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Happy training for the week of 4/16.
Cycling Kits: CTC Cycling Kits (shorts, jerseys, & vests) are now available for order. The basic design concept for the kit can be viewed here. Fit samples are available at North Rim, so if you are unsure of the size you want, drop by this week and try them on. All orders will be handled through Voler's Online Store (link and directions below). So that we can get the kits in time for the summer cycling season, orders must be received by Friday April 20, so don't delay. Please contact Sean Molina (training@chicotriathlonclub.com) if you have any questions about the kits or the ordering process.
Welcome to the Voler Online Ordering System
Your team has decided to use the Voler Custom Online Order System for collecting and processing your cycling apparel order. Please follow the steps below to place your individual order for inclusion in the overall team order.
1. Click on this link to access your team order site: http://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/2407
2. Click on “LOGIN” to enter your Login/Billing Info. Click on “Create Account” to save the information and to create your new User ID and Password. You will automatically be directed to the home page for your team order.
3. Click on “Add Items to This Order" to gain access to the orderable products page. To place items to your shopping cart, click on the item you want to order, then the options you want to select, then the “add to bag” button. You can choose to “View Your Bag” or “Previous Page” (to continue shopping) after adding each item. Repeat these steps for each item you want to order.
4. After placing the last item you want to order in your shopping cart, click on “View Your Bag” to display the items. Carefully review the items and make any necessary modifications or deletions. Because each item is custom built, refunds and exchanges will not be accepted. After you have confirmed your order is correct, click on “Checkout” to complete the secure checkout process by entering your credit card payment information.
5. After you have completed the secure checkout process, an Order Confirmation will automatically be displayed and e-mailed to you for your records.
6. After the order deadline date has passed, you will no longer be able to access the order site. If you have not completed the checkout process for your order by this date, any items in your cart will be removed. The Order Deadline and the Order Ship Date are displayed on the order homepage. The Ship Date is the date that your order will be shipped directly to your Coordinator for distribution.
Thank you for your order. If you have any questions, please call 800-488-6537 and ask for assistance from a Voler Customer Service Representative, or send us an email at sales@voler.com.
Chico Stage Race: The Chico Stage Race was held this past weekend and CTC was there to support this great event. We had our pop-up downtown for Sunday's events, and numerous members volunteered, raced, or did both. Volunteers included Jason B., Teresa C., Mitch H., Shawn H., Elda M., Wally M., Susan M., Forough M., Josh R., and Laura V. (hope I didn't miss anybody). Racers included Sean M., Shawn H., Jason B., and Greg W. Race results are posted here.
Downtown Mile: In the middle of Sunday's bike races, Fleet Feet staged the Downtown Mile, a one mile foot race run on the criterium course. Josh R., Justin W., and Kat K. all competed in the event. Results are posted here.
HITS Triathlon Series Napa: Eric and Kristi Ayars braved the cold waters of Lake Berryessa to compete in the new HITS triathlon series race in Napa Valley. Results from the event are here, and have also been posted to the results page of the website, along with Eric's race report.
Ice Breaker Triathlon: Speaking of cold water, Mike M. raced the TBF Ice Breaker on Sunday. Results are here and have been posted to the results page of the website.
New Race Nearby: A new triathlon has popped up on the schedule. The inaugural Tri-Shasta Sprint Triathlon will take place on Saturday May 12 at the Lake California community located mid-way between Redding and Red Bluff. The field is limited to 100 racers and the entry fee is only $50 for this new event. Details can be found here.
Greg Watkins
President, Chico Triathlon Club
It's generally a bad sign when you are on your way to an early-season triathlon and you get stuck behind a snowplow. I don't know why the snowplow was there, the weather wasn't that bad. Occasional thunderstorms, heavy hail for brief periods, but nothing that would cancel a Monday Night Misery Run... Still, though, a snowplow does make one pause for thought under such circumstances.
But Saturday morning dawned bright and clear and beautiful. The sky was blue, the hills were green, the lake was 53 degrees... Kristi and I were racing the International/Olympic length, which started at 7:30 am. The sprint race started at 7:00 am, so we got to stand around and watch the Sheriffs make multiple trips on their Jetskis to haul people out who suddenly found that they were so cold they couldn't swim any more. There were a surprising number of these; one made it less than a hundred yards. Inspirational, in a snowplow sort of way.
We were not so inspired that we went to a nice restaurant to get breakfast, though, so we just swam. It was cold.
The bike leg was entirely long rollers for the first half. And... it was an out-and-back course. I like long rollers! I catch people at the top, they pull away on the downhill, then I catch them about halfway up the next one, then they catch me on the downhill, then I catch them early on the third hill and never see them again. I gained about 6-8 places this way.
The run was rollers for the first half, too. Also an out-and-back... I didn't do anything spectacular on the run; just maintained what I'd gained on the bike. Got caught by the 4th-place woman with about 2 miles to go and we pushed each other in.
The bad news: The Pac-West team showed up in force, including a dozen pro/elite sponsored riders. Many of them were in the "guys old enough to know better" age group with me; I got slaughtered on the overall (32nd) and in my age group (6th).
The good news: Chasing all those matching Blue bikes and Pac-West kits paid off: I PR'd for this distance! 2:33:17. I was a minute behind PR on my swim split, and three minutes behind on the bike split, but I knocked almost 6 minutes off my previous best olympic-tri run split. Kristi PR'd also, so it was a good start to the season.
It's a good course (especially if you like rollers) and an extremely well-run well-organized race. One particularly nice touch is they provide stools at each place the transition area. The disadvantage is the timing ---it overlapped this year with the Chico Stage Race, obviously--- and of course the rather cold water. I'd do it again, though.