LifeSport Coaching News

The Calm Before the Storm

Coach Paul and Lance Report from Beijing on the Eve of the Olympic Triathlon

Yesterday was another great day of sport and culture in Beijing. With Lisa preparing at the triathlon venue outside of the city, and us having no access to the course, we decided to head downtown for some shopping, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. Richard Mathews, Lisa’s fiancé, joined us and our first stop was the shopping area of Wang Fu Jing. This areas is famous for its Dong An Men Avenue where you can buy almost anything “on a stick” including scorpions, grasshoppers, random animal’s hearts, and seahorses! From here we walked over to the Forbidden City, on the way passing some interesting stores including one that sells different styles of full police lights/sirens for the top of your car if you so desire. We were all followed by watch salesmen that negotiated Rolex watches down to $9 with not a word from us. I can tell you one thing that China is progressing forward economically quickly, in fact by the day. At the beginning of the Games the cab drivers would not, or did not, take tips. Now when I hand them a tip they smile without hesitation and say “thank you” – I think the Americans have something to do with this.

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Dream Day in Beijing

Report From Coach Lance and Paul

Today was the kind of Olympic day that any fan of sport or culture would hope to have, even once in a lifetime. For the first time we saw the Beijing skies sunny and clear. This was quite a change after 2 days of not being able to see the buildings at the end of the block with the thick humidity and smog. For all of the abuse that Beijing receives on its pollution, it seems like a city trying to clean up its act. It deserved a sunny, clear beautiful day. When I first told people that I would visit Beijing, the talk was of a polluted and dirty city. Well I can tell you that today I spent a lot of time traveling around the city and what I saw were clean roads, citizens playing badminton in parks (like we would see pick-up basketball), green areas, and the most amazing modern architecturally incredible skyscrapers of any city I have ever been too. If the Olympics have something to do with this, then the awarding of the Games to the city and country is brilliant.

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Day 2 in Beijing

Coach Lance and Paul Report From Beijing

This morning we headed out to the Triathlon Venue which is in Changping, about 40 minutes north of the city. It was nice to get in to the country side and see some of rural China but unfortunately they would not let us into the venue. All of the roads around the triathlon site/Ming Tomb Reservoir were blocked with high security. The Chinese are so afraid to do something wrong, or have opportunities for gatherings, that the security has been over the top. So, instead of blazing new trails through the country to gain access, and potentially ending up in jail, we headed to the great wall of China another 45 minutes down the road. This may have been another mistake because I think all of China was visiting the wall that day and there were literally tens of thousands of people walking into the access point of the wall, in line to buy tickets to access the wall, and on the wall as it climbed up over the hills and mountains.

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Coach Lance and Paul in Beijing

Get Updates of Lance and Paul's Trip to the Beijing Olympics

The first day started with a 75 minute run at 5am around the Olympic site. The air is thick here and it is hard not to think that the fog is not full of other things since we have not seen the sun, and it is difficult to see a block in front of you.

From there it was a visit to the Athlete's Village to help Lisa through a swim set and then refuel at the massive cafeteria where it is array of hundreds of athletes of all nationalities and sizes! From 4'8' gymnast to 7' shot putters. Also very common to see many superstars of sport - today we saw Manu Ginnobli, the NBA basketball star causally eating lunch with his team (I don't think we'll see Kobe there).

During the day Lance successfully negotiated tickets to Tennis and Field Hockey for the evening. Both events turned out to be fantastic, especially the tennis that included matches with a Chinese tennis star, followed by matches with Roger Federer, then Serena Williams.

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2009 Vancouver Triathlon & Seasons Pass on Sale!
Subaru West Coast Series Announcement for 2009

Get the jump on next year at a great price! LifeSport is pleased to announce that the 2009 Subaru Vancouver Triathlon and Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series Season Pass go on sale today. The 2009 Series will feature the spectacular Subaru Vancouver Triathlon on July 12th, and as registration incentive we are offering a special limited early bird entry of only $149, a $50 savings off the regular registration fee!

This promotional rate will be limited to the first 200 participants or until the end of September. Also on sale for 2009 is the very popular Series Seasons Pass, for only $395 you can race as many of the events as you choose in any discipline (Half Iron, Relay or Sprint). This offer will only be available for the first 200 registrations.

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Congratulations Carolyn Murray!

LifeSport would like to congratulate Carolyn Murray for making the Canadian Olympic Team, and wish her all the best in Beijing! Carolyn was a long time LifeSport athlete coached by Paul Regensburg through to 2007.

Best of Luck Carolyn!

Subaru Vancouver Triathlon Airs August 11th

Tune in Monday, August 11th to Rogers Sportsnet at 8pm (Pacific) for the airing of the Subaru Vancouver International Triathlon. Highlights of the show include a tight battle in the women's pro race between Rachel Kiers (CAN), Bree Wee (USA), and Cheryl Murphy (CAN). And not to be outdone, the men's race features a great showdown between former Ironman Champions Jasper Blake (CAN) and Andrej Yastrebov (UKR).

Also included are highlights from the celebrity division with Vancouver mayoral nominee Peter Ladner, model Jenny Fletcher, and Iron Chef Rob Feenie. Olympic Gold Medal Coach Lance Watson also shares his knowledge in the "LifeSport Training Tips" segments. The race takes place in the magnificent setting of the Spanish Banks Beaches with stunning views of the downtown Vancouver skyline and the picturesque North Shore Mountains. Air dates and times are as follows:

Sportsnet Pacific         Mon, August 11, 8:00pm (PST)
Sportsnet West           Mon, August 11, 9:00pm (MST)
Sportsnet Ontario        Wed, August 13, 1:00pm (EST)
Sportsnet East            Wed, August 15, 3:00pm (EST)

"My Olympic Dream Has Come True"

On the Eve of the Beijing Olympics, Lisa Mensink Tells Her Story...

It started when I was 10. My parents put me into a swim club as a last ditch effort to keep me active. Previous attempts to turn me into a dancer or gymnast had failed. There was nothing worse for a clumsy, introverted 9-year old than having to wear a blue leotard while struggling through an uneven bar routine! Off to the pool it was…

I’d always loved the water. I also loved competing…as long as it was against the clock and not at the hands of subjective judges! Swimming soon consumed my life and my Olympic Dream was born! Like most young swimmers, there were countless early morning practices and long trips to meets...all anchored by the youthful optimism of making it to the Olympics. However, despite ten years of commitment and sacrifice, the closest I came to the Olympic Dream was 13th in the 200m individual medley at the Canadian Olympic Trials in 1996. At the age of 20, like 99.9% of athletes, I realized that my Olympic Dream was over. It was time to grow up, get a job, and move on. My experience of the Olympics would be from the couch, watching them on CBC. I swam for three more years at the University of Calgary before starting my career as a geologist.

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LifeSport Athlete Tackles One Of The World's Toughest MTB Races!

LifeSport athlete Grant Miller (Kona Bike Works store owner) joined Gary Shields to form Team Lavamen this past July to race the JeanTex TransAlps Challenge. Considered one of the toughest mountain bike tests in the world, it is an 8 day team mountain bike race from Germany to Italy. Coach Dan Smith has him well prepared for this epic adventure, which they traveled for all the way from Hawaii. They are one of only 7 USA teams out of 500 to do the race.

Visit their blog to check it out: click HERE

Start with the reports on the bottom right and work up.

Reporting From the Official Ironman Louisville Camp

By LifeSport Coach Paul Regensburg

I’ve just returned from a great trip to Louisville, Kentucky where LifeSport hosted the Official Preparation Camp of Ironman Louisville. The camp was designed to give the participants the best possible chance for success when the Ironman Louisville is taking place August 31st. You can tell that Louisville is a city in the midst of revitalizing and beautifying and there is a real feeling that this is becoming a fun, healthy, and vibrant community.

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Canadians Overpower Internationals at Vancouver Half

4 Women in the Top 10 Overall

Sport Media Release: July 13th, 2008
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Canadian triathletes Cheryl Murphy and Jasper Blake both posted come from behind victories with world class run performances at the Subaru Vancouver Half and Sprint Triathlon. The race served as the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series Women’s Championships and the women did not disappoint with 4 top 10 finishes overall. First out of the water was Hawaii’s Bree Wee with a strong 25:50 swim clocking giving her a 2:30 lead. Wee lost her advantage when she went off course allowing Rachel Kiers of Vancouver to move into the front and gain a 6 minute lead by the end of the bike. Kiers stayed solid on the run to retain her lead over Wee but could not hold off a fast charging Cheryl Murphy (Canada) who erased a 10 minute deficit to over take Kiers in thrilling fashion only 200 metres from the finish line to take the title. Wee finished next to complete the exciting women’s podium. Rounding out the top 5 were Americans Caroline Smith and Katya Meyers.

Mensink Makes Olympic Team!

A very special congratulations to Lisa Mensink who qualified today for the Beijing Olympic Games with her 9th place finish at the Hamburg World Cup. This was the last opportunity for Lisa to satisfy the Dutch Olympic Committee’s qualifying standard of 2 top 10 standards after having already achieved a 9th place finish at the Tongyeong World Cup in Korea. She had narrowly missed the standard earlier this season a number of times; in New Zealand and Japan with 11th and 12th place respective finishes, and in 2 other World Cups where she was well placed but unable to finish due to illness. Lisa also overcame a stress fracture which affected her ability to race for much of the qualifying period in 2007.

Lisa’s coach, Paul Regensburg, commented:

“We are extremely proud of Lisa, it has been so rewarding to see her evolve into a world-class athlete. Her commitment to going to the Olympics has been unrivalled. She quit her job, incurred great expense, battled injury, relocated to train all over the world, traveled relentlessly from country to country for races, embraced and trusted the training, nailed the details like a true professional, and most of all worked hard and persevered.” Read More...

Meyers Qualifies for Kona

LifeSport Pro Team member Katya Meyers has qualified for a pro slot at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. Meyers placed 5th in the professional division at Ironman France to earn the start in Kona. The slot was somewhat unexpected but very gratifying given it was her first Ironman on her journey back from being sick for most of 2007. Congratulations Katya!

Celebrity Division Added to Subaru Vancouver Half
“Deal or No Deal” Model, Mayoral Hopeful, and Iron Chef all confirmed

On July 13th, Vancouver will play host to the Subaru Vancouver International Half and Sprint Triathlon. Unlike the ITU Triathlon World Championships staged in June that featured the Olympic distance racing, this event will showcase the longer Half Ironman race (1.9km swim/90km bike/21km run), and also include a shorter sprint race, relay, and a celebrity division. Highlighting the celebrity division will be Jenny Fletcher, a model who has been featured on the popular television show “Deal or No Deal” and modeled for Armani and Ralph Lauren. Vancouver mayoral candidate Peter Ladner will participate in the race and serve as the Honorary Chairman for the second year. Ladner, who recently won the mayoral nomination of his party in an upset victory over incumbent Mayor Sam Sullivan, has been a strong advocate of healthy lifestyles and active living. Also featured will be Iron Chef Rob Feenie who starred on the Food Network for five seasons and in 2005 became the first Canadian to win on the popular television show, Iron Chef America by defeating Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Also expected are former and current Olympic athletes along with a few last minute surprises. Read More...

There was a stretch of time (for a couple of years) where on occasion, while running around some local lakes, a runner would approach at an alarming speed. I could instantly deduce who she was even as a mere spot in the distance. Her form was so flawless that there was only one person it could be. The process of elimination was instant. This is saying something as the trails of greater Victoria are many and the runners of all levels are everywhere.

As the space between us would dwindle, a quick nod is all that would transpire as she moved so deftly. Breezing by, stirring the congregating midge, which swirl innocuously in a mid-air swarm.

The runner, Lucy Smith, happens to be a fixture on the Canadian race scene. Like those who during childhood participate in sport for the sheer joy of it she, so far, has enjoyed a very long and versatile career in endurance sport. Read More...

Bree Wee Reports on her 2nd place finish in Ironman Japan

Bree Wee placed an incredible 2nd in her first Ironman as a professional athlete finishing with a 9.37 clocking, only 3 minutes outside of the winner’s time. Amazingly, this was only the second Ironman of her career. It was a battle between her and the incumbent Ironman Japan Champion, Naomi Imaizumi, who bested Kate Major in last years race. Both Wee and Imaizumi broke the course record with their performances. The only unfortunate part of the day was that only 1 slot was awarded for the Hawaii Ironman leaving Wee without the Kona spot despite the world class performance. For Bree’s report on the race click HERE.

Linsey Corbin Reports on Victoria New Balance Half

I am excited to report that I won one of the largest half ironman races in Canada: the Victoria New Balance Half Ironman! A week ago I hopped a plane from Kansas to Vancouver Island, British Columbia to spend some time with my coach, Lance Watson. Victoria is like Disneyland for triathletes… it has everything! I was treated to a great week on the island with swimming in Elk and Thetis lakes, cycling around town, and exploring some awesome running trails. This was the third event of the Subaru West Coast triathlon series that I have attended and race director John Bothelo has it dialed in. Besides putting on a great event, I had a great home stay with Steve Young and Vanessa Keeler. I got two great massages from Gibson Brown. I also got a brand new Subaru to drive around for the week. Lucky me!

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Battle of Champions This Weekend at the New Balance Victoria Half
Record Numbers for 2008 Triathlon

Local triathlon stars Jasper Blake and Cheryl Murphy will go head to head with top international athletes Andriy Yastrebov (UKR) and Linsey Corbin (US) at the 13th New Balance Half IM in Victoria, Canada. All 4 athletes were individual race champions on 2007 Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series and are looking to add another title to their resume. Blake and Yastrebov are also previous Ironman Champions (Ironman Canada and Wisconsin respectively) while Murphy recently posted the fastest half marathon by a Canadian woman in the last 5 years, and Corbin is fresh off a third place finish last weekend at the Kansas Ironman 70.3. On the amateur side, the New Balance race is an extremely popular event that has become a triathlon classic - with a grass roots feel on a beautiful course in and around Elk Lake Regional Park and the Saanich Peninsula. The race, which has been sold out since January, will feature record numbers with almost 1000 athletes taking part in the individual, relay, and kids events. John Botelho, the Race Director comments:

“We are really excited about the race this year. We have kept all the tradition of the previous races and added some great new features including a kid’s fun run on Saturday and improving the bike course to make it the proper distance for the athletes”

For more information visit www.lifesport.ca and more information contact Shantel Cordeiro at shantel@lifesport.ca

Linsey Corbin at Boise 70.3

Hello, I wanted to send you a quick update from my week. Good news! I’m back to racing form. Well, not all the way back, but close enough to back. I have been on the road racing at the Boise 70.3 and touring the West Coast.

Race day started out chilly and windy up at the Lucky Peak Reservoir. To be honest though, the cold water didn’t intimidate me that much because: a.) I am from Montana where I feel like it is always cold and b.) I was sporting the brand new Vendetta wetsuit by Xterra. Before we knew it the cannon was off, arms were swinging and I was fighting for some feet to follow. At the time, I thought I was having an awful swim, but it turns out so were all the other women. I came out of the water in 8th place.

Onto my Scott Plasma and I was off to tackle the great bike course. This bike course seemed to me what the world championship bike course should resemble. It had some wind, a few climbs, a few flats, and some nice descents. The best part of the course was that so many roads were closed, including the 2 mile crazy decent off the reservoir. I felt like I was driving a Ferrari as we came screaming down the hill. It was great! My coach Lance Watson has taken my biking to new levels and I kept chipping away at the women in front of me to came off the bike in 6th place.

The transition in downtown Boise and the run course was full of so much energy... a huge thank you to the Boise community that came out to cheer us on. They were genuinely excited to show us there town and support every athlete on race day. It was really impressive. The run was great as so many of my friends from Montana were competing, so we all got a chance to see each other. I must apologize for not talking to many people during the run… I was really working hard for that top-5 position! With 4 miles to go I hopped on a fleet footed age-group males feet and held on for dear life. The tactic seemed to work as I passed my way into 4th place and didn’t look back. The energy and excitement as I neared the finish line was great. I crossed the line with my cowboy hat in tow (representing Big Sky Country!) and a sense of relief that my Ironman legs have left and I am starting to feel strong again.

Thank you to my sponsors for believing in me and providing the support to pursue the lifestyle that I lead. I have now had the chance to meet nearly every one of my sponsors in person. You are all such great people and I enjoy every minute of what I do.

Best,

Linsey Corbin

LifeSport at Hawaii 70.3

LifeSport had great presence as the “Official Coaches” this past weekend at the Hawaii 70.3 with coach Paul Regensburg in attendance accompanied by fellow coaches Mark Shorter and Jessica Kirkwood. Leading up to the race, the coaches made time to answer athlete questions at the LifeSport booth next to Bikeworks and the main registration. The coaches also held a swim clinic at beautiful Hapuna Beach the day before the race providing valuable pointers for open water swimming to over 150 athletes. There was also a well attended pre-race tips clinic where Coach Paul shared key tips for race day. Read more

Coach Dan Reports on LifeSport at Boise 70.3

Over 1000 athletes hit the line for the inaugural Boise 70.3 Sunday. The city opened it’s doors to the race closing off streets to accommodate the bike to run transition. Twelve waves of swimmers plunged into the Lucky Peak Reservoir to start the swim. In the 59 deg water, many opted for neoprene caps and booties. After exiting the water, riders were treated to a completely closed bike course. The weather conditions were ideal with low winds and low cloud cover. After rolling downhill into T2, runners were treated to a well shaded paved path run along side the river. A few light showers helped to keep the runners cool.

LifeSport athletes had a very good day with Pro Linsey Corbin in fourth place. Chris Lieto had the fastest bike and was second in the pro men. Chris' Dad Jim Lieto hit two of his goals this year by wining his age group and qualifying for Clearwater as well as racing with his three sons. Coach Dan finished second in the 40-44 age group.

For some pictures of the event go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dpsmith63/Boise7032008

International Podium at Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon

Coming off one of the closest finishes in Ironman history this spring in Arizona, US triathlete Jordon Rapp was victorious today over the Half Ironman distance in the beautiful west coast community of Shawnigan Lake. Rapp bested former Ironman Wisconsin Champion Andriy Yastrebov from the Ukraine (2nd), with last year’s winner Jasper Blake of Canada rounding out the podium in third. The woman’s event proved to be the “Battle of Vancouver” with Rachel Kiers taking the victory followed by Karen Birkenhead and Shannon Back respectively.

The race served as the Subaru Men’s Championship and lived up to its billing. The Canadian military started the race with a blast from a Howitzer cannon where former Canadian National U23 members Andrew McCartney and Daniel Wells quickly moved to the front and lead out of water along with relay athlete and Canadian Olympian Brent McMahon. Former Ironman Canada Champion Blake was the next man out of the water 2:30 back of the leaders just behind relay member Lisa Mensink, a Dutch Olympic Team hopeful. Rapp and Yastrebov exited a further 2 minutes back where Rapp quickly began his assault on the bike, overtaking Blake posting the course record bike split of 2:09:14. Rapp ran aggressively out of the second transition with a 4 minute lead and never looked back while Blake and Yastrebov ran side by side until the 17k mark where Yastrebov opened a gap and held on for second. Rapp commented after race:

“I felt confident on the run today, this is a beautiful course and I believe I have an advantage on trail running over the pavement – it is how I have trained most of my life”.

The Sprint event was won by two aspiring Canadian Olympic athletes looking to confirm their places for Beijing in 2 weeks time at the ITU World Championships in Vancouver; Kirsten Sweetland of Victoria and Paul Tichelaar of Calgary.

The next race on the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series will be the New Balance Half held in Victoria on June 22nd. This Series is organized by LifeSport, “The Official Coaches of Ironman”.

For full results visit www.lifesport.ca and more information contact Shantel Cordeiro at shantel@lifesport.ca

Ironman 70.3 Season Kick-off For Kim Loeffler

After a very long off season to heal some nagging injuries, I am happy to report that my race season has officially begun! I decided just 2 weeks ago that I would head to Ironman 70.3 Florida. Earlier in the year, I had attended two training camps in Hawaii and Australia with my coach Lance Watson and Paul Regensburg with LifeSport. Things were coming along as planned and Lance had me dialled in with a great training plan and great early season fitness. Unfortunately, some injuries crept up in my shoulder and ankle which forced me to take a big break from running and swimming. I knew going into the race that my fitness was not where I wanted it to be but I was eager to race and wanted a good tune up race before the Long Course National Championships at Eagleman 70.3. I decided to give it a go, test my fitness and just be happy to be healthy and racing again.

Ironman and Olympic Hopefuls Set to Race at Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon

Media Release: May 21, 2008
Victoria, BC, Canada
Athletes representing 6 countries and 7 provinces are set to race in the Subaru Shawnigan Lake International Triathlon this weekend just outside of Victoria, Canada. The race will start with the blast of a Howitzer cannon for the Half Ironman distance race (1.9k swim, 90k bike, and 21k run) with a shorter sprint race starting soon after. This event will serve as the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series Men’s Championship and has attract professional triathletes Jasper Blake (2006 Ironman Canada Champion), Ukrainian Andriy Yastrebov (2007 Subaru Vancouver Half Iron Champion), Canadian Chris Brown (3rd at 2007 Ironman Canada), and American Jordon Rapp (3rd at 2008 Ironman Arizona).

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Brent Poulsen Reports on Florida 70.3

Lining up on the beach in Florida I kept telling myself that I belonged. I told my self that they weren’t faster than me and I had every right to step up and race with the big boys. When the gun went off I ran in after a few dolphin dives and a few hundred meters hard, it turned into a very easy relaxed pace. After the past week swimming 20x100 sub 1:10 pace, I knew I was ready to at least hang with the leaders. Every so often I would look up and site and I would see there were 10 of us swimming comfortable. I could see Craig Alexander’s Green Cap beside me and I knew TJ was beside me on the other side. I was right where I wanted to be. I actually focused on my breathing pattern and stayed very comfortable. On the way back in I may have taken it too relaxed losing 10seconds to Bryan Rhodes and a couple of others. Coming out of the water, I hammered the run, to transition passing almost everyone; I put on my helmet and excited T1 in 3rd. Right away I rode up to the front and eventually settled into a pace. Read More...

Moracci First Overall Amateur at Florida Ironman 70.3

LifeSporter Jamie Moracci lead from wire to wire at Florida Ironman 70.3 at Walt Disney Resort to take the amateur win and a 9th place overall, including the professionals! New LifeSporter, Brent Poulsen made coach Alister Russell proud with an impressive 7th place finish in the men’s pro race. The women faired well too with Lisa Bentley returning to form after chronic injury with a competitive 4th place finish with Kim Loeffler in at 6th. At the Columbia Triathlon, Chris Lieto bested Ironman Champion Chris McCormack to take the victory while Amanda Lovato took an impressive 2nd place finish. In Honolulu, Bree Wee continued her impressive racing with a win and career best 1 hour and 58 minute clocking, 11 minutes faster than the next woman while first year pro, Eileen Swanson landed on the podium with a 3rd place elite finish at the UVAS triathlon in California. Congrats to everyone!

Chris Lieto Reports on Wildflower

It has been a couple years since I have raced Wildflower and I was excited to be there this year. The last few years I have had an injury and was unable to race. This year my training is going well and I am healthy. I have been putting in some good base training to gear up for the year and for Kona. Wildflower in my eyes is always the start of the racing year. It is always a wake up call and a gage to see how training is going. At this point I am very happy with my performance considering the time of year and training I have been doing.

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Chris Lieto 3rd, Dominates Bike at Wildflower

LifeSport's Chris Lieto continues to tear up the pro circuit in 2008. Wildflower, the north California classic half Ironman, is considered one of the most scenic and challenging.

Chris bounced back from a slightly off swim, by his own standards, to ride right through the pro men's field and take a big lead onto the hilly trail run of the legendary race. Not until mile 9 of 13 did Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack, alongside Spaniard Eneko Llanos, catch him.

"I ran with them for about a mile", said Lieto, "but the pace was intense. I laid it down on the bike. I think it may be a bike course record. I hoped that would be enough."

Congratulations to Chris, and coach Lance, for a big time 3rd place finish and 4:03 Half Ironman time.

Girl Power in St. Croix!

A big congratulations goes out to LifeSport Pro Team members Bree Wee and Amanda Lovato for their top 10 finishes at the St Croix Ironman 70.3!

Bree had an amazing swim exiting the water with Julie Dibens and picked up the swim prime. From here she rode with the leaders over the hilly course that features the famous “Beast” climb and showed her strength in the run to finish 3rd, almost running down Nina Kraft, who finished just 12 seconds in front. Amanda Lovato, in her first international race of the year, posted a very strong 8th place finish.

Be sure to check Amanda's and Bree's blog on out home page to read about their race and experiences.

Mensink Scores Top 10 in Korea!

LifeSport Pro Team member Lisa Mensink scored her first top 10 elite finish at a World Cup this past weekend in Tongyeong, Korea. Lisa, who represents the Netherlands, posted a 35.49 on the run, a career best, and earned her first qualifying standard for the Olympic Team. If she scores one more top 10 finish at a World Cup she will gain automatic selection and be headed to the Beijing Olympics this summer. Next up for Lisa is the World Cup in Richards Bay, South Africa this weekend. In the men’s race, Brent McMahon posted a strong 16th place finish and will look to improve on that in South Africa. Another congrats to LifeSporter Chris Thomas who posted the fastest overall amateur time at the very popular St. Anthony’s race in Tampa Bay.

To read Lisa’s race report click here

These Hawaii Gals Know How To Win

A homegrown Hawaii gal, Rachel Ross has grown up with the sands and waters of Honolulu as her playground. In her second age group win at the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship she again put her stamp on the women's 30-34 title. And the good news is, she gets to go back again in 2008 to try and make it three in a row.

Ross beat her 2006 winning time by a little over nine minutes, having shaved time off her swim and run (although her bike was a bit slower) to finish in 9:56:21. But that's another story.

Ross got a fever of 102 on Thursday afternoon of race week and spent most of Friday in bed, totally delirious, trying to let the fever run its course.

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Rachel Ross Dominates Ironman Arizona Linsey Corbin Posts 30 Minute Personal Best 9:34

In Ironman Arizona’s brutal winds and blistering heat, Rachel Ross felt right at home. The mother of three from Honolulu put home town heat training to good use, placing first overall age group woman by approximately 30 minutes. Her coach Paul Regensburg says, “Rachel had a tough time in the swim at Oceanside 70.3 a couple weeks ago, and she did a great job overcoming some pre-race swim fears to post a personal best Ironman swim. She showed her expertise in the heat on the bike and run, and demonstrated that she is one of the premier amateur Ironman athletes in the world”.

Linsey Corbin, the second year pro from Missoula Montana, had never broke 10 hours before.

Chris Lieto Reports on Win at Nautica South Beach Triathlon

It was great to be out racing again. I am excited for the year and being injury free as the season gets started. Racing in Miami was great. It was an opportunity for me to get some great speed racing in to hopefully raise my fitness to another level.

In the morning before the race I got to get a good warm up in and made sure I took my BASE Performance Amino and Water Supplement to get me ready for the race.

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Reporting from Lavacamp - Day 3

By LifeSport Coach Bruce Regensburg

The LavaCamp, being hosted by LifeSport, the Official Coaches of Ironman, began Day 3 on the picturesque “A” Bay (conveniently short for Anaehoomalu Bay) – the site of the Lavaman Race. Many of the athletes had smiles on their faces with reports from home of rain and snow. Janet Neilsen, a former member of the National Junior and U23 Team, demonstrated transitions for the group in the same location that the race transition area was located a few days earlier.

Go here for pictures and story

Reporting from Lavacamp - Day 2

By LifeSport’s Paul Regensburg

After a good nights sleep to recover from yesterdays epic ride, day two of the Lavacamp kicked off with a seminar on swim technique, drills, and open water strategies. The purpose of the seminar was to send the camp participants home with an understanding of unique differences in swimming in the open water versus the pool.

Go here for pictures and story

Reporting from Lavacamp - Day 1

By LifeSport’s Mark Overton

Once again the sunny Kohala coast on the Big Island of Hawaii is playing host to the annual LifeSport LavaCamp. The camp has quickly become one of the world’s premier triathlon camps attracting athletes from around the world looking for the perfect opportunity to get the jump on spring training or prepare for racing in the heat of Hawaii. The LavaCamp, as featured in Triathlete Magazine, also serves as the “Official Camp of the Hawaii 70.3” and covers much of the Ironman World Championships course. Most of the athletes attending competed this past Sunday in the Lavaman Triathlon so after a rest day on Monday it was time to get to work.

LifeSport at Lavaman

The Lavaman Triathlon is one of the most fun, beautiful, and unique triathlons on the planet. LifeSport and its coaches have been actively involved in Lavaman for many years and have become good friends with the Race Director, Gerry Rott, and her tireless race crew.

Go here for pictures and story

Photo: (left to right) Janet Nielsen, Jess Kirkwood, Coach Paul Regensburg, Bree Wee

Final Touches

There are many small details to attend to prior to leaving for an Ironman and sometimes your final training preparations can be derailed in the process. Having an objective supporter can help smooth the path, not only for the final few weeks of training, but also to assist with a tapering plan, a race plan and to provide an often-needed final confidence boost.

Your objective supporter is, of course, a coach. If you recruit someone with experience, you can relieve yourself of a significant amount of pre-race stress.

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Bree Wee: "I Have to do that!"

Bree Wee moved to Kona in 2003 as a school teacher, met her future husband, fell in love, got married, had a baby and lives a dream life on an island. End of story? Not quite. Her "happily ever after" story just got better and better.

Wee was into surfing and outrigger canoeing which was perfect for Hawaii. However, she watched Ironman going through her back yard and said, "I have to do that!"

Read more

Picture of health: Katya Meyers

For someone who has graced the cover of numerous magazines, US triathlete and fitness model Katya Meyers sure got a kick out of seeing a triathlon-focused magazine at the Sunshine Beach shops.

“My friend and I were laughing when we saw there were three different triathlon magazines on sale because at home you definitely wouldn’t see tri magazines at the local convenience store,” she said.

Triathlons may enjoy a bigger profile here than San Diego, but back home Katya’s own profile has been steadily on the rise thanks to the 27-year-old’s sponsored mix of modelling and competing. Read More

International Athletes Confirmed for the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series; Series Projects 100% Growth Victoria, Canada, 26 Mar 2008

LifeSport Coaching and Subaru Canada announced today that the 2008 Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series has confirmed the participation of several international pro and amateur athletes from across Canada, and internationally. It was also revealed that the 2006 Ironman Canada Champion, Jasper Blake will compete in the Series races. Read More

LifeSport in Australia

Some members of LifeSport's Elite Team are currently training in Noosa, Australia, under the leadership of coach Paul Regensburg.

Back: Janet Nielsen, Bree Wee, Ayesha Rollinson, Lisa Mensink, Front: Katya Meyers, Brent McMahon, and Kim Loeffler.

Lisa Bentley's Update From Clermont

Good morning from Clermont, Florida!

My three month training camp in the sunny south is coming to an end in about 10 days. Normally I would be tapering for Ironman Australia at this time, but instead I am continuing to build my base and get strong for my first races in May – either St. Croix 70.3 or the Florida 70.3.

I have posted a little update on my website and I have included it below for you here as well. Tonight, I am off to speak to the Army Triathlon Team from Westpoint – 16 cadets who are studying engineering at Westpoint as they master their military skills. There will be some interesting conversation for sure. I have also been doing motivational speaking having recently spoken to Canada’s agriculture executives from Viterra at Whistler in January and at a Cystic Fibrosis conference in Chicago in February. And I continue to work with Mitch and Janet Fraser with Ironman Muskoka 70.3 – a race which promises to challenge and leave athletes and spectators in awe.

Enjoy the update and thank you for your continued support. Read More

Bree Wee Named 2007 USAT Age Group Athlete of the Year!

LifeSport Athlete Bree Wee was chosen as USAT's Age Group Athlete of the Year in the "open category", under 40 years old.

Says her coach, Paul Regensburg, "Bree is a dedicated athlete and a joy to coach. She balances motherhood and teaching with Ironman training. Her commitment to her training program and perseverance earned her this award".

Bree starts 2008 as a first year pro. Go Bree!

Lieto, Wee Confirm for Lava Camp

Chris Lieto, one of the world's best Ironman athletes, has confirmed his attendance as a guest coach at the LavaCamp. The LavaCamp is the "Official Preparation Camp" of the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii race and will take place in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

Chris battled at the front of the Hawaii Ironman this past fall, eventually finishing sixth.

Bree Wee, the all-time amateur Ironman course record holder in Hawaii, also confirmed that she will be at LavaCamp to share her "local knowledge" of racing on the course. More...

Ironman Champion Jasper Blake to Defend Title

Victoria, Canada, 26 FEB 2008

LifeSport Coaching announced today that 2006 Ironman Canada Champion, Jasper Blake has confirmed that he will defend his title at the 2nd annual Subaru Shawnigan Lake International Half & Sprint Triathlon on May 25th, 2008. The race will serve as the Men's Championship for the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series and is Canada's first outdoor long distance triathlon of the year. The event provides a true “west coast experience” and is one of the most picturesque triathlons in the world.

The Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series is in its 2nd year and has grown to include the very popular and sold-out New Balance Victoria Half and a Series Seasons Pass that allows entry to all of the races. The early registration deadline for the Shawnigan Lake event is this Friday, February 29.

LifeSport Announces PowerBar as Official Partner
Victoria, Canada, 20 FEB 2008

LifeSport Coaching is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with PowerBar as the "Official Performance Nutrition of LifeSport". PowerBar has been the leader in performance nutrition since 1986 and teams up with LifeSport, a world leading triathlon coaching and event management organization, recognized as the "Official Coaches of Ironman Worldwide". Both companies share the common vision of helping athletes perform their best and ultimately achieve... 'Read More'

New Balance Announces LifeSport as Official Partner

Mississauga, ON. 10 JAN 2008

New Balance is pleased to announce it has signed on as official performance footwear and apparel supplier to LifeSport, one of the world’s premier triathlon coaching service and event management organizations. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Lifesport is recognized as the Official Coaches of Ironman worldwide.

"We feel very fortunate to be able to associate our brand with such a pioneering group of professionals” says Lorrie Owen-Turner, General Manager for New Balance Canada. “We are excited about our role in helping to support and nurture the development of the triathlon community in Canada." More...

Life Change for LifeSport Athlete Caroline Smith

As posted on Ironman.com
Working in medical sales, Caroline Smith walked into the pulmonologist's office, probably said hello to the receptionist, then headed down a hallway, near the nurse's station. Then she stopped and did a double take.

Smith looked at an X-ray. She was no lab technician but saw something in the picture that disturbed her. “Unusual growths,” she says. “My perception was this person had cancer.”

And Smith wondered. In three, five, 10 years, would that be her X-ray? A one-time national caliber junior swimmer who could have swam in college, Smith had tired of the disciplined lifestyle and said goodbye to twice-a-day workouts. Having attended an all-girls Catholic high school, she opted for the college party scene, first at the University of Alabama, then LSU.

She drank.

“Miller Lite, really, whatever,” says Smith, who grew up in New Orleans and now lives in suburban Mandville, La. “Just go out, drink beer, fish, hang out at the bar. Stay up late. Sleep late.”

She smoked, sometimes two packs a day.

She gained weight, from 130 pounds to 165.

The lifestyle is not unusual in college, but here was Smith, then 30, still living irresponsibly, looking at that X-ray and saying, “Is that what I’m doing to myself?” More...

Report from Chile. Linsey Corbin 2nd at 70.3!

Hello from South America!

I am writing from my cabana in Pucon, Chile to let you know that I came second yesterday in the Pucon 70.3 triathlon!! It was a tough fight to the finish, and the challenging course put my fitness to the test… but it looks as though 2008 is off to a great start, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I arrived in Chile last Wednesday, and Pucon has lived up to be one of the greatest places on earth. I am already looking forward to next year. There is a large volcano that is always smoking and the town of Pucon is a lively place full of energy. Perhaps the most notable thing was how excited the town was to be hosting the triathlon. All week felt like an Ironman week, there were so many people in town training and preparing for the race. On Friday was the children’s race, and some 500 participants were there! It was unbelievable. I spent last week preparing on the course for the race… I had heard that this is one of the prettiest triathlons in the world, and now I agree! More...

Run for Joy, with Lucy Smith: All Consuming Passion.

I have just finished reading No Shortcuts to the Top; Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks by the American climber Ed Viesturs. I love climbing books. I'm not sure what the pull is as I am not a big mountain climber.

As an athlete, and as one who has been pursuing dreams and goals for over 20 years, I relate to the all consuming passion to climb, for while I have never been the most obsessed runner out there, my life has been running and training for almost as long as I can remember. When I hit 40 last April, I thought that maybe some magic age-related psychology would kick in and that I would start to feel less passion. Maybe I could kick back a bit, eat more potato chips and drink more wine More...

Meet Bree Wee. (Slowtwitch.com)

As posted on Slowtwitch.com,
by Herbert Krabel

27 year old Bree Wee from Kailua-Kona Hawaii was the top age grouper and 13th overall female at the 2007 Ford Ironman World Champions in Hawaii. Meet Bree here.

ST: Bree, what have you done this year to get ready for Kona?

Bree: The best thing I did this year was getting a coach! Paul Regensburg from Lifesport took me under his wing and all I had to do was the work. It was great not having to think about what to do and when to do it. He did the brain work & I did the physical work. I also did a couple training camps, one in Canada and one in Kona. For Kona I had to learn to swim, bike, and run longer. It was a blast but a mental challenge too.

More...

Xtri.com Interview with Kim Loeffler.

As posted on Xtri.com...
Kim Loeffler is a pro triathlete who lives and trains in Vermont - so you know she gets mental toughness points for training through those winters! Xtri recently had the chance to sit down with Kim to talk about how she got into triathlon, her '07 season, and what's in store...

1. Tell us about your childhood – what it was like growing up with your twin sister, what kind of sports you were involved in, etc.

I grew up in Long Island NY with 4 siblings; 2 brothers, my twin, and an older sister. Kelly and I were little tom boys. We played sports with our brothers and all of their friends; roller hockey, baseball, dirt bike racing, just about anything! We could not sit still for a minute. We ran cross country and track in H.S. and then at the University of Massachusetts. I feel so blessed to be a twin. It’s a special bond that is very hard to describe. Imagine having a sister, best friend, training partner, and personal cheerleader all in one person.More...

Slowtwitch talks to Linsey Corbin

As posted on Slowtwitch.com
Montana resident Linsey Corbin won the 2007 Ironman 70.3 Baja in her first pro season. Ironman Hawaii though did not go as planned, she checks in with Slowtwitch.
ST: Linsey, overall you must be very pleased with your 2007 season. What do you consider your highlight?
Linsey: I wouldn’t say I had just one highlight, but a few. It was my first year racing professionally, so to be able to accomplish something people dream of was great. One highlight is that I got to go to some great places (Mexico, Canada, New York, Hawaii…) and meet some great people that I have actually become close friends with. To run a 3 hour 10 minute marathon at Lake Placid was a highlight, as well as winning my first 70.3 in Baja.

ST: Do you mind talking to us what happened to you in Kona this year? More...

LifeSport at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship

LifeSport coaching is the official coaching of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

Enjoy pictures from Clearwater, Florida here...

Lisa Bentley: Ironman Life

As posted on Ironman.com
You don’t get to be one of the world’s most successful Ironman athletes if you’re not competitive, if you don’t have an incredible drive to get to the finish line ahead of your competition.

Lisa Bentley has won 10 Ironman races. She finished third at the Ford Ironman World Championship last year, second here in Clearwater just three weeks later. She won Ironman Canada last August, despite an Achilles tendon that most of us would consider kaput …

Bentley finished 15th in Kona. It was a day full of health issues. She’s not a woman who ever quits anything, so finishing was never in question. She walked through much of the marathon in Australia earlier this year. A few years ago she had to be pulled off the course in Kona during the marathon. Turns out she had a ruptured appendix. She wanted to keep going. More...

Chris Lieto Reports on Hawaii

I am back at home in Danville, and starting to unwind from all the travel. Kona was great this year. The whole experience was awesome starting with training in Hawaii in September to the 2 weeks before the race training in Kona. It was a great transition for me from my last bit of training and the taper and mental prep heading into race day. Race day came, and I was feeling very relaxed and calm about the day ahead. I never got caught up in the hype and stress of the event. My attitude was much more relaxed and the little things didn't bother me. I was there to enjoy myself and my family and race the best I could. I knew there was nothing more I could do to get ready for the day so I was confident with the preparation I put in and what was awaiting me that day. More...

Lucy Smith 4th at World Championships!

Lucy Smith had her 5th career top-5 finish at World Long Distance Duathlon Championships this weekend in Richmond Virginia.

Lucy ran amongst the top 3 in the opening 15km run, along with eventual winner Catriona Morrison of Great Britain. After dropping to 5th on the non-drafting 80km bike leg, she rallied back with a strong 7.5km run off the bike to move back to 4th place.

"My legs were buckling and I felt like I was going to pass out at the end" said Smith after her maximal effort. "But I raced a good race tactically, and felt very happy with my result."

Lucy is once again the top ranked North American Duathlete.

1) Catriona Morrison GBR
2) Michelle Lee GBR
3) Yvonne Van Vlerken NED
4) Lucy Smith CAN
5) Ulrike Shwalbe GER
6) Joan Blaafoss NED
7) Isabelle Ferrer FRA
8) Katheryn Kasischke USA
9) Gabriel Hnilkova-Jenks USA
10) Michelle Parsons GBR

LifeSport Athletes in Kona

Every October athletes, coaches and supporters make the pilgrimage to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for the Ironman World Championship. It was no different for the coaches and athletes of LifeSport Coaching.

The coaches arrived on October 3rd and immediately set about completing the final details for the first Ironman World Championship Preparation Camp.

LifeSport Pro athletes Lisa Bentley, Chris Lieto, Kim Loeffler and Linsey Corbin all attended and either contributed or learned how to race various aspects of the course.

The campers were introduced to the specific parts of the course – the climb to Hawi on the bike, the Energy Lab on the run course and, of course, the swim course and the famous, but very compact, Dig-me Beach.

Race Day

Race day started early for both athletes and coaches. The day started off relatively cool but was soon to warm up. As we drove down to the start the few people we saw walking turned into small groups which turned into crowds. As the crowds got thicker, the nervous energy was palpable – everyone wanted their athlete to do well.

We had passes to the pier, which juts out paraller with Alii Drive. The sea wall was full and the pier was even more full.

The pro athletes started their warmup just as the sun’s first rays were touching the white church spire. After 15 minutes or so, they were brought into line and the cannon set them off on their 3800 meter journey. The age group athletes brought up the rear guard. When they were lined up the athletes in their vivid green swim caps looked like so many green apples bobbing on a pond. After the cannon fired for the second time, the calm water of Kailua Bay was turned to foam and spray as some of the fittest people on the planet set off an a lonely 140.6 mile journey, surrounded by 1500 friends

After a 51:37 swim which brought him out of the water in 8th place, Chris Lieto charged through the bike in first place until around the 90 mile mark where he was overtaken by Danish powerhouse Tjorborne Sindballe. Sindballe led out the run but was overtaken by Chris after about 5km. However, a fast running pack led by Craig Alexander and eventual winner Chris McCormack ran Lieto down. After a tough fight, Chris hung on for sixth place with a final time of 8hrs 25 minutes.

Age group athlete and Kona resident Bree Wee, started her day with a 56 minute swim, a 5:21 bike ride and a 3:24 marathon for 13th place overall, a 9:47 finish and the women’s age group record. Bree in her first full season of training and her first Ironman race shows great promise, and under the tutelage of her coach Paul Regensburg will undoubtedly shine in the pro ranks in she decides to go in that direction.

Vince Kelly, who is coached by Lance Watson, probably made history of a kind when he swam 1:20 using only one arm. Vince had injured his shoulder a few months prior to Kona and was only able to swim 4 times in the lead up to the race. After this unlikely, and exhausting, start Vince worked his way through the field for a 12:15 finish and 6th place in the CEO Challenge.

Brian Boyle started working with LifeSport 3 months ago after Ironman/NBC approached LifeSport. 3 years ago Brian had been hit by a truck while driving. After his accident, he spent 2 months in a coma with several serious injuries, and was pronounced legally dead 8 times. Training for triathlon is demanding in both time and energy, and in a short time Brian did remarkably well, effectively starting from scratch in both the bike and run. Not only that, but Brian and his parents were at the beck and call of the media during race week, which could only add to the normal stress of that week. However, Brian did remarkably well in finishing in 14:42. Those of us who have been involved with Brian are proud to be members of Team Boyle!

Congratulations to all our LifeSport age group athletes racing. Some top finishers were:

Chris Lieto (6th, 8:25)
Bree Wee (1st AG, 13th OA, 9:47)
Lisa Bentley (15th, 9:51)

Kim Loeffler (21st, 10:00)

Cheryl Murphy (28th, 10:06)

Lucy Smith Sets Course Record: Victoria International Half Marathon.

Lucy Smith won the Victoria International Half Marathon this past weekend in a quick 1:16:11 to set a course record by :01!

This is a record she previously set 2 years ago.

Lucy will use this fitness to gear up for the World Long Distance Duathlon Championships this weekend in Virginia, and the NY Marathon in 3 weeks.

Way to go Lucy!

LifeSport at Ironman. In Pictures.

It was an action packed week in Kona.

Check out the pictures here...

Lisa Bentley Reflects. Ironman Worlds 2007

Hello from Hawaii!

I had two themes for my race yesterday – being grateful and being an angel. I was grateful for the opportunity to race – grateful for my talents – grateful for the ability to race. And I had the opportunity to be Carter’s angel. To be part of his dream of crossing the finish line at an Ironman. After a great swim and solid ride, I was having a very good marathon until stomach upset led to about 8 pit stops – 4 of which happened within 1 km. It would have been very easy for me to have walked the last 20 km, but Ironman is about being the best you can be with the hand you have been dealt. Either you change your circumstances or you accept them and do the best you can with those set of circumstances. And so, when I wasn’t stopped at the side of the road, I ran as well as I could and I continued to hydrate and take in calories. Months of therapy and training and sacrifice and pain tolerance had gone into my preparation and I was going to finish what I started. Besides, I was more than an Ironman on this day. I was an angel. Carter, the dear little 7 year old boy with CF, was waiting for me with 100 meters to go. He ran so fast and we crossed the finish line together. The truth is, Carter was my little angel too.

I finished in 15th place yesterday and that was the best that I could do yesterday. No regrets. No excuses. And no feeling sorry for me. I fulfilled my dream and my life’s goal. I made a difference in the life of one person in this world.

Have a great day today! Lisa

The Lighter Side of the Hawaii Ironman. By Paul Regensburg

As the big day is now only hours away, I reflect upon the wonderful position I have had of helping the athletes prepare to conquer the grand-daddy of all multi-sport goals; the Hawaii Ironman. As a coach, I feel like I'm along side my athletes for the journey as they go through the highs and lows of achieving this amazing feat. The week leading up the event has been action packed full of clinics, events, media, appearances, e-mails, phone calls, and athlete meetings. Despite being very busy and feeling like I am also lining up for the race on Saturday, the fact that I am not in the race gives me the ability to really see the some of the lighter happenings that are going on around this great event. Yesterday was one of those days...

7:30am Floating Ocean Espresso Bar:

Along with one of my fellow LifeSport coaches, Alister Russell, I started the day by coaching a swim clinic at the Kona pier. The pier was a buzz of activity with hundreds of athletes preparing for the race as we gave some last minute tips on how to navigate the Ironman swim course. We then went through methods of warm-up specific to this course and the group was given 10 minutes to get in the water and rehearse their race day warm-up routine. We joined the athletes in the water on our kayaks, one of the greatest ways to coach on the open water, where we practiced treading water, race starts, and drafting. Earlier in the day a number of athletes had told us about a floating ocean espresso bar on
the race course. Could this be true? More...

Kona Diary Day 4. By Lance Watson

Have you ever noticed on race week how hypersensitive you become to your body? It's an interesting dynamic. In training often you will expect to be tired or just "take what you get" as far as body performance. You will usually expect feel somewhere between good and average, and sometimes not-so-good. On race week though, it's easy to wonder each time out "I hope I will feel good today", and look for confidence each time out. It's actually common to feel sluggish during your taper sessions. As you rest, your body refuels and muscles store glycogen. Glycogen absorbs water and that can leave you feeling a little heavy. You may even notice it if you step on the scale. The good thing is that you are fuelled up and hydrated, and come race day you will be ready to go! More...

Kona Diary, Day 3. By Lance Watson

A key to success at an important race is creating an environment that is comfortable for you. One of the challenges is that if it is a new place, often you can be out of sorts for a day or two until you get your bearings. This can take energy away from your race and add stress to your taper. It's good to travel early. Most top athletes in come in at least 10 days early or before that so they can settle in.

The Ironman in Kona is the "A" race for just about everyone here. With that comes some (often self-imposed) pressures. I do notice each year that many athletes will travel with their own little support networks and that is a great idea. Chris Lieto and Lisa Bentley, athletes whom I coach, often will bring their own massage person or physio. People that are familiar with what they need to get their body primed for the big day. They also bring their favourite training partner. Lisa is training with Craig Alexander. Chris is training with his brother Matt Lieto (photo, left). More...

Kona Diary, Day 2. By Lance Watson

The LifeSport coaching crew arrived here last Wednesday in preparation for the “Official Ironman World Championship Camp”. The camp was well attended by athletes from around the world and a great success. It was also a good refresher for me personally on the finer points of the Ironman course

Yesterday we loaded up the truck with athletes and bikes and ventured out to Waikoloa, which is about 25 miles out of town, to start our preparation ride. I felt it was an important experience for the athletes to experience the climb to Hawi, which parallels the ocean for a good while as it rises at a gradual grade for a good 30 minute climb or so. It’s here that the tradewinds can blow the strongest, generally as a cross wind that falls of the hillside out towards the sea. More...

Lance Watson's Kona Diary on Triathlete Magazine

Coach Lance Watson will be posting regular updates on Triathlete Magazine online. Here is the first installment:

Yesterday as we wound down our Ironman Camp, Lisa Bentley was gracious enough to speak to the group. One of the great things about Lisa is her candour in sharing her experiences and emotions about her racing career. While it’s easy to put accomplished athletes on a pedestal and figure they must be super human to achieve what they do, it is refreshing to hear about some of the struggles and mental barriers she goes through on race day, just like everyone else. More...

Chris in Kona. Lieto's Hawaii Blog.

LifeSport athlete Chris Lieto chronicles his experiences and final training sessions prepared by his coach Lance Watson.

To read Chris' awesome blog, go here...

Run For Joy, with Lucy Smith

Sunday morning.

A silver green sea rolls in under the light gray sky and yellow leaves are scattered over the lawn, remnants of the first of the mild Victoria storms we get each autumn. Dark streaks of massed kelp and seaweed heave in the rolling waves and in the distance, San Juan Island is misted over.

I'm getting ready for my long run of the week, a run of over two and half hours of marathon training. It's been ten years since I trained for my last full marathon, though I have done three marathons in Ironman in this time. This distance training is tiring, more physically taxing on my body than Ironman, which is why, probably, I chose to divert my attention from marathoning back in 1996. More...

Racing and Training! Bree Wee Visits the West Coast.

Bree Wee is an exceptional age group triathlete from Hawaii. Bree finished 3rd overall at the Honu 70.3 this year (behind World Champions Samantha McGlone and Michellie Jones) and had carved out a 6 minute lead at the Subaru Vancouver International Half Iron on September 16th. Her next race is the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Here is an account of her visit to Vancouver and her training camp with coach Paul Regensburg in Victoria afterwards. More...

Lisa Bentley Reflects on Ironman Canada

When I crossed the finish line at Ironman Australia walking, I knew that I had hit a pretty big speed bump in my 18 year career. But sport is a powerful goal and the heart has incredible will. On August 26th, I crossed to the other side of that speed bump. I finished Subaru Ironman Canada running and smiling from ear to ear and winning my 11th career Ironman.

After spending two and half months off of running, my secret wish during every therapy session was to get on the start line of Subaru Ironman Canada. Once I started running again, I knew that I would have to train smarter, to be flexible with my routine and to maximize every single session. I have always said that success isn’t measured in victory alone but in all the bits and pieces that get you to the start and finish lines. I truly just wanted to be part of the Ironman race environment and crossing the finish line in first place was secondary to the privilege of racing. More...

A Great Day! Linsey Corbin reports on winning in Vancouver.

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say great news: all things are right on track for Kona! I have been putting in a hard training block in Bend, Oregon to prepare for Kona. I decided to venture up to Vancouver, BC, Canada to participate in the first ever Vancouver International Half Ironman and I had a great day coming home with the win! As impressive as the win was, I think more exciting was my performance! I raced to a half Ironman personal best of 4 hours and 20 minutes and ran my fastest ever: 1 hour and 18 minutes!! These are all fantastic indicators for the big show down in Hawaii in less than a month. I really can't wait.

LifeSport Coaching put on a greatseries of races this summer: the West Coast Triathlon series, and Vancouver was the last stop. Mark my word... this Vancouver race is going to be big in years to come.

More...

Corbin & Yastrebov win Subaru Vancouver International Half Iron

September 16, 2007 (Vancouver, BC)

Linsey Corbin, of the United States, and Ukraine's Team Timex Member Andriy Yastrebov reigned victorious at the inaugural Subaru Vancouver International Half Iron today. The beautiful view of Vancouver and the coastal mountains from Jericho Beach served as the perfect backdrop for the third and final stop of the Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series. More...

The event got a great start with the Kids Fun Run on Saturday afternoon along the beautiful shores of Spanish Banks. It quickly became a 3 man race with Yastrebov, Ironman Canada podium finisher Christopher Brown, and Victoria's Trevor Wurtele all exiting the water together. The race stayed close on the bike and then narrowed down to Lastrebov and Brown racing side by side on the run.

Linsey Corbin rode strongly and finished with a blazing run split of 1:18:14 to take the Women's title and an incredible 6th place overall finish in a time of 4:20:29. In second place was Vermont's Kim Loeffler and in third was Kristin Baker from Edmonton, AB.

Complete report, here...

Results, Half Iron, here
Results, Sprint, here
Kids Run Participants, here
PHOTOS by Mark Creery

The age group athletes had a great day and experience as well. Of particular note was that over 100 Half Iron Competitors were thrilled to receive an official Ironman Helmet for their accomplishment!

Thank you Ironman Helmets!

LifeSport at Ironman Canada in Pictures

Ironman Canada was a great event with lots of fun to be had, and great performances all around.

Enjoy a couple of pictures of the day at Ironman Canada.

Go here...

IRONMAN CANADA: LifeSport Women Dominate Pros!

Four LifeSport women finished in the top 10 at Ironman Canada in the professional division this weekend.