The Athlete's Lawyer

The wonderful Girls on the Run program is having its 2010 Reindeer Romp 5K race at Reston Town Center December 4th, 2010.  Girls of all ages are encouraged to participate, no matter what speed, training level or pace.  Race organizers suggest that athletes arrive by 6:30am, as the race begins at 7:30am.  It will likely be cold at that early hour, so dress in layers – you can always peel off a layer or two !

When it is cold outside, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau likes to wear long sleeved shirts that he can pull over his hands to stay warm.  Having studied sports medicine, sports injury lawyer Landau has seen how important keeping a safe body temperature can be to athletes of all ages and sizes.  Another cold weather strategy to keep his extremities warm includes holding the hand warmers that skiers often use, as well as socks over cold fingers !  A lightweight cap keeps the head warm, and can be tucked in the waistband in the back if one starts overheating mid-race.  Mrs. Landau, also of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. favors the UnderArmor type mock turtleneck shirts, as they keep her core temperature up, stretch and do not constrict.   There may be as many as 7,000 Northern Virginia girls & their “buddy runners” as well as 3,000 supporters, well wishers and cheer leaders !  The race logistics include: 7,000 Bananas, 5,000 Feet of Steel Barricade, 130 Volunteers and 7,200 Finisher Medals !

Team Hammer Down CrossFit (with Coach Todd Katz in the Blue shirt) successfully trains runners of all shapes and sizes

As part of the Herndon Virginia Turkey Trot 5k this year the Herndon Community Center race organizers are joining with Nike and their Reuse-A-Shoe Recycling Program. The run organizers are collecting used running shoes which will later be ground up into small pieces and used to make basketball courts, track fields, playgrounds, floor tiles, new shoes and apparel. Shoes will be collected at the Herndon Community Center until November 20th.  Injury lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., cannot believe that someone would voluntarily take his smelly, worn running and athletic shoes ! If you have old rubber soled shoes that are no longer fit to wear, bring them to the Herndon Community Center on Ferndale and donate them to a worthy project (and give them a “second life” as a track or playground !).

Recycling rules from the Herndon staff to remember:

-We can only recycle athletic shoes (running shoes, sneakers,etc)
-We accept all brands of shoes
-No shoes containing metal
-No cleats or dress shoes
-No wet or damp shoes
-No sandals or flip-flops

Just down from the W&OD Trail Caboose, the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., the Municipal Center and the underground Court House is the race course for the Annual Turkey Trot 5k on the Town of Herndon Golf Course

The only time you can run on the grass of the Herndon Golf Course without being chased or shot at is next week.  The annual Herndon Turkey Trot 5km takes place November 21st at the Herndon Community Center (“HCC”), just a few hundred yards West on the W&OD Trail from the Landau Law Shop !  In addition to runners being able to wear their cross country spikes and stretch inside the heated HCC gym, there are the famous Turkey Awards.  In years past, I have brought kids to participate who won turkeys that weighed almost as much as they did by winning their age groups ! Read the rest of this entry »

The Chantilly Youth (CYA) U-17 BLAST girls travel soccer team won their last game today securing their season championship in the Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL)

The Chantilly “BLAST” U-17 girls soccer team won their final season match 8-0 and secured their league championship this afternoon at Fairfax County’s Poplar Tree Park.  The Chantilly Youth Association (“CYA”) travel soccer team, despite sometimes being short-handed due to only 9 or 10 girls making it to a game because of other commitments, only gave up one goal this season.  More importantly, their coach announced that they had won the Sportsmanship Award as well.
Always playing exciting soccer, the purple clad CYA girls on the “BLAST” never showed any of the rancor or egotistical conduct that mars the records of other teams, especially in the ranks of major professional sports.  Furthermore, some of the girls compete for their high school soccer, cross country, tennis and other sports teams.  While Doug Landau coached several members of the “BLAST” when they were members of his CYA “Jumping Green Grasshopper” teams before they went up to travel soccer, they are now superbly lead by Coaches Ray and Irwin.  The team practices in Herndon Virginia near Dulles Airport, and plays its matches in Northern Virginia.  The “BLAST” was a finalist in the Spring 2010 U-16 Division of the Old Dominion Soccer League (“ODSL”) which fosters Travel Soccer and Sportsmanship.  Hoping to keep the roster together for another successful indoor season, Coach Ray noted that they may have to expand their roster if they are going to continue their winning ways in the U-19 division.

While many races start “in water,” there are times and courses where that is not possible.  In a race this summer where very low tides resulted in a several hundred meter sprint from the show to water deep enough to swim, several competitors suffered lacerations from shells below the surface.  One triathlete contacted ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. because he sustained a severe injury to the bottom of his foot with what appears to be permanent residual nerve damage.

Sports injury lawyer Doug Landau consulted with this fellow athlete.  Advising that a liability case would be difficult, and that the Release signed by all competitors would be used to show that the competitor assumed the risks of injury from such a sports event, Landau suggested that the injured athlete look into medical coverage that may be available for the event.  Just because an athlete is injured during competition does not mean that Read the rest of this entry »

Support the work of the Brain Injury Services by running in one of the several races at George Mason University’s beautiful Fairfax Virginia campus September 26th.  Don’t wait any longer.  Sign up today to join us at the 7th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile. There are only 10 days left and you don’t want to miss out on one of the premier events in Northern Virginia.  This year’s event has a new 10K course, a new 2 mile event and a new “little tykes” fun run.  Click here to register today!

Sunday, September 26, 2010 – Order of events

7:30 AM to 9:00 AM     Pre and Day of Registration Check in
8:30 AM to 9:00 AM     Opening Ceremony
9:00 AM    Kick-off 10K Run/Walk and 2 Mile Run/Walk
9:15 AM    Kick-off Survivor’s Circle of Hope and Kids Fun Run
10:00 AM    Kick-off “Little Tykes” Fun Run
10:45 AM    Award Ceremony

The Brain Injury Awareness Fair will be open from 9 am to noon.  Please join us at the education fair and enjoy the following activities:  Brain Injury Services Education Booth, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Booth, Face Painting by Dee Vinchey and Friends, Dr. Aravich Brain Education, Bike Helmet Giveaway (while supplies last), Coloring Station, Kids Passport, Buy an Angel Booth, Fire Truck, Massage Booth by AKS Massage School, Washington Business Journal Booth and Light Refreshments. ABRAMS LANDAU. Ltd. is once again a sponsor.  For more information please visit www.kitsmiraclemile.org

It’s no secret.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Landau likes his wetsuit.  It keeps the Herndon Reston area attorney and multisport athlete warm in cold water.  It helps him swim faster.  And it keeps the sports injury attorney safe when training or in crowded open water swim competitions.

Doug Landau's cousin Dianna Erdman Sager shows how happy she is to be in a wetsuit at the Reston Triathlon swim start

However, USA Triathlon, the national governing body for triathlons and aquathons in the United States, has recently issued new wetsuit guidelines for multipart competition. Beginning in 2013, wetsuits may not exceed five millimeters in thickness.  Following extensive research, USA Triathlon announced that beginning in 2013 use of wetsuits exceeding 5 millimeters in thickness will not be permitted at USAT-sanctioned events.

The regulation, which falls under Article 4.4 Wetsuits of the “Triathlon Competitive Rules,” states: “Effective January 1, 2013, any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than five millimeters shall be disqualified.” Read the rest of this entry »

While Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau has not entered sufficient races in the Virginia Triathlon Series (“VTS”) this year, he nevertheless enjoys the competition and camaraderie of the events that Set-Up, Inc. puts on all over the middle Atlantic region.  While he does not intend to race at the Olympic Distance in 2010, Landau is slated to compete in three sprint distance races, in Luray, Warrenton and Spotsylvania Virginia.

The Luray Triathlon is set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the beautiful town of Luray.  A half mile one loop swim in pristine Lake Arrowhead gets athletes ready for the rolling 16.5 mile bike on paved roads surrounded by the woods and farms of the Shenandoah Valley.  The race concludes with a 5K that is an out and back with rolling hills and all on the roads of Page County.  Landau has competed successfully in the Olympic Distance Race, which uses much of the same routes.

Rehab to racing coaches Rob (in the middle) & Stephanie Colburn at the Luray Triathlon, where he completed both races

The VTS race directors suggest that athletes come to Luray with its 300+ acres of award-winning parkland and spend some time exploring the downtown and seeing what the Shenandoah Valley has to offer !  Set Up, Inc. offers a real challenge for IronMan and half Iron athletes who want to test themselves over 2 days.   Billed as the “Luray Double,” Athletes who complete the “Luray Double” by completing the Luray International and Luray Sprint in the same weekend receive a special hand-engraved goblet.  Furthermore, comic strip “Frazz” creator Jef Mallet is slated to try the “Luray Double” as is “Rehab to Racing” Coach and training partner Rob Colburn.

Landau gets a prize at Broadlands, but no PR

Thinking he had ripped a new PR at today’s Sprint Triathlon, Broadlands bike injury lawyer Doug Landau went through the first loop in 15 minutes and cruised into the transition area at almost exactly 30 minutes.  However, the course was slightly shorter than the advertised 12 miles, so instead of 24 MPH average bike speed, the Herndon and Loudoun lawyer cycled 22.8 MPH.  Nevertheless, the Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax bike crash injury lawyer finished in the top 10 out of some 270 multipart racers.  Starting in the 60th position, Landau’s goggles failed immediately during the well run 400 Meter outdoor pool swim.  The triathletes divided into “odds” and “evens” and started every 15 seconds according to their swim seed time.  Landau predicted 7:40 and managed 8:08.  The distance was a 400 meter “snake swim.”  In other words, swimmers moved into the next lane after each lap.  So, for those who swim in 25 yard pools, this was akin to almost 19 lengths.

College roommates team up to "tri" the Broadlands Sprint Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia

The Infinitive Broadlands Sprint Triathlon ends with a 5k run.  In the August running of the “Dog Days of Summer” triathlon along the same course, no one broke 20 minutes.  The run is an out & back through Broadlands trails, tunnels and sidewalks. There were water aid stations that caused Landau’s Newton racing flats to lose their sockliner !  The thin “floor” of the shoes quickly turned into “sponges,’ soaking up sweat and water thrown on his head.  But, using clear iodine and running barefoot helped the hardened triathlete – trial lawyer so that he had no blisters after the race.  In fact, Landau went for a swim to “cool down” after the race and cheering on other finishers, including Alexandria General District Court Judge !  “Oyez, Oyez, Order on the Course !”

Doug Landau checking out the transition area at the Broadlands Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia

Tomorrow is the Infinitive Sprint Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia.  This triathlon, which starts at Broadlands Outdoor Pool off of Village Drive in Broadlands Virginia with a pool swim, then heads out to Claiborne Parkway for the bike and on the Broadlands trails for the run. This is a great first timers event and a fun challenging course for those with experience.  Bike injury lawyer Doug Landau has done other races managed by Tri Performance at South Riding, Worldgate, Herndon and Loudoun County, and Brian and Alissa Crow do a marvelous job of creating and pulling off fun, safe fitness events.

Could this be the "Crow-mobile" for Coach Crow ?

Usually triathletes and endurance athletes take a day or two off before a competition.  Many long distance athletes “taper” before “the big event.”  However, for races under 90 minutes, triathlon trial lawyer Doug Landau will often train right up to and even after the race.  Swimming today helps “flush out” the waste byproducts from a hard week of work and training, and swimming after the race will reduce the post-competition soreness that often hinders older athletes’ resumption of training.  As an award-winning masters triathlete and road runner, Landau is careful not to “overdo it” in the days leading up to a race.  But, a little non- impact exercise the day before a short sprint race should not impair performance  or recuperation or lead to excessive post-race soreness.