Melissa and Doug Landau will be participating in the "Double Down" races this weekend in support of Down Syndrome

Ever one for unique racing opportunities and supporting worthwhile charities, Melissa and Doug Landau will be participating in the “Double Down” races this weekend.  The Landaus will once again toe the line for a wonderful cause and “exercise their legal rights” !  Known as one of the best running lawyers in Virginia, the Triathlon Trial Lawyer will be in Arizona for the Association for Justice Winter meeting along with other top lawyers from around the country.  This Sunday is the 34th annual Runner’s Den Classic Road Races at Paradise Valley Mall, 4568 E. Cactus Road in Phoenix, Arizona.  In addition to the usual prizes for top finishers in the 5km and 10km. races, for those hardy souls who race in BOTH events, there are Awards to Top Ten Male and Female combined time “Double Down” finishers.  Doug and Melissa Landau are entered in the infamous “Double Down” combined 10k & 5k, as Mrs. Landau is a long distance specialist with several half marathons to her credit, and the “Triathlon Trial Lawyer” needs to get in shape for several National Championship races and the Sprint Triathlon World Championships in New Zealand in October.

Proceeds from the race go to “Sharing Down Syndrome – Arizona“.  According to their web site, the Mission of Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona is “to educate and empower, but especially give hope to individuals who have Down syndrome (and their families who love them) so these children may grow up to become independent self-advocates. We promote positive acceptance, understanding and inclusion is embraced by all as we celebrate each life.”

Top age group road racer Sarah Buckheit and Doug Landau were winners at the "Blue Jay 5km and Heroes" races in Manassas Virginia

Even though he finished in the top 5 out of over 275 entrants, running 19:26 on a “rolling” and curvy 5km course, Landau would rather not have been called out on being in the race’s most senior category: “50 and over.”  On October 22, 2011 the Pennington School in Manassas Virginia hosted it’s 1st Annual “Blue Jay 5K and Hero Mile” races.  The goal of these events was to raise educational funds for children of fallen police officers.  The folks at Racepacket lead by former DC Road Runners Club President Bob Platt, did a superb job of organizing the events and timing services.  The women’s winner along with Landau was the consistent (and young looking) Sarah Buckheit.

Now that triathlon season is over, Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau will be maintaining his fitness by: racing in road running races throughout the United States; getting to practice with the “World Gators” Masters swim group at the Sport & Health Club in Herndon’s Worldgate Center; and, training with the teenage phenoms on the CompuTrainers at HPC just 2 blocks from the Landau Law Shop.

So, with swimming being a potential “trigger” and caffeine known to cause irregular heart beats (or “ectopic foci”), I looked for deaths associated with energy drink consumption and sport.  According to the Sport Journal, when these are reported, they seem to be isolated cases involving multiple servings with high levels of caffeine.  For example, according to Rice University over 15 years ago, one study looked at the whether caffeine intake increased the risk of heart disease. Over 45,000 people were evaluated and the data indicated a slightly increased risk of death from heart disease in individuals who had an average daily consumption of more than 5 cups of *decaffeinated* coffee.

As a trial lawyer who must present evidence with sufficient reliability to pass muster in court, the question becomes, “How can we know for sure if the combination of intense swimming, changing suddenly from a vertical position to a horizontal one, sudden increase in stress and anxiety, coupled with significant caffeine intake will lead to a cardio-pulmonary event or syncope ?”   While testing on a swimming ergometer (VASA or similar equipment) with a sufficiently large number of subjects and placebos such as would yield statistically significant results, the fact that actual competition can occur in very cold or hot water and the athletes do not always get “air” every time they breath.  The added stress of ingesting water during intense aquatic competition could be another piece of the puzzle.  Certainly further study is warranted, and all athletes should have regular physical exams.

Like the bride & groom (who share a bicycle built for 2) that adorned Herndon bike injury lawyer Doug Landau's wedding cake, Trucks, Cars & Motorcycles must learn to share the road

Truck vs. Bike – Guess who loses ?  The YouTube from the DC biker’s helmetcam (Caution: Profanity) resonates with many of us who have ridden on DC metro area roads, commuted by bicycle and seen inexplicable road rage, distracted driving and other dangerous maneuvers by motorists.  The troubling incident was discussed on the Landau Injury Law site.

I do not believe I have ever posted a comment to YouTube, but this video should be “Exhibit A” to those who contend bikers are not endangered by truck drivers or ridden off the road.  After reviewing the film with my own bride (and bicycling partner for life) I wrote:

“With cars parked in the left lane, traffic relatively light in the other 2 lanes, I would have ridden a safe, straight line in the same situation.  I have seen how devastating the injuries are from being “doored” & many motorists do not pay attention to bicycles riding inches from the curb.  So when the biker is forced to go left to get around parked cars, they can get “clipped” by motorists paying more attention to cars on their left and straight ahead.  If we want to curb unsafe conduct by people driving trucks, cars & motorcycles, then responsibility must be taken when they unnecessarily endanger others.”

P.S. If this had been a child riding to school & permanently injured, what would we make of the trucker’s cowardice then ?”

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.”

• 9/7/2011 Manassas, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, slip and fall at a federal facility job accident case.
• 9/8/2011 Washington, DC: Trial Lawyers Association of DC “Meeting with the Judges” (CLE), at The University Club, 16th Street, NW, preceded by a program introducing the OsiriX software for Macintosh computers
• 9/09/2011 Alexandria, VA; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Motion in Limine (to exclude irrelevant evidence) in union construction plumber’s shopping mall on the job slip and fall case
• 9/10/2011 Reston, VA: South Lakes High School, bicycle helmet safety inspection and athlete registration volunteer for the Reston Triathlon
• 9/11/2011 Reston, VA: Lake Audubon, compete in Reston Triathlon,
• 9/15/2011 Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge
• 9/18/2011 Winchester, VA: Warrenton Aquatic & Recreation Facility, compete in Virginia Triathlon Series (VTS)
• Sprint Triathlon, currently in 4th place in the Age Group, Landau hopes to again win the Series by accumulating enough points in addition to Masters and Age Group awards. ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. is a sponsor of the series.
• 9/20/2011 Fairfax, VA: Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse, Ethics and Social Networking CLE program sponsored by the Fairfax County Bar Association.
• 9/22/2011 Williamsburg, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, job vehicle accident case, late payment penalties
• 9/22-25/2011 Atlanta, GA: American Association for Justice (AAJ) College, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, (CLE)
• 10/02/2011 Spotsylvania, VA: Acorn Sprint Triathlon, Lake Anna Beach marina, final competition in the Virginia Triathlon Series, Bumpass, VA
• 10/03/2011 Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge
• 10/5-6/2011 Monroe, LA: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge on a case remanded from an unfavorable decision for a client for whom ABRAMS LANDAU was successful in his car crash and related workers comp claims.
• 10/6-9/2011 Bergen County, NJ: Client visit, returning to volunteer at High School Parents Weekend, McLean, VA
• 10/10/2011 Richmond, VA: Mediation in a Virginia Workers Compensation claim for a disabled nurse with a Tidewater area insurance defense firm, even though the office is closed for the Columbus Day holiday.
• 10/12/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, health care provider’s slip and fall brain injury case; the original claim was won, but when additional brain surgery was needed, the insurance company disputed that it was related to the original, on the job fall on the ice and refused to pay the medical bills.
• 10/13/2011 Fairfax, VA: District Court of Fairfax County, monitoring the Traffic Court prosecution of the defendant whose unsafe driving caused permanent injury and death.
• 10/15-16 Williamsburg, VA: Old Dominion University Department of Accounting, compete in annual 5km.
• 10/17/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, nurse’s car crash back and head injury case. The original claim was won (covering her spinal surgery) and her car crash liability case settled for policy limits, but when additional traumatic brain injury case was sought, the insurance company disputed that it was related to the original, on the job crash and refused to pay the medical bills.
• 10/19/2011 Manassas, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing for a Michigan client with a back injury
• 11/3/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, after winning permanent and total disability hearing against the Department of Disability Services, seeking van modifications and other additional benefits
• 11/4-6/2011 Lakeville, CT: Volunteer Leadership Weekend, The Hotchkiss School
  nurse’s car crash back and head injury case.
• 11/11-13/2011 Richmond, VA: Virginia Trial Lawyers Advanced Workers Compensation retreat, (CLE) Courtyard by Marriott West
• 11/12/2011 Richmond, VA: Arthur Ashe Athletic Center Health Expo and Richmond Sportsbackers Marathon Festival, compete in 8km. road race.
• 11/18/2011 Herndon, VA: Herndon Community Center Annual Turkey Trot 5km cross country race (in the afternoon, just blocks from the Landau Law Shop !)
• 11/23/2011 Glen Ridge, NJ: United States Track & Field-NJ Championship Road Race, Ashenfelter 8K Classic, benefiting the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation (Landau Law Shop closed for the Thanksgiving holiday)
• 11/30/2011 Colorado Springs, CO: Triathlon World Championship Age Group Sprint Distance qualifiers, like All American Doug Landau, international paperwork for competition in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14-22, 2012

If you want to see Triathlon Trial Lawyer Landau “in action” at these or other events, please e-mail or call the Landau Law Shop (703-796-9555) beforehand, as insurance companies settle on the eve of trial, judges postpone trials and races get canceled due to weather or other unforeseen events, and your time is valuable.  Several races and court cases (including a complex Interpleader for insurance policy limits in Chesterfield Circuit Court as the result of a single car crash injuring several international exchange students) have already been cancelled and postponed due to Hurricane Irene.  Herndon Reston area injury lawyer hopes to see you soon !

Reston bike riders assemble in the Herndon Town lot prior to a fun weekday ride from Fairfax County to Loudoun County

“Defensive Driving” is not just for motorists.  Even bikers need to ride “defensively” and anticipate unsafe actions by others on the roads, paths and trails.  A group of cyclists from Reston were enjoying the W&OD Trail, just past Leesburg in Loudoun County, when calamity struck.  A little boy about 6 or 7 years old was riding with at least one or two siblings and his father was walking with them.  The child was looking back and rode directly into the bikers’ lane.   While the cyclists yelled warning, and some were able to avoid crashing, but others were not so fortunate.  One witness noted, “the little guy rode right into us.”  This child was unhurt, and the neighbors were a great help.

The victim of this crash noted, “There was no one else on the trail with us. It was totally unexpected. After I was on the ground, people came out of the woodwork.  Then there were people on the path.”  Luckily, the cyclist sustained no broken bones.  However, the bicycle rider will no doubt be sore for several days, and her bike will undergo repairs.  The resident of an adjoining neighborhood’s helpful actions renewed the bikers’ confidence in their fellow human beings as he went the extra mile to help out. Everyone at the Landau Law Shop wishes the injured cyclists speedy recoveries and hopes that the child involved (and his parents) will be more careful in the future.

Th Tri Performance Team swept the top 3 places at the Infinitive Triathlon Championship Series race in Boradlands, Virginia. Winner Doug Steele (far left) was closely followed by the McAllister father & son team.

While managing to chase down racers through the transition areas, bike course and running paths, Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau was not able to catch three Team Tri Performance members at the Infinitive Sprint Triathlon at Broadlands today.  Race Director Brian Crow once again put on a quality event, which included the Broadlands 50 meter competition pool and plenty of friendly volunteers and a chalked running course.  Eventual race winner (and former training partner) Doug “Man-o” Steele had the best pool start and kept the pressure on during the 2-loop bike section of the triathlon.  Following Steele was the father and son combination of McAllister.

Broadlands injury lawyer Landau was close behind, but his 4th place finish across the line held up as the top 4 stayed in that order for the awards.  “I dug myself into a hole behind Doug by not swimming more aggressively.  Passing people once I got on dry land, I thought I could make up the deficit.  Next time, I’ll try not to give the fast swimmers such a big head start !”  Landau easily won his age group, and continues to rack up “top 10″ finishes, primarily by dint of hard work on the bike.  Despite averaging 22.4 miles per hour over the hilly cycling route, the Loudoun County injury and accident lawyer still had enough legs to run 6:44/mile over the curvy running course.

Landau has finished between 4th & 8th his last 6 races, and he hopes to be in top condition by the time of the USAT National Age Group Championships in August.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer has a race “double header” next weekend, taking on the “Lawyers Have Heart” 10 km in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. on Saturday and then the DC Splash and Dash (a swim-run duathlon) at the Martin Luther King Aquatic Center in Maryland on Sunday.  For additional information as to the Herndon Law Firm trial lawyer’s schedule of races, cases, seminars and travels, please call 703-796-9555 or e-mail us.

Ed Allen and Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau enjoy the warmth of The Homestead

With snow flakes falling in South West Virginia, the lawyers, judges and legislators who signed up to play in the Annual Norman Landau Cup at the Virginia Trial Lawyers convention had to not only contend with a challenging Homestead golf course, cold and wind, but the possibility of losing their balls in the snow !  There was scant accumulation, but while jogging today in order to familiarize myself with tomorrow’s fun run course, where I would serve as a race volunteer, I noted it was hard to see the balls being hit when the flakes were falling !  Hopefully, the foursomes will wait for those ahead to move out of danger, yell “fore” and wear gloves with dry grips.  Golf course injuries are no laughing matter, and wet, slippery surfaces increase the danger of golf cart crashes, as I have written in prior posts.  No injuries were injured, and the top teams were heartily cheered at the closing banquet.  When their fingers thaw out, they hope to shake the hands of all the well-wishers.

Doug Landau, of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., at the start of the Newton crosss country run during the Multisport World conference in Bethesda, Maryland

DC, Maryland and Virginia Triathletes, Duathletes, Runners, Bikers, Swimmers and Rowers were treated to some outstanding lectures, demonstrations, clinics and competition at this past weekend’s Multisport World in North Bethesda.  There were individual and team competitions in swimming relay, cross country running and indoor computrainer cycling events.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau competed in the running and cycling events.  The 5km race was sponsored by Newton running shoe company, and Landau wore his custom-cut Newtons around the Georgetown Prep Track, golf course and roads. Top finishers and teams got free shoes !

For the 10km. time trial inside the Expo hall, Landau brought his bike and shoes, and a change of clothes, as he was soaked afterwards !  The school’s locker room and facilities were excellent, and this event is sure to get bigger each year.  Cheered on by friends from the DC Triathlon Club, RATS (Reston Area TriathleteS), Team FeXY, Team Z, TriCats, SetUp Inc., Rehab 2 Racing and others, the Herndon injury lawyer was able to average over 22 miles per hour on the hilly course and over 230 watts !