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With the Gulf temperatures hovering in the 50s, many local athletes are taking a second look at their training regimens.
Gulfster.com, a popular web site with surfers, open water swimmers and triathletes, reports the temperature at 54 degrees. Even many of the local hard-core triathletes won't dive into the gulf, even on a dare.
Some of Florida's multisport enthusiasts say it's time to tuck the wet suits into storage, and go to Plan B. This could mean jumping on fat-tire bikes, and heading into the woods, along with the seasoned mountain bikers, for some cross-training.
"The thing to do at this time of the year, is to try a new twist on offseason training," Team In Training coach Lewis Bennett said.
"Our group's Mock Adventure Race out at Fort De Soto a couple of weekends ago, really brought out some beginners who had a blast. They learned compass reading, trail running, and teamwork. Following clues and rolling your partner in a barrel, is training, but it's put the emphasis on what we call "the fun factor,' for offseason."
BATTLE OF BRILLIANCE: Pacelines are speeding up, as the first bicycle races of the 2004 season have been announced.
Members of Team Atlantic Shores Velo and Team American Classic will unite to play host at the 5th Annual Dade Battle Of Brilliance, a weekend of bicycle racing, in Zephyrhills and Dade City, on Feb. 28-29.
Jill Ricardo, of Dade City's Kiefer Village Jewels, has announced a prize purse of more than $4,400 in cash, in addition to special prime lap cash prizes. The Battle Of Brilliance is the first opportunity for Florida's USA Cycling racers to earn ranking points toward the 2004 Florida Points Series.
The first event of Saturday evening that weekend will be an intense "fast lap" competition, where prize money will be given to riders with the fastest time for one lap of the downtown Zephyrhills course.
Spectators will want to bring their cameras and lawn chairs for this evening of spectacular racing. Local law enforcement officers score the riders by measuring the 35-plus mph sprints with their radar guns.
At 7:30 p.m., there will be four-rider Team Time Trials, followed by a 20-lap "Miss And Out" event for Category 4-5, and a Pro 1-2 event, with a $1,000 prize purse, at 8 p.m.
Dade City's Meridian Avenue historic district will be the setting, and all USA Cycling categories will race on a new, longer criterium course from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The premier event, Category Pro 1-2, will be at 12:30 p.m.
For information call Riccardo at (352) 567-2378.