Klagenfurt or Bust! Chapter 2
by Mauro Mongarli

Well, a rainy January was expected, and it was! I had a lot of work to do, this month, but it was easily made during work time. So training has been completed, and hey! It has been a good month.
I did a cycling Conconi test on January 16th. It was due, because bike is the sport where my shape is more far... My Anaerobic Thresold (AT) fell of 10 heart beats..YIKES! But Luca, my coach, noticed a good improvement in my cycling style from last year, and suggested to work quite hard since now, 'cause probably improvements shouldn't take lots of times like last years. We decided also to stay still calm with running, pushing hard the bike. This would mean a major change respect my first two ironman training schedule: this year I won't race a Spring marathon. So, actually I'm swimming two times per week, running two with a longer, easy run on Sunday morning... and have four, terrible bike workout until February has gone: speed intervals, an easy hour, a day with 1KM of elevation and a long easy ride with easy uphills.

I'm writing on January 31st, and tomorrow will rest, because I feel drained! Today in the pool my HRM showed my heart stopping at a slow speed, and not moving... I'm tired, and need a day more of rest, then see. I think it's normal, after such a beginning... After a couple of weeks like this my legs change dramatically, anyway. I already have the spin feeling I use to have when it's the end of March... So, it's better to rest - I'm already in fitness credit!

My ankle was sore, remember? Now it's better, but humid weather still don't make me feel comfy with it.

Last Sunday I did a run race, 12K, just for fun. My wife was on the short course, and we met so many people we know... Even the ones who usually walk were running: It was damned cold! Here it's full Carnival, too, and lots of runners were wearing funny costumes... With some friends I'm preparing a group costume for February races...

But that's next month!

For now, I just enjoy a more day rest, and the dream of my next Ironman finish...

See you!

Klagenfurt or bust - Chapter three

by Mauro Mongarli

Well, it has been a strange February.

Sunny and mostly with Spring weather, not usual in North Italy. Good, you say, good for training? Yes, but not the way you think! I've been terribly busy with work, and really had little time to dedicate to my training. Winter training is key, anyway, so I had to decide and cut something. Seeing it now, I did the right choice: I chose to focus mainly on riding, and on the windtrainer - I know this is a winter training must for a lot of people in many parts of the world, but, er, I'm supposed to live in Sunny Italy, and the fact of having an exceptional sunny February even for our standards didn't help the moral, if I was forced in the basement, in the evening!

Four rides a week were scheduled. An easy one, one with repeats, one with uphills and a long one, with easy uphills (the one I sometimes didn't do because my HRM said HEY! Can't you see I'm going no higher than 135, and with tremendous effort? Relax a day more!)

I had hard times with swimming and running: sporadic and with no quality almost at all. Have to say that my work distracted me from training but carried a more relaxed view on my income: it was time - we writers often have ups and down, talking about money, but recently it was a rollercoaster ride, believe me! Writing this to say that my training will be surely more mentally relaxed - so tons of work can be good training, as you can see!

Anyway, focusing on biking really paid off. I'm writing this on March 2nd, and my bike legs feel like they usually felt at the half of May, last years! And I can happily add that I'm actually back running and swimming more regularly and feel like didn't loose that much - just some speed and a little confidence, but not enough to say "God! And now?"

Highlights of the month are the strenuous February 9th windtrainer ride - uphill simulations, tired and ...old - it was my birthday! I remember I finished thinking: Hey, not bad for a 36 yo fart! And my wife asked me: Are you insane? Just born and sweating so violently (she will be a typical Italian mother, one day...)

On February 11th, one of the last day of Carnival, me and some friends went all masked to an easy 12 k race. I wore an "instant bunny" kit, and with my pink ears I was tall more or less like Wilt Chamberlain or so. Great day: lots of people gave their lungs to catch me and touch my little tail!

On Feb 18th another great Sunday: we went (me, my wife and a couple of other girls) to have a bike-day on the Po river delta, in a regional park. The day was so clear, and the river was so big, and calm, and relaxing... A truly Spring day, except for a terrible cold wind you can expect in that area. But we have been lucky enough to find a good place, picnic and take a little sun tan (if you read this from downunder, well, I'm envy!). Mark Allen once said that one of the best basic training to adapt your body for an Ironman is to increase the ability of staying a whole day out, in nature, even without exercising. He's right: I was dead, in the evening, even though I rode for 40 k, and very slowly!

This month really flew by. It has been quite demanding, for my job, but being forced to often calculate minutes for a decent training session - I don't usually need that - really gave me a different perspective, and now I admire even more the people who have passion enough to live EVERY DAY of the year like this, and have apparently no stress side effects. Really.

March is coming - now I have my usual time to dedicate to training, and ... it rains all day! The big March new is that my pool now open at 7:15 am: that will be great to me, once I get used to the early hour, and there's another big, BIG new regarding my goal race, Ironman Austria... But I'll report it next month!

In the while, train hard and then relax!

Klagenfurt or Bust! Chapter 4
by Mauro Mongarli

Well, last March I left you announcing a big surprise. It was the fact I'm actually working for Ironman Austria, promoting the race through my site and at local Italian races.

The sad new is that... Training it's always the same hard! I'm writing this on May 4th, and sweat is truly on duty, now. Briefly:

Swim: it came out I was keeping my elbow too low... Now my stroke is more extended, more natural, but not yet automatic - not to talk of the fact my back is now working more... You know, the word is adaptation, and the meaning is PAIN, added to the fact I can only swim no more than two km, actually... But if I hold on, swim will not be the usual pain like my other attempt. That's sure.

Bike: Never been so strong! Have good legs, and just miss the long workout. Feel confident, hope it last... Going strong in the Alps, good quantity added to quality intervals on flat - a good mix for the Klagenfurt course, I guess.

Run: Not so happy, here. I missed a lot of both speed and endurance workouts. Feel like I must do more, but fell also the risk to rush and go overtraining... Probably won't be a brilliant run leg, next July, but you know: Much better to be at the starting line a 20% undertrained than a 1% overtrained!

Motivation is in front of me everyday: nothing to distract me anymore, because my job schedule now is full like never before, and a workout not carefully planned it's a missed one. It's easy to stay focused, but when I'm weaker, mentally speaking, it's a mess, 'cause feel like crap and I'm not able to do ANYTHING. It's a fact this always happen mostly when running is due... Start to think it's a safety message from my body.
I guess so, because don't have the usual knee running problem, in these months... Maybe I'm doing the PERFECT thing, but it's too soon to know, now!

By the way, I'm back to have shatzu massages. I changed the masseur, now it's a friend very dedicated, and helpful. She's not an athlete like the previous, but she can understand the typical mind stress we tri-fanatic have, sometimes... I already talked to her about the Post Ironman Blues... It's a way to visualize my finish!

See you next month with the final considerations!

Klagenfurt or Bust - Chapter 5
by Mauro Mongarli

Well, something more than a month to race day, in this very moment, and I feel good.
Undertrained, with poor swimming, no century on the bike yet, having run no more than an hour an half as longest run, but feel good, confident and grateful.

Why? It happened that I went so near overliving, that now that those bad days are over I feel lucky and strong.
At the end of April, and until half of May I asked too much to myself.
A new job as content manager of a website, new opportunities as creative writing teacher lead me to a tremendous amount of mental stress. Time for training was always the same, but in a few time it took me a day more to recover even the not-so-tough workout.
For the first time ever, my wife exercised her power of veto (we're structured like the United Nations, sometimes ;) on my training, after my admission that for two consecutive Sundays my heart rate didn't raise over 115 bpm, and preferred to quit after just an hour.
There seemed to be no way out: even resting, situation didn't change, while I kept on not deciding some important things about my new jobs.

When it came out even my shatzu massages didn't help, it was clear that I was going towards a major bonk, and at great speed!

I decided to take a mental week off. Kept on working, kept on training, but my mind was not connected.
I tried to let flow problems, decisions to take and just observe them, without jumping on them until exhaustion.
My training seemed the same, during that week: grey. Then, on Friday, waking up in the morning (like the in blues ' song), solution was clear: I had to take a decision about a person, and simply took it. The project I was supposed to write for the new school was in my mind like it was on a slide, on my wall.

That Friday I worked happily, and proficiently. The Saturday after was dedicated to my wife, entirely, and on my Sunday ride, on my favourite uphill, my heart was happily over its anaerobic threshold, over 160 bpm.

I think I talked a lot about this in my column, here in Transition Times, and always for direct experience. But never, ever went so deep - in good and in bad.

I always thought that an Ironman is a day out, if you don't race to win. Better: a day off from the world, a day inside yourself. Now I know that inside/outside is a balance you must live everyday, it's worth the effort.

Next July 15th, in Austria, I'll be as happy as I am now. I'll just share this happiness with more people - and this is what it makes that day so important.

On a more "technical" note, I'm still amazed about how directly mental stress can affect your athletic performances. I didn't have the heart to take a decision -> my heart was like... blocked -> my heart was too tired to take me out on the bike for a century. Easy. Direct. Terrible!

Another lesson learnt: the importance of recovering even from weeks like these. I'm still not following my schedule, but going like I feel. And feel stronger everyday, feeling body and mind growing together.

I know that in a couple of day I'll be checking my log nervously, looking for missing miles, but ... why can't we call this "agonistic build-up" :)


Klagenfurt or Bust –Ironman Austria 2001
by Mauro Mongarli

“It’s not the size of the dog in a fight,
it’s the size of the fight in a dog”
(from the movie Girlfight)

Pre race

It’s my third assault to the Klagenfurt finish line and take a week of holiday for the race, and the town still overwhelm me. It’s beautiful, sweet with such friendly people.
This time Marcella and I found a hotel in the surroundings but near the lake, so it was more relaxing than ever. We met lots of new friends from everywhere... It’s my favourite way to approach a race: to know competitors and their stories make me easier to enjoy the hard parts while competing.
It’s sharing life, not just miles, don’t you think?

On Friday, I have my 15 minutes of glory. The race director asked me if I can help and tell the brief in Italian. Sure, I say. It was AGES since the last time I spoke in public, and felt rusty at the beginning, but everything went ok. Marcella was hidden behind a magazine, while our friends told her “Ask him something silly, let’s see his face!”
Believe me, to tell a brief before an Ironman put you in touch with the different level of tension of the athletes: yours is just one in a million.

On Saturday I carry bike and bags and feel so calm I almost get worried! Forecast say sun and hot, with little chance of shower in the afternoon. I feel ready, and it’s a nice sensation. I go for a good finish, in health, and if everything will go ok I know I can make 12:30.

The race

Swim, or: the way to Pukin' Point

Wake up at 4:50, go down for breakfast and everyone seem happy. Sky look clear, Marcella happy and smiling. Take my wetsuit, my MTB and head to the Worthersee, the lake where the swim is held. Check bags, bike, put vaseline in my bike shorts and I’m on the beach for my first swim start with 1500 people. I’m scared! Try to spot the best place to start (far behind and with no possibly violent swimmer around) and wait. BANG! The noise we all make cover the annoying helicopter sound! It takes me a while to swim properly, and since the very first stroke I realize that I’m going to take and give punches. A true washing machine, no matter your good intention! Near the first buoy I finally ease my stroke, just after a feet in the face - luckily not on my goggles or nose... Buoys are near, visible, I’m glad to notice that wearing prescripton goggles has been an excellent idea!

Second buoy, 800 meters under my belt and feeling strong. We all turn left for the third buoy and I’m too correctly in direction... This means lots of people swimming me over at the last moment, but no major bruises. After the third buoy we must head to the beach we started from, and run 100 meters on the beach. I’m still ok, PP (Puking Point) seem so far! When near the shore I repeat my scheduled mantra: it’s not finished, don’t take your wetsuit off...it’s not finished, don’t... For slow, bad swimmer like me I think that walk was a relief, but I heard lots of people not being able to regain their pace after it. Anyway, I go for the second part just a little tired, parallel to the shore until the LendKanal and then to the transition area. It’s a matter of maybe 300 meters and start to feel tired - I never swam longer than 2300 meters in training, so it’s normal, but pace is ok - power of intervals!

Puking Point? Not yet, but I feel like it’s preparing its show. Two years ago it came out right at this point, and this give me good energy. Buoy seem getting more far every stroke, I’m tired, but I reach tha canal in good conditions. Have a look behind me: gee! Tons of people! Increase my pace, but this accelerate the coming of PP, probably: in less than two minute I feel awful, stop, puke and feel better. It happens at K 3.4, more or less: Puking Point, you’re almost out of my swim leg!!!

Hit the beach one minute under my previous record, 1:23:25 and feel good, not dizzy or dead tired like last years. Under the tent it’s a true mess! Change myself, put some sun screen and go. Marcella is happy not to see me so white in the face like the years before and tell me she loves me. I think it will be hard to be more happy than this, that day, but feel like I want to try, and in worst cases use this happyness as spared energy. Gonna need it...

Bike, or: look mama, no aerobars!

It’s already too hot, and it’s just 8:30 in the morning. The first 20 K go smoothly, along the lake. I drink, wait to eat to permit my stomach to settle after puking, allow my heart rate to get at its ease. I’m almost alone on the course. Turnaround point with tons of people cheering. Such a gas! Reach the Rupertiberg with a group of athletes more or less going my way: we’re not drafting and look all confident. The hill start: my pace came out to be the fastest, and when I reach half the uphill I’ve passed everyone. Heart rate is down, but people is cheering Tour de France style: they let you pass at the last moment, screaming like crazy, pushing you with sweet caresses... stay calm Mauro, just smile to them, keep your pace... After one single second my butt rise from the saddle and the crowd seem to explode - and my head too. I’m almost in tears from the happyness of being there! Then, the downhill: fast and sure. The first lap of 60 has gone, go with the second, after passing the finish line area with another Tour de France atmosphere. Cutting it short, I’m near Velden, after about 80 k when faster athletes start to double me. Huge, irregular groups. During an easy uphill before the Rupertiberg the leading woman, Wendy Ingraham, pass me fast, and behind her there are no less than 7-8 man sucking her wheel. I let them pass, stop pedaling, when probably the last give a scream, probably hearing the motorbike of a marshall coming, who knows. Fact is that his ride became, er, unelegant, and gets too near me. We touch, I’m down. Aerobars destroyed, saddle turned, front wheel a little bented, and its tire out of the rim for 10 cm, iso solution on the pavement, left side of my body hurting. He scream “OK?” I answer “ok” intending I’m alive, nothing else. Body seem ok, start to fix my bike, and it takes me a lot. Other groups pass, lots ask if help is needed, but I’m in a sort of limbo. From there I sort out when I realize I can go on, maybe not pushing too fast on downhills ‘cause the front wheel dance left-right too much.

Now come the worst part, friends. After few spins I realize that bruises I have will hurt later, after the race (and that will be, thanks God), but my left collar bone area start to be stiff and painful, like when I broke my left collarbone doing a downhill in ‘93.
I’m freezed. What to do, now? Immediately came to my mind the fact that in ‘93 luckily I destroyed the front wheel, so wasn’t able to continue like I felt to do. And now? Bike can go on. I feel like going, but my shoulder? Tried to listen to my body, but doubt reigned until I reached the Rupertiberg for the second time. Then, someone decided (probably the Mauro taking big decision in life) to use the uphill as check. If it hurts more, stop at the station and ask for a doctor. No need to argue, health is more important than a race.
Pace was good, pain passed. I was happy, but feeling mentally drained!

Downhill was less bad than expected: braking wasn’t difficult, so I finished the second lap screaming to friends why I was angry. It helped a little. Beginning the third lap was cool, because there were few people left on the bike course. This ease probably lead me to a lack of focus: started to feel demotivated, and my form was going away. It was really hard for a while to stay in good position on the bike and push the pedals regularly, but it passed when I reached the Rupertiberg for the third time. I was tired, but was gaining moral again. The sun was giving its best, anyway, pushing my heart rate way too high. Just to prevent a too long out-of-threshold, I pushed the bike for maybe 200 meters, during the last part of the uphill. In this third lap people out there with me were really suffering, most of them because they pushed too much during the first two laps. Craig, Chris, Jenny, Naoko, Wolfram...
We shared more than a hammering sun, outthere!

Last downhill allowed a good recover, and did some decent speed in the last, flat part. Ended the bike in 7:31, half an hour more than my worse expectation but hey, even 8 hours were welcome, after this odyssey!

Run, or: exploring the Place

Forgot to say that I suffered also some killer pain at my feet, during the last lap of the bike leg - a recent addition to my bike “technical baggage”. This lead to a ridicolously slow transition to the run course. Simply, I wasn’t able to enter my running shoes. After I did it, it took me almost two k to have a proper running form. But then I went, and feeling ok. It lasted maybe half an hour: after this time my mind wanted absolutely to quit. Mental preparation, where are you? I’m here, mate, hold on - but this voice was so far from me... I stopped only four times to evacuate, establishing a new record (the other was TWELVE) but it was terribly hard not to stop even if my legs were able to continue. My mind was more tired than my legs, and with this feeling I completed the first half of the marathon. A real suffering. My choice not to have clocks was felt like good in a moment and terrible in another one... Legs were ok, thanks God, but I almost decided to retire soon after they gave me the second bracelet, so I shouldn’t have had any problem to have a massage, like a finisher, and this lead me almost to tears... Luckily, Marcella met me.

“How are you?”
“Awful. I’m retiring”
“No! I mean, do what you feel, think about it...” Too late. That “no” was coming from deep. From a land we two only have access. A place where we store our love, and share our lives, even our work made together for this race. So a simple “no” was enough to get back there, and notice in a different way my legs still going, my heart rate not so bad, my bruise still silent under the pain aspect.
Then, I closed this place and refocused quite easy on the race. Ok: whassup now? 21 k to go. But they’re easy, because I can catch lot of people (I was already doing it, but not giving any importance!), and the more I’m near the finish line the more I’ll be strong and positive. Forget that accident. Time to run.
And so it went.

Passing behind the finish line, I noticed the race time, the first time since I started. It said 12 hours and change. This could mean a finish of 14 hours and much more than few minutes after it, but didn’t care. I was still going.
Out of the finish line area, a kid started running by my side. We chatted a little. His name was Michael, he was from Klagenfurt, about 12 years old, did the Ironkid race the Friday before and wanted to become an Ironman, one day. He ran with me several K, until was getting dark. He was so sweet. After a while he spitted when I spitted, taking the same thing I was taking from the aid stations, looking tired when I walked, just like me. I asked him tons of time to go back, his mom was surely waiting for him... Then I convinced him saying “if you go back to the finish line and meet me right before my finish, you can finish with me, right?” He was enlightened. He thanked me a lot and got back (so fast that made me hurt...;)

That sentence was for me, you already got it. It sent me back in that place me and Marcella share. And it made me think even about my friend Sandro, who spent lots of time to train wife and mother in law to pass him his son Jacopo before the finish line. He did, and it must have been great. I didn’t meet Michael, then, maybe it’s destiny I will finish with the son or daughter I’ll have one day!

There’s no much more to say: I was able to run the second half marathon 6 minutes faster than the first (easy if you do a 5:31 marathon, anyway;) and maybe one k before the finish line I met Marcella again.

“Feeling good?”
“Great, darling, go to see me finish!”
She started to run with me, and it was so sweet to see her from the course going through the Ironman City and reach that hell of loud music, flames and smoke that was waiting for me, for my finish.
It was dark, and 300 meters from the finish line there were a part with no lights, behind the video wall. I didn’t notice a little curve and met the net supposed to give the direction to runners. I fell down heavily, beating the left side again. This time there were blood over my bruises. The soldiers there helped me to get on the course again, and I don’t remember to have touched the ground from there to the finish line. I flyed to the last curve, where no less than 400 people were screaming like crazy my name and their joy to see another finisher.

I jumped on the finish line and remembered the world I can do an Ironman, but I can be more than this, because to an Ironman race I don’t have anything to ask.
I have just joy to share and life to celebrate.

Hope this story will be able to share my joy with you all. I received a lot from this race, and I’m looking forward to put it back in circle again, after a personal use that will make it even bigger - that’s natural. The first sporty occasion will be the Venice Marathon, next October, where I’ll be an official pacemaker.

So, if you decide to break four hours with me, then, be sure - I won’t fall ;)

hugs!

IronMauro

Creative Triathlon
by Mauro Mongarli


Let's face it.
Most of us have the best intentions to involve friends and relatives in triathlon the active way, but a huge part of us only transmit a genuine but too personal to share enthusiasm, not the mechanism that made able our spirit to see "the light"…

It's a matter of all sport, I guess, but we triathletes have a major advantage: our sport allow us to be totally creative, playing/destroying/rebuilding its basis as we like it - not every sport allow this.

Infact, lots of sports consider the fun side just for kids, to give a "play the game" approach that's due, at certain ages. But for grown-ups?

Triathlon has a built-in challenge that remain untouched even if you cut all the agonism from an event. That's something big, even if you try to put together this:

- Take a beach, with a parking lot near. Tell your no-tri friends that would like to tri that they will decide the distance: they just have to stay 5 minutes in the water, 20 minutes on their bike, 10 minutes on their own feet. They have to manage to be back at the parking lot when their time is finished. According to my experience, they agree to do it if you assure you'll be all the time at the cars, minding the bikes…

Surely someone will cheat, but if just one do this tri as you said, they will be envy. Time for a second try, though!

This is the basic thing I tried, with decent success. I simply noticed that distances can be more scary than time, so I did a little revolution… and had this kind of chat, after the event:

- But true triathlons, aren't like this, are they? - - Man, this is triathlon, what do you mean? - - Sorry? -
- Did you swim, ride and run? -
- Yes-
- That is triathlon. Did you have fun?-
- Yes!!!-
- Well, you're a triathlete-

few seconds of silence follow. You can read on his face all the questions and doubts that suddenly find an answer, questions like: - but this is short!-
- oh come on, we were just playing!-
- so triathlon is this?-
- and the marshals?
- and the results?- then he say:

-Oh -

the typical one of when you discover you can do a thing you never imagined to be able.

Since then, to him your habits as a triathlete won't look something odd no more, even if that will rest his only multisport experience. You know, when you're a triathlete, you are forever.



If you like the idea, and would like to organize something like this just BE CREATIVE, think about the friends you'd like to involve, and please them. Tailor a race on their likes.

You think they would like to win something? Plenty of chances:

- put some numbered cards along the course you chose: the highest number, the longest the road made in a given time;

Someone have problems with water, or don't like to run? No water available, even pools? Hard to ride in your area? Bad weather? WINTER? Who cares.

Consider:

° time trial stairs,
° rollerskating,
° cross country skiing
° power walking
° …bench press (even body builder could have need for tris :)

Use your fantasy. Drafting is a little problem, if you really want enjoy triathlon.

Share your ideas with Mauro about Creative Triathlon: the best ones will be hosted here!

by Mauro Mongarli

Windtrainers are doping.
A good, legal, terrific way to enhance your mental performance once you're racing. And it makes good cycling legs, too!

I'm not going to talk about Johnny G., gyms, basements, HRM, futuristic computers or similar stuff. I'm going to talk about windtrainers starting from their most known and sure peculiarity: they're boring. For this, they're the perfect homeopathic antidote for what we usually accept in other kind of workout: we're usually "tired" after two hours of running, but we're surely "bored" after 30 minutes on our windtrainer, even if we know that they correspond to a good hour riding, with no stops for traffic lights, with a continuos spin not affected by anything.

So, what's the problem?
Easy! We need fresh air, we need breeze on our skin, we need to know the world and smile at it, hey, triathlon is living coolness deeply! Assuming this for true, if we consider how many of us live in busy, polluted, stressing towns let's admit it: there's something else to consider - and we'll talk about our need for a stage to act on another time!

You know I live in Italy, in an area where it's easy to find pro roadies and try to stay at their wheel while they're training. Winter weather is good most of the season, so very few local triathletes use windtrainers.

But when Spring comes, there's always someone spinning faster, more alive on pedals...

- Hey, what did you take?
- Windtrainer twice a week!
- Oh, you didn't sweat enough last Summer, did you? - Ha! You know what, I feel stronger if I ride my windtrainer on regular basis. I feel more centered. - ?!?!?
- I mean it's easier to concentrate. I get bored like crazy, but I know it can help me, so I don't think about it, right? After two single minutes I'd like to kick the whole thing, I swear a lot as I start to sweat like a horse and realize I didn't turn on the fan. At this point I'm terribly angry, but I've done my 35 minutes workout, and all of a sudden I feel like: hey, I can do this well. It's not that bad. I can save time. I can live more. I can spare some pollution to my lungs. I'm near smiling, trying to focus when to do my next windtraining session when I think "IT'S BORING!" and go drink something. Can you see it? Windtraining really helps to use your mind, that particular ability that makes you go on when racing and your body wants just an exotic beach to stay there a year or two...

-Hmmm. And it makes also good riding legs? (Triathletes. Strange people. Ask roadies.)

All the things to tri next year

by Mauro Mongarli


A new year always come with hopes and, at least for me, a huge charge of good wills that... find their end when my wife cook her famous Xmas menù!

Anyway. My December's article here have always been with tri-horoscope, or previsions, but just to enforce my good wills - and hopefully yours, this time you'll find the


SIX THINGS YOU SHOULD TRI TO DO IN THE NEXT TRI YEAR

Here we go!

– Race in your white underwear - Natasha Badmann did it in Kona '01 and performed quite well... A great advantage is that if you put some question marks on a race suit conceived like this all the sponsors will say: "hey! Here's some free space for me!" and cover you with their money;

– try to get the best from every moment. Keep with you that thing you bought to strength your thights under your desk at work, when going to the movies or when driving: you never know when you meet someone that will tell you: "Gee, I need one of this!" and allow you to make your daily good action;

– this year, interval training. No exceptions. Go often to theathers and gently stretch between the acts of the play;

– you're lucky to be healthy and balanced enough to race triathlons, but keep your feet on the ground. Three times a year have a look at the pics of your races you'll never show a soul because you look:

° silly
° dead
° Homer Simpson
° praying Greek gods
° sleepy
° James Cagney with evacuation problem
° definitely a camel

and remember all this is supposed to be fun;

– volounteer at the race you convinced your boss to tri. Carry a jemmy with you and show him during his bike leg: wave it near his wheels when he pass. He will be thankful for your active sustain in letting him finish and will raise your salary;

– never forget, specially this year, that triathlon is sharing, meeting, consciousness, openess. Use these, well, let's call them filters, in all the single actions of your day, use them to express yourself and believe in their strength: you will build, with billions others, a world where a day like September 11th, 2001, will never be forgotten but will be definitely overcome.

Peace,

Mauro

When it comes to doping, is it late?

by Mauro Mongarli


As I'm writing this, January 7th, the new is still hot. You'll read it later, but it talks about something that, unluckily, don't seem to be "old": doping.

It's about the "Italian pro triathlete convicted of smuggling steroids into Australia". Facts in brief: before xmas this guy was found by Australians customs with substances like testosterone and human growth hormone. A magistrate court's in Perth found him guilty and fined him 5,500 Australian dollars.

This guy didn't declare the stuff, but when asked if he was carrying any medicine he simply showed his "things".

I don't know Ivan personally, but I know he's not a pro triathlete. He's (was? his team kicked him out, and Italian governing body is deciding something drastic, I heard) an age group, placed 57th at Ironman Austria 2001 more or less 9 hour and a half.

He has no job, I heard, but has no money problem at all. He's known in his area like a "don't care" athlete, not loved by other triathletes, and suspected for doping just for the way he was in transition areas.

Rumors are that he called his team in Italy from Australia, after the judgement, to ask if there were problems for racing in Italy, now.

Well. Lots of people can fit in Ivan's profile, but not everyone take illegal enhancement drugs, of course. But similar behaviour, just them, aren't doping the whole tri-community?

Sponsors stay away from tris just because it's not that rich, for lack of TV coverage, or because it was born that old, importing old vices and not being able to pull'em out with its healthy (in all senses) parts.

And I'm not talking about a huge movement of athletes. In Italy, we hardly reach 7000 triathletes, and to tell the Ironman community don't count more than 400, maybe 500...

I would leave personal considerations to you all. Think about it, better if in a frame including our whole way of life. In my personal experience the number of persons considering triathlon just a way to show off something you would like to have, but don't have the will/guts to earn (talking about self consciousness, balance, self esteeem - certainly not medals) is growing.

Doping come later, and take no prisoner.

Prova: scarpe salomon XA Series

Matthias e il cucchiaio

Nuovo archivio: il TT!

Ea maratona de Venessia!

Lo sport nel fango

Un pallone tra le bombe

Guerra? Quale guerra?

Ok, parliamo di calcio

Ironman on Ice

Lo sport parlato

Il fiato grosso e la sua coltivazione

Pettorale quattordici

IronMauro '01

IronMauro '02

Archivio TT

Link

Ironman Austria

Klagenfurt Triathlon

testimongarli.com