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Why I Tri? Balancing with a Purpose by Vince Partridge

3/31/2015

 
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I got into Triathlon about 22 years ago when I was serving as a US Air Force Police Officer at Holloman AFB in southern New Mexico. I had been on a combat skills team where it was my job for a period of time to focus on being an athlete and shooting skills for eight hours a day. The competition was extreme and I loved it. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and it led me to desire sports that were extreme in nature. I actually get a little rush packing my Tri bag the night for a race, the same way I did when I was in the military preparing my bags for deployment. I’m sure many of you can relate in some way. I had also been exposed to, and had success in, track and cross country in high school but nothing like my time on the Warrior team. My dad, whom a lot on RTB members know, has been a lifelong athlete, and I have watched many of his races since I was a little kid. He has been a major influence on me and to this day is one of the fastest age group Triathletes at the Ironman distance in the world.

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Triathlon comes with a unique sacrifice that is usually paid by time away from your family. The sacrifice pays out in many ways, however, like faster splits, less leg cramping, better age group placements, and large meals after races. That is where balancing with a (or at least some) purpose comes in to the picture. If you are single than let it fly. You should be training and racing like crazy. Not that I am bitter, but in my case I am married to an extremely supportive wife, and we have amazing twin daughters. I would say that my training is cyclical in nature where, for example, the last two years I have purposely trained for the Half Ironman distance. Those times are where I just need to be gone all day Saturday for swimming and a 50-80 mile ride with Pops, multiple nights a week running for a couple hours and about 2 hours of training before work. When I do this I involve the whole family in my training schedule and by letting them know that this volume is only temporary. They support me in amazing ways and for that I am grateful. In the season coming up I will only be doing Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, and I will just have to be ok with not placing as high in my age group, being really sore for about four days after a race and wondering where all my fitness went. But, I will still be training and racing because it’s in my blood. Seriously, I am addicted to endorphins and have a real NEED to train. If I don’t, I can’t sleep well, I get agitated easy and the whole family tells me to get back to working out. I know now that I am seriously goal oriented as well. I always need a race or a season of racing to get me serious about training. 

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As our girls get older we keep introducing them to the “fun” of triathlon and endurance spots. We have done several years of triathlon racing at home with them and last year they did the Chelanman kids’ triathlon. They had a blast because we kept it low key and made sure it was “FUN.” They see their grandpa, grandma, aunts and uncles out racing triathlons and just want to play with us all.  I plan to introduce my girls to more triathlons this season and maybe some cyclocross perhaps? So, I have had to learn to take a big bite of humble pie and just go with the flow with my training and racing. I have that deep down need to race, compete and train but at the same time I recognize I need to be home encouraging the next generation of endorphin addicted racers. It’s really about balance and knowing when to back off a little. It’s not all about me all the time. So come out and have some fun with the Partridge family this summer. I promise I will at least ask Pops “aka grandpa” to go easy.   

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The Partridge Family: Eugene "Pops", Valerie, Vince, Elizabeth and Sergio at the Seattle Half Marathon 2014

Boost Your Body’s Natural Healing Ability: Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

3/23/2015

 
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Contributed by Center for Diagnostic Imaging  

As an athlete, you’re accustomed to pushing your body to new limits. But from weekend warriors to professional athletes alike, anyone can experience pain from the wear and tear repetitive activity takes on the body. As we move quickly toward Spring and Summer events and competitions, know your options to keeping your body moving pain free.

Over the past decade, a therapeutic injection procedure known as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections has gone from a treatment for professional athletes to being accessible to anyone with tendon or ligament issues. The procedure can lead to a more rapid and thorough restoration of injured tissue to a healthy state by stimulating the body’s natural healing response.

How PRP Injections Work

PRP injections are performed in a healthcare facility, typically by medical specialists, such as a radiologist, with advanced training in pain management injections. 

A small amount of blood is taken from your arm and placed into a centrifuge to separate red blood cells from the plasma which rises to the top. Using image guidance to monitor the position of the needle, the radiologist injects the plasma into the injured tissue.

PRP Injection Snapshot

  • Cost is $650 per injection, typically not covered by insurance
  •  Most patients benefit from a single injection 
  •  Complete appointment takes 60 – 90 minutes


This plasma is rich in platelets that secrete healing growth factors to trigger the body’s healing response. As a result, new tissue begins to develop. As this tissue matures, it causes tightening and strengthening of the tendons, ligaments and muscle of the injury site.

Fostering Rapid Healing and Tissue Regeneration


PRP can be effective throughout the musculoskeletal system, including shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hip/pelvis, knees, ankles and feet. In special circumstances, PRP can be used to improve fracture healing, but it is primarily used for tendonitis, acute and chronic muscle strains and tears, and ligament sprains. Athletic patients in particular are often referred for a PRP injection to address conditions within the hamstrings.

Research and clinical data show that PRP injections are extremely safe, with minimal risk for any adverse reaction or complication. There is a small risk of infection from any injection into the body, but this is rare.

Why it’s Cool

You’re not injecting a foreign substance into your body to mask the pain. Because PRP is produced from your own blood, there is no concern for rejection or disease transmission and it maximizes the body’s ability to heal itself. What’s more, most patients benefit from a single injection.

Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) offer PRP injections out of outpatient imaging centers in Federal Way, Lakewood and Seattle. If you have questions about the procedure, call CDI at (855) 643-7226.

This article was submitted by Center for Diagnostic Imaging. Learn more about CDI, their seven outpatient medical imaging centers throughout the Puget Sound, and their specialized clinical teams and services, including PRP Injections at www.myCDI.com/WA. 

Garmin Fits on RTB Events

3/20/2015

 
Raise the Bar is excited to welcome Garmin back as a sponsor of the June 20 and August 23 Lake Meridian Triathlons and welcome them as a first-time sponsor of the Black Diamond Triathlon on September 13th.  

In a multisport climate where athletes crave knowing how far....how fast...how high...how much...how soon... a Garmin perched on a wrist or stem has become the norm.

There will be some Garmin GPS units given away at the races this year - as well as t-shirts, bags, koozies, etc.....because Garmin knows what athletes like - and Athletes like Garmin.

Shopping for your next Garmin masterpiece?  Check out the selection at race sponsor, Northwest Tri & Bike in Kent - voted the #1 shop in the Pacific Northwest in 2014 by the way!  

Wednesday Night Triathlon Training Celebrates 10-year Anniversary

3/19/2015

 
Triathlon Training at Lake Meridian started WAY before the Lake Meridian Triathlon - and it continues this year for an 10th season!

Wednesdays
June 24 - August 19th
6:30 - 8ishPM
$7 -$9 per workout if you sign up for the session
$15 - $20 drop-in

Our training program has morphed primarily into what people have come for over the years - open water swim practice. We set up a measured 300-yard course with 6 buoys 50-yards apart.  (See map below & right) .  A dashing coach hangs out at a corner of the course and leads an interval workout close to what you'd get in a pool. Except that it's in the open water where you swim around buoys, around people, and very closely simulate your race-day experience. The preparation for a triathlon is unmatched!

Sign up now if you like, or wait until it gets closer to June 24th - either works for us.

Slideshow from 2006 

Beginning swimmers or those who are adjusting to the open water can work with a coach much closer to shore until comfortable enough to move onto the buoy course. 

Wondering who this is most appropriate for?  EVERYONE.  Honestly. We have very experienced swimmers who come for the workout, new triathletes, and everyone in between. The benefit of this workout is that much like a run workout on the track, everyone stays in the same relative spot. Slow...fast...who cares?!
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Dashing Coach = Mike Murphy
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