Question:

Here is a special offer on the wetsuit I am talking about. BUY A T1 AND RACE WILDFLOWER FOR FREE NEXT YEAR! T1 Wetsuits by De Soto and Tri California are giving you the chance to race Wildflower 2003 for free. HERE IS HOW! Buy a T1 Wetsuit between February 1, 2002 and May 4, 2002 and you may be one of six people to win a free entry into Wildflower 2003, along with a free camp site and VIP access.  You many also be one of twenty people to win a free pair of De Soto Sport Tri Shorts.  You can improve your chances to win by buying sooner than later. 1.  Buy a T1 between February 1, 2002 and March 3, 2002 and your name will be entered 3 times into the drawing -Triple your odds of winning! 2.  Buy a T1 between March 4, 2002 and April 3, 2002 and your name will be entered 2 times into the drawing – Double your odds of winning! 3.  Buy a T1 between April 4, 2002 and May 4, 2002 and your name will entered into the drawing. Details: -To qualify you must buy any of the following wetsuits combinations. 1.  T1 Pullover and T1 Bibjohn 2.  The New T1-Dos Pullover and T1-Dos Bibjohn 3.  The New T1-Dos Vest and T1-Dos Bibjohn. -You may buy the T1 Wetsuit from www.desotosport.com, www.tricalifornia.com, from any of our authorized dealers, or by calling De Soto Sport at 800 453 6673. -When ordering from one of the websites, be sure you type "T1- WILDFLOWER OFFER" into the SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS line in the order section of www.desotosport.com. -If you buy from De Soto Sport by telephone, be sure to mention the  "T1- WILDFLOWER OFFER." -If you buy from one of our authorized dealers, simply mail us a copy of your receipt, along with the following.  Your name, address, telephone number, email address, and the name and city of the store where you bought it. -If you buy a T1 Wetsuit from one of our dealers in the days leading up to the race, bring your receipt to the T1 Wetsuits Booth at the race expos before 1:00 P.M. Saturday May 4, 2002. -The the drawing will be held, and the winners will be announced, at the Professional Athlete award ceremony on Saturday May 4, 2002. – You do not need to compete at Wildflower and you do not need to be present to win. -Valid for the purchase of T1 Wetsuits between February 1, 2002 and May 4, 2002. Emilio De Soto II www.desotosport.com     "The triathlon clothing company" www.t1wetsuits.com       "Triathlon’s most innovative wetsuit" www.tribuy.com               "Triathlon’s internet auction site " Email me for a De Soto Sport free catalog

Response:

Hello, Emilio De Soto here.  I first want to thank everyone that mentioned the T1 in their replies. I am happy to talk to you about my wetsuit anytime you like.  Please call me at 800 453 6673 during the week.  If you prefer to speak at night, send me your number and I will call you. The bottom line is this:  You can test the T1 for yourself.  IF you do not believe it is the best, you can return it to me for a 100% refund. Emilio De Soto II www.desotosport.com     "The triathlon clothing company" www.t1wetsuits.com       "Triathlon’s most innovative wetsuit" www.tribuy.com               "Triathlon’s internet auction site " Email me for a De Soto Sport free catalog

Response:

I am looking to buy a wet suit for the up coming season and don’t know which to buy.  Anyone using a wet suit they would recommed and why. Also I am 6′5" and 214 lbs.  are there any suits better for tall lanky guys.  Thanks

NOTE: Post is long, but includes a lot of details/my experiences regarding wetsuits For you, I believe your biggest issues will be fit.  The T1 may be your best bet if you have a very long body.  However, it to also may have limitations compared to other wetsuits…so, it comes down to what wetsuit limitations your willing to live with depending on your fitting issues and the type of triathlons you will be entering. (Specal note: Since I wrote the post below, I tried on the T1 – but, no swimming experience.  I can say that the fit is very confortable.) Part I FWIW, here is what I posted regarding this issue some time ago: I think wetsuits fall into two general categories: Traditional & New Generation Traditional wetsuits are of two basic styles: Full length-sleeveless and full length-with arms (as for a third style, sleeveless and short-legged, one word – virtually useless except for a super sprint – maybe).  The key advantages for the Sleeveless is that is gives a freedom of arm movement that mimics pool swimming and is faster to remove.  The key advantage of the full-length wetsuit is added bouncy (i.e., added speed with less effort). I have used both styles – full and sleeveless (for over 15yrs.)  I like the swim-feel of the sleeveless wetsuit.  I also like the ease of removal.  Therefore, I like the sleeveless for sprint distances. However, for I.D. distances or longer…I tolerate the Full w/ sleeves.  In comparison, I have decided there is no one wetsuit in the Traditional Category that is "perfect" for all triathlons. New Generation wetsuits are of two radical styles: 1) The super sprint distance (incl. F-1 sprints) to I.D. distance wetsuit of choice is the Piel Wetsuit.  This thing is off before you can exit the water! I have found it takes less than 6 seconds to remove while on the run – Unbelievable. As for its limitations – the zipper design make the legs seem a bit stiff and leaks a bit more than most. And like all wetsuits with arms, it does not have the best swim-feel. It shortens your stroke and adds stress to your shoulders (also, a by-product of the added zipper’s inelasticity). 2) The I.D. distance to I. M. the T1 wetsuit by DeSoto (note: both are acceptable for I.D. distance) is most likely the most comfortable. You might have noticed I said, "most likely" since I haven’t used this wetsuit.  However, It may become my next season’s wetsuit of choice for triathlons where comfort takes priority over T1 transition times – such as, 1/2 I. M. to I.M (I.D.-maybe).  From what I have heard, its key advantages are its confortable swim-feel and buoyancy. Forget speed or ease of removing when comparing it to the Piel (** see below – for removal comments regarding T1).  If the wetsuit had came out earlier in the season, I would have tried it out. Instead, I opted to experience the Piel wetsuit. If you’re looking for a perfect wetsuit for all triathlons…well, that’s a tough one.  I can’t give any one suit in any category an overwhelming multi-use advantage.  However, If you twist my arm – the new generation wetsuit types could best fit the bill for all. However, you would need to learn how to adapt your swimming technique and/or T1 transition methodology when using the Piel or the T1 by DeSoto*. As for wear and quality, I’ve had wetsuits last for 10+yrs. and have had them tear on on the first fit. The ultimate life of wetsuit is determined by how well it’s protected in the transition area. Well, that’s my take on wetsuit choices…FWIW.  Joe "geez, I love to buy these tri-toys" Moya *Disclaimer:  Don’t have any reason to advocate one product over another – Just the facts as I see them. Part II ** – Notes on T1 removal: Let me start out by saying the products I have used by DeSoto are – VERY good! For myself, I have some reservations about the T1 wet suits. The problems seem to fall in two categories – Removal and Vision (I’ll explain the "VISION" problem later in this post). With regard to removal, I have come to the conclusion that Wetsuits are in two distinct categories – Fast/Easy or Slow/Difficult. The fast and easy category seems to have zippers. And, the wetsuit with more, longer or sophisticated zippers are the easiest to remove. Unfortunately, (unless they are sleeveless and/or have calve length legs)they tend to be restrictive (i.e., high necks, ankle length) and pretty much uncomfortable for longer swims. Not to mention, they force you change your stroke length (as has been noted by DeSoto’s). Many of these issues seem to be tackled by the DeSoto T1. Unfortunately, the ease of removal can be considered a relative concept. To borrow a quote from a testimonial,- "Found when I just grabbed the hem of the top crossarmed I bunched the fabric in the back & couldn’t pull past the lump. Worked better when I first folded up 4in or so of the hem, to reduce bunching. Then I found something that worked better for me: pulled some of the L hem over my L elbow & used the strength of my deltoid to get the removal started; came off easier. You might want to have some others experiment with these or alternative ways to get past the strength problem some old athletes (I’m 65) & some women might experience." O.K., I’ve been a triathlete (17+ yr.) and use to many a discomfort, but to use the deltoid muscle to get the top off? The last thing I find easy to do is use your neck muscles, arms and deltoids to remove a top. After a long open water swim, I find the neck and shoulder muscles to be the MOST fatigued. So, from that perspective, a zipper could certainly be handy. In that sense, a zippered, sleeveless and calve length wet suit would make more sense for a sprint. It would have the best of "most" attributes needed for such a SHORT swim- 1) ease of removal (both from the leg and upper body standpoint) & 2) allows you to suffer the least from restrictive (ie.,neck rashes, tight chest/hindered breathing). And, the trade off seems to be loss of some bouyancy. On other hand, A T1 for a half-Ironman (and maybe a really tough I.D.) or longer may pay off from a comfort, stroke efficiency and buoyancy standpoint. In essence, transitions become less relevant. If I follow through on this logic, I need to own 2 wetsuits; one for sprints (maybe I.D. also) & one for half-IM’s or longer (i.e.,"Piel" and/vs. "T1"). Where does the T1 lie? Now comes the biggest downfall (for me) regarding a T1 (and the reason why I have held back buying one), I need corrected vision…I wear glasses. I have been down the "contact" road and it didn’t work. So, Now I have the perfect combo. I wear prescription goggles and sunglasses. Common sense tells me that you need to remove the goggles first. If I do that as I exit the water, HOW CAN I FIND MY BIKE? This is what I called earlier the Vision Problems. Nuf’ said,   FYI – Joe Moya

Response:

I would check out http://www.desotosport.com/ and look at their T1 wetsuits. A bit of a different design but all designed for Tri. I must admit I haven’t actually tried one myself; my old O

Question:

Sorry to hear that your race didn’t go as well as it could have, David. damn those feet and legs that get weird things going on, just to muss up our training and racing, huh? i guess races like this are more an exercise in mental toughness….. just as long as running with the pain won’t harm anything further. i’m not sure what Morton’s Neuroma is…. like Morton’s Toe (which i have), or something like that? glad you had a good time despite the foot. Cam — – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. I felt okay for the warmup (4km at 4:40/km or so, with strides), and started the race with an attitude that I would take it easy for the first couple km’s, moreso because of a recent cold virus that affected my training a great deal, than the neuroma; which is usually something I can deal with, pain-wise. My goal was about 3:33 – 3:34/km range (5:45/mile); and I ran the first few as easy as I dared – a 3:38 and a 3:39. I felt really relaxed at this point even though is was really windy, and picked it up for the next 3km, reaching the 5k marker in 17:58. I recall that my foot had already started to throb at this point. Over the course of the last 3k I tried running little baby steps at a higher cadence to compensate, but it was futile. I was clenching my teeth pretty hard!! I slowed down a lot, and felt pretty bad about it. I think I finished with a 29:30-ish time… I don’t know, because for the first time in a race I did not care! My foot hurt too much at that point. The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~ — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "…and you’re racing again like there’s no tomorrow, only an end."                                                       Emm Gryner http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

Response:

hi david sorry to hear about that. i think i do remember you mentioning a long time ago about some pain in your foot while doing dishes. i’m sure you know what to do best. good luck. nevertheless, great time for the race. jobs – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Mike, how bad is your ITBS? you know how i was fighting something along those lines for a while….

It is varying in its intensity…I’ve been battling it for about six months now, and due to an increased workload at my new job, I’ve been slacking on my therapy–massage, rolling the quads, the right stretches, etc.—but it is manageable for now.  I’m not in a real competitive mode at the moment, so I’m not stressing too much about it….yet… Thanks also for the info about what you did to beat your ITBS.  I know I need to spend some time in the weight room on my legs, and the stretches you described are a bit different than what I have been doing, so I will try them. Again, thanks! Mike C

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike, how bad is your ITBS? you know how i was fighting something along those lines for a while…. It is varying in its intensity…I’ve been battling it for about six months now, and due to an increased workload at my new job, I’ve been slacking on my therapy–massage, rolling the quads, the right stretches, etc.—but it is manageable for now.  I’m not in a real competitive mode at the moment, so I’m not stressing too much about it….yet… Thanks also for the info about what you did to beat your ITBS.  I know I need to spend some time in the weight room on my legs, and the stretches you described are a bit different than what I have been doing, so I will try them. Again, thanks! Mike C

Hey, always willing to share something that I have found that works. I’ve gotten some of these ideas from a sports physiotherapist and from my brother, who has been running for probably over 20 years. At certain times, I was advised not to stretch a muscle but to strengthen it. But it sounds like you’ve been at this far longer than I have (right?) so I won’t pretend to know a whole lot more  :) Best of luck with everything, Cam

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But it sounds like you’ve been at this far longer than I have (right?) so I won’t pretend to know a whole lot more  :)

Trust me, we can all learn from *anyone*…if I was so damn smart I would not have injured myself, so there you have it… Again, thanks for the info… Mike C

Response:

David, What was the shirt like. Being of Scottish descent I’d love to have Robbie Burns plastered on a t-shirt. Heal fast, Andy

Response:

David, What was the shirt like. Being of Scottish descent I’d love to have Robbie Burns plastered on a t-shirt. Heal fast, Andy

Thanks Andy – the shirt was excellent – one of my favorites. It’s a grey long-sleeved shirt (almost sweater- like it’s so thick), with a small insignia off to the side on the front, and the logos of the sponsors on one sleeve. Last year’s shirt was hideous. Neither one featured his likeness; they both have a variation of the same cartoon-ish drawing of the running legs of a guy wearing a kilt, underneath the race title. — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible."                                    Shakespeare, Julius Caesar http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

Response:

I can empathize with what you are going through, David, and it does suck…mine is dealing with ITBS…

Mike, how bad is your ITBS? you know how i was fighting something along those lines for a while…. really bothered my knee a lot and couldn’t run at all for several weeks. i treated it aggressively with everything that i could come up with (advice from everywhere), and finally hit upon the magic formula which has got me running again. i did/do two different ITB stretches…. 1. the standing legs crossed one (know it?), and another 2. where you lie on your left side with your left arm to support you a bit. then with hips forward, bend the legs at the knee with the left foot resting on the top (outer) side of the right knee. then use your right hand to lift the right foot up… and you’ll fee stretching of the right ITB. it’s best to do this with both legs even if you only suffer in one leg. also been doing low level quad strengthening with sitting and lying leg raises. and squats with a soccer ball between my knees – this strengthens "something" on the inside of the knee…. all of this is helping to balance out the muscles, etc around the knee to relieve the pressure of that pesky ITB on it. oh, and lots of rest from running really paid off too (that’s the tough part). if you haven’t tried any of this, give it a go. i guess this is MY folklore, and it’s working. best of luck! Cam

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about –

David, Nice time for an 8k and I’m sorry to hear that still bothers you. Roger

Response:

  Sorry to hear about your injury David.   Good luck getting over it.  I was out last year for a couple of months with injuries but managed to come back stronger afterwards.   Anthony.   Jerusalem, Israel.

Response:

Hi David, I’m sorry to hear about your foot, and I hope it can be remedied without having to resort to surgery. Thanks for the report on the 8k.  I thought about running it, but basically I chickened out about the distance.  It’s only been the last 2 weekends that I’ve started to build a long run, my previous long being 6k.  (Jingle Bell 5k on Dec 2 was the first time I’d run 5k without walking)  However, I ran 7k last weekend and 8.6k on Saturday.  Both slow (6:15 / km), but without too much effort.  I shouldn’t have been such a wimp and signed up for the Robbie Burns  :) I know it’s impolite to ask about medical problems – but please let us know how things work out.  I’m sure lots of people here have never met you, but do feel like they know you a bit, because of your posts and reports. Peter Skov Oakville, ON

Response:

Hi, David, Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for.

[race report snipped but sympathetically appreciated] Mankind, I can’t even imagine how much it must have hurt to finish that race – and in such a good time frame. I really do hope that they can find something to ease it. The testosterone just won’t let me let it go and not ask if you’ve changed your gait. The reason I wonder is that when I mentioned that I’d changed to fore foot landing, a podiatrist friend of mine warned me not to go too far foreward. He suggested that I watch for tingling in my toes and to back off to midfoot if I did. I hope things work out for you and that you’ll let us know how it’s going. Layne rec.running report archives – http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. … The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~

Sorry about the MN…let’s hope you’ll be saved fron the knife though. Racing through an injury…you’re as tough as they come. Good luck with your right foot. Jarno PS. Now look what happened because you didn’t share your foot-problem with us ) — The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep.  - Robert Frost

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs.

I can empathize with what you are going through, David, and it does suck…mine is dealing with ITBS… It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for.

Well, you probably already know this but hopefully surgery is a last resort…do everything you can to avoid the knife, unless that is the only thing that will solve the problem. In any event, well done on sticking out the race even with the pain…and let us know how things go… Mike C

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make PS. Now look what happened because you didn’t share your foot-problem with us )

Jarno, I understand you are trying to joke about it, but everybody has a right to keep secrets and besides, did you notice the e-mail name David uses above? Cute huh? would love that one. Roger

Response:

Good race report David but it sounds like the bigger news is the injury. Take care of it, let’s hope there is not need for the knife and I wish you a speedy return to running with the verve you had prior to the recent setbacks. Regards, Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. I felt okay for the warmup (4km at 4:40/km or so, with strides), and started the race with an attitude that I would take it easy for the first couple km’s, moreso because of a recent cold virus that affected my training a great deal, than the neuroma; which is usually something I can deal with, pain-wise. My goal was about 3:33 – 3:34/km range (5:45/mile); and I ran the first few as easy as I dared – a 3:38 and a 3:39. I felt really relaxed at this point even though is was really windy, and picked it up for the next 3km, reaching the 5k marker in 17:58. I recall that my foot had already started to throb at this point. Over the course of the last 3k I tried running little baby steps at a higher cadence to compensate, but it was futile. I was clenching my teeth pretty hard!! I slowed down a lot, and felt pretty bad about it. I think I finished with a 29:30-ish time… I don’t know, because for the first time in a race I did not care! My foot hurt too much at that point. The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~ — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "…and you’re racing again like there’s no tomorrow, only an end."                                                       Emm Gryner http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

Response:

Hi Dave, Wondered where you’d got to? Thought you might of left for rec.triathlon or something like that Bad luck with the MN, hope that works out for you. Still a great time for 8k in my books.   Best of luck, Phil

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot.

Ow! Good luck with that. I hope you’re back on the fast track as soon as possible. — Brian P. Baresch Lawrence, Kansas, USA Professional editing and proofreading If you’re going through hell, keep going. –Winston Churchill

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have a confession to make PS. Now look what happened because you didn’t share your foot-problem with us ) Jarno, I understand you are trying to joke about it, but everybody has a right to keep secrets and besides, did you notice the e-mail name David uses above? Cute huh?

I was partly joking about it, but partly being serious since for the public good I would like to see David & co. share misfortunes too, not just the PR’s and exponential miles. Perhaps that didn’t come out right. I mean that since I’ve already (really) learned so much about training and racing from for example David and his race reports I think I would also learn a great deal from his encounters with injuries if he chooses to share those – which of course is his call. Perhaps my being injured at the moment has something to do with this wish. would love that one.

Darn…my Newswatcher filter is not working again…I’m sure I added ‘van’ in it ) I’m just jeaulous – or however you spell it. Jarno (Being up so late [2:28 am] as I did a small Finnish-English translation of a Bobcat PR-article. I’m sure you would love one, it is the end product of mixing together a HRM and a Chevy Van ) — The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep.  - Robert Frost

Response:

Dave, I don’t know what a Morton’s Neuroma is but it sounds nasty – I hope you can fix it one way or the other. Congratulations on a brave race though. Charlie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. I felt okay for the warmup (4km at 4:40/km or so, with strides), and started the race with an attitude that I would take it easy for the first couple km’s, moreso because of a recent cold virus that affected my training a great deal, than the neuroma; which is usually something I can deal with, pain-wise. My goal was about 3:33 – 3:34/km range (5:45/mile); and I ran the first few as easy as I dared – a 3:38 and a 3:39. I felt really relaxed at this point even though is was really windy, and picked it up for the next 3km, reaching the 5k marker in 17:58. I recall that my foot had already started to throb at this point. Over the course of the last 3k I tried running little baby steps at a higher cadence to compensate, but it was futile. I was clenching my teeth pretty hard!! I slowed down a lot, and felt pretty bad about it. I think I finished with a 29:30-ish time… I don’t know, because for the first time in a race I did not care! My foot hurt too much at that point. The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~ — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "…and you’re racing again like there’s no tomorrow, only an end."                                                       Emm Gryner http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

Response:

Morton’s Neuroma

http://www.affc.com/neuroma.html — Lorne Sundby

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The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~

Thanks for the report, David, and congrats on running a strong race with all these negative factors! A cold, and foul weather, and that evil sounding neuroma (whatever that is)!? I would have SO snuggled back into the pillows instead of taking the chance. Wow. nina

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer.

Did this coincide with experiments in running style by any chance (eg trying to work away from heel strike)?

Response:

Hey David: I hope with or without surgery you can work thru this. Even with that, an excellant effort though. Nice race. Doug Burke – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. I felt okay for the warmup (4km at 4:40/km or so, with strides), and started the race with an attitude that I would take it easy for the first couple km’s, moreso because of a recent cold virus that affected my training a great deal, than the neuroma; which is usually something I can deal with, pain-wise. My goal was about 3:33 – 3:34/km range (5:45/mile); and I ran the first few as easy as I dared – a 3:38 and a 3:39. I felt really relaxed at this point even though is was really windy, and picked it up for the next 3km, reaching the 5k marker in 17:58. I recall that my foot had already started to throb at this point. Over the course of the last 3k I tried running little baby steps at a higher cadence to compensate, but it was futile. I was clenching my teeth pretty hard!! I slowed down a lot, and felt pretty bad about it. I think I finished with a 29:30-ish time… I don’t know, because for the first time in a race I did not care! My foot hurt too much at that point. The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~ — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "…and you’re racing again like there’s no tomorrow, only an end."                                                       Emm Gryner http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

Response:

Well, I have a confession to make – I have a Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot. I’ve had it for about 5 months, I guess… maybe longer. I’ve always thought it would go away, but it really has hurt a lot after recent runs. It’s something I rarely talk about – maybe in a subconscious effort to ‘will’ it away. Today in the race, it blew up altogether. I am now thinking surgery is called for. I felt okay for the warmup (4km at 4:40/km or so, with strides), and started the race with an attitude that I would take it easy for the first couple km’s, moreso because of a recent cold virus that affected my training a great deal, than the neuroma; which is usually something I can deal with, pain-wise. My goal was about 3:33 – 3:34/km range (5:45/mile); and I ran the first few as easy as I dared – a 3:38 and a 3:39. I felt really relaxed at this point even though is was really windy, and picked it up for the next 3km, reaching the 5k marker in 17:58. I recall that my foot had already started to throb at this point. Over the course of the last 3k I tried running little baby steps at a higher cadence to compensate, but it was futile. I was clenching my teeth pretty hard!! I slowed down a lot, and felt pretty bad about it. I think I finished with a 29:30-ish time… I don’t know, because for the first time in a race I did not care! My foot hurt too much at that point. The race itself was excellent, however. A great time every year, although the weather is generally foul! Thanks for reading~ — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "…and you’re racing again like there’s no tomorrow, only an end."                                                       Emm Gryner http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html –

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Question:

Orthotics can be made by a variety of places. I got mine from the sports med shop where are the people who work there are Kinesiologists. Very hapy. My running partner got hers from a Chiropractor who happens to be a runner and triathlete. I saw a podiatrist and was none too impressed- they wanted doublr the price and the guiy saw me for 3 minutes. Didn’t explain what was wrong- which is important to me. Some advice that the Kinesiologist had for me was to try some over the counter ones such as birkenstock or superfeet and see if the help. They help alot of people. I wear otc ones in my regular shoes and the custom ones in my  runners- my feet need more support when I am running it seems. I agree with the other poster- get recommendations from other runners as to where they got theirs. I have had great luck with the sports med people, but rotten luck elsewhere. I am sure the podiatrist is not a runner and I tnd to feel that runners or athletes understand sports related problems better than anyone. My feet are very happy now! My orthotics came in a week and they are to last about 2 years- they were $300 but insurance will cover that. If you have no insurance, a 24.99 pair of birkenstocks may be a good investment to start! Jenn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m thinking of getting orthotics for my wide, flat feet. My insurance covers the cost of them, which is nice.  I’m wondering what difference there is between going to a podiatrist to get them or an orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone have any insight on this? Also, how long do orthotics last, and how long will it take to get them? And, does anyone know any podiatrists/orthopedic surgeons in the Northern New Jersey who are runners or specialize in treating runners? Thanks for the help, Mike

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Find someone else who had orthotics made and is happy with them.  While they are molded to your feet, there is an art and science to how to shape the various posts and inserts. Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m thinking of getting orthotics for my wide, flat feet. My insurance covers the cost of them, which is nice.  I’m wondering what difference there is between going to a podiatrist to get them or an orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone have any insight on this? Also, how long do orthotics last, and how long will it take to get them? And, does anyone know any podiatrists/orthopedic surgeons in the Northern New Jersey who are runners or specialize in treating runners? Thanks for the help, Mike

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Hi, I’m thinking of getting orthotics for my wide, flat feet.   My insurance covers the cost of them, which is nice.  I’m wondering what difference there is between going to a podiatrist to get them or an orthopedic surgeon.   Does anyone have any insight on this? Also, how long do orthotics last, and how long will it take to get them?   And, does anyone know any podiatrists/orthopedic surgeons in the Northern New Jersey who are runners or specialize in treating runners? Thanks for the help, Mike

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Question:

I use the Nike approach; JUST DO IT cuts through all the mental blah blah blah about why you ‘need’ to do something other than train in the time you’ve set aside for training.

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Mark Zytkovicz  says… Hi, I’ve been training for a little bit now and am frustrated because the first (non-pool swim) tri in the area isn’t until June!  That’s over four months away.  I can’t wait that long.  So I started looking for some racing to supplement my training.  The local TT series doesn’t start until April.  I don’t know what I’m going to do until then.

Whats wrong with a pool-swim race?  Our club runs a triathlon once a month with a 500 swim in a pool and its one of the roughest, hardest swimms I ever do. (We shift about 3 or 4 laneropes and swim a triangle course around half the width of the pool).  Waves consist of between 15-25 people. Its certainly got me used to rough swim starts and turning bouy chaos. Does anyone else NEED racing as part of their training?  How do you get through the pre-season of no racing?

Is it really the race you need or something that associated with the race that you don’t get anywhere else.  For me the social side of the race is just as important as the race itself.  It give me a chance to catch up with friends and just socialise both before and after the race itself. Frustrated, -MarkZ

AJ — If swimming is so good for the figure, explain whales Simon Haigh Illawarra Triathlon Club – Australia http://get.to/itc    

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Find a partner or a club to train with.  Working out with others can get the juices flowing a bit, I find. –Lee Crumbaugh (Tri-Hard)

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Hi, I live in Massachusetts, raced bicycles for many years in college, did two triathlons two years ago and nothing last year because of work/house stuff. I’ve been training for a little bit now and am frustrated because the first (non-pool swim) tri in the area isn’t until June!  That’s over four months away.  I can’t wait that long.  So I started looking for some racing to supplement my training.  The local TT series doesn’t start until April.  I don’t know what I’m going to do until then. You see, when I was in school, I was a big time slacker.  My first few training sessions of the year were often the first few races of the season.  So, by the end of the season, I was in pretty good shape.  I’m obviously trying to avoid that this year, since I have tons of free time and I want to do well.  I just find it hard when my first race won’t be for another 4 months.  I don’t know if I can just keep on training and never race.  The snow’s not helping any right now (though it is fun to play in….) Does anyone else NEED racing as part of their training?  How do you get through the pre-season of no racing? Frustrated, -MarkZ

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Mark, Here in Florida we can almost race year round but at the very least March until October. You can check out our local tri-club web site for information and possibly consider joining. http://www.cyberscapes.com/maddog/ Drop us a line if you want to come down to race / train / visit. Cheers, Wendy in St. Pete Beach

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Question:

Jean-Paul, I may be able to back up your thesis in reverse. For over 15 years I trained moderatly to hard on a regaular basis year round. For a 10 year stretch an Ironman race a year was my usual season long goal. Training weeks varied from 5 hours to 20 hours throughout the year. I would get sick from time to time. Usually in the winter during the typical cold & flu season. Normally just a head cold that would run it’s course in 5 – 7 days. During the hardest training of the year(Late spring – early summer) I don’t recall ever being sick. Then along came 1999. I year of downshifting for me on a number of fronts. Traning and racing was to be tuned down. No goals. Just take each week as it comes with a main goal of maintaining fitness and strength. What a year. In a year that saw me train probably the least I have ever trained in over 15 years, I have never been sicker. I was sick with a head cold at least 6 – 7 times last year and recently just came out of a three week bout of pneumonia. In a word it has been, brutal Now all I need to do is convince my employer, my wife, my son and perhaps even my self that training hard all the time is indeed good for my health!! Given the above evidence, maybe that is indeed the case. Steve Fleck   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nearly three years ago, I was an average joe (overweight couch potato). I decided to do something about it. I started jogging a half mile with my goal being to be able to lose weight and participate in a 10k race. Well I succeded with those goals and eventually soon found triathlon. Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

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No doubt about it. Most of us stay much healthier with an extremely active lifestyle. My theory is that no bugs can live in our bodies since we elevate our temperatures to fever pitch for 20 hours per week. We fry the bastards! Death to all germs and viruses! bobby – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nearly three years ago, I was an average joe (overweight couch potato). I decided to do something about it. I started jogging a half mile with my goal being to be able to lose weight and participate in a 10k race. Well I succeded with those goals and eventually soon found triathlon. Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

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thanks much – I’m not a Medline junkie, but remember the tidbit as a soundbite at some time or another. As usual, the reporter missed the details, and in so doing missed the whole point. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? My guess is that you’re a fluke. To my knowledge, studies have shown that regular exercise slightly depresses the immune system, so one becomes slightly more susceptible to minor ailments like the common cold. The other health benefits far outweigh this tiny factoid, though. DISCLAIMER: This info is years old and may have since been contradicted; heck, if the scientists have been doing their jobs then it’s been contradicted and proven correct 3x over by now . . . I don’t think that it is so much that the data have been contradicted, but more that you are mis-remembering the details. Acute exercise (i.e., a single bout), especially if very prolonged and/or strenuous, does result in a temporary (less than a day) reduction in your immune response. However, chronic exercise, i.e., regularly performed training, at least up to some level, actually increases immune function. A PubMed search on "David C. Neiman" will turn up numerous articles, including some good reviews… — Andrew Coggan Before you buy.

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The downside of such good health is that it makes me very casual about medical care, which is to say that I simply don’t bother with any kind of tests or check-ups.  I feel more endangered by my driving (a teeny bit too fast) than any germs. Is it too late to make a couple resolutions?

How ’bout this one; ‘If it ain’t broke . . . ‘

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nearly three years ago, I was an average joe (overweight couch potato). I decided to do something about it. I started jogging a half mile with my goal being to be able to lose weight and participate in a 10k race. Well I succeded with those goals and eventually soon found triathlon. Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

Sounds like my experience as well.  Until this flu season, I hadn’t had a cold for almost three years (about the time I got into serious training). However, this Y2K flu bug really knocked me for a loop for almost two weeks.  Maybe we’re just two flukes! Marty

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Well, I can only speak for myself, but I know that normally — I very rarely (if ever) get sick during the year. However… after every IM I’ve done, I’ve gotten sick as a dog and been laid up for weeks. Last time was IMC — I figure I picked it up on the return flight (back to Oz). My guess was that IM beats my body & immune system to a pulp, and at that point I’m basically a walking target for a virus — however, that conclusion is based on an experiment using a sample of one… — MB.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nearly three years ago, I was an average joe (overweight couch potato). I decided to do something about it. I started jogging a half mile with my goal being to be able to lose weight and participate in a 10k race. Well I succeded with those goals and eventually soon found triathlon. Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

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. I’ve been going around swatting flies with hammers lately for some reason . . .

I’ve created a monster!

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But I do have an occasional allergy, just to give me a human touch. Right now I’m allergic to something in my fish tanks, but it’s nothing like a cold. Ruth Kazez

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so you see nothing wrong with spreading the thing around in your work environment, which happens to be a place where people may be less able to fend off such minor illnesses?

Hey Ron, do you stay at home quarantined when you have a cold? Should I perhaps call in sick for something as simple as a cold? We are chronically shortstaffed in the ER and if we all said we couldn’t come in for the sake of a cold, we would have some real problems taking care of anyone at all. Would sure like to have that luxury, and maybe society would too, to have the medical staff stay home whenever they are sick in the slighttest way. I do my best not to spread anything around. And who I was referring to earlier are the 22 year olds who have had congestion since last night and then come in the ER like we have some magic thing for them. Nope, sorry, rest and fluids, just like I try to do. No magic there. Ken

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… (speaking of which, where has our resident tuba player been lately?)  … He was last spotted floating over the DC metro area on cloud 9.

But the ballooning wedding budget has caused a recent loss of altitude. Rick "I chose the right place to be snowed in, though" Denney

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First off, let me apologize for my overly strident tone in my last post . . . I’ve been going around swatting flies with hammers lately for some reason . . . Hey Ron, do you stay at home quarantined when you have a cold? Should I perhaps call in sick for something as simple as a cold?

IMO, yes and yes. Some people may be legitimately sick more than the standard 5 working days in a year, but it seems like most people that I know save their ’sick’ days to take as ‘mental health’ days, which is irresponsible and disrespectful to the people they work with and infect. We are chronically shortstaffed in the ER and if we all said we couldn’t come in for the sake of a cold, we would have some real problems taking care of anyone at all. Would sure like to have that luxury, and maybe society would too, to have the medical staff stay home whenever they are sick in the slighttest way. I do my best not to spread anything around. And who I was referring to earlier are the 22 year olds who have had congestion since last night and then come in the ER like we have some magic thing for them. Nope, sorry, rest and fluids, just like I try to do. No magic there. Ken

Hey – I agree that a minor cold is no reason to go to the ER. I just saw a slight disconnect between the way you said you refused to let something lay you low and then in the next paragraph complained about the patients infecting you. But, as I said, I brayed too loudly. Mea culpa. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux You’ve been pretty lucky. We’re all fit people here, but that will not stop a nasty little virus to infiltrate your immune system and do a little sabotage on your body. I do believe however, that being more fit will help you get rid of that bug a little quicker than the average person. So there *is* an advantage of being helathy after all.

Sick days… How I wish I could take sick days. Unfortunately, I never get sick. People in my office get days off at a time and I have to work because I can’t get sick (never mind that I don’t get to use the "my car wouldn’t start" excuse because I bike to work every day). When I get the "cold" that is going around, I merely feel a little sluggish. In fact, my cure is to go to a nice, heated gym and play hoops. My main theory on this subject is that I can take more abuse from a cold from the couch jockeys I work with. What’s the flu compared to a hard 40 mile bike/8 mile run brick workout? TTFN, Ryan

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Triathletes don’t allow themselves to be sick, even when they might be. Thye refuse the dastardly bugs any satisfaction in laying us low. This is unlike the regular type of person who sees a cold as a way to avoid work or exercise. "I’ve got a cold, I’m sick" they say it with pride, as a badge of honor almost. I say this from working in an ER and seeing these weenies come in with the same symtoms I might have, moaning and lamenting thier conditon (all of one or two days) while I went out riding or running and now am at work with similiar symptoms. So, that is where I encounter the damn colds and flu, from the cougher who don’t cover their mouths when I am trying to get them fixed up. Ken (tell me how you really feel,,,,,,,  :)

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Yes, it does appear that working out year round does minimize the number of colds. Doing IM and/or ultramarathons each year I seem to get one winter cold each year. I have "it" now and it sucks. Rock. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

The downside of such good health is that it makes me very casual about medical care, which is to say that I simply don’t bother with any kind of tests or check-ups.  I feel more endangered by my driving (a teeny bit too fast) than any germs. Is it too late to make a couple resolutions?

Why worry then – you’ve been genetically blessed with a better than average immune system.

Response:

I’ve mentioned this before, but it seems appropriate to repeat under this thread.  I’ve never ever in my whole life had a cold. It’s just a weird fluke. Ruth Kazez

Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with your awesome diet and healthy lifestyle.  Nah, it’s just a fluke. Still, NEVER having a cold in nearly 70 years is pretty incredible even for the healthiest of souls. -hug Before you buy.

Response:

I say this from working in an ER and seeing these weenies come in with the same symtoms I might have, moaning and lamenting thier conditon (all of one or two days) while I went out riding or running and now am at work with similiar symptoms. So, that is where I encounter the damn colds and flu, from the cougher who don’t cover their mouths when I am trying to get them fixed up.

Oh – so you see nothing wrong with spreading the thing around in your work environment, which happens to be a place where people may be less able to fend off such minor illnesses? Oh yeah, you’re a stud alright. Ken (tell me how you really feel,,,,,,,  :)

Just did.

Response:

I’ve mentioned this before, but it seems appropriate to repeat under this thread.  I’ve never ever in my whole life had a cold.  It’s just a weird fluke.  No flu either.  Before a big race, when others might naturally feel a bit hypochondriacal about themselves, I tend to worry about my bike’s developing some incapacitating syndrome.  Days before IMH I bought expensive new wheels because I thought mine might succumb to the onslaught of wind.  I knew I wasn’t going to get anything, but that doesn’t exempt me from a little free-floating anxiety about health, just not my own. The downside of such good health is that it makes me very casual about medical care, which is to say that I simply don’t bother with any kind of tests or check-ups.  I feel more endangered by my driving (a teeny bit too fast) than any germs. Is it too late to make a couple resolutions?   Ruth Kazez

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Or maybe it is the fact that training year round you are paying closer attention to your diet and staying well hydrated with "good" fluids (OK, maybe a beer once in awhile).

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? My guess is that you’re a fluke. To my knowledge, studies have shown that regular exercise slightly depresses the immune system, so one becomes slightly more susceptible to minor ailments like the common cold. The other health benefits far outweigh this tiny factoid, though. DISCLAIMER: This info is years old and may have since been contradicted; heck, if the scientists have been doing their jobs then it’s been contradicted and proven correct 3x over by now . . . I don’t think that it is so much that the data have been contradicted, but more that you are mis-remembering the details. Acute exercise (i.e., a single bout), especially if very prolonged and/or strenuous, does result in a temporary (less than a day) reduction in your immune response. However, chronic exercise, i.e., regularly performed training, at least up to some level, actually increases immune function. A PubMed search on "David C. Neiman" will turn up numerous articles, including some good reviews… — Andrew Coggan Before you buy.

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… (speaking of which, where has our resident tuba player been lately?)  …

He was last spotted floating over the DC metro area on cloud 9. — Stacy Hills Reston, VA

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Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke?

My guess is that you’re a fluke. To my knowledge, studies have shown that regular exercise slightly depresses the immune system, so one becomes slightly more susceptible to minor ailments like the common cold. The other health benefits far outweigh this tiny factoid, though. DISCLAIMER: This info is years old and may have since been contradicted; heck, if the scientists have been doing their jobs then it’s been contradicted and proven correct 3x over by now . . .

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? My guess is that you’re a fluke. To my knowledge, studies have shown that regular exercise slightly depresses the immune system, so one becomes slightly more susceptible to minor ailments like the common cold. The other health benefits far outweigh this tiny factoid, though.

More likely is the fact that a triathlete spends less time around sick people, since, while they may go to the mall, etc., sick people generally to be found on group 50 mile rides, swiming laps, or running several miles.  When a fellow triathlete does get sick, you don’t see much of them (speaking of which, where has our resident tuba player been lately?)  It’s all a matter of exposure.

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I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

You’ve been pretty lucky. We’re all fit people here, but that will not stop a nasty little virus to infiltrate your immune system and do a little sabotage on your body. I do believe however, that being more fit will help you get rid of that bug a little quicker than the average person. So there *is* an advantage of being helathy after all.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMCAL, IMC Y2K IMC’99: 10:45:03          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? My guess is that you’re a fluke. To my knowledge, studies have shown that regular exercise slightly depresses the immune system, so one becomes slightly more susceptible to minor ailments like the common cold. The other health benefits far outweigh this tiny factoid, though. DISCLAIMER: This info is years old and may have since been contradicted; heck, if the scientists have been doing their jobs then it’s been contradicted and proven correct 3x over by now . . .

I don’t think that it is so much that the data have been contradicted, but more that you are mis-remembering the details. Acute exercise (i.e., a single bout), especially if very prolonged and/or strenuous, does result in a temporary (less than a day) reduction in your immune response. However, chronic exercise, i.e., regularly performed training, at least up to some level, actually increases immune function. A PubMed search on "David C. Neiman" will turn up numerous articles, including some good reviews… — Andrew Coggan Before you buy.

Response:

Nearly three years ago, I was an average joe (overweight couch potato). I decided to do something about it. I started jogging a half mile with my goal being to be able to lose weight and participate in a 10k race. Well I succeded with those goals and eventually soon found triathlon. Now, since I have been training year round for over two years, I have yet to get a cold. And I know sooner or later I will catch one. However, I used to catch a really bad cold year in and year out. I am amazed that I have not had a cold in nearly three years with this relativly "new" lifestyle that I have acquired. I was wondering if anybody else has had similar experiances, or am I a fluke? Jean-Paul Lanaux

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Question:

Don’t forget that the tire will expand too.  Expansion will occur both because of expansion of tire materials and because of increased pressure. Doubt that pressure increase will follow traditional formula based only on increased temperature at same volume… Boy, it’s been a long time I since I was in school!  Is THIS what they were prepping me for?  Should of paid better attention! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted? The pressure will increase roughly as per the following formula: P2=P1*(T2/T1) where P2 is the new pressure at the higher temperature, P1 is the original temperature, T2 is the higher temperature, and T1 is the original temperature.  Temperatures are in degress Kelvin here (which is approximately deg K = deg C + 273.)  This is based on the assumption of an ideal gas — I’ll spare everyone the details. Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia.   The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow.   -Rolf — Call me IronMac …                         … I tri …                                          … I prefer Macintosh! IMC ‘94 – 14:06:47   IMC ‘95 – 11:58:35    IMC ‘97 – 10:45:00

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<snip Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting? Improperly mounted? Bob J Largo, FL Charles’s Law says that pressure is directly proportional to temperature, so a 10% increase in temperature should cause a 10% increase in pressure (this is assuming that the volume is constant). Not being a physicist, we’ll have to wait for a real bookhead to straighten me (us) out.

<Physics mode = "on" Yeah, but remember if you’re going to talk about a 10% temperature increase you’re going to have to measue in degrees Kelvin, not centigrade of fahrenheit.  Hence, even a drammatic rise from 20C to 35C would be an increase of less than 3.5%. (0C = 273K) </Physics Basically, it doesn’t look like temperature has that great an effect, and I’d probably go with the improperly mounted theory. Andrew xxx

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Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!   Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia.   The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow.   If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted?

Or tires that don’t match the rims well.  As an experiment last summer, I inflated a tire to 165 PSI first thing in the morning (it was rated to 120 PSI) when the air was about 60F.  I left it in the back of my car during the nice hot sunny day.  The oven thermometer hanging from the spoke registered 165F in mid afternoon.  The tire never blew out. Learn to mount your tires properly.  Then test your tires a bit above race pressure to make sure they work well with your rims.  You should know that your tire will not blow off the rim before you leave it in the transition area or go for a ride.                                         — John — John Walker        Yurie Systems, Inc., Lanham, Maryland WWW URL:   http://xenon.stanford.edu/~walker  

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I tried them. They don’t seem to be quite long enough, and they have no threads on the valve stem for a lock nut. But I have found tubes under the Spinergy label that are perfect, right down to the continuous threading down the valve stem. That threading allows a lock nut, which makes all the difference in the world when pressing the pump head onto an empty tube. But I can only find them in California. Can’t seem to get them yet in Dallas.

snipsnipsnipsnip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Oh my god, drive by!!, swerve, crash….).  On the plus side, I was looking for an excuse to try the new Specialized long stem tubes. Chuck Berghoefer

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This thread hit way too close to home today.  I did the Longmont Du this morning.  I was having unusual success pumping up my Spinergy’s, so I decided to put a little extra air in to see if it would make a difference.  It was a little on the warm side, high 80’s, but nothing crazy.  After the race, I heard a pop while I was visiting with some RSTer’s. Fortunately, it wasn’t my bike.  I went and put the bike in the car, and spent another hour chatting.  I finally got ready to leave, and as soon as I opened the car door BANG, BANG.  Both wheels blown.  At least the timing was right, after the race, but before I was driving down the interstate (Oh my god, drive by!!, swerve, crash….).  On the plus side, I was looking for an excuse to try the new Specialized long stem tubes. Chuck Berghoefer

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<snip The rule is generally worded as "no OUTSIDE assistance" (don’t have my USAT book handy but that’s what the IMC rules say).  

<snip  Dumping off your wetsuit to a friend on the boat ramp at Wildflower – not OK.

We went through this last summer, and sometimes it is OK. According to the officials I’ve spoken to, if the RD allows this, then it is legal. Just make sure to clarify before the race. It’s also technically not assistance. It falls under the abandoned equipment rule. Wade Blomgren

myke — Tellmesomethingidontknowtellmesomethingicanusepushthebuttonconnectthegoddam ndots

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – P2=P1*(T2/T1) where P2 is the new pressure at the higher temperature, P1 is the original temperature, T2 is the higher temperature, and T1 is the original temperature.  Temperatures are in degress Kelvin here (which is approximately deg K = deg C + 273.)  This is based on the assumption of an ideal gas — I’ll spare everyone the details. Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia. The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow.

I’m guessing that the air temperature inside the tire would probably be more than the outside air temperature.  The temperature in a car parked in the sun with the windows rolled up is significantly higher than the outside temperature on such a day.  Black tires are going to absorb heat, so the percentage change is probably higher. Now we need a physicist. Craig. IMC ‘97

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writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick" Simple: don’t try to pump them up to the absolute max!  Hot air expands and if it is hot enough, and you pumped them right up to their max – BLAMMO! Just my $0.02 Doug Kraus tri-turtle

Well, what IS the max inflation point.  As I recall the max given on clincher sidewalls is reached by some arbitrary formula starting with the pressure at which the tire is blown off a rim!  What rim is the first question – same one for all makes of tire?  NOT! So, I’ve always used trial and error to establish my own max, AND my own comfort point for training rides (old bones).  The max is clearly over the stated max on the sidewall – even for a clyde like me – but the wear factor goes up exponentially. Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted? Bob J Largo, FL

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia. The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow. I’m guessing that the air temperature inside the tire would probably be more than the outside air temperature.  The temperature in a car parked in the sun with the windows rolled up is significantly higher than the outside temperature on such a day.  Black tires are going to absorb heat, so the percentage change is probably higher. Now we need a physicist. Craig. IMC ‘97

OK, OK, I am here. I agree with Rolf’s method. I do also agree with Craig that the air in the tire is hotter than the outside temperature. How much I don’t know — and I don’t want to guess. But here is my story: Last weekend I got a really ugly flat while going down a curvy 15% grade. Braking before a turn, I suddenly heard the POFFFFFFFFF! In shock, I tried to slow down with that flat rear tire before the turn/cliff. Really scary. Apparently the rim tape failed! That was a plastic tape and it got too hot when I tried to slow down, using my rear brake a lot. The rim felt maybe like 60C (140F, ~333K). Starting at 15C (59F, ~288K) in the morning, this amounts to an increase in pressure of almost 16%. (333/288 = 1.15625) I probably pumped it up to 110psi in the morning, having then 127psi – well above the 120psi max. (But the tire held, the rim tape failed.) So better don’t pump to the max. P.S.: I got away with a few scratches. It was really scary though. — Bonelli #1, Wildflower, USTS, IMC  |  Department of Physics and Astronomy  |      Shred long and prosper…     |   University of Southern California   |

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I don’t know about anyone else out there, but this sounds like assistance during a race to me. What’s the ruling on this? If they were to flat as soon as they hopped on the bike, they couldn’t get assistance then.  Why then would anyone be allowed to get assistance any time after the gun went off? Just my curiosity wandering… As for the intent of the thread, to me it is as easy as the first reply to the post…Don’t pump you tires up too much. Jeff Larson this happened a lot at Ironman Canada last summer- but they had a crew of people running around fixing the flats while people where doing the swim. talk about great service !!

[clipped]

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: At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they : heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced : this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike : tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? – Why inflate beyond 100-105?  There was a discussion last year either

     here in r.s.t or in r.b.racing about tire pressure. Someone concluded      that the reduced rolling resistence benefit of a tire at 150lbs was      nominal compared to a tire at 100-105.   -Richd

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: I don’t know about anyone else out there, but this sounds like assistance : during a race to me. : What’s the ruling on this? : If they were to flat as soon as they hopped on the bike, they couldn’t get : assistance then.  Why then would anyone be allowed to get assistance any : time after the gun went off? You can get all the assistance you want (can) during a triathlon.  But it has to come from race officials.  There are mechanics on course at IMC & IMH.  If you’re lucky enough to be near one when you have a mechanical problem then, well, you’re lucky.  If not, be prepared to take care of it yourself.  At many races there may be no help available, at some races, plenty but only in transition. The rule is generally worded as "no OUTSIDE assistance" (don’t have my USAT book handy but that’s what the IMC rules say).  I’ve vaguely heard of cases where a bystander gave equipment to a race official so the race official could give it to a competitor.  So, wetsuit strip at IMC by race volunteers is OK.  Dumping off your wetsuit to a friend on the boat ramp at Wildflower – not OK.  Volunteer walking downcourse to bring you ice as you sit in the middle of the road at Wildflower – OK.  Your mother handing you ice out the car window on the Yellow Lake climb at IMC – not OK. Safety, fairness (equal access tempered only by luck of location), and liability are all probably parts of the equation.   Wade Blomgren

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Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted?

The pressure will increase roughly as per the following formula: P2=P1*(T2/T1) where P2 is the new pressure at the higher temperature, P1 is the original temperature, T2 is the higher temperature, and T1 is the original temperature.  Temperatures are in degress Kelvin here (which is approximately deg K = deg C + 273.)  This is based on the assumption of an ideal gas — I’ll spare everyone the details. Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia.   The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow.   -Rolf — Call me IronMac …                         … I tri …                                          … I prefer Macintosh! IMC ‘94 – 14:06:47   IMC ‘95 – 11:58:35    IMC ‘97 – 10:45:00

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Two points: 1. Always race with the best quality tires(Tubular or Clincher) that you can afford. You may spend over $100 for shoes for your feet. You should consider investing a similar amount of money in "shoes" for your bike. 2. Before "pumping up" on race day you should note the temperature and how long your tires will be in the sun, sitting in transition and then out on the road. If it is going to be very hot and it is a longer race, back off on the pressure at little bit. Steve Fleck

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Is it possible that we are dealing with a T2 temperature that is higher than ambient? If the tire is resting on asphalt, does asphalt become hotter than ambient?  Does a black tire sitting in the sun induce a temperature inside the tire higher than ambient?  Which scenario is dominant? If we can determine what the correct T2 is, we can inflate accordingly. Or, alternatively, shade or insulate the tire from the sun/asphalt. "life’s a brick" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted? The pressure will increase roughly as per the following formula: P2=P1*(T2/T1) where P2 is the new pressure at the higher temperature, P1 is the original temperature, T2 is the higher temperature, and T1 is the original temperature.  Temperatures are in degress Kelvin here (which is approximately deg K = deg C + 273.)  This is based on the assumption of an ideal gas — I’ll spare everyone the details. Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia. The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow. -Rolf — Call me IronMac …                        … I tri …                                         … I prefer Macintosh! IMC ‘94 – 14:06:47   IMC ‘95 – 11:58:35    IMC ‘97 – 10:45:00

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Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted? The pressure will increase roughly as per the following formula: P2=P1*(T2/T1) where P2 is the new pressure at the higher temperature, P1 is the original temperature, T2 is the higher temperature, and T1 is the

Whoops!   should be ‘pressure’ original temperature.  Temperatures are in degress Kelvin here (which is approximately deg K = deg C + 273.)  This is based on the assumption of an ideal gas — I’ll spare everyone the details. Thus, let us assume we inflate at 15 deg C to 125 psia.   The temperature rises to 35 deg C, as it is a hot day.  This is a typical scenario at Ironman Canada.  The pressure will rise in the tire by 6.9% (approximately) to 134 psia.  If one is near the threshold of the tire, it will blow.   -Rolf — Call me IronMac …                        … I tri …                                         … I prefer Macintosh! IMC ‘94 – 14:06:47   IMC ‘95 – 11:58:35    IMC ‘97 – 10:45:00

– Call me IronMac …                         … I tri …                                          … I prefer Macintosh! IMC ‘94 – 14:06:47   IMC ‘95 – 11:58:35    IMC ‘97 – 10:45:00

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this happened a lot at Ironman Canada last summer- but they had a crew of people running around fixing the flats while people where doing the swim. talk about great service !! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick" Simple: don’t try to pump them up to the absolute max!  Hot air expands and if it is hot enough, and you pumped them right up to their max – BLAMMO! Just my $0.02 Doug Kraus tri-turtle

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I ride a lot in very hot conditions.  I don’t use latex tubes (they lose air too much), instead I buy premium butyl rubber.  They hold the air better.  Then, I inflate the tire to my preference level (120psi for 700X20 Contis) after my last training ride.  I like to let my tires settle in. I’ve never had a tire pop by doing this. BTW, flats in the desert have another problem.  I’ve had the cups inside a frame pump get so hot and dry they wouldn’t hold pressure to pump.  Even with four of us, with 4 pumps, none would work over 50 psi or so.  I had to wait for someone with a full fledged floor pump before I could pump up. This was extreme (110 degrees in the nonexistent shade in the desert), but it happens…. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick"

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I’ve seen this happen at a race here in Denver.  I second the advice given about not over inflating the tires. Now, I’ve got a question for you physics minded RST’ers.  Does the heat generated by the friction caused by the road have an appreciable impact on the air pressure in the tire during a race? Chuck Berghoefer

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick" Simple: don’t try to pump them up to the absolute max!  Hot air expands and if it is hot enough, and you pumped them right up to their max – BLAMMO! Just my $0.02 Doug Kraus tri-turtle Well, what IS the max inflation point.  As I recall the max given on clincher sidewalls is reached by some arbitrary formula starting with the pressure at which the tire is blown off a rim!  What rim is the first question – same one for all makes of tire?  NOT! So, I’ve always used trial and error to establish my own max, AND my own comfort point for training rides (old bones).  The max is clearly over the stated max on the sidewall – even for a clyde like me – but the wear factor goes up exponentially. Anyone tell us how much pressure increase ambient temperature and sun can create?  I bet it ain’t much!  If so, why tires bursting?  Improperly mounted? Bob J Largo, FL

Charles’s Law says that pressure is directly proportional to temperature, so a 10% increase in temperature should cause a 10% increase in pressure (this is assuming that the volume is constant). Not being a physicist, we’ll have to wait for a real bookhead to straighten me (us) out. Jeff Roberts

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At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick"

Simple: don’t try to pump them up to the absolute max!  Hot air expands and if it is hot enough, and you pumped them right up to their max – BLAMMO! Just my $0.02 Doug Kraus tri-turtle

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At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun??

I usually lay a towel down with my race gear.  There’s enough towel for a tire to rest upon to keep it off hot asphalt.  I’ve never needed to do this, but it might help. David — David & Suzi

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At a race in the very hot southwest U.S., some spectators told me they heard some bike tires popping in the transition racks.  Anyone experienced this?  Are there any precautions that can/should be used to prevent a bike tire from popping while racked in the hot sun?? Thanks for any inf. "Life’s a brick"

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Do not wait until just before race time to pump up the tires. Put the amount of air you want in them, note the outside teperature and course conditions, and let them sit and equalize to the outside air teperature. That way if they pop before the race you have time to cahnge the flat. Dalton | Life is too short             |          __o        |     _/_     | | to just watch!!!              |        _`<,_   o   |  _/\  //_  | |Dalton Cote                    | ___o_         _   |   __  __<   | |Calgary , Canada               | ~~~~~~          /   |      ||      | |http://www.ucalgary.ca/~djcote |                        IRONMAN 97  |

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Question:

I have ridden a Slingshot the last 5 years. My only complaint is that the bike seems heavier than I’d like it to be Have not had any trouble with the hinges or the cable. I think it stays on the road well. I have not noticed any benefit from the cable except this ability to soak up some road shock. I live in Colorado and when you are going downhill at 50 mph, on the aero bars it is secure over minor road bumps. At those speeds you can really hop on a stiff frame in the aero postion. Someone on this board is selling a slingshot for $1300, a real good price. I paid 2100$ for mine. I am 6′1",  so I have the large frame, which still means I have my seat up pretty high off the top tube. I also have a mtn bike stem to give me the rise I need so I can maintain a comfortable aero position. Like I said, the weight is the factor that I don’t like. The frame is steel. Maybe their newer frames are lighter.

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Howdy Pete, I just picked up a demo Slingshot road frame with 700c wheels, so it’s not quite the "triathlon" version with 650c wheels and different angles. The bike rides VERY smooth…it really does gets rid of a lot of the little road chatter, although you still feel big bumps…but you can usually ride through them a little better (versus unweighting the bike)… or you can bunnyhop it… Comfort is a lot like some titanium and carbon fiber frames, although the BB is pretty beefy and stiff…that’s what you get for using tandem tubes that’s reinforced…granted that doesn’t give you the lightest frame…but I’m not quite fast enough to be concerned with it (…although when I can split under 55min in a 40K….) The concept is applied very well for TT/triathlon racing, since the suspension action does place less strain on your arms, shoulders, and bike. It also climbs very well, although I can’t feel the "surging" action from the spring that some people report. By the way, I’ve ridden a friends 650c Slingshot before getting mine.   Rides similar, although the ride seemed a little stiffer.  Could have been a variety of factors though…tires, spoke tension, chromo (vs alloy) fork…the reason I got a 700c road version was because I’m not efficient in the forward position and I get MUCH more tire choices with 700c. Speed is Life, Dave Chen Captain Arizona State University Triathlon Team www.asu.edu/studentprgms/org/sd_triath – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking for a new tri bike and am cinsidering a Slingshot Tri Bike. Does any body have any opinions on them? What do they ride like? Does the cable change the ride? Are they stiff? Any responses will be appreciated Thanks Pete

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I am looking for a new tri bike and am cinsidering a Slingshot Tri Bike. Does any body have any opinions on them? What do they ride like? Does the cable change the ride? Are they stiff? Any responses will be appreciated Thanks Pete

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Question:

Please help me!    Swimming is cool – mountain biking is way cool – and trail running is the coolest ( especially when the previous two are part of the race ).  I need more of this – the roads are cool for roadies and boring triathletes, but there are many of us who need additional motivation( ie- beautiful nature) to continue racing and having fun doing it.  I recently did a mountain bike and X-C run duathlon – lots of fun!! Add the swim and everything is perfect.                                      Neal Henderson, PSU Triathlon Club

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Anyone out there know of a Tri that would include a Mountain- bike ride and run, maybe a nice swim in a lake? Getting sick of the road!

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Question:

I participate in this wonderful sport in the 25-29 Female age group category.  Approximately two years ago, in the San Diego International Triathlon, there were approximately 1,200 participants.  Then, last year in 1993, there were only about 750 entries.  I did not participate in this year’s race for I was out of the country on business. My question is:  Is the sport of triathlon declining in number, or is this only a sign of the local San Diego economy?  Also, I was wondering if Bud Light pulled out of the sponsorship somewhat?  

Interest in Triathlon may not be declining, but MY interest in that race   sure is!  I did it in 1993 for the first time (but didn’t do the run   part because of an injury), and I found that race to be kind of a pain in the keester.  I didn’t get my race insructions until AFTER the race.  And I found the whole shuttle bus deal kind of a time-killer.  I didn’t like the idea of leaving my bike over-night. And the race finish is no where near the transition area.  Had I finished the race, I’d have been freezing my butt off at the finish area because it was cold, and I would have been clad in only a bathing suit. My sweatshirt would have been at the transition area. (whining mode off) To the best of my knowledge, triathon is alive and well in Southern California. jo Redondo Beach, CA

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:writes: : :<< Is the sport of triathlon declining in number, or is this only a sign f the local San Diego economy?  Also, I was wondering if Bud Light pulled ut of the sponsorship somewhat? : :I’m not referring to the San Diego International, but in general, I think :I can state that the trend is toward the better races getting bigger… From the perspective of someone who drives 12 hours to races (18 hours to San Diego), I only go to ones where there is a good history of participation, challenging race course, good place for a family vacation (major factor at least for my family ). NM is seeing a downward trend in beginning/novice entreants, but the elite waves seemed to be stronger this year (attracted more participants for Arizona, Colorado and California).  General comments about any race in NM– Great place for a race, too bad its in BFE.  The ‘91 Coors Light Du Sante Fe Championship debacle/demolishion derby really hurt NM as far as out-of-state competitors goes.    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

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<tragic story deleted – once was enough for me… Sorry to hear about the tragedy there.  It is hard to deal with something like this in a sport that preaches health and fitness.   Rolf Arands, Ph.D.

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<tragic story deleted – once was enough for me… Sorry to hear about the tragedy there.  It is hard to deal with something like this in a sport that preaches health and fitness.  

Just so there is no misunderstanding to my posting… I do not mean this in a nasty way, by the way.  Perhaps my phrasing is better written as it is hard for race organizers to anticipate such a tragedy, and also hard for other race participants when they realize something like this happened.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Rolf Arands, Ph.D.

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The race was much smaller this year (individual competition was actually up), but the relay competition (majority of the competitors last year) was down drastically.  I’ll be surprised if the city of Sante Fe will put on the event next year with the bad track record of the past two years. Unfortunately, tri-s in general will really suffer in this area since this is the on event greater than sprint distance left in the state…

I hope your wrong about next year’s race, although I think your fears are probably well-founded. Should Santa Fe *not* have the race next year, it will be yet another testament to the havoc wreak by attorneys and their lawsuit-happy clients on our ability to take risks and push ourselves physically in this country. The *only* reason the city would cancel the race is out of fear of a lawsuit, not because of some inherent "danger" associated with triathlons. Even though the "danger factor" is relatively low in tri’s, there are still certain risks associated with what we do; we all *willingly* assume those risks when we train and race. It’s sad that an otherwise good event might be cancelled because of the tragedies as you describe. With all due respect to the lost triathletes, it’s *our* responsibility to be sure we’re physically fit for our sport…not the race sponsor’s. Let the race go on… (If you’re looking for a good race in the near future, not too far from NM, might I suggest the TX. Hill Country, Sept. 10. It’s a *great* race, well organized, and in beautiful country.) Tad Smith Amoco Production Company Houston, TX

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I’m splitting up the Sante Fe Tri race report into the news/bad news. Unfortunately, this is the bad news… For the second year in a row, a fatality occured in the Sante Fe Triathlon (largest tri in NM and 2nd largest sporting event in NM).  A 51-year old male Albuquerque resident collapsed 20 yards from the (run) finish and died from an apparent heart-attack.  Medics were on the seen immediately (within 15 sec), but were unable to revive him.  A fellow competitor commented in the Sante Fe New Mexican (local paper) that he was passing as Keith (I think) collapsed.  He reached down to help him and his eyes had already rolled back in his head. Last year a 46-year old Albuquerque male resident drowned in the swim (due to a heart attack.)  Safety precautions, last year, were pretty minimal and the organizers were partly at fault.  This year, the race was extremely well organized and safety concerns were not taken lightly.  However, it does make the race pretty morbid watching CPR being performed 20 yds from the finish line. The race was much smaller this year (individual competition was actually up), but the relay competition (majority of the competitors last year) was down drastically.  I’ll be surprised if the city of Sante Fe will put on the event next year with the bad track record of the past two years. Unfortunately, tri-s in general will really suffer in this area since this is the on event greater than sprint distance left in the state…    W.Patrick Brug, Ph.D.  _-           -_    Los Alamos National Lab -__       __-                                       /    cis:      72410,3372        /  

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