The term "Wellness" has been around for years, but I don't like the message that it conveys. I think it's too soft, in that it encourages people to avoid the real issue of obesity and related health issues. We need stronger programs that pragmatically address how we get the general population (all ages) to eat less and exercise more.

What I'm talking about here is a Skinny Stimulus Bill ... a bail out program for overweight folks who don't want to get off the couch and burn calories. Somehow, we need to convince the overweight majority that healthy exercise is fun. The picture on the left conveys what I mean - no fancy equipment or attitudes needed ... just go exercise and enjoy.

With the weather warming up, cyclists and runners are starting to come of of their winter hibernation. There are multiple group rides each week and a group run/re-hydrate session each Friday evening. On the event calendar, there is a running event almost every weekend and the cycling time trials start up on April 2(mountain) and April 9 (road). Come out and demonstrate how fast you are.

Two of the biggest running events on the schedule are the Shannon Shamrock Run 1/2 marathon on March 21 and the Vita Sports Run in the Sun State Championship 8K event on May 16. On the multisport side, Striders Duathlon will take pace on April 17 and then the Spillway Hill off road duathlon on May 2nd. A flyer for Spillway will be posted soon. There will also be a (free) duathlon clinic on March 28.

The first of two really good ASUFit Brown Bag luncheon presentations will take place next Friday (March 27). Kathy Rakel will be the speaker, and she'll talk about fitting training into a busy career. On April 17, we'll be hosting triathlon superstar Desiree Ficker at the luncheon. These events are free and open to the public - visit http://calendar.angelo.edu/ViewCal.html?calendar_id=17 for details.

Bikes for sale:

2006 Specialized Transition Multisport, like new condition, 52 cm, 105 components, $500
2006 Specialized Allez Comp, 54 cm, full Ultegra parts, showroom condition with almost zero miles, $550.

Cycling, running, and multisport links
Angelo State University Fitness and Wellness program
Cycling columns in the Standard Times newspaper
Cycling News
Cyclocross Magazine
Permian Basin Bicycling Association (PBBA)
Randy's Bike and Run shop
San Angelo Bicycling Association
San Angelo Road Lizards running club
Slowtwitch multisport web site
Texas Bicycle Racing Association
Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association
Velonews

This is West Texas where the weather changes fast. Yesterday we were sweating in short sleeved jerseys, and then today we woke up to perfect cyclocross conditions (cold, wet, and muddy). Too bad its not colder ...

The first Loop Group ride of the 2009 season happened yesterday. The fast folks are still fast, and I was OTB after a few miles (good to know that I’m still slow!). Actually, several of us were OTB from the start since the main group left earlier than 6:30. It was a great ride while heading south, but the wind was tough coming back north to San Angelo. I’ll be writing about Loop Group in my March 21 newspaper column.

Multisport season is about here, with Striders Duathlon the first event on the San Angelo schedule followed by the Spillway Hill off road duathlon on May 3. I will be conducting a small duathlon clinic on March 28 for first timers – click here for details.

The River Run 5K will take place this coming Saturday, March 14 (event flyer). San Angelo will also be the host city for the 2009 8K State Championship race on May 16. I haven’t seen a flyer posted yet, but on-line registration has opened on Active.com. RIS will be sponsored by Vita Sport Studio.

Speaking of Vita Sport Studio, these folks have some great trainers and services available including massage therapist Gloria Granado. Visit their web site at vitasportstudio.com/ or drop by the studio at 3812 Sherwood Way.

The Hammerfest stage race will take place in Fort Davis on April 4-5. This three stage event is one of the premier races in the southwest. The stages consist of a 16 mile road stage (read: hill climb) on Saturday morning, followed by a time trial Saturday afternoon and then a long mountainous road race on Sunday. An event flyer is posted at peytonsbikes.com or you can sign up on-line at BikeReg.com.

The Road Lizards are hosting Friday evening “run and re-hydrate” sessions on the downtown River Trail. Meet at the Farmers Market pavilion at 5:15, go for a run, and then adjourn to Club 404’s deck for after-run refreshments. These sessions are described as “easy and fun” runs where people start and end (somewhat) together. If you don’t want to run, meet the group at Club 404 around 6:15 for the after-workout drinks and BS session.

Don’t forget the ASUFit speakers coming in March and April. Kathy Rakel will be speaking on Friday March 27 (12-1), and then triathlon and Olympic Trials qualifier Desiree Ficker will be here on April 17. The ASUFit Brown Bags are held monthly, 12-1 in ASU's CJ Davidson center, and are open to the public. Let's pack the house for these two presentations.

Bikes for Sale:
2006 Specialized Transition Multisport, like new condition, 52 cm, 105 components, $500, and a 2006 Specialized Allez Comp, 54 cm, full Ultegra parts, showroom condition with almost zero miles, $550. These are extremely good prices. Drop me an e-mail if you would like to see more pictures or call 223-9321 if you want to look at these bikes.

Welcome to the first post of the new Team San Angelo (TSA) blog. I'll use this blog site to entertain, educate, and motive you as relates San Angelo cycling, running, and multisport activities. Future posts will include both short snippets of information and also a longer monthly Team San Angelo newsletter. Let's get started ....

The local event season is starting to ramp up. Serious athletes have been out in the cold and wind training (and racing), but most of us have emulated the "Old Guys Who Get Fat In Winter".

I just finished directing the 2009 Trail Running Series ... good stuff, with a record turnout this year. Full results are posted at http://www.roadlizards.org/ (click on results), and pictures are posted at photobucket.com. Congratulations to Boyd Guthrie and Kathly Rakel for their outstanding performances in the series.

The infamous Loop Group rides start back up on March 10th. For those of you visiting or new to the San Angelo area, Loop Group really means "Tuesday and Thursday World Championships". The pack will start together, some hammerhead will throw in an attack, and from that point on it's hang on or be dropped. The good news is that most of us get dropped, so there's always someone to ride with at your pace. Groups will form after the initial flurry of attacks, so you can do 20 miles or longer distances depending on how you feel.The start/finish location is the TxDot front parking lot, loop 306 and Knickerbocker Blvd. The pack rolls at 6:30 pm, so be there early, wear a helmet, obey traffic laws, and bring your "A" game.

The local cycling club (San Angelo Bicycle Association) will also be hosting several other group rides per week, both on and off road. Visit their new web site at for full information and say hello to the new club officers - this years crop of officers is a lot more photogenic than last year's!

Our local running club (San Angelo Road Lizards) has a full schedule of events on the calendar, with the next races being the River Run 5K on March 14 and the Shannon 1/2 Marathon and 5-mile on March 21. Visit the club's web site for updated event information and to meet the 2009 club officers. Shoot an email to the Head Lizard if you have any running club questions.

Striders Duathlon is only six weeks away, so it's time to start doing those brick workouts. The event will have both a short course (5K/30K/5K) distance and la long course (8K/74k/8k). Visit www.ironheadrp.com/striders for details, and sign up by March 28 to get the lowest entry fee.

For those of you who like to vent in public, the former SABA forum has moved to www.cvmconline.com/forum2/. Go there to discuss rides, runs, buy/sell, and see what other folks are talking about.

The ASUFit program will have two outstanding speakers for upcoming Brown Bag luncheons. On Friday March 27th we'll hear from Kathy Rakel as she talks about her experiences as a triathlete and Air Force officer. Kathy is an Air Force Academy graduate, cyclist, runner, triathlete, and .... a twisted individual who loves long hard workouts in bad weather conditions.

On April 17, we're bringing in triathlon superstar and Olympic Trials qualifier Desiree Ficker as the speaker. Desiree will talk about training, nutrition, fitness, and what it takes to excel. The ASUFit Brown Bags are held monthly, 12-1 in ASU's CJ Davidson center, and are open to the public. Let's pack the house for these two presentations.

News flash - the cycling column is coming back to the San Angelo Standard Times beginning Saturday, March 7. Log onto http://www.sastandardtimes.com/ and look in the Sports section (or, ... buy a newspaper?). I'll be writing a column every other week and local triathlete and former newspaper editor Anthony Wilson will fill the column space on opposing weeks. Sounds a little like dueling keyboards, eh?

CONGRATULATIONS to local triathlon strong man Shane Plymell for his performance in Ironman Malaysia last weekend. Shane completed his first full ironman event in a time of 14 hours 21 minutes (in brutal hot and humid conditions). Way to go, Shane, and ... maybe you'll slow down a bit now?