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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Cyclist hit last Thursday still alive
I’ve gotten several calls and emails from folks who think the 22-year-old cyclist who hit a car in downtown Austin last Thursday night has died.
He’s still alive, according to Austin Police on Wednesday. They are not releasing the injured cyclist’s name.
Witnesses said the cyclist ran a light and collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Fifth and Nueces streets. He was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
Folks, it’s important to obey traffic laws.
A motorist who runs a light and crashes might not get injured. Chances are a cyclist who does the same will.
Ignoring traffic laws also turns otherwise understanding motorists into anti-cyclist rabble rousers.
I know, I know. Motorists disobey laws too. It doesn’t matter. Let’s do what we can to promote good cyclist-motorist relations.
And best wishes to the injured cyclist.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
Win fitness freebies!
I’ve got some more freebies for you.
To win, you must do TWO things — post your name here and email your name, snail mail address and which book you prefer to pleblanc@statesman.com. I’ve just got one copy of each, so you have to be quick!
Here’s what I’ve got now:
“Tina Vindum’s Outdoor Fitness,” a cool guide to exercising in the great green outdoors; “Overachiever’s Diary,” which tells the story of how the Army Triathlon Team became better swimmers and includes tips on how you can improve your swimming, by Louis Tharp; and “Age is Just a Number,” by Dara Torres, the first American woman to swim in five Olympic games.
I’ve also got a couple of Tshirts with various logos. Let me know your size.
Remember - Post your name here and email me your address.
Ready, set, go!
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment Categories: fitness books
The Great Travis Trek
While you were lounging around drinking beer and eating queso last weekend (OK, so maybe it was just me), a team of six swimmers led by Austin swim coach and sports psychologist Keith Bell were churning up the miles of Lake Travis.
Bell, along with Robert Alford, Lynne Smith, Chuck Wiley, Dave Barra and Chris Derks, swam a six-person relay from a point near the north end of Lake Travis to the south. They swam to raise money for Swimability, which funds scholarships that pay for City of Austin swimming lessons for underprivileged children, and to promote open water swimming and clean water. To donate go to www.greattravistrek.com.
Because of the drought, the team couldn’t get their boat safely all the way to the top of the lake. They swam what was swimmable — 54 miles from a point below Starke Dam to Mansfield Dam — in 18 hours and 35 minutes. They swam through the night, in one-hour rotations.
Bell coaches Team Texas, the swim team I train with. This morning, he shared tales of the over-night adventure. At one point, the swimmers had to get out of the water and wait 3 hours while thunderstorms passed. They were able to nap on a large support boat that accompanied them, and were guided along the way by kayakers and spot lights.
Together, team members hold numerous world and masters national swimming records. Smith and Derks also swam across the English Channel.
Bell hinted that the event could become an annual race.
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