June 22, 2005

"The more decisions you are forced to make alone, the more you are
aware of your freedom to choose." Thornton Wilder


Saturday, June 25, 2005
Anthony Nolan Memorial Road Race 11 a.m.
Many, LA at Hodges Gardens
http://www.bicycleracing.com/lambra/events/2004%20district%20rr21.doc

Sunday, June 26
Yam City Triathlon, 7:30 a.m.
Opelousas
150 yard pool swim/14 mile bike/2 mile run

Sunrise Triathlon
Shreveport
Contact 318.798.0241
www.sportspectrumusa.com

It was one of those wonderful and full weekends of multisporting
across Louisiana. Adventure racing on Saturday, bike racing Saturday
and Sunday, and triathloning at the T-Gator series in Lake Charles on
Sunday. Wow, if you want to race, Louisiana ain't a bad place to be.
Of course, I'm not even mentioning all the 5km runs going on in
communities all over the state.

For me it was my weekend to do my second adventure race. T-Gator
Triathlon race director Houston Jones twisted my arm way back in
January about coming over to Lake Charles to race in Dave Poleto's
event. I confess, I didn't have a great attitude from the get go, and
Jones was nothing less than fired up like a youngster on Christmas
eve. Maybe I'm getting old? I don't know why I fought the attitude
thing since the last one I did three or so years ago in Ville Platte
was nothing less than a blast, despite being pitifully slow in the
race itself. I've just reached a point that when it takes more than
an hour to drive to a race, I'm not excited about the trek. What a
grandpa I'm becoming!

Along with Jones and me was CajunMan Tri race director Rusty Bex. Now
I am acquainted with these guys, but I don't really know them that
well. I mean chatting cordially after a race is one thing, but
hanging together for three to four hours in a competitive environment
with fairly competitive guys is another matter entirely. But we got
along fine with these two great guys carrying me along as I inched my
way over sharp bike path turns, crazy tree roots, downed trees in
very thick, jungle-like conditions and paddling through deep, still
waters with no current whatsoever. We missed two check points that
meant doubling back to make sure our cards were punched to attest
that the team had in fact traveled the right trail. Will I do another
one? Probably so, especially considering that the next one is in
Mandeville, about an hour's drive from Baton Rouge.

I heard that the fields for the Tour de Louisiane were pretty good,
if not great. In fact, there was talk of having two category five
fields since the turnouts were so strong among entry-level riders.
While there were good turnouts from Louisiana riders, there seemed to
be an impressive number of folks from out of state racing the event
as well.

Results of the Tour de Louisiane bike race held last weekend in the
Florida Parishes are posted at:
http://www.gnofn.org/~nobc/2005/tdl05_res.htm

As I write this note, I understand that Brian Apsey of Baton Rouge is
in an ICU at an Oklahoma City hospital fighting for his life. He has
been fighting heart problems for a couple of years now, but his
condition has worsened to the point of going to a group of heart
specialists in Oklahoma to address his health issues. Apsey was
integral in bringing competitive bike racing to Louisiana. This 70
something year old Louisiana resident brought his native British
cycling charisma to the girls and boys on the bayou and did so with
the zeal of an televangelist. He brought races to Louisiana when few
knew what bike racing was. He protected cyclists' rights to the roads
when most thought cycling was limited to neighborhoods and school
yards. I am praying for Apsey and encourage those other praying folks
among us to do the same. It's just ain't the same not having that
firey British-accented guy out riding or motor pacing folks riding.

By the way the T-Gator Triathlon results from Sunday are posted at:
http://www.lakecharlestriathletes.com/.

<<Unique Ironman Training Stories Sought>>
From Ironman North America <noreply@...>
Got a unique or bizarre training regiment that you care to share with
us?

Do you have a unique, bizarre or interesting training regiment that
you are
using to train for your Ironman triathlon?
An Ironman sponsor is looking for five or six unique or bizarre
training regiments to use for marketing purposes.
If you have a unique or bizarre story or regimen, or you have a
friend who has one, please send us an e-mail at stories@...

We are looking for something out of the ordinary that shows how
someone adapts their training to unique life situations or life
demands. Please try and keep your responses succinct and to about
three paragraphs in length.

Here are a few examples:
1. The soccer Mom who brings her treadmill to the soccer game to get
her run training in.
2. Someone stationed on a ship who adapts his or her training regimen
to the limited space involved. I.e. ride a wind trainer on the boat,
run around the deck, etc.

The program will ultimately benefit the sport as well as benefit the
athletes involved.

<<Fitness Calendar for 2006 Available>>
From Susan Mc
In my travels with New Orleans multisport race director Bill Burke, I
met on many occassions an amazing athlete named Christine Knight.
She's a ranked duathlete, who is working her way to going pro. She is
probably one of the most down-to-earth and friendly athletes I met on
the road.

She has a 2006 calendar for sale. If you're looking for inspiration
or just curious about what could be considered the perfect athletic
female form, check it out: www.ulbfit.com

For Sale
From Prather Warren
I've got a set of Velomax Orion II
wheels. The wheels came on a bike I recently purchased and have a few
miles but are in like new condition. They come with skewers, tubes
and Vittoria Diamonte Pro 700x23 Kevlar Carbon 3D Compound tires,
complete with air. Asking $595.

Also, I have an Ultegra 6600 crankset and bottom bracket from
that same bike. The crank arms are 170mm and the chainrings are 53-
39. Like new condition. Asking $149.95. Call 225.578.3823.

++++++++++

That's it from here. Bless God America.

Kenny Dunaway
225.296.7490
2325 Weymouth Drive Suite D
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
USA
Isaiah 40:31, John 3:16