Parris Island Predictions

My first race of the season is this Saturday at Parris Island. Love the race. Do it almost every year.

I’m feeling good. My training has been strong. In fact, in the first 10 weeks of 2012, I’ve trained slightly more, and harder, in all three disciplines than I did in the previous two years (according to my training logs). Theoretically, I should be able to duplicate last’s year’s times, if not exceed. But I’m not so sure. Why is that, you ask? Because I’m getting fat.

That’s right, I’m racing 10 lbs heavier than I’ve ever raced. At 6’2” I82 lbs, I don’t wear moo moos or use a dialing wand (a la Homer Simpson), but this is the heaviest I’ve been in 10 years. I recently had the humbling experience of taking a pair of pants to the dry cleaners to have them ‘let out’ an inch. I’ve moved up a hole in my belt. In fact, when I sit down, I can feel my gut on my belt. Good God I have a muffin top!!!

But the most alarming part of it is that I cannot cut this extra weight – no matter how much I train!

Age, and gravity, are constants in the universe
I always enter the new year a few lbs heavier than my average race weight of 172 lbs. But by March, I’m right back at my fighting weight and have no trouble maintaining it through the summer. I’ve noticed over the years it’s taken a little longer each year to get that excess weight off. But this year is different. It’s been an epic battle. I can’t get below 180 lbs. And I’m afraid that extra weight is going to slow me down a good bit. There is a scientific equation that backs up that theory, but I’m too fat and lazy to look it up.

Here is my race prediction, based on my training:

• 500 mtr swim 9:20
• T1 50 secs
• 10 mile bike 30:00
• T2 50 secs
• 5k run 20:50
• Total: 1.01:47

We’ll see how it goes…

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are electrically charged particles that help the body function normally. Some of the more familiar electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium help muscles contract and relax. Sodium and potassium help water stay in the right balance inside and outside of cells. Sodium is the electrolyte lost in the highest concentration in sweat.

Anyway, I’m sharing this with you so that if someone ever asks you what an electrolyte is, you don’t sound like these guys…

2011 USA Triathlon's Age Group National Championship

Here is a good triathlon video from the 2011 USA Triathlon's Age Group National Championship held last month in Vermont. It's produced by Endurance Films. Good quality and good narration.

Even for avid triathletes, race footage isn't always compelling stuff. But this 8 minute video does a good job setting the scene for what this race is about - the best age groupers in the country going for a national title.

The Race Day Checklist

In general, triathletes tend to be very organized. Prior to a race, we go over our checklist of the gear we need to take. We have a plan for how our gear will be laid out in the transition area. And, over time, we perfect the process of moving in and out that transition area in the least amount of time.

But even with all this attention to detail and process, we sometimes forget things. Even with our handy-dandy checklist, a helmet can get left in the garage, goggles won't be in that tri-bag pocket you thought they were, or your race belt disappears.

I always feel bad for the poor guy standing with the race director, as he gets on the loud speaker and says, "Does anyone have an extra helmet this gentleman can borrow?"

Over the years, I've become less diligent about preparing my gear for a race. Basically, the night before a race I grab the necessary items and then hop back on the couch in less than 5 minutes. And in all those years, I've forgotten only an aero water bottle. Not bad. But in the last race I did, I forgot my shoes.

Now, as bad as that sounds, I got lucky. This was a biathlon on the beach. So I did the run barefoot without much problem. Had this race been on pavement, I wouldn't have even tried. Running barefoot is quite nice actually, but I did manage to stub my toe on something buried in the sand. I don't know if it was a shell or a rock, or rebar, but it didn't budge, and took a nice little chunk out of my big toe.

Anyway, you've seen the standard Triathlon Checklists before. They usually have everything you would possibly need, and then some -- things like bug spray, sunblock, hat, body glide, kitchen sink. These are good lists to help you get started with making your own, which is exactly what you should do. Tweak it and make it your own. If you want to bring bug spray, leave it on the list. If not, remove it. No need to sift through that giant list every race.

So I won't offer the perfect checklist here, but I will offer up the Top 10 most common items left behind on race day morning. I'm basing this list off my experiences in the transition area prior to a race. As the race start nears, these are the things I most often hear people asking to borrow, or trying to purchase from a vendor:

1. Race Belt
2. Helmet
3. Goggles
4. Race Sunglasses
5. Hydration/bottles
6. Gels/Fuel
7. Body Glide
8. Bike Pump
9. Spare tube
10. Race Belt

Good luck creating your own list. And remember to double-check the items I listed above. They are sneaky.especially that race belt.

Folly Beach Splash N Dash 2011

The 1st Annual Folly Beach Splash N Dash was held last Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. This was a biathlon, consisting of a 750 meter ocean swim and a 5k beach run.

I'm happy to report that I came in 1st place overall. I'm not happy to report that there were only 10 participants.

Where was everybody?
I was blown away at the lack of participants. This event was put on by Setup Events, which always does a great job producing races. The race was advertised on the Charleston Triathlon Club's homepage, not to mention the Setup Events website. It's a short, very doable race, even for beginner and novice athletes. Why only 10 participants?

Instead of trying to figure that out, I'm going to focus on getting the word out for next year's event, that is of course, if they do it again. There used to be a Folly Beach Biathlon years ago, but that event was cancelled after participation dropped below 20 racers. I don't want that to happen again. We need variety. I like having a biathlon option here in Charleston. I love it when new races come to the area. I know we have enough local athletes to support this event, so pencil this race in for next year's race calendar.

And on that note, Setup Events is putting on a new sprint triathlon on Daniel Island August 27. The official name is the LOCO Sprint Triathlon 2011. It's a 750 meter swim (Wando river), 14 mile bike, and 5k run. I believe they have a team division. As of today, there were only 15 or so registered. That's crazy. I know it's a first-year event, but if they don't get the numbers, it will be a one-time race. Let's support these new events and at least give them a chance to gain some traction.

You can register for these events on the Setup Events website.