If  you  would  like  to  send  any  submissions  for  the  next  quarter’s  newsletter,  please  send  the  information  to  clevetriclub@yahoo.com    

   

   Greetings  CTC!    It’s  May  and  Tri-­‐season  is  here  (I  promise,  despite  what  the  weather  suggests)!    Even  with  the  long  winter,  CTC  has  hit  the  training  hard.    We  had  a  record  number  of  people  participate  in  the  CTC  Training  Camp.    For  those  who  couldn’t  attend,  we  have  included  a  short  recap  of  the  event.    Along  with  lots  of  sponsorship  information,  we  have  included  some  interesting  articles  on  Perspective  and  the  sometimes  all-­‐too-­‐prevalent  list  of  excuses  we  give  ourselves  when  we  race.    We  hope  to  see  you  out  on  the  road  soon  be  it  at  a  Sweetwater  Brick  or  an  Open  Water  Swim  (if  the  lake  becomes  swimmable).  

Your  Board  of  Directors!  

     

Fleet  Feet  Sports  Cleveland  offers  gait  analysis,  professional  shoe  fittings,  educational  clinics,  training  programs  and  more.  To  meet  more  people  in  the  Northeast  Ohio  running  community,  mark  your  calendars  

for  these  upcoming  events:    

·∙              6:30  p.m.,  Wed.,  May  21:  Pub  run  with  Adidas  at  Market  Garden  Brewery  ·∙              6:30  p.m.,  Wed.,  June  4:  Asics  demo  run  at  Fleet  Feet  Northfield  

·∙              6:30  p.m.,  Wed.,  June  11:  Adidas  demo  run  at  Fleet  Feet  Northfield    

To  stay  updated  on  all  of  our  events:    

Fleet  Feet  Sports  -­‐  Northfield:  330.908.3234  Fleet  Feet  Sports  -­‐  Pepper  Pike:  216.464.3234  

www.fleetfeetcleveland.com    

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/fleetfeetcle  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/fleetfeetsportscleveland  Instagram:  www.instagram.com/fleetfeetcleveland  

             

 

   Meet  a  CTC  Member:  Jason  Feckler    Tell  us  a  little  about  yourself  outside  of  triathlon.  I  am  a  master  parts  specialist  at  Ganley  VW  of  Bedford.    I  still  get  to  play  with  auto  technology,  and  it’s  easier  on  the  body  than  being  a  tech.    I  live  in  Broadview  Heights  with  my  fiancée.    How  did  you  get  involved  in  the  sport?  Originally,  my  friend  gave  me  an  entry  to  any  HFP  race  so  I  did  Portage  Lakes  this  past  year.    I’m  sure  I  was  unprepared,  and  I  felt  like  I  wanted  to  die  afterwards,  but  I  was  hooked.    Anything  else  we  should  know  about  your  relationship  with  triathlon?    I  was  diagnosed  with  diabetes  on  Apr  18,  2012.    It's  possible  that  I  was  diabetic  before  I  was  diagnosed  so  I'm  not  sure  exactly  when  it  started.    It  was  surprising  since  when  I  was  younger,  I  would  have  my  sugar  tested  every  so  often  and  it  would  be  on  the  low  end  of  the  spectrum.    I  found  out  that  I  was  diabetic  when  I  started  losing  tons  of  weight  with  zero  effort  after  working  hard  at  it  for  a  few  years  with  very  little  results.    I  went  to  my  doctor's  office  to  see  why  the  weight  came  off  so  fast.    When  I  was  younger  (up  to  about  freshman  year  in  high  school),  I  had  the  opposite  problem.    They  tested  my  sugar  and  it  was  in  the  mid  500's.    I  went  to  the  ICU  and  they  tested  my  A1C  (this  kind  of  acts  as  a  long  term  glucose  test)  and  it  was  13.7%  (normal  is  below  7%.)        After  I  started  training  for  triathlon,  I  found  that  I  didn’t  have  to  take  insulin  for  about  a  day  or  so  after  a  training  session.    Triathlon  has  allowed  me  to  work  out  more  often,  so  I  was  able  to  take  advantage  of  this  affect.    I’ve  shrunk  down  in  size  quite  a  bit,  which  I  think  has  helped  with  the  diabetes.    Since  starting  training,  I’ve  been  able  to  come  off  of  my  medicines  completely,  which  is  incredible  since  the  cost  of  diabetes  care  is  so  high.    With  what  I  was  spending  on  insulin  monthly,  I  could  be  spending  for  a  race  or  two,  and  that  is  great  since  racing  is  much  more  fun  than  worrying  about  my  numbers.    Even  off  of  medicine,  I  do  still  have  to  test  my  sugar.    I  test  twice  a  day  normally  and  sometimes  once  before  or  after  a  workout  if  I'm  feeling  off.    How  did  you  get  involved  with  the  Cleveland  Tri  Club?  Last  year,  I  volunteered  at  marathon  and  met  several  members  and  thought  it  would  be  a  good  club  to  join  since  the  members  were  so  welcoming.    What  is  your  favorite  discipline?  Cycling  is  my  favorite  discipline.    I’ve  biked  recreationally  for  years  and  raced  MTB  a  bit.  

 

   Least  favorite?  Running  is  my  least  favorite.    It  just  feels  slow  and  forced  to  me.    Do  you  have  long-­‐term  goals  in  triathlon?    What  are  they?      My  long-­‐term  goals  are  to  race  a  combination  of  Olympic  and  half  distance.    I’d  also  like  to  get  into  road  cycling  racing.    What  does  your  race  schedule  look  like  for  2014?  So  far,  I’ve  registered  for  the  following:  May  18  –  Cleveland  Half  Marathon  June  1  –  Deer  Creek  Sprint  June  15  –  Maumee  Bay  Sprint  July  13  –  Caesar  Creek  Sprint  Aug  2-­‐3  –  T.B.D.  August  17  –  Linwood  Park  Sprint  September  14  –  Portage  Lakes  Sprint    What  is  one  random  fact  that  we  wouldn’t  know  about  you?  I  sometimes  sing  or  hum  at  random,  usually  in  the  car  or  on  the  bike.    Do  you  have  a  favorite  triathlon/race  moment?      I  raced  at  the  Sea  Otter  Classic  in  Monterey,  California  and  part  of  the  course  was  on  the  Laguna  Seca  racetrack.    

Do  you  have  any  funny  stories  from  a  particular  race  or  training  session?  The  only  funny  thing  I  can  think  of  would  be  falling  sideways  when  not  moving  when  I  started  to  use  clip  in  pedals.    What’s  your  favorite  training  route?  My  favorite  route  is  along  Valley  Parkway  in  the  Metroparks.    It’s  smooth,  fast  and  very  scenic.    What  is  your  favorite  post-­‐race  treat?  My  favorite  post-­‐race  treat  would  be  Chipotle  with  lots  of  hot  salsa.    I’m  also  secretly  addicted  to  fruit  snacks.    What  is  the  toughest  workout  you  have  ever  done?  I  did  Pedal  for  Heroes  in  February,  which  was  about  a  4  hour  training  session.    I  had  done  spin  before  going,  and  I  ended  up  underestimating  the  difficulty  of  the  event  and  was  sore  a  few  days  afterward.    What  is  your  favorite  thing  about  the  triathlon/multisport  lifestyle?  There  is  a  family  feel  to  the  community.    Even  if  you’re  competing  with  someone  on  race  day,  they  may  train  with  you  on  a  friendly  basis.      

Open Water Swim Skills Clinics

- June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

Bike Skills Clinics

- May 17th, June 14, July 12

Triathlon Day Camp

- May 24th

Check the website for one on one clinics

www.NCEcoaching.com

North Coast Endurance Coaching is hosting these great

events to increase your skills and performance.

CHECK OUT THESE

2014 EVENTS:

MORE INFORMATION?

LET YOUR TRIATHLON

JOURNEY BEGIN!

North Coast Endurance Coaching

info@ncecoaching.com

WANT TO BECOME A BETTER TRIATHLETE?

We  are  less  than  a  month  away  from  the  2nd  Annual  Great  Lakes  100  Mile  Triathlon,  Lake  Erie!    The  race  is  once  again  being  held  at  Geneva  State  Park  

in  Geneva,  Ohio  on  Saturday  June  7th.    

We  are  once  again  looking  forward  to  hosting  a  group  of  awesome  triathletes  from  all  over  North  America!    We  have  athletes  returning  from  last  year,  as  well  as  a  group  of  new  racers  joining  us  for  the  first  time.    And  in  order  to  provide  

the  best  race  day  experience  possible  for  all  of  these  amazing  athletes,  we  could  use  your  help!  

 If  you  are  interested  in  joining  us  a  volunteer,  please  visit  our  website,  www.100MileTri.com  and  register  at  our  volunteer  

section.    Also,  please  tell  your  friends,  as  we  are  always  looking  for  more  dedicated  volunteers!    All  volunteers  will  receive  a  dri-­‐fit  racing  tee,  a  post-­‐race  

meal  ticket  and  invitation  to  our  post-­‐race  party!  

 

Perspective  

By  Mark  Durno  

It’s  all  perspective.    To  a  worm,  digging  a  hole  is  more  relaxing  than  going  fishing  

We  all  have  different  reasons  for  diving  into  the  world  of  endurance  sports.    For  many  of  us  –  it  started  with  a  mid-­‐life-­‐crisis  of  sorts.    In  our  30’s,  we  realize  that  we’re  not  what  we  once  were  and  need  a  change  –  so  we  gravitate  toward  a  healthier  alternative.    For  others,  it  was  getting  out  of  the  doldrums  of  an  individual  sport  –  bored  with  the  repetitive  nature  of  a  training/racing  regiment  and  looking  for  something  new.    That’s  the  whole  premise  of  the  obstacle  course  (e.g.  Tough  Mudder,  Warrior  Dash,  etc.)  fad  that  has  consumed  us  the  past  few  years  –  to  do  something  less  boring.      We  all  have  our  reasons.  

Getting  into  it  is  one  thing.    Our  goals  are  another.    We  all  train  and  race  with  different  goals  and  ambitions.    For  some  it’s  purely  for  the  competition  –  an  individual  finds  triathlon  appealing  and  he/she  works  their  tail  off  to  win,  place,  or  show  in  every  event  that  they  do.    On  the  other  extreme,  there  are  those  who  have  one  goal  –  the  finish  line  –  no  matter  how  long  it  takes.    For  these  folks,  the  longer  it  takes,  the  bigger  the  badge  of  honor.    There  are  those  of  us  that  simply  train  and  race  so  we  eat  and  drink  as  much  of  we  want.    Although,  probably  not  the  smartest  idea,  triathlon  can  be  a  wonderful  diet  plan  for  those  who  love  eating  crappy!    Of  course,  there’s  the  lifestyle  crowd  –  you  know,  the  triathletes  who  view  the  sport  as  a  holistic  approach  to  life  and  longevity.  

Interestingly,  in  our  sport,  the  athletes  tend  to  be  exceptionally  supportive  to  one  another.    We  tend  to  understand  each  other’s  perspectives  on  the  sport  and  in  life.    Even  the  over-­‐the-­‐top  competitive  triathletes,  for  the  most  part,  respect  and  support  the  rest  of  us.    Go  to  any  race  and  you’ll  see  the  impressive  camaraderie  –  especially  around  the  finish  line.    In  our  three  sports,  the  running  community  seems  to  have  a  similar  perspective  on  how  we  relate  to  and  support  each  other.    Interestingly,  the  biking  and  swimming  communities  tend  to  be  friendly,  but  a  bit  more  cut-­‐throat  during  competition.    The  exception  being  cyclo-­‐cross  –  those  guys  are  more  about  the  beer  than  they  are  about  the  race!  

Whatever  your  goals/ambitions/priorities/challenges  are,  get  to  know  your  fellow  club  members  and  learn  their  perspective.    Who  knows,  over  time  as  your  life  changes,  what  you  learn  from  the  rest  of  us  may  keep  you  enthused  to  stay  with  the  sport  for  a  long  time.    After  all,  the  statistics  show  that  most  of  us  get  out  of  triathlon  within  5  years  of  our  first  race.    Let’s  change  that  trend  here  at  CTC.    

 

 

These  codes  are  good  for  $5  off  Dirty  Bird  15K,  5K,  and  Buckeye  Buster  10  Mile,  as  well  as    $10  off  Buckeye  Buster  50  mile  &  50K.    The  codes  are  case  sensitive.  

 CLETRI5  CLETRI10  

 Dirty  Bird  takes  place  May  24th  on  the  unique  mountain  bike  trails  of  Vulture's  Knob  in  Wooster.    More  

information  about  this  exciting  technical  race,  including  the  addition  of  a  5k  and  kids  1  mile  trail  run  can  be  found  here  http://www.westernreserveracing.com/events/dirty-­‐bird/  

   

 

 

 

Buckeye  Buster  on  June  7th  makes  a  fantastic  weekend  getaway  at  Salt  Fork  State  Park  Lodge.    There  are  3  distances  to  choose  from  and  two  pools!    Details  on  the  course  and  lodging  are  available  

here  http://www.westernreserveracing.com/events/buckeye-­‐buster-­‐50k-­‐and-­‐10-­‐mile-­‐trail-­‐challenge/    

   

 

 

 

“Elevate Your Endurance Performance & Recovery”

THE EPIC ENDURANCE STACK

PRE-TRAINING: ELEVATE-ATP “Helps You Breathe Easier” Oxygen Delivery Supplement 60 Count

•Improve Oxygen Delivery & Blood Flow

•Increase Glucose Delivery to Working Mus-cles

•Extend Endurance & Stamina

•Supports Faster Removal of Lactic Acid

•Clinically Tested and Stimulant Free Dosing: Place 2 tablets under the tongue 30 minutes before training or competition, allow to dissolve then drink 4-6 ounces of water. For best results stack with EPIC NEU-ROCEL Mind-Muscle Energy Formula. PRE-TRAINING: NEUROCEL™ “The World’s First Zone Inducer” Elite Mind-Muscle Energy Formula 60 Count

•Activate Mind-Muscle Connection to “Get in the Zone”

•Achieve Laser Like Focus & Concentration

•Boost Muscular Force & Power Output

•Improve Stamina & Staying Power

•Ignite Smooth & Sustained Energy

Dosing: Take 2 capsules with 8oz of water 30-45 minutes prior to exercise. Before serious workouts or competitions increase the dose to 3-4 capsules. For best results stack with ELEVATE-ATP. DURING TRAINING OR COMPETITION: NITROCEL™ “Go Harder During – Heal Faster After” Endurance Performance Drink 1lb- Wild Berry

•Consume During Workouts for Improve

Strength, Endurance & Stamina

•Beta-Alanine to Buffer Lactic Acid to Delay

Muscle Fatigue – Fight the Burn

•Featuring EPICarb™ Sustained Energy –

No Bonking or Crashing

•Superior Cellular Hydration with EPIC Os-

molyte Electrolyte Matrix

•Caffeine Free & Naturally Sweetened with

Stevia Dosing: Mix one scoop in 18 oz. of water and consume slowly during training and competition. POST-TRAINING RECOVERY FORMULA

A revolutionary post-training recovery formu-la will be available this summer! Stay tuned for updates as to how you as a member of CTC can get your hands on this first!

Announcing new CTC 2014 sponsor-

FOLLOW EPIC Performance on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.com at ‘EPICPerformance’ Please feel free to tag us, share us and follow us on your own “EPIC Journey” so we can share your EPIC Achievements”! EPIC Performance also proudly supports USA Triathlon, USA Track and Field, USA Cycling Association, Road Runners Club of America and the International Mountain Bike Association. Questions, Comments & Inquiries– Contact Michael Meade at Mike@FlexusSports.com or (440) 342-9041 EPIC Performance products can be purchased at Blazing Saddle Cycle, Spin Bike Shop, The Edge Outdoors and Swerve Bike Shop.

TRAIN HARDER – RECOVER FASTER The EPIC Performance Elite Endurance Series was scientifically developed for the world’s best endurance athletes, pushing themselves beyond the limits of the mind and body on a daily basis. This revolution-ary supplement system allows hard training athletes to do dramatically increase training workload, improve exercise performance yet incur less damage. During a six year research and development phase 2008-2013 hundreds of athletes from all walks of life took part in a no holds barred beta-test that spanned across the entire continental United States, Europe and Aus-tralia and the results were nothing short of miraculous. Now these same pharmaceutical grade performance nutritionals that were used by the world’s best endurance athletes are available to our CTC athletes at several local Northeast Ohio retail stores. Moderate exercise is healthy however taking your body to the limit on a daily basis is actu-ally very unhealthy. If you’re like many tri-athletes you’ve been training hard and heavy for longer than you can remember. You’re also probably discovering that you’re no longer feeling as strong and healthy or re-covering as fast as you once did. EPIC Per-formance Elite Endurance Series will radi-cally improve your performance while build-ing and repairing your body from the inside out. After the self inflicted trauma you’ve been subjected to on the bike and road, starting on transitioning to these formulas will add years to your career and have you “feeling alive” again and ready to dominate. You need the training, the pain, the weights and the challenge of whatever obstacle lies in front of you. Without hard training some-thing in our lives is missing, and eventually without it a part of us will die. Our body's wants to quit but something in our minds won’t let us, and now with our most ad-vanced and current formulations you don't have to quit or slow down - ever. These elite formulations have been scientifi-cally designed to elevate your endurance performance and recovery to a level never before dreamed possible! With the EPIC Performance Elite Endurance Series you can finally take more punishment, recover and keep coming back for more!

Founded in 2005 EPIC Performance is an exceptional sports nutrition company that understands the needs of the hard training endurance athlete. EPIC Performance is led by CEO Joe Pavlik, a former Cleveland na-tive, 4:11 miler, New York City Marathon Finisher and world renowned sports nutrition guru. Over the last twenty years Pavlik has served as the performance nutrition consult-ant for numerous elite running groups, triath-letes and cycling teams that have dominated on global platforms such as the Ironman World Championships, Tour de Tour de France, Tour de California and the Olympic Games. Congrats to Official EPIC Performance Mid-west Ambassador, Michael Meade Mr. Pavlik has appointed Michael Meade, another lifetime Cleveland resident to be the official ambassador for EPIC Performance and parent company FLEXUS Sports in Northeast Ohio. Michael has been both personally and professionally committed to fitness his entire career and has a keen un-derstanding of sports nutrition, having served and participated in graduate programs in exercise science while at Kent State Univer-sity. Michael has made an impressive conversion from a former bodybuilding and powerlifting background to an endurance cyclist and mountain bike advocate. Michael will contin-ue to play in integral role in the development and advancement of cycling and endurance sports in Northeast Ohio, and will be the direct point of contact for all inquiries includ-ing purchasing, distribution and sponsorship. EPIC Ohio Endurance Project EPIC Performance is directing it’s focus this summer to Northeast Ohio, with a revolution-ary new series of sports supplements to help hard training endurance athletes train hard-er, recover faster and perform at their all-time best. In many cases athletes that have been “burned out and washed up” contem-plating retirement have made “EPIC Come-backs” utilizing these pharmaceutical grade research driven formulas. We’re excited about this opportunity and if you read on you’ll understand why this will be an EPIC Year for all CTC Members!

 

 

Tri  Camp  Re-­‐cap  

What  happens  at  camp,  stays  with  you  for  a  LONG  time.      

For  the  veterans,  there  is  no  better  pre-­‐season  training  (at  least  on  the  bike)  than  our  annual  training  camp  at  Mohican  State  Park.    If  you  embark  on  the  entire  three  day  weekend,  you  may  end  up  riding  more  than  150  miles  and  climb  over  10,000  feet  of  elevation.    Even  if  your  base  training  was  sub-­‐par  over  this  long,  cold  winter  and  spring,  the  ass-­‐kicking  that  you  sustain  in  the  Mohican  hills  provide  a  proper  make-­‐up  session.        

For  the  newbies,  the  learning  curve  in  this  sport  is  huge.    Coach  Tim  and  the  other  veterans  ensure  that  our  newest  

triathletes  walk  (or  crawl  ;-­‐)  away  with  more  confidence  in  their  ability  to  toe  the  line  in  their  upcoming  races.      

For  everyone,  the  social  aspects  of  camp  are  immeasurable.    Contacts  are  made.    Friendships  are  formed.    Stories  are  told  for  years.      

We  had  55  campers  this  year,  by  far  our  biggest  year  ever.    For  the  camp  planners,  it  all  starts  Thursday,  as  we  check  in,  review  the  roads  and  mark  the  bike/run  courses.    Many  of  the  veterans  join  in  Friday  for  either  a  killer  67-­‐mile  ride  or  a  challenging  35-­‐mile  ride.    Both  rides  go  through  Malbar  Farms,  a  very  scenic  farm  and  woodland  park,  and  wrap  up  through  Mohican.    Check  in  happens  in  the  early  evening,  followed  by  dinner,  a  5.5  mile  run  through  the  Mohican  mountain  bike  trails,  and  socializing  around  a  campfire.      

On  Saturday,  the  real  fun  begins.    The  newbies  spend  the  morning  learning.    The  veterans  spend  it  climbing.    This  year,  we  rode  out  to  Pleasant  Hill  Lake,  then  toured  the  Olympic  bike  course  for  the  upcoming  HFP  race  (mid-­‐June),  then  rode  back.    It  was  35-­‐miles  on  long  climbs  and  hard  riding.    After  lunch,  both  groups  laced  ‘em  up  again  for  more  riding  and  brick-­‐running  after  wards.    The  evening  is  finished  off  by  a  great  dinner,  two  learning  session  (tools  of  the  trade  &  nutrition  clinics),  and  of  course,  another  campfire.      

On  Sunday,  the  weekend  is  capped  off  with  28  miles  of  pace  line  riding  along  Wally  Road.    Wally  Road  is  infamous  in  the  region  for  camping  and  party  canoeing  during  the  summer  months.  

 

 

 

We’ve  received  rave  reviews  so  far  from  the  camp  participants.    It  will  be  fun  to  track  our  fellow  campers  throughout  the  season.    There  is  no  doubt  that  we  will  all  start  our  early  season  races  stronger  and  more  confident  than  we  otherwise  would  have.  

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 Taking  the  Out  

Marie  Rote  

We  can  all  think  of  those  races  when  we  didn’t  taper  or  raced  did  when  we  were  sick  or  simply  had  a  reason  that  we  were  unable  to  perform.    Other  times,  I  wonder  if  we  intentionally  sabotage  a  race  because  we  are  genuinely  scared  of  losing  or  not  performing  to  our  ability.      

I  remember  when  I  first  started  cycling,  there  were  these  Wednesday  night  rides  that  usually  had  30-­‐40  people  of  varying  abilities.    One  night,  we  were  doing  an  8  mile  time  trial  in  the  CVNP  starting  at  Hampton  Hills  and  ending  at  Appalachian  Outfitters  at  the  top  of  Truxell  Rd.    Basically,  it  was  5  flat  miles  followed  by  a  3  mile  climb.    I  recall  this  workout  specifically  as  I  passed  my  then  nemesis  as  we  turned  onto  the  climb.    When  we  got  to  the  top,  I  recall  her  talking  to  someone  and  quickly  saying,  “I  am  not  a  climber  so  I  let  up  when  we  got  to  the  climb.”    There  it  was,  her  “out.”    I  was  more  than  a  little  irritated  by  the  comment.    I  didn’t  beat  her  because  I  was  better,  I  beat  her  because  she  didn’t  try  her  best.    While  I  understand  protecting  the  ego,  I  didn’t  understand  the  rationale.    How  do  you  improve  if  you  are  willing  to  give  yourself  an  out  on  a  workout?    How  do  you  become  a  better  climber  if  you  don’t  push  yourself  while  climbing?      

I  am  not  saying  she  is  alone  in  this  “I  have  my  out”  ready  mentality.    My  first  cycling  race  of  the  year,  I  did  a  pretty  good  job  of  tiring  out  the  field,  did  way  too  much  work  in  the  front,  and  I  ended  up  dead  last.    When  we  approached  the  final  sprint,  I  listened  to  the  voice  in  my  head  that  said,  “you  aren’t  a  sprinter  so  why  even  try.”    I  gave  in  to  the  “out.”    In  his  book,  I’m  Here  to  Win,  Chris  “Macca”  McCormick  talks  about  how  he  uses  the  tendency  for  people  to  give  themselves  an  out  to  his  advantage.    In  interviews  before  a  big  race,  he  would  often  talk  about  his  competitors  and  would  say  things  like,  “So  and  So  has  proven  he  can  really  fly  on  the  run  in  a  half  ironman,  but  I  am  curious  to  see  how  he  will  do  around  mile  24  when  the  miles  have  really  taken  their  toll.”    Why  does  he  say  that  so  publically?    Because  Macca  wants  his  opponent  to  take  the  “out”.    Here’s  a  good  reason  for  you  not  to  perform  so  if  you  don’t  win,  we  know  it’s  because  you  aren’t  that  strong  at  the  end  of  a  marathon.    When  you  are  suffering  and  just  want  the  pain  to  stop,  do  you  take  the  easy  way  out  or  do  you  ignore  the  voice  telling  you  to  stop  the  pain  and  keep  pushing?  

We  all  want  to  be  better.    We  all  train  in  a  way  that  we  think  will  give  us  a  better  performance,  yet,  there  are  times  when  there  is  a  vulnerability  in  putting  it  all  on  the  line.    No  excuses:  “this  is  the  best  I  could  do”  is  difficult.    I  am  not  a  stranger  to  such  vulnerability.    In  a  way,  my  detachment  from  triathlon  has  actually  made  it  easier  to  race.    Every  race  I  do  already  has  a  set  of  excuses  and  is  “out”  ready.    “Not  bad  for  a  woman  who  basically  took  a  year  and  half  off  swimming”  or  “not  bad  for  a  woman  who  hates  running.”    When  I  toed  the  line  for  Galveston  70.3,  I  had  excuse  after  excuse  running  through  my  head.    Yet,  on  that  day,  I  honestly  believe  that  I  put  forth  “the  best  I  could  do.”    For  someone  like  me  who  is  super  competitive,  it’s  interesting  that  despite  being  31st  in  my  age  group,  I  was  more  proud  and  happy  with  my  performance  than  I  am  in  many  races  that  I  have  actually  won.    While  there  is  some  vulnerability  in  putting  yourself  out  there,  it’s  often  the  best  way  to  be  proud  of  how  strong  you  really  are.  

 

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June 2014

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OPEN WATER TRAINING SESSIONS

Invites you to join us at two of our upcoming eventsInvites you to join us at two of our upcoming eventsInvites you to join us at two of our upcoming events-

Event #1: ‘THE JUST FOR FUN’ TBH Bicycle Photo Hunt

When: Saturday, June 14th

Where: Starting from the Beal’s Pickles and Pints parking lot (36200 Euclid Avenue, Willoughby, OH)

Start Time: 5:30 PM

Cost: $10 / participant

What to bring: This event will require camera phones and a bicycle. This can be any kind of bicycle…your

race bike, your hybrid bike or even your sister’s bike! And of course, helmets are required!

What are we getting into: At the start, we will randomly select people to be on 2-3 person teams. Each

team will then be given clues to certain checkpoints/locations (in the Willoughby Mentor surrounding area)

where you must take a photo of the team as proof you were there. These locations may be historical land-

marks or other places you should be able to figure out if you are good with clues or riddles! Total mileage

will likely be around 12-15 miles and all levels of riders are welcome.

Your team determines the route to get to each location. As each picture is taken, they must be sent to the

event judges. Prizes (cash or other) will be given out to the fastest team(s) that submit all location pictures

to teambicyclehub@gmail.com. There will also be some special photo awards given out to best photo, most

original, best use of bike, etc…!

Awards ceremony and social as riders return at Beal’s Pickles and Pints!

Event #2: ‘THE BRING THE PAIN’ TBH Hill Challenge

When: Saturday, July 19th

Start: Mentor Memorial Middle School, 8979 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060

Time: Ride departs at 9:30 AM

What are you in for: 83 miles and 6,500ft of climbing. Starting at Mentor Memorial Middle School, heading

south through Kirtland to Chagrin Falls and back, hitting as many hills as possible. This is designed for the

hard core biker that likes pain.

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/603303

Cost: FREE

What to bring: Everything you will need. This is a self-supported ride but maps will be provided.