This past season, one of my clients, Mike Lies, qualified for and raced at Duathlon Worlds. It was very inspiring to be part of his preparations for the race! Mike was kind enough to write up a race report, but unfortunately the past several weeks have been so busy I wasn’t able to post it right away. However, with the New Year upon us, I think Mike’s story is very appropriate… a rich source of racing insights and inspiration. As you think ahead to the 2012 season, consider all the ways that endurance sports can enrich your life… becoming and staying strong and healthy, the blissful feeling you get after finishing a challenging workout or race, and sharing adventures with the favorite people in your life. For 2012, think big, set your goals, make a plan, and train with passion!
Hello all,
I am giving a short race report from my recent participation at the Duathlon World Championships September 25, 2011 in Gijon, Spain. Although I consider myself a tri-athlete, my running and biking exceed my swimming; hence my best sport ends up as the Duathlon. The “standard” distance, which it is called in Europe, is our international distance, 10k run – 40k bike – 5k run. This year Gijon also fielded a sprint event being 5k – 20k – 2.5k. You must qualify for Team USA and then Worlds at the Duathlon National Championships in April 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. Currently that is the only way to qualify. Qualifications go to the top 18 in age groups with roll downs to 24th place. I had a fifth place finish in Phoenix, it was a course favorable to my skill levels.
Participating at any national and world event will raise your personal bar for performance. I find with that percentage of the field performing at a higher level to be very motivating both in raising your expectations and knowing next year what the standard will be. Every workout becomes more focused.
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In just a few more weeks, I will begin offering ErgVideo workouts on the CompuTrainer in my new training studio. ErgVideo is the ULTIMATE way to achieve an extremely effective bike workout, while enjoying your indoor ride at the same time.
So I was especially excited to see the great interview that Xtri.com just published with Paul Smeulders, the creator of ErgVideo.
Click here to read all about it!
Congratulations to John McClellan for being selected as the Athlete of the Month at Xavier University! John is a junior at Xavier who seeks out tough challenges, and is a hard-working and talented athlete who brings his best to every race and workout… and to his academic studies as well. It’s truly been a pleasure to get to know John this year, and to see all he contributes as one of the leaders within the Xavier Triathlon Club. Read the full story at Xavier University’s website!
Although we have been luxuriating in unusually warm fall weather these past few days, many of you will certainly remember the bitter cold that Mother Nature dished out last weekend at the Deer Creek Fall Challenge. I received this fun race report from my client Zoe Bowman, age 15, and wanted to share it. In the video above, Zoe is front and center at the start, and the first to sprint into the water… it was probably a relief to get into the 66F lake! Enjoy Zoe’s story below!
Deer Creek was great…but cold. I arrived at the race in winter gear and wondered to myself why I didn’t pick a sensible indoor sport. As I toed the line at 9:14am I thought that most sane people were still in bed. The final thought I had was that at the very least the lunatics who participate in this sport wear wetsuits! But real swimmers don’t wear wetsuits! (I might be revising that philosophy). The announcer counted down and we charged into the water. The air temperature was 48 and the water 66. I was hoping for the water would feel good…not at all. When I got cut off at the first buoy and water was shoved into my mouth, thanks to 10th grade Biology I wondered at all the pleasant things living in the water that was so murky I couldn’t even see my hands!
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Over the weekend of Oct. 2, the Xavier Triathlon Club and I made the trek to a key Mideast Collegiate Triathlon Conference race at the University of Illinois-Champaign. Nine members of the Triathlon Club entered the race, everyone crossed the finish line, and several placed very well, garnering valuable points for the Xavier Tri Club in the collegiate conference. Read the Tri Club’s report on the race at their website… it’s a great story!
I am pleased to announce that I am offering another round of the First Wave program at the Mayerson JCC this fall!
As the racing season winds down, this is a perfect time to focus on taking your swim technique to the next level.
The program will be starting on Monday, Sept. 26.
Check out all the details here and get registered… before it’s too late!
I have some exciting news to share about a group of Cincinnati’s up-and-coming triathletes!
Xavier University is now home to an official Triathlon Club, and I am both honored and delighted to have been chosen as the head coach for the team. I am looking forward to working with these remarkable student athletes, and to see the team develop over the coming years.
The Xavier Tri Club hit the ground running for the 2011-2012 school year with a fantastic showing by several members of the team at the Hueston Woods (HFP Racing) triathlon on September 11. Read all about it at the Xavier Tri Club’s website!
The morning of the Cincinnati Triathlon broke bright and early, with the river in good condition for swimming, but the hot and humid weather promising to test the athletes’ determination to the fullest. And yet… even as the sun and the temperature climbed all morning, conquer the race they did!
I volunteered in the transition area today, and it was fantastic to see the wonderful mix of people who came out for the race to give it their best, from teenagers up through several 65+ year old racers. The start of the race was filled with energy and anticipation, and the finish was filled with smiling and satisfied faces. Many the racers were super-experienced and very fast, with some having traveled from outside the tri-state area to come to the race, while numerous others were doing their very first triathlon.
Big congratulations to everyone who finished the race today! And special kudos to the athletes in my training group, you all rock! Awesome to see you all conquer your first triathlon… especially the swim. 
Everyone did so well, and extra-big congratulations to the first-time triathletes in my group Kimberley Bauer, Bob Hickey, and Colleen Hickey, who achieved 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placings in their age groups today!
Finally, mucho gracias to the stellar volunteers at the race today… your enthusiasm, cheering, and support of the event and the athletes was wonderful… and so very much appreciated.
This season I have had the pleasure of coaching junior triathlete Zoe Bowman, who has made triathlon an increased focus this year after having some fun and successful races the past couple summers. Zoe came to me already as a very strong swimmer, so we have maintained this sport while working on developing her biking and running. Zoe’s hard work has been paying off, and a couple weeks ago she had her best-ever finish at the HFP Racing Flag City Triathlon… second woman finisher overall! Zoe was kind enough to write up a race report, so here it is to share with you! Thanks, Zoe!
I had a great time at the Flag City Sprint Tri. (750m/20k/5k) The race was in Findlay and was flat, flat, flat. We swam in a reservoir, and personally I thought the water was a nice temperature. About the 1/2 of the people there (it was a small race, a little over 100 people doing the tri) wore a wet suit. I did not, and didn’t have any issues. [Zoe doesn't mention this until later, but she had the fastest swim time of ALL the women, and was the 5th fastest swimmer overall!]
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