USA Triathlon has announced its elite athletes of the year for 2003.  Several athletes from the Mid-Atlantic Region received honors.  Greg Watson (Newark, Del.) and Desiree Ficker (Potomac, Md.) were named elite duathletes of the year and Cecily Tynan (Philadelphia, Pa.) was named elite rookie duathlete of the year.  In addition, Andy Potts (Princeton, N.J.) was named elite rookie triathlete of the year.
 
 

In this column last year I wrote about sunblock dreams around this time of year…and I spent the entire summer dreaming, waiting, and looking for said sun.  Here’s hoping we all have a better go-around with the sun in 2004.
One thing to look forward to:  Coming back strong this season will be the Greater Atlantic Multisport Series, brought to you by Neil Semmel’s Piranha Sports (http://www.piranha-sports.com/SeriesRules.html). Much like last year the series will be made up of six races throughout the center of the Mid-Atlantic region for 2004. 
 

Registration is now open for the 9th Annual Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004.  Dewey Beach is one of the most popular multisport events in the Mid-Atlantic region and consists of a 1/2 mile ocean swim, a 16 mile bike leg, and a 3.5 mile run.
 
Although it has been in the past, the Dewey Beach race is NOT the regional sprint championship this year as previously reported.  This year, that honor goes to the Lums Pond Triathlon, to be held on Sunday, August 15th in Bear, Del.  For more information on the Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon, please visit www.deweybeachtriathlon.com.  For more information on the Lums Pond Triathlon & Duathlon, visit www.piranha-sports.com.

Last month we discussed the temperature of the air you breathe—ever think about the content of that precious air?  Like that sweet smell of car exhaust, the lousy smell of bus exhaust, and the big truck exhaust?  So what is in this air?  How much difference can there really be between country air and city air?  You may not be too surprised…
 
The science of speed combines two expert perspectives on seasonal triathlon testing, training, and racing and is sponsored by ELITE Testing (a division of ELITE Health & Wellness) (http://www.elitetesting.com), located in Philadelphia.
 

Tara L. DeSorbo, R.D. joins us each month to answer your nutrition questions.  If you have a question that you would like to see answered by Tara in this newsletter, please e-mail her at nutritionalhs@hotmail.com. 
 
This month, Tara answers the following question posed by a Mid-Atlantic Monthly subscriber:
 
Q:        I am more of a seasonal triathlete. In the summer, when my training volume is high, my bodyweight stays in check. However, I notice that I tend to put on a few pounds during the winter months. Before building up my base, I would like to shed a few pounds. Any suggestions?
 

The Mid-Atlantic Monthly Web Site
http://www.midatlanticmonthly.com
 
USAT Mid-Atlantic Web Site
http://www.usat-ma.org
 
USA Triathlon Web Site
http://www.usatriathlon.org
 
Mid-Atlantic Region Rankings
http://www.lin-mark.com/usat_rank/index.asp
 
Mid-Atlantic Region Club Directory
http://www.lin-mark.com/usatclubsma.htm
 
World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman)
http://www.ironmanlive.com
 
Duathlon.com
http://www.duathlon.com