This home was built by renowned architect Burnam Hoyt, builder of Red Rocks
Amphitheater in 1901
If you can identify where this home is located and its architectural style, your name will
be entered into a drawing for a free dinner at North Denver's new favorite restaurant,
Tocabe. Send your answers to editor@northdenvernews.com. Answer and winner will be
posted in the July issue of the North Denver News.
Training and racing triath- lon requires a lot of perspective. Perspective about the type of shape you are in, what part of the racing season you are in, who the com- petition is, where you’re starting from, what your
goals are… on a larger scale it kind of sounds like life itself. So much is relative, so much
depends on other factors, exten- uating circumstances can make or break a race or a life experi- ence… Keeping perspective on all the smaller elements that make up the whole can be challenging, and it can be tempting to beat yourself up when things don’t go as you wish.
My first race of the season, which I mentioned in last month’s article, was in the middle of May. I knew this first race was going to tell me a lot about all of the above. My good-luck pelicans were there, but my hoped-for 80-degree day was not.
In fact, the day of the Barkin’ Dog Duathlon dawned frigid. Fuh- reezing. By race start it had warmed right up to 42 degrees, and the wind was just starting to kick up. The first run leg of the race was a typical fast-out-of-the-barn for everyone. Some ladies in my age group that didn’t look like they should be in front of me… were. I kept looking at my Garmin though, and I was right on pace, so I didn’t worry about it. It’s a long race.
By the time I got on the bike it was maybe 44 degrees, and the wind was howling. Blowin’ like stink, one could say, and I spent a lot of energy just staying upright on the bike. The first loop of the 34k ride was uneventful. The second loop of the bike, still fighting hor- rible wind, something happened that is very new for me: I started dropping people. In my years of racing, the bike has always been a huge struggle. I have always relied on my run in a race, never my bike. I passed some people who’d dusted me on the first run, and never saw them again. I was shocked.
The second run in a duath- lon is really just a suffer-fest all about who can hurt more. I was slooooowww in that second run. It hurt. It was windy, it was still cold, I was not yet in any kind of shape to win a suffer fest. And I did not. The second run was just a little
eighth in my age group. That put me into a bit of a funk for a couple of hours after the race. I don’t like eighth. After talk- ing to my coach
though, I stopped pouting and gained some perspective on the day, on my race, on where I should be this time of year, and thus on me in general…
My goal had been to run sub- 8-minute miles for both runs. I achieved that in the first run leg. I did not in the second run leg. I was dreaming a bit thinking I would run sub-8s for both legs for so early in the year. Also, shoot… I had to remember the fact that I was sick all winter and had exactly one month of training in my legs. The good news about this race was my bike. Typically my weakest event, although the bike is where triathlon and duathlon is usually won, with screaming headwinds and cold legs, I averaged 18.5 mph this race. Yay! I certainly plan on getting faster as the season pro- gresses, but for the first race, com- ing off a couch-potato winter, I’m actually kind of beside myself with that time.
The life lesson learned from multi-sport in this case is easy: you’ve got to keep your race and your life in perspective. Consider where you started, consider where you are now, celebrate the small goals, revel in the unexpected good stuff.
With that vantage point on my first race result, I have now set some goals for the rest of the sea- son. I’m a little wary about putting myself out there and getting these in print, but here goes.
With my A-races and main focus being on Olympic-distance triathlon, I want to swim 1500 meters in 24 minutes. I’ve done that time once in a race. I would like to do it in several races. I want to average 20 mph on the bike over 40k (about 25 miles), and average sub-8-minute miles in the 10k of the Olympic-distance triathlon. In a perfect world I would actually string those three goals together in the same race. And finally, I would like to qualify for Triathlon
These are tough goals, and Coach Eddie agrees they are chal- lenging, but he also thinks they are doable. So while I need to retain perspective about what is physi- cally possible for me (for example, I will never be fast enough or young
enough again to race in the elite division), it’s okay to set some goals that will make me stretch out of my comfort zone. Again.
Eliza is writing a series of articles on the triathlon life. You can contact her at elizawrites@comcast.net.
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Ever since Individual Retirement Accounts were introduced in the 1970s, the numbers of tax-advantaged retirement savings options – and par- ticipants – have continued to grow. One relatively new alternative that's gaining popularity is the Roth 401(k) plan.
401(k)s are retirement savings plans set up by employers that allow employ- ees to save for their retirement through automatic payroll deductions. As its name suggests, the Roth 401(k) com- bines features of a traditional 401(k) with those of a Roth IRA. Employers increasingly have begun offering Roth alternatives, so it's wise to understand how they work in case you are given the option.
on a pretax basis; that is, deducted from your pay before federal and state income taxes are calculated. This low- ers your taxable income and therefore, your taxes. You don't pay taxes on these savings or their investment earn- ings until they're withdrawn – usually after retirement.
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The combined 2010 annual limit for employee 401(k) contributions – whether regular and/or Roth – is $16,500 ($22,000 if over 50).
Before age 59 ½, all 401(k) with- drawals, whether Roth or regular, may be subject to a 10 percent early with- drawal penalty on the taxable amount. Exceptions may be made for death or disability, catastrophic medical expenses, first-time homebuyer loans and being 55 or older at retirement or job termination. See IRS Publication 575 for details (www.irs.gov).
With either type of 401(k), you must begin taking mandatory minimum dis- tributions from your account after you turn 70 ½, just as you must with a regular IRA. However, you can avoid mandatory withdrawals by convert- ing your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA, which has no such requirement. You can also convert a pretax 401(k) into a regular IRA and then into a Roth IRA; but you must pay tax on the converted amount, just as you would with any
Many people wrestle between Roth and regular 401(k) contributions. A few considerations:
Will your tax rate be higher now or at retirement? Those in their peak earning years may have a higher mar- ginal tax rate currently than at retire- ment, whereas those just beginning their careers may see their rates rise over time.
Many financial experts think future income tax rates will likely climb due to federal budget deficits and increas- ing demands on Social Security and Medicare.
Consider where you'll retire, as many states have low or non-existent income tax. When it's not clear which type of 401(k) – or IRA – is best for their particular situation, some people diversify their retirement savings by contributing to both a Roth and a regu- lar 401(k).
