We're HERE!

Maybe it's a pump on raceday. Or perhaps it's a hand getting into a wetsuit. Then there's the advice on swim starts, training methods, nutrition ... The point is: We're here for you.

Triple Sports and many other local retailers support and sponsor local races, provide a local place to check out, try on and ask questions about all the products you need to keep your triathlon or running or biking or swimming fetish going. We live locally, we pay local taxes and you pay local taxes that actually mean something because Triple Sports didn't demand tax concessions from the city before opening the doors. The point is: We're here - you, me, him, her, us.

It is a new age, to be sure. Gone are the days of Mayberry's Gomer Pyle or Floyd the barber, where small-time retail survives because no other options exist. That's great. It's great for consumers (we consume, too, ya know) and, in the end, it's great for local retailers because it keeps all of us from getting complacent about the people that matter to us most - the locals. Yet there are limits and those limits erupt in the form of large chain stores.

To be sure, we're not talking about Wal-Mart or Target (although one wonders for how long). Use your imagination to determine which acronym-as-business-name (among other HUGE online outlets) are catching the triathlon bug. This matters, folks. Or at least it should.

~ Brian

If all things are equal, how did I “win”?

Lean and quick, Russell generally gets the better of me on race results pages. He is a disciplined athlete with drive, passion and a full-loving training club. He’s even older than me. But that doesn’t stop him from knocking me off out at the races. Yet, I managed to bag one at the recent Nathan’s Timex Triathlon.

What was the secret? I raced smarter, he said. Now, me and smarts generally do not get close enough to be confused. But efficiency is another matter entirely. You can win or lose a race in transition. In this one, it appeared, I gained the edge right there. I was about 50 percent faster in transition than Russell. And in the end, that made all the difference.

So, again, what’s the secret? Practice, preparation and trying some new things in transition, can help. Here are some tips:

Be quick, yet deliberate. Know the transition process and set yourself up for success. If you put your racebelt on before your sunglasses, don’t put it under your sunglasses. Use your helmet as a tray to hold all of your bike gear and place items inside the helmet in the order you intend to use them.

In training, practice mounting and dismounting the bike while leaving your cycling shoes attached. This helped allow me to get on and off the bike course with greater speed because I was already moving forward while Russell was still stopped in transition.

Know your route into and out of transition. This is simple because most events have giant blow-up structures indicating where these things are. Nevertheless, understand the flow of the transition area and where you are at inside of it.
Don’t put too much thought into it. Losing time is easier when you think it’s more complicated than it really is. Grab your stuff and go, go, go.

Now, with the secret out of the bag, watch for Russell. He’ll be just a few steps in front of me.

~ Brian

Introducing ...

I used to write for a living. We both did. We were newspaper reporters, mostly in Northern California. If you’ve traveled down any neighborhood street lately — taking time to notice the lack of newspapers on the doorstep or in the drive — understanding why we decided to abandon the profession is not much of a challenge.

Apparently, people get their news from the Internet. There are the mainstream outlets, which aren’t faring much better online than they are in the hardcopy world. Edgy upstarts reel in some readers and viewers. And, of course, there are blogs. Bloggers — everyday folks like you and me — have a lot to say and nothing to say at the same time. How about that? So, we’re throwing our hat in the proverbial, yet virtual, ring in hopes of keeping you informed on our comings and goings at Triple Sports. And in the words of Bill Cosby: “If you’re not careful, you might learn something.” Hey, hey, hey.

~ Brian