Congrats to August finishers

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Congrats to everyone who finished Augusta today. It seemed like the weather was going to be a repeat of last year, but when the sun came out and the humidity spiked, lots of racers felt it. Great job on a challenging day!

I did a quick upload of some of the photos I took:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10805610@N00/sets/72157627628863743/

I also shot some video, so I'll try to put it together with the photos into a short review and post it in the next couple of days.

Triathletes Outnumber Golfers in Augusta at World’s Largest Half Ironman

Friday, September 23, 2011

From Bloomberg

Deke Copenhaver was running for re- election as mayor of Augusta, Georgia, last year, when he decided to swim and bike along the campaign trail, too.

Copenhaver, who became the first U.S. mayor to complete all three legs of an Ironman-sponsored triathlon in his own city, will be back at it again this year. After finishing the Augusta 70.3 half Ironman race near the back of the pack in 2010, the mayor has a loftier time goal this year.

Copenhaver, 43, will be one of about 3,200 triathletes on the course Sept. 25 in Augusta, a city becoming as well-known among endurance athletes as it is among the thousands of golf fans who attend the Masters Tournament in town every April. The event is sold out, and is expected to be one of only two of the 25 half Ironman races held in the U.S. this year to achieve that, according to Ironman spokeswoman Jessica Weidensall.

“My time wasn’t great, but on the run portion I had to go from athlete to ambassador,” Copenhaver, who completed the race in 6 hours, 56 minutes and 38 seconds, said in a telephone interview. “That’s my excuse. People were yelling ‘mayor, mayor.’ I was shaking hands with everybody. I’m going to wear a visor this year, I think.”

Triathlon time: Chattahoochee Challenge attracted 263 competitors

Monday, August 1, 2011

From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

The Chattahoochee Challenge 2011 Sprint Triathlon attracted 263 competitors to Columbus on Saturday, July 30 for a course that featured a 400-meter swim in the Chattahoochee River, a bike course along parts of the RiverWalk and a run through downtown.

The event, presented by Tri Columbus GA, drew competitors from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Oregon, New York, Canada and Taiwan.

“Tri Columbus GA” is a sports firm specializing in event production, management and corporate sports marketing development. It creates, develops and manages endurance sports including running, swimming and cycling.

The group will be hosting an Olympic triathlon on Aug. 20 in Columbus.

It will feature an 800-meter swim, 25-mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run.

Lovel ready for N.Y. Triathlon and beyond

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

From the Rome News-Tribune

With exactly one month before 58-year-old Roman and first-time triathloner Nina Lovel tackles the New York City Triathlon as part of the CNN FitNation Challenge, all is as it should be.

Lovel said Sunday she feels fit, confident and had just spent the morning bragging to a cycling partner about the scenery she gets to enjoy at Berry College and around Floyd County.

Not that it’s been too easy.

“It is going very well. It’s been intensive for, how long has it been, five months. It’s been intense, but it’s been fun,” said Lovel.

Sunday marked the beginning of her final month of training before the big event and already she’s pedaled well past the 25 miles of the cycling portion, ran the 6.2 miles of the running portion and is preparing to knock out a full mile of swimming in one of Rome’s three rivers soon.

Not too bad for a research and information coordinator at Georgia Northwestern Technical College who was until a year ago a self-described “chubby little book worm.”

Read more: RN-T.com - Lovel ready for N Y Triathlon and beyond

Rent to ride?

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Traveling cross-country to race this year? A company in New Jersey, Tri-Cycle Rental, is offering rentals of Orbea bikes, delivered to the race venue. The idea is that the triathlete would save on transportation costs, but the math just doesn’t make much sense to me.

They base the financial benefit on an airline fee of $300-$450 for round-trip transportation of your bike, plus the reduced hassle of dis-assembly/re-assembly. I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel, after training for hundreds of hours on my bike, to get to an Iron-distance race and saddle up on a rental. If you’ve already invested big $ to enter the race, train, and travel, what’s a little more to transport your bike?

Here’s the story that made the PR rounds:

Rent to ride enters the triathlon race-day market

By TOM HELD

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A start-up company in New Jersey has an idea to eliminate the bike transportation hassles for triathletes.

Tri-Cycle Rentals offers a race-day ready fleet of Orbea bikes for rent that athletes pick up at the race venue. Riders reserve the bike online, show up at the event to check out the bike, get fitted on it, then return the bike afterward at the race expo or transition area.

The story in the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News puts the price at $399, or $475 with Zipp 404 wheels.

According to Tri-Cycle Rentals, traveling via commercial airlines will cost you between $300 and $450 round-trip, depending on the carrier. Shipping your bike via a triathlon-specific service or FedEx/UPS will cost between $300-$400.

With all of the above options, racers have to take their bike apart and put it back together (or pay a bike shop to do it). They also have to own or rent a bike travel case ($50 to rent and $300-$400 to buy). They will also be without their bikes for 7-10 days prior to the race - critical training days leading up to the race.

Warner Robbins couple to compete in National Senior Games

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

From the Sun News

By ANGELA WOOLEN

WARNER ROBINS -- Even on a 100-degree day, with track temperatures rising above that, a couple, both senior citizens, are out training at Houston County High School.

Warner Robins residents Mary Ealer, 69, and George Ealer, 71, will compete in the National Senior Games in Houston, Texas, Thursday through June 30. They join about a half dozen other people from Houston and Peach counties who have qualified for the games.

The husband and wife were chosen to be flag bearers for Georgia in the Parade of Champions.

They qualified for the games during the Georgia Golden Olympics, held in September, by finishing in the top three in their age groups.

“To represent the state of Georgia and the city of Warner Robins means so much,” Mary Ealer said.

Mary Ealer will compete in the triathlon, while George Ealer will race in the 100-meter dash.

Of the two, Mary Ealer is the competitive one.

Men preparing for first triathlons in Columbus area

Thursday, June 9, 2011

From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

By ALLISON KENNEDY

Charlie Lindsey, owner of the local Gold’s Gyms, just completed his first Ironman in The Woodlands, near Houston, with roughly 2,200 of his closest friends.“It took a lot of help and a lot of swimming lessons,” said Lindsey, now an enthusiast for the upcoming Chattahoochee Challenge Sprint and Olympic Triathlon.

The sprint triathlon is scheduled for 7 a.m. July 30, and the Olympic triathlon is 7 a.m. Aug. 20. Both will utilize the Chattahoochee River, the Columbus RiverWalk and parts of Fort Benning.

Organizers are planning to make this an annual event.

“This first year we’re hoping for 500 and to grow to more than 2,000,” Lindsey said.

The Olympic distance is a 1000-1500 meter swim, a 25-mile bike ride and 6.2-mile run. The mini or sprint triathlon is a 400 meter swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run.

The swim portion will be downstream.

Full article

Escape to Blue Ridge named title sponsor for 2011 Tri The Mountains Triathlon at Blue Ridge

Monday, June 6, 2011

From PRWeb

Escape to Blue Ridge, one of the leading providers of North Georgia cabin rentals, announced it will be the title sponsor of the Tri The Mountains Triathlon taking place July 24, 2011 in the North Georgia Mountains.

Now in its second year, this year's event will be called the “Escape to Blue Ridge Tri The Mountains Triathlon.” It's estimated that 500-600 athletes will participate, with scores of additional family and friends there to cheer them on.

The race promises to be an incredibly scenic journey through the mountains. The 600-yard swim will take place in the crystal clear waters of Lake Blue Ridge. The bike is an 18 mile out and back crossing over the lake with mountains towering in the background. The 5K run will leave the Lake Blue Ridge Marina and head towards town on Old Hwy 76, where participants will be cheered on as they enter the historic town of Blue Ridge. The awards ceremony and after party will take place in the park in the center of town, promising a day to remember for everyone involved.

“We at Escape to Blue Ridge are passionate about the North Georgia Mountains and believe it's simply one of the most beautiful and special places on Earth,” said Escape to Blue Ridge co-founder Pamela Miracle. “Sponsoring the Escape to Blue Ridge Tri the Mountains Triathlon is our way of sharing that passion with others and welcoming new people to the area who may not have experienced its power and beauty yet.”

Races this weekend

Friday, June 3, 2011

It's a busy weekend for triathletes across Georgia, with a semi-super-sprint, three sprints and a half-iron. If you're not racing, get out there and cheer them on!

Saturday, June 4

Rock N' Rollman Sprint Triathlon - Macon

Tri The Parks Sprint Triathlon - Blalock Lakes

Coliseum Rock 'N RollMan Half-Iron - Macon

Sunday, June 5

PT Solutions AllatoonaSprint Triathlon - Acworth
Sweetwater Sprint Triathlon - Lithia Springs

Please be careful out there... and don't swim alone

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

From cbsatlanta.com

ATLANTA -- Four died and several were injured over the Memorial Day weekend on Metro Atlanta recreational lakes.

On Friday, a 27-year-old man presumably drowned after jumping from a boat on Lake Allatoona. Divers are still searching for his body.

On Saturday morning, a 19-year-old man training for a triathlon drowned at Dallas Beach in Acworth, and 17-year-old Quavante Combs drowned Saturday evening at Lake Lanier in Hall County. The youth was swimming with his friends when he tired and went under.

Acworth police said 34-year-old Gregory Edelin of Fairburn drowned in Lake Allatoona on Saturday morning. Witnesses said Edelin was swimming just outside the marked swimming area when he went under.

Melissa Cummings, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said the department was called to 14 other boating-related incidents, seven with injuries ranging from lacerations to broken bones. DNR cited 35 people for boating under the influence of alcohol.

Hundreds Flood Chastain Park for First-Annual triPATHlon

Thursday, May 12, 2011

From BuckheadPatch

My cousin Jason has a saying: “I don’t run unless someone is chasing me, and I don’t read unless someone is making me.”

This is a saying I’ve never been able to relate to. I love to run, now that I discovered you can listen to music while you do it, and I love to read. I’ve been a Barnes and Nobles member since I was 7.

However, after completing the first annual “triPATHlon,” an intown sprint triathlon held this past Sunday at Chastain Park, I have amended this saying to suit my life: “I don’t ride a bike unless it has a basket and a bell, and I don’t swim without the aid of a pool noodle.”

Full Story

Like Groupon…but for triathletes

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

TriCrowd.com, a triathlon community website put together by everyday triathletes, recently announced the launch of TriCrowd Deals, a new nationwide group deals program designed exclusively for the triathlon community. TriCrowd Deals offers group deals of up to 50% off triathlon products and services, including gear, nutrition and training services.

I haven’t purchased anything from the site yet, but some of the deals have looked pretty good. Check it out here.

First TTP event of 2011 - John Tanner State Park

Monday, May 2, 2011

Almost 500 athletes turned out Saturday for the inaugural event of the 2011 Tri The Parks series at John Tanner State Park in Carrollton. Race conditions were near-perfect, with air temps at start time in the upper 60s and water temps in the low 70s.

As always, the TTP team put together a great event featuring a glass-smooth swim, a rolling bike course with enough hills to get the heart rate up, and a run that fooled many first timers with a flat start that quickly turned challenging. As one John Tanner first timer put it, “That’s the last time I trust someone else’s definition of ‘rolling’ hills!”

Overall triathlon winners were Jason Schott (1:02:35) and Katie June (1:11:57). Stephen Locke was the overall Male Masters winner (1:06:52) and Kelly Thomas was overall Female Masters winner (1:16:06). Of special note was 90-year old Dr. John Taylor, who finished in 3:26:57.

The event also included a duathlon, with overall winners Benny Sum and Kelley Lowe-Colenbaugh, and an aquabike contest, won by Havird Usry and Ashlee Bright.

If you missed this event, TTP returns to John Tanner on September 10. The next TTP race takes place June 4 at Blalock Lakes. Registration closes May 27th.

Tri For The Kids - Cancelled

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Saturday's Tri For the Kids Olympic-distance race in Rome, GA has been cancelled due to the storms that swept through the area Wednesday night. Race officials notified participants via email earlier today:

We regret to inform you that due to yesterday's storms, the Tri For The Kids Olympic Triathlon scheduled for Saturday, April 30 at 8 a.m. in Rome, Georgia has been cancelled. Rome-Floyd County is in a state of emergency and public safety officials are working tirelessly to clean-up the damage and assist residents. It is always our goal to provide you a safe racing experience and unfortunately that will not be possible this weekend.

They have not canceled the Sunday, May 1 Tri For Kids Youth Traithlon at the Darlington School.

Pease brothers compete in St. Anthony's Tri this weekend

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Pease brothers - Kyle, Brent and Evan are running the St. Anthony's Tri this weekend in St. Petersburgh, FL. Good luck guys!

From NeighborNewspapers.com:

For so many, what Kyle Pease and his brothers Brent and Evan will be doing Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla., is an inspiration.

For the Peases, hours of swimming, biking and running in the St. Anthony Olympic Triathlon (0.93-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike, 6.2-mile run) is just another way for a close-knit, active family to spend time together.

Kyle, 26, has cerebral palsy, which has resulted in decreased sensation and mobility in all four of his limbs. He uses a wheelchair to get around and requires assistance for much of his daily living. But this Ansley Park resident’s disability hasn’t stopped him from working at a Publix in Buckhead’s Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, getting rave reviews as an inspirational speaker or living a balanced, well-adjusted life.

Lesser is More: A Brief Rant About Race Websites

Friday, April 22, 2011

Not tri-specific, but blogger "Lesser is More" makes some great points about race organizers who don't take a little extra time to publish their course.

A Brief Rant About Race Websites

I have noticed lately that a ton of new-ish races popping up around the area are seemingly omitting the one key detail of the race - THE COURSE! I am excited and happy to see so many area programs are partnering with local businesses to create fundraising opportunities for truly noble causes and the fact that it involves running is even better. For me, because as a runner, I'm always looking for a diverse range of opportunities to race, and for the general community because it gets people off their behinds to help fight this obesity epidemic!

Full Post

Introducing the georgiatriathlete.com Race Rater

Thursday, April 7, 2011

georgiatriathlete.com Race Rater

Whether it’s your first race or your hundredth, registering for a multisport event is often a leap of faith. Is the race director responsive to athlete needs? Is the course well marked? Are the volunteers friendly? Is the shirt so ugly you wouldn’t use it to wash your car?

Many athletes write race reports or post comments in forums, but finding them can be tough. With that in mind, I’ve developed a short survey that will, over time, create a single source for information about races across the state.

It’s called the georgiatriathlete.com Race Rater and it’s now available under the “Race Rater” link above. As results are compiled, I’ll post links to survey results for each race. You’ll be able to see how your fellow athletes rated a race you’re interested in and race directors will see how their events stack up to other races.

The list of races is already pre-loaded with 2011 multisport events across Georgia. If you would like to rate a past event or one not listed, please enter the name and date in the “Other” field. To help keep the results accurate, please only rate a race once.

georgiatriathlete.com Race Rater Survey

Congratulations?

Thursday, March 31, 2011

I usually post news and information about other triathletes, but just had to share this personal message I received this evening.

Well, now I know what I'm training for over the next few months!

Podium Multisports - First Impressions

Sunday, March 27, 2011

I visited the new Podium Multisports store on Saturday, March 25 for their grand opening celebration. I'll visit again once they've been up and running a while, but wanted to share my initial impressions.

The store is on Zonolite Road, an odd, semi-industrial strip wedged between the high-priced real estate of Morningside and Emory/Druid Hills. It’s an area that popped up on the radar of foodies in 1998 when Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison opened their critically-acclaimed Flotaway Café on the street in a former industrial building. Since then the area has attracted studios, light industrial, creative firms and, most recently, the Quickshot Indoor Shooting Range (which is, hands-down, the best in the city).

Podium Multisports has done a great job of creating a warm, inviting retail space with a modern industrial vibe that jibes well with the neighborhood. Inside, the open ceilings, skylights, polished floors and maple wood fixtures combine to welcome shoppers and showcase (almost) everything a triathlete needs - swim gear, cycles and accessories, nutrition and clothing.

Perhaps owing to his experience as a bicycle fitter, owner Matt Cole chose to prominently feature the fitting area on an elevated platform. A large mirror gives cyclists a great view of their form and opens up the space. Behind the fitting area is a carpeted, two-tiered spin area facing a flat screen TV.

The store carries a nice array of gear, with one exception – running shoes. The only non-cycle shoes I saw were from Karhu, a Finnish brand that seems to be devoting a lot of marketing dollars to developing a presence in Atlanta (they were a sponsor of the Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon). With so many great running stores in town – Phidippides, Big Peach, Fleet Feet - I think it’s a wise choice to leave shoes to the specialists and focus on what you know best.

The only sour note I encountered was service – I spent more than twenty minutes browsing in the store and was never approached by an employee. Some were talking to each other, some were chatting with other customers, but to be completely ignored was a bit of a turn-off. I even stood in front of the checkout desk for 2-3 minutes without so much as a “can I help you?” I’m willing to cut them some slack since the whole vibe felt like more of a party than a retail event, but it wasn’t a great first impression. I’ll visit again in a couple of weeks to see how their service stacks up to other multisports stores in town.

Overall, I’m excited about this new option for Atlanta-area triathletes. I expect cyclists who made a point of seeing Matt when they bought a bike from All3Sports to be a key part of their customer base, and it will be interesting to see if other multisport athletes will make this a stop on their never-ending search for that one piece of gear that will get them on the podium.

New Triathlon store opens in intown Atlanta March 26

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Triathletes who live ITP (that's Inside The Perimeter for those not familiar with the lingo) won't have to travel far when Podium Multisports opens on Saturday, March 26 at 10:00 am.

The store is the brainchild of uber-fitter Matt Cole (formerly with All3Sports) and the location, on Zonolite Road in the Morningside/Druid Hills area, should be a big attraction for the intown biking and multisport crowd. According to their announcement, they will carry "the highest quality multisport equipment, triathlon gear, triathlon apparel, and all of the hard to find necessities that every athlete needs, including wetsuits, triathlon bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and bike travel cases, aero race wheels, hydration systems, aerobars, triathlon-specific clothing, and much more."

The grand opening will feature:

• Free food from American Road House Grill

• Free ice-cold beer from Sweetwater Brewing Co.

• Free transition clinic at 10:00 am 

• 10% off all merchandise for USAT members 

• 20% off for ACTIVE Team-in-Training members

• 20% off for K4K Team Members

Yes, the two favorite 4-letter words of many a triathlete: "free beer."

For more info, visit their website: http://www.goteampodium.com/

BTW - if you're into target practice, Podium is just across from one of Atlanta's best indoor ranges - Quickshot

Cycling group reaching out to motorists to peacefully share the road

Monday, March 14, 2011

From the Augusta Chronicle

Georgia Bikes, a statewide cycling advocacy organization, recently awarded five community group's $1,500 start-up grants from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, using funds from the "Share the Road" specialty tags, to establish local safe roads and safe cycling initiatives.

Augusta-based Wheel Movement was one of the five selected. The group intends to use education and community interaction in its effort to promote safe cycling in the CSRA.

Recent incidents involving motorists and cyclists have heightened public awareness of the dangers of cars and bicycles sharing the same roads. Last October, a group of cyclists was struck from behind while riding through Beech Island, S.C. Five cyclists were injured in the collision. One rider, Dr. Matthew Burke, died Feb. 6 from head injuries sustained in the crash.

Full story

Wheel Movement Blog

Tough Mudder draws Georgia triathletes, adventurers

From the Rome News-Tribune

It’s touted as “probably the toughest event on the planet,” and many of those who ran the 12.8 mile obstacle course this weekend in Polk County would likely agree.

Watching participants cross the finish line, the Tough Mudder stands up to its name. Runners came through the final obstacles caked in Georgia red clay with simultaneous exclamations of joy and exhaustion.

The course is chock-full of hills and obstacles, like tunnels that dump participants into icy water that leaves limbs frozen and numb, and traversing muddy water-filled pits in a smoke filled barn. And that’s just in the first few miles.

Three brothers, one triathlon

Saturday, March 5, 2011

From 11Alive News

ATLANTA -- Three brothers from Atlanta are going to make history this May.

They will be doing a triathlon together in Tampa, but with one unique twist: one of the brothers is in a wheelchair, and the other two will be taking him the whole way.

"I think it's gonna hit in a couple of weeks," said Kyle Pease, a 25-year-old who was born with cerebral palsy. "It'll be like, 'Wow, this is really going to happen.'"

Meet the Peases: Brent, Evan, and Kyle. In May, they'll be tackling 40 triumphant miles as they take on the Tampa Triathlon.

"Everything is a challenge, and I can't wait to tackle it," Kyle said. "It's gonna feel amazing."

Kyle was born with cerebral palsy, meaning his life's been different from Day One. Now at age 25, the word "driven" doesn't just refer to his wheelchair.

"So many said when I was a little boy that I was gonna die and that I wasn't gonna live past 7 years old," he recalled. "And look at me now."

Full story

Hunter Army Airfield Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon - March 5

Friday, February 25, 2011

On Saturday, March 5, Tominac Fitness Center at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah plays host to one of Georgia's first triathlons of 2011. The event begins at 11:00 am (finally - a reasonable start time!) and includes a 300-meter pool swim, a 14.4 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. There will also be a duathlon with a one mile run, a 12.4 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run.

Registration is open on imAthlete. Active duty military receive a 50% discount by entering the code found on the Savannah Triathlon site and presenting their military identification card at the event.

If received by March 1, registration is $50 for active duty and $85 for all others, while race day fees are $52.50 for active duty and $95 for all others.

SEE-ME Returns to the Concourse Athletic Club Feb. 26

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Southeastern Endurance and Multisport Expo 2011 (SEE-ME 2011) returns on February 26. The event, now in its sixth year, features exhibits and demonstrations from more than 40 multi-sport manufacturers, stores and race organizers. All proceeds benefit the Getting2Tri Foundation, an organization dedicated to training, educating and empowering physically disabled athletes. The Expo floor at the Concourse Athletic Club opens at 1:30 pm.

SEE-ME was founded in 2005 by Mike Lenhart, an accomplished age-group triathlete, and a group of friends who wanted to create an event for the growing Atlanta multisport community.

“About 300 people attended that first year, with only a handful of sponsors. This year we expect more than 1,000 attendees and we sold out of exhibit space two months early,” said Lenhart. “The growth and support from the Atlanta multisport community has been phenomenal.”

One reason for the growth is the ability to bring together vendors and athletes in a fun, free atmosphere. As SEE-ME has grown, organizers have added seminars, a fashion show, and, new for 2011, the SEE-ME Fit Zone.

“All3Sports joined us as a sponsor of this new area, which gives athletes and opportunity to be fitted with everything they need for the racing season,” Lenhart said. “From wetsuits to bike and tri clothing to sports bras, they’ll have a wide range of products and expert fitters on hand so you can find just the right size.”

SEE-ME will offer five seminars covering a wide range of topics:

Creating and Sticking to a Training Plan
Fitness with Fido
The Mix 1 Story and Today's Endurance Athlete
Aquatics Demonstration
USA Triathlon (Southeast) Regional update and panel Q&A

The popular MultiSport Fashion Show will also return for 2011. Local athletes, celebrities and paratriathletes will show off the latest in gear and apparel for the 2011 season. The show will be emceed by local triathlete Patti Danzig and John Crow, the “face” of the Georgia Lottery drawings.

The very popular raffles are a key part of SEE-ME’s fundraising efforts. A variety of gear, clothing, and race entries (donated by exhibitors and sponsors) are raffled, including such high-end items as a road or triathlon bike. Organizers are offering advance purchase discounted raffle tickets through the web site, and will conduct drawings throughout the day. Tickets will also be available on the main exhibition floor.

Another highlight of SEE-ME is the annual Henry C. Forrest Jr. Person of Courage Award. Named for one of the competitors in the first Ironman Triathlon in 1978, the award recognizes individuals whose accomplishments give back to the community and are often behind the scenes. Past recipients include Denise Novicki with Tri2Remember and Dr. Tommy Owens with Team in Training.

As in past years, admission is free for all attendees. Food and beverages from Heineken and Slope's BBQ will be available for purchase, with advance discounts available on the SEE-ME website.

Lenhart has one word of advice for attendees – arrive early.

“Classic Subaru of Atlanta, our title sponsor, will hand out "green friendly" goody bags with some great stuff to the first 300 attendees,” he said “They’re also planning a great prize drawing that you’ll want to stop by their booth to learn more about.”

Rome resident selected for CNN FitNation Triathlon Challenge

Friday, February 11, 2011

From the Rome News-Tribune

HXHP_021111_nina_lovel

She isn’t sure what inspired her to apply for CNN’s FitNation Triathlon Challenge, but Rome, Georgia resident Nina Lovel is determined to see it to the end.

This demonstration of a willingness to persevere was part of what led CNN’s staff to choose the 58-year-old Lovel for the challenge.

“The reason we picked Nina is because she showed determination, and a willingness to prove to the rest of the people her age it’s not too late to get started,” said Matt Sloane, FitNation producer.

Athletes began training in January and the program culminates in them competing in the New York City Triathlon in August. The triathlon involves a 1-mile swim in the Hudson River, a 26-mile bike ride through Manhattan and a 6.6-mile run in Central Park.

Looking for another reason to run the Turtle Crawl?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Looking for another reason to race the May 21 Turtle Crawl Triathlon (besides the sometimes-brutal against-the-tide swim)? Proceeds from the event benefit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a hospital for ill and injured sea turtles.

Students from St. Simons Christian School recently visited the Center to make sketches that will

be matted and framed and presented for sale at the Turtle Crawl Triathlon Spaghetti Dinner May 20. All proceeds from the artwork sold will benefit the research and educational efforts of the center.

Turtle Crawl includes USAT-certified Olympic distance and Sprint distance tris, as well as 5K and 10K races. Online registration is now open and ends May 19. Learn more and register on the Jekyll Island site.

St. Pius Sophomore Named USA Triathlon All-American

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

From the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch

USA Triathalon has named St. Pius sophomore Devon Dabney one of five Female Youth Elite All-Americans, the school said Friday – about five months after the triathlete captured a bronze medal in the Youth Elite National Championships in San Diego.

Dabney credited her father, Bill Dabney, for introducing her to triathlons. Her father has competed in 22 Ironman triathlons.

“Whether I win or lose, I always know I’ve put my best foot forward, and I have a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I finish a race,” Dabney said in a statement.

Dabney said she has been competing in sprint triathlons since she finished second in her first event at age 10. She took first at the Iron Kids Nationals, and followed that by being the top-rated 11-year-old. These triathlons are shorter than Olympic level events as they consist of an 800-meter swim, 16-mile bike rides and a five kilometer race, the last leg of the event.

Read more

Island to Island Triathlon - Look out for cargo ships!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Looking for a triathlon with some unique challenges? How about a swim leg across a busy shipping channel, or a bike leg with eight bridge climbs? If that sounds like fun, check out the first Island to Island Triathlon, scheduled for May 21, 2011.

The swim leg of this new USAT sanctioned event starts on the north end of Jekyll Island. Organizers enlisted the cooperation of the US Coast Guard to close St. Simons Sound (the passage between Jekyll and St. Simons Island), giving swimmers one less thing to worry about during what is sure to be a challenging 1.25 mile open water leg. Even with the late-spring date, there’s a good chance it will be wetsuit legal.

Swimmers will exit the water at the transition area, St. Simons Neptune Park. They’ll head out onto a bike course that includes eight bridge climbs, including two crossings of the tallest in the state, towering Sidney Lanier Bridge. Combined with strong coastal winds, the 33 mile course could be a quad killer.

The run, a standard 10K around mostly-flat St. Simon’s, finishes back at Neptune Park.

Registration is open on imAthlete. For more information, visit the organizer’s site www.island2islandtri.com.

Eleven Global Olympic Triathlon changes venue

Friday, January 28, 2011

Eleven Global has changed the location of their 2011 Olympic distance race from the Ritz Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee to the Parks Ferry Recreation area, just a few a miles away. The event is still scheduled for Saturday, May 21.

They've also added a new location to their expanding list of global races - Sardinia, Italy. Looks like a beautiful location for a race, especially if you like hills!

Carrollton teen makes United States Junior Triathlon Team

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

From the Times-Georgian.com

“Pain is temporary.”

That is what 17-year-old triathlete Jared Senfeld has written on his wristband. And when you compete in a sport that includes 750 meters swimming, 20 kilometers biking and five kilometers running, “a lot of the time it hurts, but you have to push through it,” Senfeld said.

The process started when Senfeld got a bike at a garage sale and started riding it, a lot.

“I got that bike and just feel in love with it and spent hours at a time on it,” Senfeld said.

He rode with local Ironman competitor David Honeycutt as much as 300 miles a week until Honeycutt finally brought up the idea of Senfeld competing in a triathlon. Senfeld has competed in running and swimming, “a little bit here and there,” so the biking was the final piece to the three-part puzzle.

Senfeld competed in his first triathlon in June 2010, and while it was a little weird at first Jared found out he was pretty good at it.

That first competition he was, “somewhere lost in the water and at first you’re nervous, but then you just kind of realize that you’ve trained for it and there’s no reason to be nervous,” Senfeld said. “The thing is everyone pushes themselves.” He ended up finishing second in his age group, 16-19, and eleventh overall.

Jared kept competing, and winning his age group. His first place finish at the John Tanner Triathlon, part of the Tri the Parks series, was enough to be selected to compete in the national championships in Alabama, there was just one problem. To compete you have to be 18, Jared was still just 16.

But recently Jared was selected to be a member of the United States Junior Triathlon Team in the Southeast region. The country is split into 10 regions and the Southeast region includes Alabama, the Florida panhandle, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Read the full article here

A new spin on triathlon training

Monday, January 24, 2011

Published in the Albany Herald

Scott Schlesinger gave the 55 people seated on spinning bikes before him fair warning.

“If at some time during this you don’t feel like giving up, you’re not putting enough into it,” Schlesinger, a team spinning master instructor out of Miami, told the doctors, lawyers, teachers, housewives and general health nuts pedaling away on their indoor cycles.

Some two hours and 15 minutes later, after participating in Schlesinger’s unique Kona Ironman triathlon simulation, the participants who came to Tony’s Gym on a Sunday afternoon to be a part of the event walked away with a feeling of accomplishment.

“I made it,” Lawson Swan, a manager with the national Stryker Orthopedics firm, said. “I hurt my back working out about a year ago, and it’s kept me from doing anything seriously. It’s been about six months since I’ve been through a spinning class, but this is one of those events I felt like I had to do. I wanted to challenge myself.”

It was the challenge that brought fifth-grade teacher Tina Caldwell to Tony’s, too.

“I love the mental aspect of spinning,” Caldwell, who teaches at Live Oak Elementary School in Dougherty County, said. “This is an activity that’s 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical for me.

“(Local instructor) Barbara (Hoots) is such a motivational instructor; she made me realize what a stress reliever spinning is. And since I’d never done anything like (the Kona simulation), I was ready for the challenge.”

Schlesinger, who trains spinning instructors for Mad Dogg Athletics, supplied the challenge. A former football player who became an avid bike rider after his playing days were over, the master instructor was invited to give spinning a try shortly after “Johnny G” Goldberg came up with the concept in the early ’90s.

Schlesinger was immediately hooked.

“I took a spin class at a friend’s suggestion because there really weren’t any (bicycle) trails to ride in Miami,” he said. “It was the funniest thing, but I found that I had the knack instantly. I loved the whole concept.

“You could just close your eyes, get lost in the music and disappear.”

Athens-area Tri to Beat Cancer needs a Volunteer Coordinator

Monday, January 10, 2011

The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia is looking for a

volunteer coordinator for the Athens-area Tri to Beat Cancer Sprint Triathlon, scheduled for August 21, 2011. Duties include contacting volunteers from last year, obtaining volunteer needs from chairs and captains, soliciting volunteers from local schools, agencies and churches, assigning volunteers to committees based on their knowledge, preference or need, and hosting volunteer orientation. The coordinator must be organized and have some experience in Microsoft Excel. The Tri to Beat Cancer is a large race and the coordinator will be responsible for managing more than 100 volunteers.

To volunteer, visit HandsOnNortheastGeorgia.org or call HandsOn NEGA at (706) 353-1313.

The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer for eligible patients in Northeast Georgia.

USAT publishes state triathlete analysis

Friday, January 7, 2011

USAT recently posted a state-by-state analysis of age group rankings using individual rankings for all 2009 ranked age-group triathletes. The report provides a state rank for four separate calculations including:

- The median score by state
- The number of triathletes ranked 90 or higher
- The % of ranked triathletes ranked 90 or higher
- The rank of each state by age group score

Overall, Georgia triathletes were back of the pack:

All States with Qualified Athletes

Median Score	Georgia Rank
Female	39
Male	45

All States with more than 100 Qualified Athletes (38 states)

Median Score	Georgia Rank
Female	28 of 38 states
Male	32 of 38 states

The state did pretty well in a ranking of states with triathletes with USAT scores >90.

Number of Athletes with scores >90 (Elite Age Group)

Gender	Georgia
Female	10 athletes 90+ = ranked 15th
Male	20 athletes 90+ = ranked 16th

However, when you calculate the percentage of athletes in each state with scores >90, Georgia slips back.

Percentage of Athletes with scores >90 (Elite Age Group)

Gender	Georgia
Female	0.81% = ranked 37th
Male	1.62% = ranked 42nd

The good news? Georgia is ranked first for Females in the 65-69 AG.

The full report is available here. The USAT

site has more information on how a score is assigned to each triathlete.

2nd Annual Tri For The Kids Olympic Triathlon

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The 2nd Annual Tri For The Kids Olympic Distance Triathlon is scheduled for Saturday, April 30 in Rome, Georgia. The event is being held in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Tri For The Kids Youth Triathlon, with proceeds from both races benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Rome. With a down-river swim, it sounds like a good race for those new to the Olympic distance.

Swim: 1.1 miles

Racers will enter the water one at a time, swimming with the current in the Etowah River
Water temperature will be posted and updated closer to race day, but it's likely to be a wetsuit-legal race.

Bike: 24 miles

The bike is on good city and county roads, flat to rolling with a couple of small, challenging hills - should allow for a fast ride.

Run: 6.2 miles

The run will be primarily flat to gently rolling towards the end.

Registration is only $65 until April 5, and relay teams are encouraged. Registration is open on IMAthlete.

Atlanta Triathlon Club hosts information sessions

Monday, January 3, 2011

The Atlanta Triathlon Club is hosting information sessions this week from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wed., Jan., 5, at the City of Atlanta Adamsville Natatorium, 3201 M. L. King Jr. Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30311. A second seminar is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Sun., Jan. 9, at Atlanta Cycling Vinings, 4335 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta, Ga. 30339.

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