Austin Tri Health & Fitness Expo

Even if you're not doing the Austin Tri on Labor Day, you can still come experience part of the excitement at the Austin Tri Health & Fitness Expo on Sunday, September 4th at the Hyatt downtown. This free expo offers plenty of samples, sales, demos and prizes through numerous vendors. Plus there will be seminars where you can learn how to change a flat or learn more about the sport of triathlon. There's even free stretching and yoga.

Below is the schedule of events:

9:00 AM	Pre-Race Stretching & Yoga Class (at Expo)
10:00 AM	AVIA Austin Triathlon Expo Opens
10:00 AM	Pre-Race Stretching & Yoga Class (at Expo)
11:00 AM	Race Director Course Talk & USAT Rules Review
12:00 AM	Grease Monkey Wipes Flat Tire Clinic
1:00 PM	Jack & Adam’s Bicycles Tri-Newbie Clinic
2:00 PM	Grease Monkey Wipes Flat Tire Clinic
3:00 PM	Race Director Course Talk & USAT Rules Review
4:00 PM	Jack & Adam’s Bicycles Tri-Newbie Clinic

List of vendors at the Expo:

Jack & Adam's Bicycles

Clif Bar

The IceTee by Coolwear LLC

Your Eyes

ZICO

Grease Monkey Wipes

Galaxy Café

Advanced Rehab

Skeese Greets

Perfect FIT Protein Cookie by Boundless Nutrition

AVIA

One More Mile Eyewear

Addikshun Athletiks

Tri-Clips

CryoStudio of Austin

Honey Milk

The Austin 10/20

Hausman Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Spi Belt

TNT Inspiration Station

Medicine In Motion

Tri It Wear

plus several non-profits and other organizations.

We hope to see you out there on Sunday and/or on Monday at the 5th Annual AVIA Austin Triathlon!

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Austin Tri Health & Fitness Expo

Prep for the Austin Tri Swim

Swim like a River: Preparing for the Austin Tri & Lady Bird Lake
by: Pro Triathlete Kelly Williamson

Whether you are an Austin Triathlon veteran from 2007 or a triathlon rookie, Lady Bird Lake is a very nice swimming hole for a race. It is situated around the 'hub' of exercise in Austin, with the running trail lining its shores. Scouting this course is not too difficult, as it is essentially one large rectangle, most of which you should be able to view from shore before plunging in.

After setting up your transition area, head towards the swim start with plenty of time to spare (20-30 minutes before your wave takes off). Find out the wetsuit call. This is sometimes not made until race morning, so be sure you know if wetsuits are legal or not. In making your decision, remember a few things. While they are faster (up to 2-3 minutes over the course of a mile), they are very warm; so if you tend to get hot easily, consider how warm the day is and if you may overheat. Acknowledge what is most important to you, speed or comfort?

Scope the course. Look at the path you'll be swimming and try to see all the buoys you will pass. Note their color, location and also if there are any 'large, immobile' objects beyond these buoys. These large objects can be used to 'sight off' in case your view of the buoy is blocked from fellow swimmers, waves or sun. If you can, count the number of buoys you will 'pass' before making a turn. Try to locate the turn buoys, sometimes these are a different color or shape. Decide based on weather if you need dark or light goggles. An overcast day may call for lighter lenses, while a sunrise on the horizon may require dark lenses to eliminate glare.

This race will be a deep water start, so you'll be treading water. With about a minute to go, try to start to move to a 'horizontal' position. When many people standing in a small space go from vertical to horizontal, crowding entails. Try to 'mark your space' before the gun goes off, so you are ready to move forward. Start to the 'outside' of the crowd, so you can make a diagonal line to the first buoy or turn buoy. If you are directly in front of the buoy, you may have to fight your way 'around' it because people will converge there. Starting to the outside or to the back of the crowd may eliminate some fighting when swimming.

When the gun goes off, go hard at the start but be careful of maxing yourself out. Many people will sprint and fade quickly. If you monitor your intensity to a strong but sustainable pace, you will likely catch people as you swim and gain confidence in the process. These first few strokes focus on getting into a rhythm, and do not worry about sighting too much until you settle in and the congestion calms down. Once you feel comfortable, begin to sight often (every 6-8 strokes or as needed) and each time you look up try to get a glimpse of your guide buoys. Do not blindly trust the feet in front of you!

As you near the finish, start to think about what you will be doing next. Once you feel the ground (the swim ramp or the bottom of the lake), start to stand and get vertical. Catch your breath, and immediately begin to unzip the wetsuit (if you have one), remove the cap and goggles and get running to transition. As you run, think about the steps you'll do in preparation for the bike leg...congratulations, you are already 1/3 finished!

Kelly Handel Williamson is an accomplished triathlete and has been racing triathlons professionally for 9 years.

Check out Kelly's website...

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Prep for the Austin Tri Swim

Ficker, Cleveland Top Podium at Couples Tri

Ficker, Cleveland Top Podium at Couples Triathlon

Austin, Texas (July 2011) - The 14th edition of Couples Triathlon, held July 10th in Austin, Texas and presented by Jack and Adam’s Bicycles saw former Pro Triathlete Jamie Cleveland and Pro Triathlete Desiree Ficker take the overall wins. Rounding out the top three men were Matthew Russell and Pro James Bonney, with Hollie Kenny and Keri Remil taking the 2nd and 3rd spots for the women. The gold for the overall team went to Jamie Cleveland & Darrel Williams. Hundreds of other participants, spectators, and volunteers filled the venue at Walter E. Long Park for a fun-filled day of swimming, biking and running.

Couples Triathlon is a unique event format where teams of two, whether they be friends, spouses, or family members combine their ages and sign up in the appropriate category. Each person on the team does the entire triathlon, and then their times are combined for the overall results.

With temperatures starting in the upper 70's and partly cloudy skies, the team triathlon went smoothly from beginning to end. Before the gun went off, a male-female signing duo led the crowd with the singing of the National Anthem. From there the 700 finishers, ranging in age from 12 to 73, began the 800 meter open-water swim, then progressed to a beautiful 11 mile bike ride through the Texas Hill Country, and ended with a 5k run. Event producer, Dan Carroll of High Five Events, has received numerous thank you emails and compliments from participants, with one being from Sally Colombo, “Great race today! Very well organized, well supported and great after party! Also, love the new "girl" tech shirts! As always....great job and thank you for all that you do for the tri community!!!"

The event concluded with the fantastic finish line festival, including items from sponsors Jack and Adam's Bicycles, Skeese Greets, TYR, Pure Sport, Honest Tea, Boundless Nutrition, and Clif Bar helped to create the fun atmosphere. Finishers also received free post-race massage from Advanced Rehab, reusable water bottles, tacos from Zocalo, Fat Tire Beer, fresh fruit from Texas Iron Training and ice cream. Chip timing by Run Far Racing Services and professional sports photography by Kreutz Photography, along with all the volunteers, also helped make this year's event a success. The 15th Annual Couples Triathlon is being planned for July 2012.

Check out the video from it HERE.

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Ficker, Cleveland Top Podium at Couples Tri

$100 QR Rebate

Purchase a new 2010 or 2011 Quintanaroo bike from Jack & Adam's Bicycles between now and February 14th, 2011 and receive up to a $100 rebate from QR. You can use that extra $$$ on your Valentine (or on yourself, we won't tell.)

$100 QR Rebate