2009 Polar Bear triathlon results

Overall Name Category Run Bike Swim Final


6 Xavier Nolen M <20 27:08 1:15:26 8:31 1:51:05

17 Taylor Burgett M <20 20:36 1:38:22 8:15 2:07:13

22 Ben Campbell M <20 24:17 1:39:41 9:50 2:13:48

49 Andrew Paul Gonzalez M <20 22:58 2:10:09 9:31 2:42:38



1 Adam Blalock M 20-24 19:44 1:05:02 8:40 1:33:26

12 Esau Mena M 20-24 23:54 1:23:54 9:05 1:56:53

51 Chris McMillen M 20-24 25:58 2:04:34 13:43 2:44:15



3 John Merrill M 25-29 19:21 1:18:53 9:21 1:47:35

48 Daniel Leyba M 25-29 26:54 2:04:14 11:02 2:42:10



21 Victor Maldanado M 30-34 24:53 1:33:38 13:28 2:11:59

33 Fernie Castillo M 30-34 26:55 1:39:49 17:13 2:23:57



5 Cody Hansen M 35-39 24:09 1:16:18 9:01 1:49:28

13 Gregory Gouveia M 35-39 27:09 1:22:09 12:33 2:01:51

16 Chris Taylor M 35-39 23:50 1:29:49 11:52 2:05:31

23 Gary Moore M 35-39 23:35 1:36:41 13:42 2:13:58

31 Agustin Franco M 35-39 26:46 1:41:35 11:49 2:20:10

47 Arturo Gutierrez M 35-39 28:42 1:53:01 19:43 2:41:06



25 Raymond Placiente M 40-44 30:53 1:33:48 10:38 2:15:19

43 Jamie Hawkins M 40-44 31:19 1:47:25 17:45 2:36:29



8 Bobby Dominguez M 45-49 23:10 1:15:19 15:32 1:54:01

10 Curtis Boyd M 45-49 24:35 1:19:09 12:49 1:56:33

26 James Bradley M 45-49 27:04 1:30:38 17:51 2:15:33

35 Stuart Crane M 45-49 26:38 1:43:17 18:21 2:28:16



7 John Jackson M 50-54 27:18 1:16:14 9:41 1:53:13

19 Norman Desrochers M 50-54 28:14 1:31:24 9:35 2:09:13



4 Carl Armstrong M 55-59 23:30 1:15:24 9:34 1:48:28

11 Scott Darling M 55-59 23:37 1:20:56 11:16 1:55:49

30 Robert Myerly M 55-59 32:19 1:36:55 10:41 2:19:55



24 Flip Lyle M >65 35:37 1:27:39 11:52 2:15:08







14 Brianne Alyse Loya F 20-24 23:06 1:30:45 8:54 2:02:45

39 Maddison Bowles F 20-24 27:52 1:54:34 8:41 2:31:07



34 Sarah Burnett F 25-29 29:45 1:40:37 14:19 2:24:41

36 Elizabeth Hingley F 25-29 26:50 1:48:38 12:51 2:28:19

53 Rebecca Galvan F 25-29 35:50 1:58:36 13:16 2:47:42



20 Delane Meredith F 30-34 27:15 1:31:04 11:12 2:09:31

27 Katie Stirling F 30-34 26:24 1:40:34 10:31 2:17:29

38 Catherine Law F 30-34 27:13 1:45:10 16:58 2:29:21



42 Dawn Shoviak F 35-59 31:11 1:49:23 15:19 2:35:53

44 Isabel Contreras F 35-39 26:14 1:55:45 15:55 2:37:54

46 Karyl Menke F 35-39 32:03 1:53:41 14:10 2:39:54

55 Christina Sharp F 35-39 34:47 2:13:45 26:15 3:14:47



54 Bea Lambert F 45-49 31:46 2:17:09 21:36 3:10:01



45 Helen Crane F 50-54 38:16 1:44:37 15:26 2:38:19

58 MJ Cobaugh F 50-54 46:10 2:34:41 16:30 3:37:21



56 Carol Akright F 60-64 40:00 2:17:39 18:36 3:16:15



9 Jason McClure Clyd <40 28:13 1:15:42 10:33 1:54:28

41 Joseph Inzerillo Clyd <40 30:56 1:45:43 17:56 2:34:25

50 Michael Lucero Clyd <40 27:05 1:59:48 16:20 2:43:13



2 David Fairbanks Clyd >40 21:41 1:07:15 7:57 1:36:53

15 John Gardea Clyd >40 30:09 1:22:10 12:38 2:04:57

29 Allen Thomas Clyd >40 28:15 1:33:30 17:46 2:19:31

52 Lynden Toliver Clyd >40 42:35 1:44:46 19:21 2:46:42



57 Rebecca Murguia Athena 46:04 2:34:47 13:49 3:34:40



28 Jennings/Twitchell Coed Team - 2:03:04 15:55 2:18:59

32 Roman/Jabale/Gutierrez Coed Team 24:24 1:49:42 9:26 2:23:32

40 Vazquez/Fogel Coed Team 35:43 1:45:57 10:21 2:32:01



37 Drayer/White Female Team 32:44 1:48:17 7:29 2:28:30



18 Jennings/Jennings Male Team - 1:56:37 11:01 2:07:38

2008 year end totals

this was my 2008 year end totals. I'll post 09's at the end of the month

Type Distance Duration


Bike 2447.5 mi 188:13

Run 642.6 mi 121:23

Swim 110230.0 yd 36:32

Swim_TT 11100.0 yd 03:39

Bike_TT 9.5 mi 01:45

Run_TT 47.2 mi 07:54

Brick 1325.2 mi 109:26

Yoga_Pilates_Stretch 00:30

Strength 56:31

Core 37:57

Walk 61.0 mi 17:23

Combination 116.2 mi 16:35

Race 114.3 mi 07:51

BikeTrainer 11.2 mi 00:45

Treadmill 2.7 mi 01:15

Total Duration: 607:39

2010 South West Challenge Series Schedule

The 2010 SOUTHWEST CHALLENGE SERIES Schedule is now out. There are 37 races in the series. There are 13 races within a 2-2.5 hr drive of Albuquerque!!!!!!


PRESIDENT’S DAY DUATHLON
FEBRUARY 13, Saturday
5K Run/30K Bike
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: January 29/Mail; February 5/fax
or e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

SULLY SUPER SPRINT TRIATHLON
MARCH 21, Sunday
3 Mile Run / 15 Mile Bike / 360 Yd Swim
Ryan Baade (432) 857-8792
jbaade@sulross.edu
http://www.sulross.edu/
P.O. Box C-23
Alpine, TX 79832
Race day Registration Allowed

MVTC TRIATHLON
MARCH 28, Sunday
5K Run / 25K Bike / 500M Swim
Don & Genia Shepan (575) 524-7824
DONEUGENIA@aol.com
No website at this time
3007 Ronna Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Early Registration - March 20: Late – March 27;
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

WIND TRIATHLON
APRIL 3, Saturday
7K Run / 35K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: March 19/Mail; March 26/fax or
e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

RAPTOR DUATHLON
April 11, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike
TSgt Michelle Villaflor (575) 572-2527
Michelle.villaflor@holloman.af.mil
http://www.hollomanfss.com/
Domenici Fitness & Sports Center
1051 Connecticut Ave
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Registration Deadline: April 6 FIRM

SPRING FLING TRIATHLON
(Kids Triathlon Also)
APRIL 18, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike / 400Yd Swim
See website for Kid’s Info
Mark Mico (505) 907-7378
Mark@TriSportCoaching.com
http://www.trisportcoaching.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center
745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

ATOMIC MAN DUATHLON
APRIL 25, Sunday
10K Run / 40K Bike / 5K Run (Fat Man)
4K Run / 15K Bike / 4K Run (Little Boy)
Jeff Johnson (505) 662-5834 / Frank Cherne (505) 412-5568
duathlon@ triatomics.org
www.triatomics.org/duathlon
P.O. Box 45
Los Alamos, NM 87544-0045
Registration Deadline: April 24 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

JAY BENSON TRIATHLON
MAY 9, Sunday
3 Mile Run / 12 Mile Bike / 400M Swim
Paul Walton (505) 837-9400
paulcycling@yahoo.com
website???
6915 Montgomery Blvd. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Registration on Active.com March 2;
Closes At 400 Participants
USAT SANCTIONED

BUFFMAN and SQUEAKY TRIATHLON

MAY 16, Sunday
1500M Swim / 40K Bike / 10K Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: May 15 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

THE DOG HOUSE SPRINT TRIATHLON
MAY 16, Sunday
500M Swim / 17.6 Mile Bike / 3.1 Mile Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: May 15 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

RIO RANCHO DUATHLON
MAY 23, Sunday
10K Run / 40K Bike / 5K Run
james Webster (505) 804-2823
jameswebster@endurance-endeavors.com
http://www.endurance-endeavors.com/
Santa Ana Star Convention Center
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Registration: Online Closes May 21
No Race Day Registration

USAT SANCTIONED
RUIDOSO SPRINT TRIATHLON
MAY 29, Saturday
3.5 Mi Run (paved/trail) / 10 mile bike (road) / 400Yd
Swim (pool)
Frederic Moras (575) 937-7106
rac@valornet.com
http://www.ruidosoathleticclub.com/
Ruidoso Athletic Club
415 Wingfield Street
Ruidoso, NM 88355
Registration Deadline: May 27
No Race Day Registration

MILKMAN TRIATHLON
JUNE 5, Saturday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Larry Marshall (575) 734-5415
lmarshall@fbfs.com
http://www.milkmantriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 399
Dexter, NM 88230
Registration Deadline: June 2
No Race Day Registration

USAT SANCTIONED
BEAT THE HEAT TRIATHLON
JUNE 12, Saturday
8K Run / 40K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: May 28/Mail; June 4/fax or email
NOTE: RACE START AT 0700
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0500!!

GALLUP TRIATHLON
JUNE 12, Saturday
375 Yd Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Andy Stravers (505) 409-9160
GallupTriathlon@gmail.com
http://www.galluptriathlon.com/
PO Box 1197
Gallup, NM 87305
Registration Deadline: June 8 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

CHICK FIL-A TRIATHLON
JUNE 19, Saturday
400Meter Swim / 10 Mile Bike / 5K Run
Mark Garonzik (806) 670-8028
grozzy@clearwire.net
http://www.triatx.com/
PMB 212
3300 Coulter, Ste 3
Amarillo, TX 79106
Registration Deadline: June 6 FIRM / NO Race Day
Registration
NOTE: RACE START AT 0800
Kids cup Triathlon at 1000
USAT SANCTIONED

BUFFALO SPRINGS LAKE IRONMAN 70.3
JUNE 27, Sunday
1.2 Mile Swim / 56 Mile Bike / 13.1 Mile Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: June 26
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

TRI-RAIDER SPRINT TRIATHLON

JUNE 27, Sunday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Marti Greer (877) 719-4957
marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 93726
Lubbock, TX 79493
Registration Deadline: June 26
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

GRADY WILLIAMS MEMORIAL FREEDOM DAYS
TRIATHLON
JULY 3, Saturday
1.5k Swim / 10K Run / 40K Bike
Debbie Dusenbery (800) 448-1240
fmncvb@earthlink.net
http://www.farmingtonnm.org/
3041 East Main
Farmington, NM 87402
Registration Deadline: July 2
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

BOTTOMLESS TRIATHLON
JULY 10, Saturday
400M Swim / 12K Bike / 4K Run
Jan Olesinski (505) 624-2698
olesinski@nmmi.edu
http//myweb.cableone.net/janolesinski
900 Mason Dr
Roswell, NM 88201
Registration Deadline: July 6 FIRM

CITY OF LAS CRUCES DUATHLON
JULY 17, Saturday
5K Run / 26 Mile Bike / 5K Run
Claudia Chavez (575) 541-2558
cchavez@las-cruces.org
http://www.las-cruces.org/
P.O. Box 20000
Las Cruces, NM 88004
Race Day Registration Allowed

CITY OF SANTA FE TRIATHLON
JULY 17, Saturday
5K Run / 12 Mile Bike / 400 Meter Swim
Liza Suzanne
Santa Fe Recreation Division (505) 955-4084
lsuzanne@santafenm.gov
http://www.chavezcenter.com/
3221Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM
Registration Deadline: July 10 FIRM
NOTE: 6:30 AM Start
USAT SANCTIONED

df RANCH TRIATHLON
JULY 24, Saturday
500M Swim / 14 Mile Bike / 5K Run
David & Karly Bobo (806) 324-7279
FastfeetRacing@aol.com
http://www.fastfeetracing.com/
Mailing: PO Box 50941
Amarillo, TX 79159
Race Location: 326 FM 2035
Sweetwater, TX 79556
Registration Deadline: July 23
No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

ODESSA TUMBLEWEED TRIATHLON
JULY 25, Sunday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Kim Clinkenbeard (432) 557-5001
getfitwithkim@cableone.net
www.odessaymca.org/Triathlon.htm
3001 East University
Odessa, TX 79762
Registration Deadline: July 24 / Race Day Allowed w/
Increased Fee
USAT SANCTIONED

TALL CITY TRIATHLON
July 31, Saturday
500M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Christine Thomas-Beardon (432) 682-2551
cthomas@midlandymca.org
http://www.midlandymca.org/
P.O. Box 954
Midland, TX 79702
Race Day Registration Allowed

SOCORRO CHILE HARVEST TRIATHLON
AUGUST 7, Saturday
400M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Robert Gonzalez (575) 835-8927
ssr@socorro.com
www.socorro.com/ssr/chile
P.O. Box 1508
Socorro, NM 87801
Registration Deadline: July 31 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

F-1 TRIATHLON
AUGUST 14, Saturday
800M Swim / 14K Bike / 4K Run / 14K Bike / 4K Run
Jan Olesinski (505) 624-2698
olesinski@nmmi.edu
http//myweb.cableone.net/janolesinski
900 Mason Dr
Roswell, NM 88201
Registration Deadline: August 10 FIRM

LOS ALAMOS TRIATHLON

AUGUST 21, Saturday
20K Bike / 400M Swim / 5K Run
Garry Wolfe (505) 662-8173
garry.wolfe@lacnm.us---lacrec@lacnm.us
www.losalamosnm.us/rec
2760 Canyon RD
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Registration Deadline: August 20 FIRM / No Race Day

WEST MESA CLASSIC TRIATHLON
AUGUST 29, Sunday
800M Swim / 40K Bike / 10K Run
James Webster (505) 804-2823
jameswebster@endurance-endeavors.com
http://www.endurance-endeavors.com/
West Mesa Aquatic Center
Albuquerque, NM 87121
Registration: Online Closes 27 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

YUCCA TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 4, Saturday
10K Run / 50K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
Registration Deadlines: August 20/Mail; August 27/fax or
e-mail
NOTE: RACE START AT 0730
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0530!!

EAGLE IN THE SUN TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 5, Sunday
400M Swim / 20K Bike / 5K Run
Gabriela Gallegos (915.433.3439)
Race location:
Tigua Recreation & Wellness Center
RaceElPaso@gmail.com
http://www.raceelpaso.com/
P.O. Box 23208
El Paso, TX 79923
Registration Deadline: Sept. 1 / No Race Day
USAT SANCTIONED

PATRIOT TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 12, Sunday
400 Yd Swim / 25 K Bike / 5K Run
Andie Talmadge (505) 239-4246
andie@fitfundamentals.com
http://www.fitfundamentals.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center / 745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Registration Deadline: Early---August 1; Late---
September 9; No Race Day

USAT SANCTIONED
SPC COTTON COUNTRY TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 18, Saturday
5K Run / 13 Mile Bike / 300Yd Swim
Dee Dee Odorizzi (806) 716-2236
dodorizzi@southplainscollege.edu
www2.southplainscollege.edu/cottoncountry
South Plains College
1401 College Avenue / Box 201
Levelland, TX 79336
Race Day Registration Allowed
USAT SANCTIONED

ELEPHANT MAN TRIATHLON
SEPTEMBER 26, Sunday
1 Mile Swim / 26.5 Mile Bike / 6 Mile Run
Kori Mannon (575) 744-0055
kori@valornet.com
http://www.elephantmantriathlon.com/
P.O. Box 492 Elephant Butte, NM 87935
Registration Deadline: September 11 FIRM
USAT SANCTIONED

RAPTOR TRIATHLON
October 10, Sunday
5K Run / 30K Bike /700M Swim
TSgt Michelle Villaflor (575) 572-2527
Michelle.villaflor@holloman.af.mil
http://www.hollomanfss.com/
Domenici Fitness & Sports Center
1051 Connecticut Ave
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Registration Deadline: October 5 FIRM
The following two races will kick off the 2011
season, and will not count for points in 2010.

JINGLE BELL TRIATHLON
DECEMBER 5, Sunday
5K Run / 25K Bike / 400Yd Swim
Mark Mico (505) 907-7378
Mark@TriSportCoaching.com
http://www.trisportcoaching.com/
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center
745 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Closes at 400 entries / No Race Day Registration
USAT SANCTIONED

POLAR BEAR TRIATHLON
DECEMBER 11, Saturday
7k Run / 35K Bike / 400M Swim
Brent Jones (575) 678-3374
brent.k.jones@us.army.mil
http://www.wsmrmwr.com/ (click on "Bell Gym")
Bell Gymnasium / PO Box 400
WSMR, NM 88002
MUST be at security gate BEFORE 0600!!

2009 South West Challenge Series results

Here is the South West Challenge Series year end results. I took 2nd place Clydesdale 39 &  under

Name Place Category Points Total (# of Races)




Alyssa Higgs Champion Under 20 Female 41.25 (4)



Josh Gordon Champion Under 20 Male 82.25 (17)
Rance Irvin Second Under 20 Male 61.00 (6)
Arthur Schwalm Third Under 20 Male 10.00 (5)



Paige Kinucan Champion 20-24 Female 53.00 (6)
Aubrey Blair-Pattison Second 20-24 Female 50.00 (5)
Amy Martin Third 20-24 Female 34.00 (4)
Kaye Elridge 20-24 Female 30.00 (4)
Thomas Duggan Champion 20-24 Male 47.00 (5)
Blake Bednarz Second 20-24 Male 46.50 (5)
Paul Ward Third 20-24 Male 40.00 (4)
Andrew Dominguez 20-24 Male 36.00 (4)
Isaac Garcia 20-24 Male 22.00 (4)



Jessica McClay Champion 25-29 Female 51.00 (6)
Rebecca Galvan Second 25-29 Female 49.00 (5)
Ashley Messoline Third 25-29 Female 40.00 (4)
Lindsey Babington 25-29 Female 34.00 (6)



Jason Atkinson Champion 25-29 Male 59.25 (6)
Kyle Wackenheim Second 25-29 Male 58.00 (8)
Brandon Wells Third 25-29 Male 47.00 (5)
Jose Luis Reygada 25-29 Male 45.00 (7)
Paul Hunton 25-29 Male 29.00 (6)
Matt Wall 25-29 Male 41.00 (5)
Caleb Beck 25-29 Male 36.00 (5)
Bjoern Zeinert 25-29 Male 31.00 (5)
Justin Newcomer 25-29 Male 39.00 (4)



Trisha Stavinoha Champion 30-34 Female 57.00 (6)
Terry Moore Second 30-34 Female 40.25 (4)
Jane Pilger Third 30-34 Female 40.00 (5)
Dina Pesenson 30-34 Female 37.00 (5)
Meredith Schoenfeld 30-34 Female 31,00 (4)
Delania Sather 30-34 Female 30.875 (4)
Anna Caldarella 30-34 Female 24.00 (4)



Daniel Peregrino Champion 30-34 Male 72.00 (8)
David Liotta Second 30-34 Male 60.50 (10)
Cory Adair Third 30-34 Male 58.75 (11)
Jeff Forney 30-34 Male 43.00 (5)
Gregory Gonzales 30-34 Male 37.00 (5)
Damon Chase 30-34 Male 31.00 (5)
Carlos Vicencio 30-34 Male 41.25 (4)
Scott Valdez 30-34 Male 35.00 (4)
Michael Peregrino 30-34 Male 32.00 (4)
Benjamin Davis 30-34 Male 28.00 (4)
Keith Clayton 30-34 Male 25.00 (4)
Lance Lunsford 30-34 Male 16.00 (4)


Sarah Heredia Champion 35-39 Female 63.25 (9)
Lisa Lawson Second 35-39 Female 52.00 (7)
Kimberly Arroyo Third 35-39 Female 42.00 (6)
Tricia Romesburg 35-39 Female 21.00 (5)
Kori Mannon 35-39 Female 39.00 (4)
Anne O’Neill 35-39 Female 39.00 (4)
Michelle Giese 35-39 Female 22.00 (4)



Robert Browning Champion 35-39 Male 66.125 (9)
Alberto Lugo Second 35-39 Male 63.00 (7)
Paul Guiterrez Third 35-39 Male 56.00 (8)
Mark Trejtnar 35-39 Male 52.00 (7)
Todd Fiske 35-39 Male 29.00 (6)
Clay Moseley 35-39 Male 50.00 (5)
Todd Pilger 35-39 Male 23.00 (5)
Hector Tovar 35-39 Male 39.00 (4)
James Webster 35-39 Male 34.00 (4)
Elvin Porflit 35-39 Male 32.00 (4)
Joseph Weiss 35-39 Male 24.00 (4)



Michi Seagrist Champion 40-44 Female 49.00 (6)
Char Latham Second 40-44 Female 35.00 (4)
Tammy Pluym Third 40-44 Female 26.00 (4)
Diane Gaetz 40-44 Female 22.00 (5)
Andie Talmadge 40-44 Female 15.00 (4)



Jim Kehrle Champion 40-44 Male 70.00 (8)
Gilberto Heredia Second 40-44 Male 58.25 (13)
Jess Lilley Third 40-44 Male 53.00 (7)
David Sharp 40-44 Male 51.00 (7)
Salvador Perches 40-44 Male 39.00 (7)
Carlos Escobar 40-44 Male 35.00 (7)
Cody Miller 40-44 Male 43.00 (6)
Cid Lopez 40-44 Male 50.00 (5)
Jaime Dispenza 40-44 Male 47.00 (5)
Heath Pennell 40-44 Male 46.00 (5)
Ken Gordon 40-44 Male 29.00 (5)
Oliver Bartel 40-44 Male 30.00 (4)
Edgar Gandara 40-44 Male 20.00 (4)
Matthew Martinez 40-44 Male 17.00 (4)



Sarah Crewe Champion 45-49 Female 77.125 (8)
Treca Boney Second 45-49 Female 75.75 (11)
Christina Behr-Andres Third 45-49 Female 62.25 (13)
Karen Williams 45-49 Female 47.00 (8)
Naomi Finson 45-49 Female 57.00 (7)
Tammi O’Rear 45-49 Female 49.00 (7)
Noelle Sharp 45-49 Female 40.00 (7)
Teri Redman 45-49 Female 36.00 (5)
Laura Bernal 45-49 Female 34.00 (5)
Alisa Lauer 45-49 Female 31.00 (4)
Cathy Pfeifer 45-49 Female 24.00 (4)
Pauline Atkinson 45-49 Female 22.00 (4)
Chandler Liberty 45-49 Female 16.00 (4)



Bobby Gonzales Champion 45-49 Male 80.125 (8)
Robert Dominguez Second 45-49 Male 66.25 (9)
Rod Burgett Third 45-49 Male 64.75 (9)
Stuart Crane 45-49 Male 58.00 (12)
Curtis Boyd 45-49 Male 64.00 (8)
Paul Zetocha 45-49 Male 45.00 (8)
Shane Cleveland 45-49 Male 51.00 (5)
Ted Romero 45-49 Male 42.00 (5)
Gary Fields 45-49 Male 40.00 (5)
Torsten Rohde 45-49 Male 13.125 (5)
Dave Deyoung 45-49 Male 32.00 (4)
Randy Miller 45-49 Male 32.00 (4)
Michael Giudicissi 45-49 Male 15.00 (4)
Robert R. Gonzales 45-49 Male 12.00 (4)



Jean Herbert Champion 50-54 Female 81.625 (14)
Marti Greer Second 50-54 Female 75.00 (12)
Helen Crane Third 50-54 Female 74.00 (12)
Kate Simon 50-54 Female 48.00 (5)
Nancy Fortin 50-54 Female 47.00 )
Peggy Clews 50-54 Female 34.00 (5)
Beth Sofchalk 50-54 Female 24.00 (5)
Amy Rehfeld 50-54 Female 20.00 (4)



Greg Southard Champion 50-54 Male 50.00 (7)
Patrick Hall Second 50-54 Male 46.00 (6)
Mike Slattery Third 50-54 Male 39.00 (4)
Mike Torneby 50-54 Male 26.00 (7)
Bradly Collins 50-54 Male 28.00 (6)
Jules Simon 50-54 Male 32.00 (5)
Jim Cusic 50-54 Male 21.00 (5)
Charles Farrar 50-54 Male 37.00 (4)
John Jackson 50-54 Male 29.00 (4)
Thom Stein 50-54 Male 28.00 (4)



Mariana Balsiger Champion 55-59 Female 80.25 (9)
Kathy Foucar Second 55-59 Female 59.00 (6)
Barbara Rivers Third 55-59 Female 51.00 (6)
Christine Glidden 55-59 Female 49.00 (6)
Debra Wess 55-59 Female 28.00 (4)



Carl Armstrong Champion 55-59 Male 82.75 (14)
Scott Darling Second 55-59 Male 78.25 (13)
Mark Balsiger Third 55-59 Male 77.75 (11)
George Marck 55-59 Male 73.00 (8)
Scott Myerly 55-59 Male 55.00 (7)
Richard Jaramillo 55-59 Male 34.00 (5)
Alberto Rodriguez 55-59 Male 33.00 (4)



Carol Akright Champion 60-64 Female 52.00 (6)
Kris Fullmer Second 60-64 Female 41.00 (5)
Lynette Napier Third 60-64 Female 35.00 (4)



Flip Lyle Champion 60-64 Male 79.50 (10)
Miguel Sanchez Second 60-64 Male 56.00 (6)
Tom Martin Third 60-64 Male 53.00 (7)
L.W. Goddard 60-64 Male 47.00 (5)
Ted Freedman 60-64 Male 38.00 (4)
Jim Walker 60-64 Male 36.00 (4)
John Hocker 60-64 Male 31.00 (4)
William Bearden 60-64 Male 27.00 (4)
Mike Cornelison 60-64 Male 27.00 (4)



Carole Cook Champion 65-69 Female 51.00 (5)



Jerry Shere Champion 65-69 Male 49.00 (5)



Mike Greer Champion 70-74 Male 81.625 (14)
John LeRoy Second 70-74 Male 81.25 (8)
Richard Park Third 70-74 Male 58.00 (6)
Max Light 70-74 Male 48.00 (5)



Sara Hall Champion Athena 77.75 (15)
Misty Pilgrim Second Athena 67.375 (10)



George Ferland Champion Clydesdales Under 40 84.00 (8)
Cody Hanson Second Clydesdales Under 40 80.75 (11)
Jason McClure Third Clydesdales Under 40 73.00 (8)
Gregory Gouveia Clydesdales Under 40 72.875 (7)
R.B. Nichols Clydesdales Under 40 37.00 (4)
Alex Garcia Clydesdales Under 40 33.00 (4)



Brian Pilgrim Champion Clydesdales 40+ 79.25 (9)
Greg Garcia Second Clydesdales 40+ 67.00 (8)
E.P. Higgs Third Clydesdales 40+ 50.125 (6)
John Gardea Clydesdales 40+ 48.875 (6)
Ernie Rodriguez Clydesdales 40+ 38.00 (6)
Felix Hinojosa Clydesdales 40+ 43.00 (5)
Kurt Schwalm Clydesdales 40+ 25.00 (5)
Shannon Himango Clydesdales 40+ 34.00 (4)
Todd Ritterbush Clydesdales 40+ 30.00 (4)

Polar Bear triathlon & the Jingle Bell triathlon race reports

The start of the Polar Bear triathlon was 20 degrees. This was a reverse triathlon so the run was first. Most people at this race were bundled up like Eskimos. I chose to race with the bare minimum to save time in transition. I wore gloves, ear muffs, cycling pants, & a sleeveless triathlon shirt. That's right; I wore a sleeveless light weight triathlon shirt. I was the only one who didn't have on heavy duty long sleeve shirts & jackets:)



As usual my adrenalin takes over at the start & I jumped off the start line like I was shot out of a cannon. I got control of myself by the half mile mark of the run & settle into a more maintainable pace. Usually at that point is when the really fast triathletes pass me. That didn't happen that day. By the 1 mile mark I was still in the top 8 & by the end of the 5K run I was in 11th.



I was still somewhat surprised when I entered T-1 that most of the bikes were still racked. That means they were still on the run course, & most importantly they were still behind me! I had a fast transition time & passed 1 person before we got out onto the run course, which put me in 10th place overall. I felt great about my placing so far because I have been really working on my cycling these last few months. That should be my strength that day. It was a 40 kilometer bike (approximately 25.5 miles) & so cold on the course my Gatorade bottle froze to the point where I couldn't get any fluid out! On the bike course one person named Bobby passed me, but more importantly I passed 5! I got off the bike in 6th place.



Bobby was my closest competitor in front of me; he was over 2 minutes ahead of me going into T-2. I knew since I raced with so few clothes on I'd make up a lot of time in T-2 compared to everyone else who had on a lot of cold weather gear. I jumped into the pool about 25 meters behind Bobby, having made up about a minute & a half in T-2. It was a battle in the pool, but at the 200 meter mark I passed Bobby. I was able to maintain a fast enough of a swim to prevent anyone else from passing me & finishing 5th place overall & 1st place in the 30-34 age group.



The next day was the Jingle Bell triathlon. I'll save you the gory details. Essentially my legs were trashed from the race the day before. I had what felt like a really slow race, but ended up gut checking the 2nd half of the bike to pull myself into 31st place overall. In the water I got really aggressive & used my heavier frame to take control & make up a lot of time. I passed 6 people in the 400 meter swim & placed 25th overall.



Finishing in 5th overall, 1st AG in the Polar Bear & 25th overall & 3rd place AG for the Jingle Bell when my legs were fatigued was even better than I had hoped. That gives me a 10 point & an 8th place finish for the South West Challenge Series. 18 points now has me in first place in the 35-39 Age Group. There are some REALLY fast 35-39's, so we'll see if I can hold onto the top spot in the series. I'll keep you updated :)

tough compatition

A couple years ago I raced in the 30-34 AG, I ended up winning first place in the South West Series AG that year. I figured I'd be going against the same people. There are a few more HIGH quality competitors in the 35-39 AG than I wasn't aware I'd be racing against this year. I'm still motivated to go out & show them what I'm made of, but I am in a state of awe over who I'll be racing against this season. Here's a few.

Browning, Robert L 1st place South West Series 09
Lugo, Alberto 2nd place South West Series 09
Gutierrez, Paul 3rd place South West Series 09
Trejtnar, Mark 4th place South West Series 09
James Webster (X-pro cyclist who is crazy fast)
Moseley, Clay. A pro level triathlete & local legend!
Tovar, Hector (Only person to beat Clay Mosely in a race last year)
Murray, Bobby
Armstrong, Michael

I looked over the last 3 years & the third place athlete took 3rd in the South West with the following year end points:
2009- 56 points. an averag of 7 points, or 4th place in each of 8 races
2008- 59 points.  an averag of 7.3 points per race, or a little less than 3rd place in each of 8 races
2007- 53 points.  an averag of 6.6 points per race, or a little less than 4th place in each of 8 races

my 1st 2 races of the season, a new AG, & illness

There's only been 2 other times I've been more exited about racing than I am for this weekends races. This weekend I will be competing in the first 2 races of the 2010 triathlon/duathlon season. The Polar Bear triathlon in White Sands Missile Range NM  on Saterday & the Jingle Bell triathlon in Rio Rancho NM on Sunday. Yup, you read that correctly, they will be on back to back mornings. I've never raced on back to back mornings before, that in of itself is exciting & will be a great challenge.


This will be my first year competing in the hardest age group, the 35-39 AG. I'm hoping to place top 3 in the South West in that division. Competing in the South West Challenge Series 35-39 AG will be the toughest multisport goal I've atempted to date, & it all starts this weekend, with these 2 races. To say I'm pumped up would be a vast understatement.

I started training exclusively for this weekend back in Sept after I completed the Redman half Iron distance triathlon. The training for this weekend has been completely different from the training I have done in years past. All of my training has been shorter distances doing a lot of intervals on hills & speed work.

My training up until a week ago was doing great. I was building a lot of streangth & explosiveness. Last week my entire family, myself included got the flue. Last night was the worst of it. I'm feeling much better today & am hoping that I can heal up quickly. If I'm not well this weekend....tough. I'll still go out & push my limits in both races. I can't control the conditions in which I race, the one thing I can control is wheather or not I allow the conditions to affect me. Regardless how I feel, I will push myself as hard as I am capable of. I 'm looking foreward to this weekends racing & the opertunity to test my limits.

This weekends triathlons will be my 54th & 55th multisport races since I completed my first one Sept 1st 2004.

My current weight is 212. I'm hoping to be at or close to 200 pounds by April.

Wish me luck! & thanks for reading.

cold weather training

I stole this article from Active.com.

The degree to which the following bodily responses occur depends heavily on many factors: air temperature, wind chill, weather conditions, body type, clothing worn, sport, intensity, and other minor variables. There's a big difference between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, even if you Californians think 60 feels like 20.



1. Glycogen Stores Are Depleted Quicker

Energy to fuel your muscles for a workout comes from glycogen stores. During exercise in the cold, muscles may require more energy at a faster rate, leaving you vulnerable to fatiguing quicker. This is the case if you start shivering—involuntary muscle contractions—or if you exert yourself harder, perhaps by not resting or taking breaks.



Both are forms of increased metabolic heat production and are meant to offset heat loss by generating heat, and the more muscles recruited the more glycogen stores diminish, all while your workout still requires and uses substantial glycogen stores.



What this means to you: Glycogen stores come primarily from carbohydrate consumption, which means you need ample carbs before, during and after workouts in the cold or fatigue could hit faster than you'd like. If enough energy is exerted, you could be more tired than usual for the rest of the day.



Note: That roughly 30-minute window after training is especially important to refuel muscles, as it aids in a faster recovery. Also important: Don't allow shivering to get out of control. This is a sign of hypothermia setting in, and it's best to stop training and get warm if that's the case.



2. Sweat Happens

Just because it's cold doesn't mean you stop sweating. Exercise = metabolic heat production = perspiration. This is where attire becomes important: If clothing becomes wet or dampened it loses its insulation properties. In cycling, where speeds are generally greater than running and thus a greater wind chill is generated, proper layering is especially important.



However, if workout intensity is high enough, metabolic heat production and other physiological factors should keep your core temperature from dangerously dropping. And don't forget about swimming: Water submersion can cause even more rapid heat loss than land sports via conduction and convection.



What this means to you: It's when you stop working out that's risky—heat production decreases and sweaty clothes can turn into freezing clothes. Therefore, post-workout planning is key.



Some clothing tips: More layers are better for insulation rather than one thick layer, and base layer—material should not act like a sponge. Also, shoot for form-fitting attire to prevent your warm air from escaping and cold air flushing in. In water, a wetsuit is an option. So is a shorter swim.



3. Dehydration Is Possible, so Drink up

Cold weather can depress feelings of thirst, so even though you may not crave a big swig of a sports drink every 20 minutes like you do when it's 85 degrees out your body still needs it. Several factors unique to cold-weather exercise can cause dehydration.


As mentioned, you still sweat, and some of that may evaporate in cold air leaving you unaware of the extent of perspiration. In addition, fluid is lost through humidified breath in cold weather, and the body may also produce increased amounts of urine in the cold—eventually leading to dehydration. Even overdressing can factor into dehydration if heavy attire causes you to sweat more.




What this means to you: If dehydration sets in, performance can be impaired, as well as your body's ability to retain heat. Headaches, cramps and elevated heart rate are all symptoms of dehydration. So drink about five ounces of liquid every 20 minutes. Something with electrolytes is best.



4. Less Blood Flow to the Skin's Surface

If it's cold enough, the body will respond by lessening blood flow to the surface of the skin, especially the hands and feet—known as peripheral vasoconstriction. This way, less heat is lost to the environment as blood flow remains closer to the core to prevent the core temperature from dropping.



(The opposite happens in hot conditions with vasodilation—more blood circulates at the surface to dissipate heat, the body's natural cooling system. Depending on the circumstance, vasodilation can still occur in cold weather because of metabolic heat production.)



No matter what, however, there's always adequate blood flow to the head; restricted blood flow to the brain would not be good. Therefore, a lot of heat can be lost through the head.



What this means to you: Think of keeping your head warm first and foremost. Then consider gloves and a couple of pairs of socks. In the pool or ocean, be extra perceptive to your body and any sort of numbness and paleness. Don't overdo a workout; listen to your body and get warm if necessary—hypothermia or frostbite aren't worth meeting your mileage for the day.



5. Cold-Induced Injuries

Cold hands, feet and skin, even shivering, could mean less coordination, less feeling and less motor control. In essence you can become clumsier and accidentally trip or fumble and hurt yourself. There's also a chance of decreased flexibility and strain injuries in the cold.



More serious cold injuries include exercise-induced bronchospasm, or exercise-induced asthma, which is not to be ignored—symptoms include labored breathing, excess mucus, coughing and chest tightness.



What this means to you: Performance may not be up to par in the cold if you're shivering and experience depressed motor control. Play it safe.



So, is exercising in the cold risky?



Generally, no. It's perfectly fine to carry on with regular training in the cold with no serious consequences, especially if your winter training takes place in mild-winter climates such as Southern California or Arizona. After all, many triathletes have their training schedules planned down to the minute and don't want to stray from that!



However, it's important to be aware of what could happen and to take precaution—gauge the severity of the cold, consume enough carbs, hydrate and wear appropriate clothing.

a new twist

In October my wife & I had our 3rd child in a little over 4 years. Consequently the time I have been able to spend swimming, cycling, & running has decreased dramatically. Last year my average training time was around 15-19 hrs a week. Now it has dropped to 10. I had until recently been telling people, "my glory years of triathlon are over. I don't have the time to train like I used to, so I'll train when I can & be content with being a back of the pack triathlete."

Like most triathletes I'd developed an addiction for the long distance triathlons. I'd trained exclusively for 70.3 & Ironman distance races for 5 years. Although I trained a ton each week in the longer races I finished with relatively slow times. The gains from my training were few & slow in coming.

Now that I'm forced to train less, I have tried making up for it by doing more intense & harder training. Lots of threshold, speed, & hill interval training. Well, it appears I have accidentally found my niche. After only 5 weeks of sprint training my speeds have increased dramatically. The gains I'm getting training for the shorter & faster triathlons are coming quickly. Quicker than I've ever had happen before! I have quickly come to LOVE the feel of going fast! Apparently this is exactly the kind of triathlon training my body is made for. Although my weight has been relatively the same the last few weeks (210), my pants are fitting loser around the waist. I was a bit baffled by this. Where was the extra weight? This morning my wife did a double take & told me my quads & calves were huge! I looked in the mirror, and sure enough they have gotten substantially bigger. It's amazing to me to see these kinds of body & speed changes after only 5 weeks!

Needless to say I'm very excited! I can't wait to race my first sprint triathlon to see if I really have developed as much speed as I feel I have. I won't have to wait long. I have the Polar Bear triathlon on Dec 5th & the Jingle Bell triathlon Dec 6th. Until then I'll be happily lost in training because it appears I have fallen in love with triathlon training all over again.

Wish me luck, & thanks for tuning in.

cycling friendly roads

You may have seen the notice in the paper over the weekend regarding the NM41 corridor study and Public Comment meeting scheduled for Nov 17 in Galisteo.

I asking you all to ask that you consider taking a moment to fire off a quick email if you cannot attend the meeting to ask that this project include bike-friendly shoulders as a minimum improvement for safety and multi-modal transportation in general and support of direct economic development resulting from revenue generated by the Santa Fe Century which uses this route from Galisteo to Lamy.

contact emails are
dawn@dpenningtonassociates.com
Karyn.Lujan@state.nm.us

There is some additional information on the project location, scope, proposals, etc at
http://nmshtd.state.nm.us/main.asp?secid=16696

Thanks for getting INVOLVED in asking for safer roads!

The Polar Bear & The Jingle Bell triathlons

I just sent in my registration for the Jingle Bell triathlon & the Polar Bear triathlon. These 2 races are the first 2 of the 2010 season. I got an email a couple weeks ago that the date of the Polar Bear has been moved to the 5th of Dec. So now these 2 races are on back to back mornings. 2 races in 2 days! Could anything be more fun?

This will be the 6th consecutive year I'll be racing the Polar Bear triathlon. Although I'm weighing in at 215 & the excess weight would normally slow me down, I've been training for short and FAST races, so my speeds have been increasing. Even though I'm over weight I believe I have a great chance of beating my course PR of 1 hr 47 minutes set last year. The Polar Bear is on a Saturday and my times at the Polar Bear triathlon have been:

2004 1:54
2005 1:58
2006 (course changed this year) 1:30
2007 1:49
2008 1:47

Like I said the Polar is on Sat & the Jingle Bell is on Sunday morning so I'll be fatigued for the Jingle Bell triathlon. Last year was the first year I completed the Jingle Bell triathlon, I had a break out performance of 1 hr 27 minutes so I seriously doubt I'll set a new one.

I'm really looking foreward to that weekend. Should be great fun!

Thanks for tuning in!

a new season

The Silverman 70.3 triathlon was going to be my last race of the year, I had to bail out of the Silverman. My wife simply wasn't healed up enough from the C section. Now the 2009 season is officially over. I ended up having a decent season. I took 7th place in my division in the Halfman National Championships. I PR'd a 70.3 distance race with a 5 hr 30 min time. & I took 2nd place in the Clydesdale open division in the South West Challenge series.

Although I'm weighing in 17 pounds higher than was my goal for this time was, I'm still super excited about the upcoming 2010 season. Although I'm weighing in 17 pounds higher than was my goal, I'm getting faster. I'm only training for sprints this year so I haven't been going long much. I've been doing more speed work than I ever have in the past.

Back at the beginning of the 2008 season I was weighing in the low 200's & felt I could get below 200 & stay there for the whole season. Based off of how I felt I decided to race the season as an Age Grouper. I ended up taking 1st place 30-34 AG in the SW series, but was very disheartened & frustrated because I was only able to stay below that magical weight of 200 for a little over a month.

This year again I have decided to race as an age grouper. This year I know the chances of me getting below, much less staying below 200 pounds is slim to none. My goal unlike 2008 is to race as an AG & enjoy the competition of the age group I'm now in. Oh, by the way, I age up this month. I'm now 34 & where my birth date lands puts me in the 35-39 ag.

The 35-39 ag is no joke. That age group is easily the fastest age group out there. So my work is cut out for me. But I have something a lot of the faster 35-39 year olds don't have: the willingness & suport to do 16 or more races in the South West this year.

Wish me luck for the 2010 season I'm going to need it!

I'm no fair weather rider

Today a snow storm hit Santa Fe. It lasted a few hours. One of the things I love about New Mexico is that I can ride my bicycle pretty much year round. As long as the snow isn't sticking to the roads or there isn't ice on the roads I can still ride.

Let me back track just a bit. For the last 3 weeks I've been on paternity leave & haven't shaved so I have grown one heck of a beard.

So, on with the story. Today I saw that there was an inch or so of snow sticking to the ground, but none at all sticking to the roads, so I threw on my cold weather cycling gear & took off for a ride! After about 20 minutes of riding the people who drove by were pointing at me. I get that a lot when I ride during the winter. Last year I went on a 3.5 hr bike ride in 19 degree weather. I actually had someone who drove past me turn back around & record me on their camcorder as I rode past them:) This time it was a while before I figured out why people were so amused with me. The snow that would normally hit my clean shaved face would melt. Today the snow was hitting my beard & instead of melting it was freezing & building up. After 45 minutes I had over a half inch of snow frozen onto my bearded face. Here's an interesting fact- the snow freezing onto my beard prevented the cold wind from hitting my face. So my face was warm & comfortable the entire ride.

Silverman 70.3 is on!

It's been a miracle, but I haven't missed a single workout in 3 weeks! As busy as I have been taking care of my wife healing up from a C section, keeping our 2 & 4 year olds busy, & trying to keep the house as neat as my wife likes it. Needless to say I don't have the time to train long anymore. Instead of training for 70.3's I've been training for sprints. It's been a miracle, but I haven't missed a single workout in 3weeks! I finish my run or bike before the kids wake up. Then 3 days a week while the kids nap I swim. After 3 weeks I'm feeling the effects of over reaching. Which is nice, because after next week I'll take a recovery week & do thew Silverman 70.3. I know, I had backed out of the Silverman, but my cousin has asked me to race it with him. It doesn't take much to convince me to race. I usually average 15 races a year! A bit OC perhaps? So I'll drive up there, sleep in the van, eat the cheapest foods I can find, & struggle through the Silverman. I say struggle because since Sept 18th the longest bike rides I've done was 33 miles & 25 miles. My longest run has been 5 miles. I'm definitely training way to short to do well in a half Iron. but hey, I'll struggle through it & enjoy it regardless of how much it hurts:)

Home again

My wife & I had baby #3. He was 7 pounds 10 ounces. He was born via C section on the 12th. He's perfect in every way.

I have a great wife. We were in the hospital for 3 days & each day my wife would feed baby Rion so he'd sleep well, & then she'd tell me to go workout. The whole time we were in the hospital I never missed one workout.

Once we got home training became a bit more difficult. Since my wife had a C section I've been taking care of her while she's recovering, while also trying my best to keep my 4 & 2 year olds occupied & happy, & try & hold & bond with baby Rion. The amount of training I've been able to do has been cut by more than half. I don't mind at all, just stating the facts. My long rides have been cut from 4-5 hrs to 1.5-2 &, my long runs have gone from 13-15 miles to 6 miles. Consequently my goals have changed. I went from my goal being The Silverman Half in November of this year & the Mountain Man in Aug 2010, which are both 70.3 distance triathlons. Now my next A races will be the Jingle Bell & Polar Bear triathlons in back to back weekends in Dec. I have absolutely no idea what my next A race after that will be. I don't know how much time I'll have to train, but more importantly I don't think we'll have the money for me to do any half Iron distance races which cost $250 & up or any Iron distance races which cost $500 & up, depending on the popularity of the race. Plus I'd have to travel to any 70.3 or Iron races, & we can't afford to travel either.

I am also now officially without a coach. The 5 weeks I'm taking off of paternity leave have stretched us beyond the breaking point financially. I'm hoping I can afford another coach mid next year, but to be honest I'm not sure we can rebound by then.


So, the only 2 things I do know about next years triathlon season is that I'll be doing local races, & I'll most definitely be a Clydesdale again next year. I'm doing poorly with the weight loss, gaining rather than losing. My current weight is 215. I don't mind doing local races or being a Clydesdale at all. The local races here in NM are fantastic. & the Clydesdales here in the SW all know each other & offer each other great support. I just wish I could stay under 215 pounds, which I'm thinking wont happen....again. Thanks for tuning in

a kinder gentler aproach:-)

I've been in the hospital for 4.5 days with my wife & new born son & while there realized my point of view on my previous post should have been presented differently. More on the bith of my wifes & my new born later, once I catch up on some sleep.

How's this:

First & foremost the RD's of races should have C/A divisions. I've sent out emails to all but the Alpine. I'm hoping I can get as many people to email the races RD's to request this as possible, even if their not a C/A.

I understand that there's no way to know which triathletes in a race are C/A's or where they finished among each other. So there's no way to know who should get 2-10 points. But the series has always given 1 point for just finishing a SW Series race. In my opinion I think the C/A's should STILL geta the 1 point for competing & finishing a series race.

I don't think the 1 point should be Johns responsibility to figure out. If a C/A emails & asks for the point because they did the race then they get the point for finishing that race. At least then their not completely out of luck. If a C/A doesn't care to ask for the 1 or 1/4 point & never gets it then no harm done. It's a very easy & uncomplicated way of giving at least some credit for completing a SW series race.

I could understand in part why someone would say,
"if you want the series points there are plenty of other races in the series. Just do one of the other ones."

or

"If that particular race is that important to you then you should do it for the joy of that race, not the points."

I just think giving the C/A's the choice to do the series race without at least a point for finishing isn't really much of a choice at all. I already had the choice to do any race not affiliated with the series. I do 10-15 SW series races EVERY YEAR because I love competing not just in each race individually, but racing in an entire year long series where I can get credit & points for competing in ANY of multiple races affiliated with that series. If it's in the series I feel it should be in the series for everyone at least in part. Leaving out a group, or three groups is still unfair to those groups left out. A 1 or a 1/4 point (if more than 8 races are completed) at least recognizes that a person or group of people did that race in the series.

Don't isolate me & my kind just because we're fat. Just kidding.... unless of course me planting that picture of a fat kid being left out of all the AG games pulls your heart strings, then by all means feel it baby! LOL.

I can understand everyone has different points of views on any one subject & by no means am I trying to say "I'm the only one who's right here."

I truly hope I didn't offend anyone by posting my feelings on this issue. & please understand I'm not one of the series haters that only write about the series because they resent the series. The reason I'm so passionate about this particular subject is because I'm truly passionate about the series, the competition, & camaraderie that comes from the SW series. As a Clyde I want that feeling at ALL the SW series races. Not just some of them.
Peace,

no love for the Clydesdales or Athenas

Some of the South West Challenge Series races don't have Clydesdale or Athena divisions. Before that was OK, the series still gave SW series points to the Clyde's & Athena's who competed in the races that didn't have divisions for the bigger athletes.

I recently found out the series won't give points for Clydesdale's & Athena's next year if they race in a SW series race that doesn't have Clydesdale & Athena divisions.

I'm not very happy about this. I think C. & A.'s should be allowed points for racing SW series races w/ no C. & A. div's. I'd be OK w/ that as long as it's mandatory for a race to have C & A divisions to be allowed in the SW series. That isn't the case though. I was told the series will put pressure on the RD's to have a C. & A. div, but if they choose not to then "it will be your choice to do the race or do one with those divisions." quote unquote.

Just wondering how everyone else feels about this?

In the meantime I was hoping I could get you guys to email the RD's of the races w/out the C. & A div's to request them to have them next year.

Perhaps even email the SW series & request that if they impliment this polocy to make it mandatory to have Clyd & Athena div's to be eligable to have thier race in the series. If they dont want to make it mandatory then don't have that polocy.

Here are the races I competed in last year that didn't have C & A div's were the
1)College nationals (sprint) owned by the RD's for BSLT 70.3 & the Buffman & Squeaky. marti@buffalospringslaketriathlon.com
2)The Santa Fe triathlon. tcr@tcrproductions.com
3) 2 years ago I did the SULLY SUPER SPRINT TRIATHLON & they didn't. But I haven't raced this race since then so I don't know if they do or do not . jbaade@sulross.edu

re-evaluate

I'm readjusting my goal of getting to 180 pounds. I've decided I'm going to try to get to 200 & maintain it.

Seems every time I get to 200 pounds & I get to the point where I'm about to drop below it I fall off the wagon for 3 or 4 days & gain 5-9 pounds. I figure I need to think about the long term. It would be better for me to maintain 200 than to keep attempting to drop below it, fail, then become disheartened & gain all my weight back. So it looks like I'll be racing the 2010 triathlon season as a Clyd again. Once I feel comfortable about my ability to maintain 200 poundsfor awhile I'll try to start dropping again. Until then I'll do my best to dominate & terrorize the Clydesdale division.

Hey, keeps me from having to rename my blog:)

would u say a prayer for my wife & unborn baby?

My wife & I had another check up for our unborn son today. He's due date is Oct 18th. The Dr. expressed concern of a vaginal delivery. 2 years ago when our 2nd child was in delivery he got stuck. His head had came out, but his shoulders wouldn't. He was stuck there for so long the Dr's started to freak out, they called for more staff & emergency equipment. At the last second before performing an emergency C section my poor wife had been able to push my son out. He was purple, wasn't breathing, & had no pulse. It took over 4 minutes of the medical staff working on him before he came back to us. That was the most difficult thing I've ever gone through. Even now 2 years later when the Dr. asked me to explain what happened I started crying. Silly I guess, it's over & my boy is fine, but it still chokes me up even thinking about it. I know if God wanted my son to be with Him my baby boy would of been in a better place. As hard as I try I could never be as good of a father as Him. But I was , & am selfish. I want my babies with me. The hardest thing for me as a follower of Christ is to accept Gods will unconditionally even when it goes against what I want. I'm working on that. But I'm not to where I should be.

Anyhow, our Dr said she doesn't want to risk that again. Our unborn son is measuring the same size as our 2nd child did at this point. So she set up an apointment for a C section on Oct 12th at 12:30pm. I pray to the good Lord he allows my son & wife to heal from this. I also pray He gives me the strength to accept his will no matter what it is. If any of you prayer warriors would be willing to do the same for me I'd be gratefull. It says in the bibble not to be afraid for He is in control, but I'm weak, & I am scared. I'd sure apreciate any extra prayers. Thank you.

multi-sport

I love multi-sport training. There's nothing about it I don't like. It's challenging, it allows me to eat more without any weight gain, it makes me more focused on maintaining a healthy weight, it teaches my kids how to live a healthy active lifestyle, it makes me sleep better, it makes me more focused & determined of a person, destination races allows my family to see parts of the country we never would see otherwise, it makes me better equiped to defend myself & my coworkers, it's a stress reliever- there's times when I'm in a bad mood that my wife, without a word spoken will bring me my cycling gear, when I return from a workout I'm happy go lucky again!

Yesterday was my first day back from 4 days of overeating. Bad news is that after those 4 days, it will now take longer to get to my goal weight of 180. But the good news is so much better than the bad news was bad! I'm back on the road to being triathlete thin!

Every time I've failed to drop the weight, went on a food binge, or gained more weight back than I had lost I learned something about myself & my food issues. I'm not saying I'll ever be "cured" of my love for, or my emotional dependency of food. But everytime I fall into my temptations I learn something, each time I back slide & figure out what caused it or how I recovered and I gained a tool I can use next time. Each time I learn from my failure I'm more likely to regain control of my overeating more quickly & am able to have the binge happen less frequently. Each time I fall off the wagon it slows me from reaching my goal, but for the first time I know without a doubt I'll get there.

1st time to fly a kite

It's now a little under 3 weeks until baby #3 is here. I've been trying to do as much with my 2 oldest as possible so they don't feel ignored. That is always a fear of mine when there are big changes in the family or our life. So my wife & I both have been making sure they are....spoiled:)

Today I took my son & daughter to the park to play. The park my daughter refers to as the choo-choo park. My daughter played with a set of twin girls for an hour and a half while my son and I played on the see-saw & I pushed him in the swing. Afterwards I took them to the baseball field and we flew a kite for the first time. My daughter was amazed, my son could have cared less about our kite:) Good times.

My babies are napping right now. Once they wake up I'll put them in the bike cart & I'll do a 2 hr bike with an hour in z-3.

I....must....hurt....you

Now that I'm done with the Redman Half Iron I'm in recovery mode. I'm waiting for my coach to give me the green light to start training again. He doesn't want to start hammering my body until I'm recovered enough to avoid injury. I'm waiting impatiently. I'm salivating in anticipation. I'm more focused than I've ever been.

In November 2007 I attempted the Silverman Iron distance triathlon. I failed. The Silverman has been my only DNF in 54 multisport races. A DNF is when a person quits or is pulled from a course. The only reason an athlete is pulled from a course is when they are to slow & don't meet the minimum cut off time.

On November 11th 2007 I was to slow. I DNF'ED. At mile 92 of the bike I found out I wasn't good enough, wasn't fast enough, wasn't strong enough.

Now it's payback time. I'm going back to that course & I'm going to destroy it.

I'm on track to weigh between 188-190 pounds by race day. The lightest I've ever raced at was 192 pounds at the Jay Benson triathlon in May 2008. I had the best race of my life. In triathlon skinny isn't a body type, it's a tactical necessity. I plan on this being the first race of a new era. One in which every race from here on out I'm no longer a Clyd. From this years Silverman on I'll be an age grouper.

This time on Nov 8th 2009 I plan on putting a hurting on that Silverman course, rather than that course hurting me.

Before the Silverman in 07 I told my Dad who was dieing of emphysema I was dedicating that race to him, & I never even crossed the finish line.

on November 11th 2007 I was going to run across the finish line of my first Ironman holding my 2 year old daughter. I never even made it to the finish line.

This time I know what kind of punishment the Silverman has to offer. This time I'm light, this time I'm physically & mentally prepared, this time I will cross that finish line with a great finishing time!

recovering from a PR & a new coach

Well, I'm post Redman. I was excited about my new 70.3 PR of 5 hr 30 min. I never dreamed I'd be that fast at that distance, especially considering all the rain, standing water, and mud from flooding on the bike & run course. I realize the biggest reasons for my increased speed was my low body weight- low for me anyways, and great coaching.

My coach is having me take off until Friday, then we'll evaluate how I feel & start training for the Silverman half Iron which is schedualed for Nov 7th. The Silverman is a very hard course with lots of climbing. So low body weight at the Silverman will be even more important than it was for the Redman. I feel I can get to 190-195 by then, & 180-185 by the New year. If I can get to that weight I'm going to race all of 2010 as a 35-39 AG. Racing as an AG, & under 200 pounds for an entire year has always been one of my biggest goals in triathlon. Wish me luck!

I'm ahead in the South West Challenge series. The athlete closest to me in points is a guy named George Ferland. Apparently he's very fast. He's won the Clydesdale division in every race he's competed in the last 2 years. There are 2 races left for the season. Essentially what it boils down to is if he races in either one of the next 2 he will be champion. If He doesn't compete in either of the 2 remaining I win the series. I'll keep you informed.

After the Silverman I'm going to be looking for a new coach. I've been with the coach I have now since the summer of 06. Coach Pete is awesome and he has shown me what nearly perfect triathlon coaching is like. He's good. Very very good, & he knows how good he is. Consequently and understandably he is raising his prices at the new year. I just can't afford to keep him on. $ is the one & only reason I have to get another coach.

I've had bad coaches before. Nothing is more aggravating & disheartening. I had a feeling this was going to happen with Coach Pete, so I'd been keeping my eyes open for other coaches for awhile. If this happened I was planning on hiring a retired pro cyclist by the name of James Webster who coaching here in Alb. Then, after speaking with my current coach this weekend, he told me he has some coaches who have signed on to coach for his company who are outstanding. He also gave me a discount on the coaching he's giving me until the Silverman as an incentive to stay with Mile High Multisport coaching. I'm now unsure what I'll do. 50/50 I guess.

James Webster is a local coach. That's a plus. He made a living from being a pro endurance athlete, the knowledge he'd have to offer based on his life experiences in pro cycling would be priceless. He returns phone calls very quickly, the negative side of him is that the times I emailed him, he took a long time to respond or never responded at all. Although I must point out I wasn't his paying athlete, so a slow response is understandable to a point. The other negative side of James is that he & his triathlon club has a pretty serious blood feud going on with mine. My tiathlon team, the NM Outlaws have always been such a supportive & kind group of people, I am unwilling to leave the NM Outlaws. I doubt James would be willing to coach me if I refused to join his team & race for "the enemy".

I trust my current coach whole hearted. If he says the coaches he has working for him are good I believe him. He'll also be over seeing the coaches under him, so I'll still have Coach Pete there giving advise to my new coach, explaining my strengths & weaknesses & how best to deal with them. There is also the fact that I have some serious food issues that coach Pete has been very patient with. I'm unwilling to tolerate someone saying something stupid & inconsiderate like "just be more mindful about what your putting in your mouth".

For right now I don't know which way I'll go for a new coach. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks for tuning in.

2009 Redman Half Iron & Halfmax Championships race report

I completed the Redman Half iron triathlon Saturday Sept 19th 2009. This was my fifth half iron race.

The Redman's race packet pickup was unorganized, chaotic, & took forever.

On race morning there was a %20 chance of rain. Shortly after I set up my transition area a torrential downpour started. within 20 minutes the transition area was filled with an inch of standing water. The rain had flooded the surrounding area so badly that the RD was contemplating making the race a swim/ run/ swim.

They ended up postponing the race 1.5 hrs. thankfully they still had the race as planned, just a bit late.

I swam the 1.2 miles feeling comfortable & much faster than I've ever swam in an open water mass start. My finishing swim time was 35 minutes 45 seconds. A PR of 8 minutes!

The transition area was very long & I was in the worse placing possible. About as far from the entrance & exit for both the run & bike a person could be.

Before the race start I had placed all my race equipment inside a water proof gym bag to prevent my race gear from getting wet. I was expecting a slower T-1 time from having to dig my cycling gear out of the bag. Surprisingly my transition time was relatively fast. 1 minute 46 seconds.

The 56 mile bike was a NIGHTMARE! The first 25-30 miles of streets had puddles of water at least on inch deep. There was a 100 foot section where the water was so deep the USAT officials had a mandatory dismount to walk our bike through the 16 inches of water that had flooded an intersection. I believe most RD's would have handled these conditions poorly by making knee jerk or imprper decisions. The Redman RD handled the situations & obsticles perfectly. Throughout the entire course the volunteers were AWSOME!

The Redman RD's exagerated, the bike course was not nearly as flat as they had claimed on the web. I rode a disk, and regretted it. I'd of been much faster on a pair of tri-spoke wheels. Of the 5 half's I've done both Soma & the 5430 has easier bike courses. It was pretty large rollers the whole way out & back, throw the free standing water into the equation & that led me to have a long & slow bike. I also bonked at mile 40. My bike time was 2 hrs 57 minutes.

I had another great T-2 time of 1 minute 54 seconds.

The majority of the 13.1 mile run course had flooded. There was at least a quarter inch of water on most of the course with an occasional low area being 4 or 5 inches deep.

I had bonked on the bike & didn't start feeling better again until mile 6 of the run. I was shocked at the half way mark of the run to see my time was only 53 minutes! Even with the bad run course condition & me having bonked I was on my way to a run PR. I started picking up the pace from mile 6 to mile 10. At mile 10 my hamstring started to cramp up so I tried switching my run style up. I ran more heel to toe which puts more of the stress on the quads & relieves it on the hams. That prevented my cramping in the hamstring from getting worse, but the cramping didn't go away. It was still there grinding away on the back of my leg.

At mile 11 my lower back started to seize up. I ran through the pain.

At mile 12.5 I saw another clydesdale 100 yards in front of me so I picked up the pace hoping to leave him in the dust. That was a mistake. Half way to running him down my quad & ham in my right leg cramped simultaneously & so badly I had to lay down right in the middle of the course. I laid there for about a minute trying to work the cramps out. Once they went away I got back up & tried to run as close to my pain threshold as possible without pushing so far as to cramp up again as badly

Somehow even with the water on the run course, the sporadic rain, & the horrible cramping I still PR'd the run by over two and a half minutes with a 1 hour 54 minute time.

I ended up having PR'd my half iron time with a 5 hour 30 minute 11 second race. I finished 8th total out of 28 Clydes & 273rd out of 750. I wonder what time I could of completed the race in if it wasn't for the poor conditions? I also realize that if I finished so well with those kinds of conditions I obviously had a great fitness level, so I'm looking foreword to CRUSHING the Silverman half in a 7 weeks. Without a doubt my coach is the bomb!

I must say I've never seem more aproachable & friendly RD's than the Redman's RD. I would do the Redman again, but only if they are NOT a part of the Halfmax series!.

The Halfmax National Championships promised to give out national awards for top 3 in each AG plus clyd's 39 & under, clyd's 40 plus, & same for the Athenas. They didn't. As a matter of a fact there was nothing there at all that that showed any hints the Halfmax being there or a part of anything at the REDMAN at all. There wasn't any awards, swag, or even any recognition from Halfmax. I believe the Halfmax is just a gimmick. Just a way someone has thought of to try & steal $ from athletes & race RD's. There's still no info posted anywhere on who finished in what place for the Halfmax National Championships. Only the rsults for the Redman. A felow Blooger triathlete went and complained to a Halfmax rep & the Halfmax rep said if she complained they would disqualify her! One of my biggest goals this year was to qualify for next years Halfmax National Championships. Now that I know what a shabby & untrustworthy organization they are I WONT race the Halfmax Championships even though I did end up qualifying by time. Dont get taken, ignore anything and all from this organization.

Cochiti swim, great support, & my dang weight issue!

Today I took my family to Cochiti lake. My wife & I had a picnic & played with our babies. After that I put on my wet suit & did some open water swimming. I felt fast & comfortable. Much more so than any other open water swim I've ever done. Part of that is I'm 27 pounds lighter than my normal race weight. I fit in my wet suit better so I don't feel like I'm being squeezed to death by a boa constrictor. The major reason I felt so comfortable in the water is I'm swimming consistently for the first time in my triathlon career. Imagine that!

I am dieing to find out how far it was from the shore line at the swim area, out to the buoy on the far left, following along the outside of the boat buoy's, until the far right shore line. If anyone knows please let me in on the secret.

I'm so very grateful for the support system I have in life & in triathlon. I've fallen off the diet wagon for the last 3 days. It started on my first full day of vacation. Celebration is a big food trigger for me. I'm sure excitement about my up coming race is also a huge contributing factor also.

On of the first motivators for me to stop overeating was today I drove to Alb & picked up my bike from JusMe. He cleaned & tuned up my bike. He even took off the race numbers I'd left on my bike from the last year of racing! As soon as I saw my tri-machine looking completely clean & ready to roll I got motivated to race! And who can race fat? Not me!

The other big help was a great guy & blogger was in town for work. I got to hang with him, talk triathlon, & even watch an episode of The biggest Loser. While here he talked to me about triathlon racing & our issues with weight. He helped me realize I'll never be cured. I can't be perfect ALL of the time. But I can be perfect %85 of the time. I was beginning to feel after 3 days all was lost & I was on the downward slide. But like JusMe says,"it's not a road without some bumps along the way".

I'm bound to get knocked on my butt on from time to time. That doesn't make my journey to becoming an ultra-thin, ultra endurance triathlete a failure. & failing at accomplishing that goal wouldn't even make me a failure. I'm a success at what's most important to me, being a follower of Christ, a father, & a husband. 10 years ago I wouldn't have thought I could be worth 2 shakes of a dogs tail at any of those things. But I am.

Giving up on my weight loss goal would mean I had stopped trying. & I don't believe I have any quit in me. I'm a stubborn, hard working, dedicated man in all things. Diet just seems to be the one area I'm going to have to get up & dust myself off from most often. & tomorrow I'm going to do just that. For tomorrow I WILL be a success. I will be back on the wagon. I will eventually fall off again. I know that, but I will continue to get up as many times as it takes to succeed at becoming the triathlete I so desperately desire to be.... a thin one.

A great wife, great triathlons, & a kicking boy

Last week I did a 1000 yard Time Trial & shattered my old PR. My previous best was around 17:30. I swam a 14:39 last week. I'll be wearing a wet suit during my upcoming race, which makes a person more buoyant & fast. I'm expecting to break my half Iron swim PR by 5 minutes.

Like I said in previous posts, I'm in full blown taper mode & rearing to race! I feel good & have been averaging a weight between 200-204 pounds. Wish me luck!

New news! My buddy won't be able to utilize his Silverman Half Iron Slot, so he gave it to me! My cousin Chris & I are going to race the Silverman Half triathlon together. The Silverman is Nov 8th. I suspect I'll be weighing approximately 190 pounds by then. The lowest I've EVER raced before was 192, & I was SMOKING FAST at that race! I plan on weighing less than that at the Silverman. & I will no longer be a Clydesdale!

One year out of every 5 my cousin & I are in the same Age Group. This is one of those years, & since I will no longer be a Clyd, he & I will be in the same wave start for the Silverman. That makes for a pretty exciting race component! By no means am I expecting to have a finishing time anywhere near his, he's a natural triathlete. But it will definitely make the race more fun & challenging!

Let me break something down here, let me explain to you how amazing & supportive a wife I have. Sept 19th is the Redman Half Iron in Oklahoma city Ok. That's 4 weeks before my son, baby #3 is due. The Silverman half Iron in Las Vegas, Nevada is Nov 8th, 3 weeks after my son is due. That my wife is willing to let me leave her for a race with an unborn child & 2 toddlers is mind boggling to me! What she'll be going through will be much more difficult during each of those 2 triathlon trips than ANY Half Iron I could attempt! I thank the Lord for her every day.

I work nights, & every morning when I crawl into bed my unborn son and I play for half an hour or so. When I lay in bed next to my wife I lay my hand on her stomach he'll start kicking, kneeing, & elbowing my hand, I'll poke him back. Yesterday morning for the first time I felt him push against my hand with his hand.... I felt my boys hand for the first time! It was very exciting & touching for me.

Again, I'd like to point out what an amazing wife I have. I lay down to sleep at 6:30am and my boy & I poke at each other for half an hour through her stomach. She patiently puts up with our rough housing with each other until one or both of us boys falls asleep.

My unborn son knows the difference between my touch & anyone else. He only plays like that when he feels my hand. If my wife puts anyone else hands in the same spot on her stomach my son won't play with them like he does me:) My boy & I have already developed a bond & trust. I love being a Dad!

ibuprofen

I got this off the NM Outlaws webpage. It's awsome info. Thought I'd share

Phys Ed: Does Ibuprofen Help or Hurt During Exercise?

By Gretchen Reynolds

Dan Saelinger/Getty Images

Several years ago, David Nieman set out to study racers at the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile test of human stamina held annually in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The race directors had asked Nieman, a well-regarded physiologist and director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus, to look at the stresses that the race places on the bodies of participants. Nieman and the race authorities had anticipated that the rigorous distance and altitude would affect runners' immune systems and muscles, and they did. But one of Nieman's other findings surprised everyone.

After looking at racers' blood work, he determined that some of the ultramarathoners were supplying their own physiological stress, in tablet form. Those runners who'd popped over-the-counter ibuprofen pills before and during the race displayed significantly more inflammation and other markers of high immune system response afterward than the runners who hadn't taken anti-inflammatories. The ibuprofen users also showed signs of mild kidney impairment and, both before and after the race, of low-level endotoxemia, a condition in which bacteria leak from the colon into the bloodstream.

These findings were "disturbing," Nieman says, especially since "this wasn't a minority of the racers." Seven out of ten of the runners were using ibuprofen before and, in most cases, at regular intervals throughout the race, he says. "There was widespread use and very little understanding of the consequences."

Athletes at all levels and in a wide variety of sports swear by their painkillers. A study published earlier this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, at the 2008 Ironman Triathlon in Brazil, almost 60 percent of the racers reported using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen) at some point in the three months before the event, with almost half downing pills during the race itself. In another study, about 13 percent of participants in a 2002 marathon in New Zealand had popped NSAIDs before the race. A study of professional Italian soccer players found that 86 percent used anti-inflammatories during the 2002-2003 season.

A wider-ranging look at all of the legal substances prescribed to players during the 2002 and 2006 Men's World Cup tournaments worldwide found that more than half of these elite players were taking NSAIDS at least once during the tournament, with more than 10 percent using them before every match.

"For a lot of athletes, taking painkillers has become a ritual," says Stuart Warden, an assistant professor and director of physical therapy research at Indiana University, who has extensively studied the physiological impacts of the drugs. "They put on their uniform" or pull on their running shoes and pop a few Advil. "It's like candy" or Vitamin I, as some athletes refer to ibuprofen.

Why are so many active people swallowing so many painkillers?

One of the most common reasons cited by the triathletes in Brazil was "pain prevention." Similarly, when the Western States runners were polled, most told the researchers that "they thought ibuprofen would get them through the pain and discomfort of the race," Nieman says, "and would prevent soreness afterward." But the latest research into the physiological effects of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs suggests that the drugs in fact, have the opposite effect. In a number of studies conducted both in the field and in human performance laboratories in recent years, NSAIDs did not lessen people's perception of pain during activity or decrease muscle soreness later. "We had researchers at water stops" during the Western States event, Nieman says, asking the racers how the hours of exertion felt to them. "There was no difference between the runners using ibuprofen and those who weren't. So the painkillers were not useful for reducing pain" during the long race, he says, and afterward, the runners using ibuprofen reported having legs that were just as sore as those who hadn't used the drugs.

Moreover, Warden and other researchers have found that, in laboratory experiments on animal tissues, NSAIDs actually slowed the healing of injured muscles, tendons, ligament, and bones. "NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins,"substances that are involved in pain and also in the creation of collagen, Warden says. Collagen is the building block of most tissues. So fewer prostaglandins mean less collagen, "which inhibits the healing of tissue and bone injuries," Warden says, including the micro-tears and other trauma to muscles and tissues that can occur after any strenuous workout or race.

The painkillers also blunt the body's response to exercise at a deeper level. Normally, the stresses of exercise activate a particular molecular pathway that increases collagen, and leads, eventually, to creating denser bones and stronger tissues. If "you're taking ibuprofen before every workout, you lessen this training response," Warden says. Your bones don't thicken and your tissues don't strengthen as they should. They may be less able to withstand the next workout. In essence, the pills athletes take to reduce the chances that they'll feel sore may increase the odds that they'll wind up injured — and sore.

All of which has researchers concerned. Warden wrote in an editorial this year on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine that "there is no indication or rationale for the current prophylactic use of NSAIDs by athletes, and such ritual use represents misuse."

When, then, are ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers justified? "When you have inflammation and pain from an acute injury," Warden says. "In that situation, NSAIDs are very effective." But to take them "before every workout or match is a mistake."

The spoiled under 30 crowd

When I was a

kid, adults

used to bore

me to tears

with their

tedious

diatribes about

how hard

things were.

When they

were growing

up; what with

walking

Twenty-five

miles to school

every

morning....

Uphill...

Barefoot...

BOTH ways

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of stuff like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a darn Utopia!

And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!

Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take, like, a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!


Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our butts! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3's or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the darn record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished and the tape would come undone. Cause - that's how we rolled, dig?

We didn't have fancy stuff like CALLWAITING! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! ! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever!

And you could never win.. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!


You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were out of luck when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your rear and walk over to the TV to change the channel! NO REMOTES!!!


There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rats!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980or before!

Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd

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