Las Vegas Multisport

You know you’re a triathlete when you have no problem buying a $2000.00 set of rims for your $3000 bike bike frame, but you think it’s insane for anyone to do that for their car. The triathlon world is full of the latest aero whiz bang gotta have it items. Now I’m just as guilty as the next person about wanting the latest and greatest. I own a pair of racing wheels that are among the fastest most aero on earth, but I’ve never raced with them. In fact, I’ve only ridden on them twice because I have a hard time changing the tires in case of a flat. Last year I decided not to use them just 1 week before IM Florida. I knew I’d waste precious energy worrying what I’d do if I did get a flat, and it wasn’t worth it. The rims I did use cost about $150 dollars and they aren’t aero in the least bit. Was it a good decision? Well, I had my fastest bike split ever, by almost 13 minutes, and I passed over 1100 people, alot of them on $6000 bikes with the same wheels I’d left home. I was amazed at how much people would spend to go no faster than 17, 18 mph. Now I’m not knocking these people, my point is that you can’t forget to train. Your bike won’t pedal itself no matter how light and aero it is. It brings me back to the time when I was in high school, just starting out running, and I went to the original Running Store here in Las Vegas to get my shoes. I asked Johnny Clark, the local running guru, and the owner of the store about a certain pair of shoes (the Nike Eagle; quite possibly the best pair of racing flats ever) He told me: “Those are for someone who races at a sub 6:00 pace. Put em back.” and he wouldn’t sell them to me. I laugh now,but at the time it really motivated me enough to train harder because I really wanted those shoes. I am grateful for Johnny for pointing that out to me.

If you slack off in your training because you think your wetsuit will swim for you, your bike will ride for you, and your shoes will run for you, take the yellow bus to the race because you will be going to school, and it will be a painful lesson learned.

In conclusion two athletes come to mind: John Howard and Dave Scott. In 1980 John Howard rode the Ironman Hawaii bike portion in 4:28:00. That was the race record until 1993 when Jurgen Zack broke it with a 4:27:42. When John Howard rode his time, he did it on an aluminum bike, without aero bars and without clip on pedals. When Jurgen rode his, his bike looked like something out of Star Wars. In the 1994 Ironman Hawaii, Dave Scott rode an old frame that had downtube shifters, and he didn’t even have a bike computer. He then rode to the 5th fastest time that day, and took 2nd overall. At the age of 40.

Why are you still reading? Go out and train!!!
Thanks for reading