EverymanTri.com

The top 13 reasons why Lance Armstrong is good & bad for the sport of triathlon

He’s here to win.  No, not Macca, Lance Armstrong.  Like Chris McCormack, Armstrong makes no excuses for his competitive nature and drive to succeed.  Whether it’s cycling, kicking cancers ass and now at triathlons, Armstrong is here to win.

He’s made a huge splash by FINALLY making it official about his plans to race Ironman Kona and followed that up by coming in second in his first 70.3 race as a pro triathlete.  This after a couple of decades off from the sport as a pro.  Not bad.

In all the hubbub, in some corners, triathletes and fans of the sport are questioning the positive or negative impact this will have on the sport of triathlon.  No bones about it, Lance has brought A LOT of eyes, ears and TV cameras to the sport in just a week.  What’s going to happen if he qualifies for Kona and races?  Let’s look at some pros and cons for Armstrong in triathlon.

1.       PLUS - He brings more notoriety to the sport.  EVERYONE knows who Lance Armstrong is and every got that he was a pro cyclist.  A smaller population knows what order you swim, bike and run in a triathlon, or even know what three events make up a triathlon.  I bet after this weekend, a LOT more people know what a triathlon is.

2.       PUSH - With notoriety comes money.  Sponsors and TV deals are sure to follow.  It’s good to have funding and more money to go around, but with money come higher stakes and more pressure and a breeding ground for corruption and cheating.

3.       PLUS – Livestrong and Armstrong go hand in hand.  He’s bringing a monster charity to a new playing field and building a bigger army.  You cannot argue that more funds for cancer research is not a good thing.

Video: Hypoxic Training Mask makes Tri coach look like Darth Vader

Don't get us wrong...Being based in Boulder, Colorado at an altitude of over 5000 feet above sea level we certainly understand the racing benefits of hypoxic (without air) training.

In the interesting video below this triathlete says that the way to "take you training to the next level," is to go completely hypoxic for an indoor training session includes the swim, the bike, the run and a few other exercises like working the punching bag...which he demonstrates.

HITS triathlon series rolls out slowly with only a handful of IM distance racers

Checking the HITS race results today it is hard not to be struck by the fact that only 17 triathletes completed the Iron Distance race this weekend in Naples, Florida.

The Naples race was the second in the nation race series of triathlons that consists of a total of 12 races being put on by the new HITS race series, which culminates in a series Championship in Palm Springs at the end of the year.

The first race, which was held last month in Palm Springs, and had a total of 21 finishers at the Iron Distance according the the race results.

What makes the HITS series of races unique is that over the course of the weekend, the race organizers put on 5 races with a Family, Sprint, and Olympic race held on Saturday while the Half Iron and Full Iron Distance race is held on Sunday.

And just in case you are wondering, several hundred triathletes raced in Naples this weekend over the course of all five races.

Ironman Florida 70.3 race director puts a positive spin on new race venue

Last week the World Triathlon corporation announced that it was forced to move next year's Ironman Florida 70.3 from the Walt Disney World Resort to Lake Eva Park near Haines City, Florida due to upcoming construction at the Disney Resort.

For almost a decade Ironman Florida 70.3 was a very special and unique highlight of the ever expanding Ironman 70.3 race series.  There can be no doubt that it was the most family friendly Ironman race of all. In fact, we would include the Disney Ironman Florida 70.3 race on any Top Ten List of must do triathlons.

The Fort Wildness Campground, the longtime venue of the race, is not only in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, but it offers the perfect combination of family fun, super easy race day access and spectator viewing. Plus, it was perhaps one of the only Ironman races where athletes would actually run by their cabins during the race as their families cheered them on to the finishline.

Are points series races the new triathon sales and marketing tools?

What makes you want to get up in the morning?  What drives you?  Better yet, what drives you to get up at the crack of dawn or before to train for triathlons and then go to work and for a lot of us, still manage the family life?

Let’s face it, most of us aren’t professionals and we aren’t going to get the podium spots and win real money to make triathlons a worthwhile profitable adventure, and that’s ok.  But, we still train and race and put a lot of effort into the sport.

Some race organizers are getting smart to add extra incentives to get you to race their events.  Sure, you have the event t-shirts, goodie bags, coupons, giveaways, samples, finishers’ medals and finishers’ t-shirts.  A lot of events even have prizes for the top 3 in each age group, but that seems to be going by the wayside while race organizers scramble for ways to turn a profit while presenting a quality race.

What’s the next step?

Is the WTC's 5150 series on life support?

There are so many triathlons out there that are scraped together by passionate people and run on a shoestring in order to provide a race for the dedicated populous.  Take the SWAT Triathlon near Kansas City.  Sue put on the event for Supporting Weatherby's Adopted Troops and only asked for enough to cover some operating costs and to have some to donate to help local veterans and their families.  There were no lifeguards, no medals, no timing chips and no bike racks.  Around 130 athletes came out and ran the race.  The forum posting shows that everyone had fun and no one was missing out on the fanfare that has become WTC events.
 
Then you have the other side of the spectrum with WTC and the Ironman race series.  You have the full 140.6 miles, the 70.3 and more recently the 5150 series.  No one can argue with the success of the full and half ironman distances.  Build it, and they will come.

Should Chrissie Wellington fight another day?

"Chrissie Wellington drops out of the Ironman World Championships in Kona," is a headline we hope to never have to write again...especially in the next two weeks.

But while Chrissie has put a brave face on her recent bike crash by tweeting, "The body is capable of amazing things. I WILL be on the start line."

The simple fact remains that she is seriously battered, bruised and beaten. In fact we hear that she's in great pain just walking today...let alone training. And we fear that with such a traumatic bike crash she may not realize the complete extent of her injuries for days.

Of course if there is anybody in the world that can compete and persevere through sheer guts and determination it is Chrissie Wellington but....

Why we just can't seem to get along running, cycling, and driving

On a lovely Friday morning, my run group was doing intervals at Coot Lake. A very cranky woman shouted at us that we did not belong there and she was not responsible if her dog took one of us out. A hot debate ensued with neither side satisfied with the outcome. The angry woman still believes that runners should not encroach on her trail and we still believe that as long as we are courteous, we can continue to run at Coot Lake.

Just yesterday, I was on the last few miles of a long run. I was delighting in the spectacular weather and admiring the mountain view as I ran along a popular dirt road toward the Boulder reservoir. I ran toward traffic as is customary. A cyclist was coming toward me. I expected her to move left as cars and cyclists usually do. She did not budge and screamed at me several times, “I am not moving over.”

Second man dies after last month's Kansas City Warrior Dash

Is the Warrior Dash (WD) too much?  The distance is "only" a 5k, 3.1 miles.  The Warrior dash mixes in obstacles such as wall climbs, hay bale climbs, rope swings and a huge mud pit.
 
According to the KC Star, "A second man has died after running in last month’s Warrior Dash [in ], an obstacle course race that saw dozens of people treated for heat-related symptoms.  Jeff Fink died Tuesday after suffering heat stroke on July 30, first day of the two-day event, according to an Internet page that his family and friends set up. Fink collapsed on the Warrior Dash course and was rushed to St. Luke’s Northland Hospital where he remained until his death.  Another competitor, Jeremy Morris, who also went by the name Jeremiah, died last week."

Competitor Group fires first shot in upcoming battle with the World Triathlon Corporation

It was always just a matter of time before Competitor and the WTC went to war. Of course this is not a war fought with guns and bullets, but instead a war for the hearts, minds and wallets of Endurance athletes around the world.

Among other things the Competitor Group (CGI) puts on the hugely popular Rock 'n' Roll series of half and full marathons. BTW: In case you haven't noticed CGI has been on a buying spree lately.

The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) of course now owns and operates over a hundred triathlon races around world (read Ironman, 70.3 and 5150 races) so it was almost inevitable that the two giants in the endurance race event biz would go after the same customer...you.

With CGI’s TriRock Triathlon Series expanding (see today's press release below) and the WTC announcing new races while acquiring shorter ones....it was just a matter of time before all out war broke out.

We predict one of two outcomes in this brewing war that will direct impact you:

Top 10 reasons why Lance Armstrong should race Ironman Hawaii in 2011

Dear Lance,

It was with great disappointment that we recently learned of your decision not to race the Ironman Hawaii World Championships. Our little triathlon hearts twittered when you recently tweeted:

"no Kona for me. Unless hangin out, riding bikes, and swimming w/ whales over the holidays count"

So in a desperate, last-ditch effort to try to convince you to come and race at the greatest triathlon event on the planet, here are 10 reasons we think you should come race Ironman Hawaii.

#10: The Chamois Is Thinner. Let's face it, Lance - that thick, bulky chamois lining the underside of your bike shorts may make the daily Tour de France long haul a bit more comfortable, but it ultimately looks like a chunky diaper when you're not on the bike, and us triathletes are all about sexiness over function. So we have a nice, thin, quick-drying chamois you can wear - and as a bonus, it won't leave hemorrhoid-sized cheek chafing after the marathon.

Has plain old-fashioned running jumped the shark?

Today we got news of a new and rather odd 5K race to be held in California this year.

It's called the Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge (ROC) Race (see press release below) and it is based on the TV show Wipeout.

According to the press release the 5K race to be held in San Diego will feature, "20 outrageous obstacles including foam climbs, swinging ropes over water, ball hill climbs, swinging boulders, cargo nets, harassing role players, inflatable slides." You know just like Wipeout, Japanese inspired, game show.

Recently we recorded THIS podcast with Death race founder Joe DeSena.

Yet another black eye for professional cycling: so ask us if we really care anymore

This week's announcement that Alberto Contador is not guilty of cheating (after all) by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFCEC) is just another reason why professional cycling has become the poster child for professional doping.

As you may recall from THIS story Contador originally tested positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol, which is a banned substance, and which he says he mistakenly munched down in tainted meat during the last Tour de France.

The three time Tour de France winner told reporters yesterday, "Above all, it is a huge satisfaction not just for me but also for the team, the sponsors, and the truth is that I am happy to be here," from the Tour of Algarve.

So is Alberto a doper, or just an innocent victim of a poor meal choice?

Will the sport of triathlon Jump the Shark in 2011?

By Jumping the Shark, will there come a moment when something that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity. Take for instance the origin of the phrase from Wikipedia.com – “Jumping the shark is an idiom used to denote the point in a television program's history where the plot spins off into absurd storylines or unlikely characterizations.

These changes were often the result of efforts to revive interest in a show whose audience had begun to decline.” The origin of this phrase comes from a Happy Days episode where the Fonz jumped a shark on water skis. Thus was labeled the lowest point of the show.

When will triathlon decline? Will it ever?

Triathlon in general has grown by leaps in bounds, even in the midst of a sputtering economy and great recession. Will it come to a climax and taper off? Will Triathlon be the next bubble to burst like the automotive industry, housing market and the technology bubble of the '90s?

Not even close. Triathlon has yet to become main stream and has yet to scratch the potential of becoming a staple of American lifestyles.

The four types of triathletes: please don't be the super jerk

You know you’ve seen that one triathlete that is just way too serious and would rather pass you like you’re standing still on the bike than talk to you in transition. Jerks are everywhere. They don’t just lurk at triathlons. But when you are crammed into transition setting up your gear, sometimes you just can’t avoid them.

Here is a handy triathlete categorization to remember for your next race. Not every athlete will fit in each group exactly and you may have a lot of attributes that cross types. There are exceptions to everything. You will get a triathlete that pretty much finishes near the top of every event and just truly loves the sport and is happy to be there. They might have raced for 15 years but they act like it’s the first time. For generality, here it is.

In Vail Colorado money talks and hit and run driver walks

Here's a bit of a EMT public service announcement:

If you happen to be in Vail, Colorado for heaven's sake don't ride a bike because if you happen to be struck and almost killed  by a wealthy driver who is temporarily overcome by the 'new car smell' of his Mercedes-Benz the prosecutor and judge won't be on your side.

In fact they won't be on the side of any person who happens to make the mistake of riding a bike in Vail, Colorado.

This week in an Eagle, Colorado court room District Court Judge Frederick Gannett and Deputy District Attorney Mark Brostrom once again proved that when you get on a bike on bike in America you take your life in your own hands, and of course forfiet the full protection of the law.

Prominent Denver wealth manager Marty Erzinger was senteced to, "one year of probation and 90 days in jail for running down cyclist Dr. Steven Milo with his new car and then leaving the scene of the accident," according to the Vail Daily.