Question:

I like to have some protein in me, for sustained energy, but little fat- for quicker digestion.  About 3 hours before any race, I’ll have some scrambled egg whites on toast, juice coffee.  Sometimes I’m starting to feel a little hungry again before the race, so I might have a half of a Luna bar or something, 45-60 minutes before (but ONLY if I’m getting hungry).  I drink lots of water from the time I wake up until 45 minutes before race time, go pee as close to race time as possible, then drink some Cytomax or Accelerade right before the race, for extra energy and hydration.  It takes some experimentation, but I’ve found if you start to work hard right after drinking, it won’t all go straight to your bladder. But most importantly, eat stuff you would normally eat, so your body knows what to do with it.  Don’t eat eggs or pop tarts or clif bars just b/c we told you to, if you don’t normally eat like that… -Suz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.     I do the same thing b/f most all races, short or long:  3 – 31/2 hrs b/f race have a "meal" of 2 ensure + 2 bars of choice.  Sip on a quart of Gatoraide finishing at 45 min b/f I start.  Then only take just a sip of plain water b/f the start.  For IM distance I add 1 gel at approx 10 min b/f start. Good Luck!       David Never give up, Be satisfied w/ your best, Do unto others…..

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But most importantly, eat stuff you would normally eat, so your body knows what to do with it.  Don’t eat eggs or pop tarts or clif bars just b/c we told you to, if you don’t normally eat like that…

Right, and make it something you like, that you ALWAYS like, a personal comfort food, so to speak.  Something that ALWAYS agrees with you, no matter what.

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My 2 cents I make a CytoSport Pre-Formance Wildberry shake with a Banana thrown in 2 hours prior, a Flash-5 bars an hour prior & a shot of Hammer Gel 20 minutes prior. Cheers, Paul "Speedy" Gonsalves As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.     -Jim-

– Paul Gonsalves 519-577-9060 www.balfa.com www.canari.com www.flash-5.com www.cytosport.com www.dmtshoes.com www.carbboom.com www.veloargon18.com www.stellaazzurra.com www.schwalbetires.com www.hammernutrition.com

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Eat whatever you eat before a hard *swim* workout.  I find biking and running easier to do on a full stomach…

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As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.     -Jim-

Two strawberry frosted Pop Tarts before leaving the house.

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As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.

    I do the same thing b/f most all races, short or long:  3 – 31/2 hrs b/f race have a "meal" of 2 ensure + 2 bars of choice.  Sip on a quart of Gatoraide finishing at 45 min b/f I start.  Then only take just a sip of plain water b/f the start.  For IM distance I add 1 gel at approx 10 min b/f start. Good Luck!       David Never give up, Be satisfied w/ your best, Do unto others…..

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As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.

I envy these people who can eat before a race.  For me:  water.  That’s it.  It’s not that the food makes my feel sick or anything, but I have *zero* energy about 15 minutes into the race (or workout) if I’ve had *anything* to eat in the 2 or three hours before exercise.  So my raceday breakfast is usually water (pre-race), Gatorade and gel while racing.  An Olympic distance race only takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, though I haven’t done a race that much longer…  My dad has the same ‘problem’, and he’s done many half-Ironmans and IronMan Canada with his only nutrition being during the actual race. Cheers, Walter R. Strapps

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    a better question mite be "  how does deal with the morning toilet and the constant feeling that you have to relieve yourself right before the race"? i haven;t figured that one out yet

Resistance is futile — doesn’t matter what you eat. I don’t understand why this happens, either. I used to play high school sports and was nervous before games, but never had to "go" like I do before tri’s. And, I’m not competitive. I race only for myself. There’s nothing really to be nervous about. But, judging from the lines for the stalls (vs the urinals), we’re not alone David / FEY2K IMCAL2000 16:53 I hate junk email. I’m trying VERY hard to avoid it with my new ISP. So, to reach me, reply to wuth followed by ng, all as one word (ie nameng) at bellsouth dot net. Let’s see any bot figure out how to get my email from that!

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"Sam Bean"  wrote potted meat food product. mmmmmm sam

Usually Jimmy Dean sausage, eggs, grits, pancakes, milk and coffee! Vienna sausages fried up right would be good, but I don’t like to cook them unless okra is in season. Tm

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As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.

This season I switched to eating one of the new Powerbar Harvest bars, with water. It’s not too heavy, tastes good, much easier to eat than a classic Powerbar — and was on sale at Road Runner Sports David / FEY2K IMCAL2000 16:53 I hate junk email. I’m trying VERY hard to avoid it with my new ISP. So, to reach me, reply to wuth followed by ng, all as one word (ie nameng) at bellsouth dot net. Let’s see any bot figure out how to get my email from that!

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As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.     -Jim-

  jkca1.vcf

< 1K Download

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i’ll eat whatever i know i can eat before a hard workout.  for anthing shorter than olympic i mite just have fruit ,  and make sure to have a little gel on the bike to keep me going thru the run.  tomorrow is the sandiego tri and i am planning on drinking alot of water and eating a banana and a clif bar( i eat clif bars all the time-  trained for and completed ironman californina with them, so i know how my stomache will handle them)     a better question mite be "  how does deal with the morning toilet and the constant feeling that you have to relieve yourself right before the race"?  i haven;t figured that one out yet todd sandiego

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i’ll eat whatever i know i can eat before a hard workout.  for anthing shorter than olympic i mite just have fruit ,  and make sure to have a little gel on the bike to keep me going thru the run.  tomorrow is the sandiego tri and i am planning on drinking alot of water and eating a banana and a clif bar( i eat clif bars all the time-  trained for and completed ironman californina with them, so i know how my stomache will handle them)    a better question mite be "  how does deal with the morning toilet and the constant feeling that you have to relieve yourself right before the race"?  i haven;t figured that one out yet todd sandiego

potted meat food product. mmmmmm sam

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For an Olympic or shorter I would eat nothing more than a bagel with a shot of Gatorade. For 1/2 IM I eat a bowl of oatmeal,  same for an IM distance. Ken

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As I get ready for my first triathlon I was wondering what others eat before the swim. Or do you just intake liquid? Thanks.     -Jim-

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Question:

Hi I am thinking of buying a second hand rear spinergy rev-x  and was hoping that someone would be able to give me some advice on  weather or not these wheels are prone to cracking and if so what and where to check. thank you steve

Response:

I’ve had one since they first came out and it’s still going strong. I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I am thinking of buying a second hand rear spinergy rev-x  and was hoping that someone would be able to give me some advice on  weather or not these wheels are prone to cracking and if so what and where to check. thank you steve

Response:

Check out this web site for horror stories. You may need to check from other users. I wouldn’t buy not because they are definetly going to break, but because the fear of them breaking is enough to worry about. Besides, they are not very light nor aerodynamic as it is. Mark http://home.interlynx.net/~pjdu/

: I’ve had one since they first came out and it’s still going strong. : I don’t think you’ll have any problems. : : Hi : I am thinking of buying a second hand rear spinergy rev-x  and was hoping : that someone would be able to give me some advice on  weather or not these : wheels are prone to cracking and if so what and where to check. : thank you : steve : : : :

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they are not very light nor aerodynamic as it is.   On the aero part..I have read multiple articles in the magazines, including an extensive test report of many aero wheels in Bicycling Magazine showing that Spinergy’s are aero…so, that is untrue…now the possible breaking is another issue I wont’ go into. Before you buy.

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I wouldn’t put much faith in results of any test done by Bicycling magazine.  Just about every "test" they do is somehow fundamentally flawed.  The only true test of wheel aerodynamics is in the wind tunnel and to my knowledge, Bicycling has not done any testing there. To the best of my knowledge, the SPOX are the least aero wheel available.  I wouldn’t recommend those wheels for anything but training.  And who buys $450 training wheels? The Rev-X probably falls somewhere in the middle of all the aero wheels.  I say probably because I haven’t seen impartial testing doen by a competent third party recently.  The Rev-X probably comes in near the Cosmic Elite, Rolf Vector, etc., far behind the HED3, Campy Shamal, Zipp 440, etc. Personally, I would never buy a set due to durability concerns, and the questionable crosswind behavior of the front wheel. John "If you’ve got the cash, buy the 909" Royal they are not very light nor aerodynamic as it is.   On the aero part..I have read multiple articles in the magazines, including an extensive test report of many aero wheels in Bicycling Magazine showing that Spinergy’s are aero…so, that is untrue…now the possible breaking is another issue I wont’ go into. Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

I wouldn’t put much faith in results of any test done by Bicycling magazine.  Just about every "test" they do is somehow fundamentally flawed.   The Rev-X probably comes in near the Cosmic Elite, Rolf Vector, etc., far behind the HED3, Campy Shamal, Zipp 440, etc.

I’ve never used Rev-X wheels, but to say any test "Bicycling" mag does is flawed and then state your own belief the Rev-X is far behind the Shamal, 440 ect…  in aerodynamics seems a bit ridiculous.  How is it you know so much more than Bicycling? tim(dogspot1) buaidh no bas

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I do not consider myself an expert on wheel dynamics but have used the Spinergy on many occaisions.    I found that the Spinergy handles the crosswind far superior to my Specialized trispoke when used on the front.   I rode the Specialized rear, Spinergy front to two Ironman age group first place finishes.   One in NZ the other at Kona.   I found that the Specialized / HED is very fast and stiff but extremely difficult to manage in crosswinds when placed on the front.   The Spinergy has a much nicer ride and is far less affected by crosswind. I have had no problem with the Spinergy Rev-X in any way.   I’m not endorsing them, just stating my personal experience. My wheels were 700C sewups.  the Spinergy requires an adapter for the stem and the Specialized requires a very short and small pump head for inflation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wouldn’t put much faith in results of any test done by Bicycling magazine.  Just about every "test" they do is somehow fundamentally flawed.  The only true test of wheel aerodynamics is in the wind tunnel and to my knowledge, Bicycling has not done any testing there. To the best of my knowledge, the SPOX are the least aero wheel available.  I wouldn’t recommend those wheels for anything but training.  And who buys $450 training wheels? The Rev-X probably falls somewhere in the middle of all the aero wheels.  I say probably because I haven’t seen impartial testing doen by a competent third party recently.  The Rev-X probably comes in near the Cosmic Elite, Rolf Vector, etc., far behind the HED3, Campy Shamal, Zipp 440, etc. Personally, I would never buy a set due to durability concerns, and the questionable crosswind behavior of the front wheel. John "If you’ve got the cash, buy the 909" Royal Besides, they are not very light nor aerodynamic as it is.   On the aero part..I have read multiple articles in the magazines, including an extensive test report of many aero wheels in Bicycling Magazine showing that Spinergy’s are aero…so, that is untrue…now the possible breaking is another issue I wont’ go into. Before you buy. Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

First of all, I said "probably".  The only definitive statements I made were in regards to the ineptitiude of the writers at Bicycling magazine. I based my ASSUMPTION on the fact that the Spinergy rim is of similar depth to the other wheels I mentioned.  Also, you will note that the LEW website puts the Rev-X in this ballpark (Note: I do not believe all the information at the LEW site, I just use it for general comparison purposes).  Where did you get your information from?  What did you base your assumption on? Regarding my knowledge versus Bicycling magazine, based on what I have read in that magazine I would say that I probably have a wider and deeper knowledge than most of their writers.  But that is no great feat.  The vast majority of the information they provide is based on myths and half truths.  Just like the junk that Dane Bittenbender writes for Triathlete magazine*. Just because someone has something in print doesn’t mean that they know what they are talking about. * – Note:  I have found articles by our own Rick Denney and Dan Empfield to be much better thought out and more accurate.  I do not mean to trash all the writers at Triathlete.  Just one. P.S. Regarding the crosswind handling situation, the Rev-X does handle slightly  better than a Specialized/HED Tri Spoke.  But that doesn’t say a whole lot.  A front Rev-x is still much more susceptible to sidewinds than a regular deep rim such as a Zipp 404 or HED Aero.  That’s why you see so many of the pro bike riders running a regular wheel on the front and a Rev-X on the rear. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wouldn’t put much faith in results of any test done by Bicycling magazine.  Just about every "test" they do is somehow fundamentally flawed. The Rev-X probably comes in near the Cosmic Elite, Rolf Vector, etc., far behind the HED3, Campy Shamal, Zipp 440, etc. I’ve never used Rev-X wheels, but to say any test "Bicycling" mag does is flawed and then state your own belief the Rev-X is far behind the Shamal, 440 ect…  in aerodynamics seems a bit ridiculous.  How is it you know so much more than Bicycling? tim(dogspot1) buaidh no bas

Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Hello triathlon friends, On my web you can find not only pictures of the first triathlon ever. Bud confirmation by e license of "Les Trois Sports " . The license is issued for 1927. Yours in Sports Eddy Senecaut http://bewoner.dma.be/ATRIAC

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Local lore in San Diego says that the first triathlon was here in 1974, on Fiesta Island, and was sponsored by the SD Track Club (which later spun off the Triathlon Club of SD).  This web site says it was either 1927 (in Perpignon, France) or 1978 (John Collins in Hawaii).  It’s difficult for me to read since much of the website is in Dutch.  Who’s correct? Wayne – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello triathlon friends, On my web you can find not only pictures of the first triathlon ever. Bud confirmation by e license of "Les Trois Sports " . The license is issued for 1927. Yours in Sports Eddy Senecaut http://bewoner.dma.be/ATRIAC

Response:

Well it’s beginning to look like the French may have indeed invented triathlon – but they do like things in threes! San Diego definitely beat out Commander John, but his was the first Ironman triathlon!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Local lore in San Diego says that the first triathlon was here in 1974, on Fiesta Island, and was sponsored by the SD Track Club (which later spun off the Triathlon Club of SD).  This web site says it was either 1927 (in Perpignon, France) or 1978 (John Collins in Hawaii).  It’s difficult for me to read since much of the website is in Dutch.  Who’s correct?

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Question:

I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters. The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

Hi Bobbi: In my 15 years of tri’s, I’ve done a lot of ocean swims – all on the FL/GA coast. Jellyfish are about the only things I worry about. Sharks/fish never have been a problem. They’re there, but despite what the movies show, they don’t attack everything that moves. However, if you swim in the ocean long enough, you will get nipped or touched by a fish.  That always startles me and gets my pulse rate up. But it’s just a matter of calming yourself back down and continuing on. There have been a few times when I had a couple of things happen in a short time and psyched myself out. Then I just swam back into shore, sat down, and waited. After a while I laughed at the good scare and went back in. All in all, it’s a hell of a lot safer than biking. Mike "who lives and swims in a major shark breeding area" Tennent "TriBop" ‘98 Ironman Canada, 16:17:03

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Mike "who lives and swims in a major shark breeding area" Tennent

Mike, if I remember right aren’t you from St. Simons? I was there on vacation this summer for a week and all I heard from the locals was how the 2nd largest breeding area for sharks was across the inlet @ Jekyll Island (Australia’s great barrier reef being the first). A guy caught an 11 ft. lemon shark on the pier while we were there. As it turns out, the roads were more dangerous to me than the water. I hit sand on a turn, did a face plant and shattered my helmet. chip

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I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray. We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters. The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

Just look at it as justification for getting that wetsuit! Of course, you’ll look even more like a seal to those sharks.

Response:

Mike "who lives and swims in a major shark breeding area" Tennent Mike, if I remember right aren’t you from St. Simons? I was there on vacation this summer for a week and all I heard from the locals was how the 2nd largest breeding area for sharks was across the inlet @ Jekyll Island (Australia’s great barrier reef being the first). A guy caught an 11 ft. lemon shark on the pier while we were there.

Yep. St. Simons is #2, but I’ve never had a problem. Most of the ones close to shore are small – the 2-3 footers, and no "man-eaters" .  But if you fly over the area in a plane, it is mind boggling how many you can see.  <g As it turns out, the roads were more dangerous to me than the water. I hit sand on a turn, did a face plant and shattered my helmet.

Ouch. If you make it back down again, email me and I can give you a few routes to try. Mike "or ride with you, if you’re not in a hurry" Tennent "TriBop" ‘98 Ironman Canada, 16:17:03

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John,   Thanks for the advice, I’ll heed it and head for the beach, …. I,  think. Bobbi

Response:

…<snip…  Jellyfish are definitely "bad"; don’t even think about going for a swim if they are around.  Even the little bitty so-called "dollar" jellyfish can leave a mess of painful welts on you.  The bigger Portuguese Man-O-War are really bad and can put you in the hospital.  

I tried to post on this yesterday. Hopefully, my news server will cooperate this morning… Yes, a man ‘o war sting is bad news as are those of some other jellyfish. However, you shouldn’t let seeing a few jellyfish on the beach scare you out of the water without knowing that what you are seeing are "trouble." Many do not have trailing tentacles and/or any sting that you are going to notice at all even if you do contact them. The most common jellyfish I see washed up on the Carolina beaches (N & S), for example, is harmless.  Others have such a mild sting that you will barely notice it unless you are very sensitive and the "tingling" will be gone shortly after. Bottom line is, talk to others who know the area to learn what kinds are and are not problems. Obviously, sharks are definitely in the "really bad" category; don’t go in at all if there have been any shark sightings.

On the other hand, don’t let seeing a 3 foot nurse shark (for example) keep you out either. Just remember that "shark" does not necessarily mean "problem for a human swimmer." On the other hand, although stingrays look mean, they won’t bother you at all as long as you don’t step on them.  

Yes, the real problem is stepping on them. If you are concerned about stingrays, shuffle your feet as you walk out through the shallows. Should you happen to have any in your path, you will scare them off by bumping them and will not pin them to the bottom with your feet. If you’re lucky enough to be swimming in water clear enough to let you see the sea life, consider yourself very fortunate and enjoy the show! 2.  Just because the water is a little rough, don’t be afraid to go for an ocean swim. …  You need to get used to swimming in a little chop because it is very likely you will face some wave action whenever you do an open water swim in a triathlon…

Agreed. Again, consider yourself lucky to have the chance to practice swimming in rough water. Many of your competitors who have traveled from inland areas will not be so fortunate. When I get to the coast I always try to take advantage of the opportunity to do long swims and hope for decent waves (OK, so I’m looking forward to body surfing after the swim too. 8^)   — Chuck ("marine biology" professor, among other things…)    Department of Biology,  University of Alabama at Birmingham             http://www.uab.edu/uabbio/amsler.htm

Response:

Steve,   Thanks for the encouragement, especially the part about there being tons more jellyfish than usual.  I have been so disappointed, because the water is so flat.  Does the fall bring less critters typically?  I have a tri in Oct and am trying to get a few more open water swims in.  Thanks again, Bobbi

Response:

I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters.  The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

Look out for them "critters" – most of them are beautiful in their own way and lead interesting lives.  If you’re swimming for 40 minutes to an hour it helps to have something to look at, so plan your swim to cross reefs and other areas with plenty on marine life.  Sure beats looking at a black line.  Your fears are really fears of the unknown.  If there are a lot jellyfish in your area, a full wetsuit and greasing up exposed skin will save you from any stings.  (I’ve plunged my hand into a big one and half swallowed another to no ill effect.) Another way to get over the fears is to come swimming with me.  I’ll talk about sharks, ask you if you saw the film "Jaws", point out the headland where I saw a pod of Killer Whales feeding last year, tell you that’s why I wear an Orca suit to fool them etc. Then, after about a half an hour of swimming, I’ll swim up behind you and grab your leg at the knee and shake it furiously!  It always works!  You may hate me, but you will never worry about sharks and stuff again. Open water is great. Jeff — |At work:        Phone: +64-9-424 5388      Fax:    +64-21-785 097 | |   Program Development/Client Support      Mobile: +64-21-635 185 | |   Aspect Systems Ltd                                             | |   Specialists in software for Real Estate and Human Resources    | |At home:                                   Phone:  +64-9-424 0336 | |   Husband, Dad, Grandad                                          | |   Enthusiastic but slow triathlete                               | |   Justice of the Peace                                           |

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Bobbi, I have been doing open water (ocean) swimming since I was 14 years old in both FL. and Ca.  A couple of pieces of advice: 1. separate the "critters" into the "bad" group that you don’t want to be in the water with and the "ok" group which will leave you alone if you don’t bother them.  Jellyfish are definitely "bad"; don’t even think about going for a swim if they are around.  Even the little bitty so-called "dollar" jellyfish can leave a mess of painful welts on you.  The bigger Portuguese Man-O-War are really bad and can put you in the hospital.  Obviously, sharks are definitely in the "really bad" category; don’t go in at all if there have been any shark sightings. On the other hand, although stingrays look mean, they won’t bother you at all as long as you don’t step on them.  It is fine to be swimming with them in the water as long as you don’t swim through a school, or step on them. They will generally try to avoid you, too, so there is generally no problem. If you are in FL, you may also see Barracuda from time to time.  They have no fear and will come right up to you, but, even though they look mean with a large mouthful of teeth, they don’t bother swimmers As you see other "critters" ask some of the locals about them.  Also, if you have a Master Swim team close by, there will probably be people in that group who know the local ocean. 2.  Just because the water is a little rough, don’t be afraid to go for an ocean swim.  Obviously, you have to use good judgment; you don’t want to be out in a hurricane, but little 1 to 2 ft. waves aren’t really a problem if you are a reasonably good swimmer.  You need to get used to swimming in a little chop because it is very likely you will face some wave action whenever you do an open water swim in a triathlon.  Last year at the Santa Cruz (CA) triathlon, we had 4-8 ft. waves and swells of 4-6 ft.  It made a lot of people really unhappy in the swim, but those who had practiced in all kinds of wave conditions did just fine.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray. We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters. The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

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I’m in Fort Lauderdale, and boats never come very close to shore luckily.

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Bobbi,      The jellyfish that we are experiencing now have not been present over the last nine years I’ve worked on the beach (blame it on El Ninio)- and although they are capable of stinging, they are not nearly as dangerous as the Man-O-War.  Their sting isn’t as painful, and not nearly as many people are getting stung even though there have been tons of them out there lately. This is because, unlike Man-O-War, these new type of jellyfish have only a small area on their bodies that are capable of stinging.      As far as the Stingrays and other "critters" are concerned, they won’t harm you, but it does take a while to get used to seeing them out there.      With all that said, even I have forced myself to use the pool over the last few weeks, as the "creepy" factor of bumping into all those jellyfish on my swims has gotten to be more than I can stand.  Lets just hope that the jellyfish get tired of Ft. Lauderdale and move on soon . Steve "Your friendly Ft. Lauderdale Beach Lifeguard" Bean

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray. We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters. The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

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Ignore them.  For the most part you will continue to see things while your swimming.  But I guarantee that you have a lot more to worry about from things like Jet Skis, boats, and the occasional discarded fishing line.  I respect Marine life, but most of it will not harm you.  Jellyfish, well they just can’t help themselves.  I think that the most startled that I ever was during a swim was while in 10 ft of cloudy water I saw a large (4-5ft) shark, about two minutes later I swam into a Crab Pot buoy and rope.  I about crapped my pants. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters.  The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

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Where do you swim, and are there Lifeguards in the area?   I’ve swam in the ocean for years and the only things that really should keep you out are Man-o-war jellyfish and huge waves. Good Luck DanHerrema

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Bobbi, I too am a relative newbie triathlete, and was trying to get ready for open water swimming as well. During my training I accidently ran across two swims that really helped me get ready, so I thought I’d pass them along. First, I did a lake swim in a fresh water lake with significant boat and jetski activity to really churn up the water. Of course I did not want to get run over so I had a friend in a boat troll along right beside me, (he also helped with navigation); I also wore my brightest orange swim cap and stayed relatively close to shore. You may not feel comfortable doing this type of swim or have access to a busy lake so my second suggestion may work out better. I have a membership to a health club/wellness center that has a 8 lane lap pool, BUT they also teach aqua-aerobic classes in part of this pool and typically they only take up 3-4 lanes. So I swim in the lane closest to the class and they churn up the water for me! So I now plan my swim workouts to coincide with the aqua-aerobic classes. These suggestions don’t eliminate the critter problem during a race, but they may help you avoid swim training critter hazards. Anyhow, happy swimming and good luck….Patrick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters.  The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

Response:

I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters.  The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

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<snip seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray.  We

Please excuse me, but I just had a vision of your friend getting spooked by a bicycle with a banana seat.

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Keep your eyes shut, if you can’t see them, they can’t see you. It’s true Phil Squire Went for it in Roth 98. 11:29:42 http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/homepage.htm ICQ 11599162 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a newbie triathlete.  For the last 3 weeks in a row, my training swims have been severely cut short.  First there was hurricane Bonnie, which provided seas that required you to merely stay afloat, much less swim.  Then, and now, there are jellyfish everywhere, and today my friend saw a HUGE stingray. We both are new at ocean swimming, and want to get over this fear of the critters.  The ocean was like glass today, but the jellyfish, and stingray, prevented us from staying in the water.  Besides pool swimming, what are your suggestions? How do you deal with the critters?

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Question:

 The lights were out, everybody had gone, workers were tearing down the stage, and this man comes in. The clock was still ticking for him, but he was too late, no official finisher……It was quite a sad view, especially since this guy may have started some 90 minutes after the first ones, due to the wave start.

I watched this happen for a couple of people at IMH, but with a significant difference.  Several volunteers who were closing up shop walked the last few miles with each man and woman.  They came in with big satisfied smiles and there was even cheering from the crowds in the restaurant above what had been the finishing line.  I don’t think the lack of a medal meant much, but there should be some way they too could have the finisher’s shirt which they earned. Ruth Kazez

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I watched this happen for a couple of people at IMH, but with a significant difference.  Several volunteers who were closing up shop walked the last few miles with each man and woman.  They came in with big satisfied smiles and there was even cheering from the crowds in the restaurant above what had been the finishing line.  I don’t think the lack of a medal meant much, but there should be some way they too could have the finisher’s shirt which they earned. Ruth Kazez

This was exactly what I found disappointing. It was a very well organized race, but to have non-official finishers enter a completely dark stadium with only workers who are tearing the place down is an anti-climax. They have a car behind the last participant, so they should know that there are still people on the course. But the organization in Germany doesn’t like slow finishers, and is looking for ways to get rid of them. They are moving towards qualifying races for this purpose as well. I think this will change the sport in a negative way, but they are obviously of another opinion. Gerard Vroomen, Cervelo Cycles website: http://www.cervelo.com

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OK, OK stand back, make some room there, don’t push at the back, there’s enough for everyone. Form a queue. What’s that? No, you don’t have to stand 10 metres behind the person in front of you. Here it is, the long awaited race report from Roth. Well, my race anyway. In order to avoid posting a 30,000 line message, you can find the report here: http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/roth.htm Being the kind, sweet, thoughtful person that I am*, it’s zipped up in both Word 6 and text formats. Other formats are available upon request (*Source: Mrs Squire, mother to the poster) The Word version is 12KB (The 12 volume, leather bound, gold inlaid version is at the printers) Comments are welcome, although the "you suck" kind are best sent through my agent. Off topic? Well, not really, but if flames were "awarded" for waffle… — Phil Squire Went for it in Roth 98. 11:29:42 http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/homepage.htm ICQ 11599162

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Great stuff Phil! I really enjoyed your report- a tear even chanced to my eye! — Slainte, Richard. Arran Triathlon Club – *the going got tough* <snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In order to avoid posting a 30,000 line message, you can find the report here: http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/roth.htm

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thank you, phil, for a wonderful report.  very inspiring. anders IM virgin (soon to be IM, at the GFT in Oct.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, OK stand back, make some room there, don’t push at the back, there’s enough for everyone. Form a queue. What’s that? No, you don’t have to stand 10 metres behind the person in front of you. Here it is, the long awaited race report from Roth. Well, my race anyway. In order to avoid posting a 30,000 line message, you can find the report here: http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/roth.htm Being the kind, sweet, thoughtful person that I am*, it’s zipped up in both Word 6 and text formats. Other formats are available upon request (*Source: Mrs Squire, mother to the poster) The Word version is 12KB (The 12 volume, leather bound, gold inlaid version is at the printers) Comments are welcome, although the "you suck" kind are best sent through my agent. Off topic? Well, not really, but if flames were "awarded" for waffle… — Phil Squire Went for it in Roth 98. 11:29:42 http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/homepage.htm ICQ 11599162

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here it is, the long awaited race report from Roth. Well, my race anyway. In order to avoid posting a 30,000 line message, you can find the report here: http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/roth.htm Where??? There’s no link to be found on this page for a race report, Phil. You tease! Tri-Baby

OOOOPS! Never mind!  I still had a copy of this page in my cache; the new version came up when I did a reload.  My mistake, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Sorry, guys. <:-} Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, OK stand back, make some room there, don’t push at the back, there’s enough for everyone. Form a queue. What’s that? No, you don’t have to stand 10 metres behind the person in front of you. Here it is, the long awaited race report from Roth. Well, my race anyway. In order to avoid posting a 30,000 line message, you can find the report here: http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/NEW/roth.htm

Where??? There’s no link to be found on this page for a race report, Phil. You tease! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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Phil: Great report. I was one of the 20,000 standing on Solarer Berg, and I have to say it was as amazing standing there as it must have been riding up. You can’t help but rattling away for five hours with this 5 cent Quelle rattle, and loving every second of it. When the pro women went by the first time, Mel Spooner rode by an inch away from me and I yelled my encouragements as loud as I could. She later said she never heard me! As I figured she didn’t, I stood at a quieter spot the second time around, and held up a pre-fab "Deutsche Post Banner" on which everybody could write the name of his/her favorite. Together with the tens of thousands of rattles, these yellow signs of encouragements made this grey day a pretty bright one. And judging by the smile on Mel’s face, she did see me the second time around. It was also amazing to go back at 10.00pm to see the last athletes finish. As Mel says, these people suffer twice as long as she does, so they deserve the encouragement. It was the evening of the World Cup Soccer final, and there was a TV set so people could watch it. 3 people were in front of the TV. 3,000 were still in the stands, cheering on the finishers. Then at 10.30pm, the last finisher and the fire works. We walked around a bit longer and when we walked to the car, one man just walked/crawled into the stadium. The lights were out, everybody had gone, workers were tearing down the stage, and this man comes in. The clock was still ticking for him, but he was too late, no official finisher. It was quite a sad view, especially since this guy may have started some 90 minutes after the first ones, due to the wave start. Normally on a fast course like Ironman Germany that is not much of a problem, but that day, the race wasn’t that fast. While we were feeling sad for this man, he himself seemed just happy to have finished. and he will no doubt be back next year. As will I. Sincerely, Gerard Vroomen, Cervelo Cycles website: http://www.cervelo.com

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Question:

This is the only race that I have actually won outright 3 years ago. Wow.  Congratulations!  I hope you do as well your next time out.

This is the first year I didn’t do it. I couldn’t make it because I did the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim that same day. I hope to win there again although the race is now attracting some stiff competition these days. Point taken.  Is there some place to stash an old pair of sneakers for the run to T1, or is this going a little overboard?

Yes, They do allow footwear at the swim finish. Sandals in this area would do just fine. I’ve heard scary stories around the campfire about this hill.  I guess a few hill repeats in the park should help me out here, though 50mph down seems to be incredible!

Yep, the first time I did this race many years I was going so fast I had to miss the turn. With the speed I was going, by the time I stopped I was almost on the Palisades Parkway before I can turn my bike around and get back on that course! There will be ample warning in the form of signs and a person at  the turn guiding you the right way. Again, good luck in the race.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   ‘98 IMC, GCT, BSLT IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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Hi, I’m wondering if anyone here competed in the Harriman State Park/Powerbar Triathlon in June (on the 14th I believe).  There is another race in August, billed as the second in a series of 2.  The location is the same, and the distances are the same (.5m/16m/3m), so I’m assuming the course is the same.  Anyway, can anyone shed some light on the course.  I’m considering doing the one in August as my second race ever.  Any advice regarding the course is appreciated! Lance — | Lance Ball | Anima Sana in Corpore Sano

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Hi, I’m wondering if anyone here competed in the Harriman State Park/Powerbar Triathlon in June (on the 14th I believe).  There is another race in August, billed as the second in a series of 2.  The location is the same, and the distances are the same (.5m/16m/3m), so I’m assuming the course is the same.  Anyway, can anyone shed some light on the course.  I’m considering doing the one in August as my second race ever.  Any advice regarding the course is appreciated! Lance

This is the only race that I have actually won outright 3 years ago. It’s an excellent race; I plan to go back there next year. Oh, and the distances are accurate also. The swim is an easy out and back, and you can’t get lost. Since you are doing the second race, there is a slight problem concerning getting tangled in a little seaweed, but it is minor. Once you’re out of the beach you run up a hill to the transition area. Be careful of the gravelled road with bare feet. It can get nasty sometimes. The bike starts with an uphill climb out of the beach area. At around mile 4 or 5 you encounter a very steep 50MPH downhill. It’s very important to know where you have to brake and shift down, because when you get to the bottom there is a sharp turn (almost like a "u") where you must brake. If you do not shift to your smaller chainring before the turn, you will fall, because right at that moment, you begin a 3 mile climb which might feel like forever to do. Once up on the top, the rest of the course is slightly downhill and fast. The run is an out and back course, going slightly uphill going out, but slightly downhill going back. One concern…since this is the second race, the park is open. That means some traffic will be with you on the course. Be careful, especially at the traffic circles. Good luck in the race.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   ‘98 IMC, GCT, BSLT IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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This is the only race that I have actually won outright 3 years ago.

Wow.  Congratulations!  I hope you do as well your next time out. Once you’re out of the beach you run up a hill to the transition area. Be careful of the gravelled road with bare feet. It can get nasty sometimes.

Point taken.  Is there some place to stash an old pair of sneakers for the run to T1, or is this going a little overboard? The bike starts with an uphill climb out of the beach area. At around mile 4 or 5 you encounter a very steep 50MPH downhill. It’s very important to know where you have to brake and shift down, because when you get to the bottom there is a sharp turn (almost like a "u") where you must brake. If you do not shift to your smaller chainring before the turn, you will fall, because right at that moment, you begin a 3 mile climb which might feel like forever to do. Once up on the top, the rest of the course is slightly downhill and fast.

I’ve heard scary stories around the campfire about this hill.  I guess a few hill repeats in the park should help me out here, though 50mph down seems to be incredible! The run is an out and back course, going slightly uphill going out, but slightly downhill going back. One concern…since this is the second race, the park is open. That means some traffic will be with you on the course. Be careful, especially at the traffic circles.

Thanks for the advice. Lance — | Lance Ball | Anima Sana in Corpore Sano

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Lance     Harriman, was once billed as a "no frills" triathlon.  It’s a good race but interesting in many ways.  The swim is a A shape keeping the bouys on the right.  Its held in Lake Sebago along 7 lake drive in Harriman State park. Usually there are 2-3 waves and the water is usually warm, wetsuits are permitted.  The tranistion area is in a parking lot that is not paved, has some glass and is full holes.  The bike is 16 miles including some fairly steep hills and one very long ( an frighting) 50mph downhill.  The run is only 3 miles, out and back.  If you do this as your 2nd race I would criuse the swim, go hard on the second part of the bike and hard on the run.  Traditonally the August race is HOT..  New York Tri Club has put on this race twice ayear for at least 5 years  so it is well organized.                               Hope this helps                                       Kevin McKim                                       Franklin Lakes NJ

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Question:

I would like to compete in a sprint distance  Triathlon or duathlon late this summer!!  Could anyone please help me out with a training program / guidelines..

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you could try  http://w3.one.net/~triweb/essent.html  for some good intro advice. I would like to compete in a sprint distance  Triathlon or duathlon late this summer!!  Could anyone please help me out with a training program / guidelines..

– Graduate Research Assistant                             (423) 974-8966 IRIS Lab, Electrical Engineering Dept, UTK

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i cant go there my pc sux and i can only e-mail and visit here basicaly…..

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Question:

6 years after my first triathlon.  Hawaii 1994

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I did my first sprint triathlon in 1991, ran my first marathon in Dec 92, rode 50 miles on my bike for the first time in Jan 93 and 10 months later did IMH (93). That makes two years and a few months after my first triathlon. Sean

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,        Salvador Santolucito III

First sprint, Nov, 1995. Sprints in 1996 Olympic/Intl distances in 1997 Half and full IM this year …so 3 seasons?  I’m such a wuss rookie compared to all these grizzled RST vets. Yeeikes. Chaz

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,        Salvador Santolucito III

I would say that it really depends on what your short and long term performance goals are. Some people jump right up to the Ironman distance after a short time. Others wait a few years and get some experience at the shorter races. The problem with moving quickly up to the IM distance is that you get sucked in early on, into the vortex of the mileage grind, which is not a bad thing, but it can have a detrimental effect on how you perform later on, if that is a concern. Generally speaking, I would say wait 3 – 5 years before dong an IM and not until you are about 25 years old. Steve Fleck

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First tri – 1989 First Ironman – Ironman Canada, 1993 I know of one person who did his first race at Wildflower.  Followed (the same season) by his first Ironman at IMC (sub-10:00, BTW) and his second Ironman 6 weeks later in Hawaii.

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: I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… : after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your : first IRONMAN?? 10/1993:  First Marathon 10/1994:  Second Marathon 05/1995:  First Sprint Triathlon 09/1995:  First 1/2 FeMan Triathlon (DNF) 08/1996:  First Ironman (Canada) 08/1997:  Second Ironman (Canada) Sprint Tris:  1995 (2)  1996 (1)  1997 (1) OD Tris:  1996 (1) 1/2 FeMan:  1995 (1) That’s it….I did 5 triathlons going into my first ironman, and finished.  :)  Maybe it was all the training I did…. — Jason Mayfield     Arlington, VA "Do or do not, there is no ‘try’"  - Yoda     102 Days Until Ironman Canada ‘98

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I did my first sprint triathlon in 1991, ran my first marathon in Dec 92, rode 50 miles on my bike for the first time in Jan 93 and 10 months later did IMH (93). That makes two years and a few months after my first triathlon. Sean

….and this is the guy who did a 4:35 at Wildflower this year, copping an IMH slot in the process!  Wow!  You’ve come a long way, baby! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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I did my first Ironman last year at IMC (13:26:23). I started doing tris the year before in 1996 — always was the impatient type! Laura (IMC ‘97, ‘98)

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im doing my first ironman (IMC) this summer and this is the start of my third year in triathlon, and im 20. Steve, am i doomed??? scott

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        One sprint and one Olympic in 1996.         Ironman Canada in 1997.         Why? I just knew I could do it. Not arrogance, just the feeling of immortality that us 20 somethings are blessed with. David Barclay IMC 1997: 11:55:59 Triathlon: "Swim, Bike, Crawl"

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im doing my first ironman (IMC) this summer and this is the start of my third year in triathlon, and im 20. Steve, am i doomed??? scott

Scott, You are not doomed. It really depends on what your perfomance goals are in the sport of triathlon in the short term and in the long term. If you aspire to doing realy well in your age group or doing a "fast" time at an Ironman some day, I would suggest that you stick to the shorter races for a few years and really work on your skills, your speed and your power. Years 20 – 25 are the time to do that. Your power and speed are at their peak right now. Maximize your time. However, if you just want to finish an Ironman for the sake of it, and that is a very reasonable goal, then go fo it. Steve Fleck

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read about hawaii       1995 first run                       may 95  (only ever done about 2 months running before for a fun run                              oct 94) first attempt at freestyle      may 1995 ( could do breathstroke, but not even 25m of freestyle) first time on race bike july 95 ( rode a bike as a kid, but never a race bike) first sprint            1995 first olympic distance  1996 first ironman           august 1998

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 One sprint and one Olympic in 1996.         Ironman Canada in 1997.         Why? I just knew I could do it. Not arrogance, just the feeling of immortality that us 20 somethings are blessed with.

Ist tri: Baltimore ‘87 2nd tri: Hilton Head ‘87 5th tri: Ironman Hawaii ‘88 It was that feeling of mortality that told me I had better hurry and do it. Ruth Kazez

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,         Salvador Santolucito III

For me … first 10K fun run 1995 first length front crawl 1995 first bike ride over 10miles 1995 first Tri (Olympic Distance) 1995 first 50 on bike 1997 first run over 15 miles 1997 first half IM 1998 first IM 1998 (watch this space!) first marathon – IM UK 1998! It’s not about number of years in tri, it’s about getting through the training. 17 may be a bit young, but don’t wait around forever thinking "just another year of olympic distance races and next year I’ll be fit enough". Next year never comes. Besides, the training is _completely_ different anyway, so olympics don’t help that much. Here’s the thing: ** THE AVERAGE AGE GROUPER CAN DO IRONMAN ** but you need to train right … Winning IM is a different matter. best wishes for you triathlon career. adrian

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1st ever biking besides commuting to school – august 1993. 2 sprint tri’s followed in Sept/Oct ‘93 1st Marathon Jan. 1994. 1st 1/2IM GC May 1994. 1st IMH – Oct. 1994 From my experience, I wouldn’t say it was the best idea to go straight to Hawaii in my 1st full season, but I think that the fault was mine.  I was brand new to the sport, and I tried to compete in both the shorter distance races locally (International and sprint distances) and also train for the big one later that summer.  I ended up getting sick a lot, and just feeling about 10 years older than I was by the end of the summer. OTOH – if you have the opportunity, it’s always good to grab it.  Being fresh out of college, unattached, finally having a little $ from my new job, I really wanted to make the summer count.  Even though I didn’t finish Hawaii with my goal time (and still haven’t in 2 more attempts there), I did accomplish my very real ‘finishing goal’, and it really capped off an extremely good summer as far as new experiences, friends, competitions, and life goes. Vince – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,        Salvador Santolucito III

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Joe (Who, by note to SF, posted a "PW" last weekend at Bay to Breakers, but had a blast doing so)

Uh oh…what happened, Joe?  Did you get stuck in the crowd and take 20 minutes to cross the starting line?  Did Lame Man blind you with his golden aura reflecting the rays of the rising sun directly into your dazzled eyes?  Oh dear! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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Establish the "5-year plan" First IM: Vineman 1997 Hooyah, hooyah! Regards, Kathy I *tri* because…I have many skills!

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,         Salvador Santolucito III

first sprint triathlon: september 1996 first Ironman: Switzerland 1997 (second triathlon overall) no training before first triathlon. training for Ironman: two months with an average of five hours per week don’t try this yourself – it hurts  !!!    :-) Roth 98 confirmed — Marcus Faltysek

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Kathy, that’s too funny— the ‘92 Danskin San Jose was my first tri too! Establish the "5-year plan" First IM: Vineman 1997

…and First IM:  IMC 1997, one month after you. Hooyah, hooyah!

You seddit! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  One sprint and one Olympic in 1996.         Ironman Canada in 1997.         Why? I just knew I could do it. Not arrogance, just the feeling of immortality that us 20 somethings are blessed with. Ist tri: Baltimore ‘87 2nd tri: Hilton Head ‘87 5th tri: Ironman Hawaii ‘88 It was that feeling of mortality that told me I had better hurry and do it. Ruth Kazez

Geez, I feel like a sloth. I started running in 1985, 1st tri in 86, did a Half IM in 88, then backed off for a while. Family, job, injuries, etc. Then I got the feeling of creeping mortality (like Ruth) and I figure I’d better get it done now. IMC 98 – going for it. Mike "TriBop" Tennent http://www.gate.net/~wbrunner/ WebRunner Running My Model Railroad ‘98 Ironman Canada IronVirgins Site

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first sprint triathlon: september 1996 first Ironman: Switzerland 1997 (second triathlon overall) no training before first triathlon. training for Ironman: two months with an average of five hours per week don’t try this yourself – it hurts  !!!    :-)

I vote this for THE MOST EXTREME JUMP in Triathlon Award!! Eeeyowzah!  This must have been a big time case of either Blind Faith or Ignorance is Bliss!  Either way, Marcus, you got cojones!!  Whew! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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im doing my first ironman (IMC) this summer and this is the start of my third year in triathlon, and im 20. Steve, am i doomed??? scott

You’re doomed to be addicted to the sport. One thing about the iron distance. You respect it, and it will respect you. Keep the race to within your limits (go slow if you have to) and you will make it alive, with a big smile on your face.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   ‘98 IMC, GCT, BSLT IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,        Salvador Santolucito III

1990 – First Triathlon 1992 – First attempt at 1/2 Iron (DNF due to 102 degree temps) 1994 – First 1/2 Ironman finish 1994 – First attempt at full Ironman distance (DNF – spasms) 1996 – Completed Ironman (IMC) It’s been a bumpy road, but I finally made it.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   ‘98 IMC, GCT, BSLT IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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Let’s see…….I did my first Ironman in 1995.I did my first tri back in try a Ironman.Sue started racing tri’s in 1991 and she did her first Ironman last year,so she did one off of 7 seasons.             Randy+Sue

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I was just wondering how long it takes to become an IRONMAN.  That is… after how many seasons (years) of triathlons and training did you do your first IRONMAN?? Thanks,         Salvador Santolucito III

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Question:

Does anyone know of any mountain bike triathlons or duathlons in Kentucky or Georgia this summer? David J Scott   303-786-3426 http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/8015

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http://www.msm.edu/groups/tri-atlanta/ Are MTB tri’s necessarily "off road"?  The only version of this flavor of triathlon that I have seen in Georgia has been as a separate category of an "on road" triathlon, like Clydesdale.  Don’t kow if that interests you.  It is basically an off road bike race – - on the road!  : ) You might try contacting someone at the above web site. Robert

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Question:

Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon Organization: University of Texas Medical Branch/Shriners Burns Institute      Your plan is a reasonable one, Doug, although it is more accurate to think  in terms of CHO reserves and resupply, rather than calories. Accessible glycogen s tores (muscle + liver) in a rested, well-fed endurance athlete may be as much as 500- 600 g, or enough to fuel exercise for 2-3 hours. The point of ingesting CHO during exercise is to supplement these somewhat limited stores with enough CHO to get you to the finish line (there is no point in ingesting fat, since even the leanest athlete has plenty already "on-board"). Based on lab research, the optimal rate  of CHO supplementation is about 1 g/min, or 240 kcal/hr. Assuming you can complete  the planned 1/2 iron in 5 hours, you’ll need to ingest about 300 g (1200 kcal) of C HO. The remaining 3800 kcal will come from glycogen (2000-2400 kcal) and stored bod y fat (1400-1800 kcal). Ingesting more CHO than this generally doesn’t seem to aid performance in *most* athletes, and may limit fluid absorption.     Speaking of which, the 136 oz (4 L) fluid you plan on ingesting in 5 hours (i.e., 800 mL/hour) is in the recommended range (600-1200 mL/hour), but may be a little low if you are A) a large person, B) a heavy sweater, or C) if it is particularly hot and humid. It sounds like you have a pretty good sense of your  own body, but remember that thirst itself is a poor indicator of hydration status. You might try weighing yourself pre/post a simulated race or long workout to see if  800 ml/hour of fluid is enough.      There is no advantage to solid CHO (e.g., food bars), and there is the disadvantage that they supply little or no water. My preference is to just go w ith liquid CHO, since this greatly simplifies things. If you crave something solid,  go ahead, but don’t neglect rehydration.      Finally, an excessive insulin response is not a concern, because insulin secretion is markedly inhibited during intense exercise. In fact, one of the mechanisms by which CHO ingestion aids in endurance performance may be by stimulating insulin secretion. It is known, for example, that ingestion of fruc tose, which causes very little insulin response even at rest, does not improve exercise performance.      Good luck! Andrew R. Coggan, Ph.D. Exercise physiologist      

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To anybody out there willing, In preparing for a 1/2 iron  I calculated I would need ~5000 calaries   based on weight and pace. I also estimated from past ‘bonking’ expereince that I have about ~3000 cal on reserve. So thats a 2000 cal deficit; I was thinking:     Ultra-fuel (2 x 20oz) 1000 cal + H20             Cliff bars (5)        1250 cal                   Bananas (2.5)          250 cal + potassium       Gatoraid (6 x 16oz)    500 cal + H20 I heard that high carbo drinks like ultra-fuel was not a good idea to drink during a race because it delayed emptying of the stomace, is this true? How about 5 cliff bars (or any other bar), that sounds excesive? I ate about the same in my last 1/2 iron man but I was concerned about the insulin effect this time. Any suggestions or comments welcome. – Doug

Response:

     Your plan is a reasonable one, Doug, although it is more accurate to think in terms of CHO reserves and resupply, rather than calories. Accessible glycogen stores (muscle + liver) in a rested, well-fed endurance athlete may be as much as 500-600 g, or enough to fuel exercise for 2-3 hours. The point of ingesting CHO during exercise is to supplement these somewhat limited stores with enough CHO to get you to the finish line (there is no point in ingesting fat, since even the leanest athlete has plenty already "on-board"). Based on lab research, the optimal rate of CHO supplementation is about 1 g/min, or 240 kcal/hr. Assuming you can complete the planned 1/2 iron in 5 hours, you’ll need to ingest about 300 g (1200 kcal) of CHO. The remaining 3800 kcal will come from glycogen (2000-2400 kcal) and stored body fat (1400-1800 kcal). Ingesting more CHO than this generally doesn’t seem to aid performance in *most* athletes, and may limit fluid absorption.     Speaking of which, the 136 oz (4 L) fluid you plan on ingesting in 5 hours (i.e., 800 mL/hour) is in the recommended range (600-1200 mL/hour), but may be a little low if you are A) a large person, B) a heavy sweater, or C) if it is particularly hot and humid. It sounds like you have a pretty good sense of your own body, but remember that thirst itself is a poor indicator of hydration status. You might try weighing yourself pre/post a simulated race or long workout to see if 800 ml/hour of fluid is enough.      There is no advantage to solid CHO (e.g., food bars), and there is the disadvantage that they supply little or no water. My preference is to just go with liquid CHO, since this greatly simplifies things. If you crave something solid, go ahead, but don’t neglect rehydration.      Finally, an excessive insulin response is not a concern, because insulin secretion is markedly inhibited during intense exercise. In fact, one of the mechanisms by which CHO ingestion aids in endurance performance may be by stimulating insulin secretion. It is known, for example, that ingestion of fructose, which causes very little insulin response even at rest, does not improve exercise performance.      Good luck! Andrew R. Coggan, Ph.D. Exercise physiologist      

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