Usually excited for the swim to get underway, Reston triathletes will not compete in Lake Audubon this weekend due to safety issues

Due to the torrential rains that have struck Northern Virginia, the dedicated directors of the annual Reston Triathlon have decided to eliminate the swim for only the second time in the popular multisport event’s history.  The following was posted on the Reston Triathlon Association‘s web site:

Swim portion of the 28th annual Reston Triathlon has been canceled. Our lake official has been checking the lake since yesterday and has come to the decision that in the interest of safety it is not safe to swim in the lake…there is widespread disappointment but “Safety Is First.”

All racers will be notified by email of the cancellation and of plans for a replacement run as soon as the board has met to determine the details.

Triathlon Trial Lawyer, All American Triathlete and Virginia Triathlon Series (“VTS”) race sponsor Doug Landau adds that racers should also be mindful of debris on the roads when cycling, and perhaps “preview” the course once again since the storms have ended.  Tight turns with washout, leaves, bark and other organic matter on the pavement and an early morning start can all contribute to less traction on the road surface.  “Let’s all bike safely – the Reston Triathlon race directors cannot sweep every centimeter of the race course, and road flooding requires extra vigilance on the part of all participants.” adds Herndon Reston lawyer Landau.  “In light of these changed conditions and as I have at least 2 more VTS competitions this season, I am not going to be putting the ‘pedal to the metal’ Sunday.  I encourage all participants to enjoy the race, the shwag and the comraderie and ride safely.”

Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau, SPOKES publisher Neil Sandler, Virginia Triathlon Series race director Greg Hawkins, and Rehab 2 Racing Triathlon Coach Rob Colburn survey the scene at the 2011 Multisport World Expo in Bethesda, MD

Multisport World came to the Mid Atlantic region today.   Developed in partnership with USAT Mid-Atlantic Region and held at the state-of-the-art Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Maryland, triathletes, duathletes, bikers, runners and swimmers were treated to a full day of activities.   The local high school’s indoor track, pool and conference rooms were devoted to multisport seminars, training clinics, workshops, competitive events and more.  The first 500 registered attendees received  swag bags with product samples, money-saving coupons and more.  Plus all registered attendees were eligible to win valuable prizes and receive discounts to selected Multisport World clinics.

The campus golf course and outdoor track were the venues for the Newton running shoes demonstration and challenging 5km and the pristine pool, held Total Immersion swim clinics.  Georgetown Prep was the site of the Bethesda Cure Autism Now Sprint Triathlon (yes, that’s my photo on the far right, exiting the pool en route to winning the race 2 years ago !).  All of the big names, and clubs from Virginia, Maryland and DC triathlon were there.  There were also a number of newcomers and there was something for everyone, from “newbie” to veteran.  In the following posts, the competitions and other news will be published.

This recall involves Everlast Resistance Stretch Tubing, Everlast Pilates Stretch Tubing, Sportline Resistance Stretch Tubing and Pineapple Pilates Stretch Tubing, used for exercise and stretching. The tubing comes in yellow, blue or black with black handles. The words “2404″, “2001 EB Sport Group” and “Made in China” are molded on the handles. A list of affected lot numbers is available on the EB Sports Group’s website.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.  For additional information, contact EB Brands at (800) 624-5671.  A picture of recalled stretch tubing can be found at the CPSC recall website.

According to a report in the New York Times, there are more than 500 300-pounders presently.  A 1994 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study found that former offensive and defensive linemen had a 52% higher rate of death from cardiovascular disease than did the general population. Since then, the players at these positions have only gotten bigger, with the average weight in the NFL 252 pounds.  A 2005 University of North Carolina study found that more than a quarter of the NFL’s players fit the category of Class II obesity, which is between moderate and morbidly obese.  A 2006 Scripps Howard newspapers survey of the deaths of 3,850 pro football players over the last century found that the heaviest players were more than twice as likely as lighter players to have died before reaching their 50th birthday.

The cardiologist and co-chairman of the NFL’s sub-committee on cardiovascular health, Professor Robert Vogel of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, noted that “The simple answer is, being physically active is unquestionably a deterrent to the problems associated with weight.  Having said that, are you at higher risk being a 350-pound lineman rather than a 210-pound quarterback ? Yes.”  But is it now necessary to weigh in at over 300 pounds to play professional football ?  Because of what I see with the complications of excess body weight and morbid obesity here at ABRAMS LANDAU after our own car accident or truck crash clients, the answer is obvious, that “super size” makes recovery from injury and disease more difficult.  Plus, superior athletic skills can neutralize extreme size on te gridiron.  Noted Jerry Kramer, the Green Bay Packers All-Pro Guard in the 1960s, “Fat doesn’t make you strong and quick.  It makes you heavy.  Muscle makes you strong. We’ve gotten enamored with the 300-pounder, but give me an offensive guard who’s in great shape at 270 or 275 and understands leverage and positioning, and I’ll bet he’ll whip the fat guy every time.”

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., was runner up in his age group at the Reston Town Center New Year's Day 5k road running race

In a new addition to the New Years Day racing lineup in Northern Virginia, our friends at Potomac River Running (“PRR”) have come up with a New Year’s Day 5k in Reston. The 5k started on Market Street at the Reston Town Center at the very civilized hour of 10 a.m.  One of the advantages of this venue is that there is plenty of free parking available in the numerous garages at the Town Center.  The race was computer chip timed, and packet pick up was available at the PRR Reston store.

The certified 5k course started and finished on Market Street at the Town Center.  The course ran through the Town Center streets and out and back on the W&OD asphalt path just a mile East of the Landau Law Shop in Herndon, Virginia !  Because the W&OD Trail was open during the race, runners were urged to be careful and cautious of others using the path.  Mile markers were posted on the course.   There were also the W&OD Trail 1/2 mile markers, for those, like Herndon Reston injury lawyer Landau, who like lots of splits and feedback as to pace.  Plus, instead of “Port-a-Johns,” real (heated !) restrooms were available at the Town Center.  They were located at the information center near the ice skating rink.  Having raced at this year’s inaugural event, copped an Age Group prize (finishing 29th of 420) and enjoyed the course and festivities, this is a 5km that will be on the Triathlon Trial Lawyer’s calendar for next year.  Official results can be viewed by clicking here.

• Take your foot of the gas immediately.  Do not fixate on the biker, deer or motorcycle – you will just drive straight at it if you do.  Instead, look at the rear wheel or animal’s hindquarters, since cyclists, deer, elk, etc. are not likely to go into reverse !  Turn the steering wheel 90 degree to your right.
• Now your vehicle is headed toward the shoulder, ditch, guardrail, etc.  Do not panic.  You should look at where you want the car to go.  Fix your eyes on the center of the road and turn left twice as far, about 180 degrees.
• Once you have cleared the obstacle, animal, human or other, counter steer 45 degrees to your right and hit the gas to straighten out.

Hopefully, these tips will enable you to “live and let live.”  A car crash with a deer, cyclist or object in the road can be catastrophic.  The damage we have seen caused by impacts with deer are truly astounding.  The losses caused by car crashes with animals and cyclists are some of the most severe we see at the Landau Law Shop.  you might even want to practice, and take the newer drivers in your household out to an empty, safe parking lot, to practice winter driving techniques in order to prevent injury, property loss and death.

Virginia Cyclists heading West from Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun County biking toward Leesburg, Sterling and Lovettesville need the protection of sensible, enforceable traffic laws

In response to the Sterling Road and W&OD Trail bike crash post, Bruce Wright of the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.  Mr. Wright sagely notes, “Another lesson is that Virginia’s crosswalk law needs to be strengthened.  Currently motorists are only required to “yield” to pedestrians (and bicyclists) in a crosswalk.  Also, in some states motorists on multi-lane roads are required to “stop and remain stopped if a pedestrian (or bicyclist) is in their half of the roadway.”  For example, see New Jersey’s new crosswalk law.

Here in Virginia there have been several recent attempts to strengthen the law, and each year proposed changes get closer to passing.  Cyclists can follow this year’s legislative session at the Virginia Bike website.  Hopefully, through education, advocacy and cooperation, the laws protecting cyclists in the Commonwealth can be improved and enforced.

It is also a time to think of those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.  While I give of my time to volunteer, direct and help with school, sports and law related events, at ABRAMS LANDAU, we donate clothing, food, and supplies to the local free clinic, neighborhood resource center and community center.  In addition, regular donations of goods to Purple Heart, AmVets, the Lupus Foundation, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross Blood drives and National Bone Marrow Registry collection efforts.  While money may be tight throughout the USA, there are many ways we can give to others and contribute to help our fellow Americans.  Everyone at the Landau Law Shop hopes to do even more in 2011.

BionX motor assisted bike parked in front of Herndon's Great Harvest Bakery, just 100 yards from the W&OD Trail

Parked outside the Herndon Great Harvest Bakery was this tricked out bike.  Equipped with a Bion motor, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau looked into this company and its products.  Bion designs, develops and manufactures electric propulsion systems for bicycles. The BionX name has become synonymous with Intelligent Mobility, technology leadership, highest product quality and reliable customer service in the market for premium electric bicycles.improve the natural and urban environment.  BionX claims to be the only company in the industry providing complete and proven solutions to bicycle manufacturers and to consumers through our retrofit kits.  Any BionX product will provide cyclists with four assistance modes and four regenerative modes, giving extra energy to climb a steep hill, overcome a strong wind or just to ride a bike with more ease.  Landau hopes to see one of these vehicles “in action” near the Law Shop in Herndon soon.