Wednesday, October 21, 2015

The Iona Time Trial

Important update to the Fall Race Series Schedule!

Due to scheduling conflicts at the UBC Aquatics Centre, the Aquathon has been moved to Saturday, October 31. Yes, it is Halloween. And yes, you will get bonus points for racing in costume.

The updated full schedule is now:

Oct 18: Iona 10.2K bike time trial
Oct 28: 50m swim sprint
Oct 31: Aquathon (swim and run)
Nov 2: 500m swim time trial
Nov 5: 5k run time trial
Nov 8: Brick (bike and run)
Nov 19: Mile time trial
Nov 21: Uphill bike time trial

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On the eve of the conclusion of one marathon (electoral), an intrepid group of triathletes braved mist and traffic to embark on another (athletic). I'm speaking, of course, of the month-long UBC Triathlon Club Race Series.

This past Saturday saw the first event of the series, the 10.2km Iona Beach Bike Time Trial. We don't need no snobby cyclist derision at our flat course, the quad burn speaks for itself. Vincent "Aero Gear" Ye showed up fully prepared to demonstrate his understanding of fluid dynamics, while fearless leaders Jen "Jackrabbit" Moroz and Keith "Piston Legs" Bystrom cruised alongside German-engineered luxury V6 engines on Southwest Marine Drive. Leading the pack on the out-and-back course was Celina "Shiny Brakes" Lim, who was showing off a newly tamed steed.

Observance of speed limit is optional.

But the stars of the event were Emily "Class Act" Rankin, who won a special Race Series Prize for sportswomanship, and Florian "Kraftwerk" Heinkel, who powered through the course in the quickest time that day. Honourable mention goes to Nima, who I'm pretty sure is descended from a steam locomotive, for the fastest individual time of this event so far.

View the results of the Race Series here.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

The 2015 Fall Race Series Begins!

Is there a distinct lack of trash talk in your life? Are you itching to collect POINTS for athletic prowess? How about for just showing up?

Look no further, the UBC Triathlon Club RACE SERIES is here! This intense series of eight races will test your wits and your brawn. Points are awarded after each event for participation and ranking. The schedule and distances are posted below. Mark your calendars!

Oct 18: Iona 10.2K bike time trial
Oct 24: Aquathon (swim and run)
Oct 28: 50m swim sprint
Nov 2: 500m swim time trial
Nov 5: 5k run time trial
Nov 8: Brick (bike and run)
Nov 19: Mile time trial
Nov 21: Uphill bike time trial

Thursday, October 1, 2015

October's Sponsor of the Month: Dunbar Physio

Plantar fasciitis, iliotibial band syndrome, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints…  A typical runner will become acquainted with one of these injuries, eventually — it’s just a matter of time. It’s hard to reconcile the notion that we were “born to run” with the outrageously high incidence of repetitive strain injuries afflicting the average road runner [1]. When running is such a huge component of triathlon training, how are we supposed to avoid injury, and what should we do after injury occurs?

Luckily for the members of the UBC Triathlon Club, we can turn to one of our sponsors, Dunbar Physio, in our moment of need. Dunbar Physio has been serving the community since 1984, and has been a generous sponsor of the club for 5 years. Located on West 41st Ave just east of Dunbar St, it’s a quick hop away from the UBC campus. Best of all, club members get 20% off regular private fees, three times per calendar year.

Dunbar Physio is located at 3540 West 41st Ave, just west of Dunbar St.

I went in for an appointment recently to consult the experts on the cause of some knee pain that I suspected to be related to my IT bands. The pain had thrown my training plan completely off the rails, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be prepared for race day. My appointment was with Jonathan, who took a detailed history of my injury, assessed my running stride, and walked me through the anatomy of the lower leg before narrowing down the possible causes of the pain. He prescribed me a handful of exercises to correct for my imbalances in flexibility and balance, and also suggested a new technique of myofascial release therapy inspired by the practice of cupping.

The team has benefitted from Dunbar Physio's generous support for the past 5 years.

I left the office with a sense of control over my injury, ready to do my exercises and hit the road. The next time you’re sidelined with a sports injury, look to the expertise of the trained physiotherapists of Dunbar Physio. They’ll get you back to racing in no time.