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Triathlon
January 9, 2012
Austin Tri gets a new name, owner
The Austin Triathlon is getting a new name, a new owner and a rockin’ new sound track.
The race, which last year attracted more than 2,000 athletes and was named to Outside Magazine’s list of 15 Best Big City Races in America, will be rebranded as the Land Rover TriRock Austin.
It’s scheduled for Monday, Sept. 3 at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake.
Athletes can choose between Olympic or sprint distance triathlons, or a relay. The tri will include live bands along the swim, bike and run courses, followed by a post-race party and concert.
Competitor Group Inc. and High Five Events are partnering to put on the event. Race director and event co-founder Dan Carroll will continue his role as an operating partner. Jack Murray, co-founder of the event and owner of Jack & Adam’s Bicycles, will still be involved, too.
“Austin has long been the hub of triathlon in Texas, as well as one of the triathlon hotspots in the country,” Carroll said in a press release. “With its scenic downtown course under the backdrop of the Austin skyline, this is a perfect end of summer event to highlight a Labor Day Weekend getaway.”
Scott Dickey, president of CGI, says the new team will grow the event into one of the premier triathlons in the country.
The TriRock Series launched in San Diego in September 2010. That race includes, among other divisions, one for beach cruiser bicycles.
The Austin race will be the fifth race in the series, which also includes events in Annapolis, Seattle and New York.
All participants receive a finisher’s medal, technical T-shirt, red carpet finish, post-race breakfast and access to the post-race concert and beer garden.
For more information about the Land Rover TriRock Triathlon Series, visit TriRockSeries.com.
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November 24, 2011
CapTexTri to serve as paratriathlon national championships
It’s hard enough to run a triathlon without a physical challenge. But consider what athletes like Melissa Stockwell, the two-time world champion in paratriathlon, face when they line up for a race.
Stockwell, who lost one of her legs in a roadside blast while serving with the military in Iraq in 2004, stopped by Austin this week, to check on the course for the 2012 Capitol of Texas Triathlon. For the first time, the Austin event will serve as the 2012 U.S. Para Triathlon National Championships.
It’s a big deal. Top finishers in the event, a sprint-distance race with a 750-meter swim, 25K bike and 5K run, will represent USA Triathlon’s Team USA at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.
“It looks like it’ll be a good course,” Stockwell said after driving the route. “They’ve addressed a lot of issues that amputees, wheelchair athletes and visually impaired athletes have to deal with. Accessibility is the biggest issue. You have athletes who are paraplegics, so they have to figure out how all of us can get out of water, up over curbs and stairs.”
Stockwell uses an activity-specific artificial leg when she competes.
Paratriathlon is seeing a surge in interest, because it will be included for the first time at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“A lot of men and women are coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq, they’re young and want to be involved in the sport,” Stockwell says.
Race director Rick Margiotta says landing the national championship puts the Austin race — which includes pro and age group events in Olympic, sprint and first timer distances — on a bigger stage. He expects about 100 paratriathletes to enter.
“It’s absolutely inspiring,” Margiotta says.
The paratriathlon national championships have been held in New York City the past two years. The topography of the Austin race is similar, but the setting is different.
“It may sound funny, but our course is more urban,” Margiotta says. “Even though they run around Central Park, they go out on a highway along the Hudson River. They’re on open roads where we’re up and down Congress Avenue and Cesar Chavez.”
The Capitol of Texas Triathlon is scheduled for May 28, 2012 at Auditorium Shores. A Kid’s Run and Doggie Du Dash are also part of the lineup. Last year nearly 2,500 people participated.
This year’s race will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Entry for all paratriathletes is free.
Registration is open here.
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September 28, 2011
Trek Women Triathlon this weekend
The 2011 Trek Women Triathlon Series wraps up its season in Austin this weekend, with a sprint-distance race at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis.
Are you in?
The tri consists of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run or walk.
If you’ve never done a triathlon, this one’s a great place to start.
If you’re worried about finishing last, don’t. That’s designated last-place finisher Sally Edwards’ job. As usual, she’ll be hanging in the back of the pack, encouraging slower folks on.
The race starts at 9 a.m. Sunday at Highland Lakes Camp at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis.
Packet pickup will take place at the race expo, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Miles Auditorium at Highland Lakes Camp, 5902 Pace Bend Road North. Photo ID is required; relay teams must attend packet pickup together.
Besides picking up your race number, you can meet Edwards at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., when she’ll be high-fiving participants and offering tips to help rookies anticipate and overcome jitters. Specialists from Bicycle Sport Shop will be on hand to answer bike-related questions and make minor bike adjustments.
Among those signed up to race? Team “Sunflower Girls” — Austin resident Kerry Weisz and all five of her sisters, who live from Seattle to Georgia and several spots in between, plus two non-family members. The crew is racing to celebrate sister Cindy Weisz’s breast cancer survival.
Good luck to everyone racing!
For more info go here or call 877-221-9665.
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June 24, 2011
Triathlete dies in car accident
The Austin triathlon community lost one of its own Tuesday, when Ismael Quiroz Ortiz of Pflugerville died in a car accident.
Ismael trained with Y-Tri triathlon training group at the YMCA and swam with the Narwhals at the Northwest YMCA.
This morning, Evalyn Hodges, who used to coach with Y-Tri, sent me comments from athletes who knew Ortiz through those programs. Nearly everyone mentioned how Ortiz energized others to feel good about their training accomplishments. He was also famous for his brilliant smile.
“When Ismael smiled, you smiled,” said Y-Tri Coach Vicki Gottardi. “When he said, “You can do it!’ you really thought you could.”
Angela Stewart, another member of Y-Tri, remembers cycling down Parmer Lane with him right behind her. “He said, ‘I wanted to catch up with you, but I don’t want to pass you,’ and just stayed behind encouraging me. He was so supportive and motivating. And such a good swimmer! He will be missed.”
Triathlete Susan Hammond remembers the first time he biked with the group. “He rented a bike because the one he had bought was not ready yet. He could not stop grinning.”
Carolyn Castillo, coach of the Narwhals, said she talked often with him after swim practice. “The main thing about Ismael is that he would constantly blow my mind on how much faster he was getting. He said that his goal was to be in Brian’s lane. Brian swims 100 free in under a minute in practice. He always told me that he didn’t smoke, he didn’t drink, he just wanted to go fast.”
He had a sense of humor, too.
“Whenever I would ask him about his time in a race, he would always make up times to see what kind of reaction he would get out of me,” said swimmer Rob Kranz.
He had plans to race in several upcoming triathlons, and was considering training for an Ironman triathlon. He had participated in this year’s Cap2K open-water swim race.
He is survived by his father, Salomon Quiroz, and brothers Juan, Jaime, Francisco and David. He was a skilled craftsman and carpenter.
A funeral is set for Friday — 36 days from the date of his birth on June 24, 1975.
(The photo above shows Ismael Quiroz Ortiz with Narwhals swim coach Carolyn Castillo.)
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June 7, 2011
Austin's Amy Marsh wins IM Brazil
A belated congratulations to Austin pro triathlete Amy Marsh, who notched her fifth Ironman-distance triathlon win at Ironman Brazil recently.
Marsh, who has won Ironman distance triathlons in China, Lake Placid, NY, Cedar Point, Ohio and Wisconsin in the last two years, crossed the finish line in Florianopolis, Brazil, in 9 hours, 9 minutes and 39 seconds.
An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
Marsh, 33, exited the water third, but moved into first place during the 112-mile bike course. She never gave up the lead after that.
The former University of Minnesota swimmer has lived in Austin the past 10 years, where she works as a swim coach. She went pro as a triathlete in 2006.
She’s married to another outstanding Austin triathlete, Brandon Marsh.
Amazing!
(The photo above, by Ryan Tan, shows Marsh winning Ironman China in 2010.)
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March 31, 2011
Q&A with Racing Weight author
So, you already know if you weigh less, you’ll go faster. But as an endurance athlete, how can you get into that top racing shape without blowing your training plan?
We tracked down Matt Fitzgerald, author of “Racing Weight, Quick Start Guide,” to find out.
Want a copy of his book? Post at the end of this blog, telling me why you deserve it. Best answer wins.
Here’s our Q&A with Fitzgerald, which includes a couple of reader-submitted questions:
READER: Elite pros are able to drop 5 pounds many times after a season of training, just a month before their goal race, whether that be the Tour de France or whatever. How do they do that without losing muscle? Or do they lose a bit in the process?
FITZGERALD: It depends how they go about it. The surest way to lose muscle along with fat is to cut your calorie intake drastically. To lose just as much total weight but ensure it’s all fat and no muscle, you’ll want to cut your calorie intake moderately (300 to 500 calories), increase your protein intake to 25 or 30 percent of your total calories, and lift weights two or three times per week.
READER WILL MCKENNA: I would like to drop another 5 to 7 pounds before an upcoming race (to go from a little over 200 to 195 on my 6 foot 2 inch frame). I worry a bit about losing muscle and thus fitness while doing this. How should I prevent that? Also, I have been carb loading the day or two before my very long runs (15+ miles) and planned on doing this before the marathon. Of course, eating big carb-loaded meals causes you to gain weight (2 to 4 pounds for me!). Is this a mistake? Is there a better way to do this?
FITZGERALD: The answer given above applies to Will’s first question. To answer his second question, there’s no need to carbo load before long runs, as long as your carbohydrate intake is adequate generally and you consume enough carbohydrate during the run. Carbo loading before the marathon itself is a good idea. A certain amount of water weight gain is unavoidable when carbo loading is combined with reduced training. It’s not something to lose sleep over, but do try to keep the weight gain in check by carbo loading for just one full day (the research suggests that’s plenty) and by reducing your fat and protein intake as you increase your carb intake.
PAM: How much weight can you safely lose in four weeks, and still stay on track for upcoming triathlon season?
FITZGERALD: This depends on a lot of factors. The general range would be 4 to 8 pounds, but don’t assume the maximum applies to you. It’s best to focus on doing the right things to lose weight — moderate calorie reduction, sensible increase in exercise — and just see what that gets you.
PAM: What’s your most important tip for athletes hoping to lose a little weight for racing season?
FITZGERALD: Focus on the quality of your diet. Instead of wasting time trying to find the perfect macronutrient ratio or driving yourself crazy by drastically reducing your food intake, simply eat more high-quality foods (fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy and healthy fats) and fewer low-quality foods (processed grains, sweets, fatty proteins, whole-milk dairy). High-quality foods are more nutrient dense and less calorie dense. By shifting your diet toward high-quality foods you will eat fewer calories with eating less food.
PAM: What’s the biggest mistake athletes make when they are trying to lose weight and stay in top racing shape?
FITZGERALD: The biggest mistake here is trying to prioritize both weight loss and performance gain simultaneously. To maximize performance you need to keep your body well fueled. To maximize weight loss you have to reduce your “fuel” intake to a level that is not adequate to support a high training volume, so it’s best to separate maximum weight loss and maximum performance goals into separate phases. Focus on weight loss first to get a quick start toward your ultimate goals, then switch your focus to maximizing performance. You can still lose some weight while pursuing maximum performance, but not as much as you can when training is less of a priority.
PAM: Seriously. Can you drink the occasional beer and toss back a burger now and then and still stick to your plan?
FITZGERALD: Yes. Most of the leanest athletes include some unhealthy indulgences in their diet. There are a few who eat by the book all the time, but that’s not necessary for anyone. In fact, a little cheating can actually help keep you on a diet regiment that is very healthy overall, because it makes that regimen more psychologically sustainable.
PAM: The more I swim, bike or run, the hungrier I get. This seems like a vicious cycle. Thoughts?
FITZGERALD: This is natural and good. Your appetite is closely tied to your body’s true energy needs. The more you exercise, the more energy you use and need, and your body lets you know this by increasing your appetite. Unfortunately for some people, and especially women, appetite can increase so much that it prevents the loss of excess fat that should occur with increased exercise. If you’re one of these people, it becomes all the more important to maintain a diet that satisfies your appetite in a calorically efficient way. That means a high-quality diet filled with fruits, vegetables and other foods that are nutrient dense and not calorie dense.
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March 4, 2011
Win Carmichael's new book, "The Time-Crunched Triathlete"
Can you really win a triathlon by training just 8 hours a week?
Chris Carmichael, who took me for a bike ride last summer and gave me cycling tips, thinks so. And he just might know — he trained Tour de France champion and hometown hero Lance Armstrong for years.
Carmichael’s new book, “The Time-Crunched Triathlete: Race-Winning Fitness in 8 Hours a Week,” is designed to prepare triathletes to race faster in sprint and Olympic distance triathlons even if they’re holding down real jobs and have actual families.
It’s a followup to his last book, “The Time-Crunched Cyclist.”
The secret? High-intensity interval training and tri-specific workouts that make you faster in triathlon’s three disciplines — swim, bike and run — rather than over-developing general endurance.
If Carmichael’s right, you’ll be ready for a sprint tri in six weeks and an Olympic distance tri in eight weeks.
The book contains detailed training plans, which include a lot of brick workouts. (Bricks, for the uninitiated, are workouts in two disciplines stacked side by side. So you might do a 45-minute swim workout, followed by a 30-minute bike or run.)
There’s also lots of explanation and detail on how to reach your goals.
Do you need this book? Post here, telling me why. Best answer wins. I’ll pick winners next week.
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February 3, 2011
CapTexTri to double as state championships
Perhaps you’re buried in blankets right now, awaiting the arrival of Snowpocalypse 2011.
Poke your head out for just a minute and consider that the Capital of Texas Triathlon is less than four months away. Time to start training!
Big news came from race organizers this week: This year’s CapTexTri will double as the 2011 Texas Triathlon Championships.
State championships will be awarded to top male and female triathletes in the Olympic distance event in the open, masters, grand masters, collegiate, military and age group divisions.
The Olympic distance event consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike and a 10-kilometer run.
The CapTexTri will also be the second stop on the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon Series and the Race to the Toyota Cup, a seven-race national series for professional triathletes competing for a series prize purse of more than $600,000.
Last year’s CapTexTri attracted more than 3,000 athletes from 33 states and eight countries. It has sold out in the past.
This year’s race kicks off at 7 a.m. Monday, May 30 at Auditorium Shores, 950 Riverside Dr.
If the Olympic distance is too much, consider signing up for the First-Timers triathlon (a 400-meter swim, 10K bike and 5K run) or the Sprint distance triathlon (a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 4K run). Olympic and Sprint distance relays also will be staged.
Registration is $95 for First-Timers; $120 for the Sprint; and $135 for the Olympic race. Prices increase on May 1.
A portion of proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, which provides year round sports programs for severely wounded service members. For more information go here.
For more information or to register go here.
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February 1, 2011
Trek, Danskin announce Austin race dates
Get out your race calendar, ladies. The Trek Women Triathlon and Danskin Triathlon series have announced dates for this year’s races.
The Danksin is set for June 5; the Trek is scheduled for Oct. 2.
Both races are comprised of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run.
Each will feature seven entry categories - Age Groups (separated by five-year increments), Mixed Age Group (so you can do the race with family and friends), Athena (150lbs +), Women in Uniform (military or government), Physically Challenged, Elite and Relay (teams with one member completing each leg of the race).
A secret: I’m considering doing one of the races this year.
It’s been a while since I’ve raced a triathlon. (I’ve been busy with other events.) But considering I do the training anyway — by biking to work, practicing with TeamTexas swim team and running with my friends — I may as well enter an official event. Don’t you think? (That’s me at the Danskin a couple of years ago, above.)
The Xxtra Mile LLC, a women’s and girl’s active lifestyle company based in New York City, owns both race series. In all, the company’s race calendar includes six Trek Women Triathlons and seven Danskin Triathlons around the country. Austin is lucky to get both.
The Xxtra Mile will partner with a local women’s shelter and local food bank in each race market. Race participants will be encouraged to donate personal care products, clothing, food and other miscellaneous items that will be collected and donated to the organizations.
For more information go here and here.
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January 26, 2011
Got questions for author of 'Racing Weight'?
Serious runners, cyclists and triathletes don’t carry any extra weight. They know it slows them down on the race course.
What to do if you need to drop some weight before triathlon season?
Pose some questions to the guy who wrote a book on the topic, of course.
Matt Fitzgerald wrote “Race Weight,” all about weight loss for endurance athletes. Now he’s got a new book, “Racing Weight Quick Start Guide: A 4-Week Weight-Loss Plan for Endurance Athletes.” It’s filled with high-intensity workouts and strength training regimens, plus a menu of low-calorie, high protein meals.
Fitzgerald, a coach and certified sports nutritionist, is a contributor to Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health, Outside, Runner’s World, Bicycling and Triathlete magazines.
He’s agreed to answer your questions about weight loss for endurance athletes.
Post your questions below.
I’ll get them to Fitzgerald, and then I’ll post his answers. I’ll also give away a copy of his book. (But don’t ask for it yet, I’ll tell you how to win it in a later post.)
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December 10, 2010
Capital of Texas Tri set for May 30
Triathlon season isn’t far away. Really.
The 21st annual Capital of Texas Triathlon, staged at Auditorium Shores in downtown Austin, is scheduled for Monday, May 30.
Triathlon officials announced this week that Specialized Bicycles and Bicycle Sport Shop are sponsors of the 2011 event. Specifically, Specialized is sponsor of the transition area and bike course; Bicycle Sport Shop will provide technical, promotional and product support for the race.
Last year’s triathlon drew 3,000 athletes from 33 states and eight countries.
Early registration is open now at www.captextri.com. Entry fee is $135 for the Olympic distance, $120 for Sprint distance, or $95 for the First Tri. Relays are $165. Prices increase after May 1.
A portion of proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, which provides free year-round sports programs for veterans wounded while serving in the U.S. military. For more information go here.
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December 1, 2010
You've been 40'ed
Did you know there’s a term in the world of triathlon for getting beaten by someone age 40 or older?
True. It’s called “getting 40’ed,” and no one, apparently, wants that to happen on the race course. It’s humiliating.
Imagine someone with a few wrinkles outstroking you on the swim, an octogenarian coasting past you on the bike or, heaven forbid, a granny shuffling around you on the run.
In related news, it’s apparently just as insulting for a guy to get passed by a woman during a triathlon. It’s called “getting chick-ed.”
Geesh.
I’m 46. I’m a woman.
I’m not a super athlete by any means, but I know plenty of out-of-shape 35-year-olds whose butts I could kick. I also know lots of people older than me who could blow by me on the race course.
It’s what keeps me inspired and motivated.
Shouldn’t we celebrate the fact that some folks hang on to their fitness as they grow older? That the young pups won’t have to foot the cost of our healthcare?
And you, young ‘un. Just wait until you turn 40!
In the meantime, who knows where I can get a T-shirt that says “You’ve been 40’ed” on the back?
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September 30, 2010
Memorial service to honor woman who brought Danskin to town
Friends and family of the woman credited with bringing the Danskin Women’s Triathlon to Austin will gather Saturday for a memorial service to remember her.
Elinor Mire, a runner, triathlete and teacher, served as race director for the triathlon for three years after the event came to Austin more than 20 years ago. She served as president of the Austin Runners Club and Austin Triathletes, and started the Austin Childrens’ Triathlon. She also directed the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot and the Jingle Bell Run.
“She was so dedicated to the whole community,” says Marion Cimbala, who served as race director for 17 years after Mire. “She was one of the key people who created the foundation for what we have in Austin, this incredibly vibrant scene.”
Mire, who was from Louisiana, had an unforgettable accent and a quiet determination that helped her get things done, Cimbala says. “You knew when she took it on she was going to get it done right, no two ways about it,” Cimbala says.
She died this spring at age 54, after a multi-year battle with a rare form of cancer.
During her illness, friends rallied around her, even organizing a benefit fun run to help raise money to offset her medical expenses.
The service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 at the south end of the pedestrian bridge under Loop 1.
It falls the day before the Trek Women Triathlon, which takes place Sunday at Pace Bend Park. The same company produces both the Trek Women Tri and the Danskin Women’s Tri.
Maggie Sullivan, series director for both events, and Sally Edwards, designated last-place finisher for the Danskin, both plan to attend.
“Elinor Mire was a wonderful woman — and a dedicated, enthusiastic, supportive and committed race director back when women doing triathlons was in its infancy,” Sullivan says.
For more information about this weekend’s triathlon, go here www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com.
The photo above shows Elinor and her mother in 2006. (Photos courtesy Jane Frederick)
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September 8, 2010
Austin's Jody Kelly takes gold in Aquathlon World Championship
UPDATE: Jody Kelly added a bronze medal to her gold medal. She finished third in the Female 70-74 age group of the ITU Age Group Sprint World Championship in soggy conditions along the Danube River. Her finishing time was 2 hours, 27 minutes and 30 seconds.
“I’m afraid my sights have been raised and perhaps a monster created because I want to train for greater speed and then find a way to go to Worlds again some day,” she said after returning to Austin.
Austin fitness trainer Jody Kelly, racing for Team USA, won a gold medal today at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The 72-year-old grandmother, who earlier this year became the oldest contestant ever on The Amazing Race, finished in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 10 seconds.
Skies were gray and temperatures cool for the event, which was shortened to a 1,000-meter wetsuit swim followed by a 2.5-kilometer run, instead of a pair of 2.5K runs on either side of the swim, according to a press release from USA Triathlon.
Kelly was one of three Americans to take gold in the competition. The others were Susan Griffin-Kaklikian of Castle Rock, Colo., who won the female 55-59 age group, and Robben, of Berkeley, Calif., who won the 75-79 age group.
Kelly, who describes herself as a recovering couch potato, has a late blooming background in fitness. She took up weight training when she was 58 and later became a personal trainer who specializes in working with elderly clients through her business, Strengthmobile. Her oldest client was 100 years old.
Kelly entered her first triathlon in August 2007 and has done 14 more since then, including one alongside both her daughter and granddaughter.
“Once I discovered my body, I wanted to use it,” she has said.
I had lunch with Jody last week, a few days before she departed for Hungary. (She cooked me an excellent bowl of Irish stew!)
She was a little nervous, but mostly excited to race.
Way to go Jody!
She’ll race again Saturday, this time in the Sprint World Championships.
(That’s Jody, above, with her granddaughter and daughter. Photo by Ricardo B. Brazziell.)
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August 1, 2010
Registration open for Colin's Hope Kid's Triathlon
Budding triathletes can test their endurance at the Colin’s Hope Kid’s Triathlon at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19.
The triathlon is a fund-raiser for an Austin-based charity called Colin’s Hope, founded in August 2008 in honor of 4-year-old Colin Krogh Holst, who drowned at a local swimming pool.
Colin’s Hope is a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising awareness about and preventing childhood drowning. The foundation has worked with The Junior League of Austin, YMCA and Partnerships for Children to sponsor swim lessons for underprivileged children and educate parents, children and lifeguards about water safety.
T-shirts, goody bags and awards will be given out to participants.
Organizers say it’s not highly competitive, and everyone from beginners to experts is welcome. The objective is to encourage self-confidence, good health and community spirit.
The triathlon will take place at the Lake Pointe Swim Center, 11700 Sonoma Dr.
The race is open to children ages 5 to 15. Rookies, ages 5-6, will swim 25 meters, bike half a mile and run 500 meters. Juniors, ages 7-10, will swim 100 meters, bike 2.2 miles and run .6 miles. Seniors, ages 11 to 15, will swim 200 meters, bike 4.4 miles and run 1.2 miles.
Registration will be capped at 200 athletes. Cost is $25, plus a USAT license (one-day license available for $5.) For more information go to www.colinshope.org.
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July 29, 2010
Jody Kelly headed to Triathlon Sprint Distance World Championships
The first time I met Jody Kelly, she was preparing to compete in the Danskin Womens Triathlon, alongside both her daughter and granddaughter.
The self-described recovering couch potato with a late-blooming interest in fitness had entered her first triathlon in August 2007, when she was 69 years old.
That was just the start.
More than a dozen triathlons later, Kelly, now 72, milked cows and scampered through foreign cities with her granddaughter, Shannon Foster, during the 16th season of the popular CBS reality show “The Amazing Race” earlier this year. The duo didn’t win the $1 million prize, but chalked up another incredible adventure.
What’s next for Kelly, a personal trainer who specializes in working with elderly clients through her business, Strengthmobile?
She’s headed to Budapest to represent Team USA at the Triathlon Sprint Distance World Championships on Sept. 11-12.
Kelly, always modest, plays down the feat, saying only 17 American women in her age group qualified for consideration by finishing three or more USA Triathlon-sanctioned races.
“I’ll be very slow and will be creamed by the Australians and Eastern Europeans, but I’m going anyway,” she says.
Kelly’s tougher than she’ll lead you to believe. She trains with Tracy Nelson and the rest of the coaches at Tri Zones. She’s paying close attention to technique and race nutrition, and is doing Pilates and power lifting, too.
Age-groupers have to pay their own way to the championships and buy their own uniforms.
To help fund the trip, Kelly has created a Facebook page titled “Jody Kelly Goes to Sprint Triathlon World Championships.” Those who donate $35 or more get the cool T-shirt shown here.
As for Kelly, this is just the warmup.
“Just wait until I’m 75 or 76 when I hope to go again in the next age group!” she says.
Good luck Jody!
(That’s Jody in the photo at the top, with her daughter Kelly Foster and granddaughter Shannon Foster.)
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July 28, 2010
Triathlete Amy Marsh on her Ironman Lake Placid win
I just heard from Austin triathlete Amy Marsh, who is back in Switzerland to continue training with Team TBB following her weekend win at Ford Ironman Lake Placid.
The victory marked her third Ironman triathlon victory in the last year — she won Ford Ironman Wisconsin last fall and China Ironman this spring.
Pam: Was your plan to take the lead and hold on the whole way?
Amy: “I wanted to swim hard and bike hard because I knew there were some strong runners in the field. I felt great the first 16 or so miles of the run, but then faded a bit. I was pleased with my run as I was able to hold my own and come away with the win.”
Pam: What’s next on your race schedule?
Amy: “My coach and I are still discussing the plans for the rest of the season. I will be racing Kona this year. I raced there in 2005 as an age grouper so this will be my first attempt at Kona as a pro. I may do one more Ironman or a couple of 70.3s before Kona, but we’ll see.”
Pam: When are you coming back to Austin?
Amy: “I’m heading back to Austin at the end of August but probably won’t be staying long. I will most likely be going back to Thailand with Team TBB to get ready for Hawaii.”
Thanks for the update, Amy, and congratulations on the streak of victories.
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July 26, 2010
Amy Marsh wins Ironman Lake Placid
Chalk up another Ironman triathlon victory for Austin triathlete Amy Cottrill Marsh.
When Marsh surged out of Mirror Lake during Ford Ironman Lake Placid, she was already leading by 1 minute 40 seconds over 2008 champion Caitlin Snow.
By the time she finished the bike portion of the event, she had pulled nearly 20 minutes ahead of the next closest competitor, Lisa Marangon. Snow snuck back into second place after the marathon leg of the race, but Marsh still won by an impressive 17 minutes.
Marsh’s final time for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run was 9 hours, 27 minutes and 30 seconds.
It’s the third Ironman title in the last year for Marsh, a former collegiate swimmer who grew up in Rochester, N.Y., moved to Austin in 2001 and started racing triathlons in 2002.
She won Ford Ironman Wisconsin in September 2009, then took first place at China Ironman in March 2010.
She trains with Team TBB.
Marsh was among 2,612 athletes who participated in Ironman Lake Placid, which finished on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in downtown Lake Placid.
For more information about the race, go here.
I’m hoping to reach Marsh by phone today, so check back for a word from her.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Triathlon
July 25, 2010
Trek Women's Triathlon training party on Tuesday
Thinking about entering the Trek Women’s Triathlon this October?
Everyone’s favorite designated last-place finisher and series spokeswoman Sally Edwards will share motivational tips and hand out training materials at a free party scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 27 at Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar Blvd.
That’s Edwards, above, at last year’s Trek Women’s Triathlon in Austin.
The triathlon itself — a cool half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run/walk — is scheduled for 7 a.m. Oct. 3 at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake. It’s essentially the same course as the Danskin Women’s Triathlon.
Race registration is open at www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com. Entry fee is $85. The race is open to all women ages 14 and older.
For more information, call 1-877-221-9665 or email info@trekwomenstriathlon.com.
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
July 6, 2010
Texas gets its own Ironman triathlon
Austin triathletes looking for a place to test their endurance won’t have to go far starting next spring.
The inaugural Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas is set for May 21, 2011 in The Woodlands, just north of Houston. It becomes one of 25 Ironman events around the world, in locations including Australia, China, Brazil and Germany.
To officially finish, athletes will have to swim 2.4 miles in Lake Woodlands, cycle 112 miles through the rolling farmland east of the city, and run 26.2 miles through The Woodlands, all in under 17 hours.
They also have to fork over a lot of money. It costs $600 to enter the race, which is a qualifier for the Ironman World Championship in Kona.
Registration is now open here.
(The photo at the top by the Associated Press shows the start of the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in 2009.)
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June 22, 2010
USA Triathlon adjusts wetsuit rule
I’ve always hated the wetsuit rule.
Under USA Triathlon regulations, competitors can wear wetsuits if the water temperature at a race is 78 degrees or cooler. (They can still wear wetsuits if the water is above 78, but if they do they’re not eligible for awards. Besides, they’ll probably pass out from heat exhaustion.)
The problem is this: Wetsuits provide flotation, and an unfair advantage to poor swimmers. Swimmers with bad form get more of an advantage — up to 15 percent — from the added buoyancy a wetsuit provides than swimmers who already have good form.
Wetsuits artificially level the playing field, and that’s unfair. A triathlon should be contested based on athletic skill, not equipment.
I say this as someone who wears a wetsuit while swimming maintenance laps at Barton Springs Pool because I get cold easily. But when I race, I don’t think about the cold. Or I ignore it.
I laughed the other morning when I read that USA Triathlon announced that starting in 2013, it wouldn’t allow wetsuits any thicker than 5 mm at its events.
Five millimeters? That’s like wearing a Michelin Man suit! Anything thicker than that and you might as well have helium balloons tethered to your body.
The rule, according to a press release from USA Triathlon, is designed to eliminate any competitive advantage gained by enhancements in wetsuit technology in recent years.
“Studies have shown there is a marked and measurable performance benefit to the use of certain wetsuits, specifically added buoyancy effectively reducing passive drag,” the release stated. “These performance benefits have led to an increased, and artificially induced, reduction in physical demand required during the swim leg of a triathlon and an increase in speed.”
It’s a step in the right direction, but USAT should go farther. Don’t allow wetsuits unless the water is 68 degrees or colder.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Triathlon
June 3, 2010
Cancer survivor faces challenges - and Danskin Triathlon
Over the years I’ve heard hundreds of inspiring stories from women who participated in the Danskin Triathlon.
For many, the race marks their first athletic competition. Many finishers never thought of themselves as athletes until they crossed the Danskin finish line. The sense of accomplishment is huge.
This year’s race — a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run — gets under way at 7 a.m. at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake, 6614 Blue Bluff Road.
Former Austin American-Statesman copy editor Kristin Harrison will be lining up for the third time this Sunday. (Go Kristin! You’re an inspiration to me!)
Here’s what the race means to her:
By Kristin Harrison
Me in a triathlon? Before cancer maybe. After cancer, it didn’t seem possible.
But thanks to training with Capital of Texas Team Survivor, I’ll be swimming, biking and running with a few thousand other women Sunday at the Danskin Triathlon in Walter E. Long Park on Decker Lake.
This sprint-distance triathlon will be my third in the six years I’ve been with exercising with Team Survivor. The first was in 2005, a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My goal that year was to get moving again and work toward better health.
After 12 weeks of workouts, I felt good enough to join many of the other Team Survivor participants doing the Danskin Triathlon.
Team Survivor’s mission is to help women in every stage of cancer treatment and recovery get moving and regain normal lives. Their programs are free and open to female cancer survivors.
I’ll never forget standing at the swim start that first year with the other survivors and looking out over Decker Lake. In the pre-race excitement, I realized that just a year before, following one of many surgeries, I had hardly been able to walk a block.
I’m no athlete, and certainly not a triathlete. But standing at that swim start with the other survivors and our coaches, hearing the constant “you go girl” cheers throughout the event, and finishing the race were all very empowering. I had gotten my health back.
Each spring over the past few years, I’ve had other reasons for joining Team Survivor. Participants aren’t required to do a triathlon and many years I didn’t. The group’s workouts are fun and go by quickly. Some days I can’t believe I exercised for an hour.
And the inspiration goes beyond beating physical challenges. As we work out, many of the women tell their cancer stories. Their strength and perseverance as well as the time of the volunteer coaches have motivated me to keep pursing good health. Swimming, walking and spinning with the group have been an important part of my healing, from cancer, from life’s challenges and from loss.
Over the last two years, the workouts helped me through grief following the death of my husband. When I participated in the 2009 Trek triathlon, I needed to face and get over that finish line without him there, cheering me on.
This year, I signed up for Team Survivor and the Danskin to celebrate being six years cancer free. But I’m also attempting a career transition. And getting stronger and developing more endurance from exercise have helped me battle the fear and self-doubt that can come from such a change.
There’s a big hill on the bike portion of this race course. For me, that silly hill has been a metaphor for whatever is challenging me at the time. But I plan to get up that hill again, either on the bike or by walking. I’ll be thanking God the whole way for another year of good health.
As of this writing, I’m still a little scared of the bike, and if I do occasionally run, it’s more of a shuffle. I much prefer laps in a pool than in open water where you can’t see the bottom of the lake. It may take me hours to finish this race. But I plan to have a good time and enjoy cheering on the other women.
I’m so grateful to Team Survivor for getting me moving again. And who knows, I may get brave enough to join the group as they train for the Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer on Sept. 25.
For more information on the triathlon go here. For more information on Capital of Texas Team Survivor, go here. For more information on the Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer go here.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Triathlon
May 26, 2010
Last minute CapTexTri news
Athletes decked out in Spandex and swim goggles will take over downtown Austin on Monday, when the Capital of Texas Triathlon gets under way.
Among the top contenders in this year’s race, which includes a swim in Lady Bird Lake, a bike ride along Cesar Chavez Street and Congress Avenue, and a run along Riverside Drive and beyond, are military athletes James Bales and Nicholas Sterghos, and elite athletes Ryan Borger, Todd Gerlach, Missy Ruthven and Austin Fire Department Captain Jim Ryan.
The race itself kicks off Monday morning at Auditorium Shores. The Olympic distance triathlon, a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10K run, starts at 7 a.m.; the Sprint distance triathlon, a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5K run, starts at 9:15 a.m.; and the First Tri, a 400-meter swim, 10-kilometer bike and 5K run, starts at 10:20 a.m.
Packet pickup for the 20th annual race is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Multi-Sport Expo at Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. Bike check-in is from 1-7:30 p.m. Sunday at Auditorium Shores.
As of Wednesday, about 120 spots remain in the Olympic distance event. Online signup will remain open until the race completely fills.
When those fill, you may still get a shot at racing. Go to packet pickup at 6 p.m. Sunday. Any pre-registered athletes who do not show or have dropped out will forfeit their packet and those waiting can enter in their place.
If you can’t get in as an athlete, consider volunteering. For more information, go here.
Free race day parking will be available at the Palmer Event Center, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, and Texas Department of Transportation lots at 118, 150 and 200 E. Riverside Dr.
This year’s triathlon benefits the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, which provides adaptive equipment, sports training and travel accommodations to combat veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, go here.
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March 22, 2010
Amy Marsh wins Ironman China
UPDATE
Amy Marsh emailed during a layover in Korea, on her way back to Austin. This is what she said about the race:
“IM China was a great experience. Some of the toughest race conditions I’ve ever experienced. Very windy on the bike and a hot hot run. I felt pretty good throughout the race but the run was just survival because it was so hot.”
Check her full race report here.
Austin triathlete Amy Cottrill Marsh returns to Austin this week after winning China Ironman on March 14.
Marsh was third out of the water, then recorded the fastest bike split of the day. After a conservative marathon, she crossed the finish line more than 10 minutes ahead of second place finisher Nicole Leder of Germany. Marsh’s finishing time was 9 hours, 52 minutes and 45 seconds.
Not bad for swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles and running 26.2 miles!
Brandon Marsh, Amy’s husband, came in ninth in the men’s race, with a finishing time of 9 hours and 52 minutes. (No, that’s not a typo. They finished practically together.)
Read more about Marsh’s accomplishment here. I’m hoping to talk with Amy when she gets back in Austin, so check back for that, too.
Amy Marsh is from Rochester , N.Y., but moved to Austin in 2001. A competitive swimmer most of her life, she started racing in triathlons in 2002 and went professional in 2006. She now races for Team TBB. She has been at a Thailand training camp for the last seven weeks.
Ironman China was her second long-distance win in recent months. She won Ford Ironman Wisconsin in September 2009.
The above photo, by Mario Cantu, shows Marsh last June, after winning the Buffalo Springs Lake Ironman 70.3.
“She is ecstatic,” her mother Marge Cottrill said this morning after chatting with her daughter by email. “She won by 10 minutes even after she had a flat tire.”
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
October 8, 2009
Austin athletes gear up for Ironman championship
A few of Austin’s best athletes are headed to Hawaii for the all-day sufferfest known as the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona.
Paul Terranova, Todd Sazenski, Meghan Browne, Sierra Snyder, Joe Thorne, Shellie Oroshiba and Jason McMillian will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and 26.2 miles on Saturday.
Exhausting!
Each one has his or her own reasons for tackling the course, known for its intense heat and brutal winds.
Sazenski, 40, had heart surgery to correct a rapid heart rate after competing in Ironman Lake Placid in 2006. Five weeks and six days later, he competed in the Ford Ironman Wisconsin.
“I have never found a single event or accomplishment that better defines one’s character and perseverance than Ironman,” he wrote in his race application. “To get the opportunity to compete with the world’s best is an amazing honor.”
Browne, 24, a former University of Arizona swimmer, has had a good year so far, finishing first at a half Ironman in California. She missed last year’s championship because it fell just two weeks before her wedding.
“I always thought I’d do the big race in Hawaii after growing up watching Paul and Paula compete,” she wrote in her application. “Last year the timing just wasn’t right, but this year I’m excited to realize the dream!”
Snyder, 32, another collegiate swimmer, is a physician and an advisor to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She qualified for Hawaii through the St. Croix 70.3.
Oroshiba, 39, signed up looking for “the ultimate opportunity to lay it all on the line.” She’s a single mom working three jobs (including pedicabber!), and finding time to train has been a struggle.
Best of luck to the Austin contingent! Post your well wishes here.
(The photo above, provided by the Ironman folks, shows Terranova.)
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Triathlon
September 17, 2009
Amy Marsh wins Ironman Wisconsin
Congratulations to Austin’s own Amy Marsh, who won the Ford Ironman Wisconsin in Madison on Sept. 12.
Marsh, 32, won by an impressive 17 minutes over last year’s champion, Hillary Biscay. Marsh’s finishing time was 9 hours, 43 minutes and 59 seconds.
Read a full report by Bob Wischnia, here.
Marsh’s husband, Brandon Marsh, placed ninth overall among pros. His time? Nine hours, 4 minutes, 41 seconds.
Way to keep it in the family!
The photo above shows professional athletes Kelly Williamson (left) and Amy Marsh (right), both of Austin, after they won second and first place, respectively, at the Buffalo Springs 70.3 Ironman in Lubbock, TX in June. (Photo by Mario Cantu).
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
September 8, 2009
AVIA Austin Triathlon results
The Austin Triathlon took place Monday, and we have the results, as reported by RunFAR Racing services. The overall winner of the Olympic-Open group was Richie Cunningham, who finished with a time of 1:53:26.90. Click the links below to find out complete results by category.
- Olympic - Open
- Olympic - Age Groups
- Olympic - Relays
- Olympic - Searchable
- Sprint - Age Groups
- Sprint - Searchable
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
July 21, 2009
Win "Training Plans for Cyclists"
Thinking of riding the Ride for the Roses this fall? Dreaming of a cycling tour through Italy? (I am!)
You need a copy of “Training Plans for Cyclists,” by Gale Bernhardt (VeloPress, $21.95). And you can win it right here.
Just post at the end of this blog why you deserve the book. Then email your snail mail address to pleblanc@statesman.com. The person with the best answer wins the book.
The over-sized paperback is packed with training plans for people planning to ride centuries, multi-day tours or mountain bike races.
Bernhardt, who coached the USA Triathlon team at the 2004 Olympics and served as chair of the USA Triathlon National Coaching Committee for five years, puts training in plain English. The book includes sections on nutrition, bike fit, gear and training intensity. The bulk of the book is devoted to workout descriptions.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Triathlon, cycling, fitness books
July 14, 2009
Swim, bike, run -- propose
A pair of Austin athletes took last weekend’s Couple’s Triathlon literally, getting engaged at the finish line.
Keegan Ferguson sprinted past girlfriend Di Wightman during the run portion of the event, then dropped to his knee and whipped out a ring at the end.
She said yes.
Wightman and Ferguson met at Pure Austin Fitness, where she worked and he was a member. She says the proposal came as a surprise. The two have been dating about 16 months.
They started in the same wave of the race, but Wightman surged ahead during the swim. As Ferguson started his run, Wightman was still ahead. Her sister yelled at him, “You have a minute and 30 seconds to catch her!”
He did.
The couple finished sixth in their division. Results are tabulated by adding the two partner’s times together.
Several of the couples’ friends were in on the secret. They held a series of five signs that put together read “Di Will You Marry Me.”
“I think I skipped ‘will’ and ‘you’ and saw ‘marry’” she says. “Then my mother was screaming ‘Did you read the green sign?’”
So who’s the better triathlete? “He’s a very good runner and cyclist and I’m a strong swimmer and runner,” Wightman says. “We both have our strong points.”
Clearly this marriage will last.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Triathlon
June 23, 2009
Ironman Coeur D'Alene race report
Erin Whalen just returned from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where she tackled her first Ironman Triathlon. She returned to Austin late last night, finisher’s medal firmly in hand. She wrote about the experience so I could share it with Fit City readers:
“I am an Ironman.
Sunday was far and above the hardest day of my entire life — I battled physical and mental pain far and above anything I can ever remember. I overcame all of it, though, and on Sunday I became an Ironman.
For the past six months, I have been training for Ironman Coeur D’Alene with T3, an Austin training group. I averaged about 13 hours of swim/bike/run/core training per week and a total training distance of 2,870 miles. In the end, 59 of us made it to the start line ready to tackle the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
At 7 a.m. race morning, 2,500 athletes dove in to conquer two loops in Lake CDA. Off we went into the washing machine whirlpool spin cycle that is the Ironman swim. Luckily, I do not get freaked out in open water, but the combination of getting constantly kicked and grabbed, plus choppy waters, left me feeling sick and dizzy. Upon finishing the swim, I was greeted by tons of cheering spectators and volunteers who did everything from strip my wetsuit off to completely redress me for the bike portion.
The bike portion was a two-loop course, meaning we rode 56 miles twice. It was beautiful, scenic, technical, and by far the hardest bike ride I have ever completed. Luckily, tons of awesome volunteers, spectators, inspirational signs and scenery distracted us somewhat from those hills. It was important to ride smart, knowing we would have to come back and do the hills all again on loop two.
During the ride, I kept thinking, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I have to keep going.”
Also, I was having bad stomach problems that I couldn’t get under control. Six hours into the race, I wasn’t able to stomach any of my nutrition, but not finishing was not an option! By the time I pulled into the transition area, I had never been so happy to get off my bike.
Due to my stomach issues, I just wasn’t able to run. I tried multiple times, but it became clear that in order to finish, I would have to walk the marathon. My teammates saw me on the course and were so supportive, but eventually I just put my head down so they wouldn’t see my frustration. I saw some of them at the first turnaround and told them, “I don’t think I will make cut-off.” Luckily, they’d done the math and assured me I would. So I kept going.
When I got back to town, I turned around to see my training partner Alisa Leon, who ended up becoming my Ironman Angel. (That’s us in the photo below.) She caught up with me, walked with me, encouraged me, and ended up staying with me the rest of the race. We conquered rain, wind, freezing cold and pitch darkness together, but never entertained the idea of quitting.
Just past mile 25, we turned left down a street to the finisher’s chute. My teammates were there cheering for us, and then we knew we had it. Alisa and I grabbed hands and, for the first time, ran to the finish line. People were cheering in grandstands all around us, and Mike Reilly called my name and said “You are an Ironman!” My teammates were at the finish line waiting for us, and I proceeded to cry like a baby.
They say you have your ups and downs in an Ironman. I’ll be honest, I had far fewer ups than I had downs. My saving grace was my amazing teammates and friends and a promise to myself that I would never quit. I gave this course everything I had. Throughout the race I thought, “You are leaving nothing behind. If nothing else, be proud that you won’t regret not giving it everything.”
In all of my training and race preparation, I never thought I’d have to worry about the 17 hour cut-off time. I was well prepared for this race, both physically and mentally. But, as with any race, anything can happen. I faced things beyond my control, but I still finished with everything I could.
I am so proud of my finisher’s medal and the ability to call myself an Ironman.
And I’m going to do it all again next year.”
All but a handful of the T3 group finished the triathlon. Erin crossed the finish line at 11:38 p.m., 16 hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds after she began the race.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Triathlon
June 16, 2009
Austin triathletes head to Ironman Coeur d'Alene
Austin’s going to take over Ironman Coeur d’Alene this weekend!
Nearly 60 athletes from Austin T3 Triathlon Training Team — plus 30 or so other athletes from the Austin are — are headed to Idaho for the daunting June 21 race, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
Why’s it so popular with the locals? Probably because they can train during cooler weather and avoid long rides and runs in the dead of summer here as they prepare.
In recent years, T3 founder and head coach Maurice Culley has brought 30 or more of his athletes to Ironman Arizona in April. That race was dropped from the calendar, so athletes looked to the next Ironman on the schedule — Coeur d’Alene in June.
“We can train through the winter here and 100-mile bike rides and long runs are not that big of deal,” Culley says.
The Ironman craze in general is growing, he says, and the triathlons are selling out more quickly. “It’s the thing to do now — cross Ironman off the list and maintain your health and fitness lifestyle,” he says.
The biggest misconception about Ironman triathlons is that only elite athletes can do them. “Everyone thinks an Ironman athlete is a robot, type A person who works out twice a day to do it. When we meet with athletes, we say ‘Don’t think you have to put on Super Hero outfit to do this thing.”
Culley says T3 has trained all levels of athletes to finish an Ironman. Someone who has completed a sprint or Olympic distance triathlon just needs to add a few more days of training each week. “We try to get people to train four to six times a week instead of three to five times,” he says. “It’s a bigger commitment, but it’s not just for the super fit. If you do the right training you’re going to be just fine.”
The youngest Austin T3 participant at Ironman Coeur D’Alene is Jesse Popovich, 20; the oldest is Jerry Fleming, 60. The fastest athlete in the T3 group should cross the finish line in about 8 hours and 45 minutes; some of the rookies will likely finish in 15 or 16 hours. The cutoff is 17 hours.
Culley says he expects most — if not all — of the T3 athletes to finish. “In the last two years, we’ve had 100 percent first-timer finish rate,” he says. That’s higher than the average Ironman completion rate. Between 8 and 18 percent of athletes who start an Ironman drop out before finishing, he says.
Athletes pay $525 a person to enter Ironman Coeur d’Alene. T3 training costs $150 a month, and it’s a six-month training program.
It’ll be Erin Whalen’s first Ironman. “I can’t imagine doing all this crazy training mid-summer and fall,” the Austin athlete says. “Granted, I had quite a few times in January and February when I was biking on Loop 360, freezing, crying, getting blown around, doubting myself and thinking I was insane … I’m banking that making it through rides like those will give me extra strength — both physical and mental — come race day.”
The race starts at 7 a.m. Sunday. Some 2,200 athletes from around the world have registered. Air temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s and the water will be about 60 degrees.
Austin T3 plans to Twitter athlete progress during the race at @AustinT3. A celebratory happy hour is planned after the athletes return to Austin next week.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Triathlon
June 8, 2009
Swim, bike, run -- and get engaged
![IMG_6359[2].JPG](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2009/06/swim_bike_run_and_get_engaged/IMG_6359%5B2%5D.JPG)
For Drea Bjornson, yesterday’s Danskin Women’s Triathlon didn’t end after the swim, bike and run. She added a fourth discipline — engagement.
Moments after the 25-year-old Austin athlete finished the race, her first triathlon ever, she spotted a crowd of friends she didn’t expect to see at the finish line. As she moved toward them, they parted to reveal her boyfriend, Ryan Haire.
Haire held a sign that said “Congratulations Drea!” Below that, it said “Will you marry me?”
He dropped onto one knee, she said yes, and the triathlon became one she’ll never forget.
“I was still trying to catch my breath,” she says. “His quote was ‘Hit ‘em while they’re tired.”
Bjornson and Haire, a job placement specialist, met in college at the University of Miami and have been dating six years. They moved to Austin two years ago. She’ll head to law school in the fall and they plan to marry in about a year.
As for the triathlon, Bjornson says it won’t be her last, although it’ll be a tough one to top. Her goal was to finish in 2 hours. She smashed that, wrapping up the half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run in 1 hour and 46 minutes.
“I was hooked before the proposal,” she says. “Now I have really good feelings about triathons. It was an absolutely magical day all around.”
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June 4, 2009
Last-minute Danskin news
The big event of the weekend is the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, which starts at 7 a.m. Sunday at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake.
Some quick last-minute notes from the organizers:
- Volunteers are still needed for packet pickup and bike check-in on Saturday.
- Mandatory packet pickup is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.
- Mandatory bike check-in is from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Decker Lake.
- The transition area will open at 5:30 a.m. Sunday at Decker Lake.
- Bring a refillable water bottle. Athletes and spectators can refill at huge water-filled drums called Water Monsters, which will be located in the finish area.
- Please don’t use mylar balloons to mark your transition spot. Tie something to the end of your rack instead.
- Pack it in, pack it out. If you bring anything to the race site, take it back out (or dispose of it in trash receptacles). This includes anything used to mark your transition spot, flip-flops at the water’s edge, empty gel packets, energy bar wrappers and water bottles.
- Ride safely — stay to the right. Do not hover to the left. Do not ride two-abreast (or three-abreast, or four-abreast).
- For more information, go to http://danskinwomenstri.com/Austin-TX.html.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Triathlon
June 2, 2009
Win a women's triathlon book!
Why a special triathlon book for women? We’re different, of course!
Ten-time Ironman finisher, triathlon coach and part-time Austin resident Lisa Lynam knows that, and it’s why she wrote “Triathlon for Women: A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach for Female Athletes” ($16.95, Meyer & Meyer Sport).
Lynam sent four copies of her book over, and I’m giving them away. Post on this blog, telling me why you need the book.
I’ll look over all the responses and pick four winners, which I’ll post on this blog. (I’ll also ask the winners to email their snail mail addresses to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.)
The book covers everything from shopping for equipment to basic training, mental preparation, nutrition tips, pre-race checklists and recipes. One thing it has that I haven’t seen anywhere else? Information on how menstrual cycles affect training and performance.
Lynam spends her time in Austin and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The book is courtesy of Meyer and Meyer Sports and is available at area bookstores.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Triathlon
June 1, 2009
Danskin volunteers needed
The Danskin Womens Triathlon needs some help.
Volunteers are needed to help with set-up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the race site at Walter E. Long Park. Veteran Danskin triathletes are needed to help out in information booths at packet pickup, and cyclists are needed to “rove” the bike course during Sunday’s race. Swim angels to help athletes through the half-mile lake swim are also needed.
To sign up as a volunteer, go here.
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
May 22, 2009
CapTexTri packet pickup details
Attention triathletes … it’s race weekend, and the water’s perfect.
Water temperature in Lady Bird Lake is a pleasantly cool 68 degrees, according to Rick Margiotta, co-director of the Capital of Texas Triathlon.
Packet pickup for the 19th annual race is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the CapTexTri Sports Fitness Expo at Palmer Events Center downtown.
The race has officially sold out, with more than 2,700 age group athletes and 65 elite and professional athletes on the roster. If you missed signing up, you’ve still got a shot at racing. Go to packet pickup at 6 p.m. Sunday. Any pre-registered athletes who do not show by 6:30 p.m. or have dropped out will forfeit their packet and those waiting can enter in their place.
If you can’t get in as an athlete, consider volunteering.
For more information, go to www.captextri.com.
This year’s triathlon benefits the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, which provides adaptive equipment, sports training and travel accommodations to combat veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, go to www.dsusa.org.
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
May 13, 2009
Trek Women Triathlon is Sunday
Just four days until the Trek Women Triathlon Series kicks off in Austin on Sunday. Are you ready?
The race is at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake, and consists of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bicycle ride, and 3.1-mile run/walk. Registration is still open at www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com. Entry is $75 for individuals or $145 for relay teams. (Women who have lost their jobs race free.) For more information, call 1-877-221-9665.
Packet pickup and expo is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. Attendance is required and a valid photo ID must be presented. All relay team members must pick up race materials together.
Several presentations are planned at the expo:
- Course overview by members of the local race management team, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on the stage.
- Inspirational Race Day Preview by Sally Edwards, designated last-place finisher of the triathlon, 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on the stage.
- “Roadside Repairs and Cycling Tips,” noon and 2 p.m. adjacent to the stage.
The expo will feature sponsor and exhibitor booths, free product samples, giveaways and special sales.
Things to remember on race day:
- Timing chip and strap
- Swim cap
- Bike helmet with race number attached
- Running shirt with race number attached
- Small backpack marked with race number
- Small towel
- Footwear
- Fix-a-flat kit and bike pump
- Sunglasses
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Cell phone
- A plan to meet your friends and family
If you’ve got questions, post them here and I’ll get the answers.
Permalink | | Categories: Triathlon
April 22, 2009
Ironman answers
A few weeks ago I put out a call for questions for Joe Friel and Gordon Byrn, veteran triathletes and co-authors of “Going Long, Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons.”
Friel and Byrn answer a selection of questions below.
Representatives of VeloNews have selected Nichole, Devon and Laura to receive free copies of the book. (Ladies, please email me at pleblanc@statesman.com with your snail mail address.)
Thanks for participating!
- Q: Is there an Ironman race without the time cutoffs? I’m so old (71) and slow that I would never be able to finish the swim in time to start the bike, or if I did pull it off, I’d never be able to finish the bike in time to start the run. — Jody
- Gordo: Jody, I happen to coach an athlete that is your age. I don’t know of any races without time cut offs.
- Q: What is the best advice for nutrition the day(s) before the IM and throughout the event itself? — Nichole
- Gordo: Hi Nichole. The best advice would be to keep your nutrition before the event as normal as possible. You want to reduce your stress going into the event, so don’t change anything. As you approach race day, you will be training less so you can reduce your overall food intake, specifically carbohydrates, up to the day before the event. For the day before, and during the event itself, you can check out my website for additional information (see Library/Nutrition on www.endurancecorner.com). The second edition of “Going Long” has extensive information on daily training and race nutrition. Joe did a fantastic job of updating the nutrition information to build in the key aspects from his book, “The Paleo Diet for Athletes.”
- Joe: The day before, eat pretty much as normal only cut back on fiber. If you eat a Paleo-style diet, then increase starch intake the day before the race. During the event it really comes down to what has worked for you in training. The possibilities are quite varied, depending in part on how long the race is likely to take (a 9-hour finisher eats far differently than a 15-hour finisher), how much carb the athlete burns at race intensity (discovered during early season testing), size (bigger athletes need more than smaller ones), and experience based on training and previous racing. Basically, I separate carbohydrate intake and fluid intake so the athlete is not trying to get all calories from a sports drink. Common race day carb sources are gels, blocks, bars and anything the athlete may have experimented with and found to work (such as peanut butter and jelly).
- Q: Since the distance for the swim is 2.4 mi, what distance do you recommend building up to (ie. how much farther than 2.4?) — Nichole
- Gordo: With the swim, the short answer is that you want to build your training so you can cover the race distance in a single workout (first benchmark). Next you want to build your endurance so you can swim the distance without stopping (second benchmark). These two goals should dominate your training before you ever worry about getting “fast” over shorter distances. In terms of overdistance, I like 5,000 meters as a benchmark for more experienced swimmers.
- Joe: You should be able to swim non-stop for as long as you think the swim will take you on race day.
- Q: How do you gauge “race pace” on the bike? Is it better to start steady and build speed toward the end, or just stay at a moderate pace the entire time? — Nichole
- Gordo: Race pace, great question! You don’t “race” an Ironman; you survive it. What I mean is that the greatest challenge you face in the first three hours is not going crazy! Our brains are not good at projecting into the future when we are under stress. So you start at what feels like an easy pace and wait, wait, wait … until the duration of the event makes it tougher. Don’t be in a hurry to make the race tough. It will get there on its own.
- Joe: The athlete should learn how to use a heart rate monitor or power meter to help gauge intensity. Even experienced athletes will do this. Is it better to build speed or maintain a moderate page? It depends on the race goal. If the goal is to finish, then the athlete needs to be quite conservative with pace/effort all the way through. What that pace/effort is depends, again, on how long he/she will be out there. Most athletes need to start quite slowly and warm up to see how they feel. But never should the novice attempt to see how fast they can go.
- Q: What is the best way to prepare for a marathon distance run after a swim and bike of those distances? — Nichole
- Gordo: The key to run training is quality long runs, making sure that your long runs are no sooner than 48 hours after your long rides, as well as running frequently. Frequent easy running is much more important than fast running. My good friend (and run coach) Bobby McGee says, “Ironman running is more like a hike than a marathon.” That’s very true advice. If you are able to run “easy pace” for the entire marathon, then you will likely have a great day.
- Joe: Complete a few runs of 2-3 hours duration in the last 12 weeks before the race.
- Q: As the biking distance rises in training I tend to get saddle sores. I’ve heard many differing theories on how to avert this: get better bike shorts, get a new seat, and/or obtain a good bike fit. What is your advice and/or experience with this pesky occurrence? — Mary Keith Trawick
- Gordo: A couple tips that have helped me: Get out of your shorts QUICK after training. Use an antibiotic wash after training. Find a saddle that keeps your sit-bones stable. Rocking on the saddle creates friction that can irritate the skin. To clear up saddle sores, dab them with tea tree oil after washing and before bed.
- Q: How do you maintain your focus during an Ironman distance race (e.g. some athletes count to 100 repeatedly, or have certain songs going through their head)? — Mary Keith Trawick
- Gordo: Build your capacity to focus just like your fitness. Start with shorter periods and use intervals of focus within your longer sessions. You are right, a capacity to maintain a relaxed focus is a key attribute of successful racing. It takes practise and time to build up.
- Q: Gordo - You have an impressive website and note that one of the most popular topics on your discussion board is anything linked to nutrition. Why do you think this is such a popular topic and how much do you think nutrition can affect Ironman training? — Mary Keith Trawick
- Gordo: Nutrition is HUGE. In “Going Long,” we call it the Fourth Discipline. For long distance events, you can give yourself a material edge from fueling using the tips that are contained in the book. As an athlete, I recommend that you place the majority of your focus on the quality of what you eat when you are not training. This is the area where I find you can get the most performance boost. The mechanics of training/racing nutrition, covered in the book, are straightforward. Great to hear that you’ve been enjoying the website. I recently updated all my “greatest hits” and pulled them into my new site at www.EnduranceCorner.com. You’ll find my most popular articles there in a new library. I also pulled my blog across, which covers a range of topics.
- Q: What kind of advice would you give the athlete who wants to take triathlon to their highest level possible? For the athlete who has great potential, but because of work, scheduling, and finances, can’t afford it all. Can you recommend some simple steps to acquire assistance in these areas. Whether it be writing sponsorship letters, grant assistance, or tips from other accomplished athletes. — Ryan
- Gordo: Ryan, you’ll find the long answer to this question here: http://www.endurancecorner.com/gblog/desert_lessons_part_two My key advice if you want to achieve your highest level (in anything) is to understand that you must make choices and you cannot do it all. As a working athlete, focus on simplifying your life as much as possible and a stable routine. Then use “training vacations” to give yourself sport-specific overload. There’s more in the blog article but those are the key take-away points to remember.
- Q: I just completed my first half-Ironman, and at times I found myself feeling discouraged or even kind of bored. What kind of mental dialogue do successful triathletes use to keep going strong for all those hours? — Devon
- Gordo: You must train the way you want to race, especially in your key training sessions. Enter the event having practiced exactly how you want to move through the day. Manage your mood. When you notice that your mood has fallen, slow down a bit and eat something. Feeling discouraged or apathetic can be a sign of low blood sugar.
- Q: For 100-plus mile training rides out to the hinterlands (or Hill Country!) how do you balance carrying the extra weight of enough water and food vs. running out and not having water and snacks for many (LONG) miles? Remember it gets hot in South Texas in the summer … — Chris Summers
- Gordo: I used to train in Hong Kong, so I feel your pain about the heat! Food and water are “good weight.” I always bring tons of supplies with me and know my routes for resupply. I will also use loops where I leave an ice chest in my car for a parked aid-station. This is really important during long runs in the summer months. Even in Boulder, it gets very hot!
- Q: What would you say is the single most important element to make the transition between the bike and the run smoother? That’s always the hardest part for me — getting into a running groove after getting off the bike. — Laura
- Gordo: The single greatest element is practice! For one year I did at least a short, easy run after every single ride. Made a huge difference for me and is time efficient for working athletes (two sports, one shower). Another technique is to work on relaxation, using power-walking to get yourself into running mode. For an Ironman, especially, your first 5K should be the slowest of the entire marathon. Because you are moving so fast on the bike, any running speed is going to feel really slow. So expect that, relax and find your cadence. You’ll have plenty of time to pick it up later. Hope this helps you with your athletic journey - feel free to drop by my website (www.EnduranceCorner.com) or follow-up with an email via the contact page that you’ll find there.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Triathlon
April 7, 2009
Register for Capital of Texas Triathlon
Speaking of triathlons, the Capital of Texas Triathlon is coming up Monday, May 25. It’s a cool race, centered around downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake. I’ve done it a couple of times and always had fun. Tons of spectators come out to cheer on the athletes.
Pick your distance. Registration costs increase May 22. Add $10 for non-USAT members:
- First Tri Triathlon: 400-meter swim, 10K bike and 5K run. Registration $70. Starts 9:30 a.m.
- Sprint Triathlon: 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run. Registration is $100; $135 for relay. Starts 9 a.m.
- Olympic Triathlon: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run. Registration is $120; $164 for relay. Starts 7 a.m.
Race organizers have chosen the Wounded Warrior Project as the primary beneficiary. The non-profit organization, which provides adaptive equipment and sports training to combat veterans who are injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, will enter about 20 athletes, and other disabled military triathletes are expected to race. The CapTexTri is designated as the Triathlon Physically Challenged Military Championship.
“Our initial goal was to raise $10,000 for them, but the more I see of their work, I don’t want to stop at that,” says triathlon producer Rick Margiotta.
The CapTexTri, as it’s called, has been around since 1991. New in 2009 is an Olympic-style event, featuring professional and National Team triathletes racing in a multiple lap format. The CapTexTri Pro Cup will follow the age group triathlon events.
For more information or to register, go to www.captextri.com.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Triathlon
April 6, 2009
Triathletes: Ask the experts, win a book!
Got a question about training for an Ironman-distance triathlon?
I’ve arranged for Joe Friel and Gordon Byrn, co-authors of the book “Going Long, Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons,” to field questions from readers of this blog.
Post your questions here and I’ll make sure Friel and Byrn get them. We’ll pick the best ones and I’ll publish them, along with the authors’ answers, in a future blog entry.
And get this — we’ll give away a copy of the book to whoever asks the best question. (If we get enough good questions, we’ll give away more than one copy, so fire away!)
Friel and Byrn are top triathlon experts. Friel, a certified USA Triathlon and USA Cycling coach, has worked with the top endurance athletes since the 1980s. He’s the author of “The Triathlete’s Training Bible,” “Your First Triathlon” and “The Cyclist’s Training Bible,” and writes for Inside Triathlon and VeloNews magazines. He’s got a master’s degree in exercise science.
Byrn has raced Ironman competitions in Hawaii, Australia, Canada (where he posted a time of 8 hours and 29 minutes) and New Zealand. He won the 2002 Ultraman Hawaii, a three-day ultra-endurance triathlon. He’s also certified by USA Triathlon, Triathlon Australia, and the American Swim Coaches Association as a coach.
For “Going Long,” Friel offers the coaching framework and Byrn offers the athlete perspective. The book includes sport-specific drills, workouts, strength training tips and information on wellness and recovery. I like the section about training the mind, which is packed with sound advice about reassuring yourself when the pre-race jitters strike, avoiding broken goggles and what to do if your appetite evaporates on the course.
When the authors answer the questions, I’ll post the names of the book winners. Those folks will then have to email me their snail mail addresses so I can get them the book. So check back often.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Triathlon
April 3, 2009
Death by triathlon vs. marathon
How would you rather go?
Weekend warriors are twice as likely to die while doing a triathlon as they are to die during a marathon, according to a study by Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. And the greatest risk during a triathlon is caused by heart problems during the swim portion of the event, when cold water constricts blood vessels, making the heart work harder.
Harris presented the study at an American College of Cardiology conference in Florida last week. Read more about it here.
The risk of death during a triathlon is about 15 deaths per million participants, according to the study. The risk of death during a marathon is about 4 to 8 per million.
Don’t hang up your amateur athletic career just yet. That’s a pretty low risk, don’t you think?
I’m happy to say I’ve survived both. But it always pays to have your heart health checked before doing either.
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March 18, 2009
Win the Triathlete's Training Bible
I’ve discovered a great book — “The Triathlete’s Training Bible” by Joe Friel, a columnist for VeloNews and Inside Triathlon magazine.
The soft-cover book ($24.95, Velopress) is packed with tips and advice on how to develop a personal triathlon training plan, line up a week of workouts, adapt your program based on your body’s response to training and a lot more. It’s stuffed with charts, tables and graphs based on Friel’s nearly 30 years of experience coaching top triathletes.
Just flipping through the book, I picked up one good tip: Running faster isn’t about increasing your stride, it’s about faster cadence. Now if I could just put that into practice.
The book is for triathletes of all ability levels. It teaches you how to train, what to eat, and how to become a more efficient swimmer, cyclist and runner.
I want someone who will use this book to have it. I’ve only got one copy, so you have to show me you’re serious.
Tell me why you should have it. Best answer posted here (unscientifically chosen by moi) gets it. I’ll make my decision by 5 p.m. Thursday.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Triathlon
March 5, 2009
Texas Tri Series cocktail party
Triathlon season is fast approaching.
Get in the spirit of things tonight (Thursday, March 5) at the Texas Tri Series Training Round Up.
The party starts at 6 p.m. at Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, 1530 Barton Springs Road.
The Texas Tri Series, sponsored by Jack & Adam’s, includes five great triathlons:
- 1. The Rookie, May 10
- 2. Couples Triathlon, July 12
- 3. Jack’s Generic Triathlon, Aug. 2
- 4. The Austin Triathlon, Sept. 7
- 5. Longhorn 70.3, Oct. 25
For more information on the race series, go to www.texastriseries.com.
Meanwhile, I’m now at Winter Park and gearing up for another day on the slopes. I’ll let you know how it is tomorrow!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Triathlon
February 8, 2009
A word with Sally Edwards
I was confused by the arrival of a new women’s triathlon series in Austin this year. In fact, I wasn’t really sure which race was new and which had been around for years.
Based on some postings on this blog, readers are confused, too. After former Danskin spokeswoman Sally Edwards (shown above) herself posted a comment a week or so ago, I called her to try to sort through the muck. Edwards is now spokeswoman for the Trek Women’s Triathlon. And former Danskin race director Maggie Sullivan now directs the Trek race.
The Trek Women’s Triathlon is set for May 17 and the Danskin SheROX Triathlon is set for June 7. Registration is now open for both races. Both will be staged at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake.
The triathlons sound similar. How will they be different?
“I think the series are going to be different in the athletes’ experience. I can only speak about the Trek and don’t know what other womens’ series is going to be like. Trek is the race that’s been around for 19 or 20 years. The other one is the new triathlon. It has new people and I don’t know them and don’t know what they have planned. I’ll be at starting line (of the Trek triathlon) giving everyone a high five and giving a cheer. I know that experience and it’s a first-class quality race and not some backyard triathlon. The fanfare and hoopla will be at Trek now. If that’s the experience women want, that’s the race they should go to.”
But it sounds like you’re describing the Danskin.
“If you took the name Danskin and put the name Trek on it, that is what the athlete will experience. It’s for first timers, it’s supportive … everything is exactly the same — actually a little better.”
So what’s new?
Diversity. I said I would like to have a race that’s really inclusive of women with special needs. There’s a big engine division — it’s always been called the athena division. I would like to respect women in uniform and have them have their own wave and recognize them, too. There’s a way to recognize women and their contributions in special way.
I’m still confused. You say the Trek is the race that’s been around for 19 years, but we’ve never had a Trek Women’s Triathlon in Austin.
“The message is the sponsors all went to Trek, Sally Edwards went to Trek, Team Survivor went to the Trek series. When you look on other womens’ triathlon site you don’t see those things.”
Is there room for two women’s triathlons in Austin?
“I see the sport of triathlon in a very strong growth mode. I’d like to have as many different events as we possibly can and many different options for women.”
So why are you no longer attached to Danskin?
“I’m an entrepreneur, and when Maggie Sullivan said, ‘I’ve been doing the corporate world 18 years and I want to go out and own my own business,’ I could either support Danskin or my very close friend. It was really hard … but when you see every single person in the organization — Sally Edwards, the race director, the swim angels — going to the new series, you have to say ‘Where am I going to put my face?’ The veterans are committed to women in triathlon just like they’ve always been. What I care about is women are staying fit and they’re in the game and showing up at the starting line.”
Did you “jump ship” from Danskin?
“There’s a lot of confusion. I didn’t jump ship. It was a very, very difficult decision. It wasn’t easy. If I stayed (with Danskin) I’d be with a race group I didn’t know. I’m fiercely loyal, and I was with Danskin 19 years. I’m going to make this my 20th year … I’m going to do it with the people where my heart is.”
What will make the Trek race special?
“There is magic and the magic is the secret sauce of what we do. We care more about compassion and the final finisher and supporting women. Sometimes we call it kumbayah — sometimes it’s more of a love fest than a triathlon. It’s real stuff, it’s not phony. I cry and I’ve been doing it all these years. We celebrate every single woman whether they’re a skinny triathlete or a big athena triathlete. Where that experience will happen is at Trek.”
Any final thoughts, Sally?
“This is a big year for me. I’m going to be 62 and I started when I was 4 What I’m passionate about is getting America fit and this opportunity to help lead women off the couch and onto the starting line. It’s a long journey and it’s the joy of my life.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Triathlon
February 3, 2009
Registration opens for Danskin SheROX Triathlon
More on the women’s triathlon wars heating up in Austin…
First, I’m trying to hook up a phone interview with former Danskin spokeswoman Sally Edwards sometime this week, so check back. Edwards is now working with the Trek Women’s Triathlon Series. If you have any specific questions for her, post them here and I’ll try to get some answers.
Danskin has announced that it is teaming with the SheROX Triathlon Series to present its triathlon series this year. The series will be called the Danskin SheROX Triathlon. The triathlon will consist of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run. The date of the Austin event is June 7 at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake.
Registration for the Danskin SheROX Austin opens today. Cost for individual entry is $85 until April 26 and $95 thereafter. Cost for relay team entry is $140 until April 26 and $165 thereafter. Go to www.danskinsheroxtri.com to register.
Training plans, course maps and cue sheets, hotel information and directions will be available soon.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Triathlon
January 30, 2009
More on Trek Women's Triathlon
I just got another press release from Trek, about it’s new women’s triathlon series. (This is a new triathlon series. The Danskin Women’s Triathlon is still set for June 7.)
Here’s the press release:
New York, NY — The 2009 TREK Women’s Triathlon Series, with races planned in 10 markets across the United States, kicks off in Austin on Sunday, May 17. The TREK WTS is the only major Women’s Triathlon Series created by women, run by women. Exclusively for women.
“I love men, but let’s face it, if you’re a woman doing a triathlon, don’t you want it designed and run by women who understand what you really need?” laughs Maggie Sullivan, TREK Series Director. Our transition areas have clearer signage. We put ‘Swim Sisters’ in the water to make participants more comfortable. And that’s just the start of it. Men just don’t think about those kinds of details.”
Sullivan is the former Series director of the Danskin Triathlon series, and has been at the forefront of creating opportunities for women in the sport of triathlon. The Philadelphia Inquirer recognized her as the “The Grand Dame of Women’s Triathlons.”
“For this new TREK Series, I’ve gathered my entire team that delivered fabulous triathlon experiences to thousands of women throughout the country for 19 years,” explains Sullivan. “We are building on our collective experience and are making the sport of triathlon better. We know how to deliver what women want.”
Sullivan’s team includes legendary Hall of Famer and Ironman Master’s world record holder, Sally Edwards. Edwards is the TREK Series Chief Inspiration Officer.
“My role is to help women reach inside themselves and find what it takes to participate in this type of experience,” explains Edwards. “In fact, my goal this year is to help support my 200,000th woman across the finish line! I’m thrilled that Trek is committed to reaching that kind of milestone for women.”
Race Registration in Austin Now Open
The Austin Race will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at the Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake with race distances consisting of: half-mile swim, 12-mile bicycle ride, and 3.1-mile run/walk. Participants are encouraged to go to www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com to register as soon as possible, as space is limited. For further information, call toll free at 1-877-221-9665 or send us your questions at www.info@trekwomenstriathlon.com .
Just Because the Economy is Bad Doesn’t Mean Women Should Stay Home
The women behind the TREK Series understand that times are tough. Entry fees are set at $75.
But the Series also wants to help women who have recently lost their jobs.
“The unemployment rate in this country is now 7 percent,” says Sullivan. “There are a lot of women who really need support from other women as they struggle to reassess their lives and their careers, or just get by. We’re going to reserve 7 percent of our entries for those women who have lost their jobs to race for free.” (Participants must show evidence of current unemployment for a complimentary entry and pay $10 for USAT one day insurance.)
A Race That Fits Every Women’s Comfort and Experience Level
The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series will feature an unprecedented seven official entry categories including: Age Groups (separated by five-year increments), Mixed Age Group (so you can do the race with family and friends), Athena (150lbs +), Women in Uniform (military or government), Physically Challenged, Elite and Relay as part of a continuing effort to provide the best possible race experience for all women. Selected cities within the Series will also include “youth focused” triathlons.
Charities Benefit Too — TREK WTS is the Official Partner of ‘Team Survivor’
On the Charity front, The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series is partnering with Team Survivor, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization for women who have a present or past diagnosis of cancer. Team Survivor provides these women with free group exercise, health education classes and support programs. The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series and Team Survivor allow women in the program to train, receive complimentary race registration for their first triathlon and benefit from special race day support.
And on race day, the women of Team Survivor stand together at the starting line, with the support of the thousands of other women in the race.
Other Sponsors
Trek Bicycle Corporation, the Series’ title Sponsor, is proud to partner with Platinum Level sponsors MassMutual Financial Group and BIC® and Jelly Belly Sport Beans® in the Silver Level category.
2009 TREK WTS markets will also include: Chicagoland Colorado Las Vegas, Nevada New England New York Metro Northern California Seattle, Washington Southern California (Los Angeles County) Walt Disney World® Resort (FL)
In addition to her role with The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series, Sally Edwards is also CEO of HeartZones USA, an inspirational speaker and a best-selling author of 22 books on triathlon and fitness training. HeartZones is the Preferred Training Programs of the TREK Women’s Triathlon Series. www.heartzones.com
For information on the TREK Women’s Triathlon Series, and/or to be added to the Series mailing list, go to www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com or, for further information, call 877-221-9665 (toll free).
The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series is a property of The Xxtra Mile LLC, a women’s and girls’ active lifestyle company based in New York City. Its properties currently include the TREK Women’s Triathlon Series, Team Future™, a mentoring and training program for women and girls, and BRAIDS™, a think pink tank for women’s and girls’ active lifestyle initiatives. Trek is a registered trademark of the Trek Bicycle Corporation.
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January 23, 2009
Danskin sets Austin tri date
The Danskin Women’s Triathlon is now set for June 7 in Austin.
Registration will open Feb. 3. For more information go to http://www.danskin.com/triathlon.html .
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the popular women’s triathlon series. For the first time, though, it’s got competition.
TREK has unveiled a new series of women’s triathlons, and set a May 17 date for an Austin race at Walter E. Long Municipal Park, long the site of the Danskin triathlon. Sally Edwards, long the spokeswoman for Danskin, is now part of the TREK series.
Which race will you do? Will Danskin be different now that there’s a new game in town?
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January 20, 2009
Registration open for TREK Triathlon
Registration has opened for the new TREK Women’s Triathlon Series, scheduled for May 17 in Austin.
No, I didn’t mean the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, although the new race sounds suspiciously like that Austin mainstay. I’ve participated in the Danskin event several times, and love the welcoming, supportive environment, especially for first-timers.
Like the Danskin triathlon, the TREK triathlon will be staged at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake. It’s a sprint-distance event, with a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run. It starts at 7 a.m. on May 17. And Sally Edwards, long the public spokeswoman for the Danskin triathlon, has jumped ship to TREK.
Registration for the TREK event is $75 for individual entry or $145 for a relay team. For more information or to register, go to http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com. For more information, email info@trekwomenstriathlonseries.com or call 877-221-9665.
Danskin has not yet announced a 2009 series schedule. For the latest update, go to http://www.danskin.com/triathlon.html.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Triathlon
December 9, 2008
Watch Ironman on TV
NBC will air a 90-minute special this weekend about this year’s Ford Ironman World Championship, which celebrated its 30th anniversary on Oct. 11 in Kona, Hawaii.
We had a good showing of Austin area athletes at the race, a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. This year saw one of the highest temperatures ever on the course. Competitors ages 18 to 79 took part in what is considered the world’s greatest endurance event.
Al Trautwig will narrate the program, which will air from 1:30 — 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 on KXAN.
The show features intense back-and-forth competition among the top professionals, including winners Craig Alexander of Australia and Chrissie Wellington of Great Britain. Also highlighted are a paraplegic who was injured in a motocross accident, a Navy SEAL who has raised more than $300,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which pays the college tuition for children of personnel killed in the line of duty, a major league baseball player, and a two-time terminal cancer survivor.
For more information, go to http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/30th-anniversary-ford-ironman-world-championship-airs-on-nbc
The following Austin athletes competed in this year’s race:
- Noel Adorno, 44
- Julianne Fiocca, 38
- Lisa Preeg, 43
- Brad Floyd, 37
- Chris Toriggino, 41
- James Bonney, 36
- Patrick Evoe, 31
- Grant Glauser, 23
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December 8, 2008
Meet Austin triathlete Kelly Handel
I met triathlete and training consultant Kelly Handel at Austin Java last Friday, on her 31st birthday. (Happy birthday Kelly!)
Kelly’s cool. And amazing.
A collegiate swimmer turned triathlete, she spent two years at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs (where she met another running phenom, Derick Williamson, whom she just married in September).
Kelly pecked at a muffin while she explained to me her passion for triathlon.
“One thing I really like about triathlon is that with three different disciplines, everyone has their own strength and weakness, something to improve,” she says. Handel is strongest in the swim and run, and is always working to get better on the bike. She likes the unpredictably of triathlon, where varying courses and outdoor conditions are the name of the game.
“A lot is about perseverance. Many times I’ve gotten off the bike near the back and can run people down,” she says.
She also pointed out an impressive scar on her left forearm. That’s from a cycling accident in Denver in 2005. She went down in a pack of riders, and when she managed to untangle herself, she saw that her arm bones were poking through the skin in two places. Ack!
Three surgeries and a lot of healing later, she got back into racing.
Now she works as a training consultant at Source Endurance, helping athletes reach their potential. She also continues to race. (She snagged eighth place this year in the Austin Marathon, her first marathon.)
Her typical training regimen during triathlon season? Bike four times a week (including long one on Saturday), run three times a week and swim three times a week.
At Source Endurance, she helps test athletes in the company’s lab. Baseline data on an athlete’s lactate threshold (the moment when the body is producing more lactic acid than it can effectively clear) and VO2 max lets her write individualized training programs for the clients she coaches.
“I enjoy working with everyday people, not just elite athletes,” she says. “People over 35, with family and jobs, who have maybe one hour a day. Our job is to help them get the most out of the time they have to train. They have busy lives and we know that.”
“You invest a lot of time, energy and emotion into it,” she says. “ You want to get the most out of it.”
She’s not all about working out, either. Kelly and Derick live in a 100-year-old home in South Austin. She likes to cook, and won’t turn down a good beer or a good margarita, either.
She also writes a blog, which you can see here: http://kellyhandel.blogspot.com/
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November 13, 2008
A new women's triathlon comes to town
First Danskin, now Trek?
Trek Bicycle has signed on as title sponsor of a new women’s triathlon series that will be staged in 12 cities — including Austin — in 2009.
According to a press release sent out today, the Trek Women’s Triathlon Series is aimed at breaking down barriers for female athletes by providing a fun, supportive and non-intimidating atmosphere for athletes.
Sound familiar? That’s because Danskin has been doing the same thing with its Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series since 1989.
Like the Danskin, the Trek Tri will be a sprint distance race, with a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run.
Does this mean the Danskin Women’s Triathlon is going away?
No, say the Danskin officials.
But check this: Trek also announced that Maggie Sullivan, director of the Danskin Women’s Triathlon from 1992-2008, will serve as director of the new Trek Women’s Triathlon. And Sally Edwards, long the spokeswoman for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series and author of 22 books on triathlon and fitness training, is making the switch, too. She’ll be the spokeswoman of the new Trek Women’s Triathlon. (That’s her at the center of the photo above, cheering on athletes before the swim portion of the race.)
A final 2009 race schedule will be announced next month.
For information on the Trek Women’s Triathlon Series, go to www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com.
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July 22, 2008
Training for an Ironman while stationed in Iraq
Imagine training for an Ironman triathlon. Now imagine training for an Ironman triathlon while stationed at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.
Not much off time, and, well, there’s the heat. And dust.
My friend Lynne Smith, who swam the English Channel last year, sent me a picture of her friend Major Bill Conner, who is training for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii this October.
Sometimes I complain about the difficulties of squeezing in a workout, but I’ve got it easy. Conner, 34, works seven days a week, for 15 or more hours a day.
“I really do not have a daily routine as each day is different, except that I usually end up going to bed very late,” he wrote in an email. “I just have to be very flexible with my workouts.”
Conner, who is from Tulsa, Okla., where he was a high school track and cross country athlete, is a frequent visitor to Austin. He’s been doing triathlons since 1996, and has two Ironmans under his belt — Coeur d’Alene in 2003 and Arizona in 2005.
As you might have guessed, Camp Fallujah has no pool, so he can’t swim. Instead, he’s focusing on the bike portion of the race. A fellow Marine gave Conner his indoor trainer when he left Camp Fallujah, which has helped. On Saturday nights, Conner tries to ride six or more hours on the trainer, while watching a video of the Ironman course.
“I turn off the air conditioning in the room to help simulate the conditions that I will be facing in Hawaii, and it usually gets up to 90-plus degrees and very humid. Now I only wish I could find a way to simulate the 40 mph winds,” he writes.
He also bought an inexpensive mountain bike from the exchange on the base and has been riding it as often as possible around the camp’s perimeter. Once a week, he also runs the perimeter by flashlight.
“Everything else I try and fit it in when I can break away for an hour or two,” he writes. “Some days I am not able to break away, so I do not get my workout in — but my job comes first.”
Conner is scheduled to return to the United States in September. He plans to jump right into the pool, since he’s had almost zero pool time while in Iraq.
“I have gotten to swim in one of Saddam’s pool at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and another base, but there is not a pool on Camp Fallujah, so I definitely will not be breaking any records in the water,” he writes.
He also plans to get a new bike. He’s still using the one he bought when he first started doing triathlons 12 years ago.
Conner will dedicate his Ironman to three friends killed while serving their country — LCDR Erik Kristenson, who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan; Major Megan McClung, killed in an explosion in Ramadi; and Major Doug Zembiec, also killed during his deployment.
“Specifically, I plan to dedicate the swim to Major Zembiec, who was one of the best amphibious reconnaissance Marines who has served in the Corps,” he writes. “I would dedicate the bike segment to LCDR Erik Kristenson, who I rowed on the varsity heavyweight rowing team with four years. Lastly, I would run the marathon portion for Major Megan McClung, who was an avid runner and triathlete herself. She actually competed in the Hawaii Ironman in 2000 and 2001 and was the fastest female military triathlete that year.”
“There also has been a lot of sacrificing over here,” Conner writes. “Whether it is a Marine who is away from his new wife or girlfriend or not being able to see the birth of their child or attend the funeral of a relative. Some, like Erik, Doug and Megan, have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country and will never be forgotten.”
The attached photo was taken on the three-year anniversary of Kristenson’s death in Afghanistan. Conner did a special 6-hour ride that day — 2 hours outside and 4 on the indoor trainer because of a sandstorm.
Scholarship funds have been created for all three friends:
- Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship Gonzaga College High School 19 Eye St. NW Washington, DC 20001
- Doug Zembiec Memorial Wrestling Club 1127 Meadowalk, San Antonio, TX 78253
- Major McClung Memorial Scholarship Women Marines Association P.O. Box 8405 Falls Church, VA 22041
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July 4, 2008
Austin's toughest triathlon?
Looking for a challenge, mountain bikers? Check out the Pure Austin Fitness Xterra Austin triathlon. The race starts at 8 a.m. July 20 at Emma Long Park, and will include a 1,000-meter swim, 14-mile off road bike and 5-mile trail run. You can enter as an individual or relay team.
To register, or for more information, go to austinxterra.com. Cost is $85 per individual or $135 for a relay. (Cost goes up closer to the event.)
Race organizers say the Austin version of the race will be one of the toughest Xterra events to date. “The Emma Long mountain biking trails have long had a reputation as being the most technically challenging in the city, and maybe in all of Texas!” Mike Carter, one of the organizers, reports on the website.
Check out a helmet-cam view of the first part of the bike leg here:
Race organizers have adapted the Emma Long trails by re-routing sections and adding ramps to make it safer. Volunteers will also be posted on the course to warn riders of particularly treacherous sections.
“Racing the Emma Long trails ‘as is’ with no modifications could be dangerous. There are simply some areas that have been eroded so badly that even the most technically gifted riders have to walk them now,” the site says.
I’m tempted, but the bike leg scares me. Maybe I need a relay team. I’ll swim. I know a runner. Anyone up for the bike?
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June 8, 2008
Doin' Danskin
Whew! Wasn’t the Danskin Women’s Triathlon fun?
For the second year in a row, I entered the Danskin Women’s Triathlon as part of a relay team called Team J. That’s our runner, Audrey Herold, 46, on the left, our bicyclist, DJ Olsson, 49, in the center, and me, Pam LeBlanc, 44, on the right.
We plan to keep on doing the race until we can’t any more. Something about standing at the start line with Sally Edwards, the race’s designated last place finisher, cheering us on, just fires me up. Danskin is known for its supportive atmosphere, and roughly 3,000 women do the Austin edition of the triathlon each year at Walter E. Long Lake.
Avery Visser, the young phenom who blasted across the finish line first last year, repeated her win this year. Just 15 years old, she edged out second place finisher Missy Ruthven.
But Danskin isn’t just about the speedsters who come in first. It’s about all kinds of women who believe in themselves enough to get out on a racecourse and swim, bike and run.
The relays went in waves of 21, which meant a lot of waiting around for us. The wind made for somewhat choppy water, but I got through the swim fine. DJ spun off on her bike before I had a chance to catch my breath, and Audrey smoked it in on the run despite a sore hip.
Go team J! Let me know how you did in the race. What was the hardest part? Did you have fun?
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June 7, 2008
Made it through check-in!
My relay team made it to check-in for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon this morning at the Travis County Expo Center. We beat the crowds and picked up our race packets, Danskin shirts, swimcap and race chip.
I’m ready to race. DJ Olsson, who will be doing the cycling portion of the triathlon, went for a ride last night to loosen up. She’s a little worried about the brisk wind. Audrey Herold, our runner, is ready to go, but has been suffering from a sore hip.
No matter — we are out there to have fun!
Our team won the relay division of the Danskin Women’s Triathlon last year. Not sure we could ever repeat, but we’re looking forward to trying.
See you on the course on Sunday. Please check back with your own race report later this week!
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June 6, 2008
Almost time for Danskin
Are you ready? The Danskin Women’s Triathlon is just two days away, and I’m chompin’ at the bit to leap into Decker Lake.
If you’re already registered, don’t forget that packet pickup is Saturday at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.
If your last name starts with a letter between N and Z, you should go between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. If your last name starts with a letter between A and M, go between 12:30 and 3 p.m. Relays may pick up their race packets anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Bring a photo ID.
Look for me on the race course on Sunday. I’ll be doing the triathlon as a relay, with my friends from the Jewish Community Center: super speedy cyclist DJ Olsson and blazin’ fast runner Audrey Herold.
When the race is over, let me know how it went for you by commenting on this blog. And have fun!
For more information about the race, go to http://www.danskin.com/austinrelays.html.
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