Race Result: 2013 Falls Duathlon

Event: Falls Duathlon
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Location: Hannah's Bend Park, Cannon Falls MN
Hotel: Home, sweet home
Weather: 55F, light winds at 4-6 MPH from S, sunny
Official Results: Overall Results
Previous Results: First time at this event

Personal Results

Goal: under 1 hr 15 mins
Actual: 01:13.13
Overall: 25th (185 total); 2nd in 50-54 AG (14 total)

Garmin

Garmin Summary Link

Elevation & HR Summary

Go Pro Video

Falls Du from Brian Maas on Vimeo.


Pre-Cap

It has been a very long winter, and it seemed spring would never come. But the tides changed Friday when it reached 66F in the Twin Cities. I took the bike outside for the 1st time this year. So to say I was not really ready for the bike portion of a duathlon is a big understatement.

My run mileage is still very low. I still have some very slight issues resulting from the tibial stress fracture that effectively took me out of the 2012 season. But the confidence is growing. I hope to be clicking off sub-6-minute pace for a full 5K soon.

What a great day for a du. The temp was perfect. The winds were light....they still sucked coming back on the out-and-back bike course...but compared to other winds in a typical spring they were wonderful.

I just wanted to have a respectable race and not get caught up in a certain goal, time, or racing my guts out. That can wait for now.

Run One (2 miles)
Goal: sub 6:30 pace
Time:  12:08 (6:04 per mile pace)

I was very surprised at this effort. My run mileage has been very weak, less than 20-miles per week. And I thought my legs felt dead as I warmed up. But after going through Mile One in 5:54, I was not feeling very bad at all. This bodes well for Apple on May 19, where my run splits will be crucial to finishing top 6 and qualifying for Worlds. A long shot at best.

Transition One
Goal: 1:10
Time: 0:58

I forgot my old man stool. But I managed to get on the bike shoes without falling down. "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Bike (14 miles)
Goal: 20+ mph avg
Time: 38:43 (21.7 MPH Avg)

Again, pleasantly surprised. With very little bike mileage to be just under a 22 MPH average was pleasing. But then, I was getting passed like I was standing still. Bike mileage will be ramped up in the coming weeks.

The moment I lost the lead in the 50-54 AG to Jeff Gilmer

Transition Two

Goal: 1:10
Time: 1:05

Again, no old man stool. The left calf briefly cramped up as I struggled to get on the racing flat. But I got out of T2 in pretty good shape. But the legs were gone. Completely gone. There would be no speed demon dogging down of people in front of me at this race.


Run Two (3 miles)
Goal: sub 6:50 pace
Time: 20:19 (6:47 per mile pace)

Typically, I love the second run. I just start out fast and keep picking people off. I picked off 3 or 4 and that was it. The legs were really done. I stayed calm, and tried to stay loose and just worked it as best I could.

Post-Cap

Pleased overall, considering I still need to shed 10-lbs and still need to get into shape. Not sure either will happen as I'm committed to making sure Podium Boy is ready for his two Modern Pentathlon events and his upcoming July week at the Olympic Training Center with the USA Modern Pentathlon Youth Development camp. You think its hard training for three events, try five.

Awards

Received a nice medal for finishing second in the 50-54 AG and had a nice conversation with AG winner Jeff Gilmer who had an outstanding split on the bike.

Next Race

May 4 - Jump To It 10K, White Bear Lake MN

Are You a "Typical" Runner?

The 2013 National Runner Survey is a comprehensive study conducted every two years by Running USA. This survey is the fourth one conducted by Running USA. The National Runner Survey assesses the demographics, lifestyle, attitudes, habits and product preferences of the running population nationwide. Results from the National Runner Survey reflect "core runners," that is, active adult participants who tend to enter running events and train year-round.

Today's core runners are highly educated with 75.8% having earned a college diploma (overall U.S. adults = 30.4%) and affluent with 73.3% reporting a household income of more than $75,000 (U.S. median household income = $52,700). Core runners are active participants who train year-round and report running / jogging an average of 208 days and logging nearly 1,165 miles per year. These runners are motivated to run in order to stay in shape (77.3%), stay healthy (76.1%), relieve stress (61.9%) and have fun (61.7%).

The following female and male runner snapshots represent "core runners", that is, active adult participants who tend to enter running events, train year-round and purchase 2-4 running shoes each year.

Typical U.S. Female Runner 

DemographicsAverage Age: 39.3
60.7% Married
77.8% College educated
70.8% Earn a household income of $75,000+

Running History
Average number of years running: 9.6
Average number of running events participated in during the last 12 months: 7.1
49.2% have completed 1 marathon or more in their lifetime

Running Routine
66.8% Run/Jog 4+ hours each week
76.1% run 12 months a year
Average number of days run per week: 3.9
Average number of miles run per week: 20.2
64.8% describe themselves as "Frequent/Fitness Runners"

Running Preferences
Favorite race distance is the Half-Marathon (42.5%)
Interested in entering next year: Half-Marathon (80.5%), 5K (57.5%), 10K (57.1%), Marathon (41.1%)

Motivation
Primary motivation to start running: For Exercise (23.1%), Weight Concerns (17.1%), Family/Friend Encouragement (7.6%)
Motivation to continue to run: Staying in Shape (79.0%), Staying Healthy (78.4%), Relieving Stress (66.7%)

Product PreferencesAverage number of running shoes purchased in last 12 months: 2.9
Last running shoes purchased: Brooks (22.9%), ASICS (22.0%), Saucony (13.3%)
70.8% spent $90+ on their running shoes and 46.0% purchased their running shoes at a specialty running store
Favorite brands of running apparel: Nike (63.8%), Under Armour (48.3%), Brooks (31.1%), Champion (31.0%)
74.5% spent $100+ on running apparel in the last 12 months and 56.3% purchased running apparel at a specialty running store

Health
Average Weight: 140.2 lbs
Average Height: 65.01 inches / 5 feet, 5 inches
Average Body Mass Index (BMI): 23.3
39.0% are content with their weight
41.0% are content with their fitness level

Typical U.S. Male Runner 

Demographics
Average Age: 43.8
71.8% Married
73.5% College educated
76.5% Earn a household income of $75,000+

Running History
Average number of years running: 13.6
Average number of running events participated in during the last 12 months: 8.0
65.9% have completed 1 marathon or more in their lifetime

Running Routine
72.4% Run/Jog 4+ hours each week
78.5% run 12 months a year
Average number of days run per week: 4.1
Average number of miles run per week: 25.5
62.8% describe themselves as "Frequent/Fitness Runners" and 22.8% as "Serious Competitive Runners"

Running Preferences
Favorite race distance is the Half-Marathon (38.1%)
Interested in entering next year: Half-Marathon (73.4%), 5K (54.3%), Marathon (53.9%), 10K (52.7%)

Motivation
Primary motivation to start running: For Exercise (21.0%), Weight Concerns (15.3%), Competed in School and Never Stopped (9.3%)
Motivation to continue to run: Staying in Shape (76.8%), Staying Healthy (74.7%), Having Fun (60.9%)

Product PreferencesAverage number of running shoes purchased in last 12 months: 3.1
Last running shoes purchased: ASICS (21.7%), Brooks (20.4%), Nike (11.9%), Saucony (11.8%)
65.4% spent $90+ on their running shoes and 38.9% purchased their running shoes at a specialty running store
Favorite brands of running apparel: Nike (59.7%), Under Armour (43.9%), Brooks (35.0%), ASICS (31.8%), adidas (30.6%)
69.0% spent $100+ on running apparel in the last 12 months and 60.0% purchased running apparel at a specialty running store

Health
Average Weight: 174.4 lbs
Average Height: 70.42 inches / 5 feet, 10.4 inches
Average Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.7
43.1% are content with their weight
42.5% are content with their fitness level

Race Result: 2013 Cemstone Run For Others 10K

Event: Cemstone Run For Others 10K
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013
Location: St. Andrews Luthern Church, Mahtomedi MN
Hotel: Home, sweet home
Weather: 25F, light winds at 4-6 MPH from NW, sunny
Official Results: Overall and Age Group
Previous Results: First time at this event

Personal Results

Goal: Speed Workout
Actual: 41:43 (6:43 per mile pace)
Overall: 3rd (39 total); 2nd in 50-59 AG (5 total)

Garmin

Garmin Results

Sad to see the 7+ in there for Mile 5

There were hills. 171 ft of elevation gain.

I'm not doing a full write-up as I had not planned to do this event until the morning of. This Winter That Will Not End (Plymouth received another 10" of snow this week to go with the other 10" received earlier in April) has taken its toll. I'm sick of the treadmill. I'm sick of the bike wind-trainer. I want to be outside. So I jumped into this for no other reason than to get in a speed workout. If my ugly slow pace could be construed as speed.   I made it through and went home to hop on the bike. Mission accomplished. And this is probably the best the right tibia has felt since the stress fracture.

And hey! What about those old farts up in the top 10. Average age of the Top 5 was 51.2 years and the average age of the Top 10 was 48.2 years. Nice job old men! Nice job.  

Next Race

April 27 - Falls Duathlon, Cannon Falls MN. I have yet to sign up. Like everyone else, I'm watching the weather. I've yet to bike outdoors in 2013. The far reaching forecast currently says race time temp of 40 with a 40% chance of rain and snow showers. Yeahhhhhhh. I'll be making up my mind as we draw closer to Saturday.

Podium Boy Event Result: Aramis Youth Tournament 2013

Event: Aramis Youth Tournament 2013
Date: Sunday, April 7, 2013
Location: Minnesota Sword Club, Minneapolis
Hotel: Home, sweet home

Podium Boy Personal Results

Goal: Learn
Actual: Learned a lot.
Overall: 5th overall (out of 7)

This was the last of the Three Musketeers youth challenge events for 2012-2013 held at the Minnesota Sword Club. And it was Podium Boy's first ever fencing tournament. He is training and competing in just the épée, as that is the weapon used in Modern Pentathlon, which is really why he is training so hard in this sport in order to bring himself up to speed as much as possible prior to the Regional event at the Great Prairie Pentathlon in River Falls on May 18.

His goal at this event was just to get used to competing. And observe, observe, observe. All about learning at this point.

Fencing Primer:

First, some background as many of you fellow Tri-Geeks might not have any clue. The épée (pron.: /ˈɛpeɪ/) is the modern derivative of the dueling sword, the smallsword (itself descended from the rapier), used in sport fencing. Épée is French for "sword".

As a thrusting weapon the épée is similar to a foil (compared to a sabre), but has a stiffer blade that is V-shaped in cross-section called a fuller, has a larger bell guard, and is heavier. The technique however, is somewhat different, as there are no rules regarding priority and right of way. In addition, the entire body is a valid target area.

While modern sport fencing has three weapons (foil, épée, and sabre), each a separate event, épée is the only one in which the entire body is the valid target area. Épée is the heaviest of the three modern fencing weapons. Fencing matches with the épée requires a large amount of concentration, accuracy and speed. Since the entire body is a target, a successful épée fencer must be able to anticipate their opponent's moves and strike their opponent at the correct time.

In most higher-level competitions a grounded metal piste is used to prevent floor hits from registering as touches. Unlike sabre and foil, in épée there are no right-of-way rules regarding attacks, other than the aforementioned rule regarding touches with only the point of the weapon. Touches are awarded solely on the basis of which fencer makes a touch first, according to the electronic scoring machines. Also, double-touches are allowed in épée, although the touches must occur within 40 milliseconds (1/25 of a second) of each other.

The roots of modern fencing originated from Spain. It was later adopted by Spain when it became one of the leading powers of Europe. In conquest, the Spanish forces carried fencing around the world, particularly southern Italy, one of the major areas of strife between both nations.

The mechanics of modern fencing originated in the 18th century in an Italian school of fencing of the Renaissance, and, under their influence, was improved by the French school of fencing. The Spanish school of fencing stagnated and was replaced by the Italian and French schools. Nowadays, these two schools are the most influential around the world.

Dueling went into sharp decline after World War I. After World War II, dueling went out of use in Europe except for very rare exceptions. Training for duels, once fashionable for males of aristocraticbackgrounds (although fencing masters such as Hope suggest that many people considered themselves trained from taking only one or two lessons), all but disappeared, along with the classes themselves. Fencing continued as a sport, with tournaments and championships. However, the need to actually prepare for a duel with "sharps" vanished, changing both training and technique.

Starting with épée in 1936, side-judges were replaced by an electrical scoring apparatus, with an audible tone and a red or green light indicating when a touch landed. Foil first embraced electronic scoring in 1956, sabre in 1988. The scoring box reduced the bias in judging, and permitted more accurate scoring of faster actions, lighter touches, and more touches to the back and flank than before.

Fencing in Modern Pentathlon:

What is different from a 'regular' fencing event and the component of a Modern Pentathlon is Fencing is they fence against each one of their competitors once, in a bout, which lasts a maximum of one minute and ends at the first touch. There is no first-to-five. It is basically a lightning bout. A bout where there is no touch is considered a defeat for both athletes and when this happens both athletes are penalized with one touch-hit each. When a Fencer commits a touch they add points to their total score, while at the same time points are taken away from their opponent's score. The entire body of the athlete is a valid target for a touch and the points are awarded for each touch. An athlete is given 1,000 points if they are able to win 70% of the touch at the games they take part in. For example if an athlete fights 30 athletes and has 21 touches that is a 70 percent touch rate and they will then have 1,000 points added to their score.

Video:

There were one round of pools with 100% promoted to a direct elimination round of best two of three 5-touch bouts.

Bout 1 (vs Uban, Sophia): V 5-4



Aramis Challenge Bout 1 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Bout 2 (vs Frigo, Alec): L 3-5



Aramis Challenge Bout 2 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Bout 3 (vs De Verdier, Olof): L 1-4, Time



Aramis Challenge Bout 3 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Bout 4 (vs Bellas, Derek, who was the eventual winner): L 1-5



Aramis Challenge Bout 4 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Bout 5 (vs Thibodeau, Fred, who won the Y14 Epee earlier in the day): L 3-5



Aramis Challenge Bout 5 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Bout 6 (vs Raths, Serena): V 5-2



Aramis Challenge Bout 6 from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

Seeded 5th out of 7, faced Bellas, Derek in DE round losing 1-5 and 2


Aramis Challenge Double Elimination Rd from Brian Maas on Vimeo.

I thought Graham did nicely in his first event, especially for having started formal lessons about five weeks ago. He was proud and happy.

Very cool medal. Very un-triathlon like.

Y12 Epee Group

Next Podium Boy Event:

Apr 14 - FM Open épée tournament at the Family Wellness Center, 2960 Seter Pwky Fargo ND 58104. Podium Boy will compete in his second fencing event in the Youth 12 Mixed épée competition.