A couple months ago I shared my initial experience with TriDot after a couple months of use. We've invited a friend of ours Matt Bach to help explain TriDot gives athletes a highly individualized training plan using artificial intelligence, environmental factors, and even your genetic data.
Show Sponsor: VENGA CBD
Thanks very much to Venga CBD for helping make the show possible.
Venga was started in Colorado by athletes like you who wanted a better way to use CBD to help fight pain, train longer, race harder and recover faster. Venga created a SYSTEM of CBD products that cover 100% of your CBD needs (Ultra Gels, Sleep formula, Balm, Gummies and Energy Drink).
Each product is specifically made to support an area of your endurance life from training (Ultra Gels) to racing (Gummies and Energy Drink) to recovery (Balm and Sleep). All Venga CBD products are 100% THC Free and water soluble!
Just go to https://vengaendurance.com/303podcast to order yours today. First-time order is 30% off with code (303PODCAST). We've also added 50% off your first month's subscription with code (303SUBSCRIPTION).
In Today's Show
Interview Sponsor: UCAN
Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch® UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes. UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. Steady energy equals sustained performance!
You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance. Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly! Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at
ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co
Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,
Interview with Matt Bach
A couple years ago we met our guest in Kona. Matt is a Wall St to Kona story as an athlete and he's a well respected coach and industry leader. Matt Bach made a move to work for Predictive Fitness after a successful career at UCAN. Ever curious to know what Matt was up to, we learned that he was working for TriDot, which I admittedly knew very little about. A cursory research led me to understand it was a training app, something about artificial intelligence, but that's about it.
The athlete gets the most perfect training workout, structured in the perfect way, and with the exact intensity for the temperature and altitude the workout is being performed. TriDot then uses the athlete's training and testing results with RaceX to predict race performance on your goal race. When every workout counts, make every workout count!
This week we have Matt Bach from TriDot.
To check out RemoteRacing and sign up for the inaugural USA Triathlon Remote National Championships: https://remoteracing.com/
To check out TriDot and start your 2 week free trial: https://tridot.com/
5 Tips for Free Speed: https://www.myracex.com/5-tips-for-free-speed/
Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance.
Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest. Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle. You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account. There's no commitment or charge to create one. Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day. Check it out!
Endurance News:
IRONMAN California Cancelled Due to "Unprecedented Weather Conditions"
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dear 2021 IRONMAN California Athlete,
As shared with you earlier, we are beyond disappointed that the 2021 IRONMAN California triathlon could not take place due to unprecedented weather conditions in Sacramento and northern California on Sunday. For an event that has been years in the making, we were excited to showcase this beautiful region and provide you with a race experience that you deserve. However, due to the considerable weather conditions, we felt this was the necessary decision.
Based off the unforeseen circumstances and to provide all of our athletes the ability to race, we have made a variety of race options available, including a very limited number of entries to 2021 events (which will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis) and a number of options for 2022 events.
Defer to 2022 IRONMAN California – October 23, 2022 (Automatic Option)
Free transfer to 2021 Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN Florida – November 6, 2021*
Free transfer to 2021 Select Blinds IRONMAN Arizona- November 21, 2021*
Free transfer to 2021 Mazda IRONMAN Cozumel – November 21, 2021
Free transfer to 2022 IRONMAN Texas – April 23, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa – May 22, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Des Moines – June 12, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 ViewSPORT IRONMAN Lake Placid – July 24, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 Subaru IRONMAN Canada-Penticton – August 28, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 IRONMAN Wisconsin – September 11, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 IRONMAN Maryland- September 17, 2022
Free transfer to Little Debbies IRONMAN Chattanooga presented by McKee, A Family Bakery – September 25, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN Florida – November 5, 2022
Free transfer to 2022 IRONMAN Arizona- November 20, 2022
*2021 event options are first-come, first-served and very limited availability
On Tuesday, October 26th at 12pm eastern, you will receive an email from Active with a link to select your event option. If you would like to compete in IRONMAN California on October 23, 2022, no action is required at this time. If you choose to not remain in the new event date, you will have until Monday, Nov 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET to complete your new event selection in the provided Active link. Please note: if you plan to select any of the 2021 IRONMAN event options, your selection will need to be completed no later than Thursday, October 28th at 11:59 p.m. ET.
If you have additional questions, please contact calilfornia@ironman.com.
While we were prevented from holding the event in 2021, we look forward to providing you with an exceptional IRONMAN race experience in the future.
The IRONMAN California Team
USA TRIATHLON FOUNDATION NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2022 AMBASSADOR TEAM
Posted on October 26, 2021
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The USA Triathlon Foundation announced today it is now accepting applications for the fourth annual USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador Team. The USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador Team is a group of dedicated individuals who are committed to raising awareness for the USA Triathlon Foundation and its mission, which is transforming lives through sport by opening pathways to swimming, biking, and running for all. The application window runs from Oct 15th through Nov 5th.
The ambassador team is based around the everyday triathlete who has a passion for giving back. Through local service projects, community outreach activities and beginner triathlon clinics, ambassadors embody the goals of the USA Triathlon Foundation: to support and promote triathlon, and to open pathways to triathlon to those for whom it might not otherwise be possible.
Outreach activities will support one of the Foundation’s three key focus areas: encouraging every child to participate, inspiring adaptive athletes to get involved, and igniting athletes’ dreams of competing at the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
“The impact our ambassadors have had in growing and supporting the sport of triathlon in their local communities, as well as at national and world events, is a testament to the passion and dedication the multisport family displays on a daily basis.” said Laura Goodwin, Foundation Development and Program Coordinator for the USA Triathlon Foundation. “We look forward to growing both the influence and outreach of the Ambassador team as we field the largest team yet this year.”
Ambassador team members will participate in service projects on-site at the 2022 Toyota Legacy Triathlon in Long Beach, Calif., on July 15-17 and the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee on August 6-7. Service projects will support local triathlon communities and multisport-focused charities in each host city.
What's New in the 303:
Colorado’s Newest Safety Stop Community
On October 19, Manitou Springs became the latest Colorado community to adopt the Safety Stop! Bicyclists in Manitou can now treat stop signs as yield signs and stop lights as stop signs when the coast is clear. John Graham, the Mayor of Manitou Springs said in a statement, “Creating an environment where our roads are more comfortable for everyone—at no cost to the taxpayers—is a great achievement for the City of Manitou Springs, and we hope to see other municipalities follow suit in the future.”
Congratulations to the residents of Manitou Springs!
We’re excited to see more communities in Colorado passing this common-sense ordinance. We’re gearing up for the 2022 legislative session, where we’re fighting to pass a law that would standardize the Safety Stop across the state.
The Safety Stop
Several Colorado communities allow bicyclists to perform the Safety Stop, a safer way for people on bikes to cross at intersections when they have the right of way. The maneuver allows people riding bicycles to:
treat stop signs as yield signs.
treat red lights as stop signs.
The Safety Stop does not impact the current right-of-way. People on bicycles can proceed straight, right, or left at a reasonable speed of no more than 15 miles per hour only when the coast is clear. Click here to watch our explainer video and announcement of Englewood’s adoption of the Safety Stop.
As of October 25, 2021, the following Colorado communities allow bicyclists to perform the maneuver:
Aspen (stop-as-yield only)
Berthoud
Breckenridge
Dillon (stop-as-yield only)
Englewood
Manitou Springs
Steamboat Springs
Summit County
Thornton
To learn more about the Safety Stop’s benefits for bicyclists, as well as Bicycle Colorado’s efforts to make this legal statewide, please click here.
Upcoming Guests
Allysa Seely
Video Of The Week
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!
This week we have Jared Fisher joining us for the interview. Jared has biked across the country multiple times. He's also the CEO of Escape Adventures, which is a cycling-tourism company. Bill experienced their hut system.
"The “huts” are shipping containers repurposed and carved up to make sleeping accommodations and a kitchen for 12 cyclists. As Jared Fisher, owner of Escape Adventures, who dreamed up this hut system says, “It’s like putting together a lego house. It takes four containers to make a “hut” and we cut them, install windows and doors and add the bunks and appliances.” The huts are “off the grid” operating by solar and propane complete with compostable toilets and showers."
Utah’s Unique Mountain Bike Hut System Unites a Group of Colorado Cyclists
Posted on October 12, 2021
By Bill Plock
I just opened my email and learned that I've been accepted on to the TriDot Ambassador Team!
#TriDot and #IAMTriDot
Show Sponsor: VENGA CBD
Thanks very much to Venga CBD for helping make the show possible.
Venga was started in Colorado by athletes like you who wanted a better way to use CBD to help fight pain, train longer, race harder and recover faster. Venga created a SYSTEM of CBD products that cover 100% of your CBD needs (Ultra Gels, Sleep formula, Balm, Gummies and Energy Drink).
Each product is specifically made to support an area of your endurance life from training (Ultra Gels) to racing (Gummies and Energy Drink) to recovery (Balm and Sleep). All Venga CBD products are 100% THC Free and water soluble!
Just go to https://vengaendurance.com/303podcast to order yours today. First-time order is 30% off with code (303PODCAST). We've also added 50% off your first month's subscription with code (303SUBSCRIPTION).
In Today's Show
Interview Sponsor: UCAN
Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch® UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes. UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. Steady energy equals sustained performance!
You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance. Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly! Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at
ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co
Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,
Interview with Jared Fisher
In 1992 Jared Fisher began a mission to promote human power and the natural environment which is now the basis of three bike shops and a tour company powered by renewable energy and human powered. Jared has 27+ years experience partnering with government agencies, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management in the western United States (Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyomin)g. Jared is a strong professional leader graduating from University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Past member Nevada State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
As you may imagine, he is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete with and in 2019 Jared biked 3,421 miles across the country the northern tier of the U.S. in 18 days in July.
Bill to share how they met and make introductory comments.
Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance.
It's big time training and racing season. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest. Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle. You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account. There's no commitment or charge to create one. Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day. Check it out!
Endurance News:
Race Results:
10/16: 70.3 and 140.6 Alcúdia-Mallorca Results
10/16: Challenge Peguera Mallorca Results; Collin Chartier 2nd place
Upcoming Races:
10/23: NC 70.3, 140.6 Portugal, 140.6 Waco
10/24: 70.3 Portugal, 70.3 Greece Costa Navarino, 70.3 Waco, 70.3 Sardegna, 140.6 California
Ironman California 2021 (MPRO-only, Oct 24th) – Entry List | TriRating
IM CA Journal
What's New in the 303:
Utah’s Unique Mountain Bike Hut System Unites a Group of Colorado Cyclists
Posted on October 12, 2021
By Bill Plock
In south central Utah surrounded by National Parks, ancient river beds and views of what was once the floor of a great sea bed, lies a system of huts sheltering mountain bikers as they wind through the Escalante Plateau.
The area, more than twice the size of Rhode Island is bordered by Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef National Parks and Lake Powell. It offers a huge variety of terrain tempting all levels of cyclists to explore the high deserts, deep canyons, daunting plateaus and sandy washout basins. Coming from Colorado, a beautiful drive takes you from Green River, Utah southwest to the town of Escalante where the 190 mile Aquarius Trail Hut System ends. When you arrive, someone from Aquarius takes you and your bike West to Brian Head where the adventure begins.
The “huts” are shipping containers repurposed and carved up to make sleeping accommodations and a kitchen for 12 cyclists. As Jared Fisher, owner of Escape Adventures, who dreamed up this hut system says, “It’s like putting together a lego house. It takes four containers to make a “hut” and we cut them, install windows and doors and add the bunks and appliances.” The huts are “off the grid” operating by solar and propane complete with compostable toilets and showers. When all the expenses are accounted for, a hut will cost about $200,000 to build and install. They are serviced by staff each day bringing in fresh food, linens, and fuel.
Scattered on the Escalante Plateau National Monument, the huts are a welcome reprieve from some challenging days on single track and dirt roads taking riders up epic climbs to amazing views. They are fully stocked with gourmet food, snacks, beverages, water, showers and everything to make it as comfortable as possible. Guest can cook on the grills outside and cozy up to fire pits to take the high desert chill away.
The group I joined is mostly from Colorado and gather once in a while at destinations like this. They had a sag truck to carry some provisions and the group dog. All seemed to love the hut and the route and the abundance of food and snacks. Said one rider, “they even have Peanut M&M’s” which seemed to be an important provision.
The daily routes are between 25 and 40 miles with options for longer treks to scenic spots. After the group breakfast, riders had all day to make it to the next hut and when possible the sag truck would park somewhere in between with refreshments. Said Jeff Oehm of Lakewood, “The huts are well thought out and stocked with good food and comfortable beds. The trails and roads were great and very challenging in places. This part of Utah is stunning and so uncrowded, was well worth the drive from Denver.”
Fisher’s company provides destination, endurance oriented travel experiences all over the world and discovered this area about 10 years. He lives in Las Vegas, operates three bike shops and has built a company revolving around the bike. It took a while to get the permits to start installing the huts and connecting the trails. He said, “Covid actually helped push this project to the finish as the Forest Service was able to re-evaluate the situation and we got approval last year. This is our first year of operations and it’s gone very well. We have accommodated over 500 cyclists this summer. Any tour operator would be happy with that I think.”
The experience can be customized to accommodate a private group or open to a single rider with a variety of diets and food preferences. They also have bikes, and e-bikes for rent.
Upcoming Guests
Matt Bach from TriDot
Justin Metzler @bigmetztri
Video Of The Week
2021 IRONMAN California Race Recon Webinar Presented by RaceX
John Mayfield, TriDot Director of Community
September 21
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!
Any given weekend there are half a dozen IRONMAN races. What is driving the weekly surplus of IRONMAN races? How are they not canalizing themselves? How can a single island support both IRONMAN and CHALLENGE races on the same day? Speaking of big races on the same weekend, we are also discussing the Boston and Chicago Marathons that just happened this past weekend. Plus "Remote Racing" by RemoteRacing.com and USAT.
Show Sponsor: VENGA CBD
Thanks very much to Venga CBD for helping make the show possible.
Venga CBD is not like most CBD companies. Venga was started in Colorado by athletes like you who wanted a better way to use CBD to help fight pain, train longer, race harder and recover faster.
That’s why they created a SYSTEM of CBD products that cover 100% of your CBD needs. I use it every day in one form or another!
Each product is specifically made to support an area of your endurance life from training to racing to recovery. All Venga CBD products are 100% THC Free and water soluble!
Save a whopping 30% off & get free shipping when you buy the Venga Endurance System versus buying the products separately - seriously, this is the best deal on the market.
Just go to https://vengaendurance.com/303podcast to order yours today. First-time order is 30% off with code (303PODCAST). We've also added 50% off your first month's subscription with code (303SUBSCRIPTION).
In Today's Show
Interview Sponsor: UCAN
Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch® UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes. UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. Steady energy equals sustained performance!
You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance. Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly! Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at
ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co
Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,
Discussion: Upcoming IRONMAN Races - Too Many?
IRONMAN Races Next Two Weekends
10/16: 70.3 and 140.6 Alcúdia-Mallorca Spain (east)
10/16: Challenge Peguera Mallorca (west) 77k away
10/17: AZ 70.3
10/23: NC 70.3, 140.6 Portugal, 140.6 Waco
10/24: 70.3 Portugal, 70.3 Greece Costa Navarino, 70.3 Waco, 70.3 Sardegna, 140.6 California
American River (Folsom), CA water temperature in October (seatemperature.info)
Ironman California 2021 (MPRO-only, Oct 24th) – Entry List | TriRating
Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance.
It's big time training and racing season. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest. Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle. You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account. There's no commitment or charge to create one. Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day. Check it out!
Endurance News:
2021 Boston Marathon results: The winners list and official times
Men’s race: Benson Kipruto won his first Boston Marathon after finishing 10th in 2019. Kipruto made a decisive move in Mile 23, running it in just 4:29. He then upped the tempo in Mile 24 (4:25), finishing with an average mile pace of 4:58 and a 46-second margin of victory.
Women’s race: Diana Chemtai Kipyogei won her first Boston Marathon after withstanding a late charge from 2017 champion Edna Kiplagat. Kipyogei pulled away from Netsanet Gudeta at Mile 23.
Top 10 Men’s
Top 10 Women
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/Remote-National-Championships
USA Triathlon has partnered with RemoteRacing™ to host the first first Remote National Championships, an opportunity for athletes from across the United States to compete for an Olympic and sprint-distance national championship regardless of where they live and train. Using RaceX's RemoteRacing™, results are normalized to create a fair and level playing field and final results are localized to the course at the 2021 Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee. Finish times for all athletes will be as if everyone was competing on the same course, in the same climate, on the same day.
RemoteRacing™ accounts for both environment and terrain, including heat, humidity, wind, elevation, and elevation gain. What is equalized? Results are equalized for both age and gender, so you can get a true sense of how you stack up.
Note: RaceX is a sister company to TriDot. Amazing software that solves a lot of problems with training. Listen to episode 299 for more on that topic, and tune in in a couple weeks for our interview with Matt Bach from TriDot.
Event Details
Dates – November 11–21 (registration opens October 7)
Format – Sprint and Olympic distances
Cost – $45 for athletes who register by Oct. 21 and $50 starting on Oct. 22. A portion of the proceeds will support USA Triathlon Foundation's mission to transform lives through sport by opening pathways for all to swim, bike, and run.
Qualification – No qualification is required to compete and competing in the event does not qualify you for anything, including 2022 Toyota Age Group National Championships nor Team USA. This event also does not earn you points toward your ranking. This competition is solely for bragging rights (and fun awards!).
Race Format and Rules
The Race Window will open at 12:01am CT, Thursday, November 11, 2021, and close at 6:00pm CT, Sunday, November 21, 2021. Race activities must be done in swim, bike, run order.
Swim – Swims must be done in standard-length pools (25 yards, 25 meters, 50 meters) due to inconsistent access to open water for many athletes and inaccurate results from open-water swims due to various water conditions. Athletes may complete their swim at any time during the Race Window prior to starting their bike or run.
T1 – The time between the swim and bike is unregulated due to inconsistent pool accessibility and proximity to adequate bike and run route
Bike – The bike may be completed indoors or outdoors either with or without a bike power sensor. Differences in power sensor accuracy ratings is handled automatically by the system.
T2 – The run must start within 10 minutes of finishing the bike
Run – The run must be done outdoors
Register today! For more details, please visit RemoteRacing.com.
What's New in the 303:
Deb Connelly, Running Hall of Fame, Denver Athletic Club
Deb Conley started running for the first time the summer before attending the University of Colorado at Boulder. She ran just to run with a new boyfriend. Like three miles. A couple of months later she walked on to CU’s cross country team and has been running ever since.
And just recently, she was inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. Wow. She never played sports growing up, never ran, never did anything but work and go to school.
In this video interview, Deb expresses a surprised happiness after being selected for the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. But she also shares something vulnerable; how running in college was the first time she ever experienced feeling truly happy. Whats not really discussed, is the rocky and almost impossible path she took to get here.
If you knew Deb in high school you probably would never have foreseen her making the Colorado Running H.O.A. But like 99% of her classmates, I had no idea how hard her life was until we reconvened about this honor almost 40 years later.
My high school experience differed greatly from Deb’s even though we both went to Wheat Ridge and graduated in 1983. I played sports, didn’t work, had a car, stayed busy with practices and homework and hanging out with friends. Admittedly, I led the “Leave it Beaver” lifestyle (yes I’m dating myself), like a good chunk of my fellow “Farmers” (our mascot).
Deb, living just a few miles away lived in poverty. Her mom forged her birth certificate when she was 13 so she could work. Her bed was an old army cot. They had no refrigerator and the house was in disrepair. Her parents didn’t want her to go to college but rather help with the other kids. There was no modeling of “success” or “ambition” in her home. Yet she excelled at school and knew she had to figure out a way to go to college. She admittedly didn’t understand true happiness and felt lonely.
Her friend and fellow classmate, Chris Tomlinson, one of the few who knew of Deb’s tough childhood said, “she was very smart, but seemed anxious and isolated. It seemed touch and go for her.”
A middle distance runner, Wendy Koenig competed seven times for the United States in international dual meets. She was a three-time AIAW Champion, in 1975 in the 880 yards, and in 1976 at both 800 and 1,500 metres. Koenig also won three AAU titles, outdoors in the 1973 880 and in 1976 in the 1,500, and indoors in the 1979 800. On 24 March 1973, she set one of the very early world records for the 400 hurdles with 59.08, the first woman to run the event under one minute. Koenig ran for Colorado State University, and competed at the 1972 Olympics as Wendy Koenig and the 1976 Olympics as Wendy Knudson.
Personal Bests: 440y – 54.60 (1975); 800 – 1:59.91 (1976); 1500 – 4:21.80 (1976); Mile – 4:47.7i (1976); 3000 – 9:49.0 (1976); 2 Miles – 10:34.0 (1976); 100H – 14.8 (1971); 400H – 59.08 (1973); HJ – 5-5 [1.65] (1974); LJ – 19-10¾i [6.06] (1979); Pen - 4167 (1971).
Utah’s Unique Mountain Bike Hut System Unites a Group of Colorado Cyclists
Posted on October 12, 2021
By Bill Plock
In south central Utah surrounded by National Parks, ancient river beds and views of what was once the floor of a great sea bed, lies a system of huts sheltering mountain bikers as they wind through the Escalante Plateau.
The area, more than twice the size of Rhode Island is bordered by Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef National Parks and Lake Powell. It offers a huge variety of terrain tempting all levels of cyclists to explore the high deserts, deep canyons, daunting plateaus and sandy washout basins. Coming from Colorado, a beautiful drive takes you from Green River, Utah southwest to the town of Escalante where the 190 mile Aquarius Trail Hut System ends. When you arrive, someone from Aquarius takes you and your bike West to Brian Head where the adventure begins.
The “huts” are shipping containers repurposed and carved up to make sleeping accommodations and a kitchen for 12 cyclists. As Jared Fisher, owner of Escape Adventures, who dreamed up this hut system says, “It’s like putting together a lego house. It takes four containers to make a “hut” and we cut them, install windows and doors and add the bunks and appliances.” The huts are “off the grid” operating by solar and propane complete with compostable toilets and showers. When all the expenses are accounted for, a hut will cost about $200,000 to build and install. They are serviced by staff each day bringing in fresh food, linens, and fuel.
Scattered on the Escalante Plateau National Monument, the huts are a welcome reprieve from some challenging days on single track and dirt roads taking riders up epic climbs to amazing views. They are fully stocked with gourmet food, snacks, beverages, water, showers and everything to make it as comfortable as possible. Guest can cook on the grills outside and cozy up to fire pits to take the high desert chill away.
The group I joined is mostly from Colorado and gather once in a while at destinations like this. They had a sag truck to carry some provisions and the group dog. All seemed to love the hut and the route and the abundance of food and snacks. Said one rider, “they even have Peanut M&M’s” which seemed to be an important provision.
The daily routes are between 25 and 40 miles with options for longer treks to scenic spots. After the group breakfast, riders had all day to make it to the next hut and when possible the sag truck would park somewhere in between with refreshments. Said Jeff Oehm of Lakewood, “The huts are well thought out and stocked with good food and comfortable beds. The trails and roads were great and very challenging in places. This part of Utah is stunning and so uncrowded, was well worth the drive from Denver.”
Fisher’s company provides destination, endurance oriented travel experiences all over the world and discovered this area about 10 years. He lives in Las Vegas, operates three bike shops and has built a company revolving around the bike. It took a while to get the permits to start installing the huts and connecting the trails. He said, “Covid actually helped push this project to the finish as the Forest Service was able to re-evaluate the situation and we got approval last year. This is our first year of operations and it’s gone very well. We have accommodated over 500 cyclists this summer. Any tour operator would be happy with that I think.”
The experience can be customized to accommodate a private group or open to a single rider with a variety of diets and food preferences. They also have bikes, and e-bikes for rent.
Upcoming Guests
Matt Bach from TriDot
Jared Fisher Escape Adventures
Video Of The Week
Deb Conley--Talks about her amazing journey landing her in the Colorado Running Hall of Fame
I'm doing IRONMAN CALIFORNIA - Justin Metzler
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!
When we last spoke to Skye Moench we had no idea that later this year she would race The Collin's Cup, finish 6th at 7.0 World Champs and then crush IM Chattanooga by more than 25 minutes. Skye Moench's dominating win at IRONMAN Chattanooga with a greater than 25-minute lead just a week after St George.
Show Sponsor: VENGA CBD
Thanks very much to Venga CBD for helping make the show possible. Venga CBD is not like most CBD companies who just post a bunch of products and hope you figure it out.
Venga was started in Colorado by athletes like you who wanted a better way to use CBD to help fight pain, train longer, race harder and recover faster. That’s why they created a SYSTEM of CBD products for athletes and only have 4 products that cover 100% of your CBD needs. I use it every day in one form or another!
Each product is specifically made to support an area of your endurance life from training to racing to recovery.
Combined together the Venga CBD system is designed to make you unstoppable!
Save a whopping 30% off & get free shipping when you buy the Venga Endurance System versus buying the products separately - seriously, this is the best deal on the market.
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In Today's Show
Interview Sponsor: UCAN
Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch® UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes. UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. Steady energy equals sustained performance!
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Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,
Interview with Skye Moench
A little over two years ago Skye won the 2019 Ironman European Championship Frankfurt. In April of this year we interviewed Skye. At this point in the season she was fresh off a 6th at Challenge Daytona and 5th at Challenge Miami. Skye had already made an amazing comeback from her bike crash the kept her from racing at Kona back in 2019. We came away from that interview with a headline of "Skye's Comeback". We had no idea at that time that later this year she would be on the final list for The Collin's Cup, finish 6th at 7.0 World Champs and then crush IM Chattanooga by more than 25 minutes.
Was that part of the plan? Did that win gap come as a surprise? How cool is that new purple Trek bike? All those questions and more coming up right now with Skye Moench!
Post interview:
Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance.
It's big time training and racing season. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest. Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle. You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account. There's no commitment or charge to create one. Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day. Check it out!
Endurance News:
No, Running Doesn’t Wear Down Your Cartilage. It Strengthens Your Joints.
Numerous studies have shown that, contrary to what your sedentary friends may sometimes argue, running does not cause arthritis. New research shows, in fact, that running may actually help strengthen your joints against future wear and tear, says Jean-Francois Esculier, leader of research and development for The Running Clinic (headquartered near Montreal, Canada) and a medical professor at the University of British Columbia.
In a Sept. 3 paper in Sports Medicine, Esculier’s team examined 43 studies that had used MRI to measure the effect of running on cartilage.
One major finding of these studies, he says, was that the impact from running squeezes water out of cartilage and into the underlying bone. That means that an MRI taken immediately after running will show a decrease in cartilage thickness.
So, Esculier says, “If you want to say running is bad, you can show a study that shows it reduces the thickness of the cartilage.”
But the effect is transient and harmless, he says, because the moment you finish your run, the cartilage begins to reabsorb water and expand back to normal. “It only takes an hour,” he says. In fact, he says, running may actually be beneficial.
Historically, Esculier says, doctors, researchers, and runners were taught that cartilage simply is what it is, and won’t respond to training. “But we now know that cartilage can adapt,” he says. “Even with novice runners, after only 10 weeks, you see changes in cartilage so that it can actually tolerate more load.”
What’s happening, he says, is a side-effect of having fluid squeezed out of the cartilage into the underlying bone. When it comes back, he says, it brings with it nutrients that feed the cartilage and make it stronger. “So not only is running not bad for your joints, it’s actually good for your joints,” he says.
It isn’t just beginners whose joints can strengthen with use. Studies of more experienced runners, he says, suggest that they have developed cartilage that is more resistant to the type of impacts seen in running than that of non-runners.
One of the more dramatic studies looked at competitors in the TransEurope FootRace, a 4,486-kilometer mountain run (2,787 miles) that went from Sicily to northern Scandinavia in 64 days. A team of scientists followed the runners, using a portable MRI to assess them every 900 kilometers or so. Amazingly, Esculier says, they found not only that the competitors didn’t have cartilage damage, but that their cartilage adapted during the race.
About Bill's friend London Marathon - Raphael Pacheco
Deb Connelly - Monday Running
What's New in the 303:
Small Town America at the Heart of Gravel Racing? The Rad Dirt in Trinidad Shows Us Why
Posted on October 5, 2021
By Becky Furuta
If the heart of gravel racing is the wild west of cycling – where the rules are few and weirdness is welcomed instead of scrutinized – small town America is its soul.
The lure of gravel racing is in the long, off-road adventure. It’s tricky trails and hellacious hills and mud so thick it’s like riding through peanut butter and rolling roads with expansive views. It’s dust and limestone chunks and pea gravel that bury your tires like quicksand.
Due in part to its grassroots heritage, gravel remains the antidote to the technology-driven, aggressive and often super-competitive mentality of road cycling. Most of today’s gravel grinders began as small-scale events, and often with no entry fees. Despite their growth, they’re dripping with the same low-key attitude that attracted participants in the first place.
Small towns and gravel are perfectly paired. A convergence of factors have fueled gravel’s popularity, but all speak to quiet country roads with little traffic and natural scenery. The character of these towns shape the events and the way they unfold.
Trinidad, Colorado is no exception. And the quirky town on the New Mexico border may well become one of gravel’s new hotspots.
The small city of 9000 residents was founded in 1862 after rich coal seams were discovered in the region. By 1910, Trinidad was a company town. Colorado Fuel and Iron operated the largest steel mills in the West, and dozens of mines, coke ovens and transportation lines cropped up to support local industry. CF&I created small communities for the workers they recruited to come from Europe, believing they were less likely to try and organize. To the contrary, this led to one of the darkest chapters in American labor history.
Just a few miles north of Trinidad in the Spring of 1914, Union organizer Louis Tikas and 20 others were killed in a violent company crackdown known as the Ludlow Massacre. It was a bloody insurrection that occurred in protest of brutal working conditions. Three of the victims – a woman and her two children – suffocated in the dirt pit where they were hiding.
By the 1920s, the coal industry was fading but Trinidad found a new, strange prosperity when mobster Al Capone and his family took the town during prohibition. They were able to easily blend in with local Italian families who continued to call the city home. Lavish hotels, a Carnegie library, an Opera House and the oldest synagogue in the state of Colorado cropped up in what would be called “the Victorian jewel of Southern Colorado.”
Just having dirt alone isn’t enough to make Trinidad a gravel success story. Part of an event’s draw is the community itself, and how well they embrace the cyclists who come to visit. It’s about the community and the culture, the adventure and the Instagram images of rolling hills and farmland. It’s about getting people to drive hours in search of something different. Trinidad seems to understand all of that. City Council members greeted riders at the start and the finish. Restaurants enthusiastically marketed to gravel tourists. (Just ask me about the singing waiters at Rino Italian Restaurant downtown.) The route featured unique terrain you won’t find at other gravel events.
Only time will tell if Trinidad’s next identity is built around bikes and outdoor tourism, but judging by the reactions of participants in The Rad Dirt Fest, it’s right on track. Trinidad, like so many other rural communities, may well become a town transformed by bikes.
Video Of The Week:
Ironman Chattanooga 2021 Highlights
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!
This week we have pro triathlete Jeanni Metzler who has been all over the podiums at IRONMAN 70.3 races all year. Jeanni joining us to talk about her 2nd place at St George beating out friend and competitor Taylor Knibb. The 29 year old pro lives in Boulder with her husband Taylor "BigMetz" and dog Milli.
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In Today's Show
Interview Sponsor: UCAN
Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch® UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes. UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. Steady energy equals sustained performance!
You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance. Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly! Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at
ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co
Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,
Interview with Jeanni Metzler (aka Metzler)
Jeanni Metzler (formerly Seymour) is a multiple 70.3 winner who also moved up to the full distance in 2019 with a podium finish at IRONMAN Texas.
Born and raised in South Africa, she now lives and trains alongside her husband and fellow pro Justin Metzler in Boulder, and she has claimed emotional victories in both locations.
Tracing her journey to Colorado, she says: "My cousin got me into road cycling when I was about 17 and then introduced me to a local triathlon group in Johannesburg, the rest was history!"
She won her age group at her first 70.3 race in Buffalo City, East London in 2011. Taking up the chance to be a professional in 2012 as she turned 20, she had to make a drastic decision to give herself the best chance of success.
Jeanni explains: "I left South Africa with pretty much nothing - but, with the support of my family, I was able to make a life for myself as a professional athlete in the United States."
The first couple of years were tough, but her breakthrough moment came late in 2015 when she won IRONMAN 70.3 Austin thanks to a storming run. This was to become a common theme.
Jeanni came back a year later to defend her title and then won the inaugural 70.3 Xiamen race that November.
She was on her way now, and the wins started to stack up. In 2017 there were four 70.3 titles at Liuzhou, Monterrey, Boulder and Los Cabos, as well as a first top-10 in the 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga. Just for good measure, she grabbed a Challenge Iceland title too.
But it was the triumph in her adopted home of Boulder which struck a chord and showed how far she'd come. She had previously been sixth in 2015 and runner-up in 2016.
There were also two significant returns to her country of birth in 2018, first to win 70.3 South Africa (at the scene of that 2011 age-group success) and then to place seventh in the 70.3 World Championship at Port Elizabeth.
Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance.
It's big time training and racing season. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest. Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle. You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account. There's no commitment or charge to create one. Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day. Check it out!
Endurance News:
Ironman Chattanooga for Sept 25, 2022 on Oct 4th 12p.
Study Women's Hearts Respond -Differently to Marathon Training Than Mens
BRITTANY HAMBLETON SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
Over the last several decades, female athletes have often been left out of sports science research, and the majority of studies have focused primarily on young, healthy males as subjects. It has only been in recent years that researchers have begun to include women in their studies, and, perhaps not surprisingly, some differences are beginning to emerge. A recent study looking at the differences between male and female marathoners found that women’s hearts actually respond differently than men’s after training for a marathon.
The study
The paper, entitled “Sex differences in cardiovascular adaptations in recreational marathon runners,” aimed to examine various changes in heart function in male and female marathoners and recreational athletes. The researchers included 52 marathoners (28 females and 24 males) who had completed five to seven marathons over three years and 49 recreationally active adults (25 females and 24 males) as controls.
The researchers studied the hearts of each participant, focusing on three main measurements:
Left ventricle function: the left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.
Aortic stiffness: occurs when the elastic fibers within the arterial wall (elastin) begin to fray due to mechanical stress.
Ventricular-vascular coupling: the ratio of arterial to left ventricle elastance, a key determinant of cardiac performance.
The results
After studying the hearts of all the participants, the researchers found that women who have completed multiple marathons do not have reduced left ventricle function or aortic stiffness compared to male marathoners or female recreationally active athletes (both of which are good things). Interestingly, they appear to have better ventricular-vascular coupling compared to the other test groups, which means their hearts are more mechanically efficient after undergoing a marathon training cycle. In other words, women’s hearts may respond better to marathon training than men’s.
The reason for this is unclear, but the researchers believe it could have something to do with the estrogen levels in female athletes. Studies show that estrogen positively modulates cardiac hypertrophy (the heart’s tendency to get bigger with training), lowers blood pressure and decreases arterial stiffness, all of which make for a healthier, stronger heart.
The researchers conclude the studying by acknowledging that future studies are needed to better understand the influence of sex hormones (in particular, estrogen) on cardiovascular adaptations in marathon runners. This will create a greater understanding of how women adapt to marathon training and may lead to better training protocols for female distance runners in the future.
Brownlees Step Aside, Alex Yee is The New Heir to The British Tri Throne – Triathlete
What's New in the 303:
Still a Couple of Triathlons in Colorado in October
The Last Call Triathlon at Boyd Lake near Loveland was the last triathlon along the front range but there are still a couple of opportunities to race in Montrose and Alamosa. The Black Canyon Triathlon (Montrose) October 2nd and the Splashland Triathlon (Alamosa) October 19th are still on the calendar. These are pool based triathlons and in Alamosa the pool is a hot springs–and the swim is last.
With fall colors peaking in the high country, a trip to either venue will be full of color and adventure. We caught up with Montrose resident Julie Burdick who participates in all of the Southwestern Triathlon Series triathlons to learn more. As a busy mom of twins and recovering from Covid, she is looking forward to this week’s triathlon more than ever.
Ready for Some Cold Weather Riding? Some “Pro Tips” on Embrocation Products
Posted on September 29, 2021
By Val Sanford
With cooler weather heading our way (finally) and cyclocross season upon us, now might be the time to try embrocation to help warm those muscles up. Here are some “pro tips” from a top maker–Bluerub.
PERFORM BETTER IN COLD WEATHER
If you cycle in cold weather, use an embrocation product like bluerub’s MUSCLE to increase your comfort while riding. You’ll add warmth and increased circulation to your legs, so you can ride farther and go longer.
HOW EMBROCATION WORKS
Embrocation products blend warming ingredients like capsicum, mint essential oils, clove oil, black pepper essential oil, camphor, and menthol to signal the body to “warm-up” the area where it was applied. When used before cold-weather exercise, it acts as a signal to tell the body to increase circulation to the legs. You’ll feel the cold less, and your legs will thank you.
7 PRO-TIPS FOR USING EMBROCATION
You’ve got the idea now that embrocation is all about warming! So you’ll want to put on your kit first. That will keep all those warming oils away from the parts of your body you definitely don’t want to ‘warm-up.” Think capsicum blended into your chamois. Yikes!
Typically, you’ll feel the effects of embrocation about 30 minutes after you apply it. But everyone’s body is different, so you’ll want to do some experimentation before a big race. This means you’ll need to be thinking about your pre-race/pre-ride routine and make sure you’ve given yourself plenty of time.
Remember, though, that embrocation products won’t replace your warm-up. You’ll still need to stretch, warm-up, and do your pre-ride physical routine.
Pro-tip: Apply CHAMOIS first, for the obvious reasons.
I’ve heard some say they channel their inner massage therapist to really work the embrocation into the muscles and to thoroughly cover the skin. Roll down your socks, roll up the legs of your bibs, and really spend a few minutes working it in. While legs are the most common spot, you can apply to your lower back, shoulders, neck, and ankles.
When you use something that is also a recovery product, like MUSCLE, you’ll get a double benefit from the massage in helping relieve any leftover pre-ride stiffness or soreness in your muscles. You can even reapply after your shower to give sore spots some relief.
Pro-tip: not all embrocation products are non-staining. So do a spot test before going all-in on your favorite kit.
You know how much you hate it when you’ve been cutting peppers and then touch your eye or your lip? Well, that’s what it’ll feel like if you touch your eyes after applying embro. Wash your hands with warm soap and water, or use a wipe (although this may not get all of it off your hands). You can also use single-use gloves to apply and then toss. It’s not an eco-friendly solution, but it can save you on a race when you don’t have access to warm, soapy water.
Pro-tip: Fill your bottles, pack your phone, snacks, and other essentials before applying embrocation, just to be on the safe side.
Embrocation creams don’t actually add any extreme cold-weather protection to your legs. So if you’re riding in chilly weather – especially if there’s a breeze — you’ll need to protect your legs from the elements. Try using knee warmers or even thermal tights (with our without embrocation). Be mindful of how cold it is and be aware of how it’s affecting you.
Pro-tip: Use an embrocation even when the weather isn’t cold. It is a great transition solution between cool weather when tights are too much, yet you want a little extra warmth before getting out for a ride.
Embrocation products come in a variety of forms: oils, balms, salves, creams. bluerub’s MUSCLE’s is a lightweight cream that goes on smoothly. If your legs are hairy, it can get caught in the hair and not be thoroughly or evenly applied. The embrocation will wash off more fully and easily on smooth skin. Plus, you know you look great with shaved legs! (Try SHAVE for smooth, soft skin.)
Pro-tip: Don’t apply on just-shaved legs. Give your pores a little breathing room before using warming oils like those in an embrocation product.
I love settling into a hot, steamy bath after being outside in the cold, wet weather. But hot water can reactivate the essential oils and give you the surprise of your life! Okay, not the surprise of your life, but you could definitely feel like jumping out of the water!
Use warm, soapy water to remove the embrocation before getting into a hot shower or bath. No-rise wipes can help but may not get all the oils off, so test it to be sure.
Pro-tip: Don’t use the same washcloth to wash your face. Some people like using a loofah to help remove the embrocation. Just like your washcloth, keep it ’embrocation only’ to avoid any accidental application to your face or nether parts.
So those are our pro-tips for using embrocation cream during cold weather rides.
Video Of The Week:
Ironman Chattanooga 2021 Highlights
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!