SC Half Ironman Half Full

I'm always curious to see how many local triathletes sign up for the SC Half Ironman in Greenwood at the end of the tri season. It's not a race most athletes do each year. The distances are 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run, so it requires a serious commitment to training volume.

Typically, this is a goal race. A race you mark on your calendar in January, and start training for months and months in advance. You've raced several sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and you're ready for the next challenge. For some, it's a stepping stone race, because before you can dream of completing the full ironman distance, you know you have to tackle the half. Just the natural triathlete progression I guess.

This year, I was surprised to see how low the total number of race participants were compared to previous years.

2004 185
2005 263
2006 380
2007 423
2008 567
2009 253

You can see that the total number of participants has gone up each year, a steady pattern of growth. Then, this year, 314 fewer entries than the previous year. Why the dramatic drop in participation?

I couldn't figure it out at first. This is a Setup Events production, and well organized. It's a race that's been around for six years and has a very good reputation.

Was it the economy? No, I don't think so. Local race director Paul King was quoted earlier this year stating that entries in his five local races were not down at all. In fact, the CSTS series sold out in record time (I've heard he's adding a 5th race to the series next year by the way). Plus, if you believe the statistical data provided by Triathlete Magazine, triathletes tend to have higher household incomes which translates to more disposable income, making them a little more recession proof as a demographic. The triathlon scene seems to be weathering the economy just fine.

Then it hit me. The new Augusta Half Ironman! That's it. A new half ironman just across the Savannah river in Augusta - parts of the course go through Aiken County. So, while this race is based in Georgia, it's not much longer of a drive for SC athletes. Plus, it bears the official Ironman brand and is part of the official Ironman series, making it a qualifier for the 70.3 world championship.

Also appealing, particularly to first-time half ironman racers, is the swim course. The swim is with the tide and thus swim times are a good 15 minutes faster for the average swimmer. So, if this was your year to tackle a half ironman, Augusta was an easy choice. Moreover, if you do race the SC Half each year, why not try a different course?

Bottom line, I think Augusta took a large chunk of race entries from the SC Half, and could continue to do so. I don't know what that means for the future of the SC Half, but this is a trend that will be interesting to watch.

Changing a Flat Tire (Tri Bike/Road Bike)

Being able to quickly and efficiently change a flat tire should be a priority to any cyclist. Be it on a group ride, in a race, or even in your neighborhood, you don’t want to spend 30 minutes (or longer) struggling to change your tire, or worse yet, have to walk all the way back to your house or car pushing your bike.

If you ride a bike, you should expect a flat. Maybe you don’t get a flat this year, but you could just as easily get three consecutive flats on your first three rides next year. It’s random, but one thing is for sure, it’s going to happen sooner or later.

For starters, you should prepare for flats by carrying all the tools necessary to change the tire, and you should practice changing flats until you feel comfortable with the process. And I recommend practicing with the back tire, because getting the chain back on the rear cassette can be tricky the first couple times. I recommend you carry a spare tube (2 if possible), 2 tire levers, and a CO2 kit. All this should fit nicely in most all bike saddle bags.

The only other advice I’ll offer up is that in a race situation flats are the worst. It’s really hard not to get frustrated. You just have to relax and change the tire quickly and smoothly. You won’t get your PR, and you will likely lose around 5 minutes minimum to your competitors, so just accept it and move on. Keep a positive mental attitude and finish strong. Don’t let a flat ruin your day. Your number just came up. It happens.

Here is a good video showing the proper way to change tire. FYI – the video is for clinchers, not tubulars.

New off-road triathlon in Charleston

Looks like another triathlon has been added to the local race calendar. The inaugural Folly Beach Challenge is set for Sunday, September 27. This is an off-road triathlon consisting of paddling, biking, and running. After a 3-mile paddle on the Folly River to Folly Beach County Park, participants will bike 8.5 miles (round-trip) on the sands of Folly. Then a 3 mile run, which I assume will be on the beach as well. Sounds like a bus will transport participants from the race site to the kayak launch site, but not sure about that.

There are solo and team options (3 person). Packet pick up will take place on September 26 from 10am-2pm and on race day from 6:30am to 7:30am at Folly Beach County Park. Online registration will end September 23. There will be no race day registration.

The race will be capped at 300 participants. T-shirts will be available to participants who have registered prior to September 12. If available, late registration will take place at packet pick-up on September 26 . The website doesn't mention if you can rent kayaks or not, but for more information, you can call 843-795-4FUN (4386).

New Half Ironman event in South Carolina

Finally, another half ironman distance triathlon in South Carolina. On October 10, 2009, for the First Annual Long Bay Triathlon will take place in Litchfield/Murrell’s Inlet at Huntington Beach State Park. This is a half ironman distance event – 1.2 mile ocean swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run.

I’m happy to see another half iron race in South Carolina. Until now, we’ve had only Setup’s SC Half Ironman in Greenwood. That’s a great event, but it’s the only long distance triathlon in the state. Other half iron options, that don’t require too much travel, include the Rock n’ Roll Half Ironman in Macon, GA and the Whitelake Half in Whitelake, NC.

Race Info
Registration is now open. The cost is $165 for individual participants. They also just added a relay option for $250. This race is a USAT sanctioned event.

The swim is a 2-loop, out and back, wave start, ocean swim. Water temperature is expected to be in the low 70’s, so wetsuits will be allowed unless water temps go above 78 degrees. The swim cutoff time is 1hr 10 minutes.

The bike portion is a relatively flat 56 mile course with 3 aid stations. This course is not closed to traffic, and the cut off time is 5:30 from your race wave start time.

The run is also relatively flat, consisting of a 13.1 mile loop consisting of beach, trail, and road sections. There will be 5 aid stations on the run course. The run cut off time is 8:30 from your race wave start.

Concerns
Putting on a race this size requires a lot of work, volunteers, money, and attention to detail. Hopefully, this race will go off without a hitch. But I can’t really tell from the website if this outfit has experience producing races this size. The race director is listed on the website, but not the production company, so I assume it’s his show.

Personally, I like to know if the production company or individual has experience with large-scale events. I only mention this because a race this distance really needs all the controls in place – aid station supplies, medical staff, traffic control, volunteers, timing, etc. I wouldn’t be concerned if it were a road race or sprint triathlon, but a long distance event like this is a different beast. Just more time for things to go wrong. And first-time events, regardless of distance, always seem to have more hiccups along the way.

Initially, very little information was available on the website, but they continue updating and adding information, which leads me to believe this is a ‘work in progress.’ For example, it looks like they recently changed the race date from the 11th to the 10th. No big deal, but before I pay $165 for a race, I really want to know that all the bases are covered, that the event will be safe, and honestly, that it will be worth the money.

They are definitely working in the right direction. Hopefully, if they haven’t already, they will secure enough sponsors and volunteers to make this event something special because I really appreciate having another race option so close to home. Stay tuned.

Lance announces Team Radio Shack

RadioShack and Lance to Form New Cycling Team in 2010 -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

A Ride with George Hincapie

A new documentary about George Hincapie is out and it’s called “A Ride With George Hincapie.” It’s a feature-length film that covers his early cycling years as a junior in NYC all the way up to the 2009 Roubaix. The DVD sells for $29 and you can order here.

Hincapie currently rides for Columbia, but he is best known as Lance’s #1 domestique – the only rider to have ridden on each of Lance’s Tour wins. He also rode for Alberto Contador during his 2007 Tour de France victory. That makes “big George” the only rider to have raced on eight Tour-winning teams. At the end of this year’s tour, he will have raced the Tour 14 times. That’s pretty amazing.

He’s been around cycling all his life and in addition to his Tour wins with Lance, he’s compiled a nice little resume himself:

• Winner Gent-Wevelgem
• Winner Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
• Winner Dauphiné Libéré, and two stage wins
• 2nd place at Paris-Roubaix
• Stage win Tour de France
• Two stages at the Tour of California
• Stage win at the Tour of Missouri
• Two-time US Professional Road Race champion

The thing about George, besides being one of the great ‘all rounder’ cyclists of our time, is that he’s very quiet and unassuming. Well-respected in the peleton and loved by his teammates, how can you not be a fan of Hincapie?

2009 Tour de France Day Four

The 2009 Tour de France kicked off July 4 with a 9.6 mile individual time trial (TT) in Monaco. I’ve already watched each of the first four stages a couple times (Versus isn’t afraid to rebroadcast each stage several times a day). My wife doesn’t understand how I can watch the same stage when a.) I’ve already watched it live, and b.) I know who wins. I give her my standard response for when I don't have an answer, “It’s complicated.”

This year’s Tour features 21 stages – 8 mountain stages with three mountain-top finishes, two individual time trials, and one team time trial (a 24.2-mile flat stage around Montpellier). I love the mountain-top finishes, but I was most excited about the team time trial (today’s stage). They are exciting to watch and give the GC contenders on better teams another opportunity to open up some time gaps on the guys with weaker teams (sorry Cadel). I think the last team time trial was in 2006, so it’s good to see that Tour organizers brought it back.

But the big news at this year’s Tour, and in all of cycling, is obviously the return of 7-time champ Lance Armstrong. As soon as he announced his return to cycling, the questions started – Will his ride in the Tour? Can he win again at age 37? Who will be the team leader? Will teammate Alberto Contador (2007 Tour winner) ride in support of Lance, or will Lance support him? What about Levi, another top GC guy on team Astana?

We saw Lance ride in support of Levi at the Tour of California (Contador was not there), and although it was strange to see, it was clear that Lance’s focus was on the team and his cancer awareness mission. But that was California. France is a different beast.

After breaking his collarbone in the spring, it seemed likely that Lance would not be able to get in the required training for the Tour, but somehow, he managed to ride in May’s Giro (12th overall) and seems ready for the Tour. Well, as ready as a 37 year old can be.

So the questions remain, did Lance do enough in training camps to beat out Contador? Will close friend and team director Johan Bruyneel name Lance the leader regardless of who the stronger rider is? That answer seemed to come last week via Tweeter when Lance announced he would ride in support of Contador. I think we all saw it coming. Contador is at the top of his game, not to mention 10 years younger.

But check out this AP article posted just before the start of the Tour:

PARIS (AP)—Lance Armstrong says he’s capable of winning an eighth Tour de France but is ready, if necessary, to put his ambitions on hold for teammate and rival Alberto Contador.

Contador and Armstrong will ride for the Astana team at the three-week race that starts Saturday.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Armstrong says he’s willing to work as a support rider for Contador if the Spaniard proves likelier to win.

Armstrong says he would do so out of respect for Contador, Astana and cycling tradition and that “I would do it with pleasure.”

In the telephone interview, Armstrong says he isn’t sure he can win the Tour again at age 37 but that people would be wrong to underestimate him.

Notice the “ifs” and “buts” in Lance’s quotes? It’s clear that Lance might make a move. If he loses time in first few mountain stages, I’m sure he will gladly play that support role, just like he promised. But he’s currently in 2nd place, and if he holds his ground in the Pyrenees, I suspect we will see some fireworks in the Alps. The team will have two riders fighting it out. And I’m sure Levi will be right in someone’s slip stream all along the way. And let’s not forget Kloden. All on the same team!
It’s happened before. Most famously in 1985 when team management ordered LeMond to ride in support of his team captain Bernard Hinault, instead of riding to win the race, which he could have done. Lemond, in the spirit of cycling tradition, supported Hinault and finished second, 1:42 behind Hinault, who was able to claim his fifth Tour victory. The following year, Hinault and LeMond were co-leaders of the La Vie Claire team, with Hinault publicly promising to ride in support of LeMond in gratitude for LeMond's sacrifice. But Hinault seemed to change his mind in the mountains and attacked Lemond, with the help of his Euro teammates. Lemond fought back and won that Tour, basically solo. Too bad he’s become such a jerk these days. He was the original American bad ass of cycling.

Anyway, I don’t think we’ll see that kind of drama, but it will be interesting. I’m just hoping nobody gets popped for doping. Thomas Dekker was busted last week. A blood sample from 2007 was re-tested and EPO was detected. He wasn’t a contender, but a strong rider who would have helped Cadel Evans’ chances on a very weak Silence-Lotto team.

Tour contenders:
Alberto Contador, Astana
Levi Leipheimer, Astana
Lance Armstrong, Astana
Dennis Menchov, Rabobank
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Carlos Sastre, Cervelo Test Team
Brothers Andy and Frank Schleck of Saxo Bank

I think we could see two Astana guys on the podium in Paris. I just hope Lance is one of them.

Ode to Doritos

My favorite snack/junk food is potato chips, specifically Doritos. Oh, there was a time in the late 80s when I went through a pretty serious Pizza Combos phase, and I can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with a bag of Ruffles along with some French Onion dip, but bottom line -- my true love has always been Doritos.

Looking back, I’ve really never had a bad experience with Doritos, unless you count the times I’ve cut and bruised the inside of my mouth eating them. Some of you don’t understand what I’m talking about, but some of you are nodding your head up and down, knowing exactly what I’m talking about. You really have to get after it to cut your mouth up, but it’s possible. Sometimes I catch myself shoveling them in by the handful. I don’t try to eat this way. I want to slowly enjoy the Doritos. I always start with one chip at a time, savoring each one, but within three minutes, I’m grabbing handfuls. It’s a slippery slope.

And I’m certainly glad we don’t have a ‘nanny cam’ at my house, because it would capture me laying on the couch and stuffing my face in a very unflattering manner. This is not footage I would want my wife to see, or worse yet, footage I would want my friends to get a hold of and post on YouTube.

Basically, Doritos are my kryptonite. I can wake up every day at 5:00 a.m. and run/bike/swim, but I can’t walk down the chip aisle at the grocery store without grabbing a bag. And if it’s two bags for the price of one, I immediately grab two. Damn you Doritos!

The whole bag
Amongst my group of friends, the question has come up a few times of “Can you eat an entire bag of chips?” Of course, these are the same friends who debate things like “Can you eat 12 taco bell tacos in 30 minutes?” and “Would you rather be attacked by a shark or alligator?” and “If you went back in time, would rather fight in a Braveheart-era battle or run the Apocalypto gauntlet?”

But I digress. The answer to the chip question is always yes. Who couldn’t eat a bag of Sour Cream and Onion Lays? But when asked specifically about Doritos, the debate starts. Your talking a net weight of 12.5 ounces. The Dorito is a heavy chip and quite filling. Eating a whole bag would take some skills, determination, and resilience.

I almost ate a whole bag once. Well, a few times actually. The only reason I stopped was because I didn’t want to be able to say “I’ve eaten a entire bag of Doritos in one sitting.” That’s not something I want to add to my power eating resume, which now consists mostly of eating contests in college, a handful of Thanksgiving meals, and of course, that time at Waffle House that I really can’t get into.

I feel confident I could eat an entire bag, without much problem. But, for my piece of mind, I typically eat a bag in two sittings.

What is the best Dorito flavor?
The age-old argument of Nacho Cheese vs. Cool Ranch will probably never be settled. Because really, it could go either way. Both sides respect the other. Let’s just call it a draw. It really depends on your mood, but all should agree that these are the two top flavors.

But you have to give it up for some of the other flavors as well -- Sweet and Spicy Chili, Fiery Habanero, Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch, Black Pepper Jack, and Salsa, to name a few. And how about the Dorito Collisions? Anybody got a problem with Blue Cheese and Wild Wing, or Zesty Taco and Chipotle Rance? I didn't think so. The Doritos marketing team really knows its demographic.

The only misfires in Doritos' quest for chip dominance are the Baked Doritos and the Dorito Puffers. I've never met anyone who liked them anywhere near as much as they liked regular Doritos. That’s like saying you like Luke Skywalker more than Han Solo. It’s just wrong, and really, we can’t be friends.

Magic moments
A few years ago my youngest son asked me what I was eating. It dawned on me that he had never eaten a Collision Dorito. I tilted him the bag and simply said, “Try one.” Upon taking a bite, he smiled and said, “Man, that’s goooood!” Right you are son. Right you are.

Keep up the good work Doritos. Your efforts are appreciated.

South Carolina Ultra Running 2009

The South Carolina Ultra Trail Run series is back in 2009. The series consists of four events held during the year in different locations throughout the state:

Buncombe Trail 34 Miles
Sunday May 3
Limit of 74 runners

Chattooga River 50K
Sunday June 7
Limit of 74 runners

FATS Forty 40/50
Sunday Oct 4
Limit of 74 runners

Harbison Forest 50K
Sunday Nov 8
Limit of 100 runners

Kudos to founder and race director Terri Hayes for putting on these unique endurance events. For more information, click here.

At the Races

I raced my first Criterium this weekend in Columbia. I did Saturday's race of the Blythewood and Forest Acres Spring Criteriums. I really didn't know what to expect and just planned on taking everything in and learning as much as I could.

Here are my take-aways: Use your brakes as little as possible on turns; above all else, stay with the pack; when warming up, really redline it a few times because a crit is fast from start to finish; ride the course and be ready for every turn and climb.

I learned these lessons the hard way, unfortunately. The weather was awful Saturday morning. Around 40 degrees and pouring rain. They almost cancelled the event, but just postponed the start times an hour or so until the rain stopped. Because I was feeling a little under the weather myself, I just sat in my car until time to start. So no warmup, no course evaluation.

When the race did start, I quickly found myself at the back of the pack because I would slip a few places each turn. The 1.4 mile loop course was a little technical in that it had 8 turns, and a nice little climb to the start/finish line. As soon as we started the climb I dropped back only a bike length or two, but lost contact with the pack. Before I realized what happened, they were gone. I pushed it up to 24-25 MPH for about 100 meters but it was pointless, I could not catch up. They were gone and I knew I had really screwed up. I dropped back down to 20MPH, rode hard the rest of the race, and finished solo, dead last except for a couple of guys who dropped out -- probably due to mechanical issues.

Oh well. It happens. I'll be more prepared next race. One cool thing I want to note is that the race director mentioned before the race that years ago, Columbia had a really strong racing scene but it had faded out in the past 20 years. He wants to bring it back and stage more races in the city. Good for him and I'll be happy to support that effort.

2009 Downtown Columbia Triathlon
The Downtown Columbia Triathlon will be held Saturday March 21, at the Blatt Center on the South Carolina campus. This is a 500 meter pool swim, 10 mile bike, and 5k run -- all downtown Columbia. Sounds really fun. I came very close to registering, just to check it out, but I need to get in some big miles this week.

If you're interested, there are still 118 spots available of the 400 allowed. Here is the race website.

Upcoming Cycling Races in South Carolina

I got the road bike. I got the 2009 USA Cycling License. I just need to find a race! And there are plenty to choose from in the coming weeks.

Greenville Races
Greenville has been hosting weekend races since mid-February as part of the 2009 Greenville Spring Series. On Saturday March 7, the River Falls Road Race will be held, and on Sunday March 8, a criterium will be held at the BMW Performance Center. For race information and directions, go to www.hincapie.com.

Columbia Race weekend March 14-15
The Blythewood and Forest Acres Spring Criteriums will be held in Columbia. Here's a link to the event flyer, which has all the start times and registration information.

Out Like a Lion Race Weekend, Charlotte March 21-22
The weekend starts with the Uwharrie Wheelmen Road Race on Saturday. A 6.6 mile loop with several challenging rolling hills that starts at Kendall Valley School. Registration is available on www.pre-reg.com. Day of registration opens at 7:30AM. For more information, maps and directions, contact Tracey at Middle Ring Cycles at 704-322-3559, or visit www.uwharriewheelmen.org and click on link for events calendar.

On Sunday there is the City Park Criterium. The race course is a .9 mile four corner loop around City Park with a small hill up to the finish line. For more information, visit www.charlottesportscycling.com, or email Neal at nealboyd@charlottesportscycling.com.

Rock Hill Race weekend April 4-5
Saturday is the Old Town Criterium on Main Street, downtown Rock Hill. The multi-lap course is 0.8 mile. Race organizers are anticipating 500 riders racing throughout the day.

Sunday is the Patriot’s Trail Road Race in Brattonsville, SC . This 45 mile, multi-loop race in southern York County allows riders to challenge themselves through rolling countryside.
Estimated Participation 550 riders. To register online, visit www.rockhillbicycleclub.com.

I’m going to try and race at least one day each of these weekends. If anyone has raced in these events, please let me know your thoughts.

And by the way, there are a number of cycling sites out there with local race info, but I’ve found the Carolinas Cycling Association site the most informative and actively updated with race information, and the road forum is very useful as well. I highly recommend using it if you’re looking around for cycling events in the North Carolina and South Carolina region.

And just a reminder to USA Cycling license holders. The Upcoming Events tab on your profile page pulls in all the road events in your area, complete with an active link to the race site and flyer. Nice touch, and very usable.

Levi wins Amgen Tour of California

So Levi Leipheimer of team Astana won the Amgen Tour of California, his third straight. I wrote in an earlier post that I thought Levi wasn't a good team leader and was lucky to be in that position. I still feel the same. I really can't argue that he's not a cycling talent, he's just not the talent he seems to think he is.

His demeanor, his interviews - it all feels like he's trying to be the next Lance, and it comes off really contrived. Like when he held up three fingers as he crossed the finish line in the final time trial on Saturday (and again on the podium). I mean come on, that image of Lance holding up his fingers to represent the number of Tour wins he had is iconic. To rip that off as you cross the finish line of the Tour of California is weak. Settle down Levi. It's contrived, it's a blatant Lance ripoff, and it's a small race. Do something in the Tour de France and you'll make me a believer.

Honestly, he sort of reminds me of Danica Patrick, but that's a whole other story.

Other thoughts from the race
Team Astana is very, very strong. With Contador in the lineup, they will be a force. Team director Johan Bruyneel has his hands full though. He's got big egos and loads of talent to direct. I don't see Contador riding for anyone, and he's said as much. Lance might give him the nod if the reality of his age is too much to overcome, but that is yet to be seen. And Levi is going to be another issue. Very interesting team dynamics.

Floyd Landis of the Ouch team looked fairly solid after spending two years away from racing. He showed flashes of great form, but never could keep up with the lead group at the end of the day.

American teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia Highroad looked really strong. Dave Zabriskie (Slipstream) took second overall, while Michael Rogers (Columbia) took third. And Mark Cavendish is officially the best sprinter in all of cycling at the moment. He's a lock to win several sprint stages in any race.

And it's great of course to see Hincapie still doing his thing, riding strong in every stage, and even placing third in the final stage.

All in all it was a fun race to watch and it seemed to generate lots of fan support. Huge crowds, in fact, record crowds at Sunday's finish in San Diego. That's good news for American cycling.

This is the country's biggest stage race, but not the only one. I called it the only major stage race in an earlier post and was corrected. The Tour of Missouri is in its third year. Last year, American Christian Vande Valde of Garmin won.

I'm not sure which Pro teams this race attracts, or if it's televised, but this year's race is September 7-13. Check out the official Tour of Missouri website for all the details.

The Amgen Tour of California

We are midway through the 2009 Tour of California and I’m hoping things shake up today and tomorrow as they ride into the Sierra mountains. Why? Because Levi Leipheimer is leading. I’ll explain, but first let me give you a few reasons to watch this race (that is, if you have Versus and can stay up until 11 pm – once the NHL and Bull Riding telecasts are over).

1. The Tour of Georgia was cancelled this year because it couldn’t find a title sponsor. The Tour of California is the only major stage race in the US.

2. Have you seen the team rosters? They are loaded with talent, both American and European. Each of these teams, save for one or two I think, will be riding in the Tour de France. So the quality is there.

3. Guess whose back? The Operation Puerto guys!! All the guys, most notably Ivan Basso, have served their two year suspensions and are racing again. Speaking of which…

4. Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton are back after their two year bans. Tyler is racing for US-based Rock Racing, which is a new team that has an interesting vibe. They sport an anarchy symbol on their jerseys and team car, which happens to be a Cadillac. I’m not crazy about either guy, but they are old postal riders who jumped ship early in the game to lead their own teams. Both failed, and whether it was due to injury or testing positive for EPO or testosterone, I’ll let you decide. But it’s interesting to me to have these guys back in the mix.

5. There are some other shakeups in the cycling scene as well this year, which are on full display in this race: Cancellara and the Schleck brothers on the Saxo Bank team (Fabian dropped day two with illness); a stacked Astana team proving to be the premiere stage race team (and that’s with Contador not riding); new faces and upgrades on US-based Columbia and Garmin-Slipstream teams; Tom Boonen and Quickstep; Sastre and Thor Hurshovd on Cervelo; etc. Check out the rosters here.

6. And of course, Lance is back. He’s preaching his message of cancer survival at every stop and is pulling and working for Levi as he promised. He calls himself an old man and seems to have no desire to drive his competitors into the ground. However, he is 30 seconds or so off the lead, and seems to always be in the right place with the right group, and he’s shown flashes of power that prove he’s still got something in the legs. Will he be able to sit back in the mountains and bring water bottles to Levi? Maybe, but I hope not. Regardless, it certainly won’t happen in France.

And here’s the thing with Levi. He’s not a team leader and, in my opinion, has gotten very lucky to be in this position. Yes, he’s talented. He rode for postal and was great – he was an all star domestique. When he went to his own team, his stock dropped and he proved he didn’t have what it takes to win a grand Tour. Maybe he didn’t have a strong team, but maybe his teammates didn’t want to ride for him. What European rider wants to ride for an American with no chance? Levi sucks wheels and lacks any explosiveness. He sits back and follows guys up the mountain. He is a lock for a top 10 Tour de France finish, but cannot win, regardless of team. He hangs on by a thread, then ekes out a good time trial to jump a few spots.

Hey, that’s fine with me, but don’t position yourself as a great rider. He tried to sneak past Contador a few years ago and they were on the same team. He never pulled for him (because he couldn’t), and Contador finally had to take off and do his thing. Thankfully, Levi was so slow in the mountains, he couldn’t sneak past him in the time trial, but he almost did. And while this was happening, he complained to the media that he was supposed to be the team leader. Boo hoo. Again, same team and he offered zero help to a more talented rider. He gave Basso a rather lukewarm reception when he joined Disco a few years ago, and again with Lance this year. Having Lance pull for this guy is a travesty.

And where are the style points? How can anyone be inspired by this dude when it’s like watching paint dry. Boring rider with a seeming disrespect for the great riders and strong sense of entitlement. Listen to the guy’s interviews. Read his quotes. Watch him ride. You tell me if he’s a good leader for a team. Astana will give Levi this race because it’s meaningless on the grand scale, but come Giro and Tour time, he’s going to be told the deal, and I can already hear him pouting to the media and complaining. Mark my words. And the cherry on top – his seat is too low!!!

Looking back on 2008

I raced in 13 events last year. I did the Cooper River Bridge Run (10k) and Lowcountry Splash (2.4 Harbor swim) so I could compete in the “Get Over it, Get Under it” challenge (combined time). I ended up getting second in my age group to John Glover, owner of Charleston Bicycle Company. Congrats John, and please hurry and move up an age group already.

I also did the AB&T Duathlon on John’s Island, placing second overall. Otherwise, it was all triathlon, and mostly sprints. Here are a few things I learned this year:

Race Fueling
When it comes to race nutrition and fueling, the old mantra “less is best” is key. You can get into a lot of trouble if you overdo it. The body starts working too hard trying to process those fuels and things start going in the wrong direction. I over-fueled at the Parris Island triathlon. Without really meaning to, I had always followed the less is best philosophy. For whatever reason, I decided I would go faster if I ate an extra bar; had an extra gel; and upped my mix ratio for fluids. Problem is that this was a sprint, not an ironman. I ran the slowest 5k I’ve ran in over 5 years. I simply didn’t need those fuels. My tank was fine. Lesson learned.

At the Races
The Cooper River Bridge run is a great event, perhaps one of the premiere 10ks in the country, but it’s a pain trying to get back to Mt. Pleasant after the race. I tried running back over the bridge and was stopped by police. Even the walking lane is closed until noon. That’s ridiculous. Waiting in lines for buses is a pain. I was also trying to get a good time to compete in the “Get Over it, Get Under it” challenge, but there are just too many people. This race is more about having a good time with friends than posting PRs. And actually, I learned this lesson years ago, so let’s just say it was again verified in 2008.

I love duathlons. Perhaps more than triathlon. My swim times are fine, so it’s not that hate swimming. I don’t know why, but run bike run really appeals to me. I think if I could do one race, it would be a 5 mile road race, 25 mile road bike, 5 mile trail run. Alas, I will settle for one or two duathlons I can find each year, regardless of distance.

Getting up at 3:30 to travel to a race affects your performance. You always have to wake up early for races, but anything before 4:30 and you will notice a performance drop. I traveled to several of the SCTS events (Florence, Columbia 2x, and Parris Island). Waking up that early just cuts into those extra hours of sleep. I had decent races, but my body wasn’t as rested as it should be.

The Harbor swim is easy. It’s a 2.4 mile swim (ironman distance) with the current. That means you go an extra mile per hour, or more, faster than you would in a pool. I finished in around 50 minutes. If you can swim a mile and a half, you can do this event. Not really challenging. But it is a fun event, for a great cause, and I do recommend it.

The sprint series at James Island is fun, competitive and humbling. Even though I ended up with a second and third place finish in my age group, I placed 5th in the final race. And that’s with a top 30 time of 1.05. Everybody peaked and came ready to race that final event. After the race, some friends from my age group (who placed 1-4, we all know each other now) ran a cool down mile and talked about how the race unfolded. We’ve all been racing this event 10 or more years and we each got a course PR in that race, so it was fun breaking down tactics. I don’t know why that memory sticks in my head, but it’s definitely one of the things I enjoy about racing. And I like that one of my favorite memories of the season isn’t based on a time or what place I got.

The Kiawah triathlon is still the best end of season race out there. An Olympic distance with everyone in great form. Always competitive and always fun.

I think mostly I learned that I need a little change of scenery. The sprint scene isn’t exciting me as much these days, and race expenses are creeping upwards. This year I picked only a couple long distance races and skipped planning the normal 15-race season. I’m doing a half ironman in May, then a full in November. My focus will be on long distance training, with little cost, and no stress. I picked up a road bike last fall and I’m looking forward to long rides without worrying about MPH and intensity levels.

Even though I'm sure to log more hours training this year, I feel like I’m taking a year off, so to speak. The race fast mentality is gone, and I hope it clears my head.