Zone What? Training Zones Explained by an Expert

Good morning everyone,

I just wanted to thank you for being such an incredible member of our Tempo audience. 2023 was a great year for us, but I have a feeling 2024 is going to be even better!

In today’s edition:

• 🤷 Zone what? Training zones explained by a world-renowned expert.

• 🥬 No BS nutrition advice for the new year.

• 🏊 And do you need to learn to flip-turn?

Thanks for being here,

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Super League Triathlon Loses Key Permit to Duplicitous Director

What is it: As reported by Triathlon Magazine Canada, the event permit required to host a triathlon in Malibu, California has been awarded to former (and supposedly now current?) triathlon race organizer, Michael Epstein.

• This effectively kills Super League Triathlon’s opportunity to host their event, the long-running Malibu Triathlon, which in 2023 raised over 1.25 million dollars for pediatric cancer research.

Rewind: In 2020, during the COVID pandemic - an extremely difficult time for large-scale sporting events - Super League Triathlon furthered its investment in triathlon by purchasing the Malibu Triathlon from long-time race organizer, Michael Epstein.

• It was clearly a shrewed move from Epstein, who was able to unload a distressed asset at a time of incredible uncertainty.

2023 struggles: Last year was extremely trying for the Super League-owned Malibu Triathlon. The race had to be significantly modified due to the presence of an endangeered species on a section of the race course.

• Super League did not submit their modified race course in time, and their permit was effectively denied by the planning commission. A last-minute effort, combined with a green light from the city council allowed the event to take place with only a week’s notice 😮

• The event was ultimately a success, as mentioned earlier having rasied a significant sum for children’s cancer research.

The Epstein strikes back: In early December, once again reported by TMC, Epstein sent an email to former race participants saying the newly formed Zuma Foundation would be organizing the only triathlon in Malibu moving forward.

• In his email, he detailed how in the previous year, a special City of Malibu committee was created to decide which entities would host races in the city.

• According to Epstein, the city had awarded him the sole triathlon permit for Malibu - with a five-year contract.

• This move by the city rendered useless Super League’s hefty investment in, and intellectual property for the Malibu triathlon.

Decision deferred: The pivotal December decision was eventually deferred to January, and where we find ourselves now. And, based on Epstein’s communication, it is clear the decision has been made.

• In its response to the decision, Super League mentioned how, as the legal owner of the intellectual property, the decision “sets a dangerous precedent…for those who want to promote health and wellness by investing in sport.”

• According to Super League, they have asked the city council for clarity on the criteria that was used to award the permit, and have yet to receive a response.

Tempo’s take: We already said our piece about Epstein’s unethical and deceptive behavior. But where do the city officials stand in this saga? Ultimately they are the ones who created an untransparent process for distributing permits, and the ones who awarded them.

• It is awful for Super League to be railroaded like this, and have their investment evaporated by cruel and questionable circumstances.

• But given how difficult the city was towards Super League’s effort to host a successful race (that raised over a million dollars for cancer research!!!). It may be a blessing in disguise in the long term.

• Now Super League can focus its efforts on delivering world-class triathlon races in Chicago, New York, and Long Beach.

FAVOURITES

🏊‍♂️ Learn to flip-turn: Are you missing out on swimming in a faster lane because you can’t flip-turn? It’s time to learn how, and enjoy better splits in training. [My Swim Pro]

REEL TIME

“Triathlon is like the Neapolitan ice cream of sports” 🤣🤣🤣

QUICK NEWS

Data drama: An interesting study showed that the consequences of high-tech sleep trackers getting their analysis wrong could have big implications for how you perceive and react to stressors during the day. [Dr. Sian Allen]

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