ActiveKix : Stories kicked by ActiveKix

"Getting Into 'Triathlon' Gear" A Workshop To Kick-Start Your Training

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

As spring approaches and days get longer and warmer, so the triathlon season swings into action. Triathlon training keeps you in excellent shape, and because you are focusing on three different sporting codes, you are much less likely to pick up an injury as often happens when training for just one sport. This is just one reason, why triathlons are becoming immensely popular in South Africa. To help you on your way to a great triathlon season, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) and New Balance are hosting a highly informative workshop entitled "Getting into 'triathlon' gear". It is sanctioned by WP Triathlon Association (WPTA) and in fact is combined with the opportunity to register with WPTA/TSA for the 2008-2009 season. The workshop is aimed at triathletes with some sprint distance triathlon experience, who are looking at participating in Olympic distance triathlons.

Sastre in yellow: But Evans is in range

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Fascinating day's racing in the Tour de France yesterday, as the riders tackled what is arguably the race's toughest day - 209km including three out of category climbs, culminating in the most famous climb in cycling, Alp d'Huez. And as expected, the attacks started early on the final climb, as the climbers were forced to go out looking for time on Cadel Evans, knowing that they required a buffer leading into the final 53km time-trial on Saturday.

Hincapie gives direction to upstart riders

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:45:30 GMT

George Hincapie is the only cyclist to race on eight Tour de France-winning teams. This year he passed on the chance for No. 9, which turned out to be a smart decision. The tall, affable New Yorker was a key player in all seven of Lance Armstrong's Tour wins and supported Alberto Contador in the Spaniard's 2007 victory.

Scientists say breakthrough urine test for HGH developed

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

A team of scientists from the USA and Italy say they have developed a urine test that detects human growth hormone. The finding is a potential breakthrough in efforts to find a non-invasive way to screen for the performance-enhancing drug that is banned throughout the athletic world.

A Brief Chat With Jorge Torres

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:45:30 GMT

Jorge Torres was third in the 10,000 at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene in 27:46.33 and will be headed to the Beijing Olympics along with Abdi Abdirahman and Galen Rupp. He entered the Trials already having the Olympic "A" standard, having run 27:42.91 in 2007. Earlier in 2008, Torres was second in the USA Cross Country Championships, 19th in the World Cross Country Championships in Scotland (the top American), and first at the USA 8K Championships in New York in 22:41.2. He'd also won the USA 8K in 2005. Torres was the 2006 USA 10,000-meter champion.

An open letter to President Bush

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

USA Track & Field has written President Bush to express our concern at Marion Jones' application for pardon or commutation of her conviction for making false statements to federal investigators. Make your own voice heard and join USATF in writing to President Bush. For more information on how to write the White House, click here.

Doug Logan named USATF CEO

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:14:18 GMT

The USA Track & Field Board of Directors on Thursday approved top sports executive Doug Logan, the former Commissioner, President and CEO of Major League Soccer, as its next CEO. A bilingual sports and entertainment leader with a proven track record of generating long-term sponsor partnerships, television outreach and high fan attendance, Logan and MLS in 1996 were named Sports Industrialist of the Year by Sports Business Daily.

USADA slaps lifetime ban on track coach Graham

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

Track coach Trevor Graham received a lifetime ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Tuesday for his role in helping his athletes obtain performance-enhancing drugs.

Twell runs into Olympic frame with world junior victory

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:20:27 GMT

Stephanie Twell, one of Britain's leading hopes for the London Olympics in 2012, showed her prodigious talent yesterday by winning the 1500m at the world junior championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. But such is the growing reputation of the double European junior cross-country champion that she could be on the plane to Beijing too. The 18-year-old from Aldershot burst clear with 200 metres left to triumph in 4min 15.09sec with her team-mate Emma Pallant, 19, taking bronze in 4:17.09, just behind the Ethiopian Kalkidan Gezahegne, who was second in 4:16.58.

Runners Rejoice In News Of New Marathon

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:14:09 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS -- Organizers expect a new full marathon and half-marathon in Indianapolis will eventually draw thousands of runners and walkers to the city each year. The first-ever Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on Nov. 1 will take runners on a 26.2-mile journey through the city -- 13.1 miles for those who enter the half-marathon.

Webb can't hide dismay after 1,500-meter defeat

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Four days after his fifth-place finish in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., the disappointment in Alan Webb's voice was obvious. Devastated at not making the Olympic team for next month's Beijing Games, Webb hasn't felt motivated to work out though he's planning to compete in Europe.

Olympic swimmer Shanteau diagnosed with cancer

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:20:27 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) - When Eric Shanteau touched the wall second at the U.S. Olympic trials, he was overcome by the joy of reaching a lifelong goal. The celebration didn't last long. Shanteau had barely locked up his trip to Beijing when he was forced to deal with a gut-wrenching choice: Should he have surgery for the testicular cancer hardly anyone knew about? Or, should he put it off for another month so he could swim at his first Olympics?

USA sweeps 4x400 relays, Nunley grabs silver in 110 hurdles

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:05:41 GMT

Bydgoszcz, Poland - Winning both 4 x 400 relays in convincing fashion kept the United States atop the medal count as the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships concluded on Sunday evening in Zdzislaw Stadium. In addition to earning two more gold medals with the relay efforts, the U.S. also had a silver medal from the 110-meter hurdles. As a result, the American topped the medal chart with 17 total medals, which included 11 gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

le Tour de France 2008: Beltran tests positive for EPO

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:14:13 GMT

Alas, perhaps the good start to the tour this year was too good to be true. . .for it has been announced that Manuel Beltran (Liquigas) has returned a positive for EPO from the samples taken on the first day of the race. He has been fired from his team and is out of the tour.

Asafa Powell injures his groin

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:14:09 GMT

Last night at the Golden Gala track meet in Rome, Asafa Powell pulled up in the 100 meters with a groin injury. He is the former world record holder and is one of the favorites in Beijing next month.

The Toni & Matt Show #17 - Vin Lananna

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:14:08 GMT

A full debrief of the Olympic Trials with special guest Coach Vin Lananna (co-chair of the Eugene '08 organizing committee and director of track & field at the University of Oregon). Toni and Matt kick off the show with their assessment of the Trials - the highs and lows, surprises and disappointments - before bringing on Coach Lananna, who gives a candid recap of the show.What lived up to his expectations? What can be improved for 2012? How do we make the sport more professional? Can USATF succeed in Indianapolis? This and more on the Toni & Matt Show.

Van Vlerken makes history in Roth

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:14:10 GMT

ROTH, Germany-On a record-setting day in Roth, defending champion Yvonne Van Vlerken of the Netherlands took out a dramatic win that smashed triathlon legend Paula Newby-Fraser's world record of 8:50:53 set here in 1994 with a scintillating 8:45:48. And proving that the bar has been lifted to new heights in women's triathlon, the second place woman-Hungary's Erika Csomor-also came in under Newby-Fraser's time, in 8:47:05. Third went to New Zealand's Gina Ferguson, in only her second year of Ironman racing, in 8:57:18. Australia's Belinda Granger, the 2005 champion, took fourth less than a minute behind Ferguson with fellow Aussie Rebekah Keat fifth in 9:02:34.

Bolt Dashes 19.67 In Athens

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Usain Bolt broke his own Jamaican national record in the 200 meters tonight, clocking a spectacular 19.67 seconds at the Tsliklitiria Super Grand Prix at Olympic Stadium in Athens. Approaching the turn with a clear lead, the 21-year-old relentlessly powered down the homestraight to move up to the event's No. 5 position all-time. On May 31, Bolt broke the world record in the 100m, clocking 9.72 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York. He has yet to decide which event --or perhaps both-- he will contest at the Olympic Games next month. Whichever he chooses, he will clearly start as the favorite. Bolt told post race interviewers: "I feel sure I will be very strong at the Olympic Games."

Liliana Popescu barred from Olympics for Doping

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:14:09 GMT

Liliana Popescu is one of the fastest 1500m runners in the world this year, clocking 4:00.35 at at a grand prix meet in Bucharest a few days before the indoor world championships. Unfortunately, she is probably not going to be able to display her talents on the world stage.

Track and Field Blogs - Ryan Hall - Pleasure in the Pain

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:14:00 GMT

I learned something important about myself on a long run I recently completed a little over a week ago. My older brother, who is functioning as my full time trainer leading up to the Games, and I tried to get up early and beat the heat, however, by the time we started at 8 a.m. the roadside thermator in town already read 80 degrees. The long run route would take me through my local neighborhoods for 3 miles and then around the lake for an additional 15 miles before hitting the dirt road that would lead from my house at 6,700ft to one of my favorite dirt roads in Big Bear, Skyline, which is at nearly 8,000ft. The reason why it is called skyline is easy to understand when you are up on the rim of the world. When I am up there I feel like I am practically apart of the bright blue sky that encompasses me.

Rome opens the next chapter of the Wariner - Merritt saga

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:14:10 GMT

Rome, Italy - After surviving a 10-day long war known as the U.S. Olympic Trials, Beijing-bound Americans will now continue honing their craft in Europe in their lead-up to the Olympic Games. And perhaps no Eugene rematch is more anticipated at the moment that the one that will take place on Friday evening (11) at the at the '28th Golden Gala Kinder+Sport', the Rome stop of the ÅF Golden League between 400m aces Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt.

Subaru Vancouver Triathlon Attracts Ironman's Rising Stars

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Rogers Sportsnet to Broadcast Event, Live Web Timing on Race Day This Sunday, Vancouver will play host to the Subaru Vancouver International Half and Sprint Triathlon at the beautiful Spanish Banks Beaches and University of British Columbia Endowment Lands. The race has attracted a number of Ironman Champions and rising stars as they prepare for Ironman Canada and the legendary Hawaii Ironman. Highlighting the women's event will be Hawaii's Bree Wee who is just coming off a strong 2nd place finish at Ironman Japan, and Canada's Heather Wurtele who recently won Ironman Coeur D'Alene. Other strong contenders on the women's side include American Katya Meyers who has already booked her ticket to Hawaii with a 5th place finish at Ironman France and Canada's Cheryl Murphy recently posted the fastest half marathon by a Canadian woman in the last 5 years. The men's race will be contested by former Ironman Champions Jasper Blake of Canada and Andriy Yastrebov of the Ukraine.

Comerford set sights on 4th Ironman event win in row at Austria

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:06:04 GMT

Britain's Bella Comerford has her sights on a 4th consecutive Ironman event win of the year at this weekend's Ironman Austria while her fiancée Stephen Bayliss hunts his third consecutive podium of the year. Bella has already finished first this year at Ironman South Africa, Ironman Lanzarote and Ironman 70.3UK, whilst Bayliss has finished 1st at Ironman South Africa and 2nd at the UK 70.3.

Tour de France Power File Analysis and Live Data

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:14:29 GMT

Tour de France cycling fans can watch live heart rate, power, cadence and speed transmitted daily at TrainingPeaks.com from the SRM power meters of several Team Columbia racers such as George Hincapie, Adam Hansen and Marcus Burghardt. After each day's stage, fans can download and view the power files within TrainingPeaks WKO+ complete with analysis and comments by power expert Hunter Allen

Nick Symmonds: Olympian (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 16)

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:14:09 GMT

I can hardly believe it myself. After dreaming about this for most of my life and specifically devoting two years towards this goal, I can finally call myself an Olympic athlete. The last 48 hours have been unreal and I would very much like to share with you what has been going on, but first I need to talk about how I arrived at this point in my career.