Dear Lance,

When the news broke that you officially retired, I have to admit, I was a little surprised. I got word a little before it was official but for some reason it didn't really sink in until I read it on the web. Although I know that your retirement doesn't mean that we will no longer work together or that I will not see you again; I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me, for Trek, for cycling and for the world. Above all else, I want to thank you for the inspiration.  Inspiring hundreds of thousands of people to dig deep, overcome adversity and LiveStrong ain't easy...

After the Tour in 2009, a journalist asked me if I was disappointed in you.  I almost lost my temper, I had to remind him that in your 8 months back on the bike you were personally responsible, among countless other things, for raising hundreds of millions of dollars to fight cancer, inspiring millions of people, melding the world of art and cycling, finding a sponsor to support a new ProTour team in hard economic times and oh yeah, standing on the podium in Paris.  It was beyond comprehension to me that anyone could be disappointed in being a part of that.

Your inspiration on and off the bike has helped so many people.  I want to thank you personally for inspiring me.  Not just for the inspiration to get on my bike when I don't quite feel like it, or the inspiration to support my friends and family who are fighting cancer, or for the inspiration to do what it takes to get the job done or the inspiration to overcome obstacles.  You have inspired me to never lay down or step aside when things are not going the way I want them to, to stand up for what I believe in, to fight the good fight.  But more important than all of that, I want to thank you for inspiring me to do all of those things while taking care of my family and focusing on what is most important in life.

Thank you for the friendship, the advice, the run and the ride but most of all, thank you for the inspiration.  I wish you all the best in the future.

Ben

 

 

 

Trek/K-Swiss Training Camp Day 2 & 3

 

Day 2:
The second day of camp started with a 4 hour spin around the southwest corner of the Big Island through picture-perfect conditions. The group, made up of the team, select members of the triathlon media, and a few overzealous sponsors knocked out a little over 90 miles. Team members than decided that a 90 mile ride is the perfect thing to follow up with a run while everybody else decided it was the perfect time to sit in the hot tub and eat cookies. That’s the difference between human beings and professional triathletes.

After burning three days’ worth of food it was time to corral everybody for a technical presentation that included a reveal to the team of some new products we’ve been working on for them. And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

 
You totally didn't even see this photo.

The team was treated to a traditional Hawaiian luau complete with an impromptu performance by teammate, Matt Lieto. In a rare display of timing, grace, and rhythm, Matt’s performance will not soon be forgotten by anybody in attendance at the Mauna Kea resort that night.  Almost as cool as Matt’s hula was the guy who breathed fire, the guy who juggled fire, and the guy who ate fire. Armature hula is tough to top.

 

Day 3:
Triathletes are competitive people. Gotta be. Part of the business. So we encourage that every year in a mass relay to prove their superiority. No eggs on spoons. No wheelbarrow races. Swim, run, swim, run. We went down to the beach where we had planned as our relay location but were turned away as they were still removing a bomb that they had found on or near the beach. Bombs, volcanoes, sharks, popcorn shrimp. You’re pretty much surrounded by epic death in Hawaii. That’s why it’s so beautiful.

 

After the bomb was defused (not part of the relay), we were on the move. I forget who won but the new triathlon magazine 3/GO-anchored team finished second. Ben, the editor, reminded me at dinner to say that.  And clearly I did not forget.

 

The afternoon was opened up to the media to gain access and insight to the team members and for the sponsors to film all of the stuff that we make into really cool videos. More on that soon.

 

Later that night, Trek/K•Swiss, announced the launch of our new athlete development program. The athlete chosen to kick off this program is Kaden Lieto, son of triathlon superstar Chris Lieto. The first thing every elite athlete needs is the right equipment, but since our future podium threat is seven years old, some slight modifications were necessary.

 
Next.

A Few of the last questions we promised to answer:
@John: I would be curious as to the calorie intake of top level triathlete during training...

Lesley Patterson: It depends on what you’re doing for a workout and how big you are. The bigger you are, the more food you’re going to need to keep the metabolism up and recovery consistent. Food should never be a reward for working out but don’t forget not to cheat yourself. When I’m in heavy training I’m taking in probably 3500 to 4000 calories daily. [Lesley is roughly 5’1” and around 105 pounds]

@Daren: During training, do you switch up road bike vs. TT bike riding? If so, what's the mix?

Joe Gambles: Yes, you have to. I ride the Madone a lot during training. The Speed Concept gets a lot of time but it’s not always necessary to train for a triathlon on a tri bike. And like Lesley said, keep training interesting and you'll keep it up.

 

Trek/K•Swiss Training Camp Day 1

This week, surrounded by retirees and honeymooners, we have quarantined some of the world’s best athletes in order to focus solely on that which is pure and athletic. We chose Kona, HI as the site of our 2011 Trek/K•Swiss training camp as it is the home of the Holy Grail of triathlon; the Ironman World Championships. We thought it would be great to corral everybody for a week of workouts and team building but to be honest; I’m not sure how anybody gets any work done around here. It’s far too nice for that sort of nonsense.

 

We started Monday with breakfast and then an hour run around the Mauna Lani resort followed by what can only be called “second breakfast”. Seriously, these people eat like teenage hobbits. There is no limit to their insatiable appetite. Pictured: Chris Lieto's second breakfast.

 

Second breakfast was followed by lunch and then a recap of the 2010 program. 23 wins last year alone! We’ve added XTERRA rockstar, Lesley Patterson to the 2011 squad and everybody’s fired up to see what she’s going to do this year.  Pictured L to R: Chris Lieto, Lesley Patterson, Heather Jackson, Julie Dibens, Fraser Cartmell, Paul Matthews, Joe Gambles, Matt Lieto.

 
 
After the presentations it was back to business and despite rumors of a shark siting, the team hit the lagoon for (as one elderly spectator put it) a “nice splash-around.” Remember the scene in Cadddyshack where all the caddies strip their clothes off and run roughshod over the nice country club pool? It was kind of like that only our caddies have mind blowing VO2 maxes.

 
We asked our Facebook fans what they would like to ask our athletes and found some time to dig up some answers. We’ll keep trying to catch the team members and get everybody’s questions answered as the week goes on. Keep them coming!

 @Jacob: Chris; when preparing for kona how many hours a week are you on your bike? Also have you been working on your run more this year like you were last year?
Chris Lieto: My biggest week before Kona I’m on the bike about 5 days a week and probably average between 15-17 hours of riding time. Truthfully, the run is the hardest part for me so I’m always working on it.

@James: Where do their minds wonder to as they pedal through long miles?
Chris Lieto: I think about new ideas, new workouts, my family. Everything, really. I’m a thinker.

@David: How do they avoid burnout, mental and physical with such a hectic schedule? How do they unwind?
Lesley Patterson: The best way to avoid burnout is to keep training interesting. Never become obsessed with other people’s expectations. My way to unwind is movies. I love action, war, period pieces. Braveheart, obviously [Lesley is Scottish].

@Cody: What's their favorite "fuel foods" before a long hard training session?
Chris Lieto: Pizza. There’s never a bad time for pizza.
Lesley Patterson: The night before, I go with asparagus and shrimp and tons of garlic. Nobody will want to ride next to you. When I’m riding though. I LOVE Gu Chomps. Blueberry/pomegranate.

@Spencer: What's your favorite brand for running shoes?
Chris Lieto: K-Swiss. They have an amazing collection for any kind of running you’re interested in.

@Tobi: Can I get this picture in high resoltion?
Trek: Yes. Send us the request to facebook@trekbikes.com

 
Did you know Koi fish go crazy when you stick your finger in their pond?

Choose your coach wisely

Runner’s World editor Christine Fennessy describes her experience of finding the right coach, and explains how much it has helped her improve her racing technique and times. Perhaps it will inspire you to take your fitness and skill to the next level? - Leslie Prevish, Trek Women

Choose wisely

A good coach will help you reach your goal faster and safer—whether you want to complete a century, land on the podium, or simply ride with more confidence. The trick is finding the right match.

By Christine Fennessy

    I pedaled slowly back to where Kim stood, stopwatch in hand. My heart was banging furiously and my quads felt stuffed with cement. I rolled up to the boards lining the homestretch of the velodrome’s infield and waited for the verdict.
    “Were you nervous?” Kim asked with that half smile I can never quite decipher (She’s impressed? She thinks I’m nuts?).
    “Nervous? No…why?”
    “You just rode your fastest 2K ever,” she said. “By a lot.”
    All the pain went away.

The eternal wonder
    It took me a year to make up my mind about hiring a coach. There were plenty of reasons not to get one: Cash is scarce. I’m a self-motivator. I ride with experienced cyclists who spout free advice. I’m not a genetic freak and I don’t have a glorious future.
    In fact, there was only one reason to get a coach—I hate regret. I like following through on the major wonders in my life, and I did wonder: Having recently had some good results in small, beginner-level, local races on the road and track, could I really get better—become a stronger, smarter, more confident rider—if I paid someone to care about me for a while?
    Really, who hasn’t wondered what they were capable of if they indulged in themselves a little?