Clear skies and calm waters greeted participants in the 4^th annual Escape From Fort Delaware Triathlon on Saturday, June 19, 2004, as they boarded the ferry out to Fort Delaware, a former Civil War Prison on Pea Patch Island.  After a cannon start, the racers swam 1500 meters in the Delaware River back to the "mainland".  Escape From Fort Delaware is one of the Mid-Atlantic Region's most popular events, largely due to this unique and entertaining swim course.  Thanks to relatively calm conditions, almost all competitors were able to complete the swim back to the mainland – unlike last year, when stormy conditions and strong currents caused more than 90 competitors to be pulled from the river.  In the men's race, pro-triathlete Otho Keller, Cockeysville, MD, returned to successfully defend his title from last year. 
 

The EagleMan Half Ironman Triathlon traditionally attracts an impressive field of elite athletes from around the world, and this year’s event was no exception.  Australian native Christopher Legh and two-time Ironman World Champion Natascha Badmann of Switzerland dominated this year’s event, which was held on Sunday, June 13, 2004 in Cambridge, Maryland. In the course of winning the event, Badmann came within minutes of setting a new half-Ironman women’s record.

The Mid-Atlantic Region has implemented a new scoring for the 2004 Mid-Atlantic Regional Club Championship race.  According to Mid-Atlantic Region Club Chairperson, Andrew Southerling, the new format is a “trial run”.  “Depending on the feedback we receive,” commented Southerling, “we will make a post-race evaluation for how we would like to proceed next year.”  This year’s championship race will be held on July 10, 2004 at the Diamond in the Rough Triathlon in Perryville, Maryland. 
 

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’ve been reading a lot of information and I’ve read a few books about the various diets such as, South Beach, Atkins, and Zone.  As an athlete, I realize that my nutritional requirements are a little different from the average person.  I was wondering if any of these diets could be useful to me?
 
John – Baltimore, Maryland
 

Each month, “Hurricane” Bob Mina joins us to preview a race scheduled to occur in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
 
The thermometer is getting out of hand.  You haven’t needed arm-warmers in a long time.  Of course, sometimes you need 2 bottles to get through a 10-mile run, but isn’t it great to finally be in July?  Long days, evening thunderstorms to give those rides and runs a little kick, and sunsets that don’t come until after 8:00pm?   July is the reward you get for surviving January.
 
Do you have any big races coming up?  Are you training for a late summer Ironman, or something somewhat shorter (and more sane)?  If so, there’s a great opportunity to get in a great test effort on a course that is guaranteed to show you a little bit of everything.
 
Piranha Sports will be hosting their 2nd Annual Diamond in the Rough Triathlon on Saturday, July 10^th in Perryville, Maryland.

 
Last month we discussed blood lipid profiles – the components that show a portion of our risk of cardiovascular disease.  This month we will follow up with some diet recommendations on how to improve your cholesterol profile (up to one-third) – without medications if possible! 
 
 
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.

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