High altitude, facilities draw world's best
The Arizona Republic
FLAGSTAFF - So there you are at Biff's Bagels on Beaver Street near Route 66, digesting your Wednesday breakfast.
Then the runners show up.
Big-time runners. Some living in town. Some from countries far away. They gather inside, then go run for an hour or so before returning to eat whatever elite athletes allow themselves.
"It makes you feel a little lazy," said Mitch Kramer, a Biff's Bagels manager. "It's usually around 9 a.m. when they swamp us. The folks that eat around that time are surprised, but they really like it. For the ones who know what's going on, it gets them motivated to do stuff."
The top athletes at Biff's are just one sign of Flagstaff's evolution into one of the world's premier locations for altitude training.
The process began 40 years ago when famed U.S. miler Jim Ryun and a few others came here rather than South Lake Tahoe to train for the 1968 Olympics
Read the rest at AZCentral.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Vote for the Dork
Nobody ever accused the BAMF squad at the NTC in Victoria of being fashionable. Here we have Dano with tights under his shorts, Simon with the cap on backwards and the long shorts and brown compression socks. Then we have Dr Jones with the fem-capris. Finally LB with the capris and one blue compression sock. Who is the biggest dork in this photo? Cast your votes...
Meet Kirsten Sweetland
Herbert at Slowtwitch recently did an interview with Kirsten:
Meet Kirsten Sweetland
Written by: Herbert Krabel
Date: Wed Apr 23 2008
Kirsten Sweetland won the 2006 Triathlon Junior World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland and continued to impress during her 2007 rookie pro ITU season. We wanted to know more about this 19 year old from Nanaimo, British Columbia.
ST: You won the 2007 World Cup race in Richards Bay and finished second at the 2007 World Cup in Edmonton. That is not bad for a rookie season.
Kirsten: Haha yea not too bad! I was totally surprised... my goal was to make the start list for the Des Moines World Cup, so yea those definitely took me by surprise! It took a few World Cups to get the hang of it.
Read the rest at Slowtwitch.com
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
RappStar reports from Ironman Arizona
For A Few Dollars More...
Ironman Arizona
2008.04.13 - Tempe, AZ
The title of the post is a bit of an homage to a classic Sergio Leone western starring, of course, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. At the risk of drawing a comparison a little too far, Clint Eastwood’s character is referred to as “The Man With No Name,” kind of like showing up for an Ironman with 40 odd professionals entered and being assigned number 24. Not exactly auspicious...
Read the rest at Rappstar.com
Q&A: Simon Whitfield
Q&A: Simon Whitfield
Apr 19, 2008 04:30 AM
VICTORIA–Simon Whitfield collected his first victory of this Olympic campaign in Japan last weekend, but couldn't find a decent cup of coffee on his trip. So it's no surprise on his first day back in town to see the java-loving triathlete stroll into Habit Coffee and Culture on Pandora Ave., almost his second home, along with wife Jennie and 10-month-old daughter, Pippa Katherine, aka P.K. The 2000 Olympic champion talked with the Star's Randy Starkman.
Q: Biggest extravagance in your life?
A: Our coffee habit, I think. We could have paid for P.K.'s college with the amount of money we spent having coffee. In saying that, we're learning all these new lessons as new parents and one of those things is: How do you spend time as a couple? ... This 9:30 each morning date after swimming has been a really great time for Jennie and I to sit face-to-face without Internet, without the phone ringing, and we just chat.
Read the rest at the Toronto Star
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Road To Beijing: Part 2, by Colin Jenkins
Colin has posted the second installment of his blog on Slowtwitch, this time reporting after his race in Ishigaki Japan.
The Road To Beijing: Part 2
Written by: Colin Jenkins
Date: Thu Apr 17 2008
Domo Arigato Mr. Robato, and hello Slowtwitchers!
Since my last post a couple weeks back I have been to New Zealand and if you could not tell from my title, I have also been to Japan to race in two more World Cups. The first one taking place in the relatively small town of New Plymouth on the north island in New Zealand and the second one in the small fishing community of Ishigaki located on a small island not far from Taiwan. Both places are incredibly scenic with New Plymouths views of Mount Taranaki and the amazing coastline, and Ishigaki with its beautiful turquoise colored water and palm trees. It is the second time that I have been to Ishigaki and although they have many years experience putting on this World Cup event, I was equally surprised again at the organization and professionalism put into the race. I would have probably never visited these small communities if it were not for these races and I am lucky and glad that I got the chance to visit. "
Read the rest on Slowtwitch.com
Thursday, April 17, 2008
FloTrack Interviews Sweetland
Kirsten Sweetland
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008
Kirsten Sweetland, aka ‘Sweets’, who was raised on Vancouver Island, primarily in Nanaimo and Victoria, is about to take on the world.
Well, she has already taken on the world and has come out on top, with some bumps and scrapes along the way. Now however, she is about to embark on her 2008 triathlon season with an eye on the big prize of Beijing.
>>>>
CK: When you say “train harder”, how does that manifest itself in the pool, bike and run?
KS: It's pretty simple, just harder work, longer, harder sets, less warm up, more meaty sets. More hours, more intensity...you name it!
>>>>
LOVE IT
More at FloTrack
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Career Change
I've decided to quit triathlon and instead pimp out my dog to the movie industry. Show me the money!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Rappstar @ Ironman Arizona
Well done to Jordan Rapp with his 3rd place at Ironman Arizona today. With a smokin' 4.32 for the fastest bike split and a solid run, he was a minute and change from the win. Nice job in his second Ironman.
1 MAJOR, JOZSEF 128/7/1 29 00:58:59 04:41:10 02:50:12 08:34:19
2 TOLLAKSON, TJ 6/2/2 27 00:50:06 04:36:53 03:04:05 08:34:36
3 RAPP, JORDAN 36/3/3 27 00:55:03 04:32:42 03:02:33 08:35:04
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Whitfield steals the show in Japan
Whitfield steals the show in Japan
Robertson makes strong bid for Australian Olympic team selection
By Lars Finanger, IT Associate Publisher
Posted Apr. 13, 2008
Henning leads on the run with eventual race winner Whitfield waiting to strike
Photo: Simon Grimmett
Simon Whitfield ran away with the win at Ishigaki BG Triathlon Sunday. The 10-second win gave the Canadian his 11th career world cup victory, tying him with his fellow Olympic gold medal comrade Hamish Carter for overall wins.
More at Inside Triathlon.com
Snowsill, Whitfield on form in Japan
Olympic favourites show their form in Ishigaki World Cup
Ishigaki, Japan (April 13, 2008) – Emma Snowsill of Australia and Simon Whitfield of Canada added to their extensive medal count today with wins at the Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup. Both athletes showed their Olympic colours with top-form races unfolding from two of the sport’s superstars.
More at Trifuel.com
Whitfield on top in Ishigaki
Whitfield on top in Ishigaki (April 13, 2008 )
Sydney Olympic Champion Simon Whitfield of Canada continues his quest for another Olympic title with a win at the Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup today. Whitfield showed a field of top Olympians that he still has kick in his legs to claim his 11th world cup title, in a time of 1 hour 51 minutes and 12 seconds. Close behind in second was 2007 big prize money winner Rasmus Henning of Denmark, 10 seconds back. Rounding out the podium was Russia’s Ivan Vasiliev another 11 seconds back, who just managed to outlast a charging Peter Robertson of Australia. In fifth was Britain’s Tim Don, who also ran back from over a minute deficit after the bike to finish in the top-5.
"That was good, a great way to start the year. I've been coming here for 12 years and never been close to the podium, "said Whitfield after his win, which ties him for second all-time world cup wins with Kiwi and fellow Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter. “When I was running along I was thinking 'Come on, this might be my last time here so I have to win this thing’. It's my first win in Japan so it's a thrill, never done that. “
More at Triathlon.org
Monday, April 7, 2008
Roid Rage??
Cyclist convicted, screams at jurors
Published: Monday, April 07, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- Former world class American cyclist Tammy Thomas screamed at the jurors after being convicted of perjury and lying to grand jury probing a sports steroid distribution ring.
"Look me in the eye, look me in the eye," Thomas screamed after the jurors' verdict was read in federal court. "Look me in the eye and tell me you mean what you did. Look me in the eye, you can't do it."
Thomas was found guilty of three counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice for saying she did not take performance-enhancing drugs.
More at Canada.com
Published: Monday, April 07, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- Former world class American cyclist Tammy Thomas screamed at the jurors after being convicted of perjury and lying to grand jury probing a sports steroid distribution ring.
"Look me in the eye, look me in the eye," Thomas screamed after the jurors' verdict was read in federal court. "Look me in the eye and tell me you mean what you did. Look me in the eye, you can't do it."
Thomas was found guilty of three counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice for saying she did not take performance-enhancing drugs.
More at Canada.com
Jenkins: The Road To Beijing: Part 1
Colin is writing for Slowtwitch detailing his quest to qualify for the Canadian Olympic Triathlon Team. Check out his first article:
The Road To Beijing: Part 1
Written by: Colin Jenkins
Date: Sun Apr 06 2008
"Hello Slowtwitch World and welcome to my first post in a new column documenting my journey to Olympic selection and then hopefully to the BIG SHOW in August in Beijing, China.
For all of those who have no idea who I am, my name is Colin Jenkins, and I am a Canadian Triathlete on the National Team racing on the World Cup circuit. We travel all around the World and race everywhere from exotic destinations to big municipality cores, all in hopes of getting those coveted Olympic and World Cup points that are essential to getting your country an Olympic spot and being selected to the team. The selection criteria set up by the ITU and your individual country is pretty complicated, and I will not get into the details in this post; I will leave it for a later one."
Read the rest on Slowtwitch.com
Article: Tichelaar sixth in New Zealand
Tichelaar sixth in New Zealand
Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, April 06, 2008
After opening his season with a top-10 finish in Australia, Edmonton's Paul Tichelaar followed that up by finishing sixth at Sunday's New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup in New Zealand.
Sunday's effort enabled him to move up to No. 3 in the world. Pan Am Games silver medallist Brent McMahon, of Victoria, finished 18th while Hamilton's Colin Jenkins crossed the line in 35th.
Kyle Jones, of Oakville, Ont., finished in the top 10 last week, but struggled to 41st on Sunday.
More at Canada.com
Friday, April 4, 2008
Swim technique is important
But somebody forgot to tell this guy... maybe he would have held his world record for more than a few days if he knew that...
The trouble with time travel
The trouble with time travel
Every frequent flier seems to have his own strategy or treatment for the fatigue and insomnia of jet lag. It's time to separate the scientifically proven from the homespun
DAVE MCGINN
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
April 2, 2008 at 10:43 AM EDT
Maybe all you need to get over it is a little blue pill.
If a study published last spring is to be believed, the makers of Viagra may soon be promoting the use of their erectile-dysfunction drug aboard long-distance flights - though not for the reason some randy-minded aspirants to the mile high club might think. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in May, researchers at the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires discovered that the diamond-shaped pill might be useful in treating jet lag - at least in hamsters.
......
Even athletes have to develop their own ways of overcoming jet lag, which can really put a visiting competitor at a disadvantage.
"Jet lag is definitely a factor," says Joel Filliol, the senior coach at Triathlon Canada's National Triathlon Centre in Victoria. The triathlon team competes in six to eight international races a year, he says, so "experience with international travel makes a big difference with how easily you adapt to it. You have to get on to the new time zone right away. You need exposure to light at the right times of day, you need food at the right times of day and you need to get into your normal pattern again. That's really how we do it."
Some athletes, he concedes, will take melatonin to cope with jet lag."
Read the full article from the Globe and Mail
Article: The Doping Dilemma
Game theory helps to explain the pervasive abuse of drugs in cycling, baseball and other sports
By Michael Shermer
"Here are my recommendations for how cycling (and other sports) can reach a Nash equilibrium in which no one has any incentive to cheat by doping:
1. Grant immunity to all athletes for past (pre-2008) cheating. Because the entire system is corrupt and most competitors have been doping, it accomplishes nothing to strip the winner of a title after the fact when it is almost certain that the runners-up were also doping. With immunity, retired athletes may help to improve the antidoping system.
2. Increase the number of competitors tested—in competition, out of competition, and especially immediately before or after a race—to thwart countermeasures. Testing should be done by independent drug agencies not affiliated with any sanctioning bodies, riders, sponsors or teams. Teams should also employ independent drug-testing companies to test their own riders, starting with a preseason performance test on each athlete to create a baseline profile. Corporate sponsors should provide additional financial support to make sure the testing is rigorous.
3. Establish a reward, modeled on the X prizes (cash awards offered for a variety of technical achievements), for scientists to develop tests that can detect currently undetectable doping agents. The incentive for drug testers must be equal to or greater than that for drug takers.
4. Increase substantially the penalty for getting caught: one strike and you’re out—forever. To protect the athlete from false positive results or inept drug testers (both exist), the system of arbitration and appeals must be fair and trusted. Once a decision is made, however, it must be substantive and final.
5. Disqualify all team members from an event if any member of the team tests positive for doping. Compel the convicted athlete to return all salary paid and prize monies earned to the team sponsors. The threat of this penalty will bring the substantial social pressures of “band of brothers” psychology to bear on all the team members, giving them a strong incentive to enforce their own antidoping rules."
Interesting article.... check out the rest at Scientific American
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Thank a coach during coaches week
Thank a coach during coaches week
Posted 5 hours ago
Pick up a whistle, take a coaching course and thank a coach. Ontario Coaches Week is April 12-to-20.
The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) - with funding from the Ministry of Health Promotion, Sport Canada and the Ontario Trillium Foundation - is partnering with 35 Ontario communities to host freecoach training events.
During the week across the province, CAO will recognize the important role sport coaches have in building communities and developing athletes for sport and life.
More here
Seems like a good idea to me!
Posted 5 hours ago
Pick up a whistle, take a coaching course and thank a coach. Ontario Coaches Week is April 12-to-20.
The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) - with funding from the Ministry of Health Promotion, Sport Canada and the Ontario Trillium Foundation - is partnering with 35 Ontario communities to host freecoach training events.
During the week across the province, CAO will recognize the important role sport coaches have in building communities and developing athletes for sport and life.
More here
Seems like a good idea to me!
Heel vs. Midfoot vs. Forefoot: How do elite runners land?
The Science of Sport blog has a refreshing look at running technique, specifically the foot strike... as is common with sport marketing these days the current emphasis on forefoot striking isn't really based on good science...
"Why would you want to change your foot landing to begin with? Science has little to offer you in support of this. And so my advice, having read this far (well done!), is to forget about the possibility that you're landing "wrongly", and just let your feet land where, and how they land, and worry about all the other things you can when you run!"
KISS
More at scienceofsport.blogspot.com
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