Question:

Some sites to check out in regards to Dallas triathlon clubs: The website www.runnertriathletenews.com is kind of a calendar for the SouthMidWest Region and has links to clubs. Check out www.dallastrigeeks.com There are two clubs in the DFW area that I know of:  Tri-Dallas (www.tridallas.com) and Tri Mid-Cities (don’t know website). Hope that helps. Kendall – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is anyone familiar with any of the local clubs or are any members online?   Im new to the sport and after plowing through two du’s, I;ve got my eyes set on completing a Sprint in June.  Im just curious about joining a local clubs and where/when/how they train. Patrick

Response:

Is anyone familiar with any of the local clubs or are any members online?   Im new to the sport and after plowing through two du’s, I;ve got my eyes set on completing a Sprint in June.  Im just curious about joining a local clubs and where/when/how they train. Patrick

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Question:

This seems like a very short swim workout. If this all the time you have for swimming, then (1) make sure you practice the specific swimming skills needed for the next race, and (2) get into the weight room to improve arm strength. Efficient management of the water and the race’s peculiar environment + strength = you go faster. John Bickmore www.bicyclecam.com www.feed-zone.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

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Hard to say without seeing you swim. Try transitioning a few of those 25s to 50s gradually. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks Tom. What is the sensible way to build, 50 yard a week? more ? jojo First of all, congrats on getting out there and working out. If you can get comfortable doing that workout, and build it to just over 1000 yards, I’d say find a good masters group and get your workouts from a coach. While it’s important to build strength, technique is about 80-90% of swimming, and you’ll learn that best from a coach. Tom my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

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Get the book and video from Total Immersion. The book has a bunch of workouts in it.  Pull buoys keep your legs afloat and teach your body what it feels like to have a good body position (horizontal). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source?

Response:

My suggestion would also be get a coach (masters or tri squad). But for the reason of stroke correction. Judging by your yardage swimming is reasonably new to you. You mention sore shoulders, this may be you having a good workout or the result of a poor stroke (arms not bent at a big enough angle) in the PULL part of your freestyle. Some of the biggest increases in your swimming will come from merely becoming more efficient, & this can more often than not only be achieved through a correct stroke. Now is also a time you will pick up bad habits. One big one with triathletes is "I don’t kick when I swim to save my legs for the bike"…hehehehe. Get a coach, you only need swim a squad once or twice a week & he’ll give you enough advice to keep you on track to being a more efficient swimming. As for increases in yardage. A general rule of thumb is increase at a rate of no greater than 10%(*approx) with every 4th week a recovery week(eg: swim week one yardage). Another important factor in training is recovery. Overtraining will be a major factor in any injuries somewhere down the track. You also say you will start open water traing come march, try adding some water polo style swimming (head up forward above water) this is a fairly standard freestyle drill & great for the upper body but also very necessary for open water & something many people forget to train prior to racing. Hell, I could talk all day about swimming but I’ll spare ya…hehehehe http://www.sportsid.com/sid2000/default.htm is a good site with free video instruction Hope this helps —  Lee Vickary (Namsul Melek)  www.club-triathlon.com  Triathlon Stuff       __o     -<,  ( ) / ( )

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

Response:

First of all, congrats on getting out there and working out. If you can get comfortable doing that workout, and build it to just over 1000 yards, I’d say find a good masters group and get your workouts from a coach. While it’s important to build strength, technique is about 80-90% of swimming, and you’ll learn that best from a coach. Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

Response:

Thanks Tom. What is the sensible way to build, 50 yard a week? more ? jojo

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First of all, congrats on getting out there and working out. If you can get comfortable doing that workout, and build it to just over 1000 yards, I’d say find a good masters group and get your workouts from a coach. While it’s important to build strength, technique is about 80-90% of swimming, and you’ll learn that best from a coach. Tom my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

Response:

my warm up is: 100 swim real easy 50 kick easy 50 swim easy The workout is: 8 25’s w/ 10 seconds rest between 100 swim down real easy.  Total 500 yards What is the best way to increase? This was my first workout in several months and it was challenging, but doable. My shoulders are a bit sore today. I have done one sprint triathlon, but I would like to train smarter for the spring. I will be swimming twice a week. How often and how much should I increase my yardage? What should I shoot for?  My goal is to be able to swim 1/2 mile very comfortably when this springs triathlons start. I will increase my workouts to 3 per week in late January. I will start training in open water in march, but am training in a 25 yard pool for now. Also, I am using the workouts as shown on the www.trinewbies.com website. These workouts look good, but don’t use any pull buoys, and I have heard that pull buoys are important to the triathlete (don’t know why). Should I alter the workouts shown, or does someone have a better source? I am hoping to get the Triathletes Training Bible for Christmas, and hope to learn a lot there. Thanks for any help, jojo

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Question:

How far were you running per week?  How much do you weigh? What are your eating habits?  What is your calcium intake like?  Is it definitely the hip socket or could it be the head of the femur?   Could be a stress fracture of the head of the femur.  Which will not work itself out if you continue to run on it.  Have it checked out by an experienced MD. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do you have any advice/resources for someone with hip pain? In training for a 5K in a triathlon, I started running 8 months ago with no hip pain at all.  About 3 weeks ago my hip socket began to hurt.  When I rest it doesn’t hurt at all, however it gets very stiff and I limp around for several minutes before the pain decreases.  The pain doesn’t seem to slow me down to much in my short 5K runs. I completely quit running for a week.  But continued to swim and do some hiking. This morning my hip seemed almost completely healed.  This afternoon, I ran a 5K.  By then end of the run, I was definitely limping and now I am limping around the house again. I’m 28 years old.  Should I worry about hip pain? Or will it work itself out?

– Regards, Dave I’d love to think that there’s an end just waiting right around the bend, but every turn’s a tunnel.        I descend I’m the running man… Edward Ka Spell and kEvin Key, The Last Man to Fly, 1991

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I posted previously under the subject "Trochanteric Bursitis."   Might want to look it up from a few days ago.   It’s at least a reasonable hypothesis.                                              Michael

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Do you have any advice/resources for someone with hip pain? In training for a 5K in a triathlon, I started running 8 months ago with no hip pain at all.  About 3 weeks ago my hip socket began to hurt.  When I rest it doesn’t hurt at all, however it gets very stiff and I limp around for several minutes before the pain decreases.  The pain doesn’t seem to slow me down to much in my short 5K runs. I completely quit running for a week.  But continued to swim and do some hiking. This morning my hip seemed almost completely healed.  This afternoon, I ran a 5K.  By then end of the run, I was definitely limping and now I am limping around the house again. I’m 28 years old.  Should I worry about hip pain? Or will it work itself out?

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Question:

The Great Floridian Triathlon is the best Iron-bargain around! If you take advantage of the early entry discount, this year’s early entry fee of $175 was one-half of what you would expect to pay for most other Iron-distance events. Next year’s early entry fee will be $200, postmarked by January 15 for the October 20, 2001 race. The GFT is held in Clermont, Florida, just minutes away from the number one tourist destination in the World, Orlando, FL. If you don’t want to do the tourist thing, the beaches of either coast are about an hour’s drive away. The race also takes place in Florida’s off-season, so travel and lodging is inexpensive and the area attractions are not crowded. You will not de disappointed in the Great Floridian Triathlon. The community totally embraces the event and the event staff makes sure the athletes are pampered. While the Great Floridian Triathlon does not license the official Ironman name, it is the largest independent iron-distance race in the world and serves as the 2000 & 2001 USA Triathlon National Championship for this distance. It is Florida’s original iron-distance race and this year will celebrate its 10th Anniversary! Check out greatfloridian.com for more information. Fred Sommer, Race Director

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking to hit my first IM distance next year, but am a little concerned about costs associated with getting to do one. Any cost estimates for a big race? I’m talking bike plane costs, plane tickets, rental cars, hotels at such races, entry fees, meal costs for a week or two stay,etc. Can anyone also recommend any races that offer something for family members.  My wife gave me a wierd look when I mentioned going to Lake Placid or Northern California for a vacation. Before you buy.

Response:

I’m looking to hit my first IM distance next year, but am a little concerned about costs associated with getting to do one.

Everyone has addressed the dollar costs. You might want to figure on the time costs. From what I have seen among my friends, you can pretty much figure that you will be doing nothing but swimming, biking, running obsessively to the exclusion of almost all else in your life. When you are not actually sweating out a workout, you will be thinking about the next one. It will be your life until the race. Ken

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Everyone has addressed the dollar costs. You might want to figure on the time costs. From what I have seen among my friends, you can pretty much figure that you will be doing nothing but swimming, biking, running obsessively to the exclusion of almost all else in your life. When you are not actually sweating out a workout, you will be thinking about the next one. It will be your life until the race. Ken

But, damn we love it! : )~ B.Oliver

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m looking to hit my first IM distance next year, but am a little concerned about costs associated with getting to do one. Any cost estimates for a big race? I’m talking bike plane costs, plane tickets, rental cars, hotels at such races, entry fees, meal costs for a week or two stay,etc. Can anyone also recommend any races that offer something for family members.  My wife gave me a wierd look when I mentioned going to Lake Placid or Northern California for a vacation. Before you buy.

This is my budget to do IMNZ next year – Cost in Australian Dollars New wetsuit (I hate the cold and the old one was getting a bit worn) – $500 Airfare – $1000 Accomodation – $1000 Rental Car – ??? Entry Fees- $385 Food – ??? incidentals – ??? All up I’m budgeting around $6000 for me and the tri-spouse to get away for a week. For US people that about $3500 US. This may be a little high but I’m going to enjoy myself without worrying about how much I’m spending. AJ

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Ironman California is in Northern San Diego County. The wife and kids could go to Sea World or the San Diego Zoo, etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking to hit my first IM distance next year, but am a little concerned about costs associated with getting to do one. Any cost estimates for a big race? I’m talking bike plane costs, plane tickets, rental cars, hotels at such races, entry fees, meal costs for a week or two stay,etc. Can anyone also recommend any races that offer something for family members.  My wife gave me a wierd look when I mentioned going to Lake Placid or Northern California for a vacation. Before you buy.

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I would budget $2000, $350 for entry, $500 for airfare for 2 if lucky, $800 for accomodations(could be less in place like IM Florida, where it is off season), $200 for Expo(got to load up on goodies), $150 for food, etc. Probably better to say $2500, and hope you have some change!!!

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I’m looking to hit my first IM distance next year, but am a little concerned about costs associated with getting to do one. Any cost estimates for a big race? I’m talking bike plane costs, plane tickets, rental cars, hotels at such races, entry fees, meal costs for a week or two stay,etc. Can anyone also recommend any races that offer something for family members.  My wife gave me a wierd look when I mentioned going to Lake Placid or Northern California for a vacation. Before you buy.

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Question:

Steve Fleck writes For a 1/2 Ironman, the reality is that only the hardcore triathlete is going to show up.

Damn right!!!  I’ll see you there!!!

Response:

   …<snip… It is becoming apparent that the skills and fitness needed to be competitive at the Olympic distance and record the times you mentioned, are related to but very different than the ones needed to do well at the Ironman distance… While challenging, getting to the finishline of an Olympic distance race is not quite in the same league as an Ironman…

But of course, just finishing the race doesn’t get you an IQ spot anywhere (with a couple special exceptions). Being a damn fast triathlete gets you an IQ spot. There are two different issues being debated here. One is whether or not an olympic distance race should be an IQ or not. That’s certainly a valid topic for debate (although it’s WTC’s race and they can pass out their spots any way they choose, it’s more than that too and I hope that they do listen to the community input when making such decisions). The other topic that Ken introduced is what was inflammatory and, IMHO, absurd. That is that these IQ’s "diminish" IMH and that someone who qualified at an olympic distance race should be "somewhat embarrassed" to be be there. The men and women who qualified for IMH at an olympic distance race did what everyone else who qualified at a race did. They went to an official, advertised IQ race, performed extraordinarily well over the advertised distance, and _earned_ their slot. Debate the distance issue all you want. Frankly, not having expectations of ever qualifying at any distance nor enough relevant longer distance race experience, I don’t have a basis for really strong feelings on that one way or the other. But I know that those folks out in Kona who got there via St A’s, Memphis, Mrs T’s, etc. earned their spots just as surely as anyone else. Debate whether slots should exist for those races if you will but don’t diminish the accomplishments of those who went there and won them.   — Chuck    Department of Biology,  University of Alabama at Birmingham             http://www.uab.edu/uabbio/amsler.htm

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IMHO, from what I can tell its a bit more difficult to qualify for IMH at St.A’s than at Ironman Canada, given the competition and rolldowns.  If you are that fast to qualify at an Olypic distance than you should be at IMH.  I prefer longer races and training at longer distances, becuase that is my strength, I get faster as I go along on both the bike and run, but we are all made up differently.

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The Ironman itself is dimished when it allows a short version race to be an IQ. <snip Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race. See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly.

Gee, Ken, all that sure sounds like flame bait to me, did you intend it to be so? There are some other things you might consider. The expense of traveling is just one of them. The wear and tear of doing multiple qualifiers in one season, all half IM distance, when you might save your body a little bit by qualifying at an olympic distance, is another one. For those of us who are not gifted enough to be in the top 5 percent of our age groups, we have to go to numerous qualifiers to improve our chances to qualify. We are going to whatever race, whatever distance. We don’t have the mentality of "oh, a wimpy little olympic distance, just a little training race, I’ll go there because it’s just SOOO easy." I think you’re way off base by stating that olympic distance is not a challenge. Have you been to age group nationals lately? Have you seen how intense and how close in times the competition is in each age group? It takes a tremendous fitness level to excel at the olympic distance. This is the same outstanding fitness level that is required to train and race any IM distance. Maybe you have not had to work hard to qualify for Hawaii? So you don’t understand what most of us go through when we are not the top 5 pecent of our age group and still want to qualify? Cathy Corning

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Cathy: I couldn’t have said it better, so all I will say is that I agree 100%. I consistently finish in the top 10%-15%, yet I have very little chance of qualifying!! Andy Weissel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Ironman itself is dimished when it allows a short version race to be an IQ. <snip Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race. See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly. Gee, Ken, all that sure sounds like flame bait to me, did you intend it to be so? There are some other things you might consider. The expense of traveling is just one of them. The wear and tear of doing multiple qualifiers in one season, all half IM distance, when you might save your body a little bit by qualifying at an olympic distance, is another one. For those of us who are not gifted enough to be in the top 5 percent of our age groups, we have to go to numerous qualifiers to improve our chances to qualify. We are going to whatever race, whatever distance. We don’t have the mentality of "oh, a wimpy little olympic distance, just a little training race, I’ll go there because it’s just SOOO easy." I think you’re way off base by stating that olympic distance is not a challenge. Have you been to age group nationals lately? Have you seen how intense and how close in times the competition is in each age group? It takes a tremendous fitness level to excel at the olympic distance. This is the same outstanding fitness level that is required to train and race any IM distance. Maybe you have not had to work hard to qualify for Hawaii? So you don’t understand what most of us go through when we are not the top 5 pecent of our age group and still want to qualify? Cathy Corning

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Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race… Boy, me too. Imagine being there on Dig Me Beach this weekend and having to admit that I’d gone 2:01 at St A’s or Memphis this year and taken one of those wimpy IQ slots in my age group. Gosh, anybody can do that. Oh, the shame, the shame…

No, not anyne can go 2:01, but anyone who wins their age group can go, it doesn’t have to be 2:01. If you can go 2:01, fine, but you still did it over a 1/4 Im distance. It is not a factor of speed, it is a factor of challenge that at least pushes the athlete beyond speed into a zone that at least mimics in some fashion the challenge you may face at IM. Boulder Peak does not do that. Desert Sun does. There is no question there. The fact of BP taking the IM IQ spots from Desert Sun is one of profile and politics. Boulder Peak is highly successful, even without having added the duathlon option. Ken

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I shouldn’t respond because it prolongs this (probably) useless discussion. Every distance is challenging for different reasons. IMO the shorter races hurt more & are more unforgiving when it comes to mistakes. The longer ones are more discomforting, not the same kind of pain as in short/fast races. I like them all, for different reasons. All the athletes deserve respect in finishing high in their age group or overall. IMO the shorter races should not be qualifiers for Ironman. Just makes sense. I don’t mean to take anything away from the great races that are put on yearly. I wish they all could exist & make RD’s enough money to keep them in the business. I’m not saying that the entry fees should continue their current course, though(different thread).      My real reason for this long post is that nobody should be blaming the Boulder Peak for "stealing" the IQ spots from Desert Sun. It is in the best interest for race directors to pursue these spots. I never thought that BP spots would "come" from another race, as naive as that sounds, so when I heard it might happen I thought "great, 2 IQ’s in Colorado". It is unfortunate that everyone who wants to go to Kona can’t. It is also unfortunate that all good races cannot be qualifiers. Hopefully next year, as in the past, I(we) can enjoy both races(DS & BP) for many reasons besides qualifer status. Good luck to all in your racing, for whatever reason. andy

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Do you even realize the kind of physical power it takes to go fast at an olympic distance race?  If you go slow, of course it’s easy.

Oh, I realize. I am not wiithout experience. I always go fast as I can, but that distance is no where near as taxing as a 1/2 IM, no matter how fast you go. Frankly, I’m disgusted that anyone would dare to suggest that qualifying for IMH at an olympic distance race is embarassing.  Get there any way you can

I’d rather see it earned in a 1/2 IM than an Olympic distance race. There are only so many IM IQ spots to go around in a season, they are finite. That is my only reason for the post on this subject. Seeing as how both these races are in Colorado, and I live in Colorado, I would rather see the spots go to the Desert Sun. I race both races, so it shouldn’t even matter to me, but – it does. Ken

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There are some other things you might consider. The expense of traveling is just one of them. The wear and tear of doing multiple qualifiers in one season, all half IM distance, when you might save your body a little bit by qualifying at an olympic distance, is another one. For those of us who are not gifted enough to be in the top 5 percent of our age groups, we have to go to numerous qualifiers to improve our chances to qualify. We are going to whatever race, whatever distance. We don’t have the mentality of "oh, a wimpy little olympic distance, just a little training race, I’ll go there because it’s just SOOO easy."

Hey cathy, I go through all the above myself. And top 5% doesn’t cut it to qualify for IM. Believe me. And with this situation; BP vs Deasert Sun, they are both in Colorado, so the traveling is not a point if you are only going to do one of them. I think you’re way off base by stating that olympic distance is not a challenge. Have you been to age group nationals lately? Have you seen how intense and how close in times the competition is in each age group? It takes a tremendous fitness level to excel at the olympic distance. This is the same outstanding fitness level that is required to train and race any IM distance.

I am not saying that Olympic distance is not competitive. I am not saying times are not close. I am saying that the distance is NOT a challenge to complete, even at a reasonable speed. A 1/2 IM is.. Maybe you have not had to work hard to qualify for Hawaii? So you don’t understand what most of us go through when we are not the top 5 pecent of our age group and still want to qualify?

Oh, I understand. I have NOT qualified. Wildflower, Buffalo Springs Lake, Desert Sun. The previous year Buff Springs and Vineman. I do have to work hard. Last two years 4th my age group in BP, so I would not make it there either. Trying to keep Desert Sun as an IQ over BP does not stack the deck in any way for me. It is a philospohical thing to believe that IQ should be in 1/2 IM distances when available over the shorter distances. Ken

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   …<snip… Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race…

Boy, me too. Imagine being there on Dig Me Beach this weekend and having to admit that I’d gone 2:01 at St A’s or Memphis this year and taken one of those wimpy IQ slots in my age group. Gosh, anybody can do that. Oh, the shame, the shame…   — Chuck [ 8^), but only a little...]    Department of Biology,  University of Alabama at Birmingham             http://www.uab.edu/uabbio/amsler.htm

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It is strange that even if someone qualifies at BP or Memphis in May that they must then have a verifiable completion of a 1/2 ironman distance that season to actually get into IM.

That is not quite true.  If you qualify at a race, you are in.  If you win a lottery slot, THEN you have to complete a 1/2 IM to actually get in. John Welch

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Steve Fleck writes For a 1/2 Ironman, the reality is that only the hardcore triathlete is going to show up. Exactly, Steve, and those are the people who are vying for IM spots at those events. The Ironman itself is dimished when it allows a short version race to be an IQ. It is strange that even if someone qualifies at BP or Memphis in May that they must then have a verifiable completion of a 1/2 ironman distance that season to actually get into IM. Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race. See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly. Ken Lotze

This has got to be the silliest thing I have ever heard.  Do you even realize the kind of physical power it takes to go fast at an olympic distance race?  If you go slow, of course it’s easy.  I won’t make the (obviously ridiculous) counterargument that an IM distance race is "not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly" since it is really too slow to be called a race, and it is not really a race anyway, just a war of attrition. I’ll bet that Chris McCormack (among scores of others) would be particularly amused by your remarks.  Imagine, if you will, coming out of the water at an olympic distance race in eighteen minutes, going through the bike leg in fifty, and still having the legs to run 31 minutes for ten kilometers, maybe faster. Naw, too easy. Do you think that any distance runner in their right mind would consider skipping a track meet because the mile is "not a significant challenge"?  Naw, that 4:00 mile is too easy.  That 13:30 5k just isn’t challenging.  Let me at a three hour marathon any day. Frankly, I’m disgusted that anyone would dare to suggest that qualifying for IMH at an olympic distance race is embarassing.  Get there any way you can, and then show them what you’ve got.  Better for you if you qualified at a short race. You’ve got the speed to kick some serious ass. Whew.  Sorry for that rant.  Have a good time at Ironman, everyone. Will

Response:

Will, I think what ken was alluding to was the fact that while an Olympic distance race and an Ironman are similar they are not exactly the same event.Would/could someone qualify for the National Championships or Olympic Trials in the 10,000m by running a 1500m race? A few years ago, the best short course triathletes in the world were also the best ironman distance triathletes in the world. Molina, Scott, Allan and Tinley would win races at any distance. However over the last five years athletes have been specializing and focussing on one event or the other. It is a rare athlete that can currently claim to be at the top of their game at both distances within the same year(Greg Welch?) Even Allan addmitted as much a few years ago when just prior to winning his final time at IMH ie. he was in great shape, he was trounced in a world class Olympic distance race, claiming that he could not keep up with these guys. It is becoming apparent that the skills and fitness needed to be competitive at the Olympic distance and record the times you mentioned, are related to but very different than the ones needed to do well at the Ironman distance. While the Ironman races are getting more and more competitive, with some close finishes recently( Reid & Legh 5 sec apart at IMA in April), most Ironman races, with all due respect, and despite the glory that many heap upon them, are races of attrition. As you point out, to "race" an ironman is a bit of a misnomer. Even many of the big guns will admit that just getting to the finish line is an accomplishment and the only real stimulus that keeps them going.While challenging, getting to the finishline of an Olympic distance race is not quite in the same league as an Ironman. Perhaps that is why then that many are not that happy about Olympic distance races being qualifiers for IMH. Just a thought. Steve Fleck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Steve Fleck writes For a 1/2 Ironman, the reality is that only the hardcore triathlete is going to show up. Exactly, Steve, and those are the people who are vying for IM spots at those events. The Ironman itself is dimished when it allows a short version race to be an IQ. It is strange that even if someone qualifies at BP or Memphis in May that they must then have a verifiable completion of a 1/2 ironman distance that season to actually get into IM. Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race. See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly. Ken Lotze This has got to be the silliest thing I have ever heard.  Do you even realize the kind of physical power it takes to go fast at an olympic distance race?  If you go slow, of course it’s easy.  I won’t make the (obviously ridiculous) counterargument that an IM distance race is "not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly" since it is really too slow to be called a race, and it is not really a race anyway, just a war of attrition. I’ll bet that Chris McCormack (among scores of others) would be particularly amused by your remarks.  Imagine, if you will, coming out of the water at an olympic distance race in eighteen minutes, going through the bike leg in fifty, and still having the legs to run 31 minutes for ten kilometers, maybe faster. Naw, too easy. Do you think that any distance runner in their right mind would consider skipping a track meet because the mile is "not a significant challenge"?  Naw, that 4:00 mile is too easy.  That 13:30 5k just isn’t challenging.  Let me at a three hour marathon any day. Frankly, I’m disgusted that anyone would dare to suggest that qualifying for IMH at an olympic distance race is embarassing.  Get there any way you can, and then show them what you’ve got.  Better for you if you qualified at a short race. You’ve got the speed to kick some serious ass. Whew.  Sorry for that rant.  Have a good time at Ironman, everyone. Will

Response:

See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly. Ken Lotze

I just wonder what the logic is behind taking spots from a hot, humid, demanding course and giving them to a race like Boulder Peak. I like BP, very nice race and all. This whole thing just seems awfully political to me. — Clay T

Response:

Steve Fleck writes For a 1/2 Ironman, the reality is that only the hardcore

triathlete is going to show up. Exactly, Steve, and those are the people who are vying for IM spots at those events. The Ironman itself is dimished when it allows a short version race to be an IQ. It is strange that even if someone qualifies at BP or Memphis in May that they must then have a verifiable completion of a 1/2 ironman distance that season to actually get into IM. Personally, I would be somewhat embarassed to go to IM and then tell people that I had qualified at a short distnace race. See you all at the 1/2 ironman distances. These are the ones that test us as triathletes. BP, etc.  is a training distance, still fun, but not a significant challenge for anyone training and racing tris regularly. Ken Lotze

Response:

Question:

well, if the bike was last, i would hate to be responsible for assigning finishing places, because everyone would finish the bike at the same time, just like they do now. totally pointless. here’s an idea: why doesn’t each ITU racer just ride a stationary bike in the transition area for 50 minutes? it would achieve the same result, and it would cut down on injuries! scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Emma caught them and immediately shot past a labouring Linquist at the start of the run leg. A kilometer out she found the perrenial Jackie Gallagher at her shoulder. What followed was what triathlon is all about and what the spectators came to see – a knock-down, drag-out battle between the two (supposedly) arch enemies. yes, indeed.  that is what the ITU race comes down to: a 10k run.  All else (ie swim, bike) is meaningless. David, Guess what? If the bike was last, it would come down to the bike and if the swim was last it would come down to the swim. Steve Fleck

Response:

Emma caught them and immediately shot past a labouring Linquist at the start of the run leg. A kilometer out she found the perrenial Jackie Gallagher at her shoulder. What followed was what triathlon is all about and what the spectators came to see – a knock-down, drag-out battle between the two (supposedly) arch enemies.

Sorry but IMHO, Emma Carney isn’t even in the same league as Michelle Jones. Any fast runner could do what the ITU drafters do.  Sit in, spin, keep the HR down to about 110, and wait for the annoying bike portion to end.  I’m not impressed.  Carney and Jones go head to head in a real triathlon and Carney gots her bacon smoked. Gary McMurtrey Inland Inferno Triathlon Club http://members.aol.com/infernotri/home.htm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Emma caught them and immediately shot past a labouring Linquist at the start of the run leg. A kilometer out she found the perrenial Jackie Gallagher at her shoulder. What followed was what triathlon is all about and what the spectators came to see – a knock-down, drag-out battle between the two (supposedly) arch enemies. Sorry but IMHO, Emma Carney isn’t even in the same league as Michelle Jones. Any fast runner could do what the ITU drafters do.  Sit in, spin, keep the HR down to about 110, and wait for the annoying bike portion to end.  I’m not impressed.  Carney and Jones go head to head in a real triathlon and Carney gots her bacon smoked. Gary McMurtrey Inland Inferno Triathlon Club http://members.aol.com/infernotri/home.htm

I don’t recall seeing Jones do any of the pulling on the bike, Carney was the one pulling most of the time. If Jones was all that good, she could of done her share of the pull. Carney is capable of beating Jones in both drafting and non-drafting races.

Response:

Question:

Something doesn’t seem right with the math.     According to the 1996 official results, there were 1416 swim finishers. (I assume that the actual number of people allowed in exceeds 1416 by virtue of some people getting sick/injured or not showing up because of last minute problems.)  My understanding is that the first 50 finishers get a "bye" on qualifing for next year and that about 150 people get in via the lottery.  Still, when you add these to all the slots available in the races Katerine listed, it still comes up to only 613 slots.  I assume there are a few more non-USA qualifiers, but are they letting 800 people in?  How are all the other people getting in?                 Top 50 from the year before      50                 Lottery                         150                 Age Group slots (USA)           324                 Pro Slots (USA)                  49                 Non US Qualifiers                40                                    TOTAL=== 613 USA QUALIFIERS St. Anthony

Question:

I’m also considering buying a new bike this year and I’m only willing to spend $2000.  I’ve decided that it will either be a QR kilo or Trek 5000. My major concern is what are the advantages and disadvantages of 26" vs. 700cm wheels?  I was told a while ago, but can’t remember all of the details the height and weight of the rider determines which is better or something like that. Are there any other important differnces between these two bikes? -rjh

Response:

I’m also considering buying a new bike this year and I’m only willing to spend $2000.  I’ve decided that it will either be a QR kilo or Trek 5000.

Considering the inarguable logic of the theory of specificity, if you are a triathlete, buy a triathlon bike. My major concern is what are the advantages and disadvantages of 26" vs. 700cm wheels?  I was told a while ago, but can’t remember all of the details the height and weight of the rider determines which is better or something like that. I rode a coverted road bike for some time and have just bought a tri-bike with 26" wheels – the acid test for me was 2mph increase in speed over any course with no obvious corresponding increase in effort. I love it. It handles better, I feel I’m transferring more power to the back wheel and I’ve got it set up so that it’s more comfortable to ride than the road bike even with more agressive seat/aero bar positioning. Top bar length is important however. Although I’m 6′ tall I have short legs and a longer torso so you need to be correctly measured for your new baby. Are there any other important differnces between these two bikes?

Yeah one is a road bike and one isn’t. Dougal Macdonald – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -rjh

Response:

I’m also considering buying a new bike this year and I’m only willing to spend $2000.  I’ve decided that it will either be a QR kilo or Trek 5000. My major concern is what are the advantages and disadvantages of 26" vs. 700cm wheels?  I was told a while ago, but can’t remember all of the details the height and weight of the rider determines which is better or something like that.

26" wheels seem to be the standard for triathlons, even for big people.  I don’t like the idea of using them because there are fewer chioces for tires and fewer bike shops that carry them. Are there any other important differnces between these two bikes?

Yes, a very important difference – seat tube angle.  Trek bikes have a shallower seat tube angle, which is used by roadies who spend most of their time drafting, sitting up relatively high. QR bikes have a steep seat tube angle which is nice for triathletes who spend most of their time in the aero position, and who have to run after they ride.  QR has an excellent description of the importance of seat tube angle on their website at <http://www.rooworld.com. — Dan Reiley, Ph.D.     Bell Labs       Naperville, IL

Response:

I’m also considering buying a new bike this year and I’m only willing to spend $2000.  I’ve decided that it will either be a QR kilo or Trek 5000.

<snip Are there any other important differnces between these two bikes?

I have no experience with 26" wheels nor QR bicycles. I do have experience with the Trek OCLV/5000 series frames. This is what I have written below.  You can compare/add this to your database of QR and Trek responses.   The Trek OCLV bikes come with 700c wheels.  The frame has tremendous lateral (side-to-side) stiffness, compared to the aluminum and steel bikes that I have ridden.  Stomping and mashing the pedals on a hill produces a "stiffness" feel in the frame, telling me that it is not flexing much.   Reduced flex means increased power transmission (subjectively speaking from a chemical engineer’s point-of-view).   All of the frame joints are oversized and beefy, adding to the strength of these very light frames (mine weighs 2.5 lbs or so!). While laterally stiff, the OCLV frame has a quiet and vibration free ride, when I compare again to my aluminum and steel bikes of days gone by.  Slight bumps and roughness in the road are smoothed by the carbon frame and fork.   During my two Ironman rides and all the training (on my Trek 5200), I never suffered from discomfort-induced fatigue.   The OCLV frame has an unusual configuration around the btm. bracket.  Looking carefully, the axis of the spindle is behind the long axis of the seat tube.  This places the pedals more under the saddle, and thus a slight forward positioning results.  I do not know if Trek accounted for this when they report seat tube angles.  I have a Control Tech seatpost turned backwards to give me a *little* more forward positioning (1.5 cm perhaps).  Everything else on the bike is original equipment.   The components on my bike (Shimano 600) have held up extremely well, despite occasional abuses of riding in crappy weather and getting sand/grit everywhere.   I spent about $1800 on my bike when new.  It was money well spent, as the Trek is a fine machine.  Would I buy another one? Yes, if only I had the money … -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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Question:

…..back!    Normally I do not like to do this and since I live in Boulder I will get some crap for posting this, but what the heck. I just recently heard that Dave plans to race the 1996 Hawaii Ironman so I wanted RST to be in the know. I am very exited since the 4 times I have been in Kona I have never had the pleasure of watching Dave run back on the Queen K as I go out. He has not raced when I have. So cool! There may be more scoop later so hang on..   — Luis Vargas Visual Software Solutions

Response:

I sure would like this to be true as I am a big fan of Dave’s, but with the race still 7 weeks off, alot is subject to change….especially with Dave.  He is well-known for his meticulous  training and preparation, in part because it’s his athletic nature and in part because of the enormous expectations weighing on him when racing IMH. If that training is not at the point he feels it needs to be, he is unlikely to race, sponsorship demands or not. His legend in this subculture will always be intact, he truly has nothing left to prove, but he still risks more from a marketing and reputation standpoint than the various 25 year-old German phenoms who, great as they are, have yet to win. Having said all that,  I believe that at age 43 he would have a better than 50-50 chance of being in the top 5 simply because of his enormous experience and drive. And there you go, I’ve just added to the expectation game.     His performance out there in 1994 remains one of the great unknown (outside of our triathlon world) stories in all of world-class athletics. Almost 41 years old, 2 children, 5 years away from the event…the "Man" indeed. (And his wife Anna must be a terrific story as well!) Keep us posted Luis! Mark      

Response:

…..back!    Normally I do not like to do this and since I live in Boulder I will get some crap for posting this, but what the heck. I just recently heard that Dave plans to race the 1996 Hawaii Ironman so I wanted RST to be in the know. I am very exited since the 4 times I have been in Kona I have never had the pleasure of watching Dave run back on the Queen K as I go out. He has not raced when I have. So cool! There may be more scoop later so hang on..   — Luis Vargas

I heard the same thing on Friday 9/6 at Muncie.   I don’t know who it was that told me (in the lobby of the convention center), but he said that "only 30 people know this right now".   He probably told the next person, "only 31 people know this right now"…. Just George

Response:

Hello, I am competeing in a biathalon in Central Park on Sept 22nd, consisting of a short 2.5 mile run, 12 mile bike, and 2.5 mile run.  I was wondering if anyone had any helpful hints or tips concerning any last two week preparations I should be doing.   I have no experience with these types of races and would welcome and appreciate any input. Thank you very much, in advance. John —                                 someone else might have                                 said to you."

Response:

…..back!    Normally I do not like to do this and since I live in Boulder I will get some crap for posting this, but what the heck. I just recently heard that Dave plans to race the 1996 Hawaii Ironman so I wanted RST to be in the know. I am very exited since the 4 times I have been in Kona I have never had the pleasure of watching Dave run back on the Queen K as I go out. He has not raced when I have. So cool! There may be more scoop later so hang on.. — Luis Vargas Visual Software Solutions

Check out Inside Triathlon HOme Page, they have more information on The Man and his quest.

Response:

With only a 2.5 mile run, the vast majority of the field will hit the T1 within three minutes of the leaders.  That usually makes for real mayhem on the bike course.  Depending on how strong a runner or cyclist you are, that should affect you approach to how much you exert yourself on each leg of the race. Good Luck, and congratualtions in advance on a personal best!  : )

Response:

With only a 2.5 mile run, the vast majority of the field will hit the T1 within three minutes of the leaders.  

Either you have slow "leaders", or your "middle-of-packers" are truly awesome.  Figuring 4:40, or heck, even 5:00 miles for the leaders, being in a race where the "vast majority" run better than 6:00 miles would be pretty amazing. I think it’s safe to say it’ll be getting a lot busier in T1 about that time, but not *that* busy….. Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles

Response:

: Either you have slow "leaders", or your "middle-of-packers" are truly : awesome.  Figuring 4:40, or heck, even 5:00 miles for the leaders, : being in a race where the "vast majority" run better than 6:00 miles : would be pretty amazing. I agree completely.  Most of our events around DC have 3mi runs, which the leaders usually do around 16 minutes, or 5:20 avg.  Middle of the pack seems to happen usually around 20:30-21:00 or 6:50-7:00 avg.  That’s only 4.5-5 minutes after the leaders.  I was always amazed that the middle of the pack is so quick, when in most road races the middle is much farther back in the 8-9mpm range. — Jason Mayfield     Arlington, VA http://dufus.westga.edu/~zooropa Sick & Twisted Site of the Day: http://dufus.westga.edu/~zooropa/sick.html "Do or do not, there is no ‘try’"  - Yoda     344 Days Until Ironman Canada

Response:

writes: Either you have slow "leaders", or your "middle-of-packers" are truly awesome.  Figuring 4:40, or heck, even 5:00 miles for the leaders, being in a race where the "vast majority" run better than 6:00 miles would be pretty amazing.

Brain fart… I should differentiate between "the leaders" and the front of the MOPers.  It shows where I spend most of my time!  "Leaders" are in another galaxy.  In any case, with a 2 mile opening leg, I still think the mass of humanity will all hit T1 in a very narrow window.  Perhaps even three minutes?

Response:

Run bike run sounds like a Duathlon to me.  At the very least spell biathlon without an "a".  My advice is to just have fun.   The ride around central park can be dangerous.  Watch out for pedestrians, joggers, roller-bladers, horses, etc.  

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Question:

Check out the results on the Triathlete magazine Web site.   URL – http://www.triathletemag.com/Triathlete They were there bright and early monday morning.  Welch Won.   Bill Streed, SF

Response:

need results on st. anthony’s  race asap. top 10 overall male/female. thanks

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