Austin Tri makes Outside Magazine's list of The 15 Best Big City Races in America!

http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/endurance-training/Critical-Mass.html

Water Temp & Wetsuits

The official water temperature for the 2011 AVIA Austin Triathlon is 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the warm air and water temperatures, wetsuits will not be legal for any participants.

2011 AVIA Austin Tri Participant Guide

The AVIA Austin Triathlon Participant Guide is available for viewing and download at http://www.scribd.com/doc/63537104/Austin-Tri-Guide-2011. A hard copy of the guide will be included in the race packet.

World-Class Triathlon Coming to Corpus Christi

World-Class Triathlon Coming to Corpus Christi

Event to Offer Great Experience for Beginners and Veterans

(Corpus Christi, TX) – Officials from the City of Corpus Christi, High Five Events, Jack & Adam’s Bicycles, and Ryan-Sanders Entertainment announced a world-class triathlon coming to CorpusChristi on April 14^th & 15^th of 2012.

The Republic of Texas Triathlon Festival will feature sprint, Olympic and half-distance triathlon events, along with an expo and city-wide health and fitness challenge.

The triathlon will be produced by Austin, Texas-based High Five Events, whose principals were in town Monday for the announcement.

“Growing up in Sinton and working on the Corpus Christi beaches for many years, I have always known that downtown Corpus Christi would be the perfect place for a triathlon. We are excited to showcase the city with an event that all of Corpus Christi can be proud of,”Jack Murray said.

Said Dan Carroll, Murray’s partner in High Five Events: “Corpus Christi offers a venue with fantastic spectator opportunities and the city’s infrastructure is ideal for hosting a large triathlon.”

The weekend festival consists of three separate events. The sprint distance is a 400-meter swim, an 11-mile bike, and a two-mile run, ideal for first-time triathletes. The Olympic and half-distance events offer a more challenging experience for the seasoned triathlete. Rounding out the weekend festival are events for the entire family, including a health and fitness expo and a fun run for kids.

The event starts at the barge dock parking area in front of the American Bank Center. The finish for all events is located nearby at the newly-constructed Bayfront Park.

Proceeds from the event benefit STARRS Bike for Kids and other fitness programs. STARRS (South Texas Area Runners and Riders) is the region’s largest multi-sport organization.

About Dan Carroll & High Five Events:

Dan is a Level 2 certified USAT race director, one of only 25 in the entire United States, and co-founder of High Five Events.

High Five Events is a multi-sport event production company and the official race director for Jack & Adam’s Bicycles events. High Five Events produces many of the largest triathlons inTexas and provides event management consulting and equipment leasing services to over 30 events per year. www.highfiveevents.com

About Jack Murray & Jack & Adam's Bicycles:

Jack is head mechanic for the USA Triathlon and owner of Jack & Adam’s Bicycles.

Located in Austin, Jack & Adam’s Bicycles is a complete triathlon and road cycling store. Founded in 2004, it has been voted Best Triathlon Store in Texas every year since its inception. The store is renowned for its friendly service, incredible product support, and community involvement. www.jackandadams.com

About Ryan-Sanders Entertainment

Ryan-Sanders Entertainment, a division of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, is the company’s special events arm. Ryan-Sanders entertainment has produced concerts, music festivals, boxing, professional soccer and professional women’s fast pitch softball at The Dell Diamond in Round Rock and Corpus Christi’s Whataburger Field. Whataburger Field is home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, the most successful professional sports franchise in Coastal Bend history. The Hooks have drawn over 3,000,000 fans in their seven-year existence.

Event Website

http://www.republicoftexastri.com/

Need a New Year's Resolution? Try the new Texas Tri Series

Looking to put some strong commitments behind your New Year's resolution to stay fit & healthy? The Texas Tri Series might be just what you are looking for. The original premise behind the creation of the series was to provide motivation for anyone to stay fit and active throughout the year. The idea was to tie together some of the regions best events into a series that would be fun and competitive, but achievable by anyone. We also wanted to put out a strong enough reward, the Texas Tri Series Finisher Party, so that it would help get you out of bed for that morning run or stop you from eating the 3rd slice of pie.

2011 looks to be the best Texas Tri Series yet. It's the 5th annual series, so the party will be sure to be good, plus there are some exciting changes and additions:

• The Rookie Triathlon -The signature kickoff to the triathlon season has been moved a few weeks earlier to April 17th, and to a new venue near Austin. The event was moved for 2 reasons. First, we wanted the Rookie to be the first event of the season for most everyone. Second, we needed a venue that could accommodate more people. The Rookie has become so popular that many first time triathletes were being shut out because all the triathlon "veterans" also wanted to do the event. The new venue allows us to host both a true "Rookies" event for first timers, and there is a "veterans" race for all the experienced triathletes.
• A sixth event has been added to the Texas Tri Series lineup, the Lake Pflugerville Triathlon on June 19th. We've had our eye on this event since it started, and we think it will make a great addition. The Pflugerville tri community puts on a well organized, safe, and fun event.
• Last, there will be a new anchor event to the series. It will now be the Kerrville Triathlon festival, on October 1-2. This new event will bring a new long course triathlon to Texas hill country on an outstanding course with a downtown finish. There's also a sprint event the day before. We'll have more info posted soon.

Don't forget that you must register for the Texas Tri Series before June 1, 2011. It's free! Second, you must register for each of the events individually. Some of the events are sure to sell out so register early. There are early bird registration discounts too. Why wait?

Austin Tri Results

By Brom Hoban American Statesman Correspondant

Not even a flat tire on his bike could stop Great Britain's Philip Graves from winning the fourth edition of the Austin Triathlon on Monday.

Despite the tire mishap, which came with more than two miles to go in the 24.8-mile bike leg of the Olympic-distance race, Graves still finished first overall, 1 minute and 21 seconds ahead of Australia's Ritchie Cunningham.

The two men, who now live and train in Austin, scrambled out of Lady Bird Lake in a dead heat after completing the 1,500-meter swim in 17:56. The 21-year-old Graves pushed hard on the bike, leaving Cunningham behind as he completed the first two loops of the downtown course.

As he rode on Cesar Chavez Street, though, Graves blew out his rear tire. Realizing he had no time to perform an on-the-fly repair, Graves covered the last couple of miles on the bike's wheel rim.

" I put my bike in the biggest gear and put all my weight on the front wheel, trying to limit the damage," said the 21-year-old Graves, who last year became the youngest male winner of a major Ironman event with his victory at the Ironman UK in Bolton, England. "I just wanted to get to the run start safely and in one piece."

Not only did he arrive safely to the start of the 10-kilometer run, but Graves' time of 56:08 in the bike leg put him two minutes ahead of Cunningham.

Still, Cunningham is known as one of better runners competing in triathlons, and Graves took nothing for granted.

"He is a much stronger runner than I am so I usually try to get off the bike ahead," Graves said.

Sure enough, Cunningham cover the 10K course in 33:41, but he couldn't make up enough time to catch Graves, whose overall time was 1 hour, 52 minutes and 11 seconds..

"The way Philip hit the bike course — that was pretty impressive. I couldn't respond to that," said Cunningham, whose finishing time was 1:53:32.

A former Austinite, Michael Lavato of Boulder, Colo., placed third in 1:54:43.

In the women's Olympic-distance race, Austinites Kelly Williamson and Desiree Ficker entered the closing run neck and neck. Williamson, who was coming off a victory at the Steelhead 70.3 — a half-Ironman event — in Benton, Mich., on July 31, pulled away in the run to finish first in 2 hours and 25 seconds. Ficker, the defending women's champion, was second, 2 minutes and 9 seconds behind.

Williamson and Ficker both trailed Canada's Tenille Hoogland coming out of the water, but they passed Hoogland during the bike leg.

"Desiree caught me right at the same time we both passed Tenille," said Williamson, "but my biking has been really strong lately so I think that helped me start the run with less fatigue."

Williamson, who will be competing at the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in October, cruised through the 10K run in 34:55, steadily moving away from Ficker, who clocked a 37:06. She earned $1,200 for her victory, as did Graves.

"I felt a little rough today," said Ficker, who recently returned from a month of racing in Europe, where she won the TriStar111 Triathlon on Aug. 7 in Estonia. "I tried to hang with her as long as possible, but I could tell about a mile into the run that she was the stronger runner today."

Hoogland hung on for third place in 2:05:56 .

Mike Montoya, a middle school teacher in Las Cruces, N.M., won the sprint-distance race designed for aspiring triathletes, finishing in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 53 seconds.

Jessica Waninger, a cross country runner for the University of Texas at Tyler , was first woman to finish the sprint-distance event, posting a time of 1:23:37.

For Full Results, click here.

Austin Tri Participant Guide

The AVIA Austin Triathlon Participant Guide may be downloaded at www.theaustintriathlon.com/Participant-Guide.pdf.  A hard copy of the guide will be included in the event goodie bag provided at packet pickup.

TRIATHLON 101 - August 2010

With The AVIA Austin Triathlon approaching, we thought it would be a good idea to give you an inside look as to the “ins-and-outs” of this fantastic course! We’ve asked High Five Events Race Director, Dan Carroll, to give some quick pointers – so you can get excited and be ready for what’s ahead:


Packet Pick-up & Transition
A little different from the past High Five Events events so far this summer is the packet pick-up and Transition set-up procedures.

1. Packet pick-up will be one-day only and will take place on Sunday, September 5th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from 10-6pm. During packet pick-up, there will also be a really cool athlete expo and informative seminars throughout the day.  TIP: Need last minute essentials, Jack & Adams will be there for you at the Expo! Also, come prepared with your photo ID and USAT card to be able to pick up your packet.
2. Transition set-up is done the day BEFORE event day. After picking-up your packet at the Hyatt, you will need to check-in your bike at the transition area that same day. Having the bikes already checked-in the night before will make event-morning a lot easier and less stressful.  TIP: Be sure to put your numbers on your bike before checking it into the transition area. Also, don’t put any plastic bags over any parts of your bike. This will cause the bikes to blow in the wind and the plastic often gets stuck in the gears. Check out the bikes in the Open wave rack. None will have plastic bags on them. 

Swim Course
The AVIA Austin Triathlon is one of only a few times that the City of Austin allows people to swim in Lady Bird Lake – and what a great experience it is!

1. The swim start is a deep-water start. Come prepared to jump into the water off a dock (about a foot above the water) to prepare for the race start. Participants will tread water and line up in front of the dock to wait for the starting horn (about 1-2 minutes). TIP: If you are a slower swimmer, or are less comfortable treading water for a period of time, be prepared to enter the water last and be towards the back of your swim wave.
2. With multiple bridges and banks on both sides, this swim course has many great points for sighting. TIP: Before jumping in for your wave, have a look for these points and use them to help you swim in the right direction.
3. On Labor Day, the water temperature is usually around 75 degrees, so the swim will likely be wetsuit legal. However, anything is possible with these warmer temperatures we’ve been having. TIP: Be prepared for both a wetsuit and non-wetsuit swim.

Bike Course
Three loops for Olympic distance and two loops for sprint distance on the scenic downtown roads make this an exciting course for all levels of participants!

1. Be prepared for a short hill at the very start of the bike course. This means, having your bike in the right gear coming out of transition. It’s not really steep, but if you find yourself stuck in a hard gear you’ll have a bit more trouble. TIP: The road at the start and finish of the bike course is very narrow. Take it easy heading out and coming in. There’s plenty of course to put the hammer down, but this is not the place.
2. With this multi-loop course, you will have some u-turns. Be prepared and know ahead of time when to expect these u-turns, as you will want to slow down, stay your line, and be aware of those around you as you all safely make the turn. TIP: If you have weaker bike handling skills, stay towards the outside (or the right) as you make the turns – this will give you a wider turning radius.
3. As this is a pretty fast bike course, please be aware not to draft. Drafting is being less than 3 bike lengths behind the person in front of you. We will have officials patrolling the course enforcing the no-drafting USAT rules. TIP: Come to the pre-race meetings at the expo to learn more about the USAT rules.

Run Course
The AVIA Austin Triathlon run course is flat and compact, which makes it extremely spectator friendly and competitive. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Expect it to be hot with very little shade. Use the aid stations to help you keep cool. TIP: Consider wearing a hat or visor to help keep your head cool.
2. At some of the aid stations, there will be the opportunity to get wet underneath a sprinkler or hose. Take advantage of it. A little cool water does wonders in the heat.
3. The course is a combination of grass/dirt trails, pavement, and sidewalk. TIP: Take a look at the race course maps and come up with a strategy to help you tackle the course!

We can’t wait to see you all out on Auditorium Shores for the start of The AVIA Austin Triathlon on Labor Day – Monday, September 6th, 2010. We hope these tips give you a better sense of what to expect on event day and help you get excited for the fantastic day it is sure to be!

Registration is Still Open!

Registration is still open for the 2010 Austin Triathlon.  Sign up here.  Roughly 300 spots remain and they are going fast.  Yeah, it might be hot, but you'll stay cool with the free tech tee and Sweat Vac hat.  We will also have a brilliant finisher medal, ice cold water bottle, and free ice cream and New Belgium Beer waiting for you at the finish line.  Plus rockin' tunes from LC Rocks all morning long!

Water Temp & Wetsuits

Current water temperature is 73 F.  It is anticipated that the swim will be wetsuit legal.  This event will be governed by USA Triathlon rules.  The official water temperature will be posted prior to the start of the Expo on Sunday, September 5th.

ARE YOU GONNA GET YOURS?!

LC ROCKS!!!

We are pleased to announce Austin's very own 80's metal party band, LC ROCKS, to play at the Austin Tri after party! With sounds echoing Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, Journey, AC/DC, and Twisted Sister, (to name just a few!), we will be rockin' all morning long!

Swim, Ride, Run, Rock!!!

AVIA Austin Tri Medals

Finisher medals for the 2010 AVIA Austin Triathlon have been ordered.  Check it out:  

Dublin Dr Pepper

High Five Events is pleased to announce our partnership with Dublin Dr Pepper.  Dublin Dr Pepper will be supplying ice cold refreshments at the finish line carnivals, including Dublin Dr Pepper, Big Red, A&W Root Beer, and many other classics.


Dublin, Texas is home to the oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant which opened in 1861.  Today, Dublin Dr Pepper still makes Dr Pepper with the original formula, using Imperial Pure Cane Sugar, and not high fructose corn syrup, like most soft drinks.  Find out more about Dublin Dr Pepper here:  http://dublindrpepper.com/

Team LIVESTRONG at The AVIA Austin Triathlon

We don’t live in the same city or compete in the same events, but we’re one team. What unite us are hope, courage and determination. We are more than one. We ride. Run. Walk. Swim. We fight. We are the cyclist facing a long uphill climb in honor of his mother. We are the runner finishing a first marathon in memory of her brother. We are the cancer survivor crossing a 5k finish line after completing treatment. Whatever your strengths, whatever your goal, whatever your personal battle, you can make a difference. We are more than one. Join us in the unfinished fight at TeamLIVESTRONG.org.

Sign up for the Austin Tri, participate with Team LIVESTRONG, and raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and the fight against cancer. The LAF is an official partner of The Austin Triathlon. Reserved spots are available at the early registration rate for Team LIVESTRONG. Team members will race in LAF gear and have access to their own personal webpage as well fundraising tools and sample materials online, all of which will help make meeting the fundraising goal easy so they can concentrate on the real challenge - training for the tri. Click here for more info.

USAT licenses explained

Have you ever signed up for a triathlon and then been forced to pay $10 extra at packet pickup? Maybe you are doing your first triathlon this year and you've been told that you need a USAT license, but you don't really know what that is or how to get one? Here's all you need to know:

What is a USAT licnese?

USA Triathlon (USAT) is the governing body of the sport of triathlon in the United States. (www.usatriathlon.org). It's overseen by the the United States Olympic Committe. It provides many services to athletes, coaches, and race directors. One of the key services it provides to race directors is event sanctioning, through which it provides event insurance. The insurance covers the athletes, volunteers, and the property that is part of a triathlon. This insurance is usually so expensive that most race directors would not be able to afford it without the assistance of USAT. Without the insurance, many races wouldn't exist. One of the requirements of sanctioning an event is that all participants must be USAT members. Therefore, anyone who signs up for a USAT sanctioned event must show proof of USAT membership. This proof is commonly referred to as having a USAT license.


How do I get a USAT membership?

USAT memberships may be purchased several ways:

• USAT provides registration services online at http://usatriathlon.org/pages/58
• Many USAT sanctioned events have USAT memberships available for purchase as part of their online registration.
• All USAT sanctioned events have USAT memberships available for purchase at packet pickup.

Should I buy an Annual Membership or just pay the One Day fee?

The annual membership costs $39. The one day license costs $10 and may only be used at the event at which it is purchased. It's a no-brainer to purchase the annual membership if you do at least 4 events per year. It typically makes sense to have an annual membership even if you will do less than 4 events per year, as there are many other benefits to having a USAT license, as described on the USAT membership benefits page:http://usatriathlon.org/pages/659. The One Day membership is good option if you are likely to do less than one event per year.


When should I buy my membership?

I don't recommend waiting until packet pickup to purchase a license as you'll have to wait in a second line and make a payment. Buy the one-day membership online with your event registration if you can. Buy the annual membership online directly from USAT anytime before your first event. Make sure you bring proof of you online purchase with you to packet pickup, as well as a photo ID.


USAT will give you credit for $10 towards an annual membership if you show receipt from a one day membership purchase.

Austin Tri Recycles 90% of all trash

The Austin Triathlon was able to recycle 90% of all the trash generated at the event. Many thanks to all of the event staff and volunteers who made this possible.


The Austin Triathlon has planned carefully to reduce the amount waste created at this event. Food items are designed to be hand held, requiring very little serving dishes or plates and all beverages are served in recylable containers. In addition, The Austin Triathlon is one of the first events in Austin to removed bottled water from the event. Instead of plastic bottled water, each participant received a souvenier reusable bike bottle filled with City of Austin water. Participants could re-fill the bottle at one of the many water moster stations.

Check out our recycling report for the facts.

Cunningham, Ficker win AVIA Austin Triathlon

Austin, TX – Local professional triathletes Richie Cunningham and Desiree Ficker win the 3rd annual AVIA Austin Triathlon.


Richie Cunningham dominated the event by leading right from the gun. Andrew Yoder mounted an early charge on the bike but was forced to drop due to illness. Cunningham cruised through the 10 kilometer run to win by a margin of 3 minutes. James Cotter and James Bales grabbed second and third place, respectively.


Desiree Ficker and Kelly Handel treated everyone to a show with a competitive race throughout. Ficker used a strong bike and run to overcome the deficit to Handel after the swim. Terra Castro rounded out the podium to make it a trio of Austin women.


2000 participants and thousands of spectators enjoyed the beautiful weather and Austin’s hospitality. All were welcome at the renowned post race carnival.  The Austin Triathlon is annually held on Labor Day in the heart of downtown Austin. High Five Events is proud to partner with AVIA and Jack & Adam’s Bicycles to produce this event. Visit www.theaustintriathlon.com for more information.

Men:

1. Richie Cunningham 1:53:26
2. James Cotter 1:56:29
3. James Bales 1:57:55
4. Derek Yorek 1:58:22
5. Paul Terranova 2:00:09
6. Joe Thorne 2:01:27
7. Derick Williamson 2:03:14
8. Lon Breitenbach 2:04:17
9. Todde Withycombe 2:04:24
10. Dion Harrison 2:05:18

Women:

1. Desiree Ficker 2:06:21
2. Kelly Handel 2:06:52
3. Terra Castro 2:10:01
4. Mina Pizzini 2:11:12
5. Tracy Robertson 2:11:19
6. Sierra Snyder 2:11:57
7. Jolene Wilkinson 2:15:36
8. Natasha Van Der Merwe 2:18:34
9. D’Ann Arthur 2:19:06
10. Lianne Evans 2:19:15

About High Five Events
High Five Events is a multi-sport event production company and the official race director for Jack & Adam’s Bicycles events. High Five Events produces many of the largest triathlons in Texas, including The Austin Triathlon and the Texas Tri Series, and provides event management consulting and equipment leasing services to over 30 events per year.www.highfiveevents.com


About Jack and Adam’s Bicycles
Located in Austin, TX, Jack and Adam’s Bicycles is a complete triathlon and road cycling store. Founded in 2004, it has been voted Best Triathlon Store in Texas every year since its inception. The store is renowned for its friendly service, incredible product support, and community involvement. www.jackandadams.com


About American Sporting Goods
AVIA is a leading supporter of the sport of triathlon. It’s sponsorships include the AVIA Wildflower Triathlon and an entire team of professional triathletes including Kenny Souza, Scott Tinley, Conrad Stoltz, Eduardo Sturla, Heather Wurtele, Trevor Wurtele, Tyler Stewart, Amanda Felder, Angela Naeth, Alexis Smith, Steven Sexton, Wendy Mader, and Pip Taylor. Please visit www.avia.com. American Sporting Goods (ASG) is a manufacturer of performance athletic footwear and apparel based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Brands under the ASG umbrella include AVIA, And 1, rykä, Nevados, Yukon, NSS, APEX, Turntec and Triple Five Soul.

Austin Tri named best in Texas

Competitor Texas magazine has announce The Austin Triathlon as the best triathlon in Texas for 2008. "No longer “the other” triathlon in downtown Austin, the Austin Triathlon (Labor Day Weekend) has become a favorite of Austin triathletes and those from around the state."

AVIA named presenting sponsor of The Austin Triathlon

Austin, TX -- High Five Events and Jack & Adam's Bicycles are proud to announce AVIA, the leader in endurance sports training products, as the official running shoe partner and presenting sponsor of The Austin Triathlon.


2009 will mark the 3rd edition of The Austin Triathlon and the event is expected to cap at over 2000 athletes. The event is held on the front yard of Austin’s renowned Town Lake Hike and Bike trail, and the bike and run course feature challenging and very spectator friendly loops through historic and eclectic downtown Austin. The event features Olympic and Sprint distance triathlons, and has earned a reputation as an extremely well organized, fun, and athlete-centric event.


“We are thrilled about this partnership with AVIA”, says Dan Carroll of High Five Events. “AVIA brings a level of excitement, energy, and innovation to the sport of triathlon that matches our own, and their partnership will allow us to bring an even better experience to the athletes.” The event will once again host a $5000 all-comers prize purse and multiple prime prizes.


“AVIA is proud to be the presenting sponsor and join forces with The Austin Triathlon”, says Julie Vieselmeyer of AVIA. “High Five Events puts on an outstanding series of races that really draws upon Austin’s community spirit, attracting both the elite and newbie racer. We are excited to further build upon this great race in a place that has become a mecca for triathletes.”


The 2009 Austin Triathlon will be held on Labor Day, September 7th. AVIA joins Jack & Adam’s Bicycles as presenting sponsors. Visit www.theaustintriathlon.com for more information.


About American Sporting Goods
AVIA is a leading supporter of the sport of triathlon. It’s sponsorships include the AVIA Wildflower Triathlon and an entire team of professional triathletes including Kenny Souza, Scott Tinley, Conrad Stoltz, Eduardo Sturla, Heather Wurtele, Trevor Wurtele, Tyler Stewart, Amanda Felder, Angela Naeth, Alexis Smith, Steven Sexton, Wendy Mader, and Pip Taylor. Please visit www.avia.com.


American Sporting Goods (ASG) is a manufacturer of performance athletic footwear and apparel based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Brands under the ASG umbrella include AVIA, And 1, rykä, Nevados, Yukon, NSS, APEX, Turntec and Triple Five Soul.


About High Five Events
High Five Events is a multi-sport event production company and the official race director for Jack & Adam’s Bicycles events. High Five Events produces many of the largest triathlons in Texas, including The Austin Triathlon and the Texas Tri Series, and provides event management consulting and equipment leasing services to over 30 events per year.www.highfiveevents.com


About Jack and Adam’s Bicycles
Located in Austin, TX, Jack and Adam’s Bicycles is a complete triathlon and road cycling store. Founded in 2004, it has been voted Best Triathlon Store in Texas every year since its inception. The store is renowned for its friendly service, incredible product support, and community involvement. www.jackandadams.com