Here's a wonderful story and great information about triathlons by Mark Taylor, The Roanoke Times, 5/3/09, More tales to tell a decade later at the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon.
Here's the Set Up Events link to a description of the race and here is the link to the 2009 results.
And thanks to Mark Taylor for sharing with us his original photo taken at the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon.
We so regret to announce that the 2009 New River Valley Triathlon will be canceled this year and rescheduled for 2010.
Our venue, the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, will not be completed in time for the date scheduled.
We will issue full refunds to all registered participants.
We look forward to hosting a first-class event for you in 2010.
Updated 4/28/09
Helpful, explanatory article by Lerone Graham in The Roanoke Times.
From TriAdventure Multisport Coaching & Fitness:
A new session of the TriAdventure's Tri Kids program and the Beginning Adult First Time Program will be starting in April, 2009.
Both Kids and Adults will start training Sunday, April 19th, with a meeting at East Coasters at 5:00PM, followed by Swimming at the Blacksburg Aquatic Center at 6:00PM.
The tentative races we have chosen are:
The 3Sports Sprint Triathlon in Richmond in July for the kids, and the Charlottesville Sprint in June for the adults.
Kids: The costs for beginning kids is $115 per month (approximately 9-14 weeks).
This fee includes two swim sessions a week at the Aquatic Center, and a TriAdventure Jersey (in addition to one coached run and bike per week, and a training schedule).
Adults: Fee will be discussed at the meeting.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Also, if you know of anyone else who might be interested in this, please pass the info along to them.
Thanks for everything!
Sincerely,
Anne, Kelly and Kristen
TriAdventure Multisport Coaching & Fitness
1427 Mt. Tabor Rd.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540-230-3019
racer15@triadventure.com
www.triadventure.com
When I have athletes finding it hard to get the motivation for their workouts, I simply remind them to ask themselves what they REALLY love about the sport. I ask them to concentrate on that aspect and find ways to simply have fun and to frolic.
I also ask them to focus on the goals that they have originally set and then try to figure out why their workouts aren’t “fun” any more.
Sometimes it’s things totally out of the coach's control…other times it's things like too structured of a training schedule…or lack of short term goals…or sometimes it's even things like wrong goals to start with.
Anyway, re-finding the passion is sometimes a challenge, but it is the key to long-term success. My main reason for living the triathlon life is that I love the way it makes me feel when I train. I race only to give my training a focus, but my passion is the running, biking and swimming that I do on a regular basis.
Jim McGehee coaches folks that are passionate about the sport of triathlon…right here in the New River Valley. Find out more about Jim and his coaching at One-on-One Endurance.
From Greg Hawkins, Set Up Events:
The 2009 triathlon season is finally upon us and it is the five-year anniversary of the Virginia Triathlon Series! We have made some great additions to the series this year with new events at Lake Anna and a new event in Christiansburg, VA.
So, with beautiful spring days and a race season fast approaching, here are a couple of items I would like to share with you:
NEW VTS RULES FOR 2009
1. Series Qualifiers - If you want to qualify for series awards you need to do 5 races.
2. Packet Pick Up - Many Virginia Triathlon Series events have chosen to go green! As such, the pre-stuffed plastic bags at some events are going away. Don't worry, you'll still get your T-shirt and all the giveaways, you'll just get to pick and choose what flyers you want to take with you.
3. VTS Collegiate Championship - If you are part of a college team and want to race for the VTS Collegiate Cup, register for the Big Lick Triathlon. Teams will compete for bragging rights throughout the year.
4. VTS Club Championship - If you are part of a club and want to compete as a team, sign up for any race at the Patriots Race Weekend. The fastest club with the most people will get to carry the cup and bragging rights until next year. Just put your club name in the collegiate field when you sign up. Full details on scoring, etc., will be posted soon.
5. Photo ID - Remember that for all VTS events you are required to show a photo ID and USAT card (if you are a USAT member) in order to get your race number and timing chip.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
3/28 - Manassas Park Festival of Races - 5K, 10K, 10 Miler. Staged out of Signal Hill Park, this is a new Northern Virginia running event we are timing and we like seeing friendly faces at races! Enter discount code MP123 for a $5 discount. The last day to register online with the discount is Tuesday 3/24.
4/4 - Smithfield Sprint - Pool Swim Sprint - 10AM Start - 175 Slots Left. A flat, fast course and post race BBQ await all athletes. Black hooded sweatshirts for all those fast enough to place. Come out to the first event of the 2009 VTS and check your legs.
4/18-19 - Rumpass in Bumpass - Int & Sprint Triathlons- 10AM Start -50% Full. The first open water events of the year in a heated lake with clinics, live music and camping on site. It's going to be a rocking good time! Plus, if you race both days, you'll get a pair of free socks and be in the running for a free entry into the 2010 event! Register soon as both events have passed 50% capacity.
4/26 - Angels Race - Pool Swim Sprint - 30 Spots Left - Register ASAP! A very cool urban pool swim event with a fast, challenging bike course and a run course that goes through a tunnel! If you have never raced this event, you are missing out.
5/2 - Appalachian Power Smith Mtn Lake Triathlon - Almost 50% Full. Another great early season triathlon in the western part of our state, this event has super fast bike and run courses. Both are out and back so you can always keep an eye on your
competition!
5/9-5/10 - Kinetic Race Weekend - Half & Sprint Events - Both Past 50%. Moved back 3 weeks for warmer weather, this event is as picture perfect as they come. The half is athlete and spectator friendly with a multi-loop format and well stocked aid stations. The sprint is a biker's dream with a rolling 18 mile course followed by a rolling 5K run course. The Half starts at 7AM but the Sprint starts at 9AM so you can almost sleep in for this one!
5/31 - Reston Sprint Triathlon - Sold Out! This pool swim event sold out in about 30 minutes this year. So, if you didn't get in better luck next year.
TRI FOR AUTISM 2009
After raising $50,000 over the last 2 years, Tri For Autism is back again in 2009 and their goal is to raise $50,000 this year alone! If you want to fund autism research through your racing, visit Tri for Autism to read more about it and see what you can do.
We have many registrants for the New River Valley Triathlon, some first-timers, some veterans, and some in-betweens.
To assist those in their second triathlon seasons, we posed a question to our local coaches. Here's Coach Kati Derrick's reply. Below we offer the reply from Coach Anne Jones Thompson.
***
Dear USAT Certified Triathlon Coaches in the Roanoke and New River Valleys,
I set a personal goal to complete a triathlon last year. I did that – then found myself competing in more races!
To place in the 2009 Virginia Triathlon Series, one must register for 5 races. I have done that for my second triathlon season.
I have found myself inconsistent in my training. I either set personal records for speed or distance, or miss several workouts in a row. I don’t seem to follow the consistent pattern I did last year.
What’s wrong?
Is it because the novelty of the “first triathlon” has passed?
Is it because the mystery of the “first triathlon” has been revealed?
Is it because I am focusing intensely on work in this economic downturn?
Are there universal truths about a second triathlon season that I just don’t know about?!
If you care to offer your wisdom about a second triathlon season, I would welcome it.
***
Coach Anne Jones Thompson replies:
I find your questions interesting, and very, very typical.
You want to train, you have a family, you have a new business, you have a race to put on...let's add everything we can and see what happens...that's how we all do it, and none of us can do it all.
As a matter of fact, we can only do one thing well at a time, and multi-tasking, while possible, is not possible to do well...especially if there are 3 or 4 things involved.
You work all day and sometimes at night too and then you have to either get up early to train and you are already tired, or you try and workout after work, or even during the day, and you really need to get that project tweaked, or that report finished, or someone's problem fixed, and you'll feel better if the work gets accomplished than if your workout gets squeezed in...of course, you will hate yourself for not doing the workout...but what can you do...
Its all about time, responsibility...and what we really want to do. No one will do anything they don't really want to do...at least not for long.
Great athletes are selfish...they have to be...there is no way to be the best if you don't put your training...and training means, rest, sleep, workouts, recovery, nutrition, and everything else...first. You won't be a top triathlete and a very successful business person at the same time...remember, you can only do one thing well at a time.
Which is why there are so few Lance's and so many more everyday weekend warriors...
What you are experiencing is normal. You just have to decide if, to be a success in your triathlons, you can be happy with just finishing, or if you want to set PR's, etc.
Your answer to that question will tell you how much you need to train, and really, how important everything else in your life is. There is no right or wrong decision, just what is right for you...
The 2009 Virginia Tech football schedule has been announced and it’s going to be quite a weekend in the New River Valley on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2009.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the Virginia Tech football team plays Boston College at home in Blacksburg, Virginia. The game time is still to be announced.
The next morning, October 11, 2009, the inaugural New River Valley Triathlon will commence at 8:00 AM at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center in Christiansburg, Virginia.
With that many people in the New River Valley (Lane Stadium holds 65,000 fans), we anticipate two important developments for the New River Valley Triathlon:
One, the race limit of 600 participants could be filled to capacity!
Two, the audience could be of such a size that we can create a hands-across-America-Tour-de-France style line of spectators on both sides of the entire race course!
If you’ve got tickets to the Virginia Tech-Boston College football game on Saturday, October 10, consider being a football spectator on Saturday and a triathlete on Sunday. Register here for the New River Valley Triathlon on October 11, 2009.
Or, consider being a spectator at both events.
If you’re from out of town and plan to drive in on Sunday morning for the 8:00 AM start of the New River Valley Triathlon, you should have a smooth ride.
If you’re from out of town and plan to stay in a hotel that weekend, most hotels will require a two-night stay and will have higher football weekend rates than usual.
You will need to make your hotel reservations on your own without a group rate. This might be a good time to reconnect with your family and friends in the New River Valley for an overnight stay. If you do plan on staying at a hotel, we recommend you book your rooms now.
If you’re a local and signed up for the triathlon, prepare to be a crowd-pleaser because there will be a crowd!
Looking forward to greeting all visitors to the New River Valley in October!
We have many registrants for the New River Valley Triathlon, some first-timers, some veterans, and some in-betweens.
To assist those in their second triathlon seasons, we posed a question to our local coaches. We'll share their responses.
***
Dear USAT Certified Triathlon Coaches in the Roanoke and New River Valleys,
I set a personal goal to complete a triathlon last year. I did that – then found myself competing in more races!
To place in the 2009 Virginia Triathlon Series, one must register for 5 races. I have done that for my second triathlon season.
I have found myself inconsistent in my training. I either set personal records for speed or distance, or miss several workouts in a row. I don’t seem to follow the consistent pattern I did last year.
What’s wrong?
Is it because the novelty of the “first triathlon” has passed?
Is it because the mystery of the “first triathlon” has been revealed?
Is it because I am focusing intensely on work in this economic downturn?
Are there universal truths about a second triathlon season that I just don’t know about?!
If you care to offer your wisdom about a second triathlon season, I would welcome it.
***
Coach Kati Derrick replies:
I think there are several factors that are affecting your motivation.
First, and probably foremost, are your goals. Last year, your goal was to finish, period. You didn't put a lot of pressure on yourself about time and performance. This year, your focus has been on speed and performance and your workouts have been harder.
If you tend to be naturally hard on yourself - many triathletes can be - I can only imagine your worry over meeting your goals. When you begin to question if you will meet your goals and you are facing harder workouts, it's easy to throw your hands up and choose not to do a workout with which you might or might not be successful.
Having said that, I am guessing that work, family life, perhaps community service, and a recession are also taking a toll on your workouts. Rather than doing workouts that will stress you more, you are choosing to do the workouts that you like and at which you can succeed.
So, what is the answer? I think you need to find the joy in your workouts again. You need to find your workouts as a stress reliever, not as a measure of your success or a measure of YOU. Let a workout be a workout.
Some years, life might take priority over triathlon and this season might not be amazing. BUT don't count yourself out. Each day is a new day to find your spark and to have one of those workouts that light your fire and give you bliss.
Look for your daily bliss. Relax and take it day by day.
Kati
Here's your chance!
The 24th Annual Blacksburg Classic will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2009 in Blacksburg, Virginia. The races - a 1-mile fun run, a 5K, and a 10-mile - begin at Margaret Beeks Elementary School at 1:00 PM.
The run leg of the New River Valley Triathlon is a 5K - 3.1 miles. If you want to see what running that far is like, you can give it a try during the 5K race at the Blacksburg Classic.
If you want to just see how it's done, over 250 people have registered for the race, so you'll have plenty of people to watch. Go stealth and join the crowd of spectators. No one has to know yet that you're a budding sprint triathlete in disguise!
