Athens Classic Marathon 2008:  Great marathon that you should
consider if you want to do "the original!"  Weather is perfect for running,
organization is first class, and the finish is in the first Modern Olympics
Stadium.  The run is a not flat (3000 ft elevation change) but you can't beat
the sights, atmosphere, and Greek food and hospitality!

November 2008:  Well, we are almost at the end of 2008 and it's time to
start thinking about the 2009 racing season.  You should be thinking
about which races you will enter, their priority, and how to design your
long-range training plan accordingly.   T and I have found that you can
keep in good shape over the short German winter days by doing at least
one tempo bike and run workout per week -- usually on the computrainer
-- and try to sneak in a longer run and bike whenever the weather lets us.  
And T's spinning classes continue, of course, along with 2-3 swim
sessions per week.  We like to downhill ski, and to get ready for that, I like
to hit the weight room 1-2 times per week for some strength and
plyometric workouts.  

Mallorca Training Week!   Team Uberfit and friends are planning a bike
holiday/training week in Mallorca, Spain  with "Velo-Team" for the week of
15-22 March. I have done similar training weeks in Costa Brava and
Lanzarote and this trip is a super deal, with great cycling and guided rides
(with professional riders leading).
   Our package is in a 4* hotel (Iberostar Cristina), half-board, with the
guided rides included, and round-trip transportation from Stuttgart --
and it only costs 761 euro per person. Rental bikes are extra and if you
bring your bike, expect to pay 60 euro extra round trip. You have to reserve
a spot with a 200 euro deposit now and then pay off the remainder 30
days prior. To get more information, call Marty or Velo-Team at 07031-
602526 or visit www.velo-team. de. You can also talk to one of the
professional rider guides, Rene Weisinger, at 0174-9039885 for more
information about the riding. Other weeks in March are also available.
   Let's get a big group together and get a jump start on the season by
riding in beautiful Mallorca!

October 2008:  The 2008 racing season drew to a close this month as
Theresa and I competed at 70.3 Monaco on the French Riviera.  Tough
bike course!  It was a great trip though, and I recommend this race,
especially for you hill climbers.  We also traveled to Garmisch for the US
Forces Europe mountain bike championship race, where we both got on
the podium despite having a lot of rust on our mountain biking skills!  Now
we get to enjoy a beautiful Germany autumn, and up the running a bit, as
we're going to Athens for the Classic Marathon in early November...

August 2008:  2008 70.3 Germany is now in the books and that race has
proven to be wildly successful, drawing over 2000 triathletes in its second
year.  If you want to take part in this well organized but challenging race,
don't wait too long!  Stuttgart triathletes did very well, with Uberfit - trained
triathletes Bobby Umstead and Gail Gilderoy completing their first half-
Ironman race in fine fashion.  Theresa and I had good races, even though
we failed to beat the relay team of Dan Avondoglio, Chris Bennett, and
Mike Buckley!  Chris and Mike both caught the Ironman bug and promise
to do the whole race next year.  Better start hitting the swimming pool
soon, Iron Mike!

We also did a very challenging but fun Olympic distance triathlon in
Crailsheim; you don't have to worry about drafting on the bike as there is a
series of nasty little hills to break up any draft packs!  Theresa and Marty
both got on the age group podium and Cristy Tjoa just missed out (but
she had a great race and will do even better as her tri experience grows).

July 2008:  Well, we wrapped up the month by competing in the Olympic
distance triathlon at Alp de Huez .  This is a great race and the highlights
included meeting Chrissie Wellington, the reigning Ironman World
Champion, T winning her age group, and biking through the beautiful and,
yes, steep French Alps!  We will certainly visit this race and area again; if
you are interested in a late April bike training camp and/or staying in a
wonderful chalet with us for race week next July, contact us!

If you would like to join
Team Überfit, you're eligible for 15% off any retail
priced item at TriSports.com, one of our team sponsors.  Additionally,
Trisports.com is now selling all of their retail priced bikes for 20% off for
all sponsored team members!


Warm weather is finally here and the racing season in ON!  
Congratulations to all of those who won medals at the Army 10 Mile
European Championship Race on 31 May, and especially the Stuttgart "A"
team, who won the team championship!

The mountain bike race on Panzer is a "GO" for 14 June, and it will be a
long one, so get your muscular endurance training going!  And then follow
that with a short but anaerobic crit on Patch on 15 June.  Registration is
open now.

T and I are doing Xterra Czech in late June!  If you'd like to join us, give me
a call.  I understand Xterra Germany has been cancelled due to the town
of Titisee not renewing the agreement, but maybe another town in
Germany will be willing to put on this great race.

There's a new swim coach in town, Kristi Tjoa, who swam at the Naval
Academy and is providing coaching here in Stuttgart.  Let me know if you'd
like to get in contact with her!

Congratulations to Dr. Jim Bruckhart, who scored on a lottery slot for
Kona!   Have fun Jim, training in the sauna to get ready for the heat...

2008 is here and Team Überfit are looking forward to a great racing year
at locations all over Europe!  For those of you who haven't registered for
your "Priority A" race, don't procrastinate any longer, because several
triathlons are already  full, including Ironman Germany, 70.3 Switzerland,
and Kraichgau Triathlon.  If you are looking for a great race, go to
Trimapper.com.  Überfit coaches Marty and Theresa are planning on
competing at the beautiful Alpe de Huez Triathlon on 31 July, followed by
70.3 Germany (17 August), and 70.3 Monaco (7 Sept) .   Call us for
information about the races, and how to join us!  Other races might
include Xterra Czech on 28 June and Xterra Austria on 23 August.  

Some of the Überfit triathlon crew are planning on some fun training races
and events.  Among them:  Jim Bruckart is looking for friends to go with
him on a super "Spring Classics" tour with a British bike club.  The week
includes cycling on the Tour de Flanders route (the day before the pro
race) and ends with cycling on, and viewing, the Paris to Roubaix Classic.  
The dates are 4-13 April.  Here is the
link to the tour website.  Jim is also
planning on one or two great epic rides in Italy, including the Granfondo
Marco Pantani on 22 June.  Here is the
link for a schedule of these rides.  
And former CAT 1 race and National level coach Reeves Taylor is
planning on doing a similar type of bike ride in Spain, on 26 May, called La
Sufrida (
link).  He promises a Century Plus ride with 5 mountain climbs --
not for the weak of heart!!!

Other training races include the Stuttgart Spring Fling 5 km race on 29
March, and the US Forces Europe triathlon in Kaiserslautern on 17 May.   
And plans have just been finalized for an inaugural mountain bike race on
the Panzer training range on 14 June, followed by a road bike criterium
race on Patch Barracks on 15 June.   


Hawaii Update:  Final results!  Theresa finished her 3rd Kona World
Championship race with a time of 12:32, good enough for the 2nd place
military female!  Congratulations T!  Conditions were hot, windy, and
humid -- classic Kona.  T had a great swim and bike but the heat
eventually got to her on the marathon run -- we've become too acclimated
to the nice cool German weather.  But we will be back to do battle on the
lava fields of the Big Island!  Go to the photo gallery to see some race
shots.

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time speaking with Brian Frank, the owner
and founder of Hammer Nutrition.  Brian knows more about sports
supplements and nutrition than most anyone else in the industry, except
for the experts who work for him!  His mission this week is to "hammer
home" the point that most Ironman triathletes take in way too many
calories, which leads to shutting down your digestive tract and giving one
that very uncomfortable bloated feeling (which can then lead to nausea,
dehydration, and an overall terrible race).  Brian also enlightened me on
the fact that endurolytes can quickly fix a muscle cramp (if due to low
sodium levels) in a matter of seconds -- which I proved during the last part
of the run at Xterra Germany last  Sept...

After spending time with Brian and his family at Kona, it's clear why he's
made his company a great success, and why I'm sure it will grow larger
and larger in the years to come.

Uberfit Athlete and Coach Theresa Michal has settled in to her lair in
Kona, a full 6 days before race morning, and it's time to get acclimated
and in synch with the Hawaiian time zone!  We've only been here 10 hours
and have all ready spotted Michellie Jones, Heather Gollnick, and Lisa
Bentley up close and personal.  It's the big leagues!

Race News:  Due to her outstanding performances at Ironman Germany
and 70.3, Theresa Michal, an Uberfit coach, was selected as the sole
female on the 2007 Navy Ironman Team competing in the World
Championship race at Kona!  She will be teammates with LT Andy
Baldwin, of  "The Bachelor" fame.  I hope Andy is a gentleman... I wouldn't
want to kick his butt for some untoward advances!  :-)

Would you like to do Xterra Germany, a great mountain bike triathlon in the
Black Forest?   Uberfit coaching can help you have a great race.  We're
going down the weekend of 1 Sept for a practice run, and then doing the
race the following weekend.  Call for more details.  Marty has done the
race the past 2 years and we have a pretty good idea of what the race
demands!

Marty is giving some free running clinics at Patch Barracks this summer in
hopes of developing some informal running groups to train for the fall
marathons such as Frankfurt, Berlin, Stockholm, and Dublin!  And if you
would like to purchase a detailed and proven School of Marathon training
plan for one of these marathons, contact him or click
here.

The Summer 2007 Triathlon racing season has started in earnest, with
some great races by Team Uberfit!    Next on the race schedule?  All of the
U.S. Forces Mountain Bike Series races and 70.3 Germany!

Check these race performances out:

Norm Matzke finished his first Ironman at Roth, with a time of 13:25.  Way
to go Norm!  Best of all, he had an outstanding finish line photo with his
two boys.  

Scott Kelly broke his Ironman PR at a very tough Ironman Switzerland,  
breaking 11 hours and finishing in 10:46.  This included a very fast swim
for the young SEAL (57 minutes), and a kickass  bike split of 5:33 over the
mountainous Swiss mountains around Zurich.

Coaches  Marty Smith and  Theresa Michal also had great Ironman races
at Ironman Germany (European Championship) in Frankfurt.  Marty broke
the magic 11 hour barrier (finally) and finished just under 10:58.  Theresa
finished in 11:54  but even better, managed to earn a spot on the Navy's
Ironman Team as the only female.  We're going to the big show in Kona in
October!

By the way, wondering how to write a great race report even though you
are exhausted and really not in the mood to describe the 4 weeks of
nervousness and race trauma?  Don't worry, just follow this great
guide by
Lee Gruenfeld.   

The Spring 2007 School of Marathon has concluded another "semester"
of training, and we are getting ready for the graduation ceremony (read:  
party!) on 19 May at the Smith-Michal household.  Amy Brantsley
completed her first marathon, and Ray Butler completed  the Prague
marathon, acheiving his tremendous goal of running a marathon within a
year of breaking his back in a parachute fall!  Based on the good
attendance and another fun group, we're looking forward to a Fall
Semester, targeting the Dublin and Berlin Marathons!  

Uberfit Athletes had a great training week in Costa Brava, Spain, with
Eurocycler Travel.   Andrea Friend, Jim Bruckart, and Todd and Donna
Yates all spent a week cycling, swimming, eating, and relaxing with other
athletes from Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.  Want to bike
hard and have fun too?  Go with us next year and put in 436 miles of
cycling and 35,000 feet of elevation in 6 days of cycling!  

Want to take your swimming to the next level?  Uberfit Coaching can help
you, with a detailed swim video analysis and technique session.  In
addition, we can customize a swim training schedule which will improve
your  technique, efficiency, and speed.  See this video as an example of a
technique video session:  
Theresa and Adam K Session

We are starting a Triathon Club!  Team Uberfit will be an informal, no-
dues club for those in the Stuttgart area interested in group workouts and
monthly social get-togethers to discuss multi-sports.   For more
information and to join the Yahoo! Group for email group posting, news,
and to see the monthly group workout calendar, contact us.  Additionally,
club members will be eligible for discounts from our Sponsors TriSports.
com and Hammer Nutrition.  And no membership fees!

For the 2007 triathlon and endurance racing season, Uberfit is planning
on helping you get to the next level of performance through:

  •  Group swim, bike, and run workouts (see the  Team Uberfit  
    calendar via the  Yahoo group website)
  •   Indoor cycling workouts at the Patch gym on Tuesday and
    Thursday morinings at 0615
  •  Tentative races for Uberfit athletes include Ironman Germany
    (July 2), Kraichgau long-distance triathlon,  Switzerland 70.3 (June
    3),  Scandanavian 70.3 (Aug 18), Monaco 70.3 (Sept 2), and maybe
    a couple of Xterra mountain bike triathlons  (Italy and Germany).  
    Then of course there are the  U.S. Military mountain bike races put
    on by Outdoor Recreation!

f you are training for a big triathlon this season and would like to "ride" the
course in advance, we may have the race course in our computrainer
course library!  Here are some of the courses that we can have you ride:  

U.S. Half Ironman Series

Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series

Most Ironman triathlons

For $10 per hour, we can set you up on one of our computrainers and you
can ride the course, seeing your accurate power/heart rate/stroke
mechanics in real time! We have three computrainer setups so you can
also "virtually race" with another training partner.  Call Marty at 07152 357-
925 to set up a great workout. For more information on computrainer
indoor cycling, go to Computrainer Cycling
ÜberFIT News
Bicycle Power vs Speed       Calculator!  
Click
Here
Interested in doing the world famous
Alp d'Huez Long Course or Olympic Distance
triathlon in late July?
Team Überfit will be
hosting a race/training week for this week at
a gorgeous French Alps chalet -- click
here
for more information!