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SARA’S SPIN
The Olympic Games will take place in London in August 2012. Between now and the Games, elite triathletes from the U.S. and other countries will travel around the globe to earn valuable points to qualify to compete in the Olympics. The International Triathlon Union is the governing body for the sport and hosts World Championship, World Cup and Continental Cup events on nearly every continent of the world.


My favorite ITU race is on the island of Ishigaki, Japan. The people of Ishigaki have hosted an international triathlon for 16 years. The swim is in beautiful blue water, the bike loops through town, and the run is along the waterfront. In Ishigaki in 2006, I set the fastest swim time in a World Cup event. This past April, three-time Olympian Hunter Kemper was the first American to win in Ishigaki.


Traveling and seeing the sights is my favorite part of being a professional triathlete. I go on an adventure and explore the countryside after each race. I have been snorkeling and zip lining after races in Mexico, hiking in the mountains in Austria, whale watching in Canada and surfing in Hawaii. During my adventures, I get to meet the local people and experience a totally different culture.


In March, I competed in an ITU race in my hometown of Clermont, Fla. That was the shortest distance I ever traveled to a race — just 7 miles down the road! I enjoyed seeing all my triathlon competitors and friends exploring my city before and after the race. If you had a triathlon in your hometown, what would you do after the race to explore? Where would you take your friends on an adventure?


Don’t forget to follow your favorite elite triathletes on their journey to the London Olympics in 2012. Check out their personal websites, usatriathlon.org and triathlon.org, for all the exciting details!


Sara McLarty is an elite U.S. triathlete. Learn more about Sara at www.usantc.com or www.saramclarty.com


 


Hunter's Hints
RUNNING FOR GOLD
Winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games has been a dream of mine ever since I was 8 years old. When I was a kid, I wore a hat that read, “Goin’ for Gold!” In 1994, it was announced that triathlon was going to appear in the Olympics in 2000. It was at this time I knew that my Olympic dream could become reality.


The running portion of triathlon in the Olympics has become the most important part of the race. Because in the Olympics drafting is legal and we bike in packs, most of the races come down to a run. The saying in our sport has now become “running for gold.”


Here are few tips to help improve your run:


1. It is very important that you have quick leg turnover when you run. When cycling you need to have a cadence of 90 rpm or higher; the same goes for running. Even when you go for a slow jog, it is important to try and maintain 90 rpm. It is not a coincidence that the fastest marathoners in the world have the fastest leg turnover.


2. Run with proper form. The longer your foot is on the ground the slower your turnover will be. A good way to experience the proper way to strike the ground is to practice by running barefoot on hard pavement for a short distance. When you run barefoot on a sidewalk, I guarantee that you will run with better form because it is painful to strike the pavement with poor form. Make slow improvements with your foot strike because your calves will be very sore at first if you are doing this correctly.


3. Relax your shoulders. A lot of runners begin to tighten their shoulders and this takes up a lot of energy. Every couple of minutes, give yourself a mental reminder to relax your upper body.


In order to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, athletes will have to produce one of the fastest run splits in the race. The dream I had as an 8 year old has not changed, and I hope that I can run for gold in 2012.


May all your transitions be fast and smooth!


Hunter Kemper is a three-time Olympian. Visit his website at www.hunterkemper.com.


 


Want your profile in the magazine?


Answer the questions in the profiles you see on page 3 and email your answers (and a close-up picture) to communications@usatriathlon.org with “youth profile” in the subject line.


2 USA TRIATHLON SUMMER 2011 Youth

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