PLANNING YOUR FIRST IRONMAN FOR 2011?

I have created a new page on my Ironstruck website titled MY FIRST IRONMAN. If you are planning your first IM in 2011, I'd like to include a bit about you on the page.

It's an opportunity to share with other triathletes your journey to the Ironman finish line.

Visit my page http://tinyurl.com/4v65t2f and find out more about it.

IRONMAN CANADA 2011 are you entered?

Time to begin posting to my blog once again. It's been a busy year and have spent a ton of time working on my Ironstruck.ca website.

I have also been working on book number five and hope to have it ready for the upcoming race expo season.

For now my plans are to be at the Calgary Marathon, The Red Deer (woody's R.V.)Marathon, The Vancouver Marathon, The Kelowna Apple Tri, Ironman Canada, Cochrane Footstock, and possibly Ironman Couer d'alene. Ironman Calgary70.3 and several other events.

It never ceases to amaze me just how popular triathlon and specifically the Ironman Triathlon have become over the past few decades. At the midway point of February 2011, visitors to Ironstruck.ca have come from over 110 countries. I hope to have a record of over 130 countries this month.

As usual, Ironman Canada filled quickly and most likely we will see another record for the amount of triathletes answering the starting gun on the last Sunday in August.

I have always loved the Penticton atmosphere during Ironman week and if you you plan on being there for your very first Ironman you can expect to have an unforgettable experience.

Glad to report that my books are now available as downloads on Kobo if you happen to by using a "reader". Kobo Books

This is much affordable for those who are investing a lot financially in preparation for their triathlon season or perhaps their first Ironman. All my books are under $9.00 on Kobo.

I really believe my books can give you a ton of insight and perhaps a competitive edge if you are new to triathlon or are taking on the Ironman.

Regardless, you can always visit my Ironstruck.ca website and that is always free.

Keep in mind that you can use my contact page on the site to send along any questions or concerns you might have regarding triathlon or your first attempt at the Ironman.

I will answer do the best of my ability and I answer every single email. That is also always free. As I have always maintained, I was never a pro triathlete and I am not a coach and what I share with you I learned over the past 30+ years as an endurance athlete including 14 Ironman triathlons and 35+ marathons.

Good luck in the 2011 triathlon season.

TRIATHLON 5150 NEW WTC EVENT COMING SOON

Recently a new triathlon event was unveiled by the WTC. Beginning in 2011 there will be a series of Olympic distance events taking place in the United States, and three international events as well.

The new events will be the standard distance of 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and 10K run. Or a combined total of 51,500 meters. So I would assume this is where the name 5150 originated.

The most intriguing part is that there will be no drafting allowed and in many ways I think this will create a much more level playing field for those who may be a bit slower in the swim but excellent cyclists.

This of course would be of more interest to the pros who will be able to compete for one million dollar in prize money at the U.S. Championships in Des Moines in September, 2011.

Here is the list of races that are currently on the calendar with more in Europe and Asia to be added at a later date.

2011 5150 Series (United States)

March 13 Miami International Triathlon (Miami, Fla.)

May 1 St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

May 15 5150 New Orleans (New Orleans, La.)

May 22 Memphis in May Triathlon (Tunica, Miss.)

June 19 Washington D.C. Triathlon (Washington, D.C.)

June 25 5150 Provo (Provo, Utah)

July 10 Boulder Peak Triathlon (Boulder, Colo.)

August 7 Nautica New York City Triathlon (New York, N.Y.)

September 4 Hy-Vee Triathlon/5150 U.S. Championship (Des Moines, Iowa)

September 11 5150 Lake Lanier (Gainesville, Ga.)

October 2 5150 Lake Las Vegas (Henderson, Nev.)

October 23 5150 Galveston (Galveston, Texas)


November 12 5150 Clearwater/5150 Series Finale (Clearwater, Fla.)



2011 5150 Series (International)

June 5 5150 Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Germany)
June 12 5150 Klagenfurt (Klagenfurt, Austria)
July 9 5150 Zurich (Zurich, Switzerland)

This is a great opportunity for those who want to be part of a sanctioned WTC event but are not quite ready for the Ironman or Ironman 70.3 distance.

INAUGURAL BANFF TRIATHLON IN THE BOOKS

It was wet and cold through-out most of the day as around 600 triathletes took part in the Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons that began in Two-Jack Lake and ended on Banff Avenue in the middle of town.

Steve King was doing the race announcing for the Banff 2010 Subaru International Triathlon and there was plenty of support from family, friends, tourists, and locals to cheer the triathletes home.

I didn't get to stay for all of the race because I had a book signing scheduled in Calgary Saturday afternoon, but was there long enough to take about 60 pictures and put them on a page on my Ironstruck.ca website.

Just go to my site and click "Banff 2010 images" on the home-page navbar and it will take you to the pictures.

That about wraps it up for the local triathlon season for this year and the next big event will be back in Banff when Melissa's road-race takes place in about two weeks.

The next Ironman race in the world is tomorrow in Madison Wisconsin. I have also built a page for that race on my website and you will find that on my ironstruck.ca navbar as well.

BANFF INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON 2010

The Banff Subaru International Triathlon of 2010 is the inaugural event of what could become a destination race for triathletes from all over the world.

One would be hard pressed to find a triathlon in a more idyllic setting.

As with most inaugural races there may be a few growing pains, but that's normal with any new triathlon with organizers, volunteers, and a town who are putting on the race for the very first time.

I plan on hitting the road for Banff right after work on Friday and hope to be there by around 2 p.m.

I'm scheduled to do  a book signing at the Spirit Indigo Book Store in Cascade mall for around 5 hours. If you are planning on being in town, come by and say hello and give me your take on the new Banff race.

I'm going to stay over-night in Canmore and hang out around Central Park in  Banff for a little while on Saturday morning. Hopefully long enough to catch some of the early finishers coming it.

I  can't stay all day because I have a book-signing planned for 1 p.m. at Coles Bookstore in Market Mall back in Calgary. So needless to say, it will be a busy weekend.

Best of luck to all those who are entered in the race on Saturday. I hope the weather is great and the water warm.

Come by for a visit and see some of my new pages at .........www.ironstruck.ca