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ESPN TO BROADCAST ST. PAUL INLINE MARATHON
The St. Paul Inline Marathon has been selected as the broadcast site for the August 21 airing of ESPN's
"SportsCenter." The marathon will represent Minnesota as part of "SportsCenter Across America," as ESPN visits 50 states in 50 days this summer.
"We couldn't be more thrilled," said marathon co-founder Mike Cofrin. "This elevates the marathon to an entirely new level."
The St. Paul Inline Marathon is expecting 2,500 skaters, one-third of which will be skating their first inline
marathon. Most of the participants are from the Twin Cities, which is "only fitting," according to co-founder Marilyn Franzen, "because the sport started here 25 years ago this year."
Kicked off at Boston's Fenway Park July 17 as the Red Sox face the Yankees, "SportsCenter Across America" will include live remote segments from one of three anchor desks traveling around the country
supported by five production teams.
Other locations will include such diverse events as NASCAR's Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis and the
Wisconsin Highland Games, where the tour will wrap up in West Allis on September 4. (Wisconsin Scottish, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of the British Isles, organizes the
annual Wisconsin Highland Games.)
The St. Paul Inline Marathon is an achievable challenge for skaters from all walks of life. Participants at the
inaugural event in 2004 ranged in age from 13 to over 80. Most hailed from the Twin Cities but the event also drew skaters from over 38 states and six countries.
The course winds along the Mississippi River on Warner and Shepard roads in St. Paul and ends with a sprint up Sibley to scenic Mears Park. The marathon has partnered with the Cancer Kids Fund of
Children's Hospitals and Clinics to raise funds for the charity.
For more information and to register, go to www.saintpaulinlinemarathon.com.
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ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS OK BIKE AND PED SAFETY BILLS
Despite another session of intensive lobbying by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists, the Illinois General Assembly failed yet again to pass a bill that corrects the fallout of Boub
v. Wayne Township and restores bicyclists' rights as intended users of the road.
But the spring legislative session wasn't a complete loss. Some key legislation was sent to Gov. Rod
Blagojevich's desk, and one important bill was poised for passage at press time.
The Complete Streets Bill, which passed the Senate, would commit the Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) to meet the needs of road users besides motorists. Sponsored by state Sen. Ed Maloney, D-Chicago, and supported by IDOT, the law would require adoption of the federal policy for
accommodating bicycles and pedestrians on major projects on state-maintained roads.
The General Assembly also passed legislation establishing a process to administer a statewide Safe Routes
to School construction program once a federal transportation bill is enacted with a Safe Routes fund.
The bill calls for construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic-calming projects, with construction grants being made available to local governmental agencies.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is convening a task force of transportation, health and education set the direction of the Safe Routes programs. For information, contact Melody Geraci at 312/427-3325, Ext. 240.
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CHICAGO METRA ALLOWS BIKES
After many years of lobbying and political pressure, there is now for the first time a significant Bikes on Metra commuter train program in Chicago.
Metra passengers can combine bicycling with their travel plans. The long-awaited acceptance of bikes on Metra trains allows as many as two bikes per wheelchair-accessible car during off-peak hours, and
provides morning and evening rush-hour access for reverse commuters.
The policy allows, at no extra charge, standard-sized bicycles carried by adults or an accompanied youth
age 12 and older. Bikes are permitted on all train lines and all stations during weekends and nonrush periods except for blackout periods during special events, such as Taste of Chicago, Blues Fest and the Air and
Water Show.
For more information, go to www.metra rail.com or www.biketraffic.org.
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TOP 'JET SKI FREE' NATIONAL PARKS
The Bluewater Network, a division of Friends of the Earth, recently released its list of top ten places to avoid personal watercraft or Jet Skis in 2005.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's UP ranked second on the list and Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota received an honorable mention.
The list is a means to applaud communities for protecting their waterways from what the Bluewater Network considers highly polluting and dangerous craft.
"This list is for the millions of travelers who enjoy a more nature-based vacation without the pollution and
noise caused by Jet Skis," said Sean Smith, Bluewater Network's public lands director. "These places are a
reflection of what concerned citizens can do to protect their lives, communities, and businesses from these thrill craft."
While highlighting areas that are free of personal watercraft, the group also noted that the restrictions are vulnerable to being reversed, such as at Pictured Rocks.
"Despite environmental assessments showing that a continued Jet Ski ban is the best way to protect Pictured
Rocks' resources and wildlife, the U.S. Park Service is considering allowing the machines at this beautiful lakeshore," the network noted.
Other places that made the list included the Florida Keys and Biscayne National Park in Florida, Washington's San Juan Islands, the San Francisco Bay area, Kachemak Bay in Alaska, Cape Hatteras and
Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, Lake Willoughby in Vermont, Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida and Mississippi, and the Missouri National Recreation River in South Dakota/Nebraska.
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CHALLENGES GALORE AT THE QUAD CITY TIMES BIX 7, JULY 29-30
As only the Quad Cities can, the metro area is gearing up for the 31st Quad-City Times Bix 7 a spectacle as much as it is a road race attracting thousands of runners every year. The 2005 Bix 7 will be held July 30
with the Junior Bix scheduled for the previous day.
The Bix at Six training runs started at 6 p.m. on June 16 but will continue every Thursday through July 21.
Participants get in shape for the event and familiar with the out-and-back course through the streets of Davenport, Iowa.
The top finishers of the Bix at Six will make the finals for the Brady Street Sprint, the steep quarter-mile
stretch at the start of the Bix 7. The winner will answer the question "Who's the fastest in the Quad-Cities?" and take home $500.
There is also an "All City Challenge" to determine which of the area communities is the fastest in running the
Quad-City Times Bix 7. The honor is based on the five fastest times from the open men and women (29 and under) and the five fastest times from the masters men and women (30 and over) from each city. The
times are then divided by 20 to get the average time of all 20 runners from each city. The winning city's mayor is then presented with the traveling Nancy Kapheim Memorial Trophy.
Every Bix runner who has registered by June 15 has a chance to cross the finish line first. A name will be drawn at random and that person will be given the opportunity to race and beat the overall winner of the
Quad-City Times Bix 7 road race.
The person selected is given a head start of two to three miles, possibly more depending on the needed
handicap to make the event competitive. If that person beats the first-place world-class runner to the finish line, he or she wins the $3,100 that's $100 for each year of the Quad-City Times Bix 7.
This year there will also be a rock 'n' roll costume contest to celebrate the event's theme "There's a whole
lotta runnin' goin' on!" Prizes will be awarded based on costume originality, quality and artistic impression.
The whole family can get involved, thanks to the Alcoa Junior Bix. The children's fun run is for kids 12 and under with various distances according to age. Last year's 7th Junior Bix was the more successful ever.
There will be a limit of 3,500 children this year. You must sign up early to ensure a spot.
And you won't want to miss the Genesis Health & Fitness Expo, the after-race party, the free Bix
Beiderbecke Jazz Festival and discounted minor league baseball game tickets. For more information, go to www.bix7.com.
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'EUROPE IN YOUR BACKYARD' TOUR RETURNS TO SW WISCONSIN
Paddling, wine and specialty cheese are exciting additions to the beer, brats and biking at this year's Europe in Your Backyard bicycle tour of southwestern Wisconsin, September 18-23.
"We have some of the best bicycling in the USA, specialty European-style cheeses and award-winning fine beers and quality wines," said Gof Thomson of New Glarus, president of the Green County Development
Corporation.
Such highlights await the cyclists who visit New Glarus, Monroe and Mineral Point. The tour begins and ends in Fitchburg on the Capital City Bike Trail.
New on the 2005 tour are kayaking and canoeing on the Sugar River, coordinated by Rutabaga, the paddlesport shop of Madison; a guided tour of Pendarvis State Historic Site in Mineral Point; and a
concierge service that will provide packing and shipping to anywhere in the world, for purchases made en route.
In Brodhead, a new cycling boutique, Earth Rider, will welcome participants; in New Glarus, riders will get a chance to tour the family-owned New Glarus Brewery. New destinations also include Albany and Monticello.
The final stop at Botham Vineyards & Winery in Barneveld will feature a tour and tasting, as well as an opportunity to try hand-crafted specialty cheeses from southwestern Wisconsin.
"The tour offers breathtaking scenery and is tandem and recumbent friendly," Thomson said, "with terrain and activities to satisfy both the novice and seasoned bicyclist."
Cyclists can choose from several routes each day led by area bicyclists Thomson, Rolf and Barb Garthus, owners of the Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, and others. Cyclists will overnight in family-owned inns and
dine in local restaurants on regional specialties prepared by local chefs.
For the complete itinerary and registration information, visit www.cyclecvi.com or call 888/804-0688. The
tour is limited to 100 participants.
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TDS PEWAUKEE TRIATHLON TO BENEFIT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
If you're looking for motivation to stay in shape, competing in a triathlon might sound like an ambitious goal. However, the July 17 TDS Pewaukee Triathlon could change your mind.
An added incentive in this, the third year of the annual event coordinated by Positively Pewaukee, is that participants will be raising money for breast cancer research at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
The triathlon, which starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, July 17, includes a quarter-mile swim, 15-mile bike ride and a 5K run. Pledges collected from all individuals and teams participating go toward breast cancer research at
the Medical College Cancer Center.
"Almost anyone with the willingness to put in the training will be able to finish this sprint distance triathlon
and enjoy it," says Pete Mueller, owner of Body Mechanics in Pewaukee and a co-sponsor of the race. "As an event for everyone, several challenges and race-day options are available."
The triathlon includes the Medical College Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Challenge a team competition in which minutes are taken off a five-member team's overall time, based on the amount of pledges they collect.
Another co-sponsor, Jon Rehorst, owner of Quizno's Subs in Pewaukee, has accepted a challenge from his
trainers, Pete Mueller and co-sponsor John Huenink of Transition Cycle, to finish the triathlon in less than 1 hour and 29 minutes. If not, Rehorst will match all Pink Ribbon Challenge pledges up to $10,000. The
matching contribution will be added to the challenge total for breast cancer research.
An option for those who prefer competing in just one or two legs of the event is to assemble a two- or
three-person relay team. Awards go to the top three teams.
For those who really want to prepare, clinics on the course, as well as on swimming and biking techniques, are scheduled for the day before the race.
For registration and corporate or group sponsorship details, call 800/429-8044, go to www.midwestsportsevent.com or www.bmechanics.com.
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WISCONSIN TRIATHLETE TAKES THIRD AT IRONMAN BRAZIL
New Berlin, Wisconsin-based professional triathlete Lauren Jensen is enjoying some of her best results ever. The 37-year-old mother took third place in the Ironman Brazil, a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and
26.2-mile run triathlon held May 29. She smoked Ironman Brazil in 9:49:11. A week earlier, Jensen finished second at the Memphis in May triathlon.
Jensen attributes much of her success to new nutrition strategies developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Human Performance Lab and a bike switch and fitting provided by
Rich Ducar at The Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Jensen's impressive start to the triathlon season builds on her second-place last September at Ironman
Wisconsin and being crowned the USAT Elite/Pro Long Distance Champion at the Muncie Endurathon last July.
Next up for Jensen is defending her first-place title at the July Chicagoland Danskin Women's Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. That will be followed by the Spirit of Racine half Ironman distance and
Accenture Chicago triathlons in preparation for Ironman Wisconsin in Madison in September.
Jensen has helped more than 800 regional triathletes improve their own performances through her Swim
Faster and Tri Faster clinics held throughout the southeastern Wisconsin and Chicagoland areas.
For more about Jensen, go to www.shark.trifaster.com.
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MADISON MAN NAMED 50-YEAR-OLD TRIATHLETE OF 2004
USA Triathlon recently announced its age group Athlete of the Year award winners, including 50-year-old masters triathlete Dan Rindfleisch of Madison, Wisconsin.
Through the 2004 season, Rindfleisch had consistent finishes at world short courses and national short and long cources to garner the top spot.
USA Triathlon Age Group Commission members considered the results from various high profile races during the 2004 season, including the USATF Age Group National Championship, the long course national
championship, results from the world international and long course championships and the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
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KIDS' FUN RUN SERIES CONTINUES IN MADISON
Kids of all abilities between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to join the ongoing Summer Fun Run Series in parks throughout Madison, Wisconsin. Participation is free and runners qualify for prizes, food and
giveaways. There will be free T-shirts to the first 50 kids at each race.
The second of four kids' fun runs will be held July 9. The courses will be set up in a traditional cross-country
style, including hay bails to jump over. Each run is a half-mile long, except the Capitol Mile on July 23.
Madison's own Olympic runner Suzy Favor Hamilton and other world-class athletes will be volunteering.
Each run will be held in a different Madison park so kids from across the city will have a chance to participate.
The series is hosted by Fit City Madison and Movin' Shoes. The schedule is as follows:
July 9, 4:30 p.m.: Penn Park at Dane and Fischer streets.
July 23, 4:30 p.m.: Capitol Mile on the Capitol Square.
August 13, 4:30 p.m.: Elver Park, McKenna Boulevard.
Registration forms and more information are available at http://movinshoesmadison.com/kidsfunruns.htm, or you can register right at the run.
The Capitol Mile is a Madison Track Club event that charges a small registration fee. Information on running the Capitol Mile for free, call Andy Downin of Movin' Shoes at 608/239-4798, or visit www.witrackclub.org.
For more information on Fit City Madison, visit www.fitcitymadison.com or call 608/266-4611.
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MICHIGAN REVIEWS LAND FOR RECREATION
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission on June 3 reviewed eight more counties in the ongoing process to consolidate the state's land holdings to maximize public recreational opportunities and more
effectively manage state-owned land.
"The process is moving smoothly, and we are forming strong partnerships with local governments and
conservation organizations to continue to provide recreation opportunities on some of these parcels," Michigan DNR Director Rebecca Humphries said.
Counties recently reviewed included Branch, Charlevoix, Chippewa, Hillsdale, Iron, Cass, Emmet, and Leelanau. Additionally, the NRC reviewed boundary adjustments for public land in Berrien and Dickinson
counties, the first two counties through the land review process.
The DNR's recommendations can be reviewed at www.michigan.gov/dnr/. Public comments can be e-mailed to DNR- LandReview@michigan.gov.
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BECOME A BICYCLING EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR
If you are an experienced and knowledgeable cyclist with a desire to make cycling safe and accessible for others, become a league cycling instructor (LCI). This is a great way to advance cycling in your community.
The League of American Bicyclists seeks to certify its members who are self-starters, passionate about cycling and are recognized within their communities as riders with experience and know how.
To become an LCI, you must become a member of the League of American Bicyclists. Annual membership dues start at $30. Certification seminars are being held throughout the country. The registration fee is $175
and includes the Effective Cycling book, video and bike ed instructor materials.
In the upper Midwest, a seminar is scheduled for September 9-11 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If you are
interested in attending, contact site coordinators Carole Hann, carolehann@comcast.net, 734/483-0448; or Bud Preston, budpreston@comcast.net, 248/380-0691.
To register for a seminar or for more information, visit www.bikeleague.org/educenter/seminars.htm or call 202/822-1333.
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