TheAthletesLawyer

Looking over his “post mortem notes” after the Reston Sprint Triathlon Sunday, Doug Landau noted several key mistakes that cost him 3-5 minutes.

1. Prepare as much as possible the night before. (Landau had not secured his Nimble race wheels to his bike ahead of time, and the loose screws resulted in rubbing against the frame, wearing out the tires and using extra effort to get up the hills. The wheel rubbing also forced the experienced racer off the bike TWICE to make repairs.

2. Freeze an inch or two of liquid in the water bottle if it will be a hot day. HOWEVER, take your straw out first. Landau blew it again. He could not get any liquid Cytomax during 80% of the ride because his straw was frozen. Then, in pulling on it to shake the ice out, he broke the aero bottle straw. He also did not have a second bottle because it was such a short race ! There was plenty left in the bottle after the race.

3. Start you heart rate monitor, stop watch, cyclometer, time window swim chronograph and other electronics BEFORE you leave the wall to swim. Stopping in the pool will result in your getting passed, cussed at, out of synch and smacked. Starting these things a few seconds before the Race Officials yell “GO !” will now corrupt your data.

Despite these mistakes, Landau swam the 400 meters in 8:07, for 9th place in the 45-49 age category. The Herndon brain injury lawyer followed that less-than-stellar swim with the fastest transition time (0:55) of the group and a decent 5th place bike ride in 31:48 (despite 2 dismounts for mechanical problems). The next transition was a little slow, but good enough for 3rd at 1:05, which, followed by the 4th fastest run in the bracket (22:43 for a hilly 5km.) resulted in an overall time of 1:04:36 and another age group prize.

In an event that raises funds for the Special Olympics, put on by the wonderful crew of “FinsWheelsand Feet” Doug Landau, the “TriathlonTrialLawyer,” began his 2008 Triathlon Season.

After several days of rain and cold weather, some participants were in wetsuits for the short outdoor pool swim ! The race began with a 250 meter serpentine swim. Passed repeatedly in the frigid pool, Landau managed a pedestrian 4:55.39 for 63rd. After his “pokey” swim, The Athletes Lawyer passed many of those who swam faster in the first transition in a blistering 00:41.70. Next, the racers biked 20km., completing 2 laps through the rolling Virginia Run Community located across the street from Bull Run Elementary School in Centreville, VA. 33:38.9 for an average speed of 22.1 mph, for 10th best bike split. T-2 was on frozen feet and took 1:06.45. Running on what felt like stilts was difficult, but Landau managed 6:22 pace for the last 2 miles and a 20:30.45 5km. to post the 15th fastest split. With a total time of 1:00:52.8, the Triathlon Trial Lawyer was 8th overall against some 400 other athletes. The Herndon Reston area personal injury and disability lawyer was also 2nd in his age group, in his first Triathlon of 2008. Having finished 10th in 2005 and 8th in 2006, Landau was pleased with his performance, if not his time and age group placing.

While waiting to argue Motions in a car crash case, I observed the proceedings in a lawsuit where a coach was suing his trainee for $15,000. It seems that the coach had helped a woman train for and complete several marathons. However, she allegedly did not pay him the money owed. The Arlington County Circuit Court judge wanted to see some documentation that supported the stiffed coach’s position. While I did not get to see the trial, it was one of the more interesting cases for a “TriathlonTrialLawyer,” and it reiterates the importance of getting contracts and agreements in writing. These people would not have been in court had they sought my friend Nicolas Jafarieh’s assistance and his ingenious “SportsLegalForms” web site.

A 7:30 AM start in 30-degree weather and a 1 mile uphill start was definitely not the best conditions for TheAthletesLawyer, who tends to race best in hot, flat and fast conditions. In fact one of the participants noted that weather any colder than this can cause brain damage and frost-bite to those used to warmer conditions. This cross-country run, which has traditionally been sponsored by the Garver Law Office in Reston, has seen

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Landau of Herndon sometimes win and sometimes finish as the runner-up. This sporting event is sponsored by friend. co-counsel and sometime training partner Steve Garver. In prior years, the “Triathlon Trial Lawyer” was runner up to 4:17 miler Davis Barry, who is now a senior in high school, and the son of the Allen firm’s managing partner Doug Barry of Fredericksburg. However, with the younger Barry out injured, The Athletes Lawyer was able to hold off 2 challengers, whose combined age was still less than half of Landau’s ! While the lead changed several times in the opening miles, and Landau took several wrong turns on the hilly, cross country course, he managed to come in first place and then run back to escort his wife and daughter to the finish line ! He is shown here with his wife and eldest daughter, who has been training at Virginia Tech with her brother in order to be ready for next week’s Ukrops Munument Avenue 10km. in Richmond, which is also the 2008 National 10km. Road Race Championship.

Triathlon Trial lawyer Doug Landau has been racing for years in his signature “Team LandWare” gear. Starting with the 49th Annual Virginia Trial Lawyers Convention this past weekend, he dons TheAthletesLawyer and TriathlonTrialLawyer racing outfits. After a hiatus last year to be a volunteer at the running race and direct the tennis tournament, Landau was hoping to turn in a decent performance in 2008. Go to tomorrow’s post to see how this Reston Herndon Virginia area injury lawyer fared on the hilly, challenging Homestead course… Read the rest of this entry »

If you have been in a bike crash or struck by a car while walking in a crosswalk or by a truck while running along the road, be sensible about your situation. Short term “heroics” or machismo can lead to long-term suffering. If you’re down, lie still until you or a qualified person can make sure that you are not seriously hurt. Beyond what movement you may need to make certain that you are not bleeding seriously, or that your bones or joints are not broken or dislocated, try not to move for a few minutes. Don’t panic, and if you are lying in a place where you are not in danger if you stay there, take a few minutes to relax, think and collect yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

Local Swim phenom and collegiate swimmer Ryan Gerwig will be taking over for “Coach Katie” at the early morning Masters Swim practices starting this month at Worldgate Sport & Health in Herndon, Virginia. Unlike his predecessor, Coach Ryan will be an “on-deck coach.” Gerwig will not be participating in the workouts. Instead, he will be offering technique tips, and giving splits throughout the workout to help you get the most out of your strokes. Coach Ryan plans on Read the rest of this entry »

Doug Landau enjoys “multi-tasking” and killing as many birds with one stone as possible.  On his last “road trip,” the Herndon/Reston area injury lawyer got up at the crack of dawn in order to drive to Blacksburg and visit his kids at Virginia Tech.  On his way to visit with past and present clients at Virginia Tech, Doug Landau and his family stopped in Lexington and made a “pit stop.” Getting up at 5 AM (!) enabled the Landaus to take part in the Washington & Lee Law School’s annual “Run From The Law” 10k fundraiser.  This small cross country running race through the campuses of Washington & Lee and VMI raises money for PILSA.  PILSA is the “Public Interest Law Student Association.” Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau managed to finish 3rd overall and Mrs. Landau also ran well on a course that went down to the river and then was mostly uphill the last 2 miles !  After the race, the Landaus piled back into the minivan and drove to see the Hokies in Blacksburg, Virginia !

When invited to be a guest speaker on a weekly talk radio show, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau was wondered who might call and what they might say. He need not have worried. One caller from Spotsylvania, Virginia told the listening audience that TheAthletesLawyer, “was the best lawyer” for winning her husband’s second, complicated back and spine injury and surgery case !

Fredericksburg Virginia Radio station WFVA (1230 AM) featured Herndon Injury Lawyer Doug Landau of ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. on its morning “Peoples Law School” program today at 9:00 AM. The affable Triathlon Trial Lawyer answered questions from callers as well as from the host, fellow Virginia Trial Lawyer John Harris. John “Jack” Harris of the Fredericksburg law firm of HARRIS & HARRIS is an outstanding lawyer who started this program in order to educate people as to various aspects of Virginia law. Herndon Reston area injury lawyer Doug Landau fielded questions about: workplace catastrophes, brain injury, paralysis, bike crashes, race wrecks, workers compensation, dog attacks, training mishaps, occupational diseases, defective products, sports accidents, children’s cases, paraplegia, Social Security Disability and other topics, including insurance company practices, working with the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission and tragic cases resulting in suicide.

Bike crashes can result in facial injuries, dental care and brain injury. There are reported cases of triathletes being struck by cars, tripping and falling entering/exiting the transition areas and getting hit during the swim, all resulting in head injury and dental trauma. After medical concerns are addressed, the extent of the dental injury should be evaluated. A trained dental expert will know what to look for and what kind of testing to administer. Any dental injury has the potential of being serious, and complications may arise weeks or years after the incident. TheAthletesLawyer has seen cases where treatment has been delayed because of an injured athlete’s head trauma, confusion, dizziness, andrenaline and high pain threshold. In the case of dental avulsions and teeth being knocked out, the tooth should be immediately Read the rest of this entry »