The Tri Town Times: 7/19/21

The Tri Town Times: 7/19/21

Jan Frodeno breaks his own Ironman world record; Tour de France wrap up; Boise foothills 'traffic flow' rules.

Hi all,
 
The Ironman distance world record was broken yesterday by Jan Frodeno in a time of 7hr 27min, beating his own record time of 7hr 35min set at Challenge Roth in 2016. The attempt was similar to the Nike "Breaking 2" marathon record, in that measures were taken to optimize course conditions. For example, a cable was suspended under the water to guarantee a straight swim, and the bike course was flat with banked turns, and the run course had minimal elevation gain.
 
This event was significant not only for the record that was broken, but also because it was organized and produced by Jan Frodeno himself. Most events of this stature are organized by a race production company, not the athlete(s) themself. Originally planned as a solo attempt, a friendly rivalry sparked up with Lionel Sanders, who competed against Frodeno during the attempt. In the end, Lionel finished 16 minutes down on Jan, in an impressive time of 7hr 43min.
 
It would be hard to argue at this point that Frodeno is not the greatest triathlete of all time who has competed across all triathlon distances. He has won an Olympic Gold Medal, three Ironman World Championships (including the Ironman World Championships record time), and two 70.3 World Championships in addition to this new world record.
 
 
Here is your weekly and TT Times newsletter:
 
Weekend race report:

- The last stage of the Tour de France was yesterday, with Tadej Pogacar taking his second victory in two years. Tadej dominated this year's race, finishing over 5 minutes up on second place, compared to last year in which he only secured the yellow jersey on the last day. Tadej also secured this year's Polka Dot (best climber) and White (best young rider) jerseys.

- Mark Cavendish was also a highlight this year: at 36 years old and mostly written off as a world class sprinter, he won four stages and tied Eddie Merckx's record of 34 career Tour de France stage wins.

- Boise-based athlete James Stead swam the English Channel yesterday. On a good day the swim is 21 miles, but can be significantly longer based on currents. James joins an elite group of <1900 people who has successfully swam solo across the EC, wearing nothing more than a speedo and swim cap (the water temp is typically below 60 degrees F). You can listen to a podcast with James recorded a couple days before his swim here.

- Austrian super-cyclist Christoph Strasser rode 636 miles in 24 hours, smashing the 24hr road cycling world record in the process. He averaged over 26mph for 24hrs straight.

 
Events I'm looking forward to:

- A large group of local athletes will be competing at 70.3 Oregon in Salem this Sunday, July 25th. The inaugural race features a downriver swim and flat bike/run legs.

- The 32nd Summer Olympic Games starts Friday. A full viewing schedule can be found here (filter by sport). This is the first Olympic Games in history to be postponed and rescheduled, rather than cancelled.

 
Training Thoughts:
An excellent and simple "how to put on a wetsuit" video from the man who invented the triathlon wetsuit. I would add that a wetsuit is called a 'wetsuit' for a reason- it is suppose to be wet on the inside. The water that is allowed in acts as an additional insulation layer against your skin. Once you have the suit on (as shown in the video), pull water into the suit through the neckline and even up the arm cuffs of the suit itself. The suit will fill with water, effectively making the suit fit loose and easy to adjust the arms, legs, torso, etc. Once you're happy with the fit of the suit, step out of the water and let the water drain from the suit. The suit will 'shrink' back down in your ideal position, and at this point should be 'water tight', and not allow any more water in (other than maybe a trickle), You're now ready to swim!
 
Quote that struck a chord:
A timely reminder for anyone frustrated with their progress:
 
"The way to measure progress is backwards against where you started, not against your ideal." - Dan Sullivan.
 
If you have a moment to spare:
Months ago, Boise's Park and Recreation implemented 'traffic flow' rules on key trails for cyclists, runners, and hikers. The rules state which direction people can travel and what user group can use the trail on any given day. Popular trails like Hulls Gulch, Polecat, and Around the Mountain were affected. This was part of a pilot program, and Ridge to Rivers wants to know what you think about the program. The survey closes Friday, July 23rd.
 
 
Have a great week!
 
Antonio Gonzalez
Tri Town Bicycles
 
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