Revolution3 News: Official Press Release

Revolution3 Announces New Triathlon Race for 2009

Registration begins October 1st, 2008

Centreville, VA (September 17, 2008) – Revolution3 will be directing its first-ever half distance triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run), The Half-Rev on June 7, 2009 at Quassy Amusement Park in beautiful Middlebury, Connecticut . The inaugural Half-Rev will feature the largest professional purse prize of any regular season Half Event of its kind, $100,000, coupled with $20,000 in cash and prizes for our age-group athletes. As such, the Half-Rev will attract some of the biggest name professional and amateur athletes in the sport of triathlon.

"I am thrilled to be part of the new Revolution3 Triathlon. The $100,000 prize purse will attract the world's best triathletes - doesn't get better than that."

~ Leanda Cave

2007 ITU Long Distance World Champion

Quassy Amusement Park is made up of twenty-plus acres and boasts over twenty-two rides. The venue offers a challenging scenic race course for athletes and an amazing fun-filled, active day for family m embers and all spectators alike.

“Our immediate goal is to make triathlons a more interactive, enjoyable experience for spectators and family members by providing fun activities for children and family during the race. We’re about change. Change for the age grouper, change for the professional athlete, and change for the spectators.”

~ Heather Gollnick

Director of Sponsorship/Marketing and Pro Liaison, Revolution3

One way Revolution3 will change triathlon racing for the spectator is by teaming up with Trakkers, a GPS technology that tracks athletes in real-time. Trakkers will change the way spectators participate in triathlon by providing real-time athlete information such as location, speed, heart rate, elevation and current pace. All of this information will be available for spectators to view at the race via computers set up in the transition area. “The sport has needed to integrate everybody into race day—and this will do it,” states Gollnick.

Revolution3 is also proud to announce our charitable partnership with ESPN’s Dick Vitale and the V Foundation. ”I strongly endorse the efforts of Heather and Todd Gollnick and Revolution3 Triathlon. They are certainly champions in the biggest game of all, THE GAME OF LIFE. They plan on playing a vital role in helping me with my dream of raising dollars to beat the dreaded disease we know as cancer.”

~ Dick Vitale
ESPN Personality

Revolution3 has plans to add two new events in 2010. The second event planned for 2010 is an Olympic distance triathlon (.9 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6.2 mile run) followed by a Full-Rev (2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run) rounding out the season in 2010.

• For more information about Revolution3 and the race series, visit www.rev3tri.com
• For more information about Quassy Amusement Park visit www.quassy.com
• For more information about Trakkers, visit www.trakkersgps.com.

About Revolution3: Revolution3 is located in Centreville, VA and is focused on providing first class multisport events geared to both professional athletes and the first time multisport participant. To learn more visit www.rev3tri.com

Learn How You Can Install Swimming Pool Filters

There are unique types of filters that are utilized to preserve your swimming pool. With no filter you will notice your pool changing within a couple of days that will make it become nasty with debris, algae, and also germs. But before you can utilise one you first need to learn how you can set it up right.

There are three kinds of filters that you can pick out from which include; sand, earth, and cartridge. In order to pick out the proper one you must study them carefully and get the one that is produced specifically for the type of pool filtration system you have.

When you have picked out the kind of filter you want you have to find one that is the right size. You will find out that they are offered in a variety of sizes and even shapes. You will recognize which filter to select by fitting it with the filtration system that you own. Otherwise it will not work and it will be worthless to you.

Now that you have the precise pool filter you are ready to install it. When in doubt we feel that it is best to not only utilize our help - but also the aid of the instruction manual that is provided to you. The first thing it should tell you to do is to put the filter on the equipment pad.

You must hook up the circulation plumbing to the intended filter. The more average filters will be designed with an influent and effluent line. The influent will take the water into the filter while the effluent will carry it back out. Make sure that the gate valve is attached to both of them and that you have cleansed off the O-rings and greased them.

Once everything is connected you will be able to turn the pool filter on and discover if it is working right. If it is not attached properly or is not working you will know within a day or two when your pool will start to appear terrible and will be extremely filthy.

Swimming Pool Filters are important when it comes to keeping your pool clean. Learn how you can Back Wash your Cartridge Swimming Pool Filter.

by Naomi West

Store Your Pool Toys and Help Increase Swimming Pool Safety

Excessive toy clutter upon a swimming pool deck or the areas around a built-in pool can lead to falls and serious injuries. Keeping the swimming deck areas clear will help reduce the risk of unnecessary falls. Children tend to pull out all of the pool toys then swap their preferences all day long. Moms and dads, doubling as life guards, have a constant job described as toy sorter.

Wooden decks adjacent swimming pools are notorious for being slippery. With children getting in and out constantly, the pool deck can quickly become an ice skating rink. If the deck is also cluttered with multiple rafts, noodles, beach balls, ducks and float rings, the chance of slipping on the deck increases.

Many people choose to throw their toys over the side of the pool into the yard. The toys may be out of the way, but when the kids use them again, they bring grass and dirt back into the pool. An alternative to throwing the toys overboard is to somehow neatly store them near the swimming area.

If your deck is large, and you don’t mind giving up deck space, products are available both locally and online. The bench seat with storage underneath and separate container products both allow for storage of smaller toys and accessories such as goggles and fins. Both of these storage

The problem is where to put the toys, and keep them within reach, while people are swimming.

Kathleen Pike, the creator of Pool-Pockets, said “Dragging toys up from underneath the deck several times a day just wasn’t working.” The solution was to find a product that hung over the outside railing of the deck. Pike said she searched on the internet for available products but only found storage bins that take up precious deck space. That’s when the idea began to create her own design.

“Since our pool deck is a main summer entertainment area, I wanted to create a storage system that complemented the nautical look of the deck” Pike said. Used fishing nets and natural hemp roping were selected as suitable materials. Pike then created a design by weaving used nets together and accenting them with shells and starfish.

After receiving many favorable comments on the Pool-Pockets, Pike was encouraged to further develop her product for sale. Many prototype pockets were created to perfect the weaving technique to make the pockets hang straight. The rope used to weave the pockets added another element of design. “Natural hemp rope must be whipped at the ends or the rope will fray” Pike said. “The new pockets are strong, attractive and provide a way to easily store pool toys out of the way” she said.

Pike currently sells three sizes of Pool-Pockets on the internet. Her original design was 4 ft. x 4 ft. to accommodate several pool rafts and noodles. Pike then added a 4 ft. x 8 ft. design for families with many pool toys to keep organized. One thing Pike noticed last year was small toys, such as snorkels and masks, collected at the bottom of the deep pockets making retrieval difficult. She has since designed a smaller, 2 ft x 2 ft pocket for small toys and accessories.

For additional information about Pool-Pockets, including photos and ordering information, you can visit Pike’s website at www.pool-pockets.com.

by: Gregory Fort

Sunscreens – Do You Know How To Properly Apply Them?

Sunscreens form an essential part of any skin care regimen. Not only do they protect against the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun, but they also prevent the skin from aging prematurely. Regular and consistent use of sunscreens decreases the risk of developing skin cancer in the future as well.

In the increasingly conscious beauty world, the importance of incorporating sunscreen is well documented. However, even if women make it a point to use sunscreens religiously, not all of them know how to apply them efficiently. Ineffective application have ineffective results.

Here are some tips for using your sunscreen products and making sure they serve you well.

When to Apply Sunscreens

To extract the maximum or even optimal benefits from your sunscreen, you need to know when exactly to apply it. Just dabbing it on your face and walking out in the sun right away is as good as not doing anything at all. There is a specific time and method of to apply sunscreens.

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you venture out in the sun. This gives it enough time to be absorbed by the skin. When it is well absorbed, it is less likely to wash off from sweat and face washing.

• Even if you apply sunscreen at the start of the day, reapply it after strenuous physical activities like exercises and swimming. As you perspire or stay in the water, sunscreen is washed off and needs to be applied again in order to continue to protect the skin. For frequent reapplication, it is best to use a powdered sunscreen like iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen. These powder sunscreens are easy to apply and make the process much easier.

• Even if you do not perform any exhausting activities through the day, make sure you reapply it at least twice. This becomes especially important if you work outdoors or venture out in the peak sunlight hours (10 to 4 PM).

• Use sunscreen in all weather. Don’t avoid sunscreen use in winter. This is because even if the sunlight is not as harsh as in summer, it is still potent with harmful UVA and UVB radiations which your skin is vulnerable to.

How to Apply Sunscreens

Here are a few easy tips:

• Shake the sunscreen container well before use. This mixes all the particles of the lotion that might have settled in the bottom of the bottle. Of course, this won’t be necessary in sunscreen creams. But in case of sunscreen sprays, this process is very essential.

• Don’t apply sunscreens sparingly. Rather, take out a liberal about and slather it all over your body, especially so on your face, neck, hands and feet. Don’t be afraid to apply a thick layer of sunscreen in order to get maximum protection.

• Often people forget to apply sunscreen on certain exposed body parts like ears, back, shoulders and the back of hands and knees. But these parts of the body are as susceptible to sun damage as the others. Therefore, make sure to apply sunscreen on all areas of your body. For areas that are hard to reach by yourself like your back, ask a friend to help you out.

• Be careful while applying sunscreen around your eyes. Eye contours are very gentle and fragile and therefore can react to any harsh substances. Apply only a thin layer of sunscreen there.

• Reapply sunscreen after every 2 to 4 hours. Even if the label says ‘waterproof’ or ‘water-resistant’ make sure you reapply it after swimming or sweating. This is because such water-resistant or waterproof sunscreens offer only 40 to 80 minutes of protection against contact with water or sweat, after which it simply wears off.

by: Marilynnn Syrett

Tapering for a Triathlon

You may have been training for weeks or months already, but now it is 2 weeks before your race and it's time to think about resting. Many triathletes find this more difficult than swimming 5,000 yards, biking the hills, or running a half marathon!

Here are some things to keep in mind if you are beginning your taper or rest period before your race.

1. Do longer warmups and warmdowns. You can keep your distance up, but start to add more to the beginning and end portion of your workout. This 'active rest' will assure that you are well rested for your race but not out of shape.

2. Avoid big meals and sugar. Tapering is an adjustment for your body, and your immune system may not be as strong during this time. Big meals and carbohydrates like sugar will wear your immune system and leave you susceptible to colds and flus. Keep in mind that as your workout intensity decreases, you must decrease calorie intake accordingly.

3. Get as much sleep as you can before midnight. Ideally, get to bed by 10:30. The sleep you get before midnight is the most crucial to your recovery. You will feel more rested if you can do this for at least 2 weeks before your event.

4. Lay off the strength training. This is more of an individual call (some people feel better if they are doing some strength work all the way up until the event, others will be too broken down unless they take a good 2 weeks off), but at the minimum, you should go lighter in the weeks leading up to your event.

5. Avoid caffeine. It may be tough if you are a coffee addict, but 2 weeks of not having that morning cup will give you more natural energy for your race. Take it from 6-time Ironman champion Mark Allen- he practiced this for every race and it worked pretty well for him!

6. Increase your meditation or yoga. Less time working out means more time to prepare mentally! If you don't do yoga already, don't start now. However, find some quiet time during the day to get away from work and working out to clear your mind. Think about how easy that swim will be since you are well-prepared with Tri Swim Coach!

7. You will have more energy during your rest or taper period. Don't be tempted to use it! Save it for your event and you will be glad you did.

Have a great race!

by: Kevin Koskella

Swimming Your Way to a Healthy Life

Whenever you look up the various sports, such as biking, jogging, tennis and so on, one thing you will invariably see is that swimming is touted as one of the best overall physical activities, mostly because swimming will exercise every part of your body with no impact. And swimming has actually been pretty popular ever since the Olympic games. Michael Phelps breaking the gold medal record, the USA four man relay team that won by a fingernail, it was all super exciting. Have you ever heard of the new 100-meter world record holder Usain Bolt? He might not be a swimmer, but he trains in a pool.

You might never be a Michael Phelps or a Usain Bolt, but why not take a page out of their workout routine. Even if you do not know how to swim well, there are still many ways to get around it and enjoy swimming as a workout. You can even listen to music. There are waterproof cases for Ipods, so you can listen to your favorite tunes while you swim. Music can certainly help you along those long laps in an Olympic-sized pool. (Lest that sound like a plug for the IPod, rest assured that there are several types of waterproof radios and MP3 players on the market as well!)

You should also acquire a variety of props, such as a "Pull buoy" -a molded piece of foam, which you squeeze between your legs as you swim. You are forced then to use only your upper body and arms for swimming, and the buoy provides added resistance in the water. Then again, there's a variety of kickboards, which enable you to rest your upper arms on this appropriately shaped piece of foam, so that only your legs propel you through the water, thus giving your legs a pretty good workout.

Ever heard of aqua jogging?

For people who are just coming out of certain surgeries, or people who are extremely overweight, walking can be an almost insurmountable chore. But the water of a pool makes people extremely buoyant, and so practically anybody can exercise their limbs in water.

In order to aqua-jog, people wear a special foam belt around their waists, which helps keep them upright in the water. Then, simply "walk" or "run" across the bottom of the pool, and continue that motion once you get into deep water (the belt helps keep you vertical). Special finned gloves are also available to help propel you along. Aqua jogging is so effective that even tri-athletes are using it as a training tool - obviously they are aqua running, instead! Special foot floats or weighted boots are used to help increase muscle strength.

If you're in to water aerobics, then there is quite a lot of gear you can pick up for that, as well.

Water gloves, wrist and ankle weights, and water aerobic shoes are a must have. Water noodles are fun to play with, too! There is a wide variety of exercise equipment and toys out there that will not only make your swimming routine a success, but enjoyable at the same time.

by: Steven Stratton

How to Open Your Swimming Pool This Spring

Soon spring will be here and so will the annual chore of opening your swimming pool. Planning ahead can make the job much easier. There’s nothing worse than realizing your short one bag of shock when you’re in the middle of prepping the pool. So let’s first make a list of chemicals that you might need.

There will be different needs depending on the type of pool you own, so this list is general. Refer to your pool and pump instructions for additional information.

Liquid or powdered Shock

Chlorine powder or tablets

Bromine

pH increase or pH decrease

Sanitizing cartridge for cartridge filters

A test kit or bottle of test strips to test pH and chlorine levels

Before you run off to your local pool supply store for chemicals, now would be the time to check all of your hoses, clamps, skimmer baskets, gaskets and o-rings. If any of the parts look like they need replacing, take them with you to the pool supply store. It’s a lot easier to match replacement parts if you have the old part with you.

Now that you have the easy part finished, it’s time to get to work. The first thing required is to get the cover off. Enlist some help for this, as you want to avoid getting any top water into the pool water. If you have an above ground pool, siphon the water off with a hose. If you have an in-ground pool you will need to use a sump pump to remove the top water.

To get a good siphon started, hook up the hose to the spigot and put the other end of the hose into the top water. Turn the hose on for a minute or so to fill it. Next crimp the hose a foot or two away from the faucet, and with your other hand, disconnect the hose from the spigot. Position the hose at a downspout drain to discharge then let go of the crimp. The water will reverse and start to drain.

Once you have the water cleared, use a leaf rake to remove as many leaves and twigs as possible. Next, remove your cover weights or springs. At this time a few people positioned around the pool will help to keep the cover out of the water. Try to fold your cover like a blanket keeping the crud in the middle then remove the cover. You need to scrub the cover thoroughly and properly dry for summer storage.

Now it’s time to attach all the pump hoses. Remember to lube plugs, fittings, valves and o-rings with petroleum jelly. Also be sure to remove any freeze plugs that were used to cover the hose openings. You will most likely need to add water to the pool. It should be filled to the skimmer half way point.

At this point you should start re-circulating the water and check for any leaks around the pump and hoses. Once your pool is leak and drip free, skim off as much floating debris as you can with your skimmer net. Open all your valves to flood the hoses and prime the pool pump. Most manufacturers recommend constantly recirculating the pool water for at least three days. Any crud and debris on the sides and bottom of the pool will need to be scrubbed off. Use the broom attachment of your pool vacuum for this.

After all debris has been removed and the pool has been scrubbed, check your filter for cleaning. Some pumps have removable filters; others are back-flushed, so clean as directed. Once the filter is cleaned, you can now super shock the water as per your manufacturer’s instructions. If you start with green water, you will need a lot more shock. It may take a few days of recirculation to clear the water. Once the water has cleared, test your water or take a sample to your pool supply store and have it analyzed. Adjust the water as required and keep recirculating. All that is left to do now is to wait for the water to warm up so you can start enjoying your pool.

by: Gregory Fort

Gregory Fort is a partner with the company Pool-Pockets - Your pool toy storage solution. http://www.pool-pockets.com