that I don’t have to upgrade my HED Disk.  I’ve also been told rolling resistance is better on the 700c than 650c.  Any comments.  Thanks Steve

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I’ve also been told rolling resistance is better on the 700c than 650c.

I heard that too.  From a roadie.  He also said aero bars don’t work.  Oh well. QRman

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I am 6′1" and long-legged.  I thought that 26 in. wheels were not for me. I read, looked around, talked to folks. Bought a KILO. I am 7 for 7 in placing in my age group this summer. Why? Bike splits that are stronger than ever. I built a slow running base this spring and I am WAY more efficient on my bike. It works for me. Markmark:

I am a newbie road biker dude. maybe you could explain a few things to me. First what is a kilo? and second I have 26" wheels and added a 50 tooth crank gear to a 13 rear sproket. Im trying to build up some speed but just cant seem to get it past 25mph. I’m on a suedo road bike,(converted mtn bike (cannondale m800)).

Response:

I am 6′1" and long-legged.  I thought that 26 in. wheels were not for me. I read, looked around, talked to folks. Bought a KILO. I am 7 for 7 in placing in my age group this summer. Why? Bike splits that are stronger than ever. I built a slow running base this spring and I am WAY more efficient on my bike. It works for me. Markmark: I am a newbie road biker dude. maybe you could explain a few things to me. First what is a kilo? and second I have 26" wheels and added a 50 tooth crank gear to a 13 rear sproket. Im trying to build up some speed but just cant seem to get it past 25mph. I’m on a suedo road bike,(converted mtn bike (cannondale m800)).

A Kilo is a Quintianna Roo Kilo Triathlon bike. Normal gearing for a 26" road bike is a 55/42 front gearing with a 12-24 rear cog set. You need to get a bigeer front ring. Tom Roehr       "The Javanator"

Response:

I am a newbie road biker dude. maybe you could explain a few things to me. First what is a kilo? and second I have 26" wheels and added a 50 tooth crank gear to a 13 rear sproket. Im trying to build up some speed but just cant seem to get it past 25mph. I’m on a suedo road bike,(converted mtn bike (cannondale m800)).

I kilo is a Quintana Roo Kilo, which is their better tri-geometry race bike. Their best is the Kilo Private Reserve, and their lower-cost alternative is the Tequilo (cute). Look on Quintana Roo’s web page (can’t remember the URL at the moment, but a quick search will find it). I think it is http://www.rooworld.com but I could be wrong. Don’t worry about speed as a newbie. Beginning runners often show improvement over several years that far outstrips their improvement in fitness. They are seeing improvement in technique, which reads efficiency. I can roast on the bike many new bikies who are much more fit than I will ever be, because I’ve been doing it forever and get more out of my tired body than most newbies. You will find the same thing as you gain experience. So don’t worry about gear inches. Concentrate on spin, and therefore stick with lower gears. As your pedaling stroke smooths out, you will be able to migrate to bigger gears and faster speeds automatically. Don’t think about what gear you are in. Think about turning those pedals 90 or 100 times a minute, and pick the gear that allows that pedaling pace at the desired perceived effort (bigger gears for more intensity, smaller gears for less). Get used to using the gears to keep you spinning at that pace no matter what the condition of wind or hills. Once you are grooved, you can experiment with bigger gears and a slower pace for time trialing (and triathlon). A good lesson I’ve always had to learn the hard way: Do not break the rules before learning them. By the way, the standard top gear for road racing bikes 15 or 20 years ago was a 52-tooth big chainring and a 13-tooth cog. I never used a cog smaller than 14 in those days. So don’t worry. Just keep riding, keep your spin up, and you’ll make progress surprisingly quickly. Good luck.

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Question:

I am going to be in Seatlle next week and wonder if anyone can suggest a good bike shop that has people knowledgeable on triathlon stuff. Curt Nelson

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I am going to be in Seatlle next week and wonder if anyone can suggest a good bike shop that has people knowledgeable on triathlon stuff.

I personally like Sammamish Valley Cycle.  The manager is Tom Price, a nice guy, and a 2-time (I believe) overall winner of the Canadian Ironman.  This fellow is quite knowledgeable, and his store is well stocked (although not quite well enough stocked up on QR). QRman

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I am going to be in Seatlle next week and wonder if anyone can suggest a good bike shop that has people knowledgeable on triathlon stuff. Curt Nelson

IMHO the best bike shop in the Seattle area is Sammamish Valley Cyclery in Redmond.  When you go there ask for Tom Price.  Tom has w= on Ironman Canada twice and knows triathloning inside and out.  He can help you with the latest innovations in the triathlon world. = Larry Kuxhausen

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Question:

The Subject line says it all.  I have been training for the Napa Valley Marathon on 5 March, only to find that I have to travel to the far east that weekend on business.  I am in great shape, and want to qualify for Boston ‘96 this spring.  I have already committed to competing in a Powerman Duathlon qualifier on 2 April in Holland, and any later will impact my triathlon season. Does anyone know of a marathon in the US on 11 or 12 March?  Thanks.     *******    / /        *******        Hewlett-Packard Laboratories  *     ****     / __  // __  /  **** phone: +1 415-857-8664               *     ****    / / / // /_/ /   ****   fax: +1 415-852-8030               *     ****   /_/ /_// ____/    ****                           =o         *     *****        / /        *****         ___^o_     _=o    <|        *     *******     / /       *******                  _ <_             *

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I think (but am not 100% sure) that the Hyannis marathon (on Cape Cod, MA) is that weekend — Roland

Response:

1, Hyannis,   Hyannis, Mass. 5087786965 2. Maui, Kahalui, Hawaii    808 8716441 3. Mendocino Trail, Russian Gulch State Park, Stinson, Beach, CA 415 8681829

Response:

The Subject line says it all.  I have been training for the Napa Valley Marathon on 5 March, only to find that I have to travel to the far east that weekend on business.  I am in great shape, and want to qualify for Boston ‘96 this spring.  I have already committed to competing in a Powerman Duathlon qualifier on 2 April in Holland, and any later will impact my triathlon season. Does anyone know of a marathon in the US on 11 or 12 March?  Thanks.

You can stop off in Hawaii on your way back for the Maui Marathon on 3-12-95. —

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Question:

I am thinking about buying a new, 26 inch bike. Who can help me finding the best deal for less than $1500?                              Thanks for any advice!                                       Romain

Response:

I am thinking about buying a new, 26 inch bike. Who can help me finding the  best deal for less than $1500?                             Thanks for any advice!

QRman had a few bikes for sale in his annual warehouse sale David F. Monti

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: I am thinking about buying a new, 26 inch bike. Who can help me finding the best deal for less than $1500?

Check out the Cannondale R700.  You can get the complete bike for $1200-$1300 and I think the quality of the bike is at least as good as ones costing twice as much.  In my opinion it is the best deal you will find.

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writes:      I am thinking about buying a new, 26 inch bike. Who can help me finding the best deal for less than $1500?<<< You are talking about 26-inch wheels? If so, I’d recommend test riding a Cannondale R700 and the Quintana Roo Special Edition. Both are in your price range and are  triathlon-ready.

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