2011 ITU Long Course World Championships coming to Silverman

2011 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships to be Held in Henderson, Nevada The International Triathlon Union, USA Triathlon, the city of Henderson and Lowery’s Multi-sport Races are proud to announce the 2011 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships will be held in Henderson, Nev., USA, on Nov. 5, 2011. “We are thrilled to welcome this world class sporting event to Henderson,” Mayor Andy Hafen said. “Henderson is proud to join an elite list of cities and to showcase its ability to produce an international event of this caliber.” As the host city for the Nevada Silverman Triathlon for the past five years, the city of Henderson and Lowery have significant experience and expertise in managing an event of this stature. In addition, southern Nevada boasts 145,000 hotel rooms and the fifth-busiest airport in North America. “It is a privilege that only few in the United States have been given. To host the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships speaks volumes of the hard working volunteers and city officials who have made this possible,” said Lowery. “Without the support and dedication of this great city, there is no possible way this event could be hosted here. We are thrilled to welcome this world class sporting event to Henderson, and we are confident it will be a huge success.” Perth, Australia hosted the 2009 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, a year after Almere, Holland staged the event. The last time the Long Distance Triathlon World Championships were held in the United States was in 1996 in Muncie, Ind. “We are thrilled to have the ITU Long Distance World Championships on American soil,” said Jeff Dyrek, USA Triathlon’s National Events director. “Henderson & Las Vegas will provide athletes with a great event and world class entertainment.” “The US is a very important region for ITU and we are delighted to be able to bring such a large event back to a country which has such a long and important history within our sport,” said Marisol Casado, President of ITU. About International Triathlon Union (ITU) The International Triathlon Union is the world governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon and all related Multisport disciplines: Duathlon, Aquathlon and Winter Triathlon. ITU was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France and has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada since then. It now has over 120 affiliated National Federations around the world and is the youngest International Federation in the Olympics. Triathlon was awarded Olympic status in 1994. ITU is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development program from grassroots to a high-performance level. For more information, visit: www.triathlon.org. About USA Triathlon USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon – the fastest growing sport in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,800 races and connects with more than 125,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games. Visit www.usatriathlon.org for more information. About the Nevada Silverman Triathlon  The Silverman Triathlon is a long distance triathlon held annually in Henderson, Nev. Branded as the toughest course in North America by triathlon icon Dave Scott and echoed by more than 2,500 participants over the past five years, the Nevada Silverman is sure to attract individuals and relay teams from around the world in the coming years. For registration or more information on the Nevada Silverman Triathlon, please visit www.silvermannv.com. Event Contacts Ashley Massi, Silverman Triathlon Media Manager Email: silvermanmediarelations@gmail.com  Mobile: 702.375.3266 Frank Lowery, Silverman Race Director Email: flowery719@cox.net Mobile: 702.400.2790

The Silverman reviews are in!

Silverman is the best run and most challenging multi-sport endurance event on the planet.  That may be a grand statement but, Silverman backs it up.  In so many events the athlete's are so much chattel.  Go here, moo....go there, moo...Silverman treats the athlete's like athletes - individuals who have sacrificed in pursuit of a major goal who are about to attempt something rare and spectacular.  At Silverman you are special - and it feels good.  Furthermore Silverman treats fans, family and volunteers to an engaging and entertaining sometimes gut wrenching celebration of human spirit and extraordinary endurance. Race director Frank Lowery could run a school for race directors.  Every turn is flagged, every aid station well stocked and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers, every detail managed - nothing is left to chance except the athlete's ability to finish one of the worlds most grueling and relentless courses.

Sponsors get a high end audience, athletes get the challenge of their lives, Henderson gets a world class athletic event (that the world has yet to discover), volunteers get inspired and amazed and the sport of Triathlon gets elevated another notch by the professionalism, competitiveness and shear love of sport that Silverman creates.  Truly a unique happening even in this crazy sport we all love.

You can race the other-man races but you haven't met your greatest adventure until you've raced Silverman.

Silverman 70.3 in the bag

Sunday November 8th 2009 went down in the record book as one of the warmest calmest bestest days ever in southern Nevada.  The morning was cool and calm the afternoon warm with a slight breeze the evening brisk and still.  It was a day when 900 athletes put their fortitude and athleticism on display on the Silverman Triathlon course.  I was there in the 70.3 wave of 500 age group athletes that surged off the Hemenway Harbor boat ramp at 830am.  It was a great day and a great race.
I must be honest and report that my season ends with a big fat "Needs Improvement".  Which is to say I am not happy with my 6:44 5th of 13 finish.  I offer no excuses, I just didn't have what I needed to achieve my goal of 6:05.  I had a great swim in perfect water.  I exited the water in 37min feeling strong.  (I love swimming in open water)  My bike was a solid 3:26 on an incredibly challenging course.  I can't begin to explain how poorly I felt on the run.  Just blah - in pain - no oomph.  I actually considered quitting (something I never do).  I stuck it out and let my positive inner voice soothe my sniveling ego.  By mile 6 I started to feel better and actually negative split the 2nd half.  Still, I could not manage a 2 hr half marathon to save my race.
Maybe starting  new job or my son being hospitalized all in the month prior to the race played a role.  I don't know - I don't really care - I expect better of myself.  Thing is...I know I can do better.
I have some work to do.  I'm looking forward to next year :-)

Cycling Rites Of Passage - How many have you had?

Bicycling.com is a great site with great articles advice and tips.  I read it, you should too.  This blog posting is really funny if your a cyclist.  I can't say I've done all of these rites but more than half.

Cycling Rites Of Passage

The Silverman Triathlon - Follow me as I train to race the most challenging course in America

Silverman Trailer from Momentum Advertising/Production on Vimeo.

Dick & Ricky Hoyt - The Most Inspirational Team Ever!

These guys were on my mind on a recent long run. If you have never seen them and heard their story - take a few minutes and be inspired.

Silverman Full & Half Distance Triathlon 2008

Here is an overview of the 2008 Silverman Triathlon from 6am until midnight Nov 9th. We had a huge storm front move thru at the swim start and gale force winds all afternoon. Look for Ian from UK, Chezie being helped out of the water after 2.4 grueling miles, the warriors who did this course on prosthetics and hand cycles and all the awesome volunteers who make this event possible.
I finished my 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike and 13.1 mi run in 6:36, 44 min faster than last year, 3rd in my age group.
Thank You Frank & Meg Lowery for the love of the sport and your attention to details. Silverman is the Gold Standard of triathlon events. Forget the Iron go for Silver!