The Associated Press reported Friday afternoon that federal prosecutors have closed the investigation of seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong without filing charges. —VeloNews: Feds drop Armstrong investigation —AP reports case against Lance Armstrong has been dropped
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Lance Armstrong case…
Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org With several countries looking to nab points towards Olympic qualification, this weekend’s ITU Sprint Oceania Triathlon features a stacked field. Kris Gemmell will return to top competition on Sunday for the first time since his win at the World Cup event in Auckland in November but his focus is very much on one race in April. The New Zealand triathlete has been in a heavy training mode over the past six weeks at the Wanaka Snow Farm with the rest of the Tri NZ high performance squad as he eyes a top finish at April’s Sydney World Champs series race. A top-eight finish there will guarantee a spot in London but, if he fails to achieve that, it will then come down to the selectors’ discretion. Andrea Hewitt is the only New Zealand triathlete guaranteed a start in London. Before all of that Gemmell, James Elvery, Debbie Tanner, Nicky Samuels and Kate McIlroy will all compete in this weekend’s fifth round of the Contact Tri Series in Kinloch, Taupo. A number of international competitors will also race, including Australian Chris McCormack. The ITU Oceania sprint title and valuable ITU points are up for grabs and Gemmell is keen to be at the head of the pack in the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. “I have won the standard distance nationals five times but never won the sprint title at the elite level,” he said. “It is something I like doing and have spent a good part of my career doing this type of race in Europe racing in club competitions and I always enjoy Takapuna each year over a similar distance. “But there is a big contingent of Australians coming over chasing those ITU points so it won’t be easy and the course at Kinloch is a tough one. Racing over this short distance hurts, too. There is no letting up from the gun with a nasty hill on the bike so I’ll be looking to force the issue there. My aim is to place as much pressure on the field as possible on the bike and come off with a bit of a lead and sort ourselves out over the 5km run.” Read more: Nzherald.co.uk
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ITU Sprint Triathlon Oceania…
A retirement community in Columbia, S.C. is hosting a “Baby Boomer” triathlon in July. When we think of a triathlon, many of us think of buffed men and nimble women donned in tank tops and running shorts who have probably never had a glass of wine or a nibble of a potato chip. But in the upcoming months Still Hopes, a retirement community in Columbia, S.C., is preparing to train a team of beginners to participate in a triathlon that will actually let the sippers of adult beverages and cheeseburger lovers participate, according to trainer Stefanie Glatz who will be coordinating the triathlon training. “This event is geared for people 55 and older, and we will start training in late February,” Glatz said. “If a person can do a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes, they will be able to do this triathlon training.” Glatz said that she isn’t looking for solid athletes as much as the average person who just wants to get in shape, maybe lose a few pounds and wants a challenge. The Still Hopes triathlon is no different except that the mileage will be shorter. The event is set for July 28 at the Northwest Family YMCA in Irmo, Glatz Participants will be nurtured along the way, and no one expects them to initially be able to run the marathon race. Read more: Thecolumbiastar.com
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Baby Boomer Triathlon Coming…
Photo: Nils Nilsen Goal setting is one of the defining characteristics that separates athletes from exercisers; we set our sights on specific targets and we strive for performance. As you get ready to put your 2012 goals down on paper (which I highly recommend), here are some guidelines to keep in mind. I’ve divided these goal-setting tips into categories based on three groups of triathletes I frequently talk to. You may fit squarely into one category or identify with more than one. “I want to be a contender.” “I coulda’ been a contenda,” lamented Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront.” But he wasn’t, because as a fighter he didn’t have anyone looking out for him and he went for the easy buck instead of the long-term gain. If you want to step up your performance in 2012 and stand atop the podium, get yourself: A coach. I know I’m biased, but during the natural ups and downs of the training process athletes benefit from external guidance. Coaching is not just a training program or data analysis; it’s the relationship that guides you through the dark days, when fatigue causes self-doubt and insecurities to cloud your judgment. Performance monitors. If you want to win, invest in a power meter for the bike and a GPS-enabled heart rate monitor for your other activities. Even more important: Download the data and use it. You’d be surprised at the number of athletes who have the gear but do nothing with the useful information it provides. Speed. Endurance gets you to the finish line, but speed wins races. If you want to win you have to put your time into high-intensity speed work on the track, cycling intervals above lactate threshold intensity, and VO 2 max intervals in the pool. RELATED: Meet 5 New Male Pros
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New Season, New Goals
The 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series features stops in Austin, Denver and Buffalo. See the press release from USA Triathlon below: With the aim of providing increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s top paratriathletes, USA Triathlon has established the 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series, a three-race series held in conjunction with some of the nation’s top multisport events. The sprint-distance series kicks off with the 2012 USA Paratriathlon National Championship, contested alongside the Capital of Texas Triathlon on May 28 in Austin, Texas. Paratriathlon Nationals will serve as the primary selection event for the 2012 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, on Oct. 22. Other 2012 USA Paratriathlon Race Series stops include the Denver Triathlon on June 10 and the Nickel City Triathlon on Sept. 16 in Buffalo, N.Y. – the day after the 2012 USA Triathlon Elite National Championship. “This USA Paratriathlon Race Series will provide access to higher levels of competition and increased visibility for the sport of paratriathlon. It will be great for these inspirational athletes to go from a single event in the U.S. to a three-race series,” USA Triathlon High Performance Senior Manager Andy Schmitz said. “We are looking forward to the continued growth of paratriathlon in the U.S. and worldwide.” Historically one of the world’s top paratriathlon performers, the U.S. has earned more than one-fourth of all possible podium finishes at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships since 2008. Paratriathlon will make its Paralympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.
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2012 USA Paratriathlon Race…
The 2012 Xterra Southeast Championship in Pelham, Alabama will host the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. See the complete press release below: The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to announce the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships will be held in Pelham, Alabama, on May 19 in a partnership with the Xterra Southeast Championship. The event will feature $20,000 USD in prize money for elite athletes, who will compete over a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run. Under23, junior, age-group and paratriathlon races will also be contested in Pelham. Marisol Casado, ITU President & IOC Member: “The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with Xterra for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships. We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level.” Dave Nicholas, Race Director, Xterra Southeast Championships “TEAM unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship to the USA. By combining the Xterra series with ITU we are reaching new heights in cooperation between directors and the federations. Oak Mountain and Shelby County are the perfect place to host this event.” The course at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, located in the southernmost part of the Appalachian Chain, is praised by competitors as being one of the most fun, fast, scenic and difficult on the Xterra schedule. Pelham will mark the second ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships, following last year’s successful event in Extremadura, Spain won by Canadian Melanie McQuaid and South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz. Both McQuaid and Stoltz are also the defending champions in Pelham. 2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships ITU has also awarded the 2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships to Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands. The event is slated for July 13, 2013 and will offer 35,000 EUR in prize money for elite athletes and will also hold under23, junior age-group and paratriathlon categories. In preparation for the event, the city will host the European Cross Triathlon Championships this year.
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ITU, Xterra Form Partnership…
Michael Weiss will continue to be drug tested during his two-year suspension from competition. Photo: Nils Nilsen In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes in the WTC Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are subject to out-of-competition testing and are accountable for maintaining accurate “Whereabouts” using the secure online Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS). The WTC Anti-Doping Program also includes collection of blood samples in accordance with the WADA Code Athlete Biological Passport Operating Guidelines. “I called WTC immediately after I was informed about the suspension,” Michael notes. “We discussed my plans to return to professional racing and my wish to remain in the testing pool.” “Both Michael and the WTC agreed that it was important that, given his intention to return to Ironman competition, he remain in the WTC RTP for the period of his ineligibility,” said Kate Mittelstadt, WTC Director of Anti-Doping. “We will continue to monitor his whereabouts and test him so that there is no lapse in his test history or Athlete Biological Passport.” Read more: Miki-wiki.com
Adam Bohach, 27, Clinton, Iowa A high school science teacher, Bohach has a thing or two to teach his students about being a fast triathlete. He wrapped up his final amateur season ranked first among men ages 25-29 by USA Triathlon (USAT), scooping up big wins at the Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championships in September and topping his age group at Ironman Racine 70.3 (his 4:12:06 finish was good enough for ninth overall, beating several pros). Bohach is also an accomplished runner, clocking 2:26:25 at Grandma’s Marathon in June and a 25:45 8K on the roads in 2010. Bohach, a biology major while at Luther College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is clearly a student of the sport: His senior project involved VO2, lactic acid, and cortisol levels in endurance trained athletes, for which he was awarded an NCAA post-graduate scholarship. RELATED: Meet 5 New Female Pros
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Going Pro: Meet 5 New Male…
It took John Korff seven years to bring an Ironman triathlon to New York; it took nine minutes for the 3,000 race slots to sell out. Korff, a sporting events producer who runs 100-mile races and the Empire State Building stairs for kicks, had been wrangling and wooing city officials to host the event, a 140.6-mile endurance sport, which includes swimming and biking — and a 26.2-mile marathon tacked on the end. “I felt like a business therapist saying why they should do this,” says Korff, owner of Korff Enterprises. In 2010, USA Triathlon annual membership surpassed 135,000 compared with 15,000 to 21,000 roughly a decade ago. New triathletes are older, with the biggest growth in the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups, according to USA Triathlon. In fact, fortysomethings appear like whippersnappers compared to some triathletes. Just ask Stuart Chagrin, 68, a finance professional who has been competing in the New York City Triathlon since 2005. That race is the same distance as the Olympic event — a modest 32 miles. “You’re finding older people doing triathlons, older people doing endurance events,” says Chagrin, who began running in his 40s. “Older is younger these days.” Read more: Cnbc.com
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Middle Age Segment Of…
Photo: Tom Robertson/USA Triathlon Mike Wolfe and Rebecca Dussault took advantage of near-perfect conditions Sunday to claim national titles at USA Triathlon’s Winter Triathlon National Championship at Homestake Lodge. Wolfe (Helena, Mont.) covered the 5-kilometer run, 10-kilometer mountain bike and 5-kilometer cross-country ski course in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 20 seconds to outdistance the field by more than three minutes. Joining Wolfe on the men’s podium were fellow Montana athletes Matt Seeley (Polson, Mont.) and Landon Beckner (Helena, Mont.), who finished in 1:13:31 and 1:13:34, respectively. On the women’s side, Dussault (Gunnison, Colo.) claimed her third USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship title in the last four years in 1:16:10. The 2010 winter triathlon world champion also finished fifth overall – regardless of gender – to earn the women’s title by more than five minutes. Last year’s women’s national champion Emma Garrard (Park City, Utah) was second in 1:21:22, while Nicole Freedman (Jamaica, Mass.) grabbed third in 1:25:13. Wolfe and Dussault got off to strong starts by posting the day’s fastest run splits en route to their victories. The top three overall finishers earned the right to represent the U.S. in the elite race at the 2012 ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships in Jämijärvi, Finland, on March 24-25. Additionally, the top three competitors in each age group qualified for Team USA for Winter Worlds. Held in conjunction with the fourth annual Powder Hound Winter Triathlon, Sunday’s Winter Nationals event was contested under bright sunshine with temperatures in the mid 40s. The USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship was originally slated for the Gunstock Winter Triathlon on Jan. 22 in Gilford, N.H., but USA Triathlon was forced to relocate Winter Nationals in late December 2011 due to a lack of snow on the East Coast. 2012 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship (Powderhound Winter Triathlon, Butte, Mont.) 5k run, 10k mountain bike, 5k cross-country ski Men’s Top-10 Finishers 1. Mike Wolfe (Helena, Mont.), 1:10:20 ($750) 2. Matt Seeley (Polson, Mont.), 1:13:31 ($450) 3. Landon Beckner (Helena, Mont.), 1:13:34 ($300) 4. Ryan Scott (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:15:13 5. Cory Soulliard (Hamilton, Mont.), 1:16:45 6. Chuck Dumke (Missoula, Mont.), 1:18:15 7. Michael Stearns (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:18:40 8. David Hoffman (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:21:16 9. Wesley Furlong (Missoula, Mont.), 1:25:48 10. Ted Wood (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:26:17 Women’s Top-10 Finishers 1. Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, Colo.), 1:16:10 ($750) 2. Emma Garrard (Park City, Utah), 1:21:22 ($400) 3. Nicole Freedman (Jamaica, Mass.), 1:25:13 ($350) 4. Julie Zickovich (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:31:38 5. Darcy Foley (Sturbride, Mass.), 1:32:47 6. Ingrid Lovitt (Missoula, Mont.), 1:41:14 7. Kathryn Babbin (Bozeman, Mont.), 1:45:08 8. Kaylee Uibel (Kalispell, Mont.), 1:47:42 9. Rebecca Duffy (Bartlett, Ill.), 1:56:13 10. Becky Hochstein (Bozeman, Mont.), 2:00:27 Race report provided by USA Triathlon .
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Wolfe, Dussault Claim USAT…
Learning to swim is often the biggest hurdle for adults getting into triathlon. With all the literature and videos out there, is a coach necessary to get started? This month Sara McLarty debates Tim Edwards, a coach with North Coast Endurance in Cleveland, Ohio. Sara: With family and work schedules, very few people have the ability to train with a coach. Instead, it’s much easier to purchase a DVD or book that they can follow at their own pace. Most are cheaper than a session with a coach, plus you can also find free videos on YouTube. Tim: Most triathletes have Type A personalities and they are very driven by schedules. Getting together with a coach for an hour is not a huge hurdle to overcome. Newbies are often lost in the mountain of data. With so much to think about, they don’t have a logical progression to follow as they start their journey in the pool. A coach can break down the individual skills and move on only when they have mastered them. Sara: Triathlete recently outlined a simple way to create your own underwater video camera. You can film yourself in the pool and analyze your technique each week as you progress. Compare your video to professional swimmers online. Tim: Athletes can videotape themselves, but the feedback is delayed. They have to wait to download the video and spend time comparing. Trying a skill, having it analyzed by a coach, learning the corrections and trying it again is compressed into minutes—not days. This progression is worth the extra couple of bucks. RELATED: How To Analyze Your Own Swim Stroke Sara: I’ve coached some athletes who just won’t listen to what I say, even if I’ve told them a million times. They finally end up figuring it out themselves and when that happens, it sticks. Learning on your own forces you to think about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Tim: The swim usually creates the most stress for a new triathlete. A coach is able to mentally help out by being there in this new environment. I swim with many athletes the first time they are in open water, “holding their hands” as they get comfortable. No video or book will reassure them when they first encounter a breaking wave or a plant wrapping around their hand. Sara: I can’t really argue against having a coach with you for your open-water swim training. Other than going with a very experienced friend, I don’t recommend any athletes trying open water without some support system nearby. Tim: Empowering the athlete is excellent. Athletes who really want to reach that next level of competition need to have a high level of investment in the process. One of the best ways for athletes to learn is to combine video of their practice with analysis of the technique. Many athletes I have coached have finally “got it” when they can see with their own eyes. Triathlete final thoughts: Videos and books can get you started, but a great coach can take you much further in your swim training.
To be successful in any endurance event, you have to refuel. In this video, Dr. Bob Sallis explains the basics of energy sources for endurance athletes. More videos from Triathlete.com.
In this video, Dr Bob Sallis explains the causes of gastrointestinal problems during exercise and how to avoid them. More videos from Triathlete.com.
Reigning four-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington announced on her website that she will not compete in Ironman events in 2012 to pursue “other opportunities”. See the news release from her website, Chrissiewellington.org , below and check back to Triathlete.com as we continue to cover this breaking story. Photo: Nils Nilsen Four time World Champion and World Ironman Distance Record Holder, Chrissie Wellington has announced that she’ll be taking a break from competing in Ironman during 2012 to explore other opportunities, including the forthcoming publication of her autobiography, A Life Without Limits . Chrissie, who won her fourth World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, last October and maintained her unbeaten record at Ironman distance – making it 13 victories from 13 races – said of her decision, “I’ve given absolutely everything to Ironman over the past five years. However, this year I’ve decided to take a break as I would like to spend more time focusing on other pursuits including dedicating more time to my chosen charities, the publication of my book and more active promotion of the sport in the UK, as well as giving myself the chance to explore and seize new opportunities within triathlon and outside. I feel that I wouldn’t be able to pursue all of these different goals whilst simultaneously dedicating the energy and time needed to compete in Ironman events and treat them with the respect and complete dedication they deserve. PHOTOS: Chrissie Wellington In Kona The past five years have been absolutely incredible and I am extremely happy, proud and content with everything that I have achieved in the sport – topping it all off with the race of my life in Kona last year. I have always seen triathlon as a part of my life, rather than the be all and end all, and am looking forward to a little more variety and balance by pursuing other interests, as well as spending more time with my family and friends. I am really excited about what the future holds and being able to spend more time around the sport without the commitment of full time ironman training and racing”. RELATED VIDEOS – Chrissie In Kona: The Post-Race Interview Series
Need some new training ideas? Check out these sites for pilates exercises, yoga videos and other triathlon training videos aimed to help endurance athletes
The two 2010 Ironman World Champions, Chris McCormack and Mirinda Carfrae, were also the two athletes featured on Training Day. How did they prepare to win the Kona race? Find out in these videos
With personal trainers producing YouTube fitness videos, iPod Nanos sporting pedometers, and yogis practicing tree pose using the Wii Fit –technology has become one of the best ways to set and maintain fitness goals.
With personal trainers producing YouTube fitness videos, iPod Nanos sporting pedometers, and yogis practicing tree pose using the Wii Fit–technology has become one of the best ways to set and maintain fitness goals. We consulted sports professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and tech companies to find the latest and most interesting hardware, software, and Websites that you can use to get in shape …
Heading to participate in the Wildflower Triathlon Festival this weekend for the first time? Check out these photo galleries and videos from last year’s events to get an idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Photos 2009 Avia Wildflower Long Course Triathlon #1 2009 Avia Wildflower Long Course Triathlon #2 2009 Avia Wildflower Olympic Course Triathlon Photo Gallery Videos 2009 Wildflower
I did the Trainer ride with a Pro tonight at Inside Out Sports in Cary. The store sponsors these workouts (almost) every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm. They are free – you just have to bring your own bike and your own trainer. It was great killer workout, and I plan on doing this every Tuesday evening. My new job is five minutes from Inside Out Sports. Tonight’s workout was led by local pro triathlete, Alex McDonald. Since I get off work at 5, and the workout starts at 6:30, I was the first one to arrive for the workout. Alex is a member of Team Timex, and he had some free schwag for the first one to arrive. That was me! How lucky is that. I got a brand new Timex Sleek 150 lap tap technology watch. It’s very slim design and I am wearing it right now as I type. I love it so far – very sleek and comfortable! I asked him if he would take my picture so I could tweet about my prize. (Click any image below to enlarge.) I tweeted: “won timex ironman tap watch cuz i was first to arrive at @alexmmtri spin class” The first thing we did after the warmup was isolated leg drills. That is where you unclip one leg and only spin with the other leg. We did alot of those, and I hated them. But that means they were good for me. Alex let me tweet a picture of him. I twote: “single leg drill at ios with @alexmmtri “. The middle part of the workout were three tempo sets. I love those. I am very good at steady eddie riding. Then we did some super spins. Hate, hate, hated those! But again, if you hate a workout, it means it is good. After the workout, Alex let us all try a Recovery drink called Ultragen made by First Endurance. It was really good tasting. Not too sweet like most similar products. I was very impressed. I tweeted: “free first endurance recovery drink from @alexmmtri yum ” One last picture for you to enjoy: Tweet: “at IOS – look at the P4’s!” …if you found this post inspiring, please help fight Hunger by supporting the Gatorade G Movement! Here is no comments yet by the time your rss reader get this, Do you want to be the first commentor? Hurry up
