Astronomer believes in reaching for stars

Astronomer believes in reaching for stars
By Trey Garman: Special to The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 27, 2009

Nick Kaiser, a 55-year-old astronomer at the University of Hawai'i, has perhaps the most ambitious professional and personal to-do list on the planet.

At work, he is tasked with saving the world by "finding killer asteroids before they find us." As the head of the Pan-STARRS project, "Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System", Kaiser and his team at the UH Institute for Astronomy use innovative technology to discover asteroids and comets that might collide with Earth.

At play, he's raced in every major swim, run, and triathlon held in Hawai'i this year, including the HURT 100K, Maui Marathon, Lavaman Triathlon, Honolulu Triathlon, Honu 70.3, Tinman, MountainMan, Kauai Marathon, Ironman and XTERRA World Championships.

He was one of five from Hawai'i to complete the "double" of finishing the Ironman and XTERRA in successive weeks.

Now Kaiser plans to accomplish another double — the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship half-marathon on Dec. 6, followed a week later by the Honolulu Marathon.

Making this all the more fascinating is that he just started racing five years ago.

"I'm an obsessive type," said Kaiser, a Brit who earned his PhD from Cambridge in 1982. "I realized I was quite good at distance and just wanted to see how far I could take it."

So far he has "taken it" to everyone in his age group, winning numerous awards for being the fastest in some of the toughest races. Kaiser also has a sub 3-hour marathon, posting a 2:58:08 at the London Marathon in 2007.

"We like to tease him that he's still running on fresh legs, and that's how he can do all these things," joked one of his ultra-running friends, Bob McAllaster, from HURT (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team). "Seriously though, he's a pretty incredible guy and it seems like he just doesn't stop."

The adventurous XTERRA trail run at Kualoa Ranch will be Kaiser's 20th race this year, and he's done more than 100 endurance races since he started competing in 2004.

How does he do it?

"I get up really early to run most weekdays. I have a pool right by my office I can jump into at lunch time and I bike (and sleep) on the weekends," Kaiser said. "I'm lucky to have a very supportive family that thinks I'm nuts, and a job that involves a lot of thinking. Long training runs are a good time to concentrate."

Shoppers, take your mark, RUN!

November 20, 2009
Shoppers, take your mark, RUN!

Idiotarod debuts in Asheville

By Lindsay Nash I take5 Correspondent

What's speedy, squeaky, covered in spandex and pushed all over?

The racers Sunday in Asheville's first Idiotarod, a 5K shopping cart race aimed to raise money for a local charity.

The event, something akin to an Alaskan dog sled race, will require costumed teams of five to push or pull a shopping cart through about three miles of obstacles, challenges and community service tasks.

“The most appealing thing is not the costumes — not the spandexed Batmans and Supermans or pilots with their costumed ‘airplane' carts — or all the silliness in general. It's the community involvement,” said race director Richard Handy.

Handy, who moved to the area from New York City, where he first participated in an idiotarod, is using the money garnered from the race to benefit his own charity — the 12 Day Project.

The charity focuses on organizing volunteers to assist with projects across Western North Carolina one weekend a month.

The Idiotarod's instructions are simple enough. Dress in costume. Bring a shovel, a shopping cart, a hammer and $10 in singles. And, oh yeah, don't be afraid to lose a little dignity.

The race will start at 11 a.m. Sunday at 900 Riverside Drive in the tractor-trailer parking area of the Silver-Line Plastics Corp.

The participants will be required to buy groceries — which will later be donated to MANNA FoodBank — help on a construction site, do a little work in a community garden and more.

“My intention is to use the race as community development,” said Handy, 34, of Black Mountain. “It's amazing. You're having the most ridiculous, absurd, hysterical time dressed like complete idiots all while helping the community.”

It was those elements of charity, fun and silliness that attracted Rosman runner and high school teacher Sara Cathey, 50, to the event.

“We were looking for a fun event,” said Cathey, who is running with four other members from her local running group. “We're dressing up in a wrestling theme — masks, capes and things like that.”

The race has created a lot of buzz around town and in other small running groups like Cathey's.

Another team has formed from the Black Mountain Runners, a group that gets together and runs a couple of times a week.

“We're just going to have a lot of fun,” said Jen Marsh, of the Black Mountain group who named the team Super Turbolicious Divas, or “STDS,” and plan on wearing lots of spandex, capes and knee-high socks.

Lindsay Nash writes about entertainment for take5. E-mail lindsaynash@yahoo.com.


Additional Facts
IF YOU GO

What: The Idiotarod, a 5K shopping cart race.

When: 11 a.m. Sunday.

Where: Riverside Drive, Asheville.

How much: $20 per person, or $100 per team of five.

The after-party: Wedge Brewing Co., featuring Zach Blew and Levi Douglas performing live. Feel free to shake your spandex, dress, fish costume, toga or whatever the heck else you might be wearing.

Information: ashevilleidiotarod@gmail.com.

On the Net: http://www.ashevilleidiotarod.com/.

Chariots of wire

Asheville Idiotarod pits shopping carts, costumes and trickery, all in the name of fun
by Alli Marshall in Vol. 16 / Iss. 17 on 11/18/2009

There are athelete-punishing marathons, feats of spandexed agility and moments of community-bolstering brilliance. And then there's the Idiotarod, which is kindof none of the above and, then again, kindof all of the above.

Serious runners booty: Costumed racers know that the Idiotarod is more about the fun than the run. Photo by Nicholas Noyes.
"It's basically organized chaos and you're laughing for an entire hour and a half," says Richard Handy, who is putting together the Asheville Idiotarod, the first local version of the 5K shopping-cart race.

Handy, who lived in New York City for seven years prior to moving to Asheville last year, has competed in the N.Y.Idiotarod. "It's a staple thing up there," he says. Based vaguely on the extreme sport Iditarod — the annual 1,150 mile sled dog race across Alaska — the Idiotarod trades sleds for grocery carts and physical fitness for goofy costumes and sabatoguing pranks. Says Web site http://www.ashevilleidiotarod.com: "The Idiotarod is essentially the same thing [as the Iditarod], except we'll cover like a 5K and instead of dogs we use people (idiots) and instead of sleds, we use shopping carts (super pods of wonder), which are extremely efficient, by the way. So essentially it's the same, but according to my mom it's way cooler — and my mom knows."

And now Asheville take its place among a dozen or so other Idiotarod locales. "2007 was the last one I was in in New York.," Handy says. "The cops were always trying to figure out what was going on, so the organizers would switch the location at the last minute. There was an unorganized start; you had to find your own route so people were on every street just trying to get to the finish line."

In costumes. In teams of five. Pushing a shopping cart decorated to look like anything from a trailer to a cow. And then there were the saboteurs: "Everyone was shooting everything from shaving cream to water balloons to super-soakers," Handy remembers.

Unlike the N.Y. race, the Asheville Idiotarod has the City's stamp of approval. That's not meant to detract from the event's unorthodox leanings. "Acceptable trickery," according to the rules list, includes "Sending over a team of supermodels, male or female, to distract [competitors] from their allowable start time." Another example? "The team in D.C. one year set up a fake road block claiming to be officials, and would not let teams go until they had sung a Britney Spears song on the street." Being on the up-and-up is intended to further the good works resulting from all the hijinx. The Asheville Idiotarod was envisioned by Handy as a means to help his other passion: Nonprofit advancement.

Proceeds from the race benefit the newly-forming 12 Day Project (also masterminded by Handy), which structures and promotes community and nonprofit volunteerism. The volunteer projects take place one weekend each month. Volunteers donate six hours of their time for which they receive a discount benefit card that can be used at local businesses.

"Of all the places in the country, this seems like a place that could benefit from something like that," Handy says of the program. "A lot of people here like to support local businesses. This encourages ownership in community." Along with the volunteerism and buying local aspects, the 12 Day Project will also include a barter and freecycle (a network where people can get rid of or acquire cast off items for free) programs.

Though Handy could have aligned himself with a preexisting charitable organization, he chose to create the 12 Day Project because he "felt like there was a simpler way to do [all of this] while benefitting local businesses at the same time."

What isn't simple is racing a decorated grocery cart along Asheville's Riverside Drive. To make sure the race is no easy feat, challenges have been added which team members must complete before crossing the finish line. These tasks include acquiring items for a MANNA Food Bank grocery list en route and assisting with the mulching of a community garden (hint: be prepared with a team shovel). Awards include The Hoff (to the team that displays the most awesomeness), The Chuck Norris (to the team that kicks ass) and The Zoolander (to the really, really, really ridiculously good-looking cart). But the race finishing, challenge completing and prize winning aren't all: There's an after-party at The Wedge Brewery with live music by Levi Douglas and Zach Blew. As the Asheville Idiotarod Web site puts it, "Feel free to shake your spandex, dress, fish costume, toga or whatever the heck else you might be wearing."

who: The Asheville Idiotarod
what: 5K shopping cart race to benefit The 12 Day Project
where: Riverside Drive; After-party at The Wedge Brewery
when: Sunday, Nov. 22 (11 a.m., $100 per team entry fee. http://www.ashevilleidiotarod.com)

Makena Resort Offers XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Rate

Makena Resort Offers XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Rate

The Makena Beach & Golf Resort is offering an XTERRA Triathlon Weekend rate from $198 per room, per night, during the 14th XTERRA World Championship, which takes place Oct. 25. Additional events during the weekend include the XTERRA Makena Beach 5km/10km Trail Runs, which are scheduled the day before the main event and open to the public. This event benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Maui County. The XTERRA World Championship is the culmination of a series of races held around the globe. Athletes from more than 25 countries and 30 U.S. states will be in Maui to take on the course, which consists of a 1.5-kilometer rough water swim at Makena Beach, a 30-kilometer mountain bike climb 3,000 feet up the lower slopes of Mt. Haleakala, and a 12-kilometer trail run. For more information, call 800-321-6284 or visit http://www.makenaresortmaui.com/.

Live Earth, Global Water Challenge and Dow to Launch the Dow Live Earth Run for Water

Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher Join Live Earth, Global Water Challenge and Dow to Launch the Dow Live Earth Run for Water - the Largest Global Water Initiative in History to Help Solve the World Water Crisis: Cities Hosting the Event Include Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Hong Kong, Jimbaran, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Minneapolis, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Singapore City, Stockholm, Toronto and Washington, D.C

NEW YORK, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Live Earth announced plans to implement the largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water - to take place April 18, 2010 - will consist of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher will lend their names and their time in support of this important cause.

"The Dow Live Earth Run for Water will bring people together around the world, raising awareness about the sources and consequences of the water crisis, locally and globally," said Alexandra Cousteau, global water advocate and founder of Blue Legacy International. "It captures perfectly the interconnectedness of life on our water planet and drives home the message that the water crisis is a global issue that isn't going to be fixed by scientists or policymakers alone. It's up to each of us."

Water scarcity is an issue affecting countries, communities and families all over the world. One in eight people don't have access to safe, clean drinking water. Eighty-eight percent of diarrheal cases worldwide are linked to inadequate and unsafe water. These cases result in 1.5 million deaths each year, mostly among children under five. In these areas, women and children are forced to walk 6 km (3.7 miles) each day to secure water that is likely unsuitable for drinking.

Everybody counts in helping to solve the water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a global movement focused on the actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue. People are encouraged to START solving the problem today, RUN in a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk in their community or organize their own run/walk through the Friends of Live Earth program, SAVE water in their home and local community through conservation efforts, GIVE money to support clean, safe water projects and SPEAK UP by signing the Live Earth petition to add water as a basic human right to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.

"Water scarcity is an issue that affects all of us and we all have a responsibility to do our part to help solve this global crisis," said actor and Dow Live Earth Run for Water supporter Jessica Biel. "The beauty of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water is that it gives us a platform to encourage others to be part of the solution to help everyone have access to clean, safe drinking water."

Dow Live Earth Run for Water cities unveiled today, include Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Chicago, IL, USA; Hong Kong, China; Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia; London, UK; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Manchester, UK; Melbourne, Australia; Mexico City, Mexico; Milan, Italy; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York, NY, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Singapore City, Singapore; Stockholm, Sweden; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., USA. For a full list of Dow Live Earth Run for Water cities, visit http://liveearth.org/run.

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk registration opens today via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run. All participants will receive a free online ActiveTrainer plan to help them prepare for the event. Ten percent of all registration fees go directly to the NGO selected for their country.

"Dow is proud to be the title sponsor for this groundbreaking event," said Ian Barbour, general manager at Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow. "As part of our 2015 Sustainability Goals, we are committed to leveraging science and technology to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges - like the water crisis. Our partnership with Live Earth is just one of the many ongoing efforts Dow is making to address water scarcity and help millions of people around the world gain access to safe, clean drinking water."

Through a cross-platform global fundraising effort, all donations raised by the Dow Live Earth Run for Water will be disseminated to fund sustainable and scalable water programs. A growing global network of NGO partners including Global Water Challenge, A Child's Right, Akvo, Fondo Para La Paz, Indonesia Water Partnership, Lien Ad, Pump Aid, Wildlands Conservation Trust and many others who will successfully implement water and conservation projects around the world. For the comprehensive list of Live Earth's NGO partners around the world, please visit http://liveearth.org/runforwater/partners.

"The world water crisis is the single greatest avoidable health challenge of our time," said Paul Faeth, president of Global Water Challenge, the lead beneficiary and non-profit partner for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water in the United States. "There is a solution. With appropriate funding and scaling simple technology, we believe we have the ability to ensure universal access to clean and safe drinking water. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water will serve as a catalyst to rally the world community around the critical issue of water scarcity and empower citizens to be part of the solution."

The water crisis is not only limited to developing nations. In cities such as Los Angeles and Singapore City, growing demand on limited water supplies has led to enforced water rationing and increased costs to the public. Adding to these existing issues, the affects of climate change are increasingly impacting both supply and quality of available fresh water throughout the world - shifting traditional rainfall patterns, altering water-shaping ecosystems and magnifying the effects of pollution.

"Building on the massive success of the Live Earth: Concerts for a Climate in Crisis in 2007, the Dow Live Earth Run for Water will mobilize the global community to once again come together on one day and take action on one of the most serious environmental issues today, the global water crisis," said Kevin Wall, founder and CEO of Live Earth. "Water scarcity affects everyone whether they are aware of it or not, and the goal of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water is to raise the profile of this issue, educate the world's citizens about its challenges and offer opportunities to be part of the solution."

Those interested in organizing their own run/walks in their communities to support the Dow Live Earth Run for Water can register their run/walk as a "Friends of Live Earth" event at http://liveearth.org/friends. Friends of Live Earth registered events receive approved materials, including event guidelines, logos, video and photos assets, as well as an invitation to join the Friends of Live Earth social network for regular updates. To date, nearly 20 Friends of Live Earth events are confirmed to take place in cities around the world, including: Accra, Ghana; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Asuncion, Paraguay; Bogota, Colombia; Cotonou, Benin; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Hamilton, Bermuda; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Santiago, Chile; Eldoret, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; Lima, Peru; Lusaka, Zambia; Panama City, Panama; Praia, Cape Verde; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Port Louis, Mauritius.

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water has enlisted the expertise of the best in the business to assist with the event - Control Room, executive producers of all Live Earth events, is responsible for global entertainment and broadcast production; Ignite, overseeing concert production; Pacific Sports, handling run production around the world; Ignition, handling water village event production; and the Active Network, providing online registration technology to support the races around the world. Additional strategic partners are listed at http://liveearth.org/runforwater/partners

For more information about the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, visit http://liveearth.org.

About Live Earth
Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action. A for-profit company, Live Earth seeks to leverage the power of entertainment through integrated events, media and the live experience to ignite a global movement aimed at solving the most critical environmental issues of our time. More information about Live Earth can be found at http://liveearth.org.

About The Dow Chemical Company
With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Global Water Challenge
GWC is a diverse coalition that consists of leading organizations working to provide creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. GWC's mission is to generate a global movement to meet the urgent need for safe water and sanitation by spurring collective awareness and investment in water supply/sanitation innovation by corporate, public, and nongovernmental actors. Our challenge is to reach people with the tools and education they need to empower themselves. Access to clean water and sanitation leads to healthier, longer and more productive lives, and breaks the cycle of poverty. Water and sanitation are not just human rights, they are human necessities. More information about Global Water Challenge can be found at http://www.globalwaterchallenge.org.

About Control Room
Founded by Emmy-award winning producer Kevin Wall and headed by company president Aaron Grosky, Control Room is the world's leading producer of massive global events, leveraging unparalleled expertise to deliver once-in-a-life time entertainment experiences to audiences around the world. Through a combination of expertise in event production, television production, media architecture design, artist and celebrity relationships, sponsorship development and creative vision Control Room evolves events into cultural phenomena.
Control Room is an end-to-end solution for brands, artists, broadcasters and sponsors committed to connecting global audiences with compelling entertainment. The company has built long-standing business relationships and successfully navigated the complexities of culture, government and production in countries in every region of the world. Since 2005, Control Room has illustrated a history of measureable results through a comprehensive body of work including more than 100 live events ranging from single-artist concerts to worldwide movements.

About Pacific Sports
Pacific Sports LLC is a premier sports consultation firm, specializing in event production, management, and corporate sports marketing development. Having produced more than 300 sport events in the United States, including the 1996 Triathlon World Championships and 12 U.S. Championships, Pacific Sports LLC is dedicated to the creation, development and management of participant and endurance sports including those of running, swimming, and cycling. Pacific Sports was a founder of the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series comprising the major championships at the Olympic Distance in the United States. The firm produces events around the world, including the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon, Dow Live Earth Run for Water, Catalina Marathon, Rose Bowl Half Marathon, and Cleveland Triathlon. Pacific Sports is a Delaware based Limited Liability Company with offices in Anaheim, California. The firm was founded in 1983.

About ignition
ignition is the award-winning experiential marketing agency behind some of the world's most ambitious and famous events and campaigns: Coca-Cola's Olympic Torch Relays and FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy Tours, the 2007 Live Earth concerts and the Blue Planet Run. It is also one of the first agencies that is committed to fully integrate environmental sustainability across its operations and projects. With ignition, clients deliver measurable brand-building experiences that leave a lasting impression on the communities they touch, without leaving a lasting impact on the planet. Find out more at www.ignition-inc.com.

About Ignite
Ignite, formerly known as Ignition Europe Ltd., is a full service marketing solutions company aimed at bolstering brand awareness and consumer engagement for the world's leading corporations. Creating unforgettable branded experiences through multi-sensory communications, strategic marketing innovation, and programming solutions that develop lasting, emotional consumer connections, the company's focus is on delivering highly-targeted, relevant branded messaging via one-to-one and one-to-few human interaction. The company is headquartered in London, and is privately owned by Kevin Wall and Harvey Goldsmith. Kevin Wall is an Emmy Award-winning producer, digital entertainment pioneer, convergence technology investor, and founder of Live Earth and Control Room. Harvey Goldsmith is a world-renowned concert producer and promoter for iconic performers including Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Goldsmith serves as chairman of Ignite.

About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network is a leading provider of event management technology and will provide online registration for all Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walks in 2009. Participants in the run/walks will also have access to Active's online training and fundraising tools to help participants meet their fitness and fundraising goals. For more information about The Active Network, please visit, www.TheActiveNetwork.com.

Local triathlete brings flare to Lincoln event

Local triathlete brings flare to Lincoln event

BY MICAH MERTES / Lincoln Journal Star Posted:

Monday, August 17, 2009 12:50 am (2) Comments

Local triathlete Jake Fisher talks to friends after competing in the XTERRA B.O.L.T. Saturday, August 15, 2009. (Erin Duerr)
Related Links: Jake Fisher's Web site-->

Jake Fisher points at his faux-hawk. "It adds five horsepower," he says.

The professional triathlete's sleek hairstyle not only serves a practical function but also makes him stand out in a race of hundreds. As does his electric blue tri suit and the cheap red shades he bought in Tokyo.

Fisher brought the five-horsepower faux-hawk and the rest of his get-up to Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon Saturday morning at Branched Oak Lake. The 27-year-old is missing his University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduation ceremony to be here.

"I was never really that athletic," he said. "But something just sparked in me, and I found something I love to do."

Fisher's dive into triathleticism happened by chance. Fisher, a guy prone to the travel bug, was living in Saipan, the capital of the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a few years back, working at a resort. There, he happened to run into triathlete champ Jamie Whitmore. She had seen Fisher swimming and jogging at the resort, told him he had good form in both and should consider trying a triathlon.

So he did, competing in his first XTERRA there in Saipan. When he got back to the U.S., he kept it up, making it his new focus. He's now competed in 15 triathlons.

But this one at Branched Oak Lake on Saturday is especially important because "this is my backyard," he said. "Every dream I've had for the last three weeks has been a nightmare of everything that can go wrong."

In the race, a lot goes wrong. After swimming, his calf locks up. His knee hurts him. His ankle, which he rolled a few days ago, starts talking to him.

But he does well enough. He gets the time and ranking to qualify for the national championship next month in Utah.

Fisher graduated with a bachelor's degree in biological science this weekend. And he's glad he missed it. Because, well, why would you want to stuff an aerodynamically engineered 'do under a graduation cap?

Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.

XTERRA B.O.L.T. Mud Edition

XTERRA B.O.L.T. Mud Edition

Nebraska's First Off-Road Triathlon Was Welcomed With a Spectacular Greeting

"It was 4am and somebody started banging on the garage door with a sledgehammer and then proceeded to come into my bedroom and flick the lights on and off. As I woke from my slumber, I realized there wasn't someone playing games with me, it was just a severe thunderstorm wreaking havoc on Nebraska" said race director Jared Carlson.

Apprehension levels were high as the storm raged on through the morning creating a muddy wonderland for over a hundred brave souls out at the XTERRA Branched Oak Triathlon (B.O.L.T.) . Around 7am the heavens opened up and cleared as if to grant permission to continue on with the masochistic festivities. Part of the aftermath of the storm shut down interstate I-80 with an accident which left 30 of the would be competitors at a stand still for over an hour. The couple inches of rain caused not only changes in most participants pre-race routines, but also caused some re-routing of the course.

Despite all the opposition, when the air horn blared the athletes charged into the water creating a virtual washing machine for over 300 spectators to watch. The athletes then swam the 1000 meter two lap course to try and gain good position before having to traverse the 14.3 mile mountain bike course and 4.5 mile trail run. Muddy mayhem then ensued taking its toll on everyone daring to answer its challenge. One of the casualties of the course, was the bike of XTERRA pro Brandon Jessop. After breaking a spoke and messing up his derailleur instead of calling it quits on the course, he began to carry his bike. According to Jessop, he was just having too much fun to not be able to finish the race. Carol Niemann made a fake wincing expression every time the announcer yelled out her age, to which she always received an enormous response from the crowd. Being 64 years young just sent a message to all of the spectators, that you're only as old as you want to be. Kaelly Simpson after breaking her arm earlier this season, decided to buy a mountain bike the week before the race to see if off-road triathlons were everything she hoped they were. She wasn't disappointed as she won the overall women's race and collected over $200 in gift certificates to Cycle Works bike shop.

It was stories like these that abounded and left an impression to all that participated that XTERRA embodies the spirit of strength. The strength to adapt and overcome any obstacles that are put in your way....even if they happen to be in Nebraska.

Post-race report by Jared Carlson - Race Director

XTERRA B.O.L.T. pictures, recap, results

XTERRA B.O.L.T. pictures, recap, results

Despite torrential pre-race rains that had many athletes wondering if ark-building would be a more suitable way to spend the day, last Saturday's inaugural XTERRA Branched Oak Lake Triathlon (BOLT) kicked off with nary a hitch, save a half-hour delayed start and a last-minute re-routing of washed-out singletrack.

At 9:30 am, with clearing skies and reasonable temperatures, over 100 racers flung themselves into the algae-colored water at Branched Oak Lake for the 1000-meter swim. But the story of the day was the mountain bike section of the course, which started with a 5-mile grass ride and culminated in 2 laps in the tangled, muddy trails just west of Branched Oak Lake's area 1. Bike handling skills, mud-shedding tires, and a good motor were at a premium, as many racers began to redefine success as simply not getting pitched over their own handlebars into the mud. But racers that kept their rear tires weighted and didn't stop till they were at the top turned in some truly amazing times for the mountain bike section, before dismounting and trotting back toward the dam for a 4.5 mile finishing run.

Afterward, winners received their bolts, and anyone willing to engage in stupid human tricks (or pushups) were further rewarded with gift certificates to a Lincoln bike shop. All in all, though, the race organizers did a terrific job, and a spirit of fun, cooperation, and camradery pervaded the entire event.

Pictures and results

If you sang the national anthem, volunteered to work at the race, participated in the race, or even happened to be water skiing at Branched Oak Lake that day, there's a really good chance that photographer Ken Coffman took a picture of you in one of these 400-some photos. Race results can be found here.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20090817005272/en

The Active Network Launches “Go Green” Program with Athletes for a Fit Planet to Drive Eco-Friendly Practices within Endurance Race Community
More Than 15,000 Races and Events Offered Incentives to Go Green

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Active Network, Inc. (Active), a leading provider of technology and marketing solutions for community service and sports organizations, today announced the launch of its “Go Green” program in partnership with Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC, an organization that provides environmentally responsible solutions for endurance race and event organizers. Designed to encourage and enable the endurance sports community to embrace green practices, Active’s “Go Green” program recognizes and rewards race organizations that commit to adopting environmentally responsible practices, and gives consumers access to an extensive directory of green races around the country.

Active worked with Athletes for a Fit Planet, to identify criteria for its “Go Green” program that includes a Pledge of Sustainability. By signing up for the program and taking the Pledge of Sustainability, race organizations make a public commitment to initiate a minimum of 10 specific practices to reduce the environmental impact of their events. Active’s list of “Go Green” criteria range from the elimination of paper registration forms and providing onsite recycling bins to supporting local environment causes.

“Athletes for a Fit Planet is excited to be partnering with Active to integrate the Pledge of Sustainability into Active’s ‘Go Green’ program,” said Bruce Rayner, founder and chief green officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet. “This is the first program of its kind to provide event organizers with independent recognition for their commitment to a set of environmental initiatives. And athletes looking for green events can now register with confidence because the Pledge of Sustainability criteria will be available on Active’s Go Green listing and Athletes for a Fit Planet’s Green Events Directory.”

By registering for Active’s “Go Green” program and taking the Pledge of Sustainability, event organizations receive a number of benefits including:

• Pledge of Sustainability seal that can be featured on their event site, banners and other materials


• Events will be posted on a special Protect Your Playground section on Active.com, the largest participatory sports site in the world, and on the Athletes for a Fit Planet event calendar
  


• Access to the Athletes for a Fit Planet Resource Center that includes a Green Events Handbook, Green Business Directory and other valuable resources
  


• Exclusive discounts on Active and Athletes for a Fit Planet services and products
  

Upon completion of the event, the event organizer will provide Athletes for a Fit Planet with documentation that verifies that the event met its Pledge criteria. The event will receive a Verification Certificate and their seal will be updated with a “Verified” stamp on both Active.com and Athletes for a Fit Planet’s website to indicate the event has met its Pledge.

“Unlike any other organization in the nation, Active has relationships with more than 15,000 endurance races and events,” said Eric McCue, general manager of Active’s ActiveEndurance division. “We realized that by introducing a green validation program to race organizations and offering incentives to participate, we could make a significant impact in helping drive green practices. Interest from race organizers has been overwhelming, and we expect to see more and more participants seeking out races that feature the Athletes for a Fit Planet Pledge of Sustainability.”

Active’s “Go Green” program is part of Active Endurance, a division of The Active Network that delivers industry-leading online technology and marketing solutions to over 15,000 endurance events and organizations. Endurance race organizers interested in more information about Active’s “Go Green” program can contact Michael Wilson at (858) 964-3886 or go to www.ActiveEndurance.com.

About Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC

Athletes for a Fit Planet (AFP) is a leading provider of eco-services for athletic events in the US and Canada. The company offers support and validation for events that take the Pledge of Sustainability, including listing in the Green Events Directory. The company advises event organizers on cost-effective strategies for reducing, recycling and composting waste, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, greening the supply chain, and minimizing the impact of the event on the local environment. And AFP works with event sponsors to provide opportunities to communicate their own green initiatives to athletes. Visit us at www.afitplanet.com or contact Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, at bruce@afitplanet.com.

About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network delivers integrated technology solutions, marketing services and online media properties that enable and encourage participation in activities and events. For more information, please visit www.ActiveNetwork.com.

Triathletes compete in Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon

Triathletes compete in Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon

Kaelly Simpson clipped through the finish line, the first woman through - a unique accomplishment, not only because this was her first off-road triathlon or because she bought her first mountain bike just five days ago.

Simpson broke her arm in an early summer cycling accident. As if competing weren't impressive enough, she also had to go and win the race.

"My arm's still getting its strength back," said the 23-year-old University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student from Dallas, flexing the afflicted arm and then pointing at the other one. "It's almost as big as this arm."

Her secret to speedy recovery?

"I lifted two-pound weights all summer," she said. "I started with my coffee mug. I went to summer school and just lifted my mug every day in class. Over and over."

Simpson joined 150 other triathletes at Nebraska's first XTERRA triathlon. Competitors dove into Branched Oak Lake on Saturday morning, kicking off a 1,000-meter swim, a 21-kilometer mountain bike ride and an eight-kilometer trail run.

The first XTERRA B.O.L.T. was part of the XTERRA American Tour, which consists of 60 triathlons throughout the United States. Triathletes earn points to qualify for the nationals (in Ogden, Utah) and the world championship (Maui, Hawaii).

This was one of the last races before nationals, said Jared Carlson, XTERRA B.O.L.T. race director, so "there are a lot of people trying to pick up some last-minute points to qualify."

Lincolnite Kevin Burke, 45, was one such contender. He needed to move up one more spot in his regional ranking to qualify for nationals. And he did, by scoring a sixth-place finish overall on Saturday.

He's going to nationals. Maybe. He has to overcome one more obstacle.
"Now," he said, "all I have to do is talk my wife into letting me spend the money to go."
Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.