Activeness!: September 2005

Lance Armstrong's Endurance Finally Fails Him!

Half Iron-Distance National Triathlon Championship Race Recap

Half Iron-Distance National Triathlon Championship Race Recap: September 25, 2005, Kansas City, Missouri

Nearly 300 long course triathletes made their way from 38 states to Smithville Lake north of Kansas City for the second annual Half Iron-Distance National Championship. Joining these racers who had qualified were another 100 “general entry” competitors also wanting to push themselves through water, roads, and paved trails for 70.3 miles.

Conditions looked ideal on race-day morning. The water temperature was a wetsuit-legal 74 degrees.

The women started at 8 AM and the men followed 18 minutes later, making for a crowded swim. The water temperature felt good but constant body contact made it tough to find a rhythm. At one point I took a hard shot to the right goggle that startled me and produced an expletive that seemed out of place in the middle of a lake. After inefficiently zig-zagging the last stretch of the swim, I made it to shore in yet another slower-than-anticipated time.

The bike portion went great — at times it felt like I was flying. The rolling hills didn’t require getting out of the saddle, so I stayed aero and reeled in riders. I watched my average bike speed climb to a personal best and felt good about not being passed by a single person the entire 56 miles. During a few moments when there was no wind I realized we were headed for a scorcher. “Uh oh.”

Early in the run I was still passing folks — within five miles I was ahead of all the guys I generally compete with throughout the season. The temperature was climbing towards 90 degrees and the aid stations couldn’t come soon enough. Soon my body temperature was heading into no-man’s land and the gradual fade was in full effect. The mile markers seemed further apart, the hills steeper, and the path less shaded. By mile 10 I was breaking down and I think I started crying out of pure exhaustion. Somehow I got through the final three miles and as I ran through the finish I was surprised to see my finish time of 5 hours and 5 minutes. This was not as bad as I had thought and an improvement both over last year and another half in June. Even if it feels like you were defeated, there’s always something to learn and take away.

Congrats to Mike W on the fastest bike split overall (relay team) and to Matt B on the fastest bike split (individual).

Next up: Age Group World Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 9

Activating the 6-8 High School Hoopster Girl

The Detroit News profiles West Michigan hoops star Allyssa DeHaan. In addition to being a star on the court, she's smart, sweet, and cute--yep, a Rick Reilly column waiting to happen.

Photo Gallery: Dayton's Bobby Martin

Here's Sports Illustrated's photo gallery of the high school football player with no legs.

SI subscribers can read Rick Reilly's column on Martin. You can watch the video here.

Lewis and Clark ½ Marathon Race Recap

Lewis and Clark ½ Marathon Race Review
September 18, 2005, St. Charles, Missouri

Updated with Photo Links

Practically ideal running conditions in terms of weather and course layout greeted the several thousand runners who converged on the St. Charles Family Arena parking lot to run either the ½ or full marathon. Unfortunately, the traffic didn't flow quickly enough into the parking lot and many runners rushed to get in place while others just took the situation in stride (yuk, yuk) and accepted that they would start late and go by their chip times.

The terrain was relatively flat but offered variety in texture with concrete, cobblestones, and gravel surfaces throughout the 13.1 miles. The cloud cover and temperatures in the 60s kept my body temperature down and helped me maintain a relatively steady pace per mile. Jockeying for position with small bunches of runners for several miles kept my mind off any fatigue or distress I was feeling. It seemed I had muscle endurance--hopefully a result of recent training--as my pace was more consistent than in the past.

The volunteers and spectators gave good support that helped, as did seeing friends on the out and back portions of the course. Around mile 12, a good hill confronted the racers. After grinding over the top, it was a nice flat slightly downhill to the arena in the distance. As I had been calculating throughout the race, I was on track for a potential PR (personal record). Coming around the final turn I hustled to get under the 1:28 mark and record my new 1/2 PR. It was a satisfying result and an awesome day of being around people with positive energy (25th overall, 5th Age Group 35-39).

Hats off to training partners John from Activeness and Diesel. Diesel ran 23 miles and John did the FULL marathon as training runs for Chicago in three weeks!

Next up for JPD: ½ Ironman National Championships, Kansas City, Missouri, September 25

Can You Hear Me Now?

At the far end of a 100-yard straightaway on the path where we were running, we saw a woman's bike go down as she navigated a slightly downhill, 90-degree turn. Though she was only moving about 10 MPH, her body hurtled head-over-heels over the bars and she landed hard on her back. Then the guy riding ahead of her plunged his bike headlong into a ditch while trying to turn his rig around and aid his fallen riding partner.

The path soon led us to the scene. Diesel, an M.D., looked down at the stunned woman rider and asked a question designed to gauge the respondent's level of coherency: "What happened?"

Gasping for breath, the 50-ish woman, who seemed to be wearing a lot of makeup for an early morning ride, answered: "Are you a doctor?"

Diesel nodded.

"Not an animal doctor, I hope."

"No."

"Well, then I was talking on the phone to my son and he was arguing with me about going somewhere and he made me so mad I stopped paying attention and crashed." She rolled over and faced her muddy husband, who by then had managed to crawl out of the ditch: "And we didn't even wear our helmets today, honey."

When a bored ambulance driver who happened to be driving past the scene pulled up in his vehicle, we saw our opportunity to break free. As we resumed our run, I wondered aloud what the crash sounded like to the lady's son and whether the phone was still on the ground.

"What does she have against vets?" responded Diesel. "What she doesn't know is they know a hell of a lot more about the body's systems than most doctors."

Deactivating Running Skorts

I saw some women running in what looked like skorts in the Lewis & Clark Marathon but was hoping I was hallucinating. Turns out I wasn't-- and Nicole DeBoom is to blame. Here are the "sexy running skirts" with some appropriately funky music.

Activating the Football Player With No Legs

Bobby Martin, you have been Activated.

WaPo Goes the Extra Mile

The Washington Post has launched a weekly running column.

"The Washington area is home to deep open and age-group competition, which will be a primary focus; the nuts (there are plenty) and bolts of running will also be covered; and health and fitness, considerations of everyone who exercises will be a regular feature."

Lori Bowden's Baby

Lori Bowden has announced the birth of a son. Hey, that's not Peter Reid!

TheStreet.com Jumps the Shark

So retired baseball player/tobacco chewer Lenny "Nails" Dykstra is writing an investment advice column for TheStreet.com? And the latest installment begins with a lyric from a Billy Joel song? What, were John Kruk or Wally Backman unavailable? Add it to the list of things going on this world that I don't understand. TheStreet.com: For publishing an apparently serious column that totally belongs over on The Onion, you have been Deactivated.

PEZ's Inside Look at the Tour of Courage 2005

Thirty donors celebrated raising $6 million for cancer research with two days of riding with Lance, George, Phil, Johan, and Chris in the Canadian Rockies. Here's an inside look. "How To Talk to A 7-Time Tour Champion: Rule #1: even though you're totally freaking out, do your best to act cool."

The Fast Filly's Blog

Candian pro triathlete Natasha Filliol, who qualified for Ironman Hawaii with a 9:37, is over in Kona drinking coffee and training for the big race. This is her blog.

Activating Scott Tinley, Part 2

Tinley Mexico
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

Triathlon legend Scott Tinley recently talked to me for a Q+A session that's going to appear in the inaugural issue of SwimBikeRun St. Louis Magazine in October. We're putting excerpts of that interview on Activeness over the next few weeks. To read the whole thing, get the magazine.

Read Part 1 of the interview.

TINLEY Q+A, PART 2

Did your massive amounts of training create any injury problems?
No. I had good biomechanics in my running and I stayed on trails as much as possible. And I was light: I weighed 155 pounds, which is what I weigh today. The trouble I have now is an arthritic hip. I believe that stems from trauma from some pretty bad bike crashes. I fell on it so many times and would just train through it instead of allowing it to properly heal.

How does that limit you now?
I would like to run more and faster. I run about 15 miles a week and I would like to run twice that. I run 7:30 miles but I would like to run the occasional 6:30. But in terms of long-term maladies, I’m lucky compared to a peer like Greg Welch or to these NFL players who are so beat up when they retire.

I read that you train 10 to 12 hours a week?
I wouldn’t even call it training. I get out there on the paddleboat, go for an hour-and-a half bike ride, or swim in the ocean. It’s fun. It’s a stress release. It makes me happy. I know it is healthy for my body. It gets me outside. If I can roust up some friends, I enjoy the camaraderie. There are so many intrinsic benefits to physical activity beyond the competitive aspect.

Do you still race?
I go to three or four races a year. I went to Florida in August with Dave Scott and Scott Molina for a clinic and a sprint triathlon.

What do the local racers say when they see the “The Great Scotts” setting up their transition areas?
[Laughs]. They knew we were coming. We had a blast. Dave actually won it at age 51! That’s amazing.

Do you guys remain friends?
Sure. I just don’t see them as much. Scott lives in New Zealand and Dave is in Boulder.

Do you still get nervous before a race or a rush from doing it?
No. I could stop in the middle of a race and walk away. I do the best I can, but I don’t have any expectations because I haven’t invested the time. I don’t have the time, I don’t want to, and I’m physically not able to commit.

What’s one good piece of advice for age-group triathletes?
It’s so easy to train too hard and become obsessed with this sport. It can affect your life in positive and negative ways. You want to temper the negative and accentuate the positive. But when triathlon training has a negative effect, you want to step back and say, “My wife left me, my kids hate me, my dog doesn’t know me. I’m doing too much.”

In designing a training program, start by looking at your life and deciding what’s important. Then slide in your training around that. Or try to combine them. Get your spouses or kids involved. Take them on vacations for races. There are ways.

Do you have any favorite triathletes among those racing these days?
I don’t follow them much. Of the people I’ve hung out with, I’m a fan of Carol Montgomery. She’s nearing 40 and still doing well — I like her shtick. I like Simon Lessing because he’s an intelligent individual and a very good athlete who has a couple of kids and seems to be a balanced guy.

Do you still go to Kona for Ironman Hawaii?
I went last year to speak at the medical conference and I went for the 25th anniversary [in 2003]. But I no longer go on a regular basis.

Do you miss it?
No. I miss Hawaii and I miss seeing old friends, but the sport has changed — especially that event. It’s very business-like and a for-profit scene. That’s fine. If I were a businessperson I’d do the same thing. I don’t want to taint my memories of the purity that existed in the early days. If I do go, I have to put up my guard and just accept that this is what it is now.

Do you follow any pro sports?
Not really. I watched a little of Agassi playing in the U.S. Open. It’s interesting to see how the fans react and the fight in those guys’ eyes.

Call Me When You Break Two Hours

Racer X
Originally uploaded by anonymousracerx.

Last night Tyler wanted me to go out with his girlfriend, Kendra, and her friend, Kymmie. I don't know Kymmie, but I thought about my recent disappointing blind dates through SingleAthletes.com and the heart-rate monitor incident and decided to stay home and ride on my trainer for two hours instead. When I think about the feeling I have after another bad date with a supposed athlete who can't break 2:00 in a half-marathon versus getting off the Softride after two hours with Luc Van Lierde and my IM Hawaii 1999 video, there's no comparison. Later,
-Racer X

Activating the 38-Year-Old NFL Cheerleader

Molly
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

Seems like Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly has a crush on 38-year-old Balimore Ravens cheerleader and mother of three Molly Shattuck (pics), who also is married to a millionaire. She had listed "Be an NFL Cheerleader" on her list of "10 Things I Want to Do Before I Die." After telling Molly's story (aka, Activating her), Reilly writes:

butt

loves

Though I've only attended three hockey practices--with many more on the horizon--I say this: Amen, brother!

Man With Lou Gehrig's Disease Competing in Ironman Hawaii

Thirty-four-year-old Johnny Blais, 'Blazeman' to friends, will compete in Kona next month despite having ALS, a degenerative-muscle disease with no known cure.

Spark: A Sports Drink for Children

Company marketing a caffeine-laced, performance-enhancing sports drink to children ages 4-11, you have been Deactivated.

And so have you, white-collar looters who want to make "Katrina, the drink."

Let Them Drink Gatorade

According to Darren Rovell, the author of the "First in Thirst" book on the history of Gatorade, only one percent of Gatorade drinkers exercise long enough for the drink to help performance.

"It doesn't work for what a lot of people think it does," Rovell writes. "You have to exercise 60 to 90 minutes for it to help your performance [more than water would]. That is less than one percent of the people." Ever have that Gatorade fantasy when you're going dry in the third hour of a workout? I'm impressed with the new Gatorade Endurance Formula, which only tastes good during and after a long workout. Whatever it is about that "five-electrolyte blend" - including nearly twice the sodium (200 mg) and three times the potassium (90 mg) of Gatorade along with chloride, calcium and magnesium - really works. But I have no taste for it unless I'm working out.

Murphy's Law at Triathlons

The sports editor of The Murray State News is a triathlete. He was one of the athletes who, thanks to Mother Nature, didn't get a chance to compete at the championships in Kanasas City.

"Never, Never Quit"

J.D. Dudek, whose enthusiasm "burns like a blowtorch," is well on his way to beating leukemia. This summer, two years after he was diagnosed, Dudek was able to return to competing in triathlons:

The Needle and the Damage Done

House Government Reform Committee to Rafael Palmeiro: Perjurers will be Deactivated.

The Best of Kona

If you're going to Hawaii for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, grab your Aloha shirt and then let Greg Welch be your travel guide.

Lanced!

Constant stream of inane Lance Armstrong stories, culminating with today's article about his cute Labrador puppy Rex's open-heart surgery, you have been Deactivated. (Word to Rex: Let me know if you need any advice on those blood thinners.)

Gatorade Triathlon Commercial

Some just can't get enough of Gatorade's popular Chris Legh commercial narrated by Keith Jackson. You can watch it here.

McCormack Scorches Field at Malaysia Half Ironman Championships

Chris McCormack's 4:01:01 time in 100°F temperatures at the race start smashed the course record. Looks like he's on track for Hawaii.

Activating Scott Tinley

Tinley door
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

Triathlon legend Scott Tinley recently talked to me for a Q+A session that's going to appear in the inaugural issue of SwimBikeRun St. Louis Magazine. in October. As you might imagine, Scott was laid back, gracious, and interesting in reflecting on his career and talking about his new loves: teaching and writing.

Excerpts of that interview will appear on Activeness over the next couple of weeks. To read the whole thing, get the magazine.

TINLEY Q+A, PART I

When I reached Scott Tinley in his office on a Monday morning in September, he had just returned from a weekend surfing trip that led him 200 miles up the Southern California coast from his home in Del Mar to search for waves in a spot north of Santa Barbara.

"Surfing is my gig," says Tinley, a seventh-generation Californian who won nearly 100 triathlons over his 25-year pro career. "My father surfed. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and through all my years in sports. It’s one thing I keep going back to."

What do you love about surfing?
That’s like asking what I love about life. You have autonomy and freedom. It’s non-competitive and exciting. You are in a natural environment. I connect with the ocean and the whole experience pretty deeply.

Back when you were competing in triathlons, did you worry about getting hurt while surfing?
Unless the surf is really big or you’re doing stupid things, you have to work pretty hard to get hurt while surfing. It’s is not like racing motorcycles or hang-gliding. [At this point I decided not to mention straining my MCL a few years ago while learning to surf at Pacific Beach’s Tourmaline Surfing Park.]

In hindsight, I missed a lot of really good days surfing while I was out on my bike. I would be riding around looking down at the surf going, "Gosh, look at that!"

What was a monster training week like for you back in the early 1980s, during the prime of your career?
I’d do 350 to 400 miles on the bike, about 25,000 yards of swimming, and 75 to 80 miles of running. That was 35 to 40 hours. Throw in some stretching and weights. I was so obsessive about my training. I probably could have done half as much and done twice as well.

You didn’t have any models to follow.
We were all winging it. Guys like Scot Molina, Dave Scott and myself -- we got lucky. Nobody had a coach. In the early days, it felt closer to play than competition.

Today there are so many great, experienced athletes and people are extremely intelligent about their training. As triathlon has become institutionalized, it has gone the way of many other sports. It’s more bureaucratic and there are rules about "right ways to train." We had none of that.

Would you have been able to conform to that kind of structure?
Good question. I would have struggled. I struggled in the end with all the different professional organizations being proposed. You could see the writing on the wall. I’d butt heads with ITU [the International Triathlon Union] because I was an advocate for the athletes and I didn’t like what they were doing. And I still don’t like how they treat athletes.

Of course the financial opportunities are much greater today. But I’m lucky because I was able to compete, for the most part, on my own terms.

Interview With Jessi Stensland

In a blatant attempt to drive new search-engine traffic to our site, Activeness presents the latest interview with pro triathlete Jessi Stensland. (Yes, guys, there are some good photos.)

Here's how she describes a typical training day:
5:30am Wake-up. Nutrition.
6am Masters Swim Workout (4500-5000yds)
8am Breakfast/Rest
9am Movement Prep/Core Training; Prepare for next workout.
10am 2-hour bike ride. Intensity varies.
12pm Stretch. Nutrition: Shake. Lunch.
1 – 4pm Rest. Work: Emails, phone calls, travel planning, lunch meetings.
5pm To the track.
30min of Movement Prep.
Track workout.
After, while still at the track: 30 min of stretching/foam rolling, etc.
7pm Dinner
7:30pm Email JPD and John and tell them I miss them terribly, but Activeness helps me feel close to them. (OK, we made up that one.)

Contrast Brings Clarity

I've been lucky to compete in two local races over the last two weekends. As usual, the vibe at these events has been positive, the spirits upbeat, and the attitudes, "can-do" or "I'll give it my best." Volunteers, spectators, and racers support, encourage, compliment, and thank each other before, during, and after the events. Sure there is competition and not everyone is best friends, but there's very little whining or wasted emotion on negativity. High fives and "way to go" are the not-so-secret handshake among the active people surrounding these events. Sometimes a smile as you turn the corner past a lone spectator says it all. I feel you--thanks.

I wish it could be this way everywhere. At work, I have to listen to some guy rattle off his title and pontificate on everything that is wrong with the business planning process (which he doesn't understand) and why the company is screwed up (but no one respects his opinions and he can't get a better job). Meanwhile, he offers no alternatives, either (because he doesn't have any or hasn't studied it). In the end, he agrees that the current process and tools are the best option, but for the record, "It's no good."

Thank you Mr. Marketing Director of the most important thing in the world. Your belittling lecture and 20-minute nonsensical tirade has earned you a permanent Deactivation. Don't come calling when you need last-minute analysis because your boss suspects you are clueless and you want to appear otherwise. My advice: Go to a race and notice that life is a lot more fun and productive when you are constructive and positive.

And in traffic: Maam, is it necessary to curse and point at me as if I just insulted your entire family in the worst way imaginable, when, in reality, you did not stop at the stop sign and I had the right of way? Even if you were truly convinced that I was in error proceeding around your car in the intersection, is it worth pushing your heart rate into the danger zone as you head into Circuit City? Holy cow. I'm sorry you hate your life so much that a meaningless five-second delay would spin you into outrage. I don't even need to Deactivate you. That would be an upgrade you don't deserve.

Alan Webb's Comeback

Professional runner and George Mason University student Alan Webb is on the comeback trail:

Dog Eat Dog

I was feeling strong and approaching mile 25 of my casual Lewis & Clark Marathon training run when a 50-ish guy I was passing struck up a conversation.

"I run a marathon about every two weeks," he said. "I'm trying to run one in every state."

"That's cool," I said, intrigued enough to slow my pace and talk for a minute. "What's your favorite so far?"

"Coeur D'Alene in Idaho," he responded. "Spectacular scenery. You fly into Spokane and drive about ..." Just then we passed a large, unleashed dog standing next to his master on the side of the trail. I don't even know what kind of dog it was, as I didn't give it a second look and it wasn't threatening us.

"Control your f-ing dog or I'll kick its f-ing head in if it comes one f-ing step toward me!" screamed my new companion matter-of-factly. "It's a law that it has to be on a leash!" As we continued down the trail the runner turned his attention back to me: "I could sue him if that dog bit me. I've done it before. I've also had plenty of dogs put down after they bit me, which is sad for the owner but something you gotta do."

"OK, so I'll see you at the finish line," I said, picking up my pace.

Millstadt Biathlon Race Recap

Millstadt, Illinois, Biathlon Race Recap
September 11, 2005: 5 mile run, 22 mile bike

On a humid morning in the small rural town east of St. Louis, 169 racers and several teams lined up for the annual Millstadt, Illinois biathlon. This was the site of my first biathlon five years ago and I felt nostalgic driving past the corn and into the park. That was two bikes ago, wearing soccer shorts. Now I was geeked out in a one piece tri-suit provided by my pseudo-sponsor Javelin bikes.

I had been training hard and was eager to measure my fitness against some strong competition. As the gun went off, a handful of guys wasted no time setting a sub-six minute run pace that I had no business matching. I settled into a hard tempo that I could maintain. At the 2.5-mile turnaround, the usual suspects were at the front and I was holding 6th place. On the way back I exchanged encouragement with a few runners coming the other way, including a former soccer teammate. I got a few, "Go Jan Paul's" from some guys' wives who I've met this year. Nice!

We had been warned about gravel on the roads for the bike leg, but it was more than expected. I kept saying to myself, "No risks" when I saw a turn with gravel, and there were plenty.

I was passed by two stronger cyclists and I passed one of the rabbits from the run. So I was in 7th place when "the Puma" passed. I stuck with a speed I could maintain while keeping him in sight. Suddenly I saw Lind on the side of the road, in difficulty. I imagined Johan Bruyneel from the team car yelling into my earpiece, "Lind is in trouble, Lind is in trouble, go faster, faster, good, good, now stay with the Puma!" With about five miles to go I was on his wheel and wondered if I should rest for a minute before passing or just go for it. I did the latter. Bruyneel was in the imaginary earpiece again, telling me to "Pull away, create separation, make him think he can't stay with you!"

As I pulled ahead and felt strong enough to hold onto 6th place, a quote from Ironman Canada winner Chris Lieto resonated in my head. "Always do your best because it always pays off in the end." Hallelujah, Chris, and thank you. Just keep going, keep pushing, and maybe you move up a few places. Good things might happen if you keep going. If you quit, you'll never know.

In the end it was my first top 10 finish of the year (6th overall) and my first age group victory. Good, fun, small, tough, dangerous, rewarding, fulfilling race.

Next up: Lewis and Clark ½ Marathon, St. Charles, Missouri, September 18th.

Slow Wetsuits?

Dan Empfield writes that questionable technology is causing some wetsuits to get slower.

Lance Sighted in Idaho Bookstore

One of Activeness's operatives files this firsthand report:

"Sheryl was not with him, but Robin Williams was, and they were SO COKED UP. Oh, fine, I made that last part up." I once bumped into Robin, bearded and short (him, not me), in a San Francisco bike shop. I almost didn't notice him because he was speaking to the shop mechanic in a thick Russian accent about a head injury that may or may not have been real.

Root, Root, Root Against the Home Team

Martz
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

When I was living in Connecticut in fifth grade, our class went on a field trip to one of those faux-historic Old Towne recreations where you watch the guy with the big handlebar mustache dressed up as a cobbler hammer little pretend shoes and see that people in the 19th century squeezed large families into houses smaller than a Manhattan walk-up before adjourning to Ye Old McDonald's behind the gift shop.

I remember a butcher in Ye Old Towne showed us how sausage was made. I never ate it again.

In my career I've dabbled a little in writing about pro sports and I have friends in the sports media business. So the curtain has been lifted and I've seen The Great Oz--I know what some of these athletes are like as human beings and it's not always a pretty sight. But you also know that many good guys remain and so you can still root for the home team while--when you're not out doing your own activities--enjoying pro sports for the very real on-field drama they provide.

But this year I'm making an exception. I've heard enough stories from the bottom to the top of a certain NFL organization to be convinced that its head coach is just a miserable human being. So I'm rooting against his team--the St. Louis Rams--this year so they dump him.

It's hard to believe Mike Martz doesn't know how lucky he is to be earning millions of dollars while living in the la-la land that is professional sports. Will The Great Caesar be able to look into the eyes of the people he has stomped upon on his rise to the top during his inevitable plummet back to the bottom? Mike Martz: You have been Deactivated.

Didn't Gilligan Used to Ride One of Those?

Calfee Design is marketing bamboo road and triathlon bikes. And they're expensive! Says company owner Craig Calfee:

""Bamboo is a great material for vibration dampening. It's very similar to carbon fiber in how it absorbs shock, and it's fairly light and fairly strong." Check it out here.

Armstrong Has Tiger by the Tail

The New York Times brings us our weekly update on Lance's incredibly active retirement:

"It appears that Armstrong has a large tiger by the tail, in what he had depicted as a placid retirement. Since his last ride up the Champs-Élysées, on July 24, Armstrong has proposed to his girlfriend, Sheryl Crow, spent time with his three children, and, through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, donated $500,000 to cancer victims uprooted by Hurricane Katrina.In recent days, he has appeared at a testimonial to his blocking back, George Hincapie, in South Carolina on Saturday; rooted for his peer, Andre Agassi, at the United States Open in New York on Sunday; then jetted to Sun Valley, Idaho, to cycle with his pal Robin Williams."

It's a Privilege

Is it a privilege to cut short your Saturday night plans, rise at 4:30 A.M. Sunday morning, and then hit the trail in the dark at 6:15 A.M. for a painful 20-mile run in hot, humid weather before starting a busy day with friends or family? Are we "lucky" to be able to do that? Anybody whose health or life circumstances have stolen that ability away for any period of time realizes the answer is a resounding, "Hell, yeah!" Hat tip to Diesel for voicing a thought that I imagine runs through many of our heads. At least it should.

Simpson, Haskins Win Los Angeles Triathlon

Michael Simpson and former St. Louisan Sarah Haskins each scored their first significant wins on Sunday at the L.A. Triathlon. Tim DeBoom placed fourth; wife Nicole never started because an airline lost her bike.

Battling the Heat at Ironman Wisconsin

Kevin Mackinnon provides IronmanLive.com's report on the wins by Andriy Yastrebov and Ute Mueckel on a hot, windy day.

Inside Triathlon reports that the fourth edition of Ironman Wisconsin proved torturous for pros and age-groupers. "Not a soul dipped beneath nine hours and hundreds of athletes missed the bike cut-off. Heat, humidity, and stiff winds accompanied the incessant, rolling hills and followed athletes all the way to the med tent, where many ended their day."

The Wisconsin State Journal and The Daily Cardinal also have stories.

Turnaround

A guy who weighed nearly 200 pounds five years ago and wasn't a runner until three years ago has won the Bismarck, N.D., Marathon with a time of 2:43:18.

Chris Lieto's Ironman Canada Race Report

"We all have stories." True, true. But it's not often you get to read the race report written by the winner of Ironman Canada.Chris Lieto serves it up in Triathlete.

Never stop fighting; it always pays off in the end if you give it your all."

Next up for Lieto: IM Hawaii on October 15.

The First Couple of Triathlon

On the eve of the Los Angeles Triathlon, the Los Angeles Times features pre-race favorites Tim and Nicole DeBoom: the couple with an iron will.

"It's kind of a weird job," Tim said. "You have to do it every day. It certainly helps to have someone who relates to the sacrifices you have to make to be a competitive triathlete. I don't think either of us would be where we are without each other."

2,666 Miles in 66 Days

Ultramarathoner David Horton, a 55-year-old professor at Liberty University in Virginia, averaged 40 miles per day while running the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington.

"I am not ashamed to say that I cried more this summer than I ever have in my life. My emotions were running high. The High Sierras and the snow wore me raw and down to the bone. In all my life, I have never depended on the Lord and my friends as much as I did this summer."

Going the Extra .2 Mile

The X-Man started my six-mile park perimeter run in the darkness this morning. I got an early start because my recurring nightmare—the one in which I forget to pack my tighty-whities for the traditional Kona Ironman underwear run and am forced to go with boxers—had brought a sudden and violent end to my well-deserved sleep.

As the sub-6:43 miles called for by my plan clicked by, I couldn’t help reflecting on my own personal journey from the heart of darkness of an empty club-scene lifestyle into the light and purity of being a multiple Ironman. Soon I came to a fork in the path. As I always do, I chose the option that does a zig and a zag and adds .2 miles to the loop. I don’t usually see others in this section of the path, as most people aren’t as motivated to go the extra mile—or, in this case, the extra .2.

But today I saw “Yellow Jog Bra,” as I like to call her, coming from the other direction. On top of having Jessi Stensland-type looks (but taller than my Tri-Goddess!), her running form is perfect and her pace is quite quick. And her body fat … I hate to speculate without pinching her stomach with my Skinfold Caliper, but it’s definitely within the X-Man’s target range. Unfortunately, Yellow Jog Bra had her usual escort: a wary-looking dude riding his poor-fitting hybrid bike alongside. This morning, though, I noticed it wasn’t the same guy. This makes him the third different dude to perform that "bodyguard" function this summer. Could it be her brother? Just a “friend?” Or maybe Yellow Jog Bra just gets around? I can’t decide which I prefer. Anyway, I gave her a nod and a smile but she stoned me on the flip-side. One day I’ll see her sans bodyguard and at that time I expect she’ll be able to reveal her true feelings for the X-Man. Until then, I’ll keep going the extra .2-mile. It’s really all I can do. Later,
-Racer X

Preparing for the Los Angeles Triathlon

Making sure 2,500 triathletes make it safely through an Olympic-distance triathlon course that will take them from Venice Beach to the Staples Center is quite a logistical challenge in one of the world's busiest cities. The Los Angeles Triathlon will take place Sunday.

Strengthen Your Run

Coach Cliff English has tips for doing a stronger run in your next triathlon.

Chicago Video Clips

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 2004 video clips.

Too Much T.O.

T.O.
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

Nike Dri-Fit Under Armour compression shirts: You have been Deactivated.

The Next Michael Jordan?

The guy's been retired for a bit more than a month and he just can't stop talking about a potential return. And he's riding every day. For Lance, it very well may be all about the bike.

A Tangled Web

SF Weekly explores the relationship between Lance Armstrong, Thom Weisel, and anti-doping efforts in U.S. cycling.

"Though Reuters headlined its story quoting Johnson 'USA Cycling lashes out at Armstrong allegations,' it would have been just as accurate to say 'A Thom Weisel-supported official lashes out at Armstrong allegations harmful to Thom Weisel investments in Armstrong.'"

And Gosh Darn It, People Like You!

Stuart
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

Runner's World has given me a three-issue, complementary subscription and I read the magazine last night for the first time in a few years. I was enjoying it until I noticed that "The Penguin," John Bingham, is still writing the same Stuart Smalley column each month:

"Why run a marathon in five hours when you could run it in six? I understand that this sounds like blasphemy to the sport's hardliners, but for me being in a race is like going to a theme park. I want to be the first through the turnstile, and I want to stay until they throw me out." I don't think runners need this "permission to fail," this ad nauseam reinforcement from the Penguin that it's OK not to try too hard in a race. IN FACT, READING THIS MESSAGE OVER AND OVER IS KIND OF FREAKING ME OUT, PENGUIN! While you enjoy your Deactivation, check the defintion of "race" in the context of sports: "A competition of speed, as in running or riding."

"Hey, Bill, don't worry about the half-ass spreadsheet you created: The Board doesn't want you to strain yourself and, gee, they don't really need to know the year-to-date profit margins, anyway. And Dr. Jones, I know you removed that patient's kidney instead of her appendix, but relax: Who has time to get it right? She probably didn't even have insurance!"

You can waddle on with the Penguin or hit the track for interval training. Or read this inspiring story about 45-year-old Ironman Jamie Arnold, who believes that anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Lance's Deep Tease

French sports daily L'Equipe really seems to have pushed Lance Armstrong's buttons. I thought he was retiring to spend more time with his kids? I wonder if the rest of the Tour field would be offended if he pulled them along the course in a bike trailer?

Pour One Out for Diesel

Bottle
Originally uploaded by jjactive2.

As Jan wrote yesterday, Diesel is one tough hombre. When we went to pick him up in the ER after discovering his blood-splattered bike resting against a fence in the transition area and then getting the story from a police officer, the scene wasn't for the queasy, i.e., me. A sunglasses-shattering, helmet-cracking direct face plant at 25 MPH doesn't leave beauty marks, that's for sure. But Diesel's calm demeanor and incredible pain tolerance made the bloody scene more comfortable. When we dropped him off at home and his wife came to the door to view the carnage, Jan and I felt like Pinto delivering the passed out girl in the shopping cart to her parents in Animal House. But Mrs. Diesel was as calm as her husband-- their three kids must have icewater in their veins. The scars will heal and Diesel will be back; he's already plotting to get out and run this weekend and to keep his appointment with the Chicago Marathon course in October. Diesel: For extreme toughness, you have been Activated.

My first triathlon in about four years went OK: kind of like a wary lunch date with an ex-girlfriend during which you remember what you liked about her. My hope was to get a good workout and still be able to complete my scheduled long Chicago training run two days later without feeling the effects, and that's what happened. One observation: The level of competition has gone up a notch since I've been out of the game. Improving triathletes: You have been Activated. I have big-time respect for Jan, reader Mary (winner of the women's short-course race), and all the other athletes competing at such a high level, where every second counts.

Sales of Junk Food and Soda to Be Banned in California Schools

For making "the most impressive gains in school nutrition since school lunch was introduced after World War II," state of California, you have been Activated.

Armstrong to Marry Crow, P.O. French

He's strong enough to be her man.

But is he really strong enough to take on the Tour again? Or just trying to play mind games with his friends in France?

Ironman Nutrition

The Ironman nutrition plan of 165-pound Gordo.

Lake St. Louis Triathlon – Race Recap

Lake St. Louis Triathlon Race Recap
1500 meter swim, 27 mile bike, 10K run

It’s tough to write a race report when one of your training partners ends up in the hospital. Steve, aka “Diesel,” went down on the bike--hard. After seeing his battered face and raw skin in the emergency room, it seems like he was fortunate not to suffer any broken bones or more serious consequences. And I was amazed at his emotional stability and upbeat attitude about returning to training. Get well soon, buddy.

As far as the race goes:

I swam in the 2nd wave based on predicted time. I wore my wetsuit but it didn’t seem to help my speed as I finished slower than the overall contenders. Onto the bike and the chase was on. The course design and mix of long and short course racers on the road made things somewhat chaotic. I steadily made up time and watched my average speed climb during the 27 miles. I executed a nice dismount, leaving my shoes on the pedals, but lost time in transition with a bad rack position far away from the entrance. I felt decent on the run, passing a few athletes.

I was hoping for a higher finish (23/450 OA, 5/53 AG) and was once again frustrated by my slow swim. Keeping it in perspective, I was grateful to cross the line healthy and look forward to the final month of my season, which culminates with the 1/2 Iron-distance National Championships in Kansas City followed by Worlds in Honolulu.

Congrats to Activeness’ John on a good showing in his first tri in several years. Way to do!

Labor Day Links

Activated:

* From Ironman to Everyman – The Wall Street Journal's Katherine Rosman writes: "Hold on to your stopwatches, fitness fans: The mighty triathlon, that macho emblem of athletic sadomasochism, is going soft."

* Chief Fitness Officers – Business Week reports on the link between business success and athletic achievement. "Ultracompetitive personality types, some top execs make time in their schedules to train exhaustively and participate in events around the globe. Staying at the top of their game literally not only has kept them in top physical shape but has helped hone leadership skills, teamwork abilities, discipline, and boosted energy levels. They way they see it, staying fit is a necessary component for success -- personally and professionally."

* Catching Up With Welchie – Listen to the MP3 of Ironmanlive.com's Kevin Mackinnon chatting with Greg Welch. Ironman Korea, Ironman Canada, and Simon Lessing's chances in the heat at Kona are among the topics. "Simon should look at his nutrition," Welch says.

* Race-Day Nutrition Tips from Dave Scott – He's happy that fueling for top race-day performance has evolved well past chowing doughnuts and figs. It has?

* Tom Danielson's Vuelta a Espana Tour Diary – The Discovery Channel rider climbing specialist is chronicling his race through Spain.

* Distracciones de la Vuelta – Hot Spanish girls? Enough said.

* He Could Not Ask For More Than a Gel and a Salt Tab – Singer/songwriter Edwin McCain has substituted drinking with training for the New York City Marathon. "You can't drink 5 or 10 beers every night; It's not good. Ten years goes by and you're out of shape and feeling like death all the time. It's the old tale of being sick and tired of being sick and tired."

* A Beautiful Day: Lake St. Louis Triathlon Video Slideshow– Download the 21 MB WMV file to experience 93 images set to the sounds of U2.

When the Levee Breaks, Lots of Unanswered Questions

Republican and Democratic officials coordinating the federal and local responses to Hurricane Katrina: For miserably failing the people along the Gulf Coast who are fighting just to survive, you have been Deactivated. What's been going on with Homeland Security and FEMA for the past four years? Pat downs and purse searches at ballgames? Shoe X-Rays at airports? Why is it taking so long to rescue these people? Too many guitar lessons? How will we better prepare our country for the next manmade or natural disaster? Or should I just take care of my own family and stockpile generators, guns, diesel, food, and water? And why is the media afraid to talk about the fact that most of these desperate folks we're seeing pictures of are African-Americans? While we're fixing the levees, can we do anything to repair the massive gaps in American society? Lord of the Flies New Orleans: The ultimate reality show.

Amazon.com makes it easy to donate to the Red Cross.

From the front lines: "The Interdictor" is blogging while manning and protecting his company's downtown New Orleans data center.

Sorry to get serious. Tune in soon for a week-by-week breakdown of my triathlon training program over the past year, a recipe for my tasty homemade gels, a piece on why all triathletes need a Hummer to best haul their gear to races, and an article on tri bike geometry.

The Art of Nutrition

Three-time Ironman champion Melissa Spooner, who currently works as a nutritionist is giving nutrition tips to triathletes.

SwimBikeRun St Louis Magazine Set to Launch

Look out Rupert Murdoch, the SwimBikeRun St. Louis media empire continues to grow. On the heels of kicking off a weekly radio show and podcast, tireless St. Louis web publisher Matt Cazalas has announced plans for a monthly magazine set to launch October 1.

"This publication will NOT be a triathlon-only magazine. We intend to appeal to the tens of thousands of metro residents who wear swim goggles, snap on a bicycle helmet, lace up running shoes, or head to the gym in their pursuit of health and fitness. It will indeed be as much about the lifestyle and people as the activities."

Hushovd Wins Vuelta Stage

Big Norwegian Thor Hushovd won the fifth stage of the Vuelta a España. He had managed to take the green jersey in the Tour de France without a stage win. Aussie Bradley McGee still leads the race.

Activeness!

Friday, September 30, 2005