What could be better than a sale on triathlon stuff?!?!

A sale on triathlon stuff AND a free entry to a 2012 event!!!!!

Say what?!?  If you know me...and well...most of you don't...you know I love a sale! So when the lovely folks at WetsuitRental.com contacted Deanna to say, "How can we work together to (1) advertise our sale coming up and (2) encourage triathletes?" We replied, "Well...you could offer to sponsor an entry to a BuDu Racing LLC Multi-Sport Event for 2012!"  They said, "huh?"  We said "A tri...you could pay for someone's entry to a tri... ^**

So here is the deal:  Go to the sale THIS SUNDAY and mention that you heard about the sale from us - and they will enter you into a drawing to win an entry to one of the BuDu Racing Multi-Sport Events in 2012!  Seriously...it's that easy!

Here are the details about the sale:
“WetsuitRental.com is a locally based internet company than rents name brand triathlon wetsuits nationwide.  Our operations have been based out of Kingston, WA for 5 years now.  During the course of business, we've accumulated a large number of used wetsuits we would like to unload to make space for our 2012 inventory. We've also got a large number of triathlon products (FuelBelt, tri-mats, books and DVD's, goggles and caps, etc) that we'd like to clear out as well... We'll be hosting a sale at the former site of Kingston Lumber in our hometown Sunday, October 23 from 11:00-4:00. Look for the yellow building, 10901 HWY 104 across from the Bank of America. The site is a short (albeit all uphill) walk from the Kingston ferry dock. If you bring your receipt for ferry passage, we'll deduct $5 from your purchase. We'll have at least 200 wetsuits with all name brands and sizes represented. Expect some screaming deals because we want it all gone!”

I wish I could go...but I'm doing a trail-ish "run" race with my hubby that morning in Lakewood... :-(  (Using the term "run" is a bit misguided when referring to what I do...)

^** This conversation may be dramatized a bit...

Slogans for 2012 Multi-Sport Events???

So the BuDu Racing team is planning for 2012...and we're trying to find a good slogan for 2012.  In my effort to reduce the work that Deanna has to do :-D - I'm opening up the field to suggestions from our followers...so what you got??

2011's slogan - for those of you who didn't see - was "ARE YOU READY to feel this good??"

I'll get the flow started...(and then you can see why I'm not "allowed" to be responsible for this task.)

Have you BuDu'ed today?

Tri-and-tri again...

Finish a triathlon and you'll win.

So leave your ideas here or on FB - we'll pick some of your ideas and then we'll let the public vote. We do have some time, but we'd like to have your submissions by the end of this month...(10/31). Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and ideas!!

Getting off course...

I've timed/worked at a few races where there are multiple events/distances that all start at the same time.  And it has happened more than once that participants have gotten misdirected - completely off of course - or misdirected to the incorrect course.

One young lady was disappointed that she got told to go to the 10K, even though she was supposed to be running a 5K, she told me she should have known because she saw a sign that said 5K in the other direction, but she was listening to the course volunteers.  She realized she should have gone with her first instinct, but then she was ecstatic when I told her her time...her pace was lower than what she was aiming for on the 5K on the 10K!  (My husband might say that indicates over training...)

One of the things that surprised me, as I was looking over USA Triathlon rules, is that the participant is responsible for knowing the course.  I have mixed feelings about this.  On one hand I say "yeah!"  it's not the Race Director's responsibility...and on the other hand I say...That might be quite difficult being a participant - how would you familiarize yourself with the course, so much so - that in the "heat" of the race - you are following the correct path.

Along the same lines...I don't know how many times I've been asked, "Is the course well marked??"  This question gets me every time...because I wonder - how in the world does this person think I know?!?!?  Does he/she think that prior to the event - at say 5 am - all of the course workers run the course??   Or maybe he/she thinks that I personally marked the course...and even if that were the case (which it isn't most likely) - what is their definition on "well"??  Do they need a reminder every 100 feet, yards, every mile, every 5?!!?  And what if it is marked every 100 feet, but it's a tiny orange sticker that most people won't be able to see??  Or maybe...just maybe...the person who marked the course used invisible paint...or what about bread crumbs?  Everyone knows bread crumbs are a good way to mark their path...(Ok, so that is just my cynicism speaking...)

 Unfortunately for the participant, I tell them honestly.  "Unfortunately, I don't really know."  Sometimes I even add, "But I assume so."  But you know what happens when I assume??  I make an a-s-s out of "u".  (...and me...)

ETA (Edited to add):   I am not trying to bad mouth participants or certain race directors...I know these things happen!   I just wish they didn't for both sides of the race!!

Working with helpful participants...

So this might just be funny to those that do the timing...but it's still humorous...

Everything that could go wrong...

New USA Triathlon site...

Quick post today...brother and niece (and sister-in-law) are probably hovering around SeaTac right now...  I did want to share that USA Triathlon just updated their site.  I've spent a few minutes looking through their new and old site...there is some interesting info. 

I posted a similar link on FB earlier.  Competitive Rules for USAT event participants.  This link would be good to review if that is all you look at...
"It is important for all athletes competing in USA Triathlon sanctioned events to have a basic understanding of the USA Triathlon Competitive Rules. USA Triathlon has issued a set of rules to maintain consistency and order from race to race across the country, keeping competition safe and fair." - USAT

Every BuDu Racing Tri or Du is USAT sanctioned.  Ignorance may be bliss...but it could also cost you a few minutes due to a penalty...or worse yet a trip to DQ.  :-(   (And I'm not talking about the place where you can get blizzards, dilly bars and ice cream cakes....)

PSA:  I KNOW that BuDu Racing does more than just Tri and Duathlons...but I am more familiar with them.  Cyclists - please chime in with any pertinent info!!  (Including you briderdt!)

Learning html...

Since I have worked with BuDu, I've gotten a little bit more into the "html scene".  It's handy to know a few things when posting things online.  Like how to post an image with a link to a site - or how to just put a link on something! 

<a href="http://www.buduracing.com/" target="_blank"><img src="URL OF IMAGE" alt="This is what people will see if the graphic doesn't load..."></a>

I look at BuDuRacing.com and see a great site.  But I'm always one that looks at something and says, "how can I improve this?"  We have a meeting with Blue Denham  this morning to discuss the site - I'm excited to learn more and to see what all we can do!!  

(FYI - We always welcome suggestions about anything!!!  - - of course we MAY not USE the suggestion...but it's always interesting seeing things from different angles/ point of views!)

New changes for 2012????

So yesterday we had a teleconference with a potential new registration site.  It seems like it has a lot of great features and no cost increase from the current site.

It's funny because I LOVE changes...probably attributed to my mother...but that is neither here nor there.  However, Deanna...notsomuch a fan of changes.  Which is good...and bad...it brings to mind the recent changes in Facebook.  I read a lot of statuses (statii??) that were complaining about the changes, but I've found that a few of them are nice.  I'm really pretty lazy and really like being able to click on somebody's birthday and a little box pops up and allows me to post to their wall...without actually going to their wall/page.  But I don't like the idea that my friends may know what I search for on the web.  I mean who really wants to share with their friends that they're trying to figure whether they're going to die because they just ate something that expired a year ago...

However, I digress...so it seems like changes may be in store for BuDu Racing LLC participants for 2012!!