Question:

A little update about Emory’s Aquathon Sponsor list- AirTran Airways -title sponsor Emory University Publix Supermarket Red Bull Crystal Springs Panera Bread Company PowerAde. ***The overall male and overall female will get an AirTran voucher for $1000, which can be used to purchase 2 tickets!!!! see: http://www.airtran.com/routemap/ for where AirTran flies (they even fly to the Bahamas) Also, there will be a drawing to give away another $1000 voucher for 2 tickets for a lucky race participant!!! not bad for $5.00, please pass the word, the race should be exciting!!!

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Announcing the No-Frills Emory University Swim-Run Aquathon- to benefit the Emory University Triathlon Club (non-profit) ***This race is being run as part of the overall Tri-Atlanta Race Series*** ****Please forward this email to any swimmer or runner**** When: Sunday, February 25, 2001, first swimmer off at 8:00AM         Race Day Check-In: 7:00AM – 7:45AM         Race Day Sign-Up ONLY- NO PREREGISTRATION http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=954578 we have the following sponsors for our Aquathon Race 500 yard pool swim- 3.1 mile outdoor run  No Frills with some of the Frills- Panera (formerly St. Louis Bread Company) Crystal Springs Water Red Bull PowerAde Publix Supermarket Where: George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center, Located on Fraternity Row, Emory University, Atlanta, GA What: 500 yard pool swim- 5 kilometer run Who: Anyone and everyone- enter as an individual, enter as a team How: The race will consist of a 500 yard indoor swim followed by a 5 kilometer outdoor run (3.1 mile run).  The race will seed each swimmer based on expected 500 yard swim time, individuals will be sent off one by one, and will swim up lane one, back lane 2, up lane 3, etc, until 500 yards in a snake fashion have been completed.  The fastest swimmer (estimated 500 time) will start first, the next swimmer fastest swimmer will start second, 15-30 seconds later, the next fastest swimmer will start 15-30 seconds after that, etc.  After the swim is completed you will transition into your run clothes and run an ACCURATE 5 kilometer outdoor run through Emory’s Beautiful Campus.  Emory’s Pool is an indoor 50 meter pool by 25 yards.  The pool swim will be set up short course (25 yards across).  Also, the pool is a first class beautiful facility. No-Frills Price, with the some Frills- Unlike your typical race- Entry Fee ONLY $5.00 per individual entry, team Entry Fee $6.00 for a team (two individuals) An Accurate 500 yard swim and an Accurate 5 Kilometer run No T-shirts- you have enough anyway Overall- Awards for top male and top female Hot Showers with Body Wash/Soap, Plenty of Bathrooms Refreshments will be provided, see above for sponsors Location: George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center, Located on Fraternity Row, Emory University, Atlanta, GA Parking: Peavine parking decks located on Fraternity Row across from the Physical Education Center. for directions and map see: Directions: From the north: On I-85, take the Clairmont Road exit. Turn left on Clairmont Road and follow it approximately three miles to North Decatur Road. Turn west (right) and follow North Decatur Road approximately one mile to the Emory campus. At the Oxford Road traffic light turn right through the main gates of campus(Dowman Dr.). Continue on Pierce Dr. and make a left onto Fraternity Row From the east or west: Via I-20, take the Moreland Avenue North exit. Turn north on Moreland Avenue and follow it approximately three miles, at which point it becomes Briarcliff Road. Continue straight on Briarcliff Road approximately two miles to North Decatur Road. Turn east (right) and follow North Decatur Road one mile to the Oxford Road intersection. Turn left through the main gates of the University(Dowman Dr.). Continue on Pierce Dr. and make a left onto Fraternity Row questions????? phone 404-636-7826 evenings See you there!

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Question:

Now that my 2000 season has come to a close, I’m starting to think about 2001 and am considering Nice. I can’t seem to find very much information on the race and would like to hear from people that have done it. Thanks, Tom Before you buy.

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Now that my 2000 season has come to a close, I’m starting to think about 2001 and am considering Nice. I can’t seem to find very much information on the race and would like to hear from people that have done it. Thanks, Tom

Nice 2001 will take place at the end of September. Due to problems with the traffic jam at the airport, we will probably have a new bike course and a new run course. There’s a lot of rumour but nothing officially anounced yet, it seems that the bike course will be a little longer with more hills. The run course could be a multi-loop on the ‘Promenade des Anglais’ and in the city, a little less flat than it was. The registration is not opened yet. Watch the FFTri site (www.fftri.com), it’s really poor but you should get infomation sometime when they decide to update it. Nicolas.

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Question:

What is the correct running form? Am I suppose to land on my heel or midsole? any info appreciated, John.

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What is the correct running form? Am I suppose to land on my heel or midsole? any info appreciated, John.

Previous post on ball/heel thinking: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – words:     3. It is physically possible to land heel-first in running, but     this is quite incorrect and almost never seen, since it jars the     body excessively and can be done only at very slow running speeds.     Landing heel-first and "toe running" (refusing to permit the heels     to ground) are both incorrect. I was open-minded up to this point, but saying heel-ball running is "quite incorrect" is a little dogmatic. Saying it is "almost unseen" is just churlish. Charlie, I’m nearly certain that the 1st sentence of point #3 of Hal Higdon’s "Ten Tips on Running" is quite incorrect I’ve been going through some copies of the French equivalent to RW, "Jogging International" (mmm, something for the runners v. joggers thread??). I’ve struggled to find pics that AREN’T of heel strikers!!! Seems their all at it I put up a post a while back about photos in Better Training for Distance Runners which no one replied to. I will say it again – look at fig. g on page 15 and the picture of Seb Coe on page 26. Heel-strikers? I don’t have the "Better TFDR", just "TFDR". Two shots of Coe in flight:   1) With McClean and Cram. Here Coe is in midflight, so hard to be certain. I reckon his knee will not straighten and he’ll NOT heel strike. But it’s open to debate.   2) Alone, but in a series of 3 shots with Aouita and Kristiansen. Poetry in motion. He’s definitely not going to heel strike (see my next para). I thought it might help this discussion if we were all looking at the same group of pictures. Let us all be CERTAIN what we mean when we say heel strike or midfoot strike. I’ve scanned in some good pics this morning and now have them on an html page. Trouble is I’ve not got a publically accessible web site. I’ll speak to our system guys later and see if they can do anything for me. Miles

 Miles, Dean, Y-Rotation, Phil and others,  It is a joy and makes my heart sing to be able to dialogue with you about this whole Ball/Heel issue. Back in 1978 I purchased a Sanyo video recorder which had a four head recorder so that it could be played in slow motion.  It had it’s own 20 minute cassette format and was used in surgeries and other manufacturing processes which needed a slo-mo replay.   It was black and white and served me for about 6 years in teaching form and style where I could show people how they ran and then replan it in slo-mo. One of the most beautiful runners I filmed was Jan Haggelbrand from Sweden.  He ran for US Int’l University and was truly a gazelle.  What I learned from him is that his running stride looked like he was hitting heel first but when I slowed the tape down you were able to see that his c of g was already forward and that the landing was more of midsole so that by the time the foot landed in was ball/heel but quicker than the eye at regular could see. In looking at pictures, thanks for your work Miles, I realized that I couldn’t judge a heel or ball/heel landing because it is only a fraction of time and I’d need to see the entire sequence to be able to watch. What I did learn is that if you see an elite runner coming towards you, you will seldom see the bottom of their shoe.  With Jan Haggelbrand, you’d see the bottom of the shoe but as he landed (as viewed from the side) you realized that he landed midsole because he c of g. was always slightly in front of the landing foot. With heel strikers, you will always see the bottoms of their heels.  Also you will notice that heel strikers for the most part when seen from the front do not lift their knees.  With faster and more elite runners, most head on shots look as if they have one leg and the other leg is cut off at the knee as the lower leg is hidden behing the thigh.  As they bring the knee up you don’t see the bottom of their shoe because as soon as the knee is up the leg is coming back down.   I do believe that the dialogue as we address the issue of learning to run be it 10 minutes/mile or 4 minutes/mile one can use good form no matter what. — In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Maintainer – rec.running FAQ Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975 Mindful Running:   http://www.mindfulness.com Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com – Still Only $9.95 – http://www.uncensored-news.com  With Servers In California, Texas And Virginia – The Worlds Uncensored News Source

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What is the correct running form? Am I suppose to land on my heel or midsole? any info appreciated, John.

Depends on the distance. If you watch elite runners of both short distance track and long distance road, you’ll see differences in form. Form is not just about how you land though. I think how you land is a consequence of other more major factors that you should first consider: including how "tall" you run; how you position your hips; how straight you have your legs when you land; how much you bend your knees after the foot touches the ground etc. etc. C

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What is the correct running form? Am I suppose to land on my heel or midsole? any info appreciated, John.

Here’s another post from Denny Anderson, one of the ball/heel contributors, whose added a lot to the dialogue over the years. Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Lines: 88 X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.5/32.452 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Xref: news.inreach.com rec.running:160326 Hi,           I’ve recently been reading "The Triathlete’s Training Bible" by Joe Friel. In it he makes a comparison between forefoot and heel striking, concluding that landing on the forefoot is a much more efficient and superior style. The main reasons being :- * Landing on the forefoot results in less time in contact with the ground maximising the rebound effect and the return of stored energy. In effect giving a free boost to speed.

Actually, forefoot touchdown results in 1) greater surface area contacting the ground, and 2) longer contact time WHILE ABSORBING LANDING FORCES. The forefoot has about 6 times the surface area as the heel (the part of the heel which absorbs touchdown forces). So landing force is spread out over a time frame of 2 to 2 1/2 times that of a heel TD. That’s why mfr’s build in so much cushioning in the heel. * Landing on the heel means more time spent on the ground and loss of this energy.

Not necessarily true. If the heel lands directly below the knee joint, and the joint is bent, braking will not occur, and not much energy is lost. It’s a simple heel-ball transition to push off. Forefoot landing is — forefoot, let down to heel, raise heel, toe- off! more complicated — yes? More efficient? YES! It is an act of using the foot as it was designed. * Landing on the heel also means that the leg must be in front of the body and this will impede forward momentum, like hitting the brakes with

Often the case, but not necessarily true. I videotaped our team’s first XC race last week. In slow mo (actually frame by frame) I saw every imaginable style. Some (not many) heel-strikers were rolling along very smoothly, w/o over striding — they were landing directly under their C of G and bounce (vert oscillation) kept to a minimum. The front runners (5k in 16:33 and 16:44) were gliding along, landing midfoot, directly under the bent knee joint. Beautiful form. every step. Landing on the forefoot with the foot beneath or slightly in front of the center of gravity giving greater economy and reducing impact forces.        The logic and science seemed reasonable and as a heel stiker I’m wondering if I’ve been making my running harder than need be. I have a few questions about this and the running newsgroup seems the ideal place to ask them.        Does anyone have any opinions on the validity of the above arguments?

Nah. Never gave the subject much thought.        Has anyone switched from heel to forefoot stiking and what experiences did they have?

Seriously, I may be obsessed with "efficiency/running economy". I’ve switched from midfoot to forefoot (midfoot at jog pace). The way to do the conversion is too work on 1) increasing cadence to 180 steps/min, or better, and 2) consciously try to minimize bounce.        Is forefoot striking more likely to result in injury?

Forefoot landing CAN result in injury IF the change-over is made too quickly. Happened to me. The ankle joint moves through a greater range, and more stretching of the calf muscles and tension on the achilles occurs during toe-off. Not that is bad, mind you. But, if your body is not used to doing that, it takes time to get properly broken in to the different biomechanics/stresses. When I run with our XC team I either go in racing shoes or Aqua Socks. Both allow forefoot running. With forefoot running NO CUSHIONING is needed. The feet were designed to provide all you’ll need by efficiently absorbing landing forces (lumpy gravel trails are a challenge in Aqua socks, howsome-ever). Thanks in advance, Mark.

HTH, Denny "and they say *how CAN you run in those things*" Anderson — In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Maintainer – rec.running FAQ Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975 Mindful Running:   http://www.mindfulness.com Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com – Still Only $9.95 – http://www.uncensored-news.com  With Servers In California, Texas And Virginia – The Worlds Uncensored News Source

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Question:

I had a 10k race that I had signed up for here in Charlotte, NC that was to start at 7:30 am this morning….. when my alarm went off at 6:00, I could hear the rain coming down outside, temp was about 48 degrees. Now, I consider myself a semi – serious runner and triathlete.  I work out every day, leaving the house before 6:00 to get to the gym for swim, bike, run, weights, whatever the day calls for…. but this morning, for some reason, I just couldn’t do it….. Hadn’t really trained for it, (although the mileage wasn’t a problem), and I had the right equipment, I had laid everything out last night, Gore-Tex rain suit and all….. …. it’s just, well, the down comforter was just too damn warm…..my wife and beagle just too comforting….. I was tired, it was a long week……and it was real dry in the house…. So in honor of those that had the will power to get out of bed in Charlotte this rainy morning, I cleaned my bike chain with the race T Shirt this afternoon, so Ill never mistakenly wear it ….. and Ill keep the race number with WHIMP written across the front….. If you crossed the line, you had more will power than I !!! Brian Charlotte, NC

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Fun story, Brian.  Don’t beat yourself up over it. Mary

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So in honor of those that had the will power to get out of bed in Charlotte this rainy morning, I cleaned my bike chain with the race T Shirt this afternoon, so Ill never mistakenly wear it ….. and Ill keep the race number with WHIMP written across the front…..

LOL.  I like the chain cleaning part. I can honestly say I’ve never canceled on a race I’d pre-registered for.  Maybe I’m just too cheap. <g But I have stayed in bed for other races. Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03 Great Floridian ‘99, 17:13:38

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But I have stayed in bed for other races.

You spelled reasons wrong. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Mike Tennent

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I’d be happy just to run in Charlotte.  Your story reminds me of all the great runs I had in that city.  Sure do miss McAlpine Park.  Left there last May and left the best running buddy the world has to offer. He did that race by the way, and did pretty well, too.  This is how great a buddy he is…. he still calls me here in Jacksonville, FL on Friday nights to let me know where we’re training on Saturday morning… so I "don’t show up at the wrong place."  (grin)  Usually calls me every couple Saturdays or so, to find out how my long run went or most recent race went.  What a guy.  Sure wish I could find another.  : ( (Anyone looking for a training partner in Jacksonville Beach?  I’ve been looking for you since last May!) Carol

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had a 10k race that I had signed up for here in Charlotte, NC that was to start at 7:30 am this morning….. when my alarm went off at 6:00, I could hear the rain coming down outside, temp was about 48 degrees. Now, I consider myself a semi – serious runner and triathlete.  I work out every day, leaving the house before 6:00 to get to the gym for swim, bike, run, weights, whatever the day calls for…. but this morning, for some reason, I just couldn’t do it….. Hadn’t really trained for it, (although the mileage wasn’t a problem), and I had the right equipment, I had laid everything out last night, Gore-Tex rain suit and all….. …. it’s just, well, the down comforter was just too damn warm…..my wife and beagle just too comforting….. I was tired, it was a long week……and it was real dry in the house…. So in honor of those that had the will power to get out of bed in Charlotte this rainy morning, I cleaned my bike chain with the race T Shirt this afternoon, so Ill never mistakenly wear it ….. and Ill keep the race number with WHIMP written across the front….. If you crossed the line, you had more will power than I !!! Brian Charlotte, NC

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Carol:  I grew up in Charlotte and now live in Jax (not at the beach, though).  I ran cross-country for East Meck, and McAlpine was our home course.  I love that place.  I never had a running buddy like yours, you’re lucky. Brian:  I missed the half-marathon this year.  I don’t know how what I would have done had I been there to look out the window at the nasty weather that day, but I was spared the decision and was sitting here in Jax resting my injured calf…the muscle, not a pet cow  Anyway, I’m sure your decision was the right one for you.  If you’re feeling any guilt, use it to get out the door next time you don’t feel like working out. Take care, all! Kyle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d be happy just to run in Charlotte.  Your story reminds me of all the great runs I had in that city.  Sure do miss McAlpine Park.  Left there last May and left the best running buddy the world has to offer. He did that race by the way, and did pretty well, too.  This is how great a buddy he is…. he still calls me here in Jacksonville, FL on Friday nights to let me know where we’re training on Saturday morning… so I "don’t show up at the wrong place."  (grin)  Usually calls me every couple Saturdays or so, to find out how my long run went or most recent race went.  What a guy.  Sure wish I could find another.  : ( (Anyone looking for a training partner in Jacksonville Beach?  I’ve been looking for you since last May!) Carol I had a 10k race that I had signed up for here in Charlotte, NC that was to start at 7:30 am this morning….. when my alarm went off at 6:00, I could hear the rain coming down outside, temp was about 48 degrees. Now, I consider myself a semi – serious runner and triathlete.  I work out every day, leaving the house before 6:00 to get to the gym for swim, bike, run, weights, whatever the day calls for…. but this morning, for some reason, I just couldn’t do it….. Hadn’t really trained for it, (although the mileage wasn’t a problem), and I had the right equipment, I had laid everything out last night, Gore-Tex rain suit and all….. …. it’s just, well, the down comforter was just too damn warm…..my wife and beagle just too comforting….. I was tired, it was a long week……and it was real dry in the house…. So in honor of those that had the will power to get out of bed in Charlotte this rainy morning, I cleaned my bike chain with the race T Shirt this afternoon, so Ill never mistakenly wear it ….. and Ill keep the race number with WHIMP written across the front….. If you crossed the line, you had more will power than I !!! Brian Charlotte, NC

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Question:

My last (and first) triathlon was last Sunday and I wanted to get some feedback from the folks in the forum with regards to when they take the plunge in the swim. I waited until the water was just about at my ribs and dove in, but I noticed some waited until it was chest high, and plenty of competitors dove before I did.  So is there any consistent guideline as to the best time to dive? — Matt

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I waited until the water was just about at my ribs and dove in, but I noticed some waited until it was chest high, and plenty of competitors dove before I did.  So is there any consistent guideline as to the best time to dive? — Matt

Chest-high is a little too late to dive in if you’re trying to count seconds at the start. Once I find that I can’t jump over the surface of the water due to increased depth, I dive in.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMNZ, IMC ‘99 IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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Both these last two recommendations are good. As soon as you cannot wade  through the water as you run forward then use your remaining momentum to throw yourself forward into a dive and over or through the next wave (if in surf). Streamline underwater for a couple of seconds to gain the benefit of further distance from that momentum then pull on the bottom (sand?) forwards before you come up arms by sides to reduce drag. This is when start with duck diving which usually lasts for three or four motions before the depth falls away and you must begin to swim. Basically do what you can to maximise and maintain your forward momentum and minimise drag while you bolt down that beach or lake. Haydn. Futuredreams – The Premier Swim Program for Triathletes http://www.futuredreams.co.nz Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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You should start to dolphin (short series of dives) once the water starts to impede your running.  That’s usually when the water is around mid-thigh.  Dolphin until the water is above your waist, then begin your regular stroke. I would recommend practicing this if you happen to have access to open water.  If not, dolphin in the shallow end of the pool to get the hang of it. My last (and first) triathlon was last Sunday and I wanted to get some feedback from the folks in the forum with regards to when they take the plunge in the swim. I waited until the water was just about at my ribs and dove in, but I noticed some waited until it was chest high, and plenty of competitors dove before I did.  So is there any consistent guideline as to the best time to dive? — Matt

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

Does anyone out there know of any books on deep breathing exercises for cyclists?  I read that this was one of the first things Greg Lemond’s coach had him practice when he turned pro.  Any valuable insight would be appreciated. Thanks, -Ed

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Does anyone out there know of any books on deep breathing exercises for cyclists?  I read that this was one of the first things Greg Lemond’s coach had him practice when he turned pro.  Any valuable insight would be appreciated.

Don’t waste your time. Ventilation is rarely limiting to athletic performance, and breathing exercises (deep breaths, or even sustained hyperventilation against resistance) do little or nothing to improve your ability to ventilate (unless you have COPD, that is). Andrew Coggan

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There is a very interesting book called Body, Mind and Sport by John Doulliard that talks a lot about breathing while exercising.  I don’t believe much of what he says, but it is extremely though-provoking. JT

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What about those swim snorkles? I got one and was told it would help my form and help me control my breathing. I had a hard time at first going very far with it, but now it is easier to use and I think it has helped me in my regular swim breathing. D.J.    "IRONKID" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Don’t waste your time. Ventilation is rarely limiting to athletic performance, and breathing exercises (deep breaths, or even sustained hyperventilation against resistance) do little or nothing to improve your ability to ventilate (unless you have COPD, that is). Andrew Coggan

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Unfortunately, the doc. you spoke to appears not to know much about the effect of exercise on vital capacity, the test you describe; there isn’t any. — Rod. Discoveries are made every 15 years. Yours is particularly good; it hasn’t been made for 150 years. "The Doctors Dilemma" GB Shaw

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Surely the swimmming training for a triathlete would give you all the breath training you need. If you feel the need to extend your breaths then try breathing after more strokes, that should do the trick. A good place to start might be to find out the capacity of your lungs, a simple test where you breath out very fast but keep on breathing out for as long as you can. This can be done at your doctors normally, I had one done when I had difficulty breathing but still had 6.9 ltr capacity, which the doc said proved I had done training.

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Question:

Sounds like it will be a great race! See you all there! -rjh

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Thanks for the encouragement, Tom. Race Committee. Lynne Fonda-Kosorek Lucky Member, Team USA ‘97,’98 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Even if you did not have a great race in Clermont this past year for whatever reason, I hope you give Clermont another chance next June. Tom Ziebart – Orlando Regional Sports & Health

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why hold a national age group championship in early June? Most age groupers have jus

I believe the one of the reasons for holding it this early is so people that do make team USA can have some time to save money and find reservations for the trip to worlds.   Believe me those 6-8 weeks go by fast to plan a trip like that.  

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I am also glad that Nationals are back in Clermont. They did a great job putting on the race this year. The only negative I saw was the high entry fee. But then that was substantiated by the fact that we got free entry into Universal Studio’s for an openning ceramony, which I didn’t attend. I ahd a race to prepare for, so I had no need to clown around with Mickey. It is also my understanding that Nationals will rotate every two years now, and that after 1999, Nationals will be somewhere else. As for the heat, I think it was just as hot the year before in Columbia and I never heard this many complaints about that race. As for the date, I don’t like it, its during the last weekend before school gets out here, and being a teacher, it is very hard to ask for a couple of days off, when you are about to get out for summer vacation 3 days after the race. But in defense, have you ever tried to make plans to go to Europe during the summer a couple of weks before you want to go. I think that with this date, USAT is pushing it as close to the date of Worlds that they can. As far as not starting your training till April, well i didn’t start my tri training till the first week of April this year anyways, and it didn’t seem to hurt me at Nationals (2nd, 35-39 AG). I ahve already decided that I wanted to start training this year a bit earlier anyways. Mike Plumb

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Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sep. 2, 1998) The 1999 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championship will be held in Clermont, Fla., 25 miles

Boy, am I glad I suck and won’t be able to qualify for Nats. Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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Do you have to qualify to participate in this race?  If so, how?

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Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sep. 2, 1998) The 1999 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championship will be held in Clermont, Fla., 25 miles Boy, am I glad I suck and won’t be able to qualify for Nats. Tri-Baby

Why? Because of a little heat? I know when I lived in CA it often reached 100 degrees (thats where you live, yes?) I know that in July In New England its often as hot as Florida’s worst (95 degrees 90% humidity). I can’t understand all this complaining about the hot weather at the nationals.  I’ve heard the argument that the course should be simular to the worlds course, but I don’t buy it.   Triathlon courses are always vastly different, one of the reasons I love the sport so much.  Sometimes a nice easy course is a great thing, but so are really hilly courses or real hot ones or even ones held during a blizzard(like the central park biathlon this spring)  I think its great the Nationals seem to always be on a real tough course, it is after all a race for the best, fastest and toughest triathletes among us.  Perhaps though your comments are not directed at the heat, perhaps you have some other complaint? I understand a couple people missed a turn, but I can’t imagine this is your reason, as I’m sure the problem will not be repeated.  I’m sure you at some piont have been led astray on a course, even though it was otherwise a great race.  I know I’ve missed a couple turns during my racing, unfortunate but these things happen, if I had ridden the course previous as one should do it never would have happened.  Anyway my defense of the Nationals in Clermont, FL is because I have raced in Clermont on 5 occasions in the last 3 years each time traveling 2000 miles to compete there.  I do this because I Love the town of Clermont, The state of Florida, The beautiful Lake, The EXCELLANT race organization-CFT Sommers Sports, the great roads for riding (some of the best I’ve seen in my travels of 48 states), and I could go on and on.   Clermont is ideal for racing, that town supports triathlon more than any other place in this country and I’m getting more than a little irratated at all the Clermont-bashing I have heard on this Newsgroup.   I for one am thrilled at the news that the Nationals will once agian be held in Clermont, I now have 3 absolutely-will-be-doing races for 1999, The Nationals, IMUSA and GFT in Clermont.  Have you ever been to Clermont? I apoligize if this seems to be all directed towards you, it’s actually from several months of reading negative comments. Tim Hignett Buaidh No Bas http://members.aol.com/hignett/index.html

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In article s.net That being said, if I can qualify for the 1999 AG race, I will be there no matter where when or how.  I suppose there are many racers who are good enough to be able to pick their venues to coincide with their likes and dislikes.  Me, I’m not young at 55 and am just terribly excited about being able to compete at any level, and will take what I can get.

I feel the same way you do, John (except, of course, for that "not young" nonsense).  I just assume that every triathlon will have some discomfort built in, that that is in fact the name of the game.  I’m delighted to qualify for whatever.  Although I’m pre-qualified for worlds next year, I’m going to the Clermont race anyhow.  Everybody’s there and I don’t want to miss anything or anyone. Ruth Kazez

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Here is my observation on the 1999 National AG Championship race.  Read at your own risk. First, I just found out I qualified for the USTS National Championship in October. I don’t know how I qualified, I consider myself pretty slow.  But, I’m in!  You have no idea how psyched up I am about doing this race, with all the big time pros etc out there.  And, I am sure Dan Empfield et al will put on a GREAT race. That being said, if I can qualify for the 1999 AG race, I will be there no matter where when or how.  I suppose there are many racers who are good enough to be able to pick their venues to coincide with their likes and dislikes.  Me, I’m not young at 55 and am just terribly excited about being able to compete at any level, and will take what I can get. And just maybe I, racing only for the joy and excitement, embody the true triathlete spirit better than the ultra competitive racer focusing only on races they can win.  I win every time I finish. Flame away….. John, who is absolutely excited about doing yet another race this year, and a national chamionship to boot….

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Tim: do you feel better now?  I hope so. And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming… Stacy Hills Reston, VA

Stacy I was just making a piont. BTW what is yours? Tim Hignett Buaidh No Bas http://members.aol.com/hignett/index.html

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Tim, I think you may have missed my point. I was talking about the timing of the event. In other words, why hold a national age group championship in early June? Most age groupers have just started their race season. My reference to the heat was that I thought maybe the organizers were changing the date in a "knee jerk" reaction to last years heat. Give most people a little time to get in shape & they will race any venue, any time. andy

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I for one am looking forward to next year’s USA Triathlon National Championship.  The venue is great, the course very challenging and the race director is one of the best in the county – CFT Sommer Sports puts on the finest races in Florida and the United States.  CFT has broken all attendence records at their triathlons this year which says to me that the triathletes competing in their events find them outstanding.  Last year’s heat in June was not common, and will probably not happen again in 1999.  USA Triathlon has decided to drop the Pro race and will concentrate on the Age-Group competition next June.  The early June date was decided by ITU placing the worlds in Germany the last weekend in July . USAT needs 7-8 weeks to plan and organize the team for the worlds in Germany.  Even if you did not have a great race in Clermont this past year for whatever reason, I hope you give Clermont another chance next June.   Tom Ziebart – Orlando Regional Sports & Health

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hhmm, tri-baby, i think SUCK should be qualified as IM-SUCK or NAT-SUCK … i IM-SUCK: i qualified for nats, but couldn’t finish imc. you NAT-SUCK: you finished imc, but didn’t qualify for nats. i think i’d rather NAT-SUCK and have those 7 miles back than go do a race in florida (which i have the right to say … i lived there for 8 years …) –rebecca. "That which doesn’t destroy me makes me stronger." uh-huh, yeah, o.k. IMC 98: SWIM, BIKE, BARF IMUSA 99: SWIM, BIKE, RUN, BARF – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Boy, am I glad I suck and won’t be able to qualify for Nats. Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie

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Tim: do you feel better now?  I hope so. And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming… Stacy Hills Reston, VA

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  I agree with Andy.  Early June is good for southern states, but crazy   for those living anywhere else in the US. I’d be curious to know what   the rational was for moving it up so far.  Home Page: http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~twm/TTH.html

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Do you have to qualify to participate in this race?  If so, how?

The rules for qualifying were stated in the SEP-OCT issue of USA Traiathlon Times: "Non-Championship-Sanctioned events:  - finish in the top three in the age group, or in the top 25 percent of the age group, whichever is easier to meet. Sanctioned Championship events  - finish in the top five in each age group, or in the top 33.3 percent of the age group, whichever is easier to meet.  - An athlete will be able to qualify at any event regardless of distance as long as it is sanctioned by USA Triathlon.  This includes duathlon." There’s a bunch of other stuff, but that’s pretty much it. Good luck

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Probably the Race Committe will offer an excellent venue , athlete amenities, comprehensive attention to detail with no stone left unturned.

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Why would you make the National Championships EARLIER! I’m confused. I’ve never understood this. I realize the Worlds are in late July, early August, which is too early for many triathletes outside of florida & california, BUT why not make our qualifier in late June or early July? Of course if you insist on putting on the qualifier in Florida, as it appears, I guess the powers that be think they must go earlier, probably a reaction to last years heat. andy

It is awful to hold Nationals that early. Hell, I don’t even start training till the beginning of April!  Even worse, I’m wondering what’s gonna happen for the year 2000. Unless it was a mistake, I just saw that Worlds will be held at the end of APRIL (my birthday weekend & new age group!).  Are there even any races in March in the US?  Will the 2000 qualifier be held in ‘99???  Could Nationals be a permanent fixture in Florida??? -hug -hug

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Upon annoucement of this venue, at the Pre Race Meeting for Worlds, in Lausanne, Switzerland, reaction was an unqualified roomfull of "Boooooooo", "Hisssss". – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -1999 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championship… National Age-Group Championship will be held in Clermont, Fla., 25 miles west of downtown Orlando, on Saturday June 5, 1999, USA Triathlon Executive Director Steve Locke announced today. The race will be the age-group national championship and the Team USA

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Just thought You would like to see this. It was up on the USA Tri web-site under the weekly reports. 1999 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championship… Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sep. 2, 1998) The 1999 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championship will be held in Clermont, Fla., 25 miles west of downtown Orlando, on Saturday June 5, 1999, USA Triathlon Executive Director Steve Locke announced today. The race will be the age-group national championship and the Team USA qualifier.  Team USA will be comprised of the top-12 finishers in each age-group and will compete at the ITU World Triathlon Championship in Munich, Germany on July 31-August 1. "Clermont is an excellent venue for our sport, Lake County Florida offers varying terrain so we can closely mimic the same style of course that will be used at the World Championship in Munich," Locke says.  "The board of directors and the age group commission reviewed quality bids from a number of cities across the country, but Clermont prevailed as the site to return to in 1999." The 1998 ProHydrator USA Triathlon National Championship was held on June 21, 1998 in Clermont, Fla.

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Why would you make the National Championships EARLIER! I’m confused. I’ve never understood this. I realize the Worlds are in late July, early August, which is too early for many triathletes outside of florida & california, BUT why not make our qualifier in late June or early July? Of course if you insist on putting on the qualifier in Florida, as it appears, I guess the powers that be think they must go earlier, probably a reaction to last years heat. andy

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Question:

I am moving from Northern Virginia to Gutersloh Germany in June and I would be interested in any information on Triathlon in Germany. Information would be appreciated on races and clubs.

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Hello, have a look at http://www.rothsee.de. There you find one of the biggest triathlon clubs of germany. We also have a page with links to many german triathlon pages. cu gerd – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am moving from Northern Virginia to Gutersloh Germany in June and I would be interested in any information on Triathlon in Germany. Information would be appreciated on races and clubs.

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Question:

If you are really serious about cycling your spouse by a Tandem.  I purchased one last year and have had several very enjoyable rides with my wife. As long as I keep a reasonable cadence there is no problem. I can pedal as hard as I want and my wife can just spin her legs if she wants. I never have to wait for her and I know exactly where she is. However Trispouse maxs out at about one hour in the saddle and then is looking for a break at a coffee or donut shop. I also have an 8 year old daughter who loves to cruise around town. She can really pour on the power when she wants especially on the hills.   Too bad she maxs out after 30 minutes in the saddle.  Her favourite rides are to the local donut shop and Tim Hortons.

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Try these: 1: Track work.  Do sprints, resting while your partner sprints.  Take turns timing each other. 2: Faster biker does intervals/hill sprints while the slower goes for distance or TT. 3: Bicycle "Ride and Tie".  Share the same bike, one at a time, alternating with running. (decide on maximum distances beforehand.)  This one is good in that you can get a finish time for the two of you to mark progress.  You’ll need to have something to carry the shoes, and may need to adjust the seat. Byron J. Byron Walthall, Jr. Charlotte, NC, USA

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: I was wondering what people : do when one spouse is much slower than the other. : When you find out, let me know.  My wife Joan has 3 Ironman finishes, but The one thing I have found that seems to work is to somehow find a group of people to workout with.   Usually if the group is big enough, there is someone who wants to do the same thing as you or your wife and this eases the guilt a little of not staying with your wife/ husband (depending on your situation).  Also, company of others seem to make the workouts which you dont want to do (ie swimming) seem less painful.  The biggest problem is developing a group.  In some areas it is MUCH easier than others.  Here in Vermont, it is downright difficult due to fact that there is just not the population density of other states.   Anybody else out there have any other opinions on the matter?? Stephen

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[major snip] None of these are very useful on the bike, though, I’m afraid.

Hints for the bike: 1.  Draft.  This one is obvious – Stronger rider leads, other rider drafts.  This is a skill and teamwork drill for both riders. Since you stay together, I like this one the best.  A variation on this is the stronger rider isn’t allowed to use aerobars and/or drops and the other uses aerobars and/or drafts. 2.  Limit the stronger riders gear.  For example, 42X17 (about 18mph at 100rpm) is the biggest gear the stronger rider is allowed to use.  The stronger rider must learn to spin and other rider has an advantage on the downhills giving him/her a head start on the uphills.  Adjust the limiting gear ratio according to abilities. 3.  Ride a tandem.  This requires a substantial financial commitment, but you stay together easier than in hint 1. Paul

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I can’t get my wife to train with me, but I have worked something out with my son that may be useful in getting tri-spouses involved. He rides his fat-tire mountain bike with me while I run, and I find that though we can’t exactly go alongside one another (he roars down hills, I catch him going up, he lazily pedals alongside on the flats) you do make contact aplenty, and the bike rider can carry water for you! Brian Sullivan

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For running – when we are on a course we know well, he will often go ahead and take side paths (we do almost all our running on trails) to put some extra mileage in and use up some time.  Or he will give me a head start and then try to catch me.  This is my favorite because even though I am slow I am very competitve.

Some other tricks I’ve tried:  1) Pick a loop, one person going CW, the other CCW. The fast person     goes hard, then when they meet (not in the middle), the slow person     turns around and complete the loop together with the fast person     easing off.  2) Pick a route with a "high road" and a "low road" where both routes     lead to the same place but one is longer or harder than the other.  3) Fartlek. The faster runner runs easy with the slow one, then runs     hard for a while to some target, then turns around and jogs back to     the slower runner, then runs along together for a while until the     next "interval."  4) Backwards running – a good speed leveler.  5) Faster person does N miles before the joint run, then uses the joint     run as a cool-down. None of these are very useful on the bike, though, I’m afraid. — Steve Patt  Stevens Creek Software  The Athlete’s Diary & Bookstore  WWW: http://www.stevenscreek.com  FTP: ftp.stevenscreek.com  1-800-TA-DIARY

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It comes down to prioritizing, the time constraints of wife, children, full time job, grad school, serving as USATri Official and committee member have changed the way i am able to train. I put a big emphasis on quality training. On the weekends its tandem time with my son in the burley trailer and most nights its a late night run and a wind trainer brick. It is my goal just to go out and compete against the clock and no one else. I now think i enjoy the sport more because i cant take it for granted , when i get to ride my bike now i really cherish the time. Good luck on deciding what is important ( pay no attention to the sayings of Al Davis) See ya @ the races TriRef

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I was wondering what people do when one spouse is much slower than the other.

When you find out, let me know.  My wife Joan has 3 Ironman finishes, but has slowed down over the last few years.  We can’t run together because she runs at my fast walking pace and if I walk she gets upset that I’m making fun of her.  I’m not, its just that I can’t run slower than 9 minute miles and she can’t run faster than 12.  On the bike, she refuses to draft off me because she gets nervous riding close and starts yelling at me because I made a sudden turn while she’s on her aero bars.  She can pull faster than she can draft, but I don’t get much workout that way and she would rather bike by herself anyway so she can stop at garage sales on her 50 mile rides without any comments from me.  She hates to swim, but forces herself, which makes her hate it more and doesn’t improve her speed or her confidence at all.  I get bored in the pool too, but my solution is to swim once a month for 1000 yards or so and hope I don’t get too out of shape for the Great Floridian.  This has been a problem for 4 years.  If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

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My husband and I like to train together too and he is faster than me.  For the swim it is not problem when we are in the pools doing laps.  When we do our ocean swims we swim back and forth in a cove and while we don’t stay right together we keep meeting due to going back and forth at different paces.  For running – when we are on a course we know well, he will often go ahead and take side paths (we do almost all our running on trails) to put some extra mileage in and use up some time.  Or he will give me a head start and then try to catch me.  This is my favorite because even though I am slow I am very competitve.  On the bike, again sometimes he gives me a head start or one of his favorites is to stay with me but ride in a hard gear.  All these different tricks work for us.  We don’t do all our training together, due to different work schedules and often different priorites in training.  Hope this helps Sue Baker

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:   : Hi there, : : I just wanted to reply to the recent postings about getting : your spouse involved in triathlon.  I was wondering what people : do when one spouse is much slower than the other.   We run on the track together, or sometimes on the treadmills at our club. Weight lifting is a good way to workout together. Cycling, well we start the ride together and then I see my husband at the finish.  Sometimes on long rides, he will stop and take a break at the halfway point to check to make sure everything is going ok with me.  We also often use a staggered start.  I go first and he will spot me the appropriate time for the total distance (estimated by finishing time).  I cycle like crazy to hold him off as long as possible, and he cycles like crazy to catch me as fast as he can.  It is a great training tool. Janet

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Hi there, I just wanted to reply to the recent postings about getting your spouse involved in triathlon.  I was wondering what people do when one spouse is much slower than the other.  I know some will say to get a tandem, but there is no was I could afford one for some time (both being grad students).  Occasionally, she rollerblades while I run, but this is not really a avery workable option.  The real problem is that she really wants to train together and I would like to, but I also want to do more than just finish triathlons; I like to be able to do my best, which can not be done without the training.  OK, well, you might say that couples can make time to workout together, and time to workout apart.  I would agree except for the lack of time (again going back to the grad student thing).  I know there must be other couples who have very similar problems.  I know that kids would be the equivlant or probably more of a time constraint (well of course they are wonderful, but they are very high maintenance) than grad school and that there are triathlete parents out there.  So how do you work it out?? Am I being selfish?  Does it come down to one spouse HAVING to slow down when the other needs someone to work out with?  Is it just one of those things that you have  to suck it up and deal with the fact that you wont be able to race to your potential; or is there some other training options which we have not discovered yet? I would really appreciate any response to these questions which seem to pop up very often.   Thanks, Stephen

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Hi there, I just wanted to reply to the recent postings about getting your spouse involved in triathlon.  I was wondering what people do when one spouse is much slower than the other.  I know some will say to get a tandem, but there is no was I could afford one for some time (both being grad students).  Occasionally, she rollerblades while I run, but this is not really a avery workable option.  The real problem is that she really wants to train together and I would like to, but I also want to do more than just finish triathlons; I like to be able to do my best, which can not be done without the training.  OK, well, you might say that couples can make time to workout together, and time to workout apart.  I would agree except for the lack of time (again going back to the grad student thing).  I know there must be other couples who have very similar problems.  I know that kids would be the equivlant or probably more of a time constraint (well of course they are wonderful, but they are very high maintenance) than grad school and that there are triathlete parents out there.  So how do you work it out?? Am I being selfish?  Does it come down to one spouse HAVING to slow down when the other needs someone to work out with?  Is it just one of those things that you have  to suck it up and deal with the fact that you wont be able to race to your potential; or is there some other training options which we have not discovered yet? I would really appreciate any response to these questions which seem to pop up very often.   Thanks, Stephen

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Question:

Okay, time to see if the Net can help me with another project. For an adaptive P.E. class, I’m writing a paper on differently abled (or whatever the PC term is this week…I like this term) endurance athletes. I’ve only been able to find one article on Jim McLaren (my school’s library caries no triathlon mags), and a scattering of articles on others in road racing. If anybody knows of some sources, please e-mail me. Better yet, if there are any differently abled athletes on this newsgroup, e-mail me…I’d love to talk (okay, type) to you. Thanks in advanvce for any help. Jonathan Acey Albert University of Florida

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For an adaptive P.E. class, I’m writing a paper on differently abled (or whatever the PC term is this week…I like this term) endurance athletes.

I don’t have any articles to refer you to, but the TV coverage of the ‘94 Ironman included Dr. Jon Franks, a wheelchair athlete, declining an offer to continue after missing the bike cutoff time.  This was his first Ironman, since it took him several years to persuade the race officials to waive their normal qualifying procedures. I met Franks last year at the Gulf Coast Triathlon (1/2 iron) last year, and at the Cape Cod triathlon (int’l distance) several years ago.  He swims backstroke with special leg flotation, and rides a custom made hand-cranked tricycle.  He typically swims mid to back of the pack, bikes 18 MPH, and runs about 5:00/mile.  At Gulf Coast, he DNF’ed about half way through the run with a broken wheel. Wheelchair athletes are rare in triathlons, though I have often seen athletes compete with an artificial leg. #include "disclaimer.h"                |____|

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