Bicarbonate has been advocated as a means of enhancing performance for many years by virtue of its ability to neutralize lactic acid in muscle cells but the evidence has been lacking to really support its use. A relatively new product purports to deliver bicarbonate in a novel manner-through the skin and makes claims to have some pretty impressive impacts on training for cyclists and triathletes. Is there any science to back up these claims? I do some research and let you know. In the second part of my continuing series on increasing diversity in the sport of triathlon I have a conversation with Washington D.C. based triathlete Faren Campbell. Faren is an accomplished athlete in many sports and shares her insights on how to increase involvement of and be more welcoming to black athletes.