As triathlon has grown in popularity, it’s reached out to new markets to expand its audience and participant bases.  Among these has been the youth segment, encompassing not only collegiate students, but increasingly also secondary and even primary school-age young adults.  At the forefront of this has been the Multisport Madness Triathlon Team, a youth-oriented program begun in 2001 by Keith Dickson, a former competitive swimmer and member of the U.S. team at the 1978 World Championships. 

Multisport Madness began when Keith posed the question as to what would happen if children were invited to the sport of triathlon and then given adequate resources in training and organization to support their development.  He’d witnessed the ability of other countries to produce a steady supply of world-class triathletes over the sport’s lifetime, and wanted to see the U.S. have the same level of success.  

Starting what he calls a “research project,” he gathered ordinary kids and placed them in an infrastructure of qualified coaches, planned training schedules, logistical assistance, and formal racing circuits.  The results have blossomed since his first year, when the Multisport Madness Triathlon Team began with 17 neighborhood children in the town of Aurora, Illinois.  Since then, the original crop of students has grown to over 105 members ranging from 7-26 years old, including 10 ITU professionals.  Among them are top U.S. prospects in youth and junior divisions, with 5 U.S. Champions covering the 16-19 age group (Natalie Russell), 13-15 age group (Ben Kanute and Jennifer Howland), 11-12 age group (Patrick Cagney), and 7-8 age group (Abby Brostrom).  Natalie Russell qualified for the U.S. 2008 ITU World Championships team.  This year, Keith partnered with Sean Wendt to expand the organization to Golden, Colorado, and then continued to encompass Austin, Texas.

Keith feels that Multisport Madness is special, since it led what he considers 2 significant developments in the sport of triathlon:  organized outreach to children and young adults, and employment of a team concept.  At the time Multisport Madness began, youth and juniors triathlon was still in its infancy, and the model of team triathlon was not widespread.  Keith believed that kids would respond more positively to triathlon if they were offered motivation, attention, education, and camaraderie—things that were more possible with a team environment that was sustained by an organization devoted exclusively to the needs of children.

If it wasn't for the support of the great folks at Triathlete Magazine , there would never be a T-Dot, for that we are eternally grateful.  If you haven't picked up a copy or subscribed to Triathlete you are missing out.

Here's a taste, This Month In Triathlete .

Oct. 14, 2007 -- Six years ago, Australia's Chris McCormack -- a former ITU world champion -- made the transition from short course to Ironman and boldly predicted that he would dominate the Ironman world championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. However, Macca would struggle with the race -- finally clawing his way to a six-place finish in 2005 on the back of a solid breakthrough marathon, then placing second in 2006, just 71 seconds behind winner Normann Stadler.

In 2007, however, Macca fulfilled a dream by winning the Ford Ironman World Championship on Oct. 13 -- an effort that forced the talented Aussie triathlete to come to terms with and vanquish the fear of failure that has haunted his history at this race.

Triathlete: You've put in your dues here. Do you feel good about what you've been able to accomplish?

Chris McCormack: I'm really really happy. This was my sixth attempt. There were times when I started to question whether I was going to have this monkey on my back forever. A lot of great athletes haven't won here: Pauli Kiuru, Mike Pigg, Juergen Zaeck -- guys I've really looked up to. I thought, "Oh man, maybe my destiny is to be never a champion in Kona. You question yourself a lot. Last year I got so close and I thought, "Man, the depth [of talent in the field] is getting bigger and bigger. Maybe I'm going to miss my window." Everything seemed to click this year . . . we just focused on being a family and putting everything into this race. Preparation was impeccable. I had a good training crew in Boulder [Colorado].

We Love to get pictures of athletes from around the world showing off their "Dots." 

This one we had to post on the home page, coach, USAT board member and Ironman Barbara Kostner at the bike check in at the Ironman World Championships in Kona.

But wait there's more.  While Barb was checking in her bike Jesi stensland and the IM camera crew saw her and did an interview about the T-Dot you can check that out by following this link http://ironman.active.com .  Look for the video clip:  Bike Check-In.  Watch the last minute and get ready to be blown away!!!!  T-Dot, it's everywhere!!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!!

October 15, 2007 

This week I'm going to do some drill work mixed with some different strokes (I'll leave out fly for now, unless you're a true swimmer or just ambitious).  This workout is pretty similar to last week's in that some of the drills are the same.  I said it last week and I'll say it again this week, now is the time to hire a swim coach if you have that available to you where you live.  Slow down your swimming and pick apart your stroke.  Improvement on freestyle for triathlon begins now.
 
BEGINNER
100 easy swim
4 x 25 kick, concentrating on keeping the ankles close together (no wide kicking); 5 seconds rest between each
50 easy swim
4 x 50 catch up drill working on good form; take 10 seconds rest between each
100 fingertip drill
8 x 50 swim; alternating between backstroke and breaststroke; take 10-15 seconds rest between each.  
50 easy swim
100 cool down
Total yards:  1100

Courtesy AP 

Ironman Apologizes Over Guatemalan Coffee

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) -- Officials of the Ironman Triathlon apologized to Kona coffee farmers and the Big Island community Wednesday for introducing a Guatemalan coffee as its official coffee.
The officials placed advertisements for Thursday editions of both Big Island daily newspapers and Honolulu's two dailies, saying "our lapse in judgment was not malicious."

"We truly hope that you are able to forgive us for our mistake," the ad said.

It said Ironman coffee was removed from local retail locations and promotional activities for it would end.

Ken Sheppard, president of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, said he was pleased Ironman had pulled the coffee from shelves and offered the written apology.

"It's good that they've done that. They do need to apologize, and the apology will be accepted, I'm sure," Sheppard said.

Introducing the coffee five days before the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in the heart of Kona coffee country was seen by many to be an insult and huge public relations error in a town that essentially closes up for the race.

Blair LaHaye, Ironman communications director, acknowledged the timing of Monday's announcement was "less than ideal."

The Ironman coffee was pulled from stores "out of respect for the feelings of the coffee farmers and all the people of the Big Island," she said.

Ironman has been held in Kona since 1981, and thousands of residents volunteer for days and weeks ahead of the 140.6-mile endurance race.

In the apology, Ironman touts Kona's hospitality as "our greatest asset," and LaHaye said officials were looking forward to future ties to the community.

"Ironman officials are in discussion with organic coffee growers in Kona to introduce a Kona coffee blend," LaHaye said.

The clock is ticking and Kona is just a few days away!  We want to wish the best of luck to everyone out there and a special shout out to our friend Faris Al- Sultan.  Go get em'!  We're all cheering for you!!!!

Why do some drinks seem to work better than others? Why is it that I get stomach distress and gut issues when I use certain products? In the first part of this series in Nutrition we examine about the effects of having a drink that is too concentrated for your training and race day.
 
The best sports drinks are the ones that are easily digested, pass quickly  while supplying enough calories and electrolytes to fuel an athlete during long and stressful workouts. If a drink solution is too thick or concentrated your body will not absorb it quickly. Blood will divert to your gut from your muscles to try and digest it like a food and can cause nausea and cramping.
 
Osmolality is a key medical term used to describe the concentration of particles dissolved in a solution. It is a measure of density and is expressed in units of measurement known as osmoles or milliosmoles (one thousandth of an osmole), per 1000g of solvent, or mosm/kg. The more particles a rehydration beverage contains (such as carbohydrate, electrolytes, amino acids, anti-oxidants, protein or flavoring), the higher its osmolality.

Optimal absorption of fluids within the body happens when a sports drink solution is equal in terms of osmolality to what naturally occurs in the body. The osmolality of our body’s own fluids are approx 300mosm/kg water and are regulated by the intrinsic mechanisms within our own system.

Courtesy The Chicago Tribune

Tribune photos by Jose M. Osorio, Chuck Berman, Jim Robinson 

 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon was cut short for the first time in its history Sunday as hundreds of runners laboring across ovenlike streets were treated for heat-related illness.

The stoppage happened about 3 1/2 hours after the start gun on an abnormally sweltering autumn day, amid complaints of insufficient water for more than 35,000 runners who had come from around the world to compete in one of its pre-eminent marathons.

One runner, a 35-year-old Michigan police officer, died after collapsing in the race's 19th mile, but it was not clear whether the death was heat-related.
Chad Schieber of Midland, Mich., collapsed about 12 p.m. at 1500 S. Ashland Ave. and was pronounced dead on arrival at a West Side hospital at 12:50 p.m., the medical examiner's office said.

An autopsy will be performed Monday.

Despite the heat, executive race director Carey Pinkowski said race officials never considered canceling the race before it began because they believed the number of people running was manageable and that they could be cared for.

 
Chad Schieber is doused with water in the Chicago Marathon