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FAQs


RATS Membership
   - How do I Join RATS or renew my membership?
   - How much does RATS cost?
   - What are the benefits of being a RAT?
   - My membership is up, how do I renew?
   - What sponsor discounts do we receive from USAT?
   - How do I Join RATS or renew my membership?
   - Where can I find a roster of current members and check my membership status?
RATS Calendar
   - What group training does RATS offer?
   - How do I meet people for the Saturday ride?
   - Where is the Saturday swim?
   - Can I swim in the Reston Lakes?
   - What is Hunter Station Road, and how steep is it?
   - How do I find out what is going on in the club?
Sponsorship
   - Is RATS a non-profit organization?
Reston Triathlon
   - What's the best way to watch the Reston Triathlon?
   - Why does the Reston Triathlon fill so quickly?
   - What is the overall course record?
   - What are the swim, bike, run course records?
RATS Online
   - Who can join the mailing list?
   - I just joined the mailing list, and posted a message. Why hasn't it appeared on the list yet?
   - Who should I contact about the website?
   - How can I post my race reports on the website?
Miscellaneous
   - I will be doing Event A, but I would also like to do Event B, which is N weeks before Event A. Is this okay?
Tour De Skyline
   - What is the Tour De Skyline?
   - When is le Tour de Skyline?
   - What is SAG?
   - Will there be a massage?
   - So if it's 35-degrees and raining, can I hitch a ride with SAG?
   - Will there be someone who can ride my pace?
   - Is there a cue sheet?
   - What is the official TdS hotel?
   - What happens if a bear hits me or I otherwise wreck?
   - Will my cell phone work?
   - I've heard Skyline Drive is hilly, but is it *really* hilly?
   - What about food?
   - What's the deal, I thought this was supposed to be fun?
RATMan
   - What is RatMan?
   - When is RatMan?
   - Can I register for RatMan?
Official USA Triathlon Club
   - What race discounts do we receive from USAT?
   - What sponsor discounts do we receive from USAT?



RATS Membership


How do I Join RATS or renew my membership?

1. Go to www.paypal.com and login (if you do not have an account, one will need to be created)


2. Send membership payments to money@trirats.net via Paypal
- New Member (with RATs jersey) = $50, otherwise $30


3. Fill out the form below:


Questions? Please email membership@trirats.net


How much does RATS cost?

RATS membership is $30/year per person for new members and renewals. For only $50 members may get a new RATS jersey subsidized by the club!
What are the benefits of being a RAT?

Members will get an account on this website! This will allow you to create a Bio, use the Race Calendar, and create Race Reports to share with everyone and save for your use.

While we do offer many training/racing opportunities, RATS philosophy is focused on helping athletes connect with one another. The goal of this mailing list, the socials, club racing events and even the "mini" events is to expose athletes of all abilities to the vibrant triathlon community in and around Reston. By doing this we hope that athletes of all abilities will learn from and teach their fellow athletes.

Membership benefits also include access to sponsorship deals.

  • Bonzai: RATS primary sponsor. SAG and material support at our big events like TdS, 20% off all merchandise, and 15% off all bike purchases

  • Rudy Project: 40% discount

  • Potomac River Running: 10% off everything plus nutrition and hydration support on TdS

  • Bluemont Vineyard: Free wine tasting certificates and valuable tour/tasting packages for giveaways at events

  • Cafesano: Monthly happy hours with 2-for-1 drink specials to members

  • Pacific Health Labs: Maker of Endurox, Accelerade, and Forze GPS bars will provide us with free product for select events as well as an additional 5-15% off the Bonzai discounts at select times of year.
    My membership is up, how do I renew?

    see above


    What sponsor discounts do we receive from USAT?

    USAT sponsors change from time to time. To get the latest information visit their website at: http://www.usatriathlon.org/

    To take advantage of these please email info@trirats.net
    How do I Join RATS or renew my membership?

    1. Go to www.paypal.com and login (if you do not have an account, one will need to be created)


    2. Send membership payments to money@trirats.net via Paypal
    - New Member or renewal (with Jersey) = $50, without $30.


    3. Fill out the form below:

    Questions? Please email membership@trirats.net


    Where can I find a roster of current members and check my membership status?

    Current RATS Members




    RATS Calendar


    What group training does RATS offer?

    The RATs group training is in the process of being revamped! We are still working out the details, but we expect to have a Saturday morning ride leaving from behind the ice rink at Faraday Dr. in Reston. This ride will be followed by an optional brick run. We also expect to have brick runs leaving from in front of the RATs President Kevin Kunkel's house after the RBC Tuesday night ride. Stay tuned for details!

    Many RATS also swim with Reston Masters, run with Reston Runners (specifically the Sunday 10-miler), and bike with the Reston Bike Club on Tue/Thu nights. We encourage you to investigate these clubs as well.
    How do I meet people for the Saturday ride?

    Details coming soon!
    Where is the Saturday swim?

    Reston Masters meets at the Reston Community Center in the Hunter's Woods Plaza shopping Center from mid-September to mid-June. During the summer, swim practice is normally at the Lake Newport 50 meter pool, with some exceptions. It's best to check the Reston Masters web site for a complete schedule.
    Can I swim in the Reston Lakes?

    Official Reston Association policy is that swimming is not allowed in the lakes except for property owners with easements on the lakes or the participants of officially sanctioned events. Currently, the only such events are the Reston Triathlon and Jim McDonnell Lake swims.

    Please realize that while you may not be scolded for doing an early morning swim, the organizers of the Reston Triathlon (and to some degree, the Reston Masters) certainly do get an earful throughout the year. Swimming in the afternoons is likely to get you scolded in person as waterfront landowners are trying to enjoy themselves.

    We realize that swimming happens ... we just want people to know what the rules are before they make their own decisions.

    What is Hunter Station Road, and how steep is it?

    Hunter Station Road is a popular hill in the Reston area for doing hill repeats (primarily on the bike, but you can run it as well). The bottom of the road nearly intersects with the W&OD trail. The W&OD crosses Hunter Mill Road near mile post 15. Hunter Station Road begins at the southwest corner of the W&OD/Hunter Mill intersection (recognizable by the small --- seven cars --- parking area at that corner).

    According to Topo USA 4.0 software, Hunter Station Road (the steepest section from just after the bridge to Roundhouse Road) averages about 9%, with a few parts at 15% and more parts at 12-13%. You could probably safely say that it's a 10-12% climb over .2 miles.
    How do I find out what is going on in the club?

    RATS Calendar

    Sponsorship


    Is RATS a non-profit organization?

    Depends who you ask. Ask us, and the answer is yes. Ask the IRS and the answer is no. RATS will gladly accept monetary contributions for sponsorship, but 501(3)C status (true non-profit status that allows deductible donations) is under discussion.

    Reston Triathlon


    What's the best way to watch the Reston Triathlon?

    Best way? No idea ... but here is one way.

    The Reston triathlon is actually one of the better races for spectators. The bike course is 2.75 loops around the roads of Reston. A spectator can easily walk from the swim start to the finish line, while watching cyclists do their thing. The finish line is at South Lakes High School.

    Also, many triathlons start the swim in waves determined by age in a somewhat random order. The overall winner isn't known until the splits are calculated and posted. Reston is a rare race in that it seeds the fastest finishers & swimmers in the first wave so, usually, the first three people across the finish line are the first, second, and third place finishers.

    So, our recommendations for watching this race would be ...

    Race starts at 7:00 a.m. sharp.

    Park at the South Lakes Shopping Center*, off the intersection of South Lakes Dr. and Twin Branches Rd. There is a Safeway and a CVS there. Grab some coffee and a muffin at Starbucks, spectating is hard work.

    Walk down Twin Branches Rd. The swim is in Lake Audubon, about 1/4-mile from the shopping center. You cannot miss the lake on your right. Be there by 6:50 if you want to catch the swim start.

    Hang out there. Wait for your athlete to start & finish the swim. Once your athlete gets on the bike course (or about 10 minutes afterward) walk back up the hill on Twin Branches. Hang out on the top of this hill until you see your athlete go by (hills are a good place to wait for cyclists: they're going much slower and need more encouragement). Ask your athlete for a predicted bike time, divide by three ... that's how long each loop should take. The cyclists will not go beyond Ridge Heights Drive on the third loop of South Lakes Dr.

    After your athlete's first pass start moving toward the high school, about 1-mile away. Take Twin Branches back to South Lakes and turn left. Cyclists will reach top speeds just in front of the high school on South Lakes Dr as they come down the small hill there. That can be cool to see, but it happens fast (as fast as 40 mph). Oh yeah, there's a sidewalk on the shopping-center-side of South Lakes Dr, but not on the same side as your athlete. There is decent dirt path behind the guard rail.

    After you see your athlete come around the second time, head straight for the high school, and find the bike-run transition (T2). Ask someone for directions, or just fumble around. It's behind the high school (if you consider South Lakes Rd the front of the high school). The cyclists will turn up Ridge Heights Rd to get there, but you can take South Lakes Rd until you see the high school. Following the crowds will work too.

    A great spot to watch the rest of the race is the exit of the bike-run transition. You can see people head out for the run, and then watch them come back in and head onto the track for the last lap. If the race is really close, this is the best spot. If the race isn't that close, then the finish-line would be better.

    * Use this address in your favorite mapping tool
    Footsteps of Reston
    11160-H South Lakes Drive
    Reston, VA 20191
    Why does the Reston Triathlon fill so quickly?

    The Reston Triathlon is truly a hometown race. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of people for whom this is the only triathlon they do every year. And they do it every year.
    What is the overall course record?

    Women's Overall:
    2:02:25 Kim McLaughlin (1998)
    2:02:28 Margaret Shapiro (2005)
    2:03:45 Margaret Shapiro (2002)

    Men's Overall:
    1:51:42 Eric Sorenson (1995)
    1:52:12 Eric Sorenson (1997)
    1:53:23 Matias Palavecino (2009)

    The bike course changed significantly in 1995 from the original course, which was two loops going down Hunter Mill Rd. and up Hunter Station Rd. The swim, being a triathlon swim, is always up for debate. The run has remained essentially the same since the race's inception.

    On the women's side, Beth O'Connor (now Beth Baker) holds the pre-1995 course record by more than 2 minutes, at 2:10:59, set in 1991.

    Jane Newell dominated the first seven years of the women's race, winning every race until 1990. She was finally unseated by three-pete winner (1991-1993), Beth O'Connor-Baker. Kim McLauglin maintains an impressive four career wins (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001) including three of the five fastest times. Alexa Wesner (formerly Lange) has two career wins (2000, 2003). Margie Shapiro has slowly eroded Kim's domination on this course, taking two of the three best overall times. It should be noted that Margie's 2005 race, only 3 seconds off the course record, came in a year when T2 was pulled back several meters and construction diverted the run course somewhat. She placed fourth OVERALL.

    On the men's side, Guy Beaver holds the pre-1995 course record at 1:58:59, set in 1988. This time barely edges out Kirk Corsello's 1994 performance of 1:59:40, the last year the old course was raced.

    Eric Sorenson has won the Reston Triathlon a record 4 times for the men (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000), including the top two overall times.

    The other multiple-year winners among the men are Joe Vicedomine, who three-peted the years of 1990, 1991, and 1992. Former Restonian Stephen Smith has three victories: back-to-back razor-thin wins in 2004 and 2005 and a third in 2007 after missing the 2006 race season to injuries. Marek Dvorak won back-to-back races in 2002 and 2003.

    What are the swim, bike, run course records?

    The Reston Triathlon website has a database of all splits since 1998.

    For some reason, the 1998 bike splits are abnormally fast, but abnormally fast across the board; they are not considered course records. The original bike course ran two loops down Hunter Mill Road an up Hunter Station Rd, and measured 23.9 miles. Guy Beaver holds the course record for the men at 56:53, set in 1988 and Jane Newell holds the record for the women at 1:03:47, set in 1989.

    It goes without saying that swim courses can be variable, as is timing in general. So take these with a grain of salt.

    Swim Records

    Women:
    20:29 Beth O'Connor (1991)
    21:08 Beth O'Conner (1990)
    21:18 Beth O'Connor (1996)

    Men:
    19:09 Michael Orton (2003)
    19:24 Michael Orton (2002)
    20:08 Michael Orton (2000)

    Bike Records

    Women:
    56:15 Deborah Dudas (1996)
    57:15 Deborah Dudas (1995)
    57:43 Julie Gibbons (2007)

    Men:
    52:26 Tom Shinners (1995)
    53:10 Roger Masse (2000)
    53:15 Thomas Smith (1996)

    Run Records

    Women:
    36:43 Heidi Gerken (1995)
    38:17 Dolly Ginter (1994)
    39:22 Kim McLaughlin (1994)

    Men:
    33:50 Marc Hunter (1986)
    34:31 Eric Sorenson (1995)
    34:40 Eric Sorenson (1994)

    RATS Online


    Who can join the mailing list?

    The Mailing List is open to anyone and everyone. You don't have to be an official club member to join. The purpose is to provide a forum for the entire triathlon community.
    I just joined the mailing list, and posted a message. Why hasn't it appeared on the list yet?

    To avoid spam on the mailing list, we have instituted the policy that new members are moderated until they first post to the list. After a moderator approves your message, your status will be changed to "unmoderated." Since your first message requires some action by a moderator, and since the moderators are not online 24/7 (though darn-near close), there may be some lag between the time you post your first message and the time it appears on the list.
    Who should I contact about the website?

    Please contact webmaster@trirats.net.
    How can I post my race reports on the website?

    To post race reports on the trirats.net website, you must have a trirats.net account. To get an account, you must be an official member of The Reston Area Triathletes. If you are a member of RATS, you can get an account by sending an account request to webmaster@trirats.net. After you have logged on to the site, there are many ways to add yourself to a race roster, and submit a race report. For example, both steps can be accomplished through the race calendar.

    Miscellaneous


    I will be doing Event A, but I would also like to do Event B, which is N weeks before Event A. Is this okay?

    Where Event A is a key race, Event B is some long event being considered at the last minute, and N is some small number. In response, We usually offer Aaron's first law of tapering, and its corollary.

    Aaron's first law of tapering: There are not many things you can do in the last few weeks before a big race to dramatically improve your performance. However, there are a great many things you can do to the detriment of your performance.

    Corollary to Aaron's first law of tapering: If you have to ask if it's okay to do some big race/event/training day in the last few weeks before a key race, it isn't.

    Tour De Skyline


    What is the Tour De Skyline?

    Mind you, that's Le Tour de Skyline. Some respect please. Le Tour de Skyline (TdS) is two-day ride from Front Royal to Waynesboro (day one) and back (day two) along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Said another way, TdS is two days, 220-miles, 20,000 feet of climbing, and too much fun. Even though TdS has a nice three-letter acronym, it's much more casual than you would think. Potential riders should approach the event as a self-supported ride with valet parking for your laundry. Roads are not closed, there are no aid stations, and there are certainly no t-shirts.
    When is le Tour de Skyline?

    TdS started as a Friday-Saturday excursion before Mother's Day, but it has since wandered about the calendar, usually between early May and early June. Why Friday? If you are not willing to skip work on Friday in order to put rashes on your bum and pain in your legs then you don't really want to do this ride. Also, when the ride is properly scheduled it keeps us out of trouble with mom. Oh, you mean this year? Sorry. In 2010, TdS will be Friday April 30 and Saturday May 1. A nice warm-up for Eagleman, we think.
    What is SAG?

    SAG means different things to different people. For le Tour de Skyline SAG is solely there to transport clean clothes from Front Royal to Waynesboro and dirty clothes from Waynesboro to Front Royal. Unless you really annoy the organizers and/or are very fast, you will be able to access your SAG bag at the 51-mile marker (at the Big Meadows service area).
    Will there be a massage?

    Ahhh, the secret is out. Yes, we will have at least one massage therapist in the SAG vehicle. Massages will be available at the tune of $15 for 15 minutes, but only to those people who make it to Waynesboro.

    You must be nice to the massage therapist because he will be carrying your laundry back to Front Royal (you hope).
    So if it's 35-degrees and raining, can I hitch a ride with SAG?

    Nope. Tough it out, we know you can. Oh yeah, bring a good selection of clothing because weather on Skyline Drive can be unpredictable.
    Will there be someone who can ride my pace?

    Probably not. We suggest you befriend the mountains, they complain much less and they will never say no to a ride.
    Is there a cue sheet?

    No. There are no turns. Well, there is one turn, sorta two, to get to the hotel, but we'll tell you about that only if we're in a good mood on Friday morning. If people stop asking us these silly questions we may actually find time to print out a profile chart from our nifty Topo 6.0 software (which, btw, claims the ride is closer to 15,000 feet of climbing each way, but we're not yet convinced.)
    What is the official TdS hotel?

    We spend the night in Waynesboro's Quality Inn:
    640 W Broad St
    Waynesboro, VA 22980
    (540) 942-1171

    What happens if a bear hits me or I otherwise wreck?

    First, the chances of running into a bear, literally, are less than you may think. They are fast buggers. Still, it could happen. A wreck, however, that is much more likely. Everyone handles wrecks differently and we're sure that however you personally handle wrecks on your own will work just fine for le Tour de Skyline. If you're lucky, a kindly person will drive by; if you're really lucky it may be someone driving your laundry around.
    Will my cell phone work?

    In Waynesboro? Maybe. In Front Royal? Maybe. On Skyline Drive ... well, maybe if you are on a ridge, but we wouldn't count on it. Doubtful in the valleys.
    I've heard Skyline Drive is hilly, but is it *really* hilly?

    TdS is hilly--there is very little flat--but it is not steep. You are either climbing or descending for 98% of the distance. The hills themselves are mostly between two and three miles in length. Except, of course, for the initial climb, which is more like six miles, just to get things started properly.
    What about food?

    We've said it once and we'll say it again: Most people can finish this ride if they feed themselves during the ride (and get enough saddle time in order to condition their bum).

    There are stores at MP 24, 51, and 80, each with a fair selection of sugary treats. MP 51, Big Meadows has a restaurant and a larger selection of sugary treats. There is water and restrooms at MP 4 and 32.

    You can only count on getting to your travel bags (SAG) at MP 51, where there is already a cornucopia of food. But it is handy to swap clothes, etc.
    What's the deal, I thought this was supposed to be fun?

    Since you've managed to read to the end of this drivel, we'll let you in on a little secret. While you may wreck, hit a bear, be cold with a sore butt, ride by yourself for 7 hours only to miss out on the last massage spot, chances are better than 5 in 100 that your Tour de Skyline adventure will be better than that. How much better? That depends solely on you.

    You may find it easy to access SAG to swap gear, find a helpful mechanic to fix your busted spoke, hook up with a small group of people riding your pace, get a nice massage and really enjoy yourself. You may even make it all the way back to Front Royal on the second day, but don't count your chickens until they hatch.

    Our point is this: while these things may happen, you MUST NOT count on them happening. You MUST approach this ride as if it was a self-supported journey with valet parking for your laundry. We only guarantee that we'll bring one moderately sized bag from Front Royal to Waynesboro and back. You will have a room to sleep in, and perhaps even a cot or, if we've done our homework, a bed.

    In addition to that we'll guarantee that you'll be tired and probably enjoy a good milkshake on Saturday.

    RATMan


    What is RatMan?

    RatMan is a lame crashing of the Reston Bike Club's Reston Century by a gang of triathletes looking to score some "free" food.

    In general, we do a group swim in the morning, ride the Reston Century, and then run for a bit. It's usually a terribly hot day, but all the pizza at the end makes it worthwhile.

    "Free" is in quotes because you MUST register for the Century. We do not condone banditing the race. Really, unlike us, the Reston Bike Club puts a lot of work into this event, so fork over the dough.
    When is RatMan?

    Whenever the Reston Century is ... usually the last Sunday in August.
    Can I register for RatMan?

    Of course not. We're not that organized. Just hang loose and watch the notices section of this website or our mailing list for details.

    Official USA Triathlon Club


    What race discounts do we receive from USAT?

    http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/5786
    What sponsor discounts do we receive from USAT?

    USAT sponsors will change from time to time. To get the latest sponsorship information and more visit the USAT website at:http://www.usatriathlon.org/