2009 Tentative Race Schedule

Ok, I know, its way too early to be thinking about racing in 2009. However, I was putting together my home-made training diary, calendar, etc., so I figured I might as wel get some dates together if they're posted yet. In 2008 I did a total of 24 races between April 19 and October 25. That includes 4 runs, 6 du's, 5 tri's, 7 time trials, and 1 road (bike) race. I am totally scaling back for 2009 due to family obligations and other stuff. Here it is:

Resolution Run (5k)
Winter Be Gone Du
Tri Rochester TT's (4 races)
Oakdale Du
Apple Du
Pigman Sprint Tri
Rochesterfest Tri (sprint, olympic, ?)
Heart of the Lakes Tri
Festival Run (10k)
Rochester Half Marathon
RASC TT's (4 races)
Treadman Du

Ok, that's 18 so its not scaled back too much, but I plan on cutting a few out more of there.

MN KEEPS DUATHLON WORLD QUALIFYING EVENT

USA Triathlon (USAT) is the governing body of sanctioned tri's and du's as well as the Nat'l Championships. In their infinite wisdom, at a meeting of the minds in September, they decided to remove ALL the regional qualifying events (5 or 6) from around the country, which qualify top finishers for the World Championships, from their list. What was left was one event, the Duathlon National Championships, as the qualifier for Worlds. If that was a HUGE event that attracts the best from most states, that could make sense; if it was in late June or July, that too may be sensible. However, its not a huge event where anyone who's anyone goes. And, its in APRIL! April is the beginning of the multisport season in many states. So, at their meeting they must have decided that the people who finish top of their field in April at one race are the ones who best represent the USA and therefore will earn a spot on TEAM USA. Is that right? Well, maybe they second guessed themselves because what they ended up thinking is something like this: "Wait, we need to expand that. That would only get us a few from each age group who are eligible." So what did they do? They decided that since they're only using one race, lthey'll go 16 deep, with a roll down to 20--PER AGE GROUP (AG). That's right, if you finish in the top 16 of your AG at Nationals, you qualify for Worlds. If some of them turn it down, they'll go 20 deep. Ok, I qualified for Worlds at the 2008 Apple Du with a 1st place finish. I KNOW I'm not the best in the Nation in my age group as that was a regional event. With that said, does USAT actually think that age groupers twenty deep from one race are a better representation of the USA than people who win regional events ? (They actually took the top 2 from the Apple with a roll down to 5th.)

I believe they decided that they made a mistake. What did the du to correct it....?

They added two events as additional qualifiers to their list and one of them is the Apple Duathlon in Sartell, MN! The other is in AZ. This could lead to an increase numbers at the MN and AZ events as they may attract more competitors from surrounding states. They also scaled back the depth of Nationals to 12 in each AG with a roll down to 16th; for MN and AZ, they'll take the top 3 per AG with a roll down to 6th. However, if you are in a roll down position (4th-6th) your time has to be within 20% of your the winner of your AG. Click here for details.

USAT did add that they are moving towards a single qualifying event in 2010.

INTRO TO MULTISPORT is back

If you are brand new to multisport (tri/duathlon) or still trying to figure it out, take a look at the course I am instructing at the RAC starting January 2009.

Go to page 8 after clicking THIS.

NEW from CLIF BAR

So...since Clif Bars are designed as a racing fuel (food), is this meant to go in your bottle and aerodrink?

http://www.clifbarfamilywinery.com/

Election

Well, the election is over. Two years of campaigning by Barack Hussein Obama, and about 6 months worth for John Sidney McCain, and its done. Finally. I think all are relieved. This was the most interesting election ever! Not only did a multiracial man (Kenyan?) man win the nod for President of the USA, but never before has the opposition with a female on the ticket done so well. They actually had a shot. A true accomplishment for both parties anyway you slice it.

Hopefully, Pres Elect Obama will take us in a new direction, but I hope there are detours and compromises on the way to the goals. Actually, within the last two weeks he's changed his position on a few things--or at least revised them. He knew he'd win so had to start back pedaling a bit on some issues. One being: pulling out of the war--he knows it's not that simple. I think we'll still have troops there in four year. Maybe less, but there could be many more.

I hope he doesn't do every thing he says he will. The dems have full control so hopefully his party, who pulled out all the stops to get him elected, will realize they got what they wanted and now its time to reel him in a bit. No one studies history anymore, its barely studied in school, so we don't learn from mistakes we or others have made. The whole democratic party can't believe in all of his plans. Leaning left is one thing, but socialism is another. Socialism looks great on paper, but doesn't work. Lets not argue whether or not he's socialist. Actually, he used to consider himself Marxist, so calling him socialist is being a bit 'politically correct' and nice. Lets me honest, following thru with his promises of evening things out "...spread the wealth" as he put it, will not work. Also, there are a lot of people out there who heard his message and sadly misinterpreted it, thus voting for freebies. Check this one out: GAS AND MORTGAGE . As radically left and socialist as Obama is, I don't think he meant for this young lady to think her gas and mortgage will be paid for when he is prez. She says it, but did she really mean what she said at face value? Sadly, she may have.

We have a socialistic benefits plan in place already that's been working so-so for a while: Social Security. We know where that's going. De we really want health care socialized?

I am optimistic, however, after watching McCain's concession speech. WOW! I am not being one-sided here (because, frankly, McCain is not 'right' enough--he's a moderate at best), but his speech WILL go on the record as one of the most graceful and respectful speeches ever. For what that man has been through in life, to stand there and speak from his heart and soul the way he did was incredible. I was wondering halfway thru it, "Who is that?" Then I wondered "Where was he the last 6 months?" I think that was one of the problems. He was trying to be the front man of a campaign, doing and saying what his campaign committee wanted him to when he should have been himself.

I guess its true, ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE can become President of the USA. I believe, and I hope that most of us believe, that race and gender are moot points and no longer an issue. Sadly, the party who pretends to hold equality as one of their 'causes' hammered Palin--at the root of it, because she is a woman. Where were the women's right groups like NOW ? Oh, that's right, they are not about women's rights, but about a leftist agenda of partial birth abortion, and law suits against men who ask women for their phone numbers, and suing Hooters owners (I don't like their food cause it sucks and I won't go just for the lame outfits either). NOW will only support a woman that is from the left. In fact, they supported Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama until Barack beat Hillary, then NOW endorsed Obama. WTH? Fine, don't support a women, but at least stay neutral. Anyway, for the most part it doesn't matter, what's done is done. Elected was a man with no leadership to speak of. None. He has a big task in front of him and he'll either prove that a President doesn't have to have experience to run this great country or he'll show us that next time we need more than desire, passion, intellect, charisma, education, and charm to lead this country. Obama has all that and them some, but has never had to use it beyond a campaign.

Not a Good Transition Area

This is what happens when you don't have enough volunteers at your triathlon. However, it looks like the hydration is in the right spot.