masthead
In This Issue
Thinkking Pink For Spring
Spring Training
Half Full Tri
New CTA Team Members
Road Damage
EagleMan Local News
QUICK LINKS
TriColumbia NEWS
 
 Greetings!
 
Spring is in the air and we're all anxious to get outside and resume training. In this issue of our e-news we'll unveil our schedule of training rides, cycling course offered by Howard County, and the much anticipate AFLAC Iron Girl Columbia Dress Rehearsal. A great tune-up event can be found in the TriColumbia LIFEfest, featuring a 5k, half marathon, and several cycling events.

General registration is still open for our new Celebration Sprint, the TriColumbia Kidz tri, ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival events, and the Make-A-Wish triathlon.

Finally, our Race Director, Robert Vigorito, will be competing in the Hills of Milltown 5K and the Half Full Triathlon, both featured in our March newsletter.

if you have questions or ideas for future articles, please email us.

Enjoy!
 
2010 Event Schedule
 
April 25, 2010 - 
 TriColumbia LIFEfest - Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay & 5K Runs PLUS 100K, 75K & 55K Bike Rides.  Registration is still open! BONUS Under Armor shirts for all registrants
 
May 23, 2010 -
Columbia Triathlon - General Registration is closed.  Charity slots are still available.  
 
June 13, 2010 -
EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Presented by Spinervals - General Registration is closed for the 70.3 race, but the Aqua Velo has a few spots left.  Charity slots are still available for the 70.3 race. 
 
June 27, 2010 -
*NEW*Celebration Sprint Triathlon - General Registration is still open!
 
July 25, 2010 -
TriColumbia Kidz Triathlon - General Registration is still open!
 
August 22, 2010 -
Aflac Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon - General Registration is closed.  Charity slots are still available.
 
September 25, 2010 -
ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival - General Registration is still open for all races - the full iron distance, the aqua velo, the swimfest and the *NEW* Skipjack.
 
September 25, 2010 -
Make-a-Wish Triathlon - General Registration is still open!
 
TtiColumbia LIFEfest
CTA IS THINKING PINK FOR SPRING

April is cherry blossom time in Howard County thanks to one of CTA's local, non-profit partners, Blossoms of Hope... the Howard County Cherry Tree Project. Through the program's efforts, over 1,400 cherry trees are now growing countywide. The beauty of the trees in the spring is attracting visitors to the county and raising awareness for cancer prevention.

The project, which operates through the Howard County Office of Tourism and Promotion, has also raised $75,000 for Howard County's Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center. These beautiful groves of kwanzan cherry trees can be found at historic sites, in parks and at special attractions across Howard County. The fluffy pink blossoms burst on the scene during the last weeks of April signaling families and fitness enthusiasts that it's time to celebrate the renewal of spring! Plus, the annual pink display also serves as an important visual reminder to everyone of the importance of yearly preventative exams in the fight against cancer. Many events are planned as part of April "Cherrybration Days" in Howard County including two focused on fitness. In support of Blossoms of Hope, CTA encourages you to THINK PINK when planning your spring fitness sessions in April by checking- out these two upcoming opportunities.

On April 10th, CTA Director Robert Vigorito is challenging all comers to join him in Historic Ellicott City for the new "HILLS OF MILLTOWN 5K CHALLENGE"  to benefit Blossoms of Hope. The run is a daunting, hill-ridden, loop course that climbs over 250 feet from the base of the Patapsco River Valley to the summit before it descends over multiple hills on its way back into the historic town. Not for the faint of heart, Robert says the run will serve as the perfect spring sharpener for the longer endurance events later in the year.

LIFEfest 2009Merchants in town are planning specials and a great after party to welcome runners and their guests. Register at blossomsofhope.com. On April 25th at the height of blossoming season, CTA proudly presents the second annual TriColumbia LIFEfest in downtown Columbia. This multi-event fitness festival features the Blossoms of Hope Half Marathon. A moderately challenging, out and back course that begins on Little Patuxent Parkway at the Lakefront and travels along roadways lined with blossoming trees, this is Howard County's only half-marathon race.  Other running events will include a half-marathon relay, and a 5K. With over $10,000 in total prizes, CTA is positioning its newest fitness endeavor to become one of the top draws in the region in the next five years. LIFEfest also plays host to the Ulman Cancer Fund's Cyclefest Howard County which includes 3 non-competitive bike rides through the rolling hills of Howard County.  With course distances of 55K, 75K and 100K, the cycling event offers something for every level. Don't miss these two exciting springtime opportunities in Howard County to get out, get fit and give back to the community with CTA!


Iron Girl swimmers
SPRING TRAINING
Lots of training opportunities are available for CTA athletes. Information about organized rides in Howard County on Tuesdays and Sundays, Cycling 101 courses through Howard County Rec & Parks, and  the annual AFLAC Iron Girl Columbia Dress Rehearsal is all available at tricolumbia.org.
100% OF RACE REGISTRATION FOR THE INAUGURAL HALF FULL TRIATHLON SUPPORTS Half Full LogoUCF's MISSION
The inaugural Half Full Triathlon (.9 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run) will launch on October 3, 2010 in Columbia, MD at the well-known local venue, Centennial Park. Assistant Director of the UCF and USAT Certified Race Director, Brian Satola, will be the race director and Howard County Sports Hall-Of-Famer, Robert "Vigo" Vigorito will be participating in the race.

The Half Full Triathlon is a platform and opportunity for the UCF to raise awareness and promote health and wellness in the region. The race distance of 70 miles is in direct relation to the statistic that an estimated 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States. The "Half Full" race name refers to the mindset voiced by many cancer fighters that you should be "optimistic in the face of adversity" - whether it's a cancer diagnosis or a 70 mile triathlon, people should see approach life as "hall full".

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WELCOME NEW TEAM MEMBERS
CTA is pleased to introduce two new members of our team. Jerry Nista, CTA's new Pro/Elite Services Coordinator, comes to us with an extensive triathlon racing experience and a passion for the sport. His racing experience includes nearly 30- triathlons, from Olympic Distance, Half Ironman, and Ironman distances, throughout the United States and Europe.

Amy Olin came to CTA with over 10 years of experience in non-profit management. She trained as a pharmacist and completed a -post-graduate residency in association management at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Upon completion, Amy worked for the ASHP Research and Education Foundation in positions of Director of Programs and Director of Education and Operations. During this time, she created and managed over 15 different programs to educate pharmacists and provide research grant funding for appropriate medication use. Her love of triathlon and non-profit management brought her to CTA where she will join the CTA staff team to manage athlete race registration and communications. 

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ROAD DAMAGE
We all know our favorite bike routes have taken a beating this past winter. You can help the HC Public Works Department and other cyclists by reporting road hazards and problems.
 
You can click directly on the map or enter an address. In Step 2, you'll give a quick summary then an explanation of the hazard in the area provided. You can double check the address, and even upload a picture if you'd like! The site collects your email address so we can follow up with you if we need to on this issue. Your identity is confidential and we will never, ever share it with anyone.
 
If you've got a Blackberry, Android or an iPhone, there is an application for reporting right there - live on the road! Your watch area is 'Howard County' .
 
If you have questions, or have any problems inputting your information, e-mail us at [email protected].

EAGLEMAN "LOCAL NEWS"
If you're still looking for accommodations for EagleMan weekend, check the updated "Travel & Lodging" section of CTA website. It also includes contact information for Car Rentals.
 
Two upcoming events in Dorchester County may also be of interest. One is a bike ride following the Eagleman course and the other is a half marathon, following the Eagleman run course. Supported by CTA and your Race Director, these are fund raisers for local causes.
 
Dorchester County YMCA Crab Run - Saturday April 11th. Half marathon following the Eagleman course.
6 Pillars Century - Saturday May 1st Fund raiser for Character Counts with several rides including the 56 mile Eagleman course.

FIND US ON THE WEB
Columbia Triathlon Association is now on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Please join us on these site for daily updates, special offers, and race reports.

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Frequently Asked Questions & ResourcesFAQ's Question Mark
 
If you're not sure about some of the rules & regulations for CTA's races or if you're just looking for answers to commonly asked questions, download the FAQ
 
If you're new to the sport and are looking for helpful hints, Ask the Tri-Girl
 
Nutrition is a key component to proper training and racing. TriColumbia sponsor, Hammer Nutrition, has an extensive resource page

If you still have questions about specific races, feel free to email us