Multisport

Waves wash ashore while sea gulls fly overhead. It’s a sunny New Year’s Day afternoon, and Huntington Beach in Bay Village is buzzing with activity.

Camera crews and spectators gather to watch area athletes strip down to their bathing suits in preparation for the ninth annual New Year’s Day Polar Plunge, an extreme tradition where brave souls willingly run into the chilly waters of Lake Erie. The Cleveland-area Polar Plunge is primarily sponsored by the Cleveland Triathlon Club. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics.

Members of the Cleveland Triathlon Club are used to enduring hardship.  Training and participating in endurance events like sprint distance triathlons and Ironman events, triathletes learn how to block out the pain and focus on their goal.

Read more: Taking The Plunge

Now that the multisport season is over for most of us living in Northeast Ohio, it's time to clean, repair and prepare your gear for winter storage, whether it is your wetsuit, bicycle or running shoes.

WETSUIT REPAIR,

CLEANING & STORAGE

If your wetsuit was well-used this summer, it likely has some minor damage. To repair small rips, Zoot Sports recommends using wetsuit glue (available at dive shops or bike shops that sell wetsuits), cellophane tape and a toothpick.

First, open up the small tear and brush out dirt and sand (it might be helpful to use an alcohol wipe to clean the surface). Second, pinch open the tear so you can see the spongy layer of neoprene.

Read more: Winterizing Your Gear

   Ironman or a full-distance triathlon is an epic undertaking. The training schedule for a 140.6-mile race, a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run is grueling and often requires all the free time an amateur athlete has available after work and a sacrifice of family commitments.

More than 15 full-distance triathlons were scheduled in the United States for 2009. In June, Revolution 3 announced it will host a full-distance triathlon next year Sept. 12 at the Cedar Point Amusement Park (www.rev3tri.com).

In anticipation of the 2010 Cedar Point Ironman and as a tribute to those who have, or aspire to, complete an Ironman, I interviewed two local athletes who recently completed in the Lake Placid Ironman in New York. They share their training regimen, nutrition strategies and race-day experiences in a question-and-answer forum.

Mel Bolgrin, 30, of Akron and a seven-year veteran of multisport, chose Lake Placid as her first full-distance race because of the course. With her background as a trail runner and agile climber on the bike, she knew that the hills would suit her strengths.

Jim Dehner, 62, of Akron and a 10-year veteran of multisport, has been training for this race for two years and has completed three marathons, two half-Ironman distance triathlons (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run) and a century (100-mile) bike ride in preparation for this event.

Read more: Ironing Out a Victory

The first women’s-only triathlon series was started in 1990 by Danskin as a commitment to women’s health and fitness. The 2009 series includes 10 sprint-distance races held across the country. This series is unique because it also has an extensive mentoring program which includes newsletters, group workouts and clinics. Although Danskin is the oldest women’s-only triathlon race series, many other race directors are offering women’s-only races in many cities, including those in Northeast Ohio.

Read more: It's a girl thing (Women-only triathlons)