Thunderbear Retires

I met Torbjorn at Ironman Florida in November last year. I had always read about him as he is sponsored by craft as well as argon 18 both of who loved him as a sponsored athlete. Because I was staying with Tom Evans and the other penticton guys and tom had won the race we had a special table at the awards night. Torborn sat at our table. Then we all went to the nightclub where everyone partied.............one of us maybe too much but that's another story. Anyway Torbjorn and I sat and talked for an hour about craft products the ups and downs. He was so involved in the product I was super impressed. Super awesome guy and one of the few professional triathlets that I would sponsor in a heart beat with CASH! He is and was well worth the money invested in him. I have met so many triathletes that all they cared about was a meal card, but Torbjorn was different.




Unfortunately due to a heart problem he has had to retire prematurely. He will be surely missed by me as well as others. Every single poster on slowtwitch was positive about him which is saying something as usually at least one person hates the athlete being spoken about.




Here is his story:




http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Torbjorn_Sindballe_Q_A_Part_1_895.html

Steve Larsen RIP

While I had never met Steve, his impact that he left on our sport and the sport of mountain biking was immense. I remember him when he was setting bike course records in triathlons and mt biking. He always seemed like a stand up guy, opinionated which I always respect. He left behind 5 kids so I really feel for his family more than anything. 39 years old really makes things come into perspective..........scarey. http://triathlon.competitor.com/blogs/steve-larsen-a-study-in-balance.html

Good ole Coconut

There are many studies out there saying that eating coconut butter (good stuff not processed) which is high in saturated fats is actually good for you and can increase your metabolism and lower bad cholesterol. Here is an article one of many I read:

The Latest Studies on Coconut Oil
By Mary G. Enig, PhD

One of the very useful oils in the food supply comes from the coconut. Coconut oil has suffered from unjust criticism for more than 30 years in the United States because some of the governmental and food oil organizations, as well as consumer activist organizations such as Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), have claimed that coconut oil as a "saturated fat" is shown to be atherogenic. This is not true.

There is a variety of supportive research published in 2003, 2004, and 2005, which shows the importance of coconut oil. Also, information on coconut oil is currently coming into the research literature from numerous countries, including India, Norway, Iran and the United States.

The following are some of the most recent studies showing the benefits of coconut oil. These studies contradict claims that coconut oil contributes to heart disease and also support earlier research showing an antimicrobial role for the fatty acids in this traditional fat.

BENEFICIAL FOR HEART DISEASE
Recent research contradicts claims that coconut oil causes atherosclerosis and heart disease. In a study published in Clinical Biochemistry, 2004,1 researchers looked at coconut oil as a component of diet in laboratory animals (Sprague-Dawley rats). In this study, virgin coconut oil, which was obtained by wet process, had a beneficial effect in lowering total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and low density lipoproteins (LDL). The effects were uniformly beneficial. In serum and tissues, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels were lowered and HDL-cholesterol was increased. The polyphenol fraction of virgin coconut oil was also found to prevent in vitro LDL-oxidation. We know that oxidized cholesterol can initiate the process of atherosclerosis—the fatty acids in coconut oil prevent this oxidation. The results in this study were interpreted as due to the biologically active polyphenol components present in the oil.

LOWERS LP(A)
Another study dealing with lipoproteins and cholesterol was carried out in women. Researchers found that coconut oil-based diets lowered post-prandial tissue plasminogen activator and lipoprotein (a).2 Lp(a) is a blood marker that is a much more accurate indication of proneness to heart attack than cholesterol levels. Researchers had believed that levels of Lp(a) were unaffected by various forms of dietary fat intake. However, in this study, Lp(a) was lowered when the subjects consumed a high-saturated fat diet and somewhat lowered when they consumed a slightly lowered-saturated fat diet. The saturated fat used in both of these diets was coconut oil. The control diet was based on a monounsaturated oil.

POISON ANTIDOTE
One of the more interesting uses of coconut oil found in the human toxicology literature involves the beneficial use of coconut oil as a successful treatment for acute aluminium phosphide poisoning. This poison is used to control pests in grain storage facilities where it functions as a poisonous gas, namely phosphine gas, which is a mitochondrial poison. There is no known antidote for aluminium phosphide. The patient described in this case study survived following rapid treatment which included taking baking soda and coconut oil, as well as supportive care, and it was concluded that coconut oil had a significant use as an added part of the treatment protocol in this type of poisoning.3

ANTI-MICROBIAL
A few researchers have known for some time that a derivative of coconut oil, lauric acid and monolaurin, are safe antimicrobial agents that can either kill completely or stop the growth of some of the most dangerous viruses and bacteria. Many bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics but herbal oils such as the oils of oregano and the major fatty acid from coconut oil, lauric acid, which the body turns into the monoglyceride, monolaurin, are showing great promise as anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents. Monolaurin, in particular, is being shown to be useful in the prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections, especially those that are difficult to treat or are antibiotic resistant. Difficult bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus as well as other bacteria have been studied here in the United States in research groups such as Dr. H.G. Preuss’s group at Georgetown University. They found that monolaurin combined with herbal essential oils inhibited pathogenic bacteria both in the petri dish (in vitro) and also in mice (in vivo).4

REFERENCES

Beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. K.G.Nevin and T. Rajamohan, Clinical Biochemistry 37,2004;830-835).
A Diet Rich in Coconut Oil Reduces Diurnal Postprandial Variations in Circulating Plasminogen Activator Antigen and Fasting Lipoprotein (a) Compared with a Diet Rich in Unsaturated Fat in Women. H. Muller, A.S. Lindman, A. Blomfeldt, I. Seljeflot and J.I. Pedersen. Journal of Nutrition. 133:3422-3427, 2003.
Successful treatment of acute aluminium phosphide poisoning: possible benefit of coconut oil. S. Shahin, R. Mojgan, P. Abdolkarim, R. Mmohammad-Hosein, A. Mohammad. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 24:215-218, 2005).
Minimum inhibitory concentrations of herbal essential oils and monolaurin for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Preuss HG, Echard B, Enig M, Brook I, Elliott TB. Molecular Cell Biochemistry, 2005:272:29-34).

Unbelievable Bike Handling Skills

Okay I saw this a while back and thought wow, then a client pointed it out again, had another look and said holy shit, then just watched it again and said I need to post that the stuff this guy does on his bike is amazing.

Behind the Scenes with Garmin Chipotle

Cool video of a day in the life of a professional cyclist. Key's on Canadian Ryder Hesjedal

Montepaschi Eroica - Behind the Scenes with GARMIN Slipstream from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.

Hardest Ironman Conditions Ever?

Here is Ironman Hawaii Champion Chris McCormack's comments about ironman china. This guy has done a lot of crazy hard races and he said the heat in IM China last weekend was the worst ever. Here is his race report

Well I am finally back home and cannot be happier about it. The past 5 weeks have been really hectic with a lot of early season racing over some really tough races. The focus for us early in the season was to sort out these hot humid races and get some tough test sets done in a racing environment so we can carry this information across into our World Championships build for Kona.

My first race of the season was a hot and humid 70.3 event in Singapore where I grabbed a solid second place finish. I flew directly to Hawaii from Singapore for a tough Olympic distance race called Lavaman on the big Island and started to find my legs a little for the season winning my first race of the year and breaking the course record.

From Hawaii I flew directly to New Olreans for my 3rd race in as many weeks and another tough Ironman 70.3 event. I was actually feeling a little jaded after two heavy weeks of racing and training and fell apart late in this race to finish second again. I was a little disappointed as I had the win in the bag, but in the hot humid conditions, the fatigue from a heavy few weeks of racing and travel came through and I lost the event in the last few miles of the run.

From the first 3 races of the season we got what we were looking for. Hot events, high humidity and lots of data. I was able to come back to Australia and have 10 easier days before getting on the plane to fly up to China for another Ironman 70.3 event in Haikou. This would be the end of a planned 4 heavy races in 5 weeks and I was looking forward to this last tough race. My form was good and a last hit out in the heat, after a week off racing seemed good to me.

The flight from Australia to China was pretty simple and the time change is only 2 hours. I arrived at the event on Friday before the Sunday race after about 13 hours of total travel time. The weather was good and I had a good look at the course. I was happy to be at this event as one of my main competitors for this years Ironman World Championships in Kona, Rasmus Henning, was racing in the full Ironman race, and I figured I would be able to get a good opportunity to watch how he raced. The Ironman started at 7:00am and the half Ironman guys were set to leave at 9:00am.

Race day dawned and the weather was set to be a scorcher. By Ironman race start time the weather was 30 degrees Celsius (90 degrees) and the humidity was oppressive at a very uncomfortable 85%. I watched the Ironman guys complete the swim and then started getting my head around the tough day I was about to face. I had 2 main guys to really contest with in the event. Ironman Japan and Malaysia champion Luke Mackenzie from Australia and Aussie flyer Paul Mathews. Both were brought up by their sponsor and race event sponsor K-Swiss, to win this event.

By race start for us the heat was incredible. The course was quite simple and flat but there was no shade anywhere and the wind was picking up and very hot. We kicked off the event and I immediately jumped on the feet of Paul Matthews who led most of the swim. By halfway through the swim event, Paul had used the tricky current to his advantage and had gapped both Luke and myself to lead out by about a minute. The water was dark and muddy and very warm.

By the time I ran from the water to my bike, a distance of about 200 meters, I was cooking. The heat was just incredible and the Ironman guys were well and truly on the bike course. We were about to start our 90km bike lap.

I put the hammer down and rode across to Paul Matthews and Luke had tagged me on the bike. We came together as a threesome about 5 miles into the bike race. I assumed that it would stay like this for most of the bike ride as it was a course that was difficult to get away on because of the flat profile and the tricky winds. By 20 miles, Paul began to struggle big time in the heat and dropped off. I immediately put the hammer down and then it was left to Luke and myself. Luke started struggling in the heat around 40 miles and I attacked him and got a gap out to about a minute very quickly. I was feeling good, but my only focus was hydration and being careful. The heat was unbelievable. I cannot describe it. I was watching ambulance after ambulance on the course putting Ironman competitors who could not get through the bike course and were collapsing into the back of them. It was like a war zone.

I got off the bike feeling very controlled. I knew I had been in the sun a long time and was feeling very exposed but I only had a 13 mile run to get through and I would win the event. That was my mindset. I had no idea at this stage my lead on Mackenzie or Matthews and was relieved when I got to the 1 mile marker of the run to see Luke come in. I knew I had a little over 5 minutes at that stage. I was trying to be cautious out there as the mercury was now well over 42 degrees (110) and the ambient temperature from the road was even higher. I was really starting to cook up but my mindset was about keeping a tempo. By 3 miles into the run this entire mindset was gone. It became a simple run for survival. The aid stations were spaced about 2km apart and the heat had melted all the ice. I saw Luke and Paul at about 8km mark and they were in a bad way. I knew that for me I had the race won, but I had to finish. It was so hot that by mile 4 I was honestly thinking that it might not be possible. I wish I could describe this heat. I wish I had better words. It was incredible.

I was walking every aid station and taking the time to drink. I was covering myself in water and carrying as many sponges as I could possibly hold. I would then put my head down and focus on getting to the next aid station which was about 8 minutes of running away each time. Every time I left and aid station I questioned whether I would make it to the next one. It was that big a struggle. I stayed in this mindset and was able to run my way to win this event. I crossed the line in 4:04 which was a real buzz for me. I have never been so happy to see the end of a race in my life. The last 2 miles was really ugly but the huge crowds in the town and the young kids running alongside me got me to the end. I crossed the line so relieved to have finished and my first words to the organizers were, concern for those behind me. I told them they needed to send people out with more aid to help people. I went straight to the medical tent and covered myself in ice and water and tried to cool my body down. The temperature in the shade at the finish line read 44 degrees (120) and the humidity was close to 90 %. I waited for Luke to finish. He was about 22 minutes behind and together we watched others cross the line. In my race only 60 percent of the field finished. It was that tough.

I have raced for 13 years as a professional and almost 20 years in the sport of triathlon. This was without question the toughest triathlon event I have ever done for so many reasons. It was probably one of the hottest days I have ever been in, let alone had to race in. I had great intentions after my event to go and watch the guys finish and complete the Ironman. This went out the door. It was just too hot. I traveled across with 5 mates and only 2 of us made the finish line. To the Ironman guys who raced, you are my new heroes. Rasmus Henning went on to win this race, in the slowest run time to ever win an Ironman. Don't let that fool you. Anybody who got to the finish line of that event is a champion and three of the toughest blokes I know never got to the end. It was a race of survival and trying to deal with an incredible day. I know that different physiologies handle this heat differently and to those that never made it, hold your head up high. This will be an event you can talk about forever. It was in my books the toughest triathlon conditions our sport has ever seen.

I will post in the next few days some photos from the event to give people a view of the day. Sorry for the long post but I needed to get something up. Thanks for all the emails I have received from people. I really appreciate it.


Safe training.


Macca
http://www.ironmanworldchampion.com/

The Man With 3 good Swim drills

Again here is Dave Scott with 3 swim drills which you can use every workout to enhance your technique.

Cycling and the Economy

Great article on New York City and how the economy has affected this city's bike industry that is dominated by wall street employees. There's also a bit about how high end trainers are still getting plenty of business. Seems the rich wall street consumers are unwilling to part with their money on things like expensive bikes, but are having no problem paying for trainers charging 150.00 per hour.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/mixed-returns-for-high-end-cycling/?scp=2&sq=Cadence&st=cse

jeanson hammered with 10 years suspension

This has to be one of the highest degrees of sanction against an athlete for doping (10 years) . Her doctors have also been banned for a life time. I remember her dominating races like nobody has ever done breaking away from competitors with hardly any effort. Very lancesque;) Back then doping wasn't as big a news item and the scary thing was she was using this stuff when she was a minor under the direction of her doctors. Now the question arises, should she be banned so heavily when she was under such influence of her coach at such a young age..........she didn't know any better in my eyes especially that young. There are many stories alleging physical and mental abuse of her coach who was also her only true "friend". Makes you wonder where her parents were during all this......... http://www.velonews.com/article/90109/canada-recommends-bans-for-jeanson-coach-and-doctor

kick drills

All tri geeks love kicking, so here is a great set of drills from "the man"