Nationals is this year and next year held in Hagg Lake in Oregon.

The course is great for those who like good challenging rollers and
smaller climbs on both the run and the bike. The are is great for a
triahtlon.

Nationals also allows you to qualify for and then pay your way onto
the "national team" for Worlds 2007.

The race and lodging close by will sell out in two minutes flat.

Gabrielle is strongly leaning on going.

Go to:
http://www.usatriathlon.org/UsatEvents/2007NationalChampionships/2007AgeGroupNat\
ionals.aspx

Hi Everyone,

Good luck to all of you doing the Nike Marathon this weekend! Hope you
do well and have a great time.
  To those of you not going, (and not planning on the Butte Meadows
ride) a few of us are planning a ride on Sun. to see the Fall colors
around the Indian Valley area near Greenville and Taylorsville.  The
ride has many options for milage, and also for food stops along the
way.  Ride length can vary from 35 to over 80 miles.  We're thinking
about breakfast in Greenville, a snack/water rest in Taylorsville, and
lunch at the quaint Genesse Store in Genesse Valley.  For those
wanting a hill  climb, there's the possibility of riding up to
Antelope Lake.  If we get a large enough group, the Genesse store is
willing to take orders ahead of time to acommodate us.  They make
great sandwiches!  Let me know if you're interested so we can give the
store a heads-up that we're coming.
  The plan is to meet at Raley's parking lot at 7:30 to carpool from
there.  It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Greenville via HWY 70.
Hope some of you can make it!
Doni

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006, 2:00pm. Bring a "counter/timer" and swim 3000 or
6000 yards for time/fun. Let me know if you are planning on joining so
we can plan.

How Getting Older Affects Performance

We have been interested in how getting older affects race performance.
  Personal experience tells us we're getting slower as we get older,
even though we train better, we eat better, we maintain our weight,
and we know more about racing and our bodies.  Is it just us, or does
it happen to others as well?  How much should we expect our
performance to decline as we "age up?"  How do our "age-adjusted"
results this year compare with those of ten, fifteen, twenty years ago?

To answer these questions, we've been doing a bit of research.  We dug
out the results of the ITU World Championships and the USATriathlon
National Championships (international distance) we had available and
looked at how winning times in each of the five-year age categories
changed as age increases.  Here are a chart that presents what we
found and a table that shows raw numbers:
Data on Worlds and Nationals

Data from the USA Nationals and the World Championships for selected
years since 1994, updated for the 2000 ITU World Championships in
Perth, Western Australia:

Age Group  00Worlds  99 Worlds  99 Natl  98 Worlds  98 Natl  97
Worlds  97 Natl  96 Natl  94 Worlds  94 Natl  Av Time  Ave Wgt
F20-24  1.003  1.000  1.048  1.000  1.000  1.029  1.013  1.051
1.000  1.047  2:13:29  1.019
F25-29  1.000  1.004  1.036  1.022  1.035  1.000  1.007  1.014
1.016  1.019  2:13:01  1.015
F30-34  1.016  1.014  1.036  1.007  1.003  1.038  1.000  1.000
1.017  1.000  2:12:41  1.013
F35-39  1.040  1.021  1.000  1.048  1.037  1.036  1.064  1.054
1.035  1.042  2:15:55  1.038
F40-44  1.063  1.062  1.079  1.049  1.061  1.055  1.054  1.094
1.074  1.067  2:19:37  1.066
F45-49  1.107  1.099  1.095  1.098  1.066  1.127  1.102  1.120
1.088  1.126  2:24:24  1.103
F50-54  1.113  1.142  1.226  1.149  1.123  1.228  1.215  1.186
1.171  1.179  2:33:38  1.173
F55-59  1.271  1.243  1.285  1.213  1.231  1.278  1.238  1.190
1.215  1.208  2:41:59  1.237
F60-64  1.279  1.230  1.256  1.257  1.267  1.262  1.318  1.410
1.466  1.321  2:51:09  1.307
F65-69  1.433  1.364  1.377  1.575  1.469  1.432  1.493  1.374
1.406  1.473  3:08:43  1.440
F70-74  1.524  1.611  1.728  1.611  1.847  1.568  1.647
3:35:48  1.648

Last Updated on 5/20/2000 by Sue Falsey


So what does all this mean?

The chart tells us that slowing down starts in the 30's, increases at
an accelerating rate in the 40's and 50's, and then accelerates even
faster in the 60's and 70's.  Now the chart is based on the fastest
woman in each age group and doesn't reflect the average or the average
of the top ten placing in the age group.  The fastest woman is
undoubtedly a highly trained and gifted athlete, not a "middle of the
packer."  But still, it shows what's humanly possible.  And since we'd
all like to be the winner of our age group, it shows what we'd need to
achieve.

Sue is a PhD whose program included a heavy dose of statistics, while
I trundle along with one undergraduate course in statistics and a love
of numbers.  So let me try to explain what some of those lines on the
chart mean.

     * The faint colored lines connect the winning times of the age
groups for the 10 races we plotted.
     * The heavy red line is the average for all 10 races.
     * The black heavy line plots the simple regression (or average) as
a straight line. It's not terribly useful because the data really
indicate performance changes follow a curve, not a straight line.  If
we could show the other side of the chart -- times for the 0-4, 5-9,
10-14, and 15-19 age categories (to balance things out), we'd have
faster times as one moved up in age category, and the regression line
would probably be almost straight across, like the water line in a
bathtub.
     * The blue line plots the average for all 10 races as a complex
polynomial equation, a kind of "best fit" curve conforming to the race
data.  This is probably the best graphic of what happens to
performance as we "age up" (we triathletes/duathletes don't get older;
we just enter new age classes).

The table following the chart presents the race results, with the best
time as 1.000 (100%) and slower times as more than 1.000 or 100%.  In
other words, if your time was 2 hours 30 minutes (or 150 minutes for
purposes of calculation) and the winning time was 2 hours (or 120)
minutes, your score on this table would be 1.250.  That means your
time was 25% slower than the winning time.

You'll notice that the winning time jumped around among the age
classes between 20-24 and 35-39, with the 20-24-year-old the overall
winner in 4 cases, the 30-34-year-old the winner in 3 cases, and the
25-29-year-old and 35-39-year-old the winners in one case each.  Going
over to the right, you'll see that the 30-34 age group had the fastest
average time, followed closely by the 25-29 and 20-24 age groups.  The
"Average Weight" column expresses these time differences as scores (or
percentages).

So from this we can present how much slower, as a percent, the winner
might be as one moves to older age classes:

     * 35-39            winner of the age group is 3.8% slower than the
overall winner
     * 40-44            6.6% slower
     * 45-49            10.3% slower
     * 50-54            17.3% slower
     * 55-59            23.7% slower
     * 60-64            30.7% slower
     * 65-69            44% slower
     * 70-74            64.8% slower

There are a bunch of caveats that need to be mentioned before you go
looking at your old times and calculating what's happened to your
performance over the years:

     * Many if not most triathletes/duathletes improve during the first
few years of participation in the sport.  I've read that it takes 7
years of training to reach one's peak as a runner and longer,
particularly for those not in swim racing as kids, to do the same in
swimming.  In short, your performance due to mastery of the discipline
may more than offset any decline due to aging during the same period.
  I ran faster per mile at the 5 kilometer distance at age 50 than I
did at age 45 -- and than I did at age 18 as a college freshman on the
crosscountry team.  But the table above does show you what "drag" due
to aging you need to overcome to get faster absolute times through
achieving mastery in the disciplines or training better or...
     * Times in the older age categories are getting better as more
people stay in the sport longer, maximizing their mastery of the
disciplines, experience, and training.  Back in the 1980's, the oldest
contested age group for women was 50-54; now that age group is a
competitive hotbed overflowing with talent.  Of course, times are
improving also in the overall women's winner category, but more slowly
than the improvement in the older age categories.
     * This table sets its baseline on the fastest overall age group
woman.  The elites do go faster yet, and the bulk of them are in the
20-24, 25-29, and 30-34 age groups.  But the elites don't compete in
the national age group championships and have different courses (and
rules, like drafting, that effect times) in the world championships,
so we can't really construct a comparative table with an elite woman
as the overall winner with the 1.000 score.
     * Triathlons don't really have standardized, equalized distances
and conditions the way some other sports, such as track and field,
have.  Your performance on any given day is affected by the hills, the
wind, the weather, how you cut the tangents, and a host of other
factors, assuming the course is accurately measured to the mouse's
eyelash (and how many swim courses do you think are measured
accurately down to the last meter?).  Everyone did the same course on
a given day, right?  So we compare performance based on a percentage
time slower than the overall winner that day -- as does the
USATriathlon ranking system.  But other factors enter in when
comparing across races.

So why should we care about all this?

Well, probably no reason at all if you don't want to.  But it has some
applications, if you take it with a grain of salt and realize it's not
perfect:

     * Probably one use is to give yourself some expectation as to the
range of "slowing down" you can expect as you age up.  "As one gets
over the hill, one accelerates as one goes down the other side."
     * You can extrapolate what you might have done as a 22-year-old,
or how you might do against a son or daughter if you were the same
age.  "Why, my time would have been 40% better if I were 35 rather
than 66..."
     * If we were trying to judge between outstanding performances on
the part of a 60-year-old and a 75-year-old for the annual Grand
Master award, we could do some comparisons on their performances vs.
what one might expect at their respective ages.
     * We could have an age-graded race to see who wins.  The Dipsea in
California does this by modifying the start time for each competitor
based on his/her age/sex.  US Masters Track and Field Championship is
going to have an age-graded 100 meter dash this year, where the
starting lines for each competitor are shortened according to an age
adjustment factor.  (On the other hand, I'd hate to be in a triathlon
where all 500 competitors hit the finish line at the same time!)
     * We could calculate and pick out outstanding age-graded
performances.  If you read National Masters News, you'll find they do
this quite frequently in track and field and road races.  They even
make their All-American awards based on age-graded performances.

What would be interesting and perhaps helpful to a lot of other
athletes, would be some case histories of outstanding athletes -- men
and women -- and how their performance changed as they "aged up" to
new age groups.  But even such performance case histories would have
been influenced by the effects of continuous and improving training,
better mastery of  the disciplines, and improvement in the performance
of the overall winner "rabbits" who set the par (1.000) scores.  We
live in an imperfect world!

For another take on age grading, please visit Lew Kidder's work on
CoolTri.  Lew gives some applications to recent triathlons and
duathlons.  We agree on most things, but do have a "nerdy" difference
of opinion over whether the fall-off in performance accelerates as an
athlete passes 40, 50, 60, 70...

What about the men?

Yeah, what about the men?  If you want to see a comparable chart and
table for men, please click here -- men's age-graded results.

Reactions, comments, and suggestions are most welcome!  E-mail us!

Back to top of page               Back to Age Group Commission page
      Date Updated: 05/15/06

For all the light-weights out there.

Sunday, Sep. 10th. Chico Corsa Cycling Club (the red team) is hosting
a free uphill time trial. The 5-mile route goes from Nicalog Rd. (two
miles past Kiefer Rd.) to the Cohasset store. Registration starts at
8:30. The first rider starts suffering at 9:00. Plenty of parking.

www.chicocorsa.com.

4 miles and 1,100 feet down Cohasset Road.

Start where the "new pavement" narrows and finish at Rock Creek Rd.
(just before Janice's Odyssey Winery.)

10:00am start. Starting order according to weight. Tandems first, then
recumbents, etc., and last individual riders (lightest person start
last.) Ed will bring a scale :)

Be there and let us have some fun -- and make the "lightweight" suffer.

You might recall our dream of doing a bit of training in Death Valley
during the early, cold and wet Chico spring.

Who are still interested?  It is time to start planning if a group is
interested in going.

Grade school in Chico is out in early Feb. (where it is in the low 70s
in Death Valley) so the window we are looking at is Sat 2/10 to Mon 2/19.

You can camp, RV, Motel, sleep in your car, etc.  There is a store
there.We can plan it any way that fits--people can bring fans and
family--put it is time to start planning.  It will be biking and running.

Get back to me if you want to go or if you are interested.  Anyone is
welcome to join us.  We will then go forward based on what I get back
if there is interest.

A handful have already expressed interest, so things are leaning
towards going.

Reene and Tom Sr. both have been there training so hit them up for
some info.

Barb's Race-
Is everybody "lodged and transported" up?  Let us know what your
plans or needs are.
Here are a few details.  Let me know if you are up for Friday and/or
Saturday dinner!

Pass this on to anybody you might thinks are interested

Friday.

7:30am from One Mile.  2-hour easy Kiefer loop ride to keep the legs
loose.
If you leave Chico much later than 1:00pm be prepared to encounter
increasing rush hour traffic going up Hwy 101 toward Santa Rosa.
Santa Rose is a 3½ to 4-hour drive time.

Lodging.  Motel 6, 2760 Cleveland Ave.:  Exit at Steele Ln. past
downtown Santa Rose, go left/west and immediately turn right/north
on Cleveland  Ave.--Motel 6 is on the right shortly.  Further up
Cleveland Ave. there is a Trader Joe's on the left side and further
up a 4:30am coffee joint.

Race package pick-up and T2 are open from 3:00pm to 8:00pm Friday
evening at the Windsor High School (6 miles north of Santa Rosa on
Hwy 101--take the Central Windsor Exit and turn left under 101 onto
the Old Redwood Hwy which turns into Windsor River Rd.—shortly, turn
left on Windsor Rd. (at the RXR) and go south to the HS–-on the
right.)  Check your timing chip with your number, etc.

After package pick-up (remember picture ID and USAT membership card
or $9.00) put your running gear in T2 (P-lot on the south side.)
Although not critical here, the best spots are towards the "center
lane" you use coming into T2.  Bring a towel/plastic bag to put over
your shoes, race number belt and "food" for the night.

Check where the dismount line is—so you know—and the counter clock-
wise direction you run out of there in.  On the bike you will enter
the High School from the south and turn left into the driveway
leading into the parking lot (where the dismount line is for T2.)
That means that you will have plenty of time to get out of your bike
shoes before turning left and be standing ready to run as you hit
the dismount line.

Dinner:  At 6:00pm we will dine at Johnny Garlic's at 8988 Brooks
Rd. So in Windsor (from the HS go north on Windsor Rd., turn right
and go east on Windsor River Rd., under Hwy 101 and turn left/north
on Brooks Road So.)  www.johnnygarlics.com.  During dinner I will go
over some course and race details.

Saturday.

It will likely be cool in the morning so bring warm clothes.  For
the bike, some will use arm-warmers although things quickly warm up
as soon as you roll down the road.  A quick wipe down of the front
of your legs and arms in T1before heading out works great.  The last
few years it has been overcast until about 11:00am.

T1 in Guernville, a 30 minutes drive away, opens at 5:30am.  I will
leave Motel 6 about 6:00am. Bring your swim and bike gear out to T1
in the morning.  Put the bike and helmet number on the bike Friday.
Parking is normally not that big of a problem although you might
have to walk a few blocks.  Entering "downtown" Guernville, the
beach is a few blocks down on the left—that street is closed to
traffic.

You are assigned racks in T1 and T2.

In T1 you want to be as close towards the bike exit as possible.
When walking down to the beach / T1 notice the short paved area just
at the bottom of the ramp – you can exit T1 and get on your bike
right there (be in a low gear) and bike up the little hill.  Most
walk up that hill.

Pass your transition gear over the fence at T1 to your helpers or
bag it for the race organizers to bring back to T2 and later pick-up
behind the finish line.

Time Line:
The first Ironman wave starts at 6:45am.
The Half Aquabike wave starts at 8:10am.
Barb's Race starts at 8:15am & 8:20am for individuals and 8:30 for
all relays.

Mary Ann, Teresa and Jeanne race in the Aquabike and will be done in
about 3½-4 hours.

The front girl (Kellie) in Barb's will get out of the water in about
28-30 minutes.  Then Reene, Maija, Jamie, Grace and Gabrielle will
chase her for the next 2:45-3:00 hours on the bike and it will be
showdown time with sub-2 hour run splits.  In 5 hours and change we
will know how they divide up the Top-6.  Following right behind them
will be Sue, Nicole, Leslie and Lorna.  Most will get on the podium
in your age group and finish in 6-7 (8) hours.

Helen, Elizabeth & Anna will win the female relay div, but will they
beat the individual girls?

During the bike don't draft or put yourself in a compromising
position--it will cost you 5 minutes the first time and a DQ the
second time.  You all bike faster than the rest so there is plenty
of time to back off and prevent questionable situations--stay
focused and don't space out.  Don't cross the centerline of the road
and stay to the right unless you pass--if people are lined up just
pass all before the next bottle neck--you are strong enough so work
the course to your advantage.

There are four aid stations on the bike--keep drinking water and
keep eating a  bit regularly to prep for the run.  Zip mostly water
during the run.

The aquabike people have no run afterwards so it will be all out and
just a bit of fluid--none to little food--it is just a few hours on
the bike.  Attack the ride all the way--nobody else will.


After watching the swim, exhausted spectators and fans join for a
strategy breakfast in Guernville.  We will have a few hours to
recover and recharge before some hectic hours at the finish line.

Windsor High/Finish line.  A good place to watch is ¼–½ mile or so
south of T2 where both bikes and runners come by several times.
Hang out on the grass next to the finish line.

There is plenty of parking at the HS on the north side.  The roads
on the south/east side are closed due to the race so enter from the
north on Windsor Rd. – the way you got there Friday.

Awards: 3:30pm Saturday at the finish line.  We are all going to be
there to get it all.

There will be shuttle busses running from the finish line and out to
T1 from 1:00pm and the rest of the day in case you leave a car in
Guernville Saturday morning.

Saturday Dinner: Some are staying at Motel 6 until Sunday so there
will be a dinner Saturday evening—likely in Santa Rose--stay tuned.

Sunscreen Consumer Report  Updated May 2006

Reviews say that sunscreen ingredients are just starting to catch up
with the discovery of how bad UVA rays are, and unless the product
contains avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide, or
zinc oxide, (or Mexoryl SX or Tinosorb outside the U.S.), you're not
protected from UVA. There are two different types of UV rays in
sunlight: UVB light causes surface sunburn, while UVA light
penetrates and causes deeper connective tissue damage -- even when
the skin surface feels cool. UVA light is the culprit for premature
aging and cellular damage. With the number of sunscreens on the
market, it's important to know which ones will protect you from both
UVB and UVA rays.

The SPF (sunscreen protection factor) in sunscreen is frequently
misunderstood; many people think that an SPF 30 offers double the
protection of an SPF 15. However, reviewers say SPF 15 blocks 93% of
rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97%, only 4% more. SPF ratings higher than
30 don't offer any further UV protection, and let the same 3% of UV
rays through as SPF 30. Further, SPF only blocks UVB rays. For that
reason, it's just as important to look specifically for UVA
protection.

Sunscreen reviews also point out that most children's sunscreens are
no different than those for adults, except for added fragrance that
can actually irritate kids' more-sensitive skin. The only beneficial
difference to look for is UVA protection with titanium dioxide or
zinc oxide, since these are less irritating than avobenzone to
children's skin.


In identifying the most effective sunscreens, the book, "Don't Go to
the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," by Paula Begoun, rates sunscreens
according to how well they protect from UVA and UVB, as well as on
water resistance, fragrance and feel. We found that this book had the
most thorough, credible information on which sunscreens are best.
Consumer Reports has an excellent review where testing is more
scientific, but that report is five years old and of limited use. A
more recent review from Slate magazine covers some sunscreen sprays,
along with lotions, though tests are informal.
Coppertone's Sport Lotion (*est. $10.50/4 ounces) initially sounds
like the perfect protection for active folks -- the ultra sweatproof
formula keeps this sunscreen out of the eyes and it's oil-free,
without greasy residue that could loosen your handgrip. The sunscreen
is waterproof, and comes in SPF 15, 30 and 50. However, reviews say
Coppertone Sport Lotion sunscreen doesn't contain any of the
recommended UVA protective ingredients (avobenzone, zinc oxide,
titanium dioxide, Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb) that signify a complete
sunscreen. Only the gel version, Coppertone's Sport Sunblock Gel
(*est. $8/6 ounces) contains avobenzone as a UVA defense.

If you like the other qualities of these Coppertone Sport sunscreens,
choose the gel, which comes only in SPF 30; however, reviewers say
UVA protection shouldn't be an "extra," but rather a given. Every
sunscreen should contain UVA protection, so the gel formula is simply
complying with current health standards -- not offering anything
extra. At least Coppertone labels their products well, and you can
easily see which ones contain avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789) by
reading the front of the container.

In recent news, seven companies, including those that manufacturer
some of the biggest names in sunscreen, are currently being sued in
California for misrepresenting product claims. These suits are mostly
over matters that may make parents overconfident in sunscreen. You
can read more about the suit below. According to reviews, one of the
best sunscreens on the market is Neutrogena UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion.
Although it does in fact protect from both UVB and UVA light, the
plaintiffs behind the lawsuit say Neutrogena should not call this
product a 'sunblock,' since no product can block all harmful rays.

  >> Sunscreen prices

Spray-on sunscreens are fairly new to the market. Sunscreen sprays
are convenient since you don't have to rub them in. However, you lose
a fair amount of product into the air, and you can't spray them on
your face. Coppertone Continuous Spray (*est. $10/6 ounces) has SPF
30, and though the package says it protects against UVA, it doesn't
contain any of the recommended UVA-protection ingredients. Rather, it
contains oxybenzone, which isn't the same as avobenzone. Douglas Wolk
tests Coppertone's spray-on sunscreen at Slate magazine. Although it
kept him from getting sunburned it has a terrible texture;
it's "sticky" and "mats body hair" while going on, and then it "dries
into a kind of gluey mask." Wolk also notes a "strong chemical smell."

Neutrogena's UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion (*est. $7.50/4 ounces) is hailed
by reviewers as a good general-use sunscreen. It has avobenzone for
UVA protection, and is fragrance and oil-free. It's also waterproof
and sweatproof so it won't drip and sting your eyes. Neutrogena's
sunscreen is also available in SPF 45. Consumers posting to
Epinions.com say it's non-irritating to sensitive skin. One mother
describes her son with multiple allergies who tolerated this
Neutrogena sunscreen just fine, and another person notes that the
breakouts she experienced with a prior sunscreen (interestingly,
Neutrogena's Sensitive Skin SPF 30) didn't occur when she used
Neutrogena's Sunblock Lotion. Since the beneficial ingredients in
sunscreen can clog pores and cause breakouts, it can be difficult for
people with oily skin to find a product that works for them.
Reviewers say Neutrogena's UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion is worth a try.

Hawaiian Tropic is another brand that requires careful label reading.
The Hawaiian Tropic Ozone line of sunscreen has up to a whopping SPF
70 (*est. $13/4 ounces), and is claimed to have "the highest SPF
levels on the U.S. market." The Ozone Sport SPF 60+ and 30+
sunscreens contain UVA protection with avobenzone (Parsol 1789), and
the SPF 70 with titanium dioxide. However, reviewers say SPFs over 30
are unnecessary since they don't provide additional UV protection,
and only lengthen the time you can stay in the sun without burning.
Reapplying sunscreen frequently (every 40 to 80 minutes if swimming
or perspiring) accomplishes the same thing. The original Hawaiian
Tropic line of sunscreen (*est. $9/8 ounces) does contain titanium
dioxide and is available in SPF 15, 30 and 45.

Ombrelle, owned by L'Oreal, wins high marks in reviews because all
Ombrelle sunblocks contain UVA protection in the form of avobenzone,
or gentler titanium dioxide in the kids' products. Ombrelle also
contains Mexoryl, which is the most effective UVA-blocking ingredient
available, according to dermatologists. Mexoryl is currently approved
for use in Canada and Europe, but not in the U.S., although the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration is considering approval. Ombrelle
Sunscreen Lotion (*est. $10/4 ounces) is recommended as another good,
general-use sunscreen, like the Neutrogena above. It's very water
resistant, (which complies with the FDA's 2002 labeling requirements
of "water resistant" and "very water resistant," since no product can
be completely waterproof) and comes in lotion and spray form.
Ombrelle comes in SPF 15, 30, 45, and 60, but again, experts say
you're better off frequently reapplying a 15 or 30 rating rather than
spending money on SPFs higher than 30, which don't offer any better
UV protection.

La Roche-Posay's Anthelios (*est. $14.50/2.5 ounces) is another
Mexoryl-containing sunscreen. Like Ombrelle sunscreen above, it isn't
approved for use in the U.S., although the FDA is considering
approval. However, both Ombrelle and Anthelios XL can easily be
ordered online by anyone anywhere in the world. Anthelios sunscreen
is available in SPF 30, 40, 45, and 60; the XL sunscreen formula only
in SPF 60.

More on the 2006 lawsuit
The March 2006 California lawsuit involving sunscreen manufacturers
claims that companies misled the public by calling their
products "sunblock" since no sunscreen can totally block damaging UVB
and UVA light. The suit also claims that manufacturers make false
claims with respect to SPF factor, suggesting that higher numbers
represent far less risk from overexposure. New York attorney Mitchell
Twersky, of New York's Abraham, Fruchter & Twersky LLP (one of the
two law firms filing the suit), says that, "Parents, especially, have
been defrauded into believing the false labeling and advertising
claims of these products."

Since 2002, the FDA has mandated that sunscreens stop labeling
themselves as "waterproof," since all sunscreens are affected by
water. Instead, manufacturers can call their products "water
resistant" or "very water resistant." However, many manufacturers
haven't incorporated the guidelines, even four years after the FDA
mandate. The recent lawsuit highlights this misuse or wording, along
with other words and phrases manufacturers use in their product
packaging.

"Coppertone WaterBabies advertises 'Instant Waterproof Protection,
UVA/UVB Sunblock lotion 45 SPF' on the bottle as well as the
representation that the product provides '45 times your child's
natural sun protection', giving parents a false and dangerous sense
of security," according to Twersky; "The 45 SPF applies only to UVB
rays, the product is not waterproof, and it does not actually block
the sun." Other brands cited in the suit include Banana Boat,
Hawaiian Tropic, Bullfrog and Neutrogena.

Baby sunscreen and sunscreen for kids
Many sunscreens are advertised for kids, but reviews say the only
differences between these and adult sunscreens are irritating
fragrances, and sometimes, the form of UVA protection. Titanium
dioxide or zinc oxide are less irritating to children's more-
sensitive skin than avobenzone. Blue Lizard Baby sunscreen (*est.
$13/9 ounces) contains a combination of titanium dioxide and zinc
oxide, and is fragrance free. Like the Neutrogena sunscreen above, it
comes in SPF 30 only. Blue Lizard sport, sensitive skin, face and
regular adult sunscreen formulas are also available, all containing
zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide instead of avobenzone.

Banana Boat Sport (*est. $13/8 ounces) is recommended in two
sunscreen reviews, but again, you'll need to read the label to be
sure you're getting UVA protection. The Banana Boat Sport spray
sunscreen formula contains avobenzone, while the Sport lotion
sunscreen formula does not have any of the recommended UVA-protecting
ingredients. Banana Boat Kids Quik Blok Sunblock Spray Lotion (*est.
$7/8 ounces) contains avobenzone, which can be more irritating to
kids' skin than the titanium dioxide or zinc oxide used in Blue
Lizard Baby sunscreen.

Spwipes (*est. $9/10-pack) is sunscreen packaged in the form of
disposable towelettes. While this sounds like a convenient option for
kids who might not sit still for a lotion application, Spwipes don't
contain any UVA-protecting ingredients. They come in SPF 30, and are
water and sweat resistant. One 10-pack provides about four adult
applications. While throwaway towelettes might be ideal for a hike in
the woods when you don't want to lug a big bottle along, it's more
cost effective and safer to choose one of the sunscreens in
ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, which offer UVA protection and more
applications for the price.

Important Features: Sunscreen
Experts say the following about choosing sunscreen:

The number-one cause of skin aging and damage is sun exposure.
Therefore, reviews recommend your sunscreen have no less than an SPF
15, and should include UVA protection with titanium dioxide, zinc
oxide, or avobenzone, (or Mexoryl SX or Tinosorb outside the U.S.).
The SPF factor only indicates UVB (or surface sunburn) protection,
and SPFs over 30 don't offer any better protection from UV rays.
Sunscreen should be worn any time you are outside, regardless of how
long you will be out, and should be reapplied frequently (every 40 to
80 minutes if swimming or perspiring, even with water-resistant
sunscreen).
Waterproof versus water-resistant sunscreen. In 2002, the FDA
mandated that manufacturers change their labels from waterproof
to "water resistant" or "very water resistant," since no product can
be completely waterproof. Interestingly, not all manufacturers have
made this change.
Some medications and topical retinoids (such as alpha hydroxy acids)
increase sun sensitivity. Check with your pharmacist about
medications, and read cosmetic labels for sun-sensitizing products.
Take extra care to apply sunscreen every day, and wear appropriate
clothing and a hat when outdoors.
Children's skin is more sensitive than adults and they should wear
UVA/UVB-protectant sunscreen too. The American Academy of Pediatrics
advises avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants/children in
lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts as a first defense, but
recommends that sunscreen can be used on infants even under six
months if adequate shade and clothing aren't available. Titanium
dioxide and zinc oxide are the gentlest UVA protective ingredients
for children's more-sensitive skin.
If you wear makeup with SPF plus a second sunscreen, the resulting
SPF is not additive, but only the highest of the two products.
Because sunscreens can clog pores and cause breakouts, experts say
that women with oily skin may prefer to use a foundation with a good
SPF on their face, and a good sunscreen from the neck down.
Consensus Report
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by
reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks  Model
(With Retailer Links)  Prices from Shopping.com  Details from
Amazon.com
4 Coppertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof Dry Sunblock (*est. $10.50/4
ounces) x
3 Neutrogena Sunblock Lotion (*est. $7.50/4 ounces) details
2 L'Oreal Ombrelle (*est. $10/4 ounces) x
2 Hawaiian Tropic Sunblock Lotion (*est. $13/8 ounces) details
2 Blue Lizard Baby (*est. $13/9 ounces) details
2 Neutrogena Active Breathable (*est. $8/4 ounces) details
2 La Roche-Posay Anthelios (*est. $14.50/2.5 ounces) x
2 Banana Boat Sport (*est. $13/8 ounces) details
1 each  Walgreen's Ultra Sunblock Lotion, Rite Aid Sunblock Lotion,
Ocean Potion Lotion, Vanicream, Lancôme Soleil, Bull Frog, Spwipes,
EmerginC Broad Spectrum UVA and UVB, California Baby, Hawaiian Tropic
Ozone Sport Sunblock, Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock
Spray

* Also see our Comparison Chart.
Neutrogena and Coppertone Sport are recommended most often in
sunscreen reviews, but experts warn that only the gel formula of
Coppertone's Sport sunscreens contains UVA protection with
avobenzone; the lotion, spray, and stick Sport formulas do not have
complete UVA protection. All of L'Oreal Ombrelle's sunscreen products
have UVA protection with avobenzone and Mexoryl (or gentler titanium
dioxide in the kids' formulas), which makes this line attractive to
reviewers as well. Blue Lizard Baby and adult formulas use gentler
zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and are fragrance free. Spwipes come
in convenient towelettes, but don't contain the recommended UVA-
blocking ingredients.




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Alternative Considerations
Due to recent years' threat of the West Nile Virus, we've seen some
products on the market that combine sunscreen and insect repellent.
While a seemingly good idea, experts say the sunscreen wears off
before the insect repellent and frequent re-applications can irritate
kids' sensitive skin. Rather, you are better off using a regular
sunscreen, which can be applied frequently, along with a separate
insect repellent applied less frequently.

If you're looking for a golden glow without the danger of UV
exposure, there are many sunless tanning products on the market. See
our companion report on sunless tanning for more information.

Best Research
We found the book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" by
Paula Begoun to be extremely comprehensive and helpful in evaluating
sunscreens. Begoun also maintains an updated Web site at
http://cosmeticscop.com/.

Shape magazine has a helpful article, dated Aug. 2003, about sun
safety and sunscreen facts not commonly known titled "10 facts about
skin cancer: there's more to preventing skin cancer than just
slathering on a sunscreen." Here, information you may not know, but
should - Beauty in Action." This is available at
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_12_22/ai_104943657.



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I recently came across this website.  I do not have expertise to know
if this information is correct, but having had 3 skin cancers removed
surgically, and a few zapped, this certainly caught my attention. I
was disappointed to learn the sunscreen I was using was not on the
list.. If you have interest in learning more about this article or
website,  I would be happy to email you directly.  Jeanneo2@...

I would also be interested if anyone has more information on this
subject as the heat and sun has not been user friendly to my skin,
despite my efforts to protect it. Jeanneo2@...


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ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are service marks (trademark
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reviews, products or services in our reports.

* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was
written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list
prices. Actual selling prices may differ.

Triathlete and Author Jayne Williams will be coming to Chico to participate in
the City of Gold Triathlon. While here she has offered to speak to the the CWTG
about her experiences and her book "Slow Fat Triathlete" (see below).

   I personally have recommended this book to many of you as it is a hilarious
look at starting out in triathlon (see below for a description). To see more
about Jayne check out her website http://www.slowfattriathlete.com/

   She will be speaking at my home (Leslie's) at 2158 Ceres at 7:30 PM on
Thursday, May 11. Call me if you have any questions 892-2224.

   Everyone is invited and libations will be served. Good times to be had by all.



   Slow Fat Triathlete: Pursue Your Athletic Dreams in the Body You Have Now
by Jayne Willliams

   Description:
The idea of participating in a triathlon may sound out of the realm of
possibility for those without a typical jock-athlete's honed build, intense
focus, and competitive mindset. But now Slow Fat Triathlete opens the door to
those who may not come quite so equipped. After years of obesity, poor health,
and self-doubt, Jayne Williams took part in her first triathlon in 2002 to prove
something to herself and became hooked on the rush of the race. Today she is a
self-proclaimed "slow fat triathlete," unafraid to overcome humiliation, laugh
at her foibles, have fun, and accomplish impressive goals. Slow Fat Triathlete
is a book for those who may be overweight, out of shape, undisciplined, or
otherwise unprepared to enter a triathlon but are curious to try. Through
personal stories, practical ideas and suggestions, and uproarious anecdotes,
this book inspires, encourages, and proves that with a little training, almost
everybody can have a great time and reap huge rewards from
  pursuing their tri dreams - and that everyone can become a participant and an
athlete.




---------------------------------
How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low  PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The May issue's club feature is of the Women's Tri Club - a short
blurb, but a blurb.