Recharge with Milk Triathlon Series

Recharge With Milk Triathlon Series - June 2011

Just a few days to go

We hope you are as excited as we are the get our season started this weekend at Woodstock (June 11 & 12). It may be repetitious to keep saying that our races are filling faster than last year but it is true, and we don’t want you to miss out on all the fun. Spots are still available for this weekend and there are a variety of events to choose from. Find out more about this weekend's events here, and we hope you choose to join us on our 10^th and best season ever! This June edition of the newsletter features our latest updates, training information, the last of our Challenge Roth athlete profiles, special deals, and upcoming clinics. As always, feel free to send any articles to mscnewsletter1@gmail.com.

Series News

Our Annual Sponsor Survey - Open Until June 30th

Please help us and our sponsors and you could win a FREE race!

The support of sponsors is vital to any race or series. One of the reasons that companies sponsor a series like ours is because they want you to get to know about them and their products. Here are some of the positive outcomes of sponsor support:

We will be able to offer Chocolate Milk and Hero Burgers at our races
HEED is back on course from Hammer Nutrition
There will be coloured technical shirts from Brooks, just as you asked us in your survey responses
Back again 10% off all purchases at Gears Bike Shop
Wetsuits with the TYR Racer of The Day
and a lot more from other sponsors

We have always been very cautious about how often we contact our customers because we respect your privacy and time. We also guarantee that we NEVER share individual personal customer information with anyone, ever!

I would really appreciate it if you would take 5 minutes and complete our annual survey. Your answers will help us improve our races and also find out how we can get good deals for our customers. On top of that we will be drawing for 5 free races, for 2011 or 2012, from the survey respondents.

If at all possible we would appreciate if you use the link on the email that was sent to you to access the survey. That way if we need to get in touch with you regarding your comments it will be easier for us. If you did not keep the email here is the 2011 Series and Sponsor Survey

Great Line-Up Of Ontario Pros Racing In Welland

Looks like a great line-up of Ontario Pro athletes racing in the Welland Half Iron Triathlon. We have confirmed that Wolfgang Guembel - course record holder, Nigel Gray (gave up his race to help Richard Pady last year), Mark Linseman, and Ryan Power will be duking it out in the men's race. While, Paolina Allen and Nicole Van Beurden will go head to head in the women's race. Last years female winner, Deb Powell, will be competing in the Swim/Bike as a final training day tune-up before she joins us in Roth for the Challenge Iron Distance.

Paolina Allan

2nd - Ironman Canada 2005
4th - Ironman Wisconsin 2006
6th - Ironman Lanzarote 2008
5th - Ironman Lake Placid 2009
22nd Iroman World Championships 2008
6th - 70.3 Muskoka 2009
1st Canadian Masters Individual Time Trial Championships
1st Ontario Hill Climb Championships
Triathlon Canada Long Course Triathlete of the Year (Elite)

Nicole Van Beurden

Mutiple top ten placings in both Ironman and 70.3 Events

2004 Canadian Duathlon Nationals: 1st (Elite Under 23),

2004 Duathlon World Championships 10th (Geel, Belgium),

Ontario Association of Triathletes Elite “Duathlete of the Year” in 2003 and 2004

National Elite Under 23 Duathlon champion 2003 & 2004

2003 Canadian Duathlon Nationals: 1st (Elite Under 23)

2002 World Triathlon Championships: 4th W20-24

Named to Inside Triathlon Magazine ‘All North American’ list

Nigel Gray

9th Overall Ironman Canada 2007 & 2008 (8:57, 8:50)

2005 OAT 'Coach of the Year' Award

2005 OAT 'Long Course Athlete of the Year' Award

3rd Place (top Canadian) Ironman Canada 2005 (8:42)

8:56 at Ironman Hawaii 2005

Over 25 multisport victories in Southern Ontario

5-time Canadian National Elite Team member

Ryan Power

Ryan is in his fifth year of triathlon and second as a professional. Career highlights include competing twice at the Age Group World Championships (qualified at Wasaga Beach), winning Age Group Nationals in 2009, and most recently, racking his bike beside the likes of Matty Reed, Terenzo Bozzone, Julie Dibens, Mirinda Carfrae and 60 other pro's at Rev3 Quassy.

His strength is Olympic-distance racing and when he's not racing with Multisport Canada, he competes on the ITU continental circuit and non-drafting pro races.

His strength as a bike/runner has motivated him to explore his potential in long course racing and in Welland he hopes to test his limits against some of the top athletes in Canada.

Find out more about Ryan at www.ryanpower-tri.blogspot.com

Triple Race Challenge Headliners

There will be a new champion this year because RJ Ross will be unable to defend his title due to a hectic work schedule. The front-runners for the title are Wolfgang Guembel, and Mark Linseman (picture courtesy of Mike Cheliak). We caught up with Wolfgang and Mark and got their thoughts on competing in the Triple Race Challenge.

Wolf Guembel

“In 2010 I competed in the Welland Half, together with my mother and father and this was one of my first efforts at getting back into the sport at a local level (and a chance to do something I enjoy together with my parents)," said Wolfgang. "I also did the Binbrook Triathlon relay with my girlfriend, Barb, and found that I really did enjoy being at local races with local friends and family while embracing the pureness of the sport without the media and money obligations of the professional racing world. In 2011, my parents are racing several events in the Recharge with Milk Triathlon Series, and Barb and I decided that we would participate in the Triple Race Challenge together, so it was an easy decision to make.”

"I really love the Welland course. The swim is really, really great, the bike is a bit flat, but scenic and still challenging, and the run is really great as well. Just a wonderful place to race hard for those long distances. I'm not sure who else will show up to race; it doesn't bother me much who shows or who doesn't show. The race is really against myself. I'm far more concerned with how my parents (Mom 60 this year, and Dad 61) and Barb will do. They are each discovering long-distance triathlon and they're each working very hard to learn the skills and develop the fitness required. I'm very proud of them. Far more proud they each of them might ever know."

“All of this said, there have been several triathlon series in Ontario for a number of years and the races that Multisport Canada put are still focused on 'the experience' and provide an environment positive for people to challenge themselves. This is a big part of why we all selected these races to participate in.”

Mark Linseman

“I decided to do more Multisport/Recharge with Milk series races this year after my great experience at Lakeside last year. I also really like the idea of the triple race challenge," said Mark. "Not only does it require consistency throughout the season but also versatility with both the Half-Iron distance and the Olympic distance. And of course, as a student, the chance to win a bit of extra cash is a nice touch.”

“I have not raced in any of the three locations. I have a good friend from Welland so I know it's a really nice town, and I'm happy the course is supposed to be flat! I have raced in the Muskoka area many times so I know that the course will be challenging. And the Wasaga Beach / Collingwood area is always a good time so I am sure the atmosphere there will be awesome."

The Triple Race Challenge is open to all competitors and all are eligibile and capable of winning great prizes. You just need to complete three races: the Half Iron Triathlon in Welland and the Olympic Distance races in Bracebridge and Wasaga Beach. Find out more details about the Triple Race Challenge here.

2011 MultiSport Canada 100% Canadian Clothing

Over the past few years we have had quite a few people suggest that we have Series clothing. With the addition of Brooks to our sponsors we are now able to offer MultiSport Canada clothing. For those of you who would like to see the clothing before buying, we will have a supply of each at all races and you will be able to order them or purchase on the spot depending on quantities available that weekend. If you are interested in ordering online there is a sizing chart below. Please determine your size and then download the PDF Order Form below. We can ship your clothing or bring it to the next race. Details on the Order Form. We will have our new clothing web page live in the next day or so.

		Brooks Grand Prix Jacket 100% polyester knit Brushed technical fabric Zipped side pockets MP3 capability $60
		Brooks Workout Hoodie 240g polyester fleece Moisture wicking, Double-layer hood, Two-way stretch with the 100% Canadian logo on the outside of the hood edge $50
		Brooks Adrenaline Polo Shirt 100%polyester Moisture wicking $35

PDF ORDER FORM DOWNLOAD

Once you have completed the Order Form you have three options:

It can be faxed to (705) 835-6626
You can scan the completed form and email it to Jan at admin@multisportcanada.com
Mail to:
3 Ironwood Trail
RR4
Coldwater, ON
L0K 1E0

If you have any questions please call Jan at 705-835-3255 or email Jan

2011 Overall and Masters Winners - Olympic Distance Triathlon, International Du and Half Iron Races

Starting in 2011 the overall male and female winners of every Olympic Distance Triathlon, International Distance Duathlon and Half Iron Triathlon and Duathlon races will be receiving a Brooks jacket just like this one. We will also be awarding this jacket to the Masters Triathlete winners (45+) in these races. The Masters Triathlete category will be males and females 45+. Click on the picture to the left for a larger version.

TYR Racer of The Day

Some of you will remember the HSBC Racer of The Day. In 2011 we have collaborated with TYR and this year we will have the TYR Racer of The Day. That means that every weekend, in a total of fifteen race days throughout the season, one of our athletes will win a TYR wetsuit. As we did in the past we will select an overall finishing position and the person who crosses the line in that position will receive a TYR wetsuit. Thanks TYR!!

Hero Burgers Making Our Race More Fun!

Not only is HERO Burgers going to be onsite to feed our athletes after each race they have decided to get even more involved with some great prizes

Race Heroes

Along with the TYR Racer of The Day HERO Burgers will also be selecting a Race HERO of The Day. Just as with the TYR Racer of The Day we will select an overall finishing position and the person who crosses the line in that position will receive ten (10) HERO Combos. Each combo is a HERO 4oz burger with cheese, fries and a pop.

Team Racing Comes To MultiSport Canada - Team Triathlon HEROES

Starting in 2011 we will be offering a Team Triathlon category. This is meant to be an opportunity for athletes to race as a team and claim bragging rights at specific races. It will be an additional award category and will not replace individual awards. In other words you can race as a team with a group of your friends, stand on the podium as a team and still be recognized for age group awards and series points. Each team will have to have a minimum of 4 participants, with at least one woman. The total team time for each race would be calculated and the fastest wins. We are going to be exploring some other ideas as to maximum team size, women's teams and other possible options. All of the details and races with Team Racing are on the Series website under the Series Specials Tab

HERO Burgers has generously decided to award one team each weekend with a case of HERO Burgers valued at $150. Thanks HERO Burgers!

Contest

HERO Burgers is also holding a contest where you could win a case of HERO burgers worth $150.

Welland Half Iron Finishers Hats and Medals

Last year we had Finishers Hats for all who completed the Half Iron Distance Triathlon or Duathlon in Welland. Unfortunately we were not able to get hats with embroidered logos due to production problems with our supplier. This year we are happy to tell you that the Welland Half Iron Finishers Hats will be full embroidered. Here is a picture preview. We hope you like them. There will also be a Finishers Medal for all individual athletes who complete the Half Iron Triathlon or Duathlon.

Season Long Draw and Triple Race Challenge

At press time we had some last minute additions to the Season Long Draw Prizes and the Triple Race Challenge Prizing. We will be adding these prizes in the next week to the respective webpages. An announcement will be posted to the series Home Page and our Facebook Fan Page. Please visit these webpages if you are not familiar with the Season Long Draw or Triple Race Challenge.

Accommodations For MultiSport Canada Athletes

Group Rates at Welland - Best Western Rose City Suites

If you are planning on racing in Welland we have arranged for a special rate for MultiSport Canada athletes. You must call and reserve by May 31, 2011 to receive the group rate of $119 per night for double occupancy. Calls after May 31, will only be booked at their regular publicly available rates, which are $147.99. Please call the Best Western Hotel at 1-800- 387-8186 and ask for the Triathlon group block before May 31 to get discounted rates. Our crew stayed at the Best Western the past few years and we highly recommend it. It is literally 5 minutes from the race site on the other side of the canal.

Group Rates at Residence Inn by Marriott Muskoka Wharf - Gravenhurst (SOLD OUT) - Bala Falls - Bracebridge

If you are looking for a room for Bracebridge or Bala Falls the SPECIAL MULTISPORT CANADA RATE will expire soon. Please book now. Gravenhurst rooms are already SOLD OUT!

If you are planning to race at any of these races the nicest hotel in the area is the Residence Inn by Marriott Muskoka Wharf. Please be sure and note that there is a two night minimum on each weekend and they cannot accept single night reservations. We have been able to arrange for blocks of rooms for each race at a reduced rate. Space is limited so we highly recommend if you are planning on staying at the Marriott, book now.

The process for booking a room at the Marriott is as follows:

The Residence Inn by Marriot has guaranteed MultiSport Canada 12 Studio, Non-Lakeview Suites available to our athletes at $219.00 per night with a two night minimum (sleeps up to 4 people per suite) for our three "Muskoka" events. Rate includes complimentary Hot Breakfast and High Speed Internet. Please note all room types feature either one king or queen sized bed and a double bed pull out sofa bed. Hotel room rates are subject to applicable federal, provincial, local taxes and fees (currently 13%) in effect at the time of check in. If interested, please contact Jan Thomas (email or phone 705 -835-3255) by the following dates to secure your suite:

Gravenhurst Triathlon Weekend - May 30th, 2011
Bala Falls Triathlon - June 8th, 2011
Bracebridge Triathlon Weekend - June 22nd, 2011

MultiSport Canada is The Largest Canadian Owned Triathlon Series in Canada!

We are very proud to announce that going into season ten MultiSport Canada is now the largest "Canadian owned" series in Canada. We would like to thank all who have raced with us and supported the series.

Sponsor Deals for MSC Racers

Wednesday Gears/MSC Discount Club - New store in Toronto!

Gears now has a new location in Toronto - 109 Vanderhoof Avenue. Toronto, ON, M4G 2H7. Phone: 647-729-2500. Make sure to drop by and say hello.

Take advantage of the special prices available to MultiSport Canada customers. It is easy to get your discount. When you go to the store ask for Kevin Wallace or Ira Kargel and they will make sure you get the discount applicable with the product you are buying. Every Wednesday is The Gears/MSC discount day with 10% off most items in the store. Download the Discount Card by clicking on the picture or call the store (905-271-2400) and ask for Ira or Kevin for details. Discount Club details.

Gear Review

Brooks - Racer ST 5

By Roger Hospedales of Triathlon Magazine Canada

With the race season kicking off in just a few days, I felt it was an opportune time to tell you about a great pair of racing shoes, the Brooks Racer ST 5.

Brooks not only sponsors this series, but also the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon, and as an official pacer I get my pick of shoes. I gave the Racer ST 5 a try and really enjoyed running in them for a number of reasons.

At only 8.6 oz in weight, they feel like you are wearing nothing on your feet. Psychologically, it just made me want to run faster, whether I was in the mood to do so or not.

For those a bit tentative in using racing flats because of lack of support or overpronation issues, the Racer ST 5 has got that problem solved because it features medial support with its DRB (Diagonal Rollbar). Efficient runners can easily use these for a marathon, and for the not so efficient – like myself – I’d recommend using them for races up to a half marathon, for speedier training sessions, and definitely for brick runs when your legs feel like lead.

If you are familiar with the previous model (Racer ST 4), you will notice the immediate flashy colour change from white, red and black, to orange and blue. But most importantly you will experience increased flexibility in the forefoot, improved traction, improved cushioning with the new BioMoGo, and addition of environmentally friendly materials so the shoes are able to break down in a landfill once you are done with them. Like the previous model, these also don’t offer separate sizes for men and women. Find out more at www.brooksrunning.ca

Ask the Coach

Please keep sending your questions to mscnewsletter1@gmail.com and we will have our coaching panel from NRG Performance Training, and Healthy Results Training answer them. This month Wolfgang Guembel of NRG Performance Training answers the following question.

How do I determine when I've done too much? How do I make sure I don't get overtrained?

What is it? - Overtraining occurs when the volume and intensity of an individual's exercise exceeds their recovery capacity. Progress is ceased and loss of fitness and strength is a possibility.

Who can it happen to? - Anyone at any level however, it occurs more readily in individuals that are simultaneously exposed to other physical and psychological stressors, such as jet lag, ongoing illness, overwork, menstruation, poor nutrition etc.

Symptoms are usually emotional, behavioral and physical.

Warning Signs
1. Increase in heart rate during training or at rest.

2. Decrease in the quality and quantity of sleep.

3. Cold and flu like symptoms.

4. Dizziness before, during and/or after physical activity.

5. Sudden weight loss due to decrease in appetite.

6. Mouth sores and/or sensitive teeth and/or skin blemishes.

7. Swollen and tender glands (neck, groin and underarms).

8. Clumsiness, moodiness and irritability.

9. Loss of motivation

10. Decrease in sport specific performance

Treatment

Rest - the longer you have been overtraining the more rest required

Water – drink lots of it

Massage – helps flush and rejuvenate muscles

Cross-Train – must be easy and using off muscle groups

Tips to Avoid Overtraining
1. Follow a training plan and monitor your heart rate

2. Train YOUR schedule. You know your body, do what works for you don’t copy others.

3. Set realistic goals. Be conservative at first.

4. Keep a detailed log book.

5. Eat properly – more natural foods (fruits and vegetables) and less processed food.

6. Sleep – the amount and quality is important do not under estimate sleep.

7. Stress – recognize it, manage it and adjust to it.

8. Stretch, Ice and Massage

9. Get a physical – check iron, calcium and electrolyte levels

10. REST, take an extra day if you need it. Recovery happens during rest.

Reality – endurance training involves fatigue but also requires rest.

Balance is the key. Follow a progressive training plan and aim for consistent workouts and incorporate a rest week (usually every 2-3 weeks) to allow the body to rejuvenate itself.

JJ Neely is an Associate Coach with NRG Performance Training and can be found training and coaching with the Mississauga Triathlon Club and the Kelso Open Water Swim Club

Training Articles

Swim Faster Now - Some tips to improve your balance

Well it is June and it is time to race. Most people can handle the bike and the run, but are a little worried about the swim. You probably find yourself wishing that you could have more energy coming out of the swim and applying it to the bike and run. Is there time at this stage of the season to still gain an advantage from learning the proper technical skills that will leave you feeling relaxed and more comfortable with the swim? The answer is YES!!!

The quickest way to do this is to learn balance in the water. In previous articles, I have talked about head position and nose position. I will review these points, as they are some of the most important aspects of improving your swim in a short period of time. The next time you are out for a swim practice, try focusing on the bottom of the pool. If there is no one in your lane, try swimming on top of the black line and pointing your nose directly down at the black line. Keep the water level at the back of your head and you will begin to find balance. You will need to remind yourself to look down every 5-7 seconds as this seems to be the amount of time that people can look at a black line before they think about something other than swimming.

If you are swimming where there is no line on the bottom of the pool, it is more challenging to master the proper head position. It can still be done with the help of the training snorkel for competitive swimming. With the snorkel on, if your head is too low, you will take in water. It wont help you a lot with keeping the nose pointed directly down, so I recommend trying to find a pool that isn’t busy and practice this for a few workouts. As you get better at this skill, you are under way to learning how to swim smoother and with less effort.

At Swim Faster Now, we are the founders of the six-step system to smoother and faster front crawl. We work with triathletes and swimmers from the beginner to international level. Our six-step progression drill system allows each and every swimmer the time to master each critical component of swimming, leaving them swimming faster and smoother with less effort. Our next clinics are June 12th and July 24th 2011 from 9am -12pm at our Oakville location at 407 Speers Rd Units 8-10 Oakville. We also specialize in one on one private one-hour swim sessions.

For more information, please call us at 1-888-380-SWIM or visit us on our website.

I would like to take this time to let everyone know that we just finished building our 2-lane river pool in addition to our main pool. The river pool is a swimming treadmill that allows you to swim in one spot, which is great for preparation for open water swimming. More importantly, the river pool allows us to correct your strokes in a way that could never be done before. Give us a call!

Armstrong Ironman Advice

By Mark Cairns of Team Running Free and a Series regular

Hey Lance, I hear you’re going to be doing Ironman. Neat. But like those women who write their hotel room numbers on their underwear and throw them at Tom Jones, there are triathlon coaches everywhere who are going to be writing their email addresses on water bottles and heaving them in your direction. Don’t listen to any of them. Listen to me, a veteran, having watched dozens of these races on TV. Don’t laugh: I see things the athletes themselves often can’t see because they’re too caught up in distractions, like trying to win or not get blown off the bike. I can net this whole thing down to a few simple guidelines. Follow these and that finisher’s shirt will be yours for sure.

1. Learn to feed yourself: Ironman has strict rules about outside assistance. While there are aid stations every few miles along the course, nobody is going to be hanging off the side of a car careening down a mountain sticking carbo gels in your mouth.

2. Learn how to fix a flat. The last time you changed your own tire, Coolidge was still president. Even if there’s a tech wagon nearby when you go flat, if they happen to be fixing a clincher for a 62-year old kindergarten teacher from Hamilton, you’re S.O.L. because the only priority is who came first. Look, there’s nothing to it. You use these little plastic thingies to pry the tire off the rim, and then put a little spittle on the inner tube to find the hole. Rub some sandpaper across it, dab it with a bit of glue, slap on a rubber patch, hold it tight for about ten minutes, pump it up and you’re good to go. Might want to try practicing at home on an old tube to get the hang of it. Ask the kids in your neighborhood; they probably have one or two they can lend you. By the way, don’t get sloppy with the patch kit: Pack it back neatly in your saddlebag because you might need it again.

3. Use good technique: Going to let you in on a little secret: The reason your shoes are attached to the pedals is that you can actually get power from pulling up on the pedal as well as pushing down. With a lot of practice, you should be able to generate power throughout the entire pedal cycle. Best way to learn how to keep even pressure throughout is to use a Compu-Trainer. There are some pretty good used ones on eBay that won’t break the bank.

4. Don’t save anything for the run. Everyone else is going to tell you otherwise. Ignore them. If Michael Phelps were doing Ironman, those guys would tell him to hang back on the swim. You’re the most relentlessly competitive human being since Eleanor of Aquitaine. Telling you to take it easy on the bike would be like telling Al Capone to forgive a few debts. Hammer that sucker! Its simple arithmetic: The better the lead you have at the end of the bike, the farther ahead you’re going to be when the run starts.

5. The swim, however, is another story. You’ve been known to train yourself to exhaustion. This works on the bike, where you can stop, puke for a while, then get back on and keep going. On the swim, this is not such a good idea. Swimming is like flying: You can’t pull over to the side and think things over. Even if you’ve got enough gas left in the tank to tread water and not drown, all those people you shot out ahead of are going to Whack-a-Mole you into a coma. However, there’s no penalty for hanging onto a surfboard for a couple of minutes, and a shot of Lance Armstrong grabbing onto a lifeguard’s ankle gasping for air while being passed by a 62-year old kindergarten teacher from Hamilton is guaranteed to land you another Sports Illustrated cover.

6. Learn Hawaiian. You know those interviews you give in French at the end of every Tour stage? Very endearing, even though the French hate you anyway. At Ironman, though, they’ll love you - hearing you in the native lingo could spark a cultural revolution. Don’t sweat the learning process: The language is 100% phonetic, there are only eight consonants and, unlike French, you don’t have to twist your face into a gopher grimace to pronounce anything. If you can manage “bouilloire” and “caoutchouc,” then “humuhumunukunukuapua’a” should be a piece of cake.

7. Learn ASL, too. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but two-way radios are not allowed on the Kona course. No one-way radios, either, so you’re going to need to use sign language so all those people you’re going to have stashed along the way can tell you where you are relative to your competitors. Example: A closed fist with one finger raised means, “Jan Ullrich sends his warmest regards and wishes you Godspeed.”

8. Start driving a Ford. Immediately. Or you won’t get any coverage on the Ironman TV show.

9. Don’t do drugs. The average Tour rider spends more on doping than the first place prize purse at the Ironman, so, really, what’s the point? Then again, you could pee distilled water and the French are going to hate you anyway. The good news is that, unlike the Tour, Ironman’s banned list doesn’t include milk, bananas, yogurt, vegetables, meat, nuts or fish, so the odds are pretty good that you can find something to eat during the race that isn’t going to make the front page of Le Monde.

10. Enter the Lottery. No shame here. The Lottery is intended to give people who might otherwise not be able to qualify a shot at the dream. Go for it.

11. Be nice to the volunteers. You might occasionally see somebody at an aid station giving water or a cookie to another athlete. Don’t get upset. These people are not actually on your payroll. They’re supplied by the race and they’re allowed to give stuff to other competitors.

12. Don’t draft. If some guy in a striped shirt on a motorcycle pulls up alongside you, don’t hold out your hand expecting a Gatorade bottle or a ham sandwich. That’s not why he’s there. Cooperate, and if you do decide to curse him out, do it in French. Or, better yet, Hawaiian.

13. Know the rules. If someone tries to pass you on the bike, you have to let her. Do not panic! Relax and stick to your plan and there’s a good chance you can catch her later.

Athlete Profiles and Stories

MultiSport Canada Athletes Going to Challenge Roth

We'll conclude our Challenge Roth athlete profiles with the married duo of Anne Nicolussi and John Salt.

You will discover from their profiles that they are excellent athletes, and if you’ve been around this Series long enough you’ll know that both are top-notch individuals with outstanding character. In fact, Anne being as humble as she is, neglected to mention that she finished first in her age group at Ironman Lake Placid in 2000, second in her age group at Ironman Wisconsin in 2003 and qualified for the 2004 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii where she finished 8^th in her age group. To say that John is a proud husband would be an understatement.

As the pictures show below, both raced Challenge Roth in 2009 and had such a wonderful time that we now have a great group of athletes heading over to Germany to share in that experience. We wish, Anne, John, and all the rest of the Challenge Roth athletes all the best for their race on July 10^th.

MSC Goes to Challenge Roth Webpage.

Anne Nicolussi

Age group - 45-49

Hometown - London

Years of racing experience - over 16 years

# of Iron distance races - 8, 10+ half iron distance

Best iron distance performance - 11:03 in Lake Placid 2000 1st in age group

Goal for Roth - Crossing the finish line with my husband

Why race Roth? - Great spectator support, the roads are in great condition, and it’s in Europe!

Sporting background - Competitive and Varsity Swimmer

Dream race performance - Under 11 hours

First race experience - Orillia Sprint Triathlon - many years ago

First iron distance experience - Ironman Canada 1998

Tips for newcomers thinking about doing Iron distance or half iron distance racing - Make sure you get an experienced coach who knows how to put together a training program incorporating build weeks and down weeks and quality workouts with specific targets, avoiding 'garbage' miles, and addresses your needs, time commitment and goals. Also, build up to doing a 1/2 or full iron distance race. Don't make either of these your 'first' triathlon experience.

Fave MSC race(s) - Parry Sound 1/2 Iron distance Bike Course, Old Welland Run Course.

John Salt

Age - 58 on August 2

Hometown - Born in London, England, Reside in London, Ontari.

Years of racing experience - 20 years

# of Iron distance races - Started 7

Best iron distance performance - Best Position was 4th in Age Group (50 to 55) Lake Placid 2005, Best Time was 11:00:51 Lake Placid 2000.

Goal for Roth - To enjoy the entire race and hopefully finish at the same time as my wife Anne.

Why race Roth? - Anne and I raced Roth in 2009 and it was the best all around race experience of my life. The spectators, other athletes and race organization are all incredible. This is a race that everyone should do.

Sporting background - Played hockey at St. Mikes in high school, got lazy for a lot of years and then worked my way through aerobics and the sports of running and swimming and ultimately Triathlon

Dream race performance - Swim - 1:08, bike - 5:45, run - 3:55, transitions under 12 minutes = 10:59:59

First race experience - Milton 1990

First iron distance experience - Ironman Canada 1998

Tips for newcomers thinking about doing Iron distance or half iron distance racing - The hardest part of an Iron Distance race is the training and pushing yourself through the work and the tough mental days. It can be a lonely time and the hardest thing you thought you would ever do. Realize this is about you and challenging yourself to be the best you can be. Don't worry about anyone else, and don't get caught up in thinking anyone else really cares what your final time is.

Other accomplishments (sports or otherwise) - Creating MultiSport Canada and realizing a dream of building something that could impact people's lives in such a positive way.

Favourite gear - My Specialized bike

Fave MSC race(s) - All of them, of course!

John Klukach's Ironman for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

An Ironman is considered by many to be the ultimate test of human will and endurance. The same could be said about fighting leukemia or lymphoma, although no one chooses to endure those.

All of this has particular meaning to me, because I am a survivor of Hodgkin's disease.

I am so grateful for the research, which led to the treatments, which have, quite literally, given me my life.

So I have been inspired to use my first Ironman adventure (this year at Ironman Canada) as an opportunity to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Blood cancers can affect everyone from children to grandparents. I am living evidence that research has come a long way, but there is still much to be done.

John is a series regular, and you can pledge your support for John’s Fundraising efforts here.

Find out more about John here

MSC Radio - Simon Whitfield Parts 3 & 4

Check out Parts 3 & 4 of our audio clips with Simon Whitfield at our Series Awards Day.

Simon talks about avoiding injuries, parental involvement, mental preparation, and shares some Olympic stories.

Listen to Simon here at MSC Radio.

Stay tuned for our post-race podcasts, and race profiles/descriptions.

Camps, Clinics & Other Events

Absolute Endurance Muskoka Training Camp: July 22-24, 2011

Cost: AETT Coached Athletes $240 + HST

Non-AETT Athletes $300 + HST

Join Absolute Endurance on our fourth annual Training Camp in Huntsville, Ontario!

This training weekend will encompass swim, bike and run training that will improve the fitness and confidence of any athlete. We offer a friendly and fun training atmosphere and welcome athletes of all levels and abilities!

What’s Included:

2 ½ days of structured group workouts in Huntsville, Ontario

Barbeque dinner each night

Education on cycling and running skills, race day and training nutrition and motivation/mental strategies

Accomodations:

Accomodations are not included, but workouts will start and finish at the Tulip Inn in Hunstville. Reserve Accomodations early, as space is limited.

Find out more details here.

Bulldog Triathlon

Please Support our Sponsors

We extend our thanks to each and every sponsor. Race entry fees never cover the complete cost of a particular race or series of races and without the sponsors there is no race or race series that would survive without their support. We hope that you all take a moment to check out our Series Sponsors below or visit the sponsors page and see what they do and look at the products they sell. Please thank them for supporting the sports of Triathlon and Duathlon by trying and using their products. If you do visit them please take a moment to thank them for supporting Triathlon, Duathlon and Kids races in Ontario.