Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Keep Austin Beautiful Awards



Jack & Adam's Bicycles recycling campaign called The Green Team Bicycle Re-Cycle Project has been awarded Honorable Mention in the 2009 Keep Austin Beautiful Awards. The KAB Awards recognize the efforts made by individuals and groups to enhance and protect Austin's environment.


The Green Team is a recycling campaign geared towards keeping bicycles and everything bicycle related out of the landfills. Jack & Adam's is extending its green efforts at events into daily activities at the shop. Anyone can participate in the project by tossing tubes and tires into one of the bins and by placing spare parts and triathlon related clothing in the other two bins.


The project kicked off in February of this year and has seen encouraging results ranging from:

-Numerous bike frames, wheels, and parts given to the Orange Bike Project at the University of Texas.

-Many happy cyclists discovering "Someone else's trash is my treasure!" Helmets, running shoes, cycling shoes, jerseys, visors, hats, tubes, tires, bike parts have been reused instead of thrown into the trash.

-Race banners, tubes, and unused race shirts have been "upcycled" into awesome "new" products created by Future Craft Collective.

The J&A Green Team Bicycle Re-Cycle Project is an ongoing and continual effort. For 2010 the team aims to increase its scope with classes and other cool surprises.

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Monday, September 28, 2009

Jack & Adam's / Zapata Roadrunners Set World Record


(Austin, TX) Jack & Adam’s Bicycles / Zapata Road Runners set the Guinness Book of World Records time in the five person marathon relay on Sunday at the Silicon Labs Relay Marathon in Austin, TX. The Jack & Adam’s team has dominated the event for the past five years, winning every time a team was entered. Two of the previous teams were also course and event records.

This year with the Guinness Book World Record on the line, Jack & Adam’s Bicycles teamed up with other well-known relay marathoners in Texas, the Zapata Road Runners. The Zapata Road Runners dominate the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon in Corpus Christi on a regular basis. Jack Murray of Jack and Adam’s Bicycles, a huge fan of the relay marathon format, has himself competed in the Silicon Labs Relay Marathon twice and the Beach to Bay Marathon five times. Murray explains, “All through high school and college we would field a marathon relay team with our cross country teams. I was very excited when in 2005 I learned that the relay format was coming back to Austin. The Silicon Labs Relay Marathon is now something that Jack & Adam’s Bicycles looks forward to every year.”

The record winning team was not fully formed until the week leading up to the race. Ricky Garza of the Zapata Road Runners sent numerous e-mails to his international team on the South Texas border to see who would be willing to visit Austin for the event. With only one day remaining, the team was finalized with a last minute addition of Kenyan native Stephen Ariga of Dallas, Texas. Ariga took a five hour bus ride from Dallas to arrive in Austin in time for the race. Two of the other team members, Kenyans Kibet Cherop and Rueben Ondari from Runners North spent nine hours on a bus from Zacatecas, Mexico to Laredo and four more hours in a car from Laredo to Austin before arriving for the event. Rounding out the five person team were Austinites Derek Yorek and Scott Kimbell both former runners at Adam’s State University. The team’s winning time of 2:10:49 set the new world record for a five person relay marathon and bested the previous course record by almost eleven minutes.

Also beating the previous course record by over six minutes was the second place team from Jack & Adam’s Bicycles made up of four triathletes and one of Murray’s former college teammates. The roster for this team included Cross Country All American David Fuentes of Austin, coach Derrick Williamson of Durata Training, two world class triathletes Richie Cunningham of Australia and Michael Raelert of Germany and Laredo’s “Road Warrior” Benny Rodriquez.

The race started a little fast, but by the end of the 1st leg (12k distance), Jack & Adam’s/Zapata Road Runners were in first place by 1:30 minutes and Jack & Adam’s Misfits were in second by 1:00 minute over third place Team Airrosti. Rueben Ondari set the pace for J&A/Zapata and David Fuentes set the pace for the J&A Misfits. The Airrosti Team was made up of former University of Texas runners, all of whom are pursuing elite racing careers through Rogue Running. That team, just weeks before, lit up the Zilker relays setting the stage for quite a race from start to finish.

The 2nd leg, which was a 10k run, was completed by Stephen Ariga for J&A/Zapata and Derick Williamson for J&A Misfits. After the 2nd leg, both teams gapped the field by over 2:00 minutes. The 3rd leg of 10k was covered by Kibet Cherop for the J&A / Zapata team and Richie Cunningham for the J&A Misfits.

Relay placement remained the same for the final two stages of the race, both of 5k distances. Scott Kimbell and Derek Yorek of Jack & Adam’s Bicycles/Zapata Road Runners brought it home with the new World Record and course record for a total time of 2 hours 10 minutes and 49 seconds. Team Jack & Adam’s Bicycles Misfits finished out the last two legs with Michael Raelert and Benny Rodriguez for 2nd place with a time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 17 seconds, also breaking the previous course record. Rounding out the top 6 overall were Team Airrosti (3rd place, 2:19.27), Team Gazelle Elite (4th place, 2:23.00), Team Airrosti 4 (5th place, 2:28.41), and Team Jack & Adam’s Bicycles Javelinas (6th place, 2:30.23). The J&A Javelinas was made up of Jack & Adam’s Bicycles Co-founder Adam Reiser, two world class triathletes Andreas Raelert & Pat Evoe, and two former TAMUK Javelinas Efrain Velasquez & Rick Carillo.

Two other J&A teams also finished in the top 25 overall. Team Jack & Adam’s Triathletes Mixed finished 18th overall and took 2nd place in the Open Mixed Category with a time of 2 hours 51 minutes and 39 seconds. The team was made up of Team J&A members and staff Todde Withycombe, Paul Terranova, Michelle Ryan, Jim Ryan, and Angie Balentine. The Jack & Adam’s Team Leftovers, placing 21st out of 568 teams was made up of J&A team members and staff Mark Foster, Josh Meza, Lon Brientbach, Jen Nieman, and Brad Miller.



Event History
2005 1st Jack & Adam’s Bicycles 2:21:38.1 Course & Event Record

2006 1st Jack & Adam’s Bicycles 2:21:46

2007 1st RunTex 2:25:04.7

2008 1st Jack and Adam’s Bicycles 2:21:15.7 Course & Event Record *

2009 1st Jack & Adam’s Bicycles / Zapata Roadrunners 2:10:49.4 Course, Event, & World Record

2009 2nd Jack & Adams Misfits 2:15:17

*2008 Course was moved to downtown Austin, Auditorium Shores.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Q&A with Derick Williamson

This past week I had the opportunity to talk with Derick Williamson about the development of his new running program, Durata. If you are looking for a specialized run program read on.

What does Durata mean?
Durata is Italian for Endurance.

What time do they start?
6:30am on Tuesdays and Fridays.

When does it officially start?
We will officially start on October 13th and go all the way through the Austin Marathon/Half Marathon.

Where does it start?
Jack & Adam’s Bicycles, 1210 Barton Springs Rd.

Will the workouts always start from Jack & Adam's?
Yes! Jack and Adam’s offers a perfect spot to meet for workouts as we can access a variety of terrain such as the trail, the Austin High track, Zilker and even hills. So we’ll be able to maximize workout potential and variety.

Can anyone join?
Absolutely, this program is open to everyone.

Who will be coaching workouts?
I will be the lead coach for the workouts but Kelly will also be there to help from time to time as well as some other notable athletes that we work with from the Austin endurance community.

Do you have to have a run background?
A run background is not necessary. In fact that’s what’s unique about our program. We’ve worked with first timers all the way up to Olympic Marathon trials athletes so no matter what level runner you are we can make you better. Our training approach also reduces injury potential and greatly enhances your ability to reach your running potential.

If I am training throughout the year for specific tri's can I still join?
This is a perfect opportunity for triathletes to have a structured run focus throughout the fall/winter months. Significant fitness gains can be made and plateaus can be broken during a block such as this that will not only improve their run split but also enhance their cycling fitness.

What makes Durata different from other training groups?
Endurance athletes often have to choose between the quality of an individualized training program that produces optimal results or group training that offers camaraderie but limits personal development. We’ve had tremendous success with our individual training programs and so we wanted to bring that expertise, experience and education to a collective setting.

Our collective setting offers training and progression that is designed for the individual, not the group, this leads to better results and less potential for injury. Many training groups focus too much on the track or speed work too early without adequately preparing the athlete to tolerate such intense workouts this is why many runners (and triathletes) end up injured and not performing to their potential. We do not avoid these key workouts but we do take a different approach making sure the training is broken up into phases that enhance important developmental components over an appropriate time course.

Durata collective setting sessions are designed so that athletes can focus on their own workout for the day, but with the ability to pair up with other runners that have similar workouts and paces. They’ll also get valuable guidance from the coach pre and post workout.


Will there always be a coach on sight?
Yes, there will always be a coach, but another unique component of our training program is that athletes will have slightly different workout s based on their individual rate of progression and their goals.

Is it year round?
Durata will be offering different Collective Training programs throughout the year synchronous to the local competitive/race seasons. This particular program will run through the Austin Marathon in February.

Is there an athlete cap?
Yes. This program offers a high level of attention and interaction, with that, we have a limit of 20. This allows us to give each individual athlete the attention and quality coaching that will produce the greatest results. It should be noted that these sessions are open to all current Durata athletes at no fee.

How many times per week does the group meet?
We will me 2x/wk on Tuesdays and Fridays, but you’ll also have the chance to meet other runners of similar ability and that gives you an opportunity to have training buddies for some of your other runs throughout the week.

Will there be coaching for cross training aspects of running?
This program will be focused solely on running.

Is there testing involved? What kind? How often?
Yes, this program will incorporate field testing (a workout to be done on the track or trail) at the onset and periodically through the program. It’s crucial to gather this data so that you are running at training paces that are consistent with your current level of fitness. It’s also critical to repeat the testing throughout the program so that you can monitor and track your progression in fitness as well as update your training ranges as you get faster. This testing not only gives you your own unique training paces but also helps us establish realistic race paces and projected times.

What if I am not able to run high mileage?
That’s OK, every athlete is different. This is a way the Durata program differs from others. We take your current training as well as historical training into account before giving you a schedule and having you do workouts. It’s irresponsible as a coach to put someone into a training program without an understanding of their training history, this leads to injury and sub-optimal performances. For some athletes higher mileage is appropriate but for others it is not and is in fact counter productive. We take great care to make sure an athlete’s mileage is matched to ability level, goals and athletic development.

If you build people from low mileage to high what is your belief on the maximum tolerable miles (i.e. range) for an athlete?
Again, this is different for all athletes and comes down to what works best for the individual athlete. There is certainly a point of diminishing returns with mileage; a point in which the fitness gains plateau or are greatly reduced but that the potential for injury and burn out begins to creep up. We assess each athlete and make sure their training for the marathon or half marathon is progressive in a way that ensures they get the necessary workouts in for success but do not over do it, arriving at the start line healthy and confident.

What is your background?
I have been coaching professionally since 2003. I worked as a Pro coach for Carmichael Training Systems before moving to Austin to pursue my graduate degree in Sports Science and Nutrition. I was a NCAA Div 1 distance runner and continue to run at a competitive level including a win at the ’07 Austin Half Marathon among other local races. I addition to running I compete as an elite triathlete. But I am most proud of my accomplishments as a coach including several Olympic Trials Qualifiers, an IAAF cross country world championship qualifier, multiple cycling and triathlon national champions, an ITU Paralympic world champion and Ironman World Champion, consulting with many of Austin’s elite triathletes and working with athletes of every level to realize athletic goals that they thought were only a dream.

What is your coaching philosophy (okay broad question so if you want to focus on one aspect of your belief system that you are really including in the training or you believe the most about)?
My coaching philosophy is grounded the fundamentals of physiology and the science of the sport. Workouts, training blocks and training cycles should incorporate 4 distinct components: Overload, Recovery, Progression and Adaptation. Each of these is intertwined and you cannot have one without the other. Training data for each athlete must be collected and implemented into an individual approach. This ensures workouts and progression is consistent with an individual rate of development and goal track. Phases of training must be developed so that an athlete progresses at a rate that is consistent with physiological adaptation, if you progress to fast injury and burn out occur, to slow and you do not gain optimal results. It is an approach that involves quite a bit of planning and tailoring to the individual but it also yields much more optimal results.

I am a firm believer that each workout should have a purpose that goes back to those 4 components, if your coach can not explain to you what the specific purpose of the workout is then your wasting your time and you should find another coach.

In addition to the physiological side of training there is also a huge psychological component to performing your best and taking on new and exciting challenges that can sometime seem daunting. My coaching and athletic experience as well as my education offers me a distinct advantage in being able to motivate and empower athletes keeping them on track for their goals. I also have a degree in nutrition so I can offer objective feedback and recommendations for the nutritional aspect.

Finally I believe that each athlete is different and should be treated as such; this is a big reason for forming the Durata Collective Setting program. I have seen too many athletes not reach their goals, stagnate, go through the viscous injury cycle (get injured because of improper training, get healthy, then get injured again, over and over) and eventually reduce their expectations because they are training ineffectively. My goal is to show athletes that there is an alternative approach that leads to them reaching their true potential.

What would a sample workout or week be like?
A sample day might be as follows:
6:00am: meet and briefly discuss the goals and purpose of the morning’s workout and answer and questions
6:10: subdivide into small groups that have similar workouts and pacing for the day.
6:10-6:25: Warm up on the Town Lake trail.
6:25 on, would be the Main set workout: i.e. 2x2mi Tempo Run with 3min Recovery on the trail (pacing based on your field test results).
Followed by a cool down and report your splits/results and feedback to the coach.

Is it month to month, pay in full ahead of time?
We offer both. It is highly recommended that you participate in all 4 months of the training, from October-February but you can choose to go month to month provided there is room. The cost is $125/mo or if you sign up for all four months in advance there is a discounted rate of $450 for the entire program.

How do I join?
You can join by going Here: duratatraining.com or if you’d like more information email me at derick@duratatraining.com.
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Monday, September 21, 2009

J&A Sunday Ride

Each Sunday at 8:30AM Jack & Adam's Bicycles hosts a free group ride starting and finishing at the shop. Come join the fun like all these riders did a couple of weeks ago.



Thanks to Mark Cathcart for the picture and for being an awesome volunteer ride leader!

Be on the lookout for monthly ride "specials." These rides will feature how-to's and tips on becoming a better rider. You can find those announcements on this blog and on the J&A Twitter page.



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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Bike Frame Materials

When looking for a new bike, you might have questions about bike frames and what they're made out of. Here are some pro's and con's of different frame materials, from the newsletter archives, June 2008.


STEEL
Pro's: Comfortable, absorbs shock; Durable and repairable; "Skinny Tubes" = classic looking; Can be almost as light as Titanium.

Con's: Heavier than Aluminum; Rusts if not maintained; "Skinny Tubes" = old school.


ALUMINUM
Pro's: Can be very lightweight; New Aluminum is more comfortable; Does not rust, resists corrosion; Stiff for good energy transfer.

Con's: Low end has harsher ride than steel; Not as repairable as steel.


CARBON FIBER
Pro's: Very comfortable; Stiff for good energy transfer; Does not rust; "Cool Factor" and Aero.

Con's: Expensive, $1500 minimum


TITANIUM
Pro's: Comfortable, similar to steel; Does not rust or corrode; Lightweight; Durable.

Con's: Usually more expensive, $2000+; Difficult to repair due to strength of material.


If you have any questions about frame materials, stop by Jack & Adam's and we'll be happy to answer them.

And if you're familiar with frame materials, what's your favorite?

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Monday, September 14, 2009

2010 Felt Bikes Are Here!

This past week Jack & Adam's received its first full shipment of 2010 Felt Bikes. Felt has really out-done themselves this year with the 2010 line - more great bikes at great prices!

Here are two examples we have at the shop:

2010 Felt F95 for $769
The F95 is back with a cool orange color for 2010! No, it's not quite burnt orange for all you UT fans. It's built with an aluminum frame & carbon fork and comes equipped with Shimano Tiagra & Sora combo drivetrain. Look for this bike in our popular Tri Package Deal in 2010!


2010 Felt Z6 for $1599
For those of you looking to ride a carbon frame bike, then check out the 2010 Z6. The Z6 comes equipped with a High Modulus Carbon Fiber Frame and Shimano Tiagra drivetrain. This is a great carbon bike at an affordable price of $1599.


Stop in & say hi and check out some of the 2010 line!



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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Cunningham, Ficker Win Austin Tri

Austin, TX - Local professional triathletes Richie Cunningham and Desiree Ficker win the 3rd Annual AVIA Austin Triathlon presented by Jack & Adam's Bicycles.

Richie Cunningham dominated the event by leading right from the gun. Andrew Yoder mounted an early charge on the bike but was forced to drop due to illness. Cunningham cruised through the 10 kilometer run to win by a margin of 3 minutes. James Cotter and James Bales grabbed second and third place, respectively.


On the women's side, Desiree Ficker and Kelly Handel treated everyone to a show with a competitive race throughout. Ficker used a strong bike and run to overcome the deficit to Handel after the swim. Terra Castro rounded out the podium to make it a trio of Austin women.


2000 participants and thousands of spectators enjoyed the beautiful weather and Austin's hospitality. All were welcome at the renowned post race carnival.


The Austin Triathlon is held annually on Labor Day in the heart of downtown Austin. High Five Events is proud to partner with AVIA and Jack & Adam's Bicycles to produce this event. Visit www.theaustintriathlon.com for more information.


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Return of Don T. Bonk



From 2006-2008, we were lucky enough to have Don T. Bonk at all the Texas Tri Series events. This year, however, he has been absent from that last stretch of the run course - that is until now! We're happy to report that he returned for The Austin Triathlon on Monday, Sept. 7!

If you're unfamiliar with the phrase, "Don't Bonk" from which our helper gained his name, this is what it means - (from Triathlon.org) "...hitting the wall. A slang term to describe basic body shut down - your body can no longer propel you forward. A loss of fluids, and/or electrolytes can cause a drop in blood pressure causing an extreme decrease in performance. Avoid bonking by keeping hydrated and replenishing electrolytes." J&A's has all the nutritional products you need to help you not hit the wall!



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Friday, September 4, 2009

What To Do In Austin

Austin is an amazing city with so many fun things to do, it could take you weeks to fit it all in. So what do you do when you only have one weekend in the ATX that also includes an awesome triathlon? Well, we asked fellow triathletes and Twitter users, “What's your favorite thing to do/place to go in Austin?” Here are some of their responses:

Places to go:


Barton Springs Pool – if you’ve never been, you’ve just got to see it! Seriously, it’s awesome.


Mt. Bonnell – Great views, but you might want to save this for after the tri, especially if you’re from a flat area of the country.


Things to do:


Visit Jack & Adam’s Bicycles (we’re not making this up – several respondents gave this answer!)



Watch the bats from the Congress Ave Bridge.


Search for Leslie



Shop on S. Congress – and be sure to tell each store that you’re in town for the triathlon; this is important!


Watch the sunset on Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail.


Catch some live music at the Continental Club.


Places to eat:


Taco Deli - We serve their great breakfast tacos (for free) after our Sunday rides. Their other tacos are top-notch and unique. Plus the owner is a bike rider himself. (picture is from the J&A shop ride "taco bin".)



Flip Happy Crepes - located in an Airstream trailer about a block from Jack & Adam's. Closed Mon & Tues and have limited hours. There is usually a line, but for good reason - really good crepes!


Chuy's - A short walk from Auditorium Shores (where the Austin Tri starts). Cool down with one of their delicious frozen margaritas!


Vespaio - When you're ready for a shopping break on S. Congress, then rest your feet at this Italian restaurant.


Flying Saucer - a little out of the downtown area, but if you like beer, then this is the place to go. They also have awesome soft pretzels and a full selection of other food.


Garrido's - After the tri on Monday, go visit this new restaurant in downtown! The food is amazing and they're having a Labor Day special. Plus the owner/chef, David Garrido is a true blue bicycle enthusiast.



The great thing about these suggestions is that almost all of them are in the vicinity of the downtown Austin Tri. If you have further suggestions, then knock yourself out - add them to the comments section!


Welcome to Austin, TX!


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Behind the Scenes - Austin Tri '08

As we prepare for the Austin Tri 2009, here are a few behind the scenes memories in pictures from 2008.

Jack & Drew pushing port-o-cans together so that they don't get used & abused by Bat Fest attendees. We want them fresh for y'all!



How do you get 4000 sponges to an aid station...big box, little car. Thanks, Joseph.


Not only bicycles get flats on race day! Our little transport vehicle called, "The Gator" suffered a flat before the gun went off.


It got aired up with a regular bike pump and survived the rest of the long day. We were happy to have him back! He's much needed for hauling ice and water.



Clean up crew picking up the last remaining parts of the finish line party.


Fit Master, Zane and the rest of the clean up crew sorting out recyclables and trash.

See you on Monday on Auditorium Shores for the Austin Tri 2009!


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Thursday, September 3, 2009

On Sale! at the Expo

The J&A booth at the Austin Tri Expo on Sunday will feature many sales items including:

TYR Sayonara speedsuits - 20% off
TYR clothing - 20% off
Pearl Izumi Tri shoes - 75% off
Profile Design LightingStryke Aerobars - 75% off
Zipp & Easton Race Wheels - 20% off

Come and get 'em while the gettin' is good!

The Expo takes place at the Hyatt Regency from 10AM to 6PM on Sunday, Sept. 6. It's free and open to the public.


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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

To Air or Not to Air

Since the Austin Tri is this weekend, we're re-posting an article from the June 2009 J&A Newsletter regarding air pressure in tires for overnight bike check-in.


To air or not to air?


For big events, bikes are sometimes required to be left overnight in the transition area. For some reason word spreads like wild fire to let the air out of tires so that they will not blow overnight. If you have been at an event like this and heard tires blowing right before the event, it has further increased your fear of this happening to you and made you a believer in this pre- race superstition. Below we will give the real reasons why tires blow in transition and a little info on why they will not.

Because people are nervous about getting flats, they tend to replace both tubes and tires for big events. This leads to tires and tubes not being seeded correctly and then blowing in transition overnight.

Because people are using bikes that are not very well maintained, they may have dry or weak spots on the tires. Mechanics / helpers / friends helping others getting ready in transition during bike check in will normally pump tires up to the max tire pressure. This exposes already weak, dry rotted or damaged areas of the tire. This is the main culprit of tires blowing.

A severe temperature change will only cause a very slight change in tire pressure overnight. A swing of 50 degrees will be a shift of less than 10 lbs. Most wheel manufactures' rims can withstand over twice the recommended tire pressure before the tire would pop off of the rim. So if your tire is to be aired up to 120 lbs, chances are your rim can hold twice that amount of force or more.

Rubber is also a porous material. Tubes and tires will lose pressure over a short amount of time. Some tires will lose as much as 25 to 40 % of their air in a week. If you air your tires up the day before you will probably have a little less air in your tires by race start. This would be a bigger reason why to air them up race day.

In short, letting the air out of your tires before an event will not prevent flats overnight, but if you like to do it because it makes you feel better, that is fine. Sports are surrounded by all kinds of pre-event habits and superstitions. Letting your air out can be chalked up to that.



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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Splash & Dash In Pictures

The monthly Splash & Dash has been filling up at record pace! The field for this open water 750 meter swim and 3km run is limited to only 200 participants. Sign up early so that you don't miss out! Here are some pictures of the August 2009 Splash & Dash from KVUE news:











Full slide show from KVUE is HERE.

What's your favorite part of the Splash & Dash? (it's on a Tuesday or price or location or awards, etc.?)

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