Question:

If they’re short of money, what do you suggest they do?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There is a huge difference IMHO between having high standards and having ridiculously high standards, and I find the decision of the COC or the GOC quite appalling, contrary to the Olympic ideal and harmful to sport in general.

Response:

If they’re short of money, what do you suggest they do?

I

Question:

I just finished my first duathalon this morning so I’m now an expert.

So where’s the race report????  <g Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman USA, 4 months & Counting

Response:

I just finished my first duathalon this morning so I’m now an expert. So where’s the race report????  <g

<G I was waiting for the times to get on the Web to make sure they got them right (I’m sure that I would never have forgotten to push the split button). OK, it’s coming this evening. Layne The rec.running report archives may be found at http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new runner about two months ago. I run 2-4 miles five times a week. I started bike riding/training a month ago twice per week. Mileage varies. I have done two races. 1-3 mile, 1-5 mile. I am doing a duathlon next week. 3 mile run/17 mile ride/3 mile run. I have read lots on nutrition and know what What is the best way to get all I need to maintain all I need during the race besides water? Bars, gels, banannas?, etc… Recomend particular brand? Thanks for any advice.

For that distance, an energy drink – one you HAVE used during a bike ride, should be sufficient. I did a similar race this weekend. I decided I’d just use water and one Gu about 1/3 of the way into the bike, since I planned to push it a bit harder than usual to see where I am on the bike training. Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman USA, 4 months & Counting

Response:

Hi, Mike, I am doing a duathlon next week. 3 mile run/17 mile ride/3 mile run. I have read lots on nutrition and know what What is the best way to get all I need to maintain all I need during the race besides water? Bars, gels, banannas?, etc… Recomend particular brand?

I just finished my first duathalon this morning so I’m now an expert. My approach (others may have a different view) is to keep things as simple as possible and still get the job done. I agree with Barry and Vincent that food during the event can have unforeseen consequences unrealted to nutrition. On the other hand, having some sports drink on the bike really helped me a lot. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Layne The rec.running report archives may be found at http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running

Response:

I’m new to multisport races, too. I’ve been running for a little more than a year, and here’s what I plan to do during my (first) triathlon. -Banana an hour before race time. -Powerbar half an hour before race time. -Coming out of the swim, have a full bottle of Gator-/Powerade to drink over the course of the bike. Have a gel at the beginning of the bike. -Have another gel if I need it at the end of the bike. Generally, I find that consuming bars during an event can get tricky, so I stick to gels during and bars before and after. I’d imagine that having something with electrolytes on a longer race would be beneficial over just water. I’m not sure if it’s worth all those nasty burps over the course of the race, but I get those regardless from my banana. I have no clue how it’s going to work for me, but that’s my battle plan. Good luck with your duathlon. Let us know how it goes. =) –Vincent

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new runner about two months ago. I run 2-4 miles five times a week. I started bike riding/training a month ago twice per week. Mileage varies. I have done two races. 1-3 mile, 1-5 mile. I am doing a duathlon next week. 3 mile run/17 mile ride/3 mile run. I have read lots on nutrition and know what What is the best way to get all I need to maintain all I need during the race besides water? Bars, gels, banannas?, etc… Recomend particular brand? Thanks for any advice.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new runner about two months ago. I run 2-4 miles five times a week. I started bike riding/training a month ago twice per week. Mileage varies. I have done two races. 1-3 mile, 1-5 mile. I am doing a duathlon next week. 3 mile run/17 mile ride/3 mile run. I have read lots on nutrition and know what What is the best way to get all I need to maintain all I need during the race besides water? Bars, gels, banannas?, etc… Recomend particular brand?

Over that distance you don’t need to worry about taking in food during the race anyway. You could consider drinking a sports drink instead of water if you particularly want to take in some extra calories, but plain water is probably just as good. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for any advice.

Response:

I am a new runner about two months ago. I run 2-4 miles five times a week. I started bike riding/training a month ago twice per week. Mileage varies. I have done two races. 1-3 mile, 1-5 mile. I am doing a duathlon next week. 3 mile run/17 mile ride/3 mile run. I have read lots on nutrition and know what What is the best way to get all I need to maintain all I need during the race besides water? Bars, gels, banannas?, etc… Recomend particular brand? Thanks for any advice.

Response:

Question:

My mom destroyed her wrist in her late fifties in a bike fall. When she got up, her hand was no longer centered on the end of her arm. They had to use plates, screws and wires to re-assemble her wrist, and yet she recovered 90% range of motion and strength within 18 months with the help of PT. Others have recovered less than 50% with much more minor injuries and will never improve on this because they did the wrong things during the critical phases of recovery.

    I had a Colles fracture which required external fixation (6 weeks) plus being casted before and after the surgery.  I have full use and range of motion in the wrist.  It did take a while, but I credit physiotherapy and a good surgeon. Jean S.

Response:

Thanks to everyone for their input.  My doctor hasn’t given me any estimates on recovery time.  I think he’s waiting to see how well I do in the first two weeks with a removable cast.  My x-rays look really good according to my surgeon but they can’t show any soft tissue damage that might have occurred. I’m using a tennis ball and racquet ball to exercise the wrist since the doctor said I should work the wrist ‘within reason".  Can anyone who has undergone therapy for Colles fracture recommend other exercises/tools to use while I’m waiting to get connected to a PT?  Thanks!

Response:

Well, I may have some info to add.  I am a physician and triathlete. I was in the unfortunate end of two accidents within the last 14 months, and broke each wrist, on separate occasions.  First was on a off road motorcycle, my fault of course.  The first one very severe. 6 fractured bones with a severe "peri-lunate" dislocation.  Two surgeries with hardware inside.  Again, with a talented surgeon, I gained all of my movement in supination/pronation(flip you hand over, palm down to palm up) and most of extention(pulling my hand back).  I did not recover much wrist flexion at all but this is probably my least important motion.  I feel I am still recovering now but have come such a long way.  Don’t give up hope.  I never thought I may operate again and also thought my athletic career was over.  I am training for another ironman this year happily enough and just have to roll with the good and bad days that it still gives me.  When I came out to the cast, I had a frozen wrist for the most part so it progressed quite a bit. The other fracture was about 6 months later, scaphoid bone only with no dislocation.  No surgery, 6 weeks in a cast, some PT and it healed to 100%.  Thank you lord for that one(was from a head on collision with a car which ran into me in my lane on the road, uninsured of course).  I never had a broken bone in my life before this, and at 30 yrs old, it wasn’t what I was looking for either. Biggest advice, be patient and do your therapy-ALWAYS.  There is only one time to heal correctly and if you don’t do the right things, it won’t recover or will give you unnecessary grief for the rest of you life.  Hang in there and you’ll make the most of it. Nick Ranson

Response:

Can anyone who has undergone therapy for Colles fracture recommend other

exercises/tools to use while I’m waiting to get connected to a PT?  Thanks!

        The surgeon actually had me start physiotherapy two days after I got the fixator because I was developing what he called a claw hand, which resulted from not using my hand and fingers enough for the week or so before the surgery that I had the big cast on.  One of the main exercises was moving the fingers – touching thumb to each finger in turn.  At first I couldn’t do this.  At home I was told to have my husband bend each knuckle in my fingers back and forth to get the synovial fluid going.         The first thing the therapist did when the fixator came out and the small cast (which followed the fixator) came off was to forcibly bend the wrist – I had zero range of motion at this point.  I remember she said that it would hurt, but it wouldn’t break.  Then I graduated to little tiny weights – I think one pound.  I would hang my hand over the edge of a table while grasping this weight and flex my wrist up and down.  I remember that I would go to the Y and go into the weight room and do this, and all those guys hoisting bar bells were real nice to me.  The therapists also had me do shoulder exercises as they wanted to be sure I didn’t develop frozen shoulder, which I was told I did not want to have.  There were paraffin baths for the wrist which felt real nice.  I was encouraged to do the exercises on my own at home.  What was particularly helpful was that I knew what kind of exercises to do to help myself.

Response:

Forgive the cross posting but there is no news group specific to sports related fractures and figured that people in these groups may have had experience with wrist fractures or be interested in the subject. On Feb. 23 I suffered a Colles fracture to the right wrist (my dominant hand) while Ice Skating.  On March 14 I had surgery because the reduction of the displaced fracture did not hold.  The surgery involved an open reduction (re-broke the fracture and positioned) with an internal brace (T shaped plate with screws across the fracture of the radius bone).  On 3-26 my arm was transfered from a surgical splint to a removable one resembling a roller hockey wrist guard.  Today I had my arm out of the wrist guard and was discouraged to find I could hardly move it.  Can someone tell me from their experience how long it takes to recover from this kind of injury?  If I can’t set a PR this year in running, swimming, or cycling maybe I can set one for fastest recovery time  This kind of an injury is a bitch.  Stay safe and wear protection whenever possible.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Forgive the cross posting but there is no news group specific to sports related fractures and figured that people in these groups may have had experience with wrist fractures or be interested in the subject. On Feb. 23 I suffered a Colles fracture to the right wrist (my dominant hand) while Ice Skating.  On March 14 I had surgery because the reduction of the displaced fracture did not hold.  The surgery involved an open reduction (re-broke the fracture and positioned) with an internal brace (T shaped plate with screws across the fracture of the radius bone).  On 3-26 my arm was transfered from a surgical splint to a removable one resembling a roller hockey wrist guard.  Today I had my arm out of the wrist guard and was discouraged to find I could hardly move it.  Can someone tell me from their experience how long it takes to recover from this kind of injury?  If I can’t set a PR this year in running, swimming, or cycling maybe I can set one for fastest recovery time  This kind of an injury is a bitch.  Stay safe and wear protection whenever possible.

I had both colles fractures at school (2) and also a scaphoid fracture while at Uni. The scaphoid is a little bone in the wrist near the base of the thumb. Classic break when you put out your hand/arm to break your fall and land on the base of your wrist. It has poor blood supply so I was in plaster for 5 months. Not good – almost no movement in wrist when cast was removed. Arm muscles were wasted severely. 3 weeks of 3 times per week physio (very painful, I hated it). Then monthly visits to check progress for a couple of months. What seemed to get things moving was swimming. I was a keen body surfer and keen on large surf, point breaks etc so used to spend a lot of time in the water. The movement of the hand through the water seemed to build up strength and flexibility much more quickly than the physio exercises, plus it was more fun. 35 years on, I have no problems from it that I am aware of. Persevere and good luck. — Ian Lilly

Response:

On Feb. 23 I suffered a Colles fracture to the right wrist (my dominant hand) while Ice Skating.  On March 14 I had surgery because the reduction of the displaced fracture did not hold.  The surgery involved an open reduction (re-broke the fracture and positioned)….. This kind of an injury is a bitch.  Stay safe and wear protection whenever possible.

I worked part time as an orthopaedic technition in the fracture room at a hospital for the four years that I was attending chiropractic college. I assisted the orthopaedic surgeons in hundreds of closed reductions of this fracture and watched several open reductions. This is not a good injury to have. A normal Colles with a closed reduction usually involves six weeks in a cast followed by a couple of months of physical therapy exercises. The open reduction will  complicate things. The most important thing is to try and get your range of motion of your wrist back as soon as possible. This will involve passive and active stretch exercises for wrist extension/flexion and to bring back your muscle wasting. It is possible that you may never get the full range of motion back if there is a deformity of the joint caused by the fracture, but it is hard to predict. Muscle wasting also takes quite a bit of time, probably six weeks for every one week spent in a cast is a general rule of thumb. Get on an exercise program and stick with it. It will be hard and frustrating at first, but eventually you will see results. You will have to have patience. BTW I see roller bladers all the time without wrist protection. Very foolish, as roller blading accidents are common causes of a Colle’s fracture.

Response:

Forgive the cross posting but there is no news group specific to sports related fractures and figured that people in these groups may have had experience with wrist fractures or be interested in the subject. On Feb. 23 I suffered a Colles fracture to the right wrist (my dominant hand) while Ice Skating.  On March 14 I had surgery because the reduction of the displaced fracture did not hold.  The surgery involved an open reduction (re-broke the fracture and positioned) with an internal brace (T shaped plate with screws across the fracture of the radius bone).  On 3-26 my arm was transfered from a surgical splint to a removable one resembling a roller hockey wrist guard.  Today I had my arm out of the wrist guard and was discouraged to find I could hardly move it.

Don’t get too discouraged. you’ll get some flexibility back pretty quickly. The challenge is getting most or all of it back, getting your strength in the joint back, and avoiding re-injury. Uh, were you SUPPOSED to be trying to move the wrist yet? Can someone tell me from their experience how long it takes to recover from this kind of injury?  If I can’t set a PR this year in running, swimming, or cycling maybe I can set one for fastest recovery time  This kind of an injury is a bitch.  Stay safe and wear protection whenever possible.

Physical therapy is an absolute requirement for an injury like this. Be honest with your therapist and MD about your goals, and listen to their advice. Do the therapy, even if it hurts. Be ready to write off those IM races for this year if the recovery takes too long. BTW, you keep asking the "how long does it take to recover from this" question as if you’re hoping to get a more optimistic answer. My guess is that you don’t like what the MD and/or therapist have told you, and are hoping to hear something better here. This concerns me. Most of us with an active lifestyle go nuts when we’re sidelined with an injury. Most of us push our recovery too hard, or are at least tempted to. My fear is that you will push too hard, re-injure, and never be able to bear weight on that wrist again. It is possible to bike with one arm, I know a guy locally that does it because a shark got the other one. I still don’t think he’d recommend it. If you keep asking, you will eventually find a twelve year old who will reply, "dude, no problem, I was back on my skate board the day i came out of the cast!" Do you intend to take that advice over the MD’s? Listen to the MD and therapist. If you don’t trust them, get second opinions. My mom destroyed her wrist in her late fifties in a bike fall. When she got up, her hand was no longer centered on the end of her arm. They had to use plates, screws and wires to re-assemble her wrist, and yet she recovered 90% range of motion and strength within 18 months with the help of PT. Others have recovered less than 50% with much more minor injuries and will never improve on this because they did the wrong things during the critical phases of recovery. Thanks, Tom

Response:

Question:

So far every one has been right on. The whole event was GREAT! This was my first age group championship, and I had a fantastic time. Even though my time sucked. I sucked at nationals, so it was okay. We would be remiss if we didn’t also say thanks to the people of Saint Joseph. By closing their streets, we inconvienienced them and still they were out there cheering us on and volunteering to help. Volunteers can make or break a race, in this case they helped to make it a very pleasent experience. They blocked off the streets for us! And not with a bunch of college students in orange vests. They used BIG orange dump trucks to block the intersections! I even met Emilio De Soto while getting my race packet!  Congratulations on qualifying, Emilio!  Maybe one day, I will too. I have a few pictures and a race report on my web page.  The URL is http://members.home.net/kueffner/triathlon1.htm.  The web page has links to the race report and pictures (big, high-resolution pictures that take hours to download at 28.8). I only have one question: Whose idea was it to put aid station number two on the bike route in the middle of Highland Street hill?  8-) Jim Kueffner Master Engineer Applied Communications, Inc.

Response:

Good to meet you too Jim. The aid station on the uphill makes more sence that on flat ground or on the down hill.  Usually impossible to get a water bottle from a person standing still when going over 25 MPH! Emilio De Soto II Triathlete/President and Designer De Soto Sport Triathlon Clothing Email me for a free catalog

Response:

Question:

Walter,         You might want to try checking the RaceDates web site http://www.racedates.com — Wayne P. Langan                 TEL 973.386.2964 Applications Engineer           Lucent Technologies             FAX 973.386.6503 http://blda.web.lucent.com/~wpl (Inside Lucent Only)

Response:

Hi, I’ve been trying to find an Olympic distance race to do around the end of May somewhere in the tri-state area, or at least within a relatively easy driving distance from NYC.  I don’t want my first triathlon in 5 years to be the one where I’m trying to qualify for the Canadian National Team (AG 25-29), which is at the end of June.  Anyone? Walter R. Strapps

Response:

Hmmm…there’s not much in the way of triathlons at the end of May around NYC let alone Olympic Distance Tri’s. I only know of two around this time of year, but one is already filled (Columbia, MD), and one is in the middle of June (Mighty Montauk Tri). On the second week of June there is the sprint tri in Harriman (http://www.nytc.org), but that’s about it. I know of no other tris at the end of May or beginning of June. Sorry, but I think this time is slim pickin’s compared to other times of the year in the tri-state area.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMNZ, IMC ‘99 IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

Response:

Question:

fyi for those thinking ahead to the Spring, 1999 Mid Atlantic racing schedule.  I got these dates from the rd, Mr. Vigo himself. May 23, The Columbia Triathlon June 6, Blackwater Eagleman 1/2 IM Thinking ahead to the spring is what gets me through these dark days.  : ) Dave — "Why do you participate?" "Because I am Mad" –Response from an English competitor to the question asked on the entry form for the Marathon des Sables, the 142 mile run across the Moroccan Sahara.

Response:

David,    The site for Blackwater has the new registration form now.  Here’s the site: http://www.tricolumbia.org/eagleman.htm See you there! Bobbi "IQO sub 17 in LP"

Response:

Question:

In the Madison paper the week of the triathlon, they listed the temperature at 84.  The week before that it was 80. (Granted I don’t know where or how they measure these.) There was a little rain on Friday, but they seem to have used a special thermometer to get it at 76 by race time. I was hoping for no wetsuits. – The water was called tepid in the press release, yet the age-groupers were allowed wetsuits.  I like wetsuit swims, being a bad swimmer, but it got hot.  What was the real temperature? Todd Jensen

–                 — Scott To reply remove NO-SPAM- from the reply address. SUPPORT THE ANTI-SPAM AMENDMENT! – http://www.cauce.org

Response:

I will add that it’s likely that the race will move off the July 4 holiday weekend next year. Madison’s even bigger holiday event is the Rhythm and Booms fireworks for 20,000 people — said to be the second-largest fireworks event in the country, behind New York City’s. And obviously, Madison’s cops shouldn’t be asked to do two special events in one day – at least not on the same day as Rhythm and Booms.

More like 250,000-300,000 people … which may be the reason for the abyssmal news coverage. Of course, I think the media should only cover what I’m interested in Poor Ken MacKenzie … the marathon wasn’t all that long ago either. My hat’s off to him! regards, Julia

Response:

Nah. Nothing so exotic … just the Madison Classic, short course (300-yard swim, 10-mile bike, 2-mile run). My friend did it last year and voted it a wonderful intro to tris. (She now has that special manic glow whenever the topic of triathlons comes up.) Nevertheless, I haven’t run in months, and my biking mostly consists of short distance commuting. Swimming is going great though. Too bad I can’t swap the run and swim distances … Thanks for the encouragement though. Perhaps one of the tris later in the summer once I get my act together. (Bike training starts this weekend with a trip to Paoli!) regards, Julia, for now an aquatic creature, useless on dry land – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was so inspired tbat I almost agreed to do a sprint tri with a friend at the end of the month … almost. My running base is laughable C’mon Julia you can do it!  Which race? Castle Rock? Good flat bike ride! Best, Mark

Response:

I nominate Ken MacKenzie for the "Best-Kept Secret in Race Directing."<<

And I’ll second that nomination on the spot.  Good job Ken. -r

Response:

More like 250,000-300,000 people … which may be the reason for the abyssmal news coverage. Of course, I think the media should only cover what I’m interested in

Yeah.  I was going to correct Katherine on that but couldn’t decide whether to or not since I knew she had just missed a decimal point or two.  You could almost put half that number together when you consider that the darn thing is soo big you can see it almost all over the city. We watched it from a cemetary at least 10 miles away w/about 100 other people. Poor Ken MacKenzie … the marathon wasn’t all that long ago either. My hat’s off to him!

Well.  Yes and No.  I admire Ken and respect his work a great deal. I think he’s doing well for himself though.  Which is, of course, the way it should be.  I’m sorry but I can’t feel sorry for a guy w/a beautiful wife, a beatiful child, a great occupation, and a reasonable income.  I can admire him yes.  I can respect him yes.  But ‘poor Ken’ pulease….. -r regards, Julia

Response:

I was so inspired tbat I almost agreed to do a sprint tri with a friend at the end of the month … almost. My running base is laughable

C’mon Julia you can do it!  Which race? Castle Rock? Good flat bike ride! Best, Mark

Response:

From watching the pro race, and hearing Lauren’s thoughts about draft legal events after her first try, I saw the following: – The ITU handlebar restrictions for draft-legal events are biased against taller riders.  Lauren is 5′3" and was able to use her normal aerobars since they didn’t extend more than 15cm beyond the front hub. Others had to compromise with less extended positions or no aerobars. – The handlebar restriction is for "safety" – supposedly so they don’t impale someone in a crash.  But most crashes probably happen when someone is in their aero position – even if it’s within the 15cm.  Most of the men and women were aero no matter where in the pack they were. – You want aerobars since you may have to chase – the extra 1-2mph is a nice thing to have. – The packs and pacelines that form do not work well together.  And many need to practice riding a straight line in a pack. – If you aren’t in the first pack or within 30 seconds on the swim, it is almost a lost cause to catch the "groovy train" on a flat bike course. – Most of the pros who placed well did so because they hung on for dear life during the bike segment and suffered through the 10k run.  Even though a pack of about 10 men and women reached the transition together, they were already well spread by the first mile on the run.  There were only a few who actually worked themselves back into the top ten after arriving minutes behind in T2.  Martha Sorenson made the biggest jump. – The run course was tough, with 3 climbs up Badger Hill, a six block monster with some steep staircase-like sections. No one will have good splits here. – The water was called tepid in the press release, yet the age-groupers were allowed wetsuits.  I like wetsuit swims, being a bad swimmer, but it got hot.  What was the real temperature?   Todd Jensen

Response:

I would have loved to have done USTS-Madison on Sunday but, unfortunately, I was hit by a car while on a training ride about a month and a-half ago.  It set me back. But I was curious so I rode my MTB down to the park to check out the action. First of all let’s talk about all that was good.  Ken McKenzie (the RD) and all the other sponsors did a stupendious job of putting together the best race that this city has ever seen.  I commend them.  The weather was perfect.  The organization was perfect.  Timing was perfect.  What more can I say? The pro race was interesting.  I’m pretty much anti-draft but I was curious.  The format was criterium – and I have to admit that it was very spectator friendly.  There was something going on pretty much all the time. There were a lot of people who were obviously not triathletes who were enjoying it (I guess that says something). Anyway.  This has been a fairly non-informative post. But I thought I’d throw in my .0002 cents on this race. I hope they come back next year.  I would’ve loved to have done it. -r ps.  I’m at somewhat of a loss in understanding why you would use a tr-bike w/aerobars in a criterium format/draft legal race.  I dunno…  I’m sure I’m missing something.  I’m just not sure what…

Response:

ps.  I’m at somewhat of a loss in understanding why you would use a tr-bike w/aerobars in a criterium format/draft legal race.  I dunno…  I’m sure I’m missing something.  I’m just not sure what…

I suspect that the pro/elites who are racing in the draft legal events still oufit their road bars with aero-bars – usually the mini areo bars(Spinaci style) – because they may be: a) Involved in a small breakaway b) get out of the water a little bit behind the leaders and need to "time-trial" up to the front on their own c) If the situation dictates, maybe break away before the run to get a jump on the field going into the run. Steve Fleck

Response:

I suspect that the pro/elites who are racing in the draft legal events still oufit their road bars with aero-bars – usually the mini areo bars(Spinaci style)

This was pretty much the case in Madison. Very few of the pros had a typical aero bar setup. Most had spinaci’s or a minimal clip-on design. The speed attained by the lead pack was impressive.  The Madison police squad car (siren blaring) came through the park with impressive speed to try and stay ahead of the riders!

Response:

Not that I have anything real and significant to add to this thread — but I gotta commend Ken MacKenzie and company. The guy is good. I am consistently amazed at his energy, his ability to go for hours on a very long day, to never utter a complaint (at least not publicly). He can handle all problems – appears unflappable. He also puts on the Madison Marathon on Memorial Day weekend — this time (probably as usual), he got zero sleep the night before; he just never went to bed. The the whole event lasted til mid-afternoon. Possibly the same thing occurred this time — very long day, yet he is out there, organizing right to the end. I commented to one of his assistants that his pulling off this triathlon — of huge proportions for this area — so smoothly was a feat parallel to how he does the marathon. The assistant said that making this race go smoothly was even more difficult than the marathon. I nominate Ken MacKenzie for the "Best-Kept Secret in Race Directing." I will add that it’s likely that the race will move off the July 4 holiday weekend next year. Madison’s even bigger holiday event is the Rhythm and Booms fireworks for 20,000 people — said to be the second-largest fireworks event in the country, behind New York City’s. And obviously, Madison’s cops shouldn’t be asked to do two special events in one day – at least not on the same day as Rhythm and Booms. So expect USTS-Madison to fall either one week sooner or one week later next year! Katherine Williams

Response:

The speed attained by the lead pack was impressive.  The Madison police squad car (siren blaring) came through the park with impressive speed to try and stay ahead of the riders!

That was definitely cool! Actually the whole event was impressive–what a difference seeing these athletes in person compared to watching them on TV. I was so inspired tbat I almost agreed to do a sprint tri with a friend at the end of the month … almost. My running base is laughable. The most disappointing thing about the race was the media coverage. Other than Katherine William’s article in the Cap Times, coverage was stingy to nonexistent. I could not believe it, especially as most news casts here devote excessive amounts of time to sport. Grrr. regards, Julia

Response:

Question:

Somewhere in what I’m sure will be many responses to the IMH show, I hope someone can take a little time out and give me your thoughts, pro and con, on spinning classes. I took my first one today (I know, I know…but I’ve stuck to the Lifecycle and indoor trainer for the last few eons) after a ten mile run as my "Ironman Saturday" prep.  I liked it, but felt that it was a very different kind of thing than more conventional winter training.  I also felt like I was in danger of screwing up a knee or a calf going at those kind of RPM’s. I’ll do it again, but I think I have to work with fitting the "bike" a bit better and getting used to the "out of control" feeling you get at times. Thanks for any input. Mark  

Response:

I liked it, but felt that it was a very different kind of thing than more conventional winter training.  I also felt like I was in danger of screwing up a knee or a calf going at those kind of RPM’s. I’ll do it again, but I think I have to work with fitting the "bike" a bit better and getting used to the "out of control" feeling you get at times. Thanks for any input. Mark  

I tried it also and I was worried also about damaging myself. It’s a a good aerobic workout I’ll give you that, but it doesn’t apply much to actual riding.   I don’t know if it’s available in your area but try fixed gear track riding at a velodrome if at all possible. Same workout, maybe better and a real bike "feel". I know velodromes are few and far between, which is a shame because it is a great workout. Al Kormesser

Response:

I took my first spin class the other day and loved it.  Just another way to get a great workout on a trainer.  Yes, you do have to be careful of the "spinning" wheel, but I had a blast getting to train with others.  I would never work that hard on my own.  I intend to add it to my weekly training schedule.  

Response:

I really like Spinning, but I’m keeping it to 1 class per week in the offseason.  You really get above AT pretty easily in those classes. I’ve had two different instructors, both with very different styles.  One kept the RPMs low and did mostly "jumps", which was a good workout, but not very helpful for training.  The other instructor kept the RPMs around 90-100 and just did some climbs, both sitting and standing, and some all-out sprints.  I’m going to her classes from now on… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Somewhere in what I’m sure will be many responses to the IMH show, I hope someone can take a little time out and give me your thoughts, pro and con, on spinning classes.

Response:

        I teach 2 classes a week which aren’t the "official  Johnny G Spinnin", but use a bike by a different company- whatever the brand it is still fixed gear cycling.  I’ve found that it’s a great adjunct to cycle training (for a relatively weak cyclist).  The bikes are fairly adjustable for seattube angle and height and we’ve put clipless pedals and a real seat on the instructors bike.  It seems to really help in pedaling technique because you have to pedal constantly- this is especially noticable on the road on windy flats and long climbs.  As far as the "spinning" being hard on the knees/calves/etc ultimately you are in control- spin at a cadence that you feel under control with- if you sense that you’re getting out of control increase the resistance to slow yourself down.  There is really a learning curve to pedaling these bikes- I had a slight advantage going in because I’ve done a little riding with a fixed gear on the roads, but most cyclists seem to pick it up in 2-3 sessions.  Finally I’ve seen that my cadence during road rides has increased significantly so that I now feel more comfortable with cadences as high as 110-115 RPM’s- I think this has helped my cycling- contrary to posts I’ve seen on RST about optimal triathlon cadence being 80-90 RPM’s I’ve observed that generally most of the faster triathletes in the SE seem to pedal at a faster rate; this also seems to be the case for many of the faster riders I’ve seen on the IMH shows.  I think spinning can be very beneficial as part of your training; at least for me 50 minutes of spinning at different cadences/resistances/positions seems to be much more productive than 50 minutes on the trainer. Ben Reuter

Response:

Question:

Additionally, Allyn’s Fairmont race will be featured in this month’s Triathlon Times (magazine sent to all annual USA Triathlon members-20,000). The race is not cancelled and will be stellar. USA Triathlon

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Contrary to some rumors that are circulating, Fairmount Park Classic                    IS NOT CANCELLED!!!! We believe we know who started the rumor and it always amazes me how people in such a fun and unique sport, can’t work together! Allyn Cutts, the race director for this race devotes a lot of energy to his races and they don’t need to be spoiled by acts of malice. As a friend of Allyn and a sponsor of this race, I am inviting everyone to enjoy a great weekend and a DRAFT FREE race on August 3rd and 4th. For more race info, please contact Allyn Cutts or myself. Also, come by our bike inspection booth and meet our own Ken Glah! Good luck to all who enter and remember the key to a good triathlon is all the hard work the VOLUNTEERS do. Please take time to thank everyone. Thanks, steve Steve’s Multisport 1-610-275-4010

It surprised me to hear people were spreading the rumor that it was cancelled cuz this race is a mainstay in Philly!  Come on out to Philadelphia – the course is held in beautiful Fairmount Park (Nation’s largest city park) and goes by the famous Art Museum.  This will be the first year I miss it since 1991 since I’ll be in Atlanta!  Kinda bummed cuz it’s just about in my backyard and I could’ve held some kinda of pre- or post-race RST social gathering.  Maybe next year! I always enjoy Allyn Cutt’s races. Also, for those of you who’ve never been to Philly – I don’t know why everyone seems to give it a bum rap.  Sure, it has its problems, but so does every other major city.  I was in Atlanta in March and talking to some guy on the train (which I must admit was much cleaner and cheaper than our trains – SEPTA sucks) and he said he had never been to Philly and would never go there.  He was actually scared of Philly even though he had lived in New York!  I love it here – lots to do, great night life, historical sites, terrific parks, etc.  Guess the city should hire me for PR!  Also, great mayor who is really working to clean up the city’s image (thought as long as I was at it I’d put a plug in for Ed Rendell!) Nuf said!  Come check it out and decide for yourself! -hug  

Response:

Contrary to some rumors that are circulating, Fairmount Park Classic                         IS NOT CANCELLED!!!! We believe we know who started the rumor and it always amazes me how people in such a fun and unique sport, can’t work together! Allyn Cutts, the race director for this race devotes a lot of energy to his races and they don’t need to be spoiled by acts of malice. As a friend of Allyn and a sponsor of this race, I am inviting everyone to enjoy a great weekend and a DRAFT FREE race on August 3rd and 4th. For more race info, please contact Allyn Cutts or myself. Also, come by our bike inspection booth and meet our own Ken Glah! Good luck to all who enter and remember the key to a good triathlon is all the hard work the VOLUNTEERS do. Please take time to thank everyone. Thanks, steve Steve’s Multisport 1-610-275-4010

Response:

Question:

  Several texts on training (Training Distance Runners by P. Coe and D. Martin, or to mention a recent one In fitness and in Health by P. Maffetone) recommend a period of several month of strictly aerobic training, what we usually refer to as base work (to be correct Coe & Martin recommend something like 1 workout below AT / month during this period)   For a weak swimmer like me this is a problem. I need to work on my technique, esp. body position, which puts me quite close to AT. Lately I’ve noticed that after 2 out of 3 swimming sessions I’m down with a cold for 1 day (bye bye schedule) while running and biking (indoors) is fine.   Should I cut down to 2 or 1 swimsess./week and try to keep the pace or use a buoy to do arms and legs separately and lower the pace to something more aerobic? Any advice ? jarek

Response:

Jarek: Great insight about how poor technique handicaps a triathlete (who does not have a formal swim bkgrnd) from following the conventional swim training recommendations. So many people who advise triathletes to follow a "cookbook" training sked (X parts AT, X part VO2max, etc) for swimming just as they do with running and biking, don’t realize that if your basic swim skills aren’t good, workouts don’t work. I teach hundreds of triathletes a year at Total Immersion Adult Swim Camps that they have to turn their swim "workouts" into swimming "practices" and they have to practice proper technique. I tell them that fitness is something that happens to you while you’re practicing technique. You do it through drills and "effective" swimming — stroke counting, minus cycle swimming, mixed drill-swim sets, etc. most of it set up on intervals similar to swim sets, but with different intentions than simply working the CV system. I don’t know how to send you info by E-mail, but if you send your address or fax# to me by E-mail I can send you a booklet of drills to do. Everyone who has adopted this system has improved dramatically over the results they’d been getting by just working out.

Response:

  Several texts on training (Training Distance Runners by P. Coe and D. Martin, or to mention a recent one In fitness and in Health by P. Maffetone) recommend a period of several month of strictly aerobic training, what we usually refer to as base work (to be correct Coe & Martin recommend something like 1 workout below AT / month during this period)   For a weak swimmer like me this is a problem. I need to work on my technique, esp. body position, which puts me quite close to AT. Lately I’ve noticed that after 2 out of 3 swimming sessions I’m down with a cold for 1 day (bye bye schedule) while running and biking (indoors) is fine….

It sounds like you need to learn to relax when you swim (which by the way is the key to swimming fast).  If you are truly doing technique work, you shouldn’t get close to your AT.  My first reaction is that you are breathing incorrectly.  Two common breathing mistakes are 1) not exhaling underwater and 2) taking too big of breathes.  By doing either 1) and/or 2) you tend to approach hyperventilation quickly and subsequently push your heart rate sky-high.  The simple remedy is to think "breathe easy and breathe often".   Hope this helps!  If I’m off the mark, email me a more detailed description. Pat —    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

Response:

Luberek) writes:

<<<I need to work on my technique, esp. body position, which puts me quite close to AT. Lately I’ve noticed that after 2 out of 3 swimming sessions I’m down with a cold for 1 day (bye bye schedule) while running and biking (indoors) is fine.  Should I cut down to 2 or 1 swimsess./week and try to keep the pace or use a buoy to do arms and legs separately and lower the pace to something more aerobic? Without knowing anything else about you, consider using a heart monitor in your swim sessions but stay aerobic. If you do this, and nothing is metabolically wrong, 2-3 swims a week shouldn’t be a problem. It also sound like you need to build more base. Just my opinion. Philip Maffetone

Response: