One foot in front of the other.
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Win a portable solar panel from Brunton!
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THIS GUY!
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Lake Success, N.Y. (June 1, 2011) – Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies, today introduced the RCX5. Building on decades of experience, and a heritage of precision excellence in product design and functionality, the RCX5 combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with a slew of new features. Ideal for multisport endurance athletes, the RCX5 can accommodate the needs of today’s triathletes who want the best in training intelligence and tracking capabilities. It will be immediately available in “smart black” and will also be sold in “striking red” later this year.
New accessories for the RCX5 include the G5 GPS sensor – an incredibly lightweight and compact sensor which measures speed/pace and distance and provides an online map view of training – as well as the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, which provides heart rate data even when underwater. Additionally, an enhanced s3+ stride sensor is compatible with the RCX5.
“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”
Sport Profiles: Essential for multisport and triathletes, this feature enables users to quickly switch between sports during training. With just a few button presses, this feature quickly adjusts settings to the current sport. It automatically detects any sensors needed, so that no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded into the RCX5, and more can be added based on the user’s preferences.
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge and it depends on many factors, including physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature eliminates guesswork by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user’s current physiological condition. It guides training at the right intensity, making every session more effective.
Race Pace: The perfect feature for regulating speed and race strategy, Race Pace allows users to
set a target time for a certain distance, and then displays the current pace/speed, as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from the target.
Training Load: This feature within polarpersonaltrainer.com displays a color-coded graph of a user’s cumulative training load, notifying a person when he or she has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicting training developments to prevent overtraining. This data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
polarpersonaltrainer.com: Several upgrades have been incorporated into the free online training journal to support the RCX5 users. Users can now create complete endurance training programs for running and cycling, including warm-up, work and cool-down sessions. The training programs can be easily synched to the RCX5 via the DataLink data transfer unit. After each session, it is easy to track progress online over time.
New RCX5 Compatible Accessories:
G5 GPS sensor: The extremely small G5 GPS sensor measures speed/pace and distance and allows users to see their route on the new map view at polarpersonaltrainer.com after a session. Incredibly light (34g) and worn with a soft, flexible armband, the G5 has an 18-hour battery life and can be recharged via micro USB.
s3+ stride sensor: The s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate speed/pace and distance measurement. This small and lightweight (23g) sensor is shock and water resistant, handling even the most demanding runs. By monitoring running cadence and average stride length, s3+ can help improve running technique. The RCX5 can also calculate your Running Index, which scores a run, based on speed and distance data from the GPS or stride sensor. While cycling, users can get speed, distance and cadence measured by adding Polar cycling sensors using W.I.N.D. technology.
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter: The RCX5 provides heart rate data even in water with a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter. It transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.
Product Sets Available:
RCX5 Bike (MSRP $389.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
CS speed sensor W.I.N.D.
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Run (MSRP $419.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
s3+ stride sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Multi (MSRP $469.95)
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
G5 GPS sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Basic Set (MSRP $349.95) (Available July 2011):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
The RCX5 is also compatible with the existing G3 GPS sensor W.I.N.D. and the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
Alberto Contador gets one step closer to racing the Tour de France
Heat training by Torbjørn Sindballe
American Trail Running Association
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When I injured my achilles this winter on some ice, I thought I had just pulled my calf and went about stretching and rolling and the like to “work it out”. That was a mistake and I paid the price for it dearly.
Now I am finally beginning to get some speed back in my legs. Even my speed runs of late have felt very laborious and not in the fun, I’m pushing myself, way. I’ve been feeling sluggish and just unable to feel like I was really throwing down any speed (**important note** As always, speed for me is slow for many others and is a gut wrenching sprint for still others. Take what I say about speed as being about MY speed, not anyone else’s).
My run yesterday followed a brick the previous day which involved a 2.5 hour (hilly) ride followed by an hour and fifteen minute run at half marathon pace. My quads, feeling trashed from my ride, didn’t really feel like letting me go at my half-mary pace (normally about 7-7:15/mile) and kept me very humble at around 7:45-8:00 a mile. At the end of the day I made sure to do a bunch of stretching and some likely horribly incorrect yoga poses to get my legs loosened up.
My assigned run for yesterday was for 1:45:00 at my planned Ironman race pace, which I’m honestly still trying to figure out. The day was comfortably warm-ish at around 69F with a ridiculous amount of humidity and rain showers off and on. I started out and took the first ten minutes easy as told. Once my warm up was over I began to pick up the pace. I found myself at about 7:40 a mile and sitting comfortably in mid-zone 3, feeling good and cruising along.
As I ran, the weather seemed to be picking up and the rain started to come on a bit more consistently. At about the 47 minute mark the downpour began and I saw a MASSIVE bolt of lightening less than a half mile away from me. This was my cue to start hauling ass and to get home.
Feeling kind of exhilarated by the weather, I noticed my pace creeping down a bit. At this point I was right around 7:15 per mile. By the time I was 2.5 miles out from home I decided to kick it up several notches and run the last 2.5 miles in upper zone 3, low zone 4. This put me right about 6:30 a mile and it felt truly great!
I know I wasn’t exactly following Jeff’s workout assignment but I was really feeling good and it felt great to let my legs respond as they wanted/need to (FINALLY!). I really hope this is the beginning of getting my speed back and being able to really hammer again.
I think I’ve floated the possibility of this event several times since I got involved in triathlon and it looks like the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) has been on the same wavelength as well. Bloomberg news is reporting that the WTC is in talks with Korff Enterprises, the company that operates the Nautica NYC Triathlon, to bring the 140.6 mile event to New York City.
While the event has been (and continues to be) in the negotiation stage for the better part of seven years, John Korff insists that it’s still a ways off.
The catch to an event of this magnitude being in NYC is, as the article linked below points out, the time factor. Ironman events give competitors 17 hours to complete an event, which would mean a huge amount of the city being blocked off and/or shut down for a big chunk of time. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the 17 hours mark is not a lump amount of time that racers have to complete the course. Races, which typically start at 7 AM, give competitors 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete the 2.4 mile swim portion, until 5:30 PM to complete the 112 mile bike portion and until midnight to complete the marathon portion.
The logistics of a race like this would be a nightmare but if it could be pulled off it is certain to be an epic, marquis event for Ironman.
[Bloomberg.com - Ironman Targets Wall Street Endurance Athletes With NYC Event]
Legally Blind woman wins the Flying Pig Marathon!
Triathlete stops, mid-race, to save a life.
Man REALLY gets “natural” and tries to run a marathon…NAKED!
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In an epic show of badassery, Teresa McCoy, 37, of Tampa stopped during the bike leg of the well know St. Anthony’s Triathlon to save a life.
McCoy, who is a nurse by profession noticed a fellow racer being looked at by police officers. She decided that she would pull off the course to see if she could help. The officers, who believed the man to be having a seizure had apparently not taken his pulse. Upon checking, McCoy didn’t feel any signs of life. She immediately began CPR while calling for a defibrillator, which one of the officers had in his truck. Immediately after shocking him, her fellow athlete came to. Having answered the call of duty, McCoy got back on her bike and finished the race!
Teresa McCoy, we salute you!
[St. Petersburg Times - Tampa woman saves man's life, then finishes triathlon]
I wear Swedish goggles when I swim and I have been for the past twenty years (kind of partial to Malmsten). They’re light, cheap and have a great field of vision. Unfortunately they almost always come with a cheap, rubber strap that breaks after about 3 months of use. My solution? The Speedo Universal Oggle replacement strap.
The Oggle is a silicone tube strap that fits my particular brand of goggles perfectly. There is an adjustable spring barrel that makes adjusting them a very quick and easy process. Having taken a look around the interwebs I’ve seen several people saying that the tube shape of the strap doesn’t fit their particular goggle retention setup. To address this, Speedo also makes the Universal Oggle 2.0, but we have yet to try it out.
There’s really not much one can say for a goggle strap review except that it works. I have just managed to snap my first Oggle and that was at the end of 3+ years of faithful service. The silicone is soft enough to be easily worn, yet offers plenty of strength. I have since bought another and I’m looking forward to buying yet another in 3 or so years.
Click here to visit the Speedo website | Click here to buy on Amazon
Leave a comment on this episode (142) and be entered to win a FREE pair of Stuffitts!!
Geoffrey Mutai wants his world record
Haile Gebrselassie weighs in on the marathon world record (sort of)
2011 Boston Marathon is not Kara Goucher’s day
Ironman Louisville gets five more years
2011 Ironman World Championship Lottery Results
A closer look at “balance” bracelets, necklaces and the like
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Come see me sing with Christopher McDougall and Co. at the Naked Tour!
I am now coaching! If you’re interested, email me at info@ironbrandon.com
Get up to THREE entries to win a Sony NWZ-W252 (pictured) by doing the following:
Entry one: Comment on Episode 140 of the IronBrandon Show [LINK]
Entry two: Have someone else leave a comment and refer your name (that way you BOTH get an entry!)
Entry three: Tweet the following: Listen to the IronBrandon Show 140 and be entered to win a Sony MP3 player! http://goo.gl/p9PCV #IB140
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Natural running clinic in Milwaukee THIS WEEKEND!
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So the wait is over! Here are some details on the new RCX5 training computer. This is a cutting-edge product ideal for endurance sports, with some exciting new features to coach you in planning, training and analyzing your performance in detail.
Some new features:
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge as your condition changes every day depending on a number of factors, including your physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature in the RCX5 takes out the guesswork by adjusting your personal heart rate zones for every training session based on your current physiological condition. It will guide you to train at the right intensity to get the training effect you want, making your every session more effective.
Sport Specific Training: The RCX5 gives you sport-specific training data based on your personal settings. So the display views, training zones and more can be customized based on your sport. When you are doing brick workouts or racing, you can switch these sport profiles within seconds. Button pressing should be the least of your worries during transition, so we designed the feature along with the wrist unit design/button location to make this as easy as possible.
Swimming & Indoor Workouts: The RCX5 comes with the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, making it ideal for triathlon and off season training. The transmitter has a dual signal, so it will transmit, display and record heart rate in the water. Also, the WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter can be used to transmit heart rate to treadmills and other exercise equipment that is Polar ready.
New Sensors: New sensors will also be part of the RCX5 launch!
G5 GPS Sensor: The small G5 GPS sensor is rechargeable via mini USB. We will post a few pictures of this soon, but let us tell you, THIS THING IS SMALL.
s3+ stride sensor: The new s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate running pace and distance measurement.
And of course in the saddle you can get your speed, distance and cadence measured by adding compatible Polar W.I.N.D. cycling sensors.
With the sensor accessories, RCX5 keeps up with you in the water, on the saddle, during your run, and online.
There will also be big upgrades at polarpersonaltrainer.com to support multisport athletes in their training. Here are just a few:
The RCX5 will be available in two colors, the smart black and the striking red, and in four different product sets with different sensors. All black RCX5 sets will be available between May and July. The striking red color design will be available in all four set combinations in late September 2011. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
How can you stay updated on RCX5 and other Polar news?
Stay tuned on Facebook
Sign up for the Polar Newsletter http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/newsletter
And if you are on Twitter – Follow Chris @ twitter.com/chrispolarusa where he’ll be posting snapshots, video and more of the RCX5 in action.
Leave a comment HERE to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
If you’re in the Milwaukee/Madison/Chicago area come meet us for a run this Saturday, March 26 at 10 AM at:
Alterra Coffee
1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr [Click the address for a map]
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414.223.4551
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Sally Meyerhoff killed in cycling accident
Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp
Kara Goucher declares, “I’m back”
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Women’s Odds
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Men’s Odds
2011 Boston Marathon adds a third wave to the start
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Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC)
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Sorry for such a short episode guys! The new (for the next few weeks) live streaming time will be at 8 PM EST on THURSDAYS!! To join in go to: ironbrandon.com/live
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After famously un-retiring in 2008 to return to the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong has once again officially retired. Sitting down in an interview with the Associated Press (video below), Armstrong says that he wants to devote his time now to his family and the Livestrong Foundation. Of course, for those of us in the triathlon world, we do expect to see Lance toeing the line at multisport events around the world including the Ironman World Championship in Kona on October.
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Happy Monday and happy Valentine’s day! Today is the beginning of a very interesting period in my life and I thought I’d take a minute to share some thoughts on where it began this morning and where it may be headed. It does have something to do with running, triathlon and the like so, read on!
Achilles
A few weeks back I mentioned that while out on a run on a day with a lot of ice on the ground I
over-extended my trailing leg and “tweaked” my achilles. Since then I’ve had to kind of knock back the intensity of some of my runs and, to be completely honest, I’ve not run 100% pain free since. I’m not sure that I’d call this a true injury per se, but rather a small stumbling block.
I had a run last Friday where I was feeling my oats a little bit and so I took it out quicker than I have been. I wasn’t in pain while running, but I was aware of the tweak. After my run (about 8.5 miles at about 7:00/mile), as soon as I stopped at the front door of my building and began walking in the hallway, my achilles lit up. P-A-I-N. It seemed that the pain came not really when I put pressure on it but rather when I took it off.
I stretched immediately but couldn’t take too much time since I still had to get to work (yes, I managed to make it out for a pre-dawn run). Throughout the day I forced myself to alter my walking gait so as to avoid any pain. I guess I looked like I was limping a bit but it was a self imposed limp rather than my body NEEDING to limp, so that has to be something.
On Saturday morning I headed out the door for a 2.5 hour brick workout. I had spoken to Coach Jeff the night before and he told me to just do the ride and to forget about the run. So my ride, which was scheduled to be 1.5 hours got upped to 2.5 hours. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to ride outside so this was a welcome change from the monotony of the indoor trainer. Upon getting on the bike my achilles, which had been largely immobilized and set in ice for most of the previous day, was feeling quite tight and sore. I made and effort to gently stretch it out when I could and after about 30 minutes of riding it loosened up and even let me ride some large-ish hills harder than I thought I’d be able to.
When not chasing my daughter and packing/cleaning, the rest of the day was spent, leg elevated and on ice. Sunday’s run was also canceled and we’re now in some odd stasis waiting to see how I feel this week. I don’t have a run scheduled until Wednesday and then I hope my patience and wisdom don’t lose out to ego and pigheadedness. There’s no point in sacrificing an entire season for a few missed runs.
As an aside, and not to go down the technical road; when I was home and able to, I spent the ENTIRE weekend in just socks. I even walked my dogs in just socks on Saturday night. When I was barefoot, I hardly felt anything at all. Today I decided to wear a pair of Newton Gravitas‘ to work since they’re effectively flat and thus far, I’m doing well.
The Subway
I got on the subway this morning (the ever so pleasant downtown 1 train) at my usual stop. The train was not very crowded and I easily got a seat at the end of a row. I tend to go for those seats since that means that I’ll only have one person squeezing in beside me rather than two. The train went from my stop (215th St.) to about 110th St. without incident, or even that much of a crowd. At 110th St. a bunch of people got on the train including one of those people who like to stand IN the doorway and block the door for those trying to get on and off the train even though there is plenty of room to stand elsewhere.
It was this door-standing, super classy individual that started my day off on the wrong foot. This guys elbow was just about level with my ear. Since he was holding onto the rail attached to the seat I was sitting in, this is not out of the ordinary and no big deal. However, as the doors would open, he would lean basically into my seat (yes, I’m aware of the sometimes overstated “American bubble” that we prefer and are spoiled with. That said, I’ve been on a subway in Japan at rush hour and I know what “close” really is). Each time he did this he was coming about 9 inches across where he needed to be and he would push, not very hard but just inconsiderately so, his arm into my head. He did not say, “I’m sorry” or even acknowledge this annoying and obvious invasion of my space.
Now, had this been simply an invasion of my “space” and not an actual instance of me being touched repeatedly in the head by some stranger, I would not really have a problem with it. At about 72nd St. there was a rather aggressive push of my head with this guy’s elbow. So, I put my hand on my head, in between my head and his arm and gently moved his arm away and said, “Excuse me, your arm keeps hitting my head.” I didn’t say this loudly of in any kind of a rude tone. The rest of the conversation went like this:
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry?
Douchey McA-hole: I said, don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry but you’ve been hitting me in the head with your arm for the last forty blocks.
Douchey McA-hole: I’m just trying to let people on and off the train.
Me: Well, you could go stand somewhere where you won’t have to do that and hit me in the head.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: If you don’t touch me again then we won’t have a problem.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: Or what?
Douchey McA-hole: *silence*
He got off the train at 59th St. (Columbus Circle) without further incident. I don’t like confrontation, but when I’m put in that situation, with someone literally standing over me (since he was standing and I was sitting) my hackles rise very quickly. However, I did maintain a calm demeanor which was bolstered by the very nice woman next to me who was encouraging me to ignore him since he was clearly “that kind of person”. I just don’t get it. Why do people have to be like that? I was tempted to stand up and just stare at the guy since I had about 20 pounds and 3 inches on him, but I figured that would only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation.
So, Douchey McA-hole, have a happy Monday and I’m not hoping at all that you get dropped like a sack of potatoes by someone with less patience than I have.
Looking forward
Danielle and I are going to Milwaukee this week to sing Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Skylight Opera. Being there will be a nice break from living in New York for a while, though I must admit that I doubt it will instill in me the affection that some feel for this town.
While there I hope to take Gearist TV on tours of SRAM, Saris and Trek Bikes. Gearist is doing well and is further expanding passions of mine that have been emerging for a while. Upon returning from Milwaukee, we will be looking to the future. Our lease is up in October and we are moving. We don’t know where just yet but to us, anywhere is better than here.
The spring and summer will be spent training hard and racing. The biggest race of the season of course, is Ironman Canada. I’m still toying with the idea of doing a 24 hour live podcast to help raise money for Athletes for a Cure (PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE!!). If I do do a live 24 hours show I am certainly going to need people to call in and stop by to keep me awake!
I’ll be touching more on the reasons and desires of our move in the coming months as well as the direction we’re moving in. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
Sites like dailymile are great for several reasons. They’re an easy way to track our training. They’re a wonderful place to be part of a large and encouraging community. They also have this great feature that puts your workout summaries on Twitter automatically (if you have that feature enabled). The coinciding tweet gives a link to your workout as well as the first few lines of detail. If it’s a swim workout, the display says something along the lines of, “@IronBrandon swam XXXX meters in XXX Minutes…” followed by a link. When I see this it really makes me wonder just HOW people are swimming.
A small disclaimer before I begin go on a tear about what I think about swim training: I have been a competitive swimmer since I was about 6 years old and am very used to true “workouts” in the pool. Now, that aside, here’s what I think a workout is; just like any other workout, there are sets and cardio work and long steady work and sprint work and tempo work and on and on. I truly hope that I’m reading all this wrong but I don’t think I am. Much of the swim training that I see seems to be people just getting in the pool and swimming laps for as long as they can take it without being bored to death. This is NOT a swim workout.
It’s true that distance training has its place in swimming, especially if you’re training for a specific long distance event. But, if your training is just a bunch of laps and you wonder why you’re not seeing any speed improvements, you’re not going to see any until you begin to mix it up. The irony is that most of us are aware that we cannot just go out and run without doing something with the run. Whether you add in something as simple as a fartlek or you’re doing a complex step-up run, we know to throw different things at our body so we improve. Swimming is no different.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to a real workout is that many of us don’t have a coach or someone to guide us through a session. Even if you do have a coach, there’s a good chance that they may not be there for your workout and thus the responsibility for pushing yourself has to come from you. You have to be willing to push yourself and to be honest with your times and effort levels. If you cheat, you’re the only one who might truly know, but at the end of the day, your speed and endurance will not progress as they should.
So, where can I find some workouts? There are some great resources online that can give all levels os swimmers a great workout. Here are a few:
So, go swim! Stop just doing laps! Push yourself and get faster. Grab a simple watch and get in the pool, you’ll be amazed what actually WORKING in the pool will do for you.
On a bike, I feel like we often neglect our hands until it’s too late. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself shaking my hands out to get some feeling back after having had it vibrated away by the roughness of the road, or just because my gloves were falling apart prematurely.
The Sugoi RS glove sits at the top of the heap in their fingerless cycling glove lineup. Encased in its synthetic leather palm is Sugoi’s V-Control foam, which spans across the entire area of pressure points. The palm contains vent holes that allow air to circulate to help keep sweat under control. The bonded terrycloth thumb gives the rider a quick and easy way to wipe away sweat and also allows for quick evaporation and drying. The RS Glove is also available in a full finger model
In my experience, all the gels and foams and anti-matter that is put in gloves doesn’t mean a thing if it’s placed wrong for the rider. The V-Control foam that Sugoi uses does a great job of vibration dampening, but that’s not what makes the biggest difference for me. What matters is where the padding is. Sugoi has put big, honking patches of V-Control on a large majority of the palm. All hands are different and one glove, even if sized exactly may or may not work for a particular athlete. With this design, I’ve found that my hands are always in ample contact with the padding that I need.
You might be wondering why there are picture in this review of a pair of beat-to-hell gloves; well, those are my own Sugoi RS gloves. The reason I wanted to show them is because they have been sweated on, slipped on, rained on, crashed in, tire changed in, indoor rode with and I’m pretty sure puked on for about a year now. I have never owned a pair of cycling gloves for that long. I could speculate as to the mileage on them, but I can’t begin to think about that, but at peak Ironman training time last summer, they were getting 300-400 miles a week on them. At this point they have tears and holes appearing in various places, but even as I write this, they’re hanging up to dry after last night’s trainer ride and waiting for more.
I know that I’ll have to part ways with my RS gloves pretty soon, but I’m very impressed with their construction and feel. They’ve taken me a very long way and I think they’d be a great choice for someone who likes to wear a glove that has the tools to be worn into the ground.
Gear news and reviews at GEARIST.COM!
Draft Legal age group racing in Florida
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If you’ve ever done a triathlon in the United States chances are, drafting on the bike leg was illegal. In it’s rules USA Triathlon (USAT) takes the time to lay out the rules for drafting and how they are interpreted.
In USAT racing drafting is grouped among the “Position fouls”. Below is the text from that section of the USAT rules [LINK](you can skip to the end for the good part if you want!).
5.10 Position Fouls. In accordance with the Rules as set forth in this section, a participant is not permitted to position his bicycle in the proximity of another moving vehicle so as to benefit from reduced air resistance. While on the cycling course, participants shall not work together to improve performance, efficiency, or position by teamwork or other joint conduct. A variable time penalty shall be imposed for any violation of this section. This section shall not apply to off-road triathlons and duathlons and shall be excluded from enforcement at those events.
a. Drafting. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, while on the cycling course, no participant shall permit his drafting zone to intersect with or remain intersected with the drafting zone of another cyclist or that of a motor vehicle. With respect to a motor vehicle (including authorized race vehicles); it is the athlete’s responsibility to move out of the vehicle’s drafting zone or to continually communicate to the vehicle to move away.
b. Definition of Drafting Zone. The term “drafting zone” shall refer to a rectangular area seven (7) meters long and two (2) meters wide surrounding each bicycle. The longer sides of the zone begin at the leading edge of the front wheel and run backward parallel to the bicycle; the front wheel divides the short side of the zone into two equal parts. With respect to a moving motor vehicle, the “drafting zone” is a rectangular area extending 15 meters to each side of the vehicle and 30 meters behind the vehicle.
c. Right-of -Way. A participant is generally entitled to assume any otherwise proper location on the cycling course provided that the participant arrives in the position first without contacting another participant. When taking a position near another participant, however, a cyclist shall not crowd the other participant and shall allow reasonable space for the other participant to make normal movement without making contact.
d. Blocking. Cyclists must not block or obstruct the progress of another participant.
e. Passing. A participant who approaches another cyclist from the rear or from another unfavorable position bears primary responsibility for avoiding a position foul even if the cyclist being approached alters speed. A participant must not attempt to pass another cyclist unless adequate space is available and the athlete is confident of his/her ability to pass the other cyclist. All passing is to be done to the left of the cyclist being overtaken unless otherwise specified.
f. Position. Except for reasons of safety and when no advantage is gained, all cyclists shall keep to the right of the prescribed course unless passing.
g. Being Overtaken. When the leading edge of the front wheel of one cyclist passes beyond the front wheel of another cyclist, the second cyclist has been “overtaken” within the meaning of these Rules. A cyclist who has been overtaken bears primary responsibility for avoiding a position foul and must immediately move to the rear and out of the drafting zone of the passing cyclist. The overtaken cyclist shall first move completely out of the drafting zone of the other cyclist before attempting to re-pass the other cyclist.
h. Exceptions. A participant may enter the drafting zone without penalty only under the following conditions:
(1) When entering the drafting zone from the rear, closing the gap, and overtaking all within no more than 15 seconds.
(2) When cyclist reduces speed for safety reasons, for course blockage, for an aid station, for an emergency, when entering or exiting a transition area, or when making a turn of 90 degrees or more; or
(3) When USA Triathlon or the Head Referee expressly excludes a section of the bicycle course from the position foul rules because of overly narrow lanes, construction, detours, or a similar reason.
5.10A Position Fouls. Rule for Elites(a) Drafting. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, while on the cycling course, no participant shall permit his drafting zone to intersect with or remain intersected with the drafting zone of another participant or that of a motor vehicle. With respect to a motor vehicle (including authorized race vehicles); it is the athlete’s responsibility to continually communicate to the vehicle to move away.
(b) Definition of Drafting Zone. The term “drafting zone” shall refer to a rectangular area ten (10) meters long and two (2) meters wide surrounding each bicycle. The longer sides of the zone begin at the leading edge of the front wheel and run backward parallel to the bicycle; the front wheel divides the short side of the zone into two equal parts. With respect to a moving motor vehicle, the “drafting zone” is a rectangular area extending one meter to each side of the vehicle and fifteen (15) meters behind the vehicle.
(c) Exceptions. A participant may enter the drafting zone without penalty only pursuant to the following exceptions:
(1) When entering the drafting zone from the rear, closing the gap, and overtaking all within no more than 15 seconds; or
(2) When cyclists reduce speed for safety reasons, for course blockage, for an aid station, for an emergency, when entering or exiting a transition area, or when making a turn of 90 degrees or more.
(d) Position on Course/Right-of-Way. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, a participant is generallyentitled to assume any otherwise proper location on the cycling course provided that the participant arrives in position first without contacting another participant.
(e) Staggered Positioning. All cyclists must assume and maintain a staggered riding position relative to the cyclist directly ahead; no cyclist may maintain a position on the course directly in line with a cyclist directly ahead. This staggered position must be maintained even if the cyclist is outside of the drafting zone and following at a distance of greater than ten (10) meters.
(f) Blocking. Cyclists who have assumed a proper position must not block or obstruct the progress of another participant.
(g) Position and Passing. A participant must not attempt to pass another cyclist unless adequate space is available and he is confident of his ability to overtake and pass the other cyclist. A participant who approaches another cyclist from the rear or from another unfavorable position bears primary responsibility for avoiding a position foul even if the cyclist being approached decreases speed.
(h) Overtaken. When the leading edge of the front wheel of one cyclist passes beyond the front wheel of another cyclist, the second cyclist has been “overtaken” within the meaning of these Rules. A cyclist who has been overtaken bears primary responsibility for avoiding a position foul and must immediately move to the side or to the rear and out of the drafting zone of the passing cyclist. An overtaken cyclist shall first move completely out of the drafting zone before attempting to re-pass another cyclist. In no case, however, shall a participant move into the path of another participant possessing the right-of-way.
PHEW! Now, with all that being said, there is a new race about to break onto the scene that is a DRAFT LEGAL race that IS sanctioned by USAT! This race will take place in Clermont, Florida in March and is the idea of one Mr. Jarrod Shoemaker. Below is a link to an interview he did recently with Slowtwitch discussing the first ever Draft Legal Challenge atClermont.
As a strong swimmer, a consistent question that I get from people I give tips to is, “Why do I need to know how to have good turns/underwater push-off’s/etc. in a pool when my race is in open water?”. Here’s why.
Most triathlons, though far from all, take place in some form of open water like a lake, river or ocean. The reason that I think it’s so important to know how to workout in a pool well has a few reasons.
The first reason is because, during any event cycle (including training and the race itself), you will likely spend MUCH more time in the pool than you will in open water. During that training, if you’re taking a ton of time doing some odd variation of a turn, you’re doing something that you will not be doing on race day at all. You will not have a wall to hang on to in open water, nor will you have a nice floor to stand on. That said, learning to turn and not wasting time with a slow, laborious turn, will help you immensely. I’m not saying you need to now go learn how to do a flip-turn (although it certainly wouldn’t hurt!), just how to do a proper open turn. Below I’ve put a wonderful video that explains proper open turn technique.
Second, when pushing off of the wall, whether from a turn or at the beginning of a set, push off and glide UNDERWATER. Too many times I have seen the push-off on top of (which is to say through) the water, causing a massive splash and stopping the swimmer after about five feet of glide. A solid underwater push-off will give your body a few seconds to do the following: find a rhythm for your kick, find your balance in the water and compose yourself before you begin swimming again. This underwater push-off will also keep your breath under control and keep you from hyperventilating.
Finally, there are some races where the swim takes place in a pool. If you have good pool swimming skills this will give you a leg up on a lot of those around you and allow you to be a better, faster triathlete.
[UPDATE] Many of you who may be thinking you should just skip this because you’re a runner or just not a swimmer, stop, take a second and read it.
If you’ve ever been injured as a runner then you know the joys and boredom of aqua-jogging. This mind-numbing exercise is one that can keep you in shape even when you need to be mostly off your feet. On top of that, swimming in general is an incredible cross training exercise. No other sport uses your musculature as completely. Do yourself a favor and get in the pool. If you’re not a swimmer and feel like you’re going to drown, watch a couple people who know what they’re doing and then fake it ’til you make it!
Much has been made in the past of the Crowie and Macca rivalry. In fact, you may have even heard some hints of it in my interview with Crowie [LINK]. Usually we have to wait until Kona to see Crowie and Macca go head to head, but this year we’ll get to see them early! Both World Champs will be in the Abu Dhabi International triathlon which takes place on Mach 12.
As many have said before (not the least of which is Macca himself), Macca is considered to be a stronger cyclist than Crowie. With that in mind, the unusual distance of the Abu Dhabi course will favore the 2010 Kona champ. The distances are: 3 km swim (approx. 1.86 mi.), 200 km bike (approx 124 mi.) and 20 k run (12.4 mi.).
TriCenter this week did a bit of a highlight on the two heavyweights as they gear up for an early season showdown.
TriSports.com Phoenix Triathlon
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
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Prostate cancer affects everyone, even those that may seem above it all. Here’s a short, but seemingly long, list of some rather famous people who’ve fought the disease. Some have won and some have tragically lost. Please click here to help me raise money for Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation on my way to the 2011 Ironman Canada.
Harry Belafonte: He was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in 1996 and successfully treated. He is now a prostate cancer advocate, raising awareness of the disease in men.
Bill Bixby: Diagnosed in 1991. He succumbed to the disease on November 21, 1993.
James Brown: The Godfather of Soul was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004 but survived. He died of heart failure in 2006.
Robert DeNiro: The Academy Award winner was diagnosed with early-stage cancer in 2003 at the age of 60. He has kept details of his treatment private. His father died of prostate cancer at the age of 71.
Sen. Bob Dole: Diagnosed in 1991 and successfully treated, he became an outspoken prostate cancer advocate. He became a spokesperson for Viagra because of the problems prostate cancer survivors often experience with erectile dysfunction.
Robert Frost: The poet was diagnosed in 1962, had a radical prostatectomy the same year, and died in 1963.
Rudy Giuliani: The former New York City mayor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2000 and had surgery to implant radioactive seeds in September 2000. Giuliani’s father died from prostate cancer in 1981 at the age of 73.
Robert Goulet: Diagnosed in 1993 at the age of 60 after a routine blood test for insurance purposes, Goulet underwent a radical prostatectomy and is now free of prostate cancer. Robert Goulet died in 2007 of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease.
Merv Griffin: Diagnosed in 2000 at the age of 75 and underwent 7 weeks of radiation therapy.
Alec Guinness: While battling glaucoma, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2000. In July 2000, he was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer and died a month later on August 5, 2000.
Langston Hughes: Died on May 22, 1967 at the age of 65 after complications from abdominal surgery related to prostate cancer.
John Kerry: The former presidential candidate was diagnosed in late 2002 with early-stage prostate cancer and had successful nerve-sparing prostate cancer surgery in 2003. Kerry’s father died of prostate cancer in 2000 at the age of 85.
Timothy Leary: The 1960s counterculture icon died from the disease in 1996 at the age of 75.
Phil Lesh : The Grateful Dead bassist announced that he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in October 2006.
Nelson Mandela: Diagnosed in 2001 with early-stage cancer. He underwent seven weeks of radiotherapy and made a full recovery.
Roger Moore: The former 007 was successfully treated with surgery in 1993.
Pablo Neruda: Died of the disease in 1973 at the age of 69.
Laurence Olivier: Diagnosed in 1967 and underwent radiation treatment that successfully eradicated the cancer.
Jerry Orbach: The Law and Order star died from the disease in Dec. 28, 2004 at the age of 69.
Linus Pauling: The Nobel Prize winner was diagnosed in 1991 at the age of 90 and died of the disease in 1994.
Colin Powell: In 2003, he underwent surgery for early-stage prostate cancer and made a full recovery.
Johnny Ramone: The Ramones guitarist died in 2004 at the age of 55 after a five-year battle with the disease.
Telly Savalas: The “Kojak” star died of the disease in 1994 at the age of 70.
Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf: Diagnosed in 1993 and underwent successful surgery.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau: The Prime Minister of Canada died of prostate cancer in 2000 at the age of 80.
Bishop Desmond Tutu: Diagnosed after a routine exam in 1996. He was treated in the United States with hormone therapy and radiation.
Earl Woods: Tiger Woods’ father was diagnosed in 1998 and successfully treated with radiation, but the cancer returned more aggressively in 2004. Woods died on May 3, 2006 at the age of 74.
Frank Zappa: Died of complications from the disease on December 4, 1993 at the age of 52.
Floyd Landis wants to legalize doping(?)
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01.21.2011– January 21, 2011 – Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC, owners of the SheROX Triathlon Series, and Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM) today announced a multi-year partnership expanding SheROX to a nine event international series beginning in 2011. The expanded SheROX Triathlon Series includes five races from traditional SheROX markets (Asbury Park, NJ; Aurora, Colo.; Philadelphia; Webster, Mass. and Bermuda), three existing races from the long-running U.S. Women’s Triathlon Series (USWTS) (Naperville, Ill., Federal Way, Wash., and San Diego), and one new event (Detroit). The 2011 SheROX Series features race weekends in the following cities:
SheROX Naperville, Illinois – June 11-12
SheROX Aurora, Colorado – July 9-10
SheROX Federal Way, Washington – July 9-10
SheROX Detroit, Michigan – July 16-17
SheROX Webster, Massachusetts – TBD
SheROX Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – August 6-7
SheROX Asbury Park, New Jersey – August 27-28
SheROX San Diego, California – October 15-16
SheROX Bermuda – November 5-6
“Since 2007, we’ve established SheROX as one of the top brands in women’s triathlon,” said Richard Adler, CEO, Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC, owner and operator of the SheROX Series. “Through our new partnership with Life Time Fitness, we have a fantastic opportunity to continue our rapid growth and introduce the SheROX Experience to more women across the country, including the extensive and active female members of Life Time Fitness. Through our combined efforts more women will truly get engaged and passionate about the sport of triathlon.”
“Life Time is excited to be partnering in the growth of the SheROX Triathlon Series,” said Ken Cooper, vice president, Life Time Fitness Endurance. “Helping expand this brand across the country offers more opportunities for women of all ages to compete in the sport of triathlon, emphasizing physical fitness, healthy nutrition and the achievement of personal goals.”
The Series will continue to feature the successful programming elements and benefits which have made SheROX so popular highlighted by the SheROX Mentor Program. The complimentary SheROX Mentor Program pairs participants with an experienced female triathlete who is passionate about the sport. Mentors provide information and motivation helping women with their expectations during training and on race day. Mentors are available via e-mail and proactively send regular tips and suggestions to address individual needs and concerns. The Mentor Program also includes regular e-newsletters, group workouts, informational meetings, clinics and social get-togethers helping women prepare for and truly enjoy their SheROX experience.
“Since its inception, over 7,000 women have participated in the SheROX Mentor Program, led by over 200 mentors across the country,” said Barb McKeever, SheROX Series Director. “Both first-timers and experienced athletes count on SheROX and the Mentor Program to keep them informed and on track to achieve their triathlon goals. By providing a great overall race experience, the expanded SheROX Triathlon Series will continue to encourage and support more women to a healthier and more active lifestyle.”
The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) — the long-time charitable partner of the USWTS – serves as the Official Charitable Partner of the 2011 SheROX Triathlon Series. OCRF is dedicated to the formulation of early diagnostic treatment programs and research toward the ultimate conquest of ovarian cancer. SheROX athletes will have the opportunity to join “Team Hope”– pledging to raise funds for OCRF as they race.
Online registration is currently open for most SheROX events. For more information of the 2011 SheROX Triathlon Series, visit www.SheROXTri.com or follow the Series on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/SheROXTriathlon or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SheROXTriathlon.
It seems the types of workouts that annoy me are always the ones that find me indoors. The ride above was done on (begrudgingly) on my trainer since, by the time I was able to ride it was 8:15 PM and it was about 30° F outside with a bit of leftover ice thrown in for good measure.
Because I haven’t (yet) gotten my speed/distance set up for indoor use I am fairly uncertain how far I was going. So, since my workout was a distance based workout, I had to adapt it to be a time based workout. Here’s what I did:
15 minutes warm up
4 X 10 minutes – building to heart rate 3 to low 5b on each interval. 5 minutes recovery.
15 minute cool down
Not optimal of course, but you have to do what you have to do. As I noted, it’s my butt, or rather the part of my undercarriage that hits my saddle, that is going to need some adjustment time. I’ve been riding in the off season, but not nearly enough for my groin to be used to real, hard workouts. Other than that, this one burned good, though I will admit that getting to a solid zone 5 is a tough task.
Help get me to Ironman Canada with Team Newton and Athletes for a Cure!
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Regardless of his pulling out of his first triathlon in a while, Mr. Armstrong Pelota is still getting in his workouts. Here’s a quick video of him in the water on the Kona course. (Get those hips up!)
GoLite Black Mountain Thermal Wind Jacket
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Lance Armstrong has officially pulled out of his much anticipated re-entry into triathlon. Juan Pelota, Armstrong’s swimming, biking and running alter-ego has said that he will be pulling out of the January 29th Blue Lake multisports festival in New Zealand due to a sore left knee.
Regardless of his knee situation, Lance will be riding in the Tour Down Under (January 16-23) which has has said will likely be his last professional cycling race outside the US.
Hopefully the layoff from running won’t last too long for Lance since his long time coach, Chris Carmichael has already said that the seven time Tour de France Champion will indee be toeing the line at the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in October. I know that I’d certainly like to see what Lance can do in the triathlon world and based on all the buzz, I’m far from alone!
[LINK]
When seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong toes the line in his return to triathlon in January, he will certainly have to bring his A-game and then some to step up to the competition. New Zealand pro Bevan Docherty will join Lance at the Blue Lake Multisport Festival as well as long distance pros Bryan Rhodes and Kieran Doe.
Not that anyone expects the competition to lay down for Lance, but one has to wonder if he thought he’d be facing athletes of this caliber when he hinted to this event under his alter-ego @JuanPelota when he tweeted:
“I’m thinking the first tri is here… 38°12′S 176°20′E”
If you’re wondering why I keep referring to this as Lance’s “return” to triathlon, it’s because before he was the yellow clad cyclist we know now, he became a professional triathlete at the age of 16. In fact in 1989 and 1990 Armstrong was the national sprint course triathlon champion.
He’ll also be in Kona next October, so this race marks the beginning of a very exciting chapter in his sports career. Oh, and the name “Juan Pelota”? Google translate and a little bit of humor helps.
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You’ve got to hand it to him, Richard Branson is brilliant when it comes to PR. The event will take place on the weekend of July 30-31 in the Docklands and it will be the 15th anniversary of the race. Branson’s company, Virgin Active, has signed a three year title sponsorship with the event in which 13,000 people take part.
When I first saw this video I knew exactly what was coming. This cool little toy whipped up by some guys at Dartmouth allows the athlete to wear their running shoes on the bike, thus making their transition times disappear. Now, I know that a LOT of you will see this and say, “I totally had this idea!” like I did. well, they had the idea and built the thing! Of course, it looks less than lightweight and leaves a lot of questions to stiffness and power transfer, but it’s still really cool! Beside, I’m sure it can easily be made of carbon fiber…for a price!
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We’ve arrived at that time of year (Ok, I’ve arrived at that time of year). The major marathons are over, triathlon season is hanging on to the last vestiges of warmth in the Northern Hemisphere and many of us are still digging our way out of a Thanksgiving and football induced coma. We have arrived at “The Off Season”.
As I look back at the past few months, since the remnants of the previous off season gave way to flowers and warmth, and I begin to lay out the next few months of my schedule, I’m actually quite surprised at how much “on season” stuff I’ll be doing. If you read or heard my race report from the 2010 Philadelphia Marathon or the comments that followed, you may have noticed that I really didn’t race that much this year and now that I’m not in über hard core training, I actually find myself wanting to race more.
2010 began well enough with a new half marathon PR in the Manhattan Half Marathon (part of the New York Road Runners half marathon series). That race marked a few firsts; the first time I had someone pacing me (thanks @RunningLam!), the first time I felt like I really “raced” a race of that distance no matter how humble my actual time was and also the first time I went into a race with a very distinct plan and was able to stick to it. I found that this race also got me moving in a solidly good direction in terms of my running. In fact, less than a month after this race I broke my PR time of 1:35:20 quite easily by over two minutes…during a workout!
The next race up was Ironman 70.3 Mooseman in June. Seeing as I had not been in an actual race since June, I was already falling into a pattern of training and not racing. Mooseman went quite well all thing considered such as the torrential downpour, hills that I was not quite expecting and the mud pit that was transition. Little side note, I set a new half marathon PR of 1:35:08 which should tell you something about the direction of my fitness since that was after a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile, HILLY bike ride.
Next up was the New York City Triathlon in the middle of July. It was a reasonably good race though I managed to swallow about half the Hudson River during the swim only to almost puke it up on the bike. Going into this race I had the goal of getting my elite time (2:15) and I did get that time…by 15 seconds. I’ll take it but I know that I can do better and while I’m not scheduled to race the NYC Tri this summer, I will be back and I will kill it.
By this point in the year I had only done three races and was training far to hard. Now, I don’t want this to appear as though I was being told to train as hard as I was. In fact, coach Jeff was constantly telling me to reign it in on my workouts and I and my ego didn’t want to listen. Yes, I was going faster and farther but I was in the process of peaking far too early. About a month before my biggest race of the year, Ironman Louisville, my body shut down and refused to go. For about a week I simply could not put together any solid workouts at all. During this time and in the rest of the lead up to Louisville, coach Jeff deserves a massive amount of credit from bringing me back from what could have easily been the end of my season right there.
If you’re not already aware, my Ironman Louisville ended in a medical DNF. This was due to still unexplained cramping throughout my whole body. Shortly after IML, I resolved to get back and do something and so I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon and shortly following that, I went to the Chicago Marathon with Newton Running (GREATEST RUNNING COMPANY/SHOES EVER) and while there had the opportunity to pace my brother-in-law in his first ever marathon. The run was amazing and I had a blast but I wouldn’t exactly call it a race.
Last weekend when the Philadelphia Marathon rolled around and I wound up in the porta-jon at mile 11, my race quickly switched from the full marathon to the half. This led to countless conversations since then about WHY. The answer that seems to be coming around was racing. See, in 2009 I raced in 15 different events and this year (2010) only 6.
Maybe I’m wrong about why Philly went bad and maybe it’s something that we’re all missing. I also have to give a big, unsolicited shout to Newton Running and to Jeff for keeping me injury free for so long (knock on wood)!
For now I’m going to race more. I’m going to have fun and I’m going to just enjoy the “off season” and really, REALLY use it to build strength. Hopefully when I come out on the other side of this period of the year it won’t feel like an off season at all but will have me itching to swim, bike and run FAST. Meanwhile, I’ll also be doing the stuff that winter allows for; skiing, hiking, camping, cross country and introducing my 8 month old daughter to the amazing world we live in.
How does your off season look so far?
Last week when checking race dates for 2011 I was made aware that The World Triathlon Organization had scheduled The Ironman World Championships on Yom Kippur, October 8,2011.
For those of you unaware of the status of this holiday to the Jewish Nation, you should know this is by far the Holiest Time of the Year for Jews World Wide. This is the day of atonement, the day Jews around the world bring their sins to G-d. For Catholic’s this is equivalent to Lent, making a sacrifice for 40 days through the day of Resurrection. For many other other faiths, you might consider it being asked to schedule a race on any Holy Day that mandates sacrificing time to your belief. In fact all practicing Jews are required to fast for 25 hours on this day. Making fueling just a bit dangerous.
I sent WTC a request to find out their feeling on this gross oversight. This is how the email conversation transpired. Athlete Services Coordinator Evan Brown answered my question of how this oversight could happen with these words.
“Thank you for your e-mail and interest in the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship. We are aware that next year’s event coincides with Yom Kippur. Despite this conflict, we are committed to maintaining its original date of October 8th, 2011. ” Evan went on to explain that Kailua Pier need to be closed the entire event week due to safety issues and event happenings. This I understand.
Evan continued by saying; “We realize how difficult the decision between the dream of competing in Kona and the observance of such an important religious holiday will be for our athletes. As hard as it is, we aren’t able to accommodate the needs of each and every athlete without jeopardizing the entire event.
I responded to Evan I understood and would inform my Jewish team mates and Jewish triathletes friends that Ironman is leaving the choice up to them; Follow your faith or race!
Evan again responded and explain, “The date was chosen in 2006 and he could assure me all considerations were taken into account.” I think Google may have been around then? A simple search for Yom Kippur dates turns up the actual dates for any year.
Hmm, so what went on at that meeting. Oh, Yom Kippur is on the proposed race date for 2008? What do we do? Whats our Jewish particpant level? Pretty minimal. Okay move ahead.
I’m not out to start a religious debate with WTC and I’m not hurling anti-semitic accusations against WTC. I’m just thinking this is another insensitive lack of fore thought and decision on their part. Need I mention the recent Access Program. I even suggested a reasonable solution to offer Jewish Triathletes that qualify for the 2011 race an option to carry that over to 2012. This was met with a resounding no can do as well.
So I’m left with a sinking feeling that the sport of triathlon that started at the grass roots level to give everyman a unique physical and mental challenge has tossed that feeling by the wayside. It seems WTC has turned Ironman into a cash cow with cash concerns only As a businessman I get that too.
What I don’t get is WTC’s refusal to make allowances for Jewish Triathletes that qualify this year to use that qualification in 2012. Would that really be such a difficult thing to do? Maybe it would work for WTC if all Jewish Ironman participants paid a special High Holiday $1000 fee, this would allow them to carry over their 2011 qualification to 2012, and get the a nice membership card and subscription to Lava Magazine.
Be Healthy, Train Smart, Have Fun
Coach Jeff
Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am the social media manager and a customer service rep for Newton Running. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you'd like). On the following week's show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That's it!
Good luck!
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