Summer is here. It's not official yet, but when I start needing windshield wipers to clear the sweat off of my sunglasses I know the season has changed. San Angelo reached a temperature of 102 yesterday and today's forecast is for 105.

The past two weeks have seen several great kid’s events take place, with one of them being the Kids Duathlon during the Spillway race. The picture at the left tells it all – have fun and race hard – and this is something we need to see more of in cycling, running, and multisport. Let’s set a goal of having more kid’s events during the year, and trying (where appropriate) to include a kid’s category in the events that we plan.

Speaking of goals, do you need a fitness goal to help motivate you? Have you ever wondered if you could complete a triathlon? If the answer to those questions is “Yes”, then the 2009 Lake Nasworthy Triathlon is the event that you have been looking for. It will take place on July 12, and will consist of a 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run/walk. A weekly group training session for beginner triathletes will begin on Monday, May 18. This group will meet at the Lake Nasworthy swim beach (Mary E Lee Park at 6:30. Click this link for details if you want to take The Triathlon Challenge. Better still, forward the link to a few friends and get them all involved in training for the July 12 event.

Faculty, staff, and students at Angelo State University just completed a 14 week Walking Challenge. The 30 teams and 350 participants who participated in the challenge covered a total of approximately 141,000 equivalent miles, burned around11,000,000 calories, and - most importantly – made significant strides (no pun intended) toward improving their fitness and health.

Run in the Sun will take place on Saturday, May 16, on Concho Avenue in downtown San Angelo. It will be both the 8K State Championship running event and a fun run/walk for anyone with two distances to choose from (8K and 1-mile). The course follows a scenic route along the Concho River, so it’s a great opportunity to bring the family and friends out for some healthy exercise before graduation. Visit http://www.roadlizards.org/Upcoming%20Races/RIS.2009.flyer.pdf for event details, and let’s make sure that the University community is well represented at the event.

The first Get Healthy Weight Loss Challenge of the year is currently under way. This free event is part of the new Get Healthy San Angelo initiative that’s supported by Mayor JW Lown and City Council. Details are posted at http://www.gethealthysanangelo.com/challenge.php.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: http://forum.cvmconline.com/index.php?topic=65.0

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 9, Aids Foundation 5K

May 14, Road Bike Time Trial

May 16, Run in the Sun

May 24-25, Tour de Forts

June 4, Mountain Bike time trial, sanangelobicycleassociation.com

June 11, Road Bike time trial, sanangelobicycleassociation.com

June 13, Bulldog Run 10K, roadlizards.org

June 21, Tour de Burma, sanangelobicycleassociation.com

July 12: Suddenlink Lake Nasworthy Triathlon, roadlizards.org

It’s all about the lifestyle. Some people would ague that we ride and run for the thrill of competition, seeking those perfect moments when we get called up on the podium to receive an award. I disagree … what we do isn’t just about racing. Instead, we’ve found that workouts and the camaraderie with others who share our athletic interests constitute a major part of “who we are”. We live for the simple satisfaction of a trail run, the thrill of a fast road ride, and the sheer excitement of bouncing through a technical section during an off road cycling adventure. Running shoes outnumber dress clothes in our closets, and the garage is a big storage cubicle for bikes and related equipment. We're active ... we're healthy ... we're athletes.

The 2009 Spillway Duathlon took place on May 2nd. This event personifies all that is good related to friendly and fun local events. Unlike larger events where everyone is a stranger and the porta potty lines stretch out forever, Spillway is the type of race where you recognize most people’s car as they arrive. People bring their kids, dogs, and after the event someone cranks up a grill and throws on hot dogs and bratwurst. Today’s event winners were Kathy Rakel (Overall female) and Brian Tillman (Overall Male), with the geriatric duo of Mike Buck and Bill Cullins demonstrating their 109 combined years of experience by winning the Team category.

Have you ever wondered “What If There Were No Cars? Given the current obesity crisis in the United States, that might not be such a bad thing. Click this link to read more: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/may/02/bill-cullins-what-if-there-were-no-cars/

The next big event in San Angelo will be Run in the Sun, scheduled for May 16. This event is a “don’t miss” – it’s the 2009 Texas 8K State Championship and will start/finish downtown on historic Block One of Concho Ave. An event flyer is posted at www.roadlizards.org, and you can pre-register on-line at active.com.

Faculty, staff, and students at Angelo State University just completed a 108 day Walking Challenge. This event, organized by ASUFit, had 31 teams with over 350 members. Participants in the Walking Challenge racked up some amazing statistics, covering approximately 150,000 miles and burning estimated 11 million calories. That number of calories would equate to about 3,230 pounds, or the equivalent of losing an average 9 pounds per participant.

Speaking of challenges, the 2009 Lake Nasworthy Triathlon will take place on July 12. The event will be a 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile run. This is the perfect event for both beginners and experienced racers who simply want a good workout. Beginning next week, each blog update will include a weekly training plan to help you prepare for the July 12 triathlon. If you can currently swim 100 yards, ride a bike for 5 miles, and walk/jog one mile, the training plan will help you get ready to complete the triathlon.

If you're looking for a long group ride over memorial Day weekend, the upcoming Tour de Fort might just be the event. This tour, scheduled for May 23-24, will include rides of 20, 40 or 100 miles on the Western edge of the Hill Country in Kimble and Menard Counties. The routes will begin in Junction and circle through Menard, Fort McKavett, and back to Junction. Visit http://www.cthrr.org/biketour.htm for full details.

Upcoming Events:

May 7, CATCH A Fit Life

May 7, Mountain Bike Time Trial

May 9, Aids Foundation 5K

May 14, Road Bike Time Trial

May 16, Run in the Sun

May 24-25, Tour de Forts