I found a nice little suprise in my mailbox yesterday. The new Lava magazine showed up because I registered for an Ironman race this year. Upon opening it I was shocked! This magazine is awesome! Its nice to see a triathlon magazine that isn’t filled with the same information and pointless drivel. I will be changing my subscription to Lava when this free promo runs out. Great job Lava magazine!
I’ll reserve full judgment until I see more issues, but I really liked the inaugural issue. The stuff on Crowie was really good.
I liked mine very much, but was a bit confused by the numbers section - that they say the “average miles per week for an athlete training for an Ironman is 48 (or 46 (can’t recall)) -.” True or not true???
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Yeah, I bet a lot on ST received that yesterday. I saw Rappstar contributed but I haven’t had a minute to read it yet.
Nice quality mag too. And coming from a print background, decent layouts. I like it.
cheers
S.
Yep, I like it so far. Didn’t read much but the Crowie article so far which I liked quite a bit. Quality paper too. Wonder if that is how they will always be or if it’s just because it’s the first one. Look forward to going through it in a little more detail at some point.
Good articles and great layouts
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not true for me. I never got much more than 25 miles running leading up to Vineman. I never got above 40 in my heaviest weeks training for an open mary last winter.
not sure where these magazines get their “polling data”, but I’m betting its not very scientific.
6 guys sit around a table, how many miles did you run last week? Oh, 48 sounds like a good number to print.
I’ve got a copy on my desk. I like it.
The role of print publications, glossies- has changed a lot in the internet age. This (internet) media tends to be where you and I get our news and most information. It’s more dynamic, no publishing/printing lead time.
Becasue of that the role of magazines has changed too. They need to be “sticky” and more graphically appealling. The photography and writing needs to be something you want to hang on to- to reference, to revisit. It has to have value above and beyond what you get on the web. For that reason the magazine guys and gals face a mighty challenge. Writing for print is so different than writing for web- a writer has be more artful and efficient, saying more with less and saying it better. Also, the magazine has to be beautiful.
I love magazines, from National Geographic to Playboy to Triathlete and many other publications. Magazine publishing, writing, editing and photography is a compelling media.
I think the Lava crew did, not a good job, but a truly killer job. It is a pretty, “sunny” magazine that seeths with excitment for the sport. It makes you want to be a part of it. It inspires you. I like that about the magazine. I enjoyed the editorial balance too- the story on Wilier bicycles on page 44, the Miralle Gallery- there is a lot to look at. Good reasons to hang onto the issue.
I liked it- it’s a valid contribution. My concern is that print media does battle with all other media for its bread and butter- ad dollars. I hope advertisers see the value in the publication and stay on board. It’s a publication worth supporting.
I think those numbers have been slowtwitchified. At IMLP, it was posted in the handout the averages that “an average ironman triathlete” trains each week. The numbers were like 12,000 yards swimming, 160 miles cycling and 46 miles running. They also announced it at the pre race dinner and every newbie in the room nearly shat their pants.
Nothing like building up confidence right before the race, right?!? I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual number (for running) was 1/2 of what’s claimed.
No hijacking, tho. LAVA is impressive and I enjoyed the read. Maybe they’ll see the discussion here and rethink the numbers. I do (almost) seriously wonder what the true average for S/B/R training for an IM is… Any guesses? I’d go with 5k swim / 160miles bike / 25miles run. I may be high on all, tho.
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Lava is great. I will definitely subscribe when the trial period is over. I loved it. Disclaimer: I also subscribe to Triathlete Mag, Bicycling and Runners World. All frowned upon by the masses but anything for 15 minutes of amusement while in the Lu.
Yeah, the averages where kind of high. I can say I hit all those numbers at one point of my training but I think that I may have had only one or two weeks total of 10K plus in the swim and 40+ miles on the run.
It really made me want to buy a new bike. Those ads were more impressive than I usually find in print.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive a digital copy. Being a UK based athlete I’d assumed I’d not be in on the free issue deal, but looks like I get to see it online. You can’t download a PDF to read offline unfortunately, but can’t complain when it’s free.
Liked what I saw though I’ve yet to dig deep into it. Digital versions are great in terms of cheapness and ease of searching, but a pain to read.
Yeah, I bet a lot on ST received that yesterday. I saw Rappstar contributed but I haven’t had a minute to read it yet.
So far, no comments about my article. I actually haven’t seen the magazine yet, since Jill and I headed up to Canada just when they started sending them out.
I own and am the creative director of an advertising agency so I’m very critical of magazines and the layout. I was very impressed with the LAVA magazine when I received it yesterday. The layout is clean and contemporary and the paper stock is matte and not cheap looking like other magazines. I give it two thumbs up and will be looking for the second issue.
How and where did you get a digital copy? My only complaint is (was?) that the launch of a new magazine in 2010 should include a digital option. I personally do 90% of my reading on an iPad these days and would prefer electronic to the printed copy I received in the mail.
Can you point me in the right direction?
Issue One is in the books. We’re done… thank you and good night!!
Kidding… there’s definitely more where that came from. Unfortunately, it’s bi-monthly for the next year or so, so you’ll have to cool your heels between issues. We recommend Slowtwitch…aaaaand lavamagazine.com.
We felt like there was room for a new voice, and are VERY proud of what we’re presenting to y’all. We wanted a fresh new cast of writers and a whole new viewpoint on how to approach what you want to see out of how the sport is reported. Getting Jordan in our camp was key; his attention to detail and analytical tech mind is unrivaled, so we’re stoked to have his thoughts on our pages. So was having a coach like Matt Dixon, who has a very refreshing approach to training.
Plus we have guys we have cultivated long, strong relationships with and can rely on with great content, like sports rehab specialist Nate Koch out of Scottsdale (has fixed my wife Donna and Sam McGlone as if he were your favorite garage diagnostic/mechanic) and my Jamaica vacation buddy, Ben Greenfield in the Pac Northwest. We wanted the smartest minds to dole out the best data… and give that info to you. To take to the toilet. 
And presentation was key. We have what we think is the best graphic designer in the game with us in Erica Krystek. We are also lucky to have a photographer in Don Miralle who produces a totally new look at our sport, a guy who shoots the Masters, the NBA Finals, Super Bowl. Good to have a guy like that on your side based on relationships forged with John Duke swimming Masters in Encinitas. And Susan Legacki (whose work speaks for itself) and I complement one another well, we think.
The industry support was amazing right out the gates, which effectively got us off the ground. And to have owners like Ironman provide us the autonomy to cover the sport on the whole is just remarkable. We are grinning ear-to-ear, but most importantly we hope you like it, feel like you learned something (I’d ALWAYS wanted to go up and see Simon Whitfield’s training shed… and finally get to show it to you!) and look forward to your next issue.
So thank you… we’re grateful for your kind words, but also for your criticism as well. (And we know you are the sharpest critics.) As always, I’m happy to field any questions or thoughts about the mag (except now, as I’m going to swim at La Jolla Cove after watching two straight days of Shark Week).
Jordan, yours is on the way up to you… thanks for being part of this.
How and where did you get a digital copy? My only complaint is (was?) that the launch of a new magazine in 2010 should include a digital option. I personally do 90% of my reading on an iPad these days and would prefer electronic to the printed copy I received in the mail.
Can you point me in the right direction?
I live in Canada and I got an email on Aug. 28th with a link to the digital version as well. The link has embeded an ID so I assume it is only for me. Anyway, the “preview” version is available here:
http://www.lavamagazine-digital.com
Made me want to buy an Adamo saddle!