Download - CTC Tri Bug 3rd Quarter 2014 v2
Wow, the summer is flying! We are well into racing season and I hope everyone is having fun and
staying healthy. CTC is enjoying a great season with a lot of new faces and returning veterans really
getting involved in the Club. We have new training sessions popping up all over the area. New
swim sessions on the East side and in Medina are helping some get some good open water
swimming practice. That always helps on race day! Pools are not the same, find a practice and join
the fun. Also, CTC is offering Thursday night mountain biking group rides at Royalview. This is
brand new this year. The weather and the Metroparks have made it a little sketchy, but come on
out and humble yourself on the trails.
Keep an eye out for volunteer possibilities for several upcoming events. Rev3 Preview Day and
Rev3 always could use a helping hand.
Hope to see many of you at some races and training sessions soon!
Stay safe and train hard.
Ken Beech
CTC Member Profile: Michelle Mead
Please tell us about your life outside of triathlon.
Life, outside of triathlon? There is life outside of
triathlon? Ohhh well, I guess there is since we have to
pay for all of our great hobbies, gear, and travel!! During
the week, I am a mild manner insurance professional for
Selman & Company a third party administrator
managing a book of business on the group level,
marketing life programs and outsourced administration
services to the insurance industry.
I also love to spend time with my 3 dogs, retired racing
greyhounds (Chase, Milo and Kira) and my 4 cats –
Guess you could say I’m an animal person too!
What has kept you motivated in the sport?
The new challenges, I love triathlons because there is
always a weakness, and it is so much fun to take on the
challenge and push yourself. It has also been so
rewarding over the years to welcome new people and
watch the progress as they come from running, cycling
or swim backgrounds starting in their first tri’s, getting
hooked and sometimes going on to test themselves in a
full Ironman distance!
What are some of the biggest changes you have seen
in multisport over your time in the sport?
Technology and racing equipment along with advances
in nutrition--it is very exciting to see all the high tech
bikes and gear and even more amazing how fast people
can be with the combination of training and technology – it still takes a good engine to power it all!!
What was your first race?
My first multi-sport event was actually a duathlon – Willoughby Hills Lions Duathlon because I did
not swim! I was hooked.
What is your favorite distance?
I really enjoy them all – I did get the “Fickle Athlete” Award from CTC – just cause I love the
diversity of sport from Sprints to IM, they all have their own unique challenges.
What are some of the biggest mistakes you see people
making in terms of training? Racing? Overtraining, and
not listening to your body leading to injuries and
setbacks. It is great to have goals, but I have learned that
sometimes rest and recovery can be your best friend,
especially over 40!!! Injuries set you back further then
taking a couple of rest days during a training cycle when
you need them.
What are some of your favorite events that you have
done that were not races?
Traveling to 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, Korea and
meeting the athletes walking around the city. I also very
much enjoyed hiking to the top of Skelig Michael and
biking in Ireland 2012.
What is your favorite multi-sport memory?
Hands down, finishing IM Wisconsin!! It was not my best
race but nothing else compares to the finish of an
Ironman.
Do you have a favorite race? Favorite race moment?
Finishing Ironman of course seeing Mark Durno and Rob
Reddy in the final ¼ mile, and hearing you are an
Ironman – best feeling ever!!
What kind of athlete were you when you first started?
Competitive, I started out a gymnast then runner (5k to
marathon) and ultimately multisport athlete
Any funny and/or embarrassing race stories?
One of my first tri’s – Running up the beach at Maumee Bay. I got my arms tangled behind me
getting out of my wettie – tripped on my own feet – Face planted into sand!! Real pro there, I was
laughing so hard I looked like Pig Pen from Peanuts in a swirl of sand and dirt! LOL, not much has
changed!
Favorite discipline?
Biking and Running – Love to do bricks, they are my ticket to success in triathlon!!
Best advice you have ever received?
Triathlon is a lifestyle--enjoy every moment.
Some Ironman Thoughts
By Rob Reddy aka Paco Velo
IM taper has left me with a bit of extra time. It’s usually during taper when I take the time to reflect
back. With the growing chatter about people doing an IM in 2015, I opted to jot down some thoughts as
I approach my own “Lucky 13.”
Lucky #13 IM
It’s getting later in the summer, and I have an IM coming up in a bit over a week. Nothing unusual in that
as late summers and Ironmans have pretty much been my
life for more than 10 years now. I have not talked a lot about
IM Boulder, but for some reason a few (both tri and non-tri)
people in the past couple days have asked me why do I do
this, what’s wrong with me, how do you keep going? I really
don’t have enough time, writing space, or energy to delve
into the “what’s wrong with me” question – but the other
questions got me to thinking a bit.
More than a decade of IM training and double digit races has
definitely given me some perspective on “Going L-o-n-g”.
The biggest thing I have taken away is that no two training
years or races are the same. I have watched sooooo many
people do their first IM and have a magical experience. For
most, it is a positive one. For a few, it is less so. Regardless,
that first IM is very, very special. The excitement, the fear,
the pushing yourself to new boundaries and the potential for
success (generally over blown dreams of grandeur) are wonderful parts of that first IM. For those lucky
enough to train with a large group and ultimately race with those friends, well that is just an added
bonus to the IM-virgin experience.
What I have seen is that the majority walk away from that journey excited to do it again – another IM is
planned or registered for soon there after. And ultimately the next IM disappoints many. Why? The
words I hear from those less than thrilled second-times is “it just was not as much fun as I remember, it
was not like the first one”.
What I know is that each IM is its own experience, its own journey. There is no way to re-create the last
one. To try to do so will only leave you disappointed. For me, the new journey is what drives me to the
next one. It is the excitement of new adventures and new people--of pushing to different places and the
different obstacles that come along the way. If your goal is to re-create your past IM glory, you will only
live in present IM disappointment
I’ve also come to believe that for the first IM, the difficult parts are divided 75% in getting to the start
line and 25% in completing the race. That 75% of difficulty is pretty equally divided between the physical
and mental preparation; however, as each successive IM ticks away, the difficulty moves towards 90% in
the preparation and 10% in the race. It is not the training side that continues and grows in its challenges.
Actually, I think the training in some ways becomes easier, but it is the mental side that takes more and
more effort. No, you do not have the same level of worry, fret or have that scared feeling you do when
you are working towards your first couple IMs, though don’t let anyone fool you, every IM is scary (if it is
not it is time to stop doing the distance), rather, it is the grind of motivation and the fact that you
“know” what lies ahead of you. Again, the journey changes, becomes something totally different, and for
many, not the newness that was enjoyed in the past.
For me the ‘grind’ has both a positive and negative side. The negative is easy to understand – to walk up
to an IM swim start you gotta be prepared. It takes a lot of mental energy and physical effort, but
conquering the motivational burden in some ways is even more rewarding than simply becoming
physically fit. So, if you want to be a multiple time Ironman, work your mind and learn to embrace the
difficulties of self-motivation.
Another thing I have learned over the years is that the Kona dream you all hold secretly (or in a number
of cases not so secretly) along with those sub 9, 10 or 11 hour goals – throw them out the window. The
real truth is that almost none of you will qualify for Kona – and the VERY few that might, don’t focus on
it, and you will improve your chances. On the topic of times – IM is sooooooooo very difficult to control
– it is not like any other tri in that no matter how prepared you are at the start of the race; the distance,
weather, execution, mental game, and length of the day can kick your teeth in in a second and blow that
sub-XX goal to being 2+ hours slower.
If you primarily (or secondarily, or thirdly) race for Kona or time you will be disappointed. There is always
the off chance you will hit it – but over time IM is like Vegas, the house always wins, and you lose those
dreams. Those that fall victim to the sole validation of a Kona slot or bragging about time will not be in
the IM game for long. Ultimately, the feeling of pride and accomplishment will diminish – no one really
cares two days after your race how fast you went and three days after your big Kona escapade people
are just pissed you are lounging in HI rather than impressed you did the World Championships (of a
ridiculous amature sport where you win no money but rather dropped $10,000 to beat the shit out of
your body).
I gave up the idea of Kona years ago. I have general ideas about times, but they are so far down the list
of what determines the success or failure of my IM races that they are topics I almost never speak
about. Getting to this point has been freeing. It has made IM so much more meaningful to me. Changing
what the priority of my IM endeavors are towards living a life of adventures, of connections to people
and experiences, and of development of my whole person makes the sacrifices worth while and the
definition of long term sustained success to be viewed in relation to lining up and (hopefully) finishing. It
has put years into my chances of being able to pursue the dream of being called ‘an Ironman’ many
times over.
For my second IM, I broke my foot two days before the race playing tennis with my daughter. I nearly
cried as I was geeked up for the race and still living a bit in the KQ dream world. Of course, a number of
people told me I could not do the race. Hell, I was not sure I could do the race with a foot the size of a
small pumpkin. But I recall sitting for hours with my foot in an ice bucket thinking about what that race
really should mean to me. Ultimately, I changed my priorities from ‘racing’ to ‘finishing’. Re-defining
what success would be. I did start that race, and fortunately, somehow finished. To this day, with the
various things I have done, that is still my proudest IM moment.
The lesson was enormous and really took some time to sink in. If you intend to race IM (particularly
more than one IM), you better learn to have flexibility in determining what your goals are and what
success is. Every IM is different, and things pop up while working towards that event. You will encounter
set backs, obstacles you never imagined, and disappointments right up to and even during race day. The
ability to cope, endure, and re-define why you are doing this and what constitutes success will be one of
the biggest factors in your long-term happiness. Don’t sell yourself short and have just a few things be
the keys to whether your races was great or a flop – you are cheapening what the big picture of IM is all
about. The development of self is more the prize of doing IMs than any medal, time, or place.
From the chatter around town, I get the sense that next year will be a big one for CTCers and Ironman,
not just first timers but also 2nd and 3rd…. That is fantastic. But I hope folks will take a few minutes to
really consider if they are not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally ready to take this
journey. I knew I was going to do an IM when I was 17 years old, but I never hit the entry button for 20
years. I’m happy it took me that long as I know I was not really ready to take on IM and have it mean
what it did to me until so many years later. Give it some real thought before getting yourself swept up
into the frenzy of registration and hitting that ‘enter’ button.
But if you do register for IM Muskoka (or what ever race you decide upon), after the excitement dies
down, the FB posting of “Ins” has faded, and the calls for 100 mile rides in late September are blazing, I’d
encourage people to stop and give some real thought to why you are racing and what you want to
accomplish. Then take a piece of paper and write out at least 5 goals and 5 things you hope to achieve
over the course of the next year of IM training/racing. Do NOT write down any time or place – you are
forbidden from putting down the word ‘Kona’. Place that piece of paper in an envelope, seal it and write
March 15, 2015 on it. Open it that day, review what you wrote, think about what you are accomplishing
thus far, and then put it back in the envelope with the date June 15, 2015 on it. Open and repeat with
the date of the day before your race. Race night open again – think about where you have come from
and where you will go the next day. Tuck that piece of paper into your kit race day. At some point water
and sweat will dissolve that list – but by the end of the day, finish or not, you hopefully will have turned
those words into accomplishments and memories that don’t need to be written down because they are
in your soul. Regardless of time or place – you will feel more like an Ironman than you can imagine.
As for me – I’ll stand on a beach and get a huge rush when an announcer says “Who wants to be an
Ironman today”. Then hopefully, I will turn a corner many, many hours later and feel that rush again. I’ve
probably had one of the more challenging years getting prepped up for Boulder – the winter was hard,
my training and weight are not really where I would like, I’m battling an ailment and the altitude will
suck (literally – I’ll be sucking wind all day). I’m looking at a long and challenging day to be sure. But
honestly, I could not be happier to be doing this race – because the experience and journey have added
to who I am and what I hope to be. The day will come and go, then Monday, I’ll wake with a new story
and hopefully I’ll have chased more numbers and not letters. Ultimately, it will all be great.
So back to the original question – Why do I do this? What keeps me going? Well the answer is relatively
simple – When the reward becomes the journey to the water edge and potential to cross the finish line,
when the general sense of self accomplishment looms bigger than life, and when the friendships that are
made along the way add riches to my being – well why would I not do number 14?
PS: With his best buddy Hank by his side, Rob completed his 13th Ironman in Boulder, Colorado. Dealing
with GI issues starting at mile 2 on the bike, Rob fought through the day. He says that Boulder was the
toughest Ironman finish he has ever had. He is already looking forward to his next Ironman event.
Starting August 1st, CTC Sponsor, EPIC Performance, will be recognizing select CTC
members for their “EPIC Performance of the Month'” feature.
Each monthly winner will receive EPIC Performance Gear (T-Shirt or Singlet, Visor or Hat +
Free Product TBD). We would welcome contributions on all levels (first time debuts,
note-worthy efforts or top performances).
To enter: Any time during the month, send in race reports, stories, etc. via email to
[email protected]. On the first of every month, a team of CTC members will
review the reports and select the winner for the EPIC Performance of the
month. Winners will be announced around the 15th of every month.
For more information on EPIC Performance,
please visit www.FlexusSports.com & www.EpicPerformance.com or
for product info please email [email protected]
The Saturated Triathlon Market
By Mark Durno
In Triathlon years, our 10+ year old club is still pretty young. Yet, despite our infancy, we have seen
this sport go from being on the fringes to becoming more mainstream sport. When compared to
running, our numbers are still small, but in a sport where the average person enters and exits
within five years, it is starting to gather larger participation. Even for people who have no interest
in participating, the coverage of Ironman and the Olympics in addition to the growing quantity of
events has made more people knowledgeable of the three disciplines. For many, triathlon is a very
popular bucket-list item. The growth and success of this sport is exciting, especially for those of us
who have broken the 5-year barrier and are still enjoying the events and competition. With growth
comes challenges, but let’s look at what the growth has looked like since 2004.
Growth
Back in 2004, CTC was in its second year. On the
club’s website, we listed the area races, the date
they took place, and the web site where you could
get more information. The list was one page –
maybe about 15 – 20 lines deep. We listed races
from late April (Buzzard Du) through late
September (“the Toyota Challenge”). If you do the
math, that’s not even 1 event per week. “Area races”
included events as far away as Columbus, OH and
Morgantown, WV. We even listed a race in Racine,
WI to fill space. During the summer months, there
was a race within an hour of Cleveland about every
other week. That is ONE race every other weekend.
Back in those days, there was probably about 1
running race per week from April through
November (sometimes there we a few more, but they were hard to find). Those that enjoyed racing
often spent a lot of time on the “trifind” web site looking for semi-local events in Michigan, Indiana,
and Pennsylvania.
In the last 10 years, Cleveland area multi-sport opportunities have grown steadily if not
exponentially. There are more duathlons, biathlons, aquathons, aquabikes, and triathlons than ever.
With more races comes more race directors/companies now. It seems like just about every fitness
center that sports a pool puts on an indoor tri in the winter months. Most triathletes favor an
individual sport and participate in running, biking, and/or swimming events routinely. During the
last weekend this past of July, Cleveland area triathletes were participating in at least 6 area events.
There were three local triathlons (Huntington, Cleveland, & Fairport Harbor), a popular triathlon in
the Columbus area (Challenge New Albany), two bike events (State Time Trials, Sweet Corn
Challenge), and, of course, we had a number of our members at Ironman Lake Placid.
Every weekend this summer, there seem to be multiple multi-sport opportunities. It’s great time to
be a triathlete…. or is it?
Challenges
Although more opportunities are good for consumers/athletes, it is not without some problems.
Because many of these races and race companies are still in their early stages, they do not have the
money to put out the swag that usually accompanied races in years past. With multiple races on the
same weekend, the crowds at each individual race tend to be smaller even with a growing triathlon
population. As a result, races tend to have less money to spend on the extras. In the past, a hot
lunch was provided to athletes. Now, we’re lucky to get a banana and a few cookies at many races.
Five years ago, club members would run into 20+ fellow club members at local events. We have
more members than ever, and yet, we don’t see as many at any individual event. Lower earnings
means the potential for less traffic control – safety can be compromised. Having sufficient
volunteers to man courses and aid stations is also becoming more problematic.
It’s not just multi-sport. The running community is exploding with related events. There are “color
runs”, “electric runs”, “zombie runs”, obstacle course runs, night runs, charity runs, and mud runs.
Trail running and ultra-running events are also becoming more popular.
With more competition, we’ll likely see some of the smaller racing organizations getting squeezed
out. Our little multi-sport market will probably correct itself soon. It will be interesting to see who
survives it and why. Even on a national stage, we’re seeing more competition than ever. The
competition with the bigger events is driving better customer (athlete) service. Even when some of
the local and national bubbles start bursting, there will be enough volume of races and racing
companies out there to keep our sport strong. Let’s hope that some of this competition will start to
drive prices down (triathlon events aren’t cheap) and the experience back to what we remember
back in the good ol’ days. What will the next 10 years bring?
Fleet Feet is excited to announce a new store
opening soon in Westlake!
Opening in August, check them out at:
26149 Detroit Rd
Westlake, OH 44145
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While we may be in the midst of triath-lon season, some of us may already be thinking about what they will do after their big race of the season… NEW CYCLOCROSS PRACTICES STARTING- In addition to the normal Team Bicycle Hub weekly Monday night shop rides, going for-ward, now you can choose to do the road riding option or CYCLOCROSS practice. Those wishing to come for the cyclocross practice can either depart from the shop at 6:30 when the other groups roll out or meet directly at Daniels Park in Willoughby (which is about 2.7 miles from the shop on the north side of 84). Practices are informal and focused on skills and will last for about 75 minutes. All are welcome! Start location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Daniels+Park/@41.628024,-81.402034,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x1f7a990ad0be9e27
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