Eleven Global returns to the Ritz Carlton Lodge in 2011

Eleven Global recently posted the date for their 2011 Olympic distance race at the Ritz Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee – Saturday, May 21.

I volunteered at the inaugural Georgia event in 2010 and was impressed with the organization and course. Race director Ryan Landy faced some weather problems (torrential rains the day before the race slowed down setup) but powered through to produce a great event. It’s a challenging course in a a beautiful setting and should keep getting better as more triathletes turn out. They have a nice video of the 2010 race – and other global events they produce – on their site.

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A runner's town

A runner's town

By Chris Starrs - Athens Banner-Herald
Published Sunday, December 12, 2010

In tough economic times, folks have been known to participate in all kinds of low-cost activities for sustenance, entertainment or to just pass the time.

At this juncture in our country's history, it appears that one of the most popular pastimes is getting in good physical condition, most notably by that time-honored mode of transportation, running.

A renewed interest in putting one foot ahead of the other in a forward progression is evidenced by the almost-weekly 5K races held in the area, as well as the successful sprint triathlon held at Sandy Creek Park in August and the inaugural Athens, GA Half Marathon, an AthFest-sponsored event, in late October.

"Running is the simplest sport there is," said Elliott Austin, who manages the New Balance-Athens store and ran track and cross country at Mars Hill (N.C.) College. "You don't need clubs, you don't need a field and you don't have to be a member of a gym. You just go and get fitted for a shoe and run. You can do it from your house, or you can go someplace and run with friends. ... That's the trend and I think it will keep going. That's the new reality."
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Branching off into more intense physical challenges - like triathlons - can result in a substantial financial investment, though many start out with a thrifty posture.

"When you get into triathlons, you are talking about investing some money in it," said Nelson Wells of the Classic City Tri Club.

"I call it the healthy golf - you'll probably spend the same amount of money, but you'll probably be in better shape. You have a certain investment.

"I spoke to a woman who just did her first triathlon - she's been doing marathons for years - and she said she borrowed a bicycle for the triathlon so she could prove to herself she could do it. She didn't buy anything fancy - just a regular bathing suit and regular running shorts and she did it. I did the same thing. My first four triathlons, I rode a mountain bike. I was just so hooked after that. There are so many athletes selling really expensive equipment; they're always upgrading, so you can find used stuff all the time, which is the next thing to do."

Read the full article

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Playing Mind Games...

This short video from director Casey Neistat focuses on the mind games we play with ourselves to get up, get out and get running (or swimming, or biking). With the days getting shorter, darker and colder, I thought it would be a great reminder of why we do what we do...

Mind Games - directed by Casey Neistat from Nike Sportswear on Vimeo.

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The great folks at Blue Sky Sports have announced their 2011 Tri The Parks Triathlon season. Six races are once again on the schedule, including five sprint-distance events and one Olympic (international) distance.

•   John Tanner - April 30 (Sprint)
•  Blalock Lakes - June 4 (Sprint)
•  Indian Springs - June 25 (Sprint)
•  Mistletoe - July 23 (Sprint)
•  Richard B Russel - August 13 (Olympic)
•  John Tanner # 2 - September 10 (Sprint)

The name of the series comes from the fact that all races are held in Georgia state parks. These are exciting, small events (generally less than 500 participants) that appeal to first timers while also offering a challenge to hard-core competitors.

Learn more and register at their site. You can also see the park locations on the Georgia Triathlete Events page.

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Atlanta Triathlon Club working to diversify the races

By Dionne Lewis and Janita Poe

Cynthia Gunner has come a long way since her first day in a cycling class with the Atlanta Triathlon Club.

"After ten minutes, I ran out of the room crying," Gunner recalled. "I felt sick to my stomach and I was so embarrassed."

An African-American woman in her thirties, Gunner began to re-evaluate her inactive lifestyle after a routine physical.

"I was very overweight and my doctor diagnosed me with high blood pressure," Gunner explained.

Gunner began to take medication to regulate her hypertension, and that's when her doctor told her about the Atlanta Triathlon Club and the organization's scholarship program.

Full article 

Photo credit: Dionne Lewis

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