Week in Review- Feb. 26 "Day of the Volunteer"

This past weekend brought a horde of BTTers down to the Cape to either race or volunteer at the Hyannis Marathon/Half Marathon/10K. Overall, we had 12 members racing (if you didn't post your results, I didn't include you) and 20+ volunteers which included freinds, family members, and recruits from other teams (seriously). Grace wrote up the following about the day of the volunteers:

Thank you, thank you, Hyannis Volunteers!!
Spending a day volunteering at a water stop is something that every triathlete should do. It's not easy. And it's valuable being on the other side of the water table. It helps us as racers appreciate all the people that make a difference in our day. The volunteers don't have a glamorous job. They fill cups, hand out water, clean up after racers, and deal with the weather maybe even more so than the racers (moving really helps stay warm). Maybe that doesn't sound fun, but in reality when you get a bunch of BTT'ers and BTT friends together, the day flies by seamlessly, humorously, and enjoyably.

This is why I love BTT. Meghan and Marty planned on racing today, but when the other group that was supposed to help at the water stop bailed last minute, these two responded to our final desperate volunteer plea. They bagged their races and volunteered instead. Ed and Brian, both gimpy in knee braces, responded to the plea as well. These two aren't even supposed to be standing and they came to the rescue. Geoff was also a last minute rescue. Nicole recruited her parents who were so helpful and there until the bitter cold end. Brett's 11-year-old daughter (Nicole) was a great help while her dad raced. She filled cups, handed out water, and cleaned up, all with a cheery, sweet smile on her face.

The battle for Tent Series points did become a bit fierce. Shaun is the one we're going to have to watch this year. He's trying to get points for everything. "I handed out the most Gatorade - that should be points." I watched him meet someone at the water stop for the first time and then try to claim this poor guy as his volunteer recruit. Trish, though, did that successfully. At the registration table, she overheard a Team Psycho athlete say he couldn't race today, so she coerced him into volunteering with us. Points to Trish and thanks to Jason.

The year of the helmet continues - Jim on the bike with his ski helmet adorned with a big BTT sticker, of course. Dave Mak also led out the early start on the bike. No BTT sticker, no ski helmet, but still a great presence. Fischer was there charming all the racers with his cuteness, that is while he wasn't eating or watching Toy Story. New member Steve was great help, and didn't get too scared off by all the competitive banter. Get Tony and Shaun together and they just can't help competing and betting, even if it is "Who has the best water hand off...." We'll see if we scared off prospective member Nikki. She came to check out the team - hopefully she'll be back again!

Also thanks to those that came to help after their races: Brett, Meredith, Ali, Nicole, Jeff, and Rachel!!


Final thoughts of the day.... When you're racing, think about these things that can make your volunteers' day a little brighter:


1. Thank the people that are donating their day to help you have a great race.


2. Throw your cups/gels in the vicinity of a trash barrel, preferably in.

Also, Dave Mak added....A very special thanks to Grace for leading the volunteer event at Hyannis. Also, I think she should add a +1 to her tent series points since she's carrying the weight of two! (ed. note: Dave, I think Brady already recruited Graces +1).

ED. NOTE: IF THIS INSPIRES YOU, WE STILL HAVE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE BOSTON TRI TEAM TIME TRIAL THIS COMING WEEKEND; EMAIL MEREDITH FOR MORE DETAILS.

On the racing front, we saw Elaine Metcalf tackle the full marathon distance on a unseasonably warm, but wet day. Great job! Matt Pokress set a PR in the half marathon. Joe Kurtz was right behind him (I think these guys are tethered when they train and race). However, if Joe didn't post his results....did he really race? Hmmm. Other racers in the half included Jason Soules and Lauren Cullings (8 seconds separated them...I think there was some drafting going on), Jeff Aronis, Stacy Suchodolski, Kate Blumberg, Ira Sills, Brett Johnson and Mark Pelletier. Rachel Saks and Meredith took on the 10K.

This week is the BTT Time Trial at Landrys. Come out and support your teammates! Here's the rundown from Mark Vatour:

What time should I arrive?

Due to the strictly scheduled nature of the event it is important to make sure you are ready to race on time. Please arrive an hour before your heat is scheduled to start. This will ensure time to register and warm up.

What to Bring?

If you do not have a trainer ready skewer we will have them here. There is no need to bring a trainer to warm up on as there will be trainers here to warm up on. Please make sure your bike is working properly ahead of time as things will be very busy during the event. Please bring a towel, water bottles, and your heart rate monitor if you plan to use one. If the weather permits we’ll warm up outside under tents so plan to dress accordingly.

Where do I park?

Street parking is free in Boston on Sundays. Check for metered spots in front of Landry’s. If you don’t have any luck try the parking garage on 121 Dummer Street in Brookline. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=121+dummer+st+brookline+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=21.180361,56.25&ie=UTF8&ll=42.355943,-71.11712&spn=0.009609,0.027466&z=15&iwloc=addr

If you’d like to run while you’re here….Now to the roadies signed up for this just sounds crazy but for the tri guys we’ve got a run too. At 12:00 there will be 5 mile loop scheduled. If you need more mileage, run it twice. A good number of people have asked about running so it seems safe to expect a reasonable crowd.

When will results be posted?

Category winners will be announced after the last heat. Results will be available online the following day. I need to leave before I pick up my prize…Well aren’t we a bit presumptuous? In the event that you need to leave before all the heats are done we will make arrangements the following day to make sure everyone gets what’s their prize. When will the Power Tap hub be raffled?The Power Tap hub will be raffled off at the Multisport World Expo. http://multisportworld.com/

BTT Member Spotlight- Julia Duval

This time we spotlight one of our fastest members that no one really knows much about....Julia Duval. Julia came to the team a few years ago and has put up some impressive performances. In 2008 alone she place 1st overall female at the Wrentham Du, 10th overall female at the 70.3 Rhode Island, 1st overall female at the MA State Triathlon and 4th overall female at Lobsterman....among others. Funny thing...her athletic prowess is probably the least interesting thing about her! Who is she? Find out.....

Bio
I was born in Normandy, France. I am the eldest of 4 children (I have 2 brothers and a sister). We always moved around a lot when I was growing up. I must have lived in over 10 cities in my 26 years of age. I spent the most determining part of my life (age 10-17) in Reunion Island, a French tropical island located east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean. There, I spent all of my free time swimming in the outdoor pool and in the ocean, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and playing roller hockey and all kinds of team sports. My parents have always been into sports (my dad is a cyclist and former basket ball player and cross-country runner, and my mom has been ice-skating and dancing all her life). Therefore, I was involved in sports from a very young age. I have tried a lot of them but triathlon is the first sport that I have been so hooked on. Besides sports and outdoor activities, I have been fascinated by math and physics since the age of 11. After high school, I studied math and physics for two years before entering the National French School of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, where I earned a master's in Aerospace Engineering. I am now finishing a PhD in Astrophysics at Boston University. My work focuses on star formation, on the spiral structure of the Milky Way (ed. Note: not the candybar), and on turbulence in the Inter-Stellar Medium.

What is your pre-triathlon athletic background?
I have been swimming all my life, although not always competitively. I can't remember a time when I have not been in the water at least once a week. Until age 20, I also played a lot of team sports (mainly soccer and basket-ball), which really contributed to my athletic background. I guess I have always been running around a lot. During the two years before I did my first triathlon, I participated in a lot of adventure races, which led me to triathlon.

As a triathlete, what are your strengths and weaknesses? How did you improve?
I started cycling relatively recently, about 3 years ago. Until the fall 2007, I was a slow cyclist compared to my abilities in the two other disciplines. I would usually lose ground on the bike during triathlons. I became frustrated about that, and worked really hard in the winter 2007/2008 and the following spring. I cranked up my volume of workout on the bike to about 10-12 h a week at high intensity. I went on 50+ mile rides both Saturday and Sunday of every weekend during this entire period. During the week, I also did three 1 h sessions on the trainer composed of 5-20 min intervals in zone 4. I was determined to reach a competitive level, so I also included one intense longish (13 mi), one fast 10 km and one easy 10 km runs in my training schedule, while maintaining the same swimming volume (5h/week). Now I have the same level in all three disciplines. My strength is not in one discipline in particular, it is rather my relentless determination.

What do you enjoy about the sport?
First, the feeling of freedom that triathlon provides. It is thrilling when I know that I can swim across the lake, or that I just need my running shoes or my bike to go anywhere I want without depending on anybody or anything. I love feeling in great shape, feeling that my body can do anything I tell it to do. Second, I enjoy sharing experiences with the triathlon community. Triathlon is not just a hobby. It is a sport you need to really commit to, and we all share this commitment. I have the greatest fun hanging out with people during races or events. The last point is the feeling of pride and satisfaction after successfully finishing a race, and knowing that I could not have gone any faster. I am probably high on endorphins at this point, but it is the greatest feeling ever!

What advice would you give to your fellow teammates, who may have lost the drive to continue on with the sport?
First of all, pick a race and a challenging objective. For instance, finish a race in a certain time, or qualify for a race. Then determine a training timeline and rigorous schedule. Those have to challenge your everyday life too. I think the motivation will come naturally if you follow those steps. Other piece of advice: be more involved in the triathlon community. Hang out with teammates, volunteer in events… I know this is a great source of motivation for me.

What was your proudest moment as a triathlete that you would like to share with the team?

Probably after I finished the Hyannis marathon, but this has to be put into context. I signed up for the race about 5 weeks before, on a whim. I was bored with life, and felt up to a challenge (I had never run a marathon before). Three days later, I slipped on my cleats coming back from a bike ride, and hurt my knee pretty badly. I could not run for three weeks, which only allowed me to run twice within the 10 days before the race. Bret Fortenberry and Stephen Wall went down to Hyannis with me. On our way down there, I told them about my objective to run the marathon in 3h, although I had not been training for a marathon. They laughed at me. They were probably right, since I had really no clue what I was getting into and had never run more than 14 miles. I nonetheless remained optimistic and very determined. So I comfortably ran my first loop in about 1h28', a little slower than my normal 13 mile pace. The second loop was a little tougher because the sole of my feet was burning like hell, but I otherwise felt pretty good. When I got to the finish line, my friends weren't even waiting there, because they were certain I would not make it in 3h. Fair enough, I completed the race in 3h11', but I wish you would have seen their faces when they saw my time! That made me really, really proud.

Week in Review- Feb. 19

This past week didn't see too many BTTers in the race results. But, it did see a number of people participate in Juli Davenport's LT Testing at Marathon Sports on Saturday. While Juli was testing athletes on the bike, Kathryn Cunningham of Marathon PT was testing runners on the treadmill. A big thanks must go out to Marathon for being such gracious hosts for the event. Also, thanks to Laura Brink, Mat Davenport, Jorge Martinez and Brian Kearney for volunteering their assistance during the testing. And, the biggest thanks must go out to Juli for coming all the way from Colorado to put on the event (seriously...this was an unscheduled trip). It was a great turnout!

On a side note, there were a few last minute cancellations. Those of you that cancelled, please consider sending Juli the $25 fee since it was too late to fill your spots. And, the money was used to subsidize Juli's plane ticket.

We had 2 BTTers tackling half marathon distances this past weekend...and travelling to do so. Marybeth Begley headed up to New Hampshire to run the Hampton Half Marathon. On her way back to Boston, Marybeth was giving racing tips to the Kenyan winner of the race...who she drove back to South Station. On a more serious note, Marybeth notes about her conversation with the young (or old) runner:

He only does races if there is $ involved. He won with a 1:13 which he said was slow, he did a half 2 weeks ago at 1:06. He does a lot of 5Ks because he can win cash and if he breaks the course record he gets extra, he does the 5Ks in 14 minutes. He lives with other Kenyans and they all run with the Westchester Track Club. They win the money and send most of it back home to help support their families. I know some of the big African running names but didn't realize that there was this whole world of folks who can actually make a living out of running and support families back in Africa. (ed note.- I used to run quite a bit with the Kenyan Fila Runners when they used to base their US camp in Boston. If they won a big race, it was like they won the lottery in Kenya).

Our other BTTer who raced was none other than Trish, who has decided to just tear up the race circuit this year! Trish went down to the Sunshine State to race the Sarasota Half Marathon. Actually, Trish's main purpose was to provide support to her sister. But, I'll let Trish tell the story:

My sister, who was pushing 300 pounds in July, was so inspired by the athletes at Lake Placid that she signed up for a distance event herself. There is a crazy energy at Lake Placid - seeing all the athletes finish the race makes you want to do something equally as amazing. As the story goes, Maureen signed up for Team in Training and the Sarasota 1/2 Marathon. She trained faithfully with the coach and made some amazing transformations to her health and appearance. She is now hooked on being active and is dragging her people into her new found life style.

My race.... I didn't train for it. Although I did run hard and actually had a good smart race. They had pacers, I was behind the 2- hour balloon for most of the race. I almost passed it at mile 6, but was set back by a couple of hills (which suck the life out of me). I finally caught up to the 2-hour pacer with 2 miles to go and had a strong finish. The weather was a little humid for my liking, but I can't complain about 65-70 degree race conditions.

NEXT UP: Hyannis Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K (Tent Series Event).

Week In Review: Year of the helmet

Sorry guys... this is going to be loooong! BTT was out in force this past weekend... indoors, outdoors, snow, slush, sun, you name it. Apparently a couple BTTers (Rachel and Jeff) ran a 5K in Tahiti (but, we'll wait until they get back to post about that race). Our weekend began on Saturday at the Massachusetts Winter Triathlon, held at the Weston Ski Track. Although the weather called for 45 degree temps, they were no where near that high at 8am in the morning. We had a good team turnout, with 6 individuals racing, and one relay team... all of whom were competing in their first winter triathlon. The course was great because we went by the transition area (and each other) several times... and were able to root each other on. We all made some rookie mistakes out there... from our clothing to our tire pressure. Unfortunately for Pete Jenson and Trish (yes, we'll be making fun of you all year!), they wore their mistakes on their heads! At least, we think it was a mistake. For all we know, they could have thought the last leg was downhill skiing! Regardless, they both finished strong and had a great time (I don't think the helmet affect their aerodynamics too much! Thankfully, the race director doesn't enforce too many rules during this race, as we had a few mishaps. After the bike portion, Big Jim Sweeney ran out of transition with his skis... and kept running... and running... to the top of the hill! Not sure if that was legal... smart? yes... legal? we're still waiting on the verdict! The tough guy award goes to Mark Pelletier, who tearing up the bike course so much that he ripped the chain clean off his bike (ok, it broke). Anyway, rather than quit, Mark ran (through the snow) with his bike. When he reached transition, he borrowed a bike from a competitor who had just finished the bike leg... and then Mark was off to finish the race. So, next time you're thinking about dropping out of a race, think about that!!! As for the rest of us, I had a solid run, followed by a slower bike, followed by a slower ski (I just kept going backwards)... and finished 10th. I did my best to hold off uber skier, John Wozny. Apparently, when he wasn't dreaming of pulling out teeth (he's a dentist), he was a competitive skate skier. It was good to see the good doctor out racing... but he's since gone back into hibernation. As for our relay team, they finished first overall. But, I'll let them tell their own story....

(Sasha) The idea of a winter multisport event was new to me: run, bike, ski - all in the snow? Never having run in the snow on purpose, I was taken with the idea. I considered doing the whole thing on my own. But when Pat posted a call for BTT to field a relay team I replied, game for the run. He answered back about thirty minutes later. Matt Pokress would bike, Laurie Damianos would ski. I would run. As my first event wearing blue and green, I had one goal: do not embarrass myself. I emailed Matt and Laurie to coordinate. Laurie's first email said something like, "I hope you guys aren't expecting me to be good." I replied, "don't worry, my knee is injured, just looking to have fun". Matt completed the sentiments with "I'm not very agile on a MTB... oh, and by the way, I've never ridden in the snow." Perfect. The forecast called for 45F and sunny, but at 7:30am out on the course, it was a chilly 15F. The course, at the Weston Ski Track, was nicely laid out. The run course doubled as the bike course, with the ski winding around the center. The snow was packed down nicely, but was starting to get rutty and soft as the temperatures rose. I set out with the others, and quickly fell behind to the back. Struggling to catch my breath in the cold, I started to panic. Would I finish? Then Trish passed me shouting "don't worry, remember you're here to have fun!" And with those kind words, I relaxed and fell into a rhythm. About 27 minutes later, I entered the transition area, handing over the "baton" to Matt who I knew would have to play catch up to the rest of the field who was already on their bikes. And did he ever catch up! But I'll let him tell the story. (Take it away Matt...)

(Matt) As mentioned earlier, I am not a big fan of my MTB. I have used it so infrequently over the past 13 years that it has needed no maintenance (somewhere Chris Li is cringing). I like cycling to be a mindless exercise at a constant effort. Racing fat tires on snow (or dirt, for that matter) requires concentration and short surges of maximum power. I tried two warm up loops on the course to get a feel for it prior to the start. I had no real problems with traction. At my last race even my hands got sun burned. Would this one cause frostbite to those same fingers? Sasha came in and handed the race belt (with number) to me. I think one of the biggest changes for a race like this is transition. We three didn't need to change shoes, but the simple act of putting the race belt on was surprisingly awkward with gloves. Those who did the whole race struggled, I'm sure, to don and doff the helmets and shoes. Some chose to wear their helmets beyond T2. I hit it as hard as I could after mounting the bike. This whole ordeal would be over quickly, and nothing needed to be saved for the run. The bike course was three loops of the same course used by the runners. All those footsteps and tire tracks really changed the composition of the surface, and it was much looser than during the warm up loops. I must have been white knuckling the handlebars the whole time because my fingers stayed warm. I also can't recall ever using the brakes. The rolling resistance was high enough that I could just freewheel to scrub off speed. I passed a lot of people, but on a three-loop course I really had no idea what was going on. I stayed upright throughout the 7.5K, only clipping out once. It felt like a solid effort as I rolled into T2. At a summer triathlon I feel the events, in order of importance, are swim-bike-run. A good run usually beats a good bike, and a good swim is rarely remembered beyond T1 (sorry swimmers). Winter tri puts running behind the other two events because of their technical demands. Running on snow is not all that different than running on the road. It is slower, but I bet the first guys into T1 at this race would also be the first in a local 5K. The bike, as I already described, rewards experience handling and riding off road and on loose surfaces. Nordic skiing, like all highly technical endurance events, confers a massive speed advantage to those who know what they are doing. Our hopes ultimately hung on Laurie's XC skills.

(Laurie) Wow. That was quite the build up. I'm glad they did not tell me that before I headed out! We had all made our disclaimers before the race, and this was supposed to be fun and low key, but somehow I found myself with the all too familiar butterflies in my stomach and nerve-induced runs to the porta-potty. (In mid-teen degree weather, making yellow snow was not an option.) It was cold. No, it was frigid. I was wearing a parka over my BTT jersey, a balaclava on my head, and lobster gloves on my hands. I had to keep jumping up and down just to keep the feeling in my toes while I waited my turn. When Sasha and I saw Matt crest the last hill, we ran over to await his fast approach. I threw off my jacket, strapped into my poles, grabbed my skis, and let Sasha transfer the race belt/number from Matt to me. The race participants were nicely spread out by this time, so I had no trouble getting into my skis and starting up the first hill out of transition. I was aware of people shouting and taking pictures, and all I could think about was my flailing arms and legs as I tried to gain my balance and get into a rhythm. The groomed trails snaked up and down hills and around sharp turns - much more technical than I was used to. In fact, most of the hills were new - recently made by dedicated snow making machines. I went out fast, determined to apply my newly learned skating skills and hill climbing techniques. Chris Li stood atop the biggest hill (Mount Weston), armed with camera and shouting "Shoot the varmint! Shoot the varmint!" (Anyone who's ever taken a ski lesson from the super speedy Andy Milne would know what that means.) It was all I could do to keep from laughing and sliding back down the hill. Nonetheless, I was grateful for my hill practice because that's where I passed almost everyone - on the hills - except for Pat, of course, who passed me on the hill. Because the course was small and wound back and forth, it gave me plenty of opportunity to see my fellow BTTers out there doing the whole race by themselves: Pat Dwyer, John Wozny, Peter Jensen, Mark Pelletier, Jim Sweeney, and Trish Kelly. Everyone was shouting words of encouragement to each other (which is why I just love wearing the blue and green). Trish, of course, had the biggest grin on her face the entire time. Kudos to Mark who broke his bike chain but went on to finish on a borrowed monster bike. Midway through my second and final loop, I realized I had gone out too fast, and it was all I could do to get myself to the finish line without vomiting. My mantra at this point was "don't fall, keep it together, don't fall, keep it together..." I saved all I had for the flats before the finish. And what a finish it was - I was greeted by my team mates who told me that we were the first relay! Who's in for next year?

Sunday was the first Annual Harpoon Time Trial. Not only did BTT have a great turnout, but we had some impressive performances. Former BTTer Cort Cramer continued his TT tear by winning the event. However, Brian Quigley was right on his heals (only 11 seconds back)... and finished second overall. Brian is primed to crush the BTT TT in a few weeks! We had a number of other good finishes….Matt Pokress, Jay Higginbottom, Ali Winslow, Jess Douglass, Stephen Wall, Evan Israelson and Trish.

And, it's worth mentioning that there was a good turnout at Ira Sills SGR in Cambridge. It was impressive that Jay Higginbottom showed up ready to run, having already completed the Harpoon TT in the morning. Even more impressive, however, was Trish... who hit the trifecta... Winter Tri, SGR and Harpoon TT. Some of you emailed me last week about how Trish doesn't need a nickname... she's just Trish. And, I'm beginning to agree. I mean, who else do we know who goes by one name and can get away with wearing a cowboy hat?

Need I say more?

POST YOUR RESULTS!

BTT Member Spotlight- Jeff Aronis

Okay folks, this is our first member spotlight. We're going to be periodically doing this, as it gives the team a chance to get to know some of the members. Thanks goes out to Stacy Suchodolski who has taken this idea and run with it! I asked Stacy to help me with this less than a week ago. She got this up and running quicker than I thought. Great job Stacy! First up is long time member Jeff Aronis.

A little background....

I was born on August 29, 1969 (the Summer of Love), and raised in Burlington, MA; the youngest of four (two older sisters and an older brother). I was more into team sports growing up (baseball, football) but did swim competitively from about 5 to 12 years old. I went to the University of Mass at Lowell for undergrad, played lacrosse and earned my BS in accounting. After, I went to Western New England School of Law in Springfield, MA and got my JD. I am a CPA and also have an advanced law degree (LLM; focusing in corporate Taxation) from Boston University. I currently work as a tax planning and research manager for a subsidiary of the Bank of Tokyo in downtown Boston. The big race I am training for this year is IM Switzerland (it will be my 5th Ironman distance race).

What advice would you give to your fellow teammates who are training for their first IM event whether it’s a half or full? What advice would you give for those thinking about completing their first IM event?

I think the best advice I could give is to respect the distance. You really have to try to get in all those long workouts to see how your body and your mind will react. You go through so many highs and lows on the course, and it really helps you out there if you have already experienced those highs and lows in your training. You can feel great at 70 miles into the bike and feel really bad at 80 miles. But then feel good again at 100.

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

I always try to have everything packed and ready to go the night before. I always seem to forget something if I leave any packing to the day of the race.

How long have you been competing in triathlons?

I have been competing in triathlons for 14 years. My first race was the Falmouth Time Out race. I did it on my mountain bike with toe clips and I still think it was one of my better bike legs (sad but true).

What drives you to keep training, racing, etc.?

I love the variety that you get with triathlon training. If I don’t feel like swimming, I can go for a run. Plus, I need to have something to focus on to get me off the couch. And I also really like being out on the course, seeing my teammates and cheering them on.

What is your favorite memory that you had about a race that you would like to share with your teammates?

My first race back after my knee surgery was the 2005 Monster Sprint Triathlon in Boston. The surgery occurred the February before and the doctor thought that I would never get back to the activity level I was at before the injury (stress fracture with articular cartilage damage for all you med geeks out there). After a few weeks, I got back in the pool and on the bike but I wasn’t able to do much running before the race. I felt good after the swim and bike, and although I was slow, I got through the run without any pain. After that, I knew I could get back into the long distance races.

Any advice that you received from a fellow teammate, overheard at a race or that you learned throughout your life that you would like to share?

Unless you are winning the race, stop to pee. (ed. note: Why stop?)

Week in (P)review

This weekend brings BTTers a few race options. First up is the Massachusetts Winter Triathlon, held at the Weston Ski Track on Saturday morning. The Winter Tri consists of a 5k run, 7.5k mtb, and a 6k skate ski. With the current snow falling, the conditions should be good. We have a few confirmed racers: Pat Dwyer (me), MIA BTT Vet John Wozny, Queen of the ski track Trish Kelly, and The Quiet Man Jim Sweeney. However, there are rumors floating around that several others could show up to race...we'll see if they have the guts! Even if you don't plan to race, come out and support your team. At the very least, you'll be able to laugh at us as we eat snow! If you're interested in racing, but not sure you can do the whole thing or just want to do one event, shoot me an email. I'm sure we can put some relays together.

Sunday brings us the Harpoon Indoor Time Trial. According to the BTT website, we have a few people racing...again Trish (how does she not have a true nickname yet?), Matt Pukress and Speedy Gonzalez Jorge Martinez. Yes, I'm taking nickname liberties:) However, from what I understand, there are a number of other BTTers racing. One of those racers won't be Shaun Brady...who at last count was trying to transfer his registration and looking to flee the country by air due to the grueling nature of the TT. Adios Shaun!

Also, a couple of administrative notes:

1. Mooseman is filling up. If you plan to race, register asap.

2. Both Rachel Saks (swim) and I (run) have offered our athletic services to one lucky biker at the Mooseman Half. Rachel and I are both racing the Olympic Distance Race on Saturday. If you'd like to do a relay with us on Sunday, let me know asap. Speed and ability don't matter...we just want to have fun. However, there's a good chance you'll leave NH with some hardware!

3. Don't wait to register for this summer's races. They're beginning to fill.

4. As of last Friday, there were only a few spots left for Juli's testing. If you haven't done this before, do it!

5. POST YOUR RESULTS...it's your duty as a member of BTT.

To all those racing....good luck this weekend!