Dear Mr./Ms. Politician,

It’s obvious that we are in a fuel crisis. Gas is well over $3 per gallon and will continue to rise with no end in sight. This is sad and frustrating. I’m sure you remember the days of $1 per gallon. It really wasn’t that long ago that we enjoyed those prices. Now they are just a distant memory.

Because of the rising cost of driving I’ve decided to ride my bike into work nearly every day. I really don’t mind and I’m quickly ironing out anything that resembles a hassle. My wife waved the incentive of an iTunes download for each day I make the ride. The small gesture keeps me focused on getting out of bed on time. I’ll finally complete my Dokken library (see “Heavy Metal”) AND my 25 mile daily journey is a bit easier to bear.

I’ve noticed many other cyclists on the road during the morning and evening commutes, donning backpacks and/or panniers, which I can only assume hold their work cloths and toiletries. If you think about it, bike commuters are killing three birds with one stone: saving on fuel costs, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping the air a bit cleaner. I could get into specifics on how each of these elements benefits society, but such an editorial would consume my publication. They are obvious benefits that I’m sure you are well versed in.

I’d like to propose a tax deduction for commuters choosing bicycles over automobiles. These individuals deserve a tax break for the reasons listed above.

Now, you may be wondering how such a deduction would be offered. One method I can suggest is to give a tax break for the amount of miles an automobile is NOT driven annually. The fewer miles driven, the bigger the tax break. I realize that those relying on public transportation and/or carpools would also benefit from this method. However, they would deserve such a reward too for making the commute better and being friendly to mother earth.

Another suggestion to track and reward would be by measuring how many miles a cyclist rides per day for their commute. A special IRS approved cyclometer could be developed and purchased by those interested in the deduction. I’m not an engineer or manufacturer, but I believe there are many smart cyclists who could develop such a device for a low cost.

Come to think of it, maybe my proposed system would utilize both methods of tracking. It may seem complicated, but complication is the IRS’s middle name. Like many other annual tax law changes, tax preparers would begrudgingly learn how to calculate this deduction. However, I doubt many would complain about such a great tax law.

Please take my proposal to heart and consider it for the future. Our country needs an incentive to ditch the cars and hop on their bikes.

Sincerely,

Alex McKinley
Publisher
TriHive

Popularity: 49% [?]

Below is information for the 2008 Salem Spring Triathlon, held on June 7, 2008 in Salem, Utah.

Click HERE for Salem Spring Tri pre race documentation (schedule of events, directions, parking info, check-in info, etc…).

Below are maps of the course and a map showing race-day parking. (click image to enlarge)

Popularity: 88% [?]

Have you ever looked up at a mountain you are about to climb and thought, “How in the world am I going to get up there?” Maybe you’ve felt the same way about triathlons. The desire to get to the top is there, but you have no idea which trail to take. The best trail to start out on is the beginning trail or the sprint distance. For a beginning triathlon program, you can spend as little as 2 hours a week training.

At the IceBreaker Triathlon in American Fork, Utah on March 29th, I asked a few first time triathletes the best advice they’ve been given. Here is what they told me: For your first triathlon it’s a good idea to have one goal: to finish. After the race, evaluate your performance and choose one thing to improve for the next triathlon, supposing there will be one. Focus on becoming more comfortable with your weak sport. Just go out there and have fun. Cheer for those around you as you pass each other.

Those are great suggestions, but may not help you climb that mountain. A map will help you get there and below are suggested trail markers that will take you to the top.

1. Set your goal: pick a sprint distance triathlon you want to compete in that is between 12 and 20 weeks away. Less than 12 is not enough time to prepare and more than 20 can cause burnout without proper training. If swimming is not your strength, you may want to consider the type of swim you will be most comfortable with: pool swim versus open water swim.

Now you have at least 12 weeks to become acquainted with the course which is usually found on the triathon’s website. Do it. Come race day, know the course.

2. Determine how much time you can devote to training. Write down how many hours each week and how many hours each day you have to train. Think about all your commitments: family, work, and other responsibilities. Sometimes it’s good to get your family involved so they understand what you are doing and so they can support you. Hey, maybe they’ll want to start training with you! Many triathlete coaches suggest the minimum number of hours for a beginner sprint triathlon training program is two. Seven to eight hours is the most you will need to spend, but you can train more than that as well; as long as it is done correctly.

3. Gather your tools. If you aren’t involved with any of the events, you will need a few basic items to get started. As you get into the sport of triathlon, you may want to invest more in your gear, but here is a list of basic items that you really can’t do without.

Swim: swimsuit, cap, goggles, wetsuit (if swimming in cold open water)
Bike: bike, helmet
Run: shoes

It would probably be a good idea to have something to bike and run in. You can either throw on a tee shirt and shorts or spend a bit more and get a tri suit.
4. Decide what training program is right for you. Have you already been working out? Are you coming off the couch? Do you come from a running (swimming or biking) background? The answers to these questions will determine what type of training program you choose. If you already workout several times a week, you may want to choose the beginner advanced, however, if you are coming off the couch you will want to start with the very beginner program and keep the intensity low at first. If you come from a running background and want to focus on swimming because that is your weak link, then you may want to choose the swim emphasis program.

5. A few more questions: Are you overweight? Do you have previous injuries? BEFORE STARTING TO TRAIN, you probably should consult your doctor, especially if you are overweight or have health problems.

If you are committed to loosing weight and understand the benefits then climbing this mountain is still within your grasp. Individuals interested in a total conditioning program (which could include weight loss) can contact the author for a free DVD.

6. Start training! There are many theories and training programs out there. A basic program should include training for each sport at least 2 times a week with usually no more than 4. Rest and patience is important… you are training for three events and cannot workout at maximum intensity every time. Doing this will lead to over-training, fatigue, sickness, and injury. Below is a simple beginner program format where X equals time.

7. Eat right and drink at least 64 oz. of water throughout the day.

Stay on course, follow the trail markers, and discover success. This road map will take you to the top.

Happy training!

Jamie Lambert
2007 National Age-group Championship Qualifier
Exercise, Nutrition, and Triathlete Consultant
Total Health & Fitness
jamie.lambert@thfonline.com

Popularity: 58% [?]

Anne Heiner won the 2008 Women of Steel Triathlon. The event, held on May 17, 2008 in American Fork, Utah hosted over 500 female triathletes.

Heiner beat second place finisher, Sue Pope by almost three minutes. Paula Eldredge completed the podium.

For complete results, click HERE.

Top Finishers

Anne Heiner 1:00:43
Sue Pope 1:03:28
Paula Eldredge 1:03:35

Popularity: 48% [?]

Our final winner of the Battle At Midway, ‘08 Goals contest is Brad Willis. Below is Brad’s story and ‘08 goals.

Popularity: 39% [?]

Heath Thurston held off BJ Christenson in the ‘08 SG Triathlon Intermediate race (Olympic Distance), held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Sand Hollow Reservoir in St. George, Utah. Thurston won with a fast swim (days fastest swim) and solid bike. Christenson tried to run his way to victory with a 36:52 run split (days fastest run), but fell 29 seconds short of Thurston by race end.

Steph Popelar won the women’s overall in the SG Tri Intermediate race. Popelar finished over one minute quicker than second place, Jannalynn Luttrell.

The men’s Short race (Sprint Distance) was just as exciting as the men’s intermediate race. Michael Nordberg topped the SG Tri short event by 13 seconds over Chris Fetter.

Debbie Perry proved her dominance over the field of nearly 350 women by winning the SG Tri Short race. Second to cross the line, Bri Klug, finished one minute and 25 seconds after Perry.

Click HERE for complete results of the 2008 SG Triathlon (St. George Triathlon).

Top Men/Intermediate Race

Heath Thurston 2:13:03
BJ Christenson 2:13:32
Randall Olsen 2:21:06

Top Women/Intermediate Race

Steph Popelar 2:40:19
Jannalyn Luttrell 2:41:27
Amber Mounday 2:42:44

Top Men/Short Race

Michael Nordberg 55:37
Chris Fetter 55:50
Neal McLaughlin 56:57

Top Women/Short Race

Debbie Perry 1:02:12
Bri Klug 1:03:38
Heather Fisher 1:06:19

Popularity: 80% [?]

Winner #3 of the Battle At Midway, ‘08 Goals contest is Jeff Gardner. Below is Jeff’s story and ‘08 goals. Stay tuned for winner #4 of 4.

At the beginning of the year my main goal and focus was training in preparation for Ironman Arizona in April. I had previously finished one Ironman, Florida in 2005, and DNF in Arizona in 2006. In an attempt to have a better experience than I did in 2006 I put together a much more extensive training program and stuck to it all winter. It may not be as much as others train, but I was able to consistently hit 15 to 20 hours a week and felt confident heading into Arizona. To make a long story short, I got dehydrated and DNF’d for the second time in very similar conditions. My discouragement lasted about 12 hours and I have signed up again for Arizona this November. I returned home last week to set a pr at the annual SHAC pool tri, so I guess all that Ironman training did pay off. So in addition to training for Ironman Arizona in November, I will be attempting to qualify for Boston at St George this year, and enjoying the SGTrifecta Race series. I’ll probably make the annual trip to Echo, and possible visit Yuba in Sept.

Jeff Gardner

Popularity: 39% [?]

Winner #2 of the Battle At Midway, ‘08 Goals contest is Aaron Jordin. Below is Aaron’s story and ‘08 goals. Stay tuned for winner #3 of 4.

August 9th, 2007 I arrived at home after racing at a local road race, the Huntsville 100. The outcome was a similar one for the 2007 season. I was racing in the Cat. 1/2 group and got dropped before the last climb and ended up rolling in way back, out of the money and points. I had been racing competitively for 8 years on the road and was on a very competitive team, but had lost my fire and desire. I arrived home from the race and began venting to my wife. She immediately stopped me and told me she was sick of my bitching and moaning about road racing and that if I wasn’t having fun I should do something different.

Two hours later I’m on-line and signed up for the Kokepelli Triathlon. Never mind the fact that I didn’t know how to swim and the only “running” I did was the obligatory vacation runs during the winter with my wife - maybe 3 miles max and only 3-4 times a year. I decided then and there to focus on something new and that target was triathlon. 10 days later I had my first swim lesson (Sara Watchhorn is an amazing coach) and had purchased a new bike to race on ( still explaining to my wife why I had to sell my ‘05 Felt DA and get the P3 Carbon). Running was a challenge but I was setting new PRs every run - really not hard when my tempo runs were run for 3 miles at a 9 minute pace.

Full of excitement I decided to jump in early and race the Yuba Tri Sprint. The race went well. I wasn’t last out of the water and I actually had a competitive race. That was it. I was hooked. Ended up doing the Kokopelli Tri Olympic race but as you know the race was canceled after the swim. This little bump in the road catapulted me into full on crazy obsessed tri-addict Aaron. Within a few weeks I decided that I was committed and signed up for the California 70.3.
Winter went well, I attended master’s at Steiner, ran and ran and ran and even started hanging out with other tri obsessed people. My road racing buddies now call me Speedo and give me a hard time every time they see me - trying to understand how I could go from racing my bike 50-60 times a year to doing bricks on my weekends and only racing once a month or so.

California went well, I managed to achieve my goal of going under 5 hours (54 seconds to spare) and am committed to a full season of 1/2 and Olympic length races.

Being a tri-addict has done fantastic things for my health, my attitude and my life. I’m spending more time with my family on the weekends, my wife and I train together (she’s already a triathlete), my kids get to go to the pool a lot more, I’ve been healthy all winter and I’m generally in a great mood. Thank goodness for that fateful August day and for healthy addictions.

Aaron Jordin

Popularity: 42% [?]

Winner #1 of the Battle At Midway, ‘08 Goals contest is Adriel Bracken. Below is Adriel’s story and ‘08 goals. Stay tuned for winner #2 of 4.

My name is Adriel Bracken and 08 will be my 3rd tri season. Three years ago I weighted 225 lbs, and at 5′8″ that made for one FAT boy. My boss and I decided to have a Biggest Loser Contest to lose the weight. I started running and planned to run a 5K. One of my buddies told me of a triathlon here in Cache Valley. I was nervous of the swim so I talked some buddies into a relay team. Well the gun went off and I was hooked. I immediately started looking up every race in Utah and planned out my next years schedule starting with Saint George. If I would have know what I was in for maybe I would have thought twice. I’m glad I didn’t because SG has become my favorite race. It’s more of a love hate relationship. My brother heard of my crazy ambition for self inflicted pain and signed up with me. The family came to watch and were sucked into the excitement and energy that we have all come to know as the spirit of triathlon. Whether it was watching a smiling 70 year old grandma, a 300 lbs guy gritting it out, or the tall streak known as B.J. Christenson, they have inspired us all.

So what are my goals for 08? Well it has been two years since I finished my first triathlon and since then my Dad, 5 brothers, 4 sisters, an Aunt, and my wife (who I am most proud of) have all signed up or finished a tri. My goal is get my whole family and as many people as I can to sign up for a tri, so they can also feel that sense of accomplishment and to better there lives. I love to see the change that happens when you push your body to new limits. When you can accomplish something you thought you couldn’t do. I have noticed a difference in my life and I can see the changes in others. Triathlon is my drug and I will push it as much as I can.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Brad Anderson and Caprice Schwarzwalder topped the Olympic distance event at the 2008 Buffalo Duathlon, at Antelope Island, Utah. Karl Wild and Anne Heiner won the Sprint event. Below are the top finishers for the race, held on Saturday, May 3, 2008. Click HERE for complete results.

Olympic Distance
Top Women

Caprice Schwarzwalder 1:59:38
Michael Scheuller 2:02:17
Cherell Jordin 2:02:24

Top Men

Brad Anderson 1:47:50
Zane Morris 1:50:25
David Warden 1:52:02

Sprint

Top Women

Anne Heiner 1:03:25
Casey Baker 1:14:52
Jennifer Danker 1:19:33

Top Men

Karl Wild 1:00:00
Tyler Elmore 1:03:17
Eric May 1:03:29

Popularity: 43% [?]