Hullie Shoots and Scores!

Future NHL Hall-of-Famer Brett Hull is getting married.

A Bike Worth Four Times as Much as My First Car

The New York Times has a story on the increasing popularity of custom bikes. More than two million road bikes were sold in the U.S. last year. The average price for a customized model is about $8,000.

A Memorable Memorial Day

Sunday night I watched "Jarhead" (3.5/4 water bottles on the Activeness movie rating scale) and thought about the hell our soldiers have gone through in the Middle East since Operation Desert Shield began in 1990. These brave men and women don't need silly multisports to test their strength and courage in the lazy, fastfood, instant gratification, American Idol world they left behind. No, they're doing it every day, with stakes—life and death—quite a bit higher than grabbing an age group award or hitting a race PR. It was past midnight when the movie ended—hello Memorial Day and thank you soldiers.

Six hours later, I was coffeed and frozen waffled up and in my car on my way to the gorgeous farmlands and wide open roads along the mighty Mississippi River in southern Illinois for my first long ride of the season. Full sun and 90+ degree temperatures were forecast—with no shade to be found—but that's the way I like it for cycling: the hotter the better for my 40-year-old legs. And there's nothing like lathering up with sunscreen while it's still dark out to build anticipation for the "battle" ahead.

Diesel, Dools, and I had the roads to ourselves when we pedaled out of the parking lot and toward the fields of corn and soybeans at 6:30 A.M. We'd see just one car and only a handful of other cyclists over the first two hours of the ride. As usual, Diesel put his head down, fit into his bike like a glove, and churned his legs like a speedskater, keeping a strong, smooth cadence and a steady 20+ MPH pace into the headwind—that's why he's The Diesel—as Dools and I did what we could to hang on to his wheel.

At about mile 20, as I was entering the Dark Side and donning the mask of pain while contemplating dropping off his wheel and into oblivion, Diesel's front tire wedged into a gap along the rails while we were navigating over a rough train crossing. His wheel stopped but Diesel didn't, as gravity torqued him forward and sent him hurtling through the air in slow motion. Well, that's a first, I thought: Like a bronco that bucked its cowboy, the bike was still standing upright, mocking its prone, swearing rider.

Except for a road-rashed shoulder covered by a funky mix of pine tar and oil that I managed to clean off with water from my bottle, Diesel was OK. The glare from his wife on seeing the damage would probably be the worst part. But, most importantly, was his Cervelo OK? A little experimenting revealed that the slightly bent front wheel had taken on a slight wobble, but the rig was rideable.

"Let's go," said the undeterred Diesel, as he jumped to the front again, slowly picking up steam and confidence and pulling us another 35 hard-driving miles on a roundabout route back to our cars. His shaky wheel, the return tailwind, and the fact that Diesel was slowed by a puffed-up knee from a collision with the outfield wall in a softball game earlier in the week helped Dools and I hang on for the entire 55 miles.

At one point I noticed that Dools, in his effort to stay with the group, was so far up Diesel's back wheel—maybe an inch away—that to be polite he really should have at least bought him dinner first. And the position may have even been illegal in Kansas and Alabama. I think they're now technically married in the state of Vermont. In Dools' defense, I guess anything goes when you're "in the suck." I kept a wary distance, not wanting to go down with them in a potential pileup.

My final thoughts for the day were that cycling with friends on open roads—feeling the freedom, speed, and burn—is about as much fun as you can legally have "on your own," if you know what I mean. Also, I believe I've passed the annual test and earned the right to call myself a cyclist again this summer. Look out legs, the Norelco is ready.

Reasons Not to Fear the Reaper

A list.

Nike and Apple Tune Your Run

Here's the official site of the Nike iPod Sport Kit. Click on the "Stories" photos to see how Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe "rock their runs."

Reason #752 We All Should Be Out Riding

Kids: Don't Try the Scorpion Save at Home

Most don't know that before Activeness' JPD pursued a wildly successful triathlon-blogging-business career, he was the starting goalie on Duke University's soccer team and then enjoyed a short professional career. He'll be embarrassed that I'm linking to this, but here's JPD in action during the Massive Belgian's brief stint as Colombia's keeper back in the mid-1990s:



Today, post-haircut, JPD is older and wiser. He only breaks out the Scorpion when celebrating race hardware or while entertaining women in his Trophy Room.

Here's the real scoop on the Scorpion.

You're a Maniac, Maniac on the Path

...And you're playing like you never played before.

Guy standing in the middle of the park running path playing "Maniac" on the saxophone, you have been Activated. I may have had to veer around you to get past, but you made me laugh — and, let's be honest, entertained me — at the end of a tough six-mile afternoon run in 90-degree temperatures.

Activations: Sandcastles

This also appears in the June issue of SwimBikeRun St. Louis Magazine.

Activation – noun: making active and effective

As a reader of this magazine, you're probably interested in physical fitness. You may have goals to become more active, get faster, try something new, maintain your health, or pursue a limitless list of other life-enhancing possibilities.

You probably also have non-athletic goals. If you don’t, you should. These goals could involve career, education, relationships, family, spirituality, finance, or music — whatever lights the fire inside you and brings you satisfaction.

But what about those times when you don’t seem to be making any progress? You have nothing to show for your efforts. Your diligent consistency feels like it’s not paying off and you can’t seem to get any traction. The question we’ve all asked ourselves during these phases, whether they last for weeks or years, is, “Is this worth it?”

In a results-oriented society in which the false hope of overnight success is being pitched to us every waking hour — “buy now, stock poised to triple,” “guaranteed rock hard abs in 5 minutes,” “lose 20 pounds by this weekend” — it’s easy to think that small, incremental, almost unnoticeable progress isn’t enough.

Why should I work late again? Nobody seems to notice, anyway. Why should I keep going to masters swimming when I’ll never be good enough for the fast lane?

I hope you’ve also experienced stretches in which everything is clicking. Maybe you get a promotion, your training is injury-free, your race results show a nice blend of solid performances and PRs, and your relationships are deep and meaningful. This might call for a proclamation of being in ”the zone.” Using sand as a metaphor for achievement, during these times a dump truck is backing up to your front door and unloading around the clock.

In reality, however, that dump truck unloading sand isn’t how you got into the zone. Most likely you’ve been bringing home a few handfuls or maybe even a daily grain or two of sand over the years. The accumulation is starting to take shape, as if it has been compounding, and your own mini-sandcastle rises up, representing the efforts and progress you may not have realized you were making. The occasional harsh wave may wipe out what you’ve been building but the sand will still be there, waiting to be reshaped.

People are noticing what you are doing and saying. They're posting mental notes when you take action, come through in the clutch, do your job, lend a hand, or give an encouraging word. It might not always feel like it, but people are paying attention and your body is listening to how you are treating it. You'll reap the benefits in the long run.

I'm not naïve enough to think all the people of the world are cheering each other on or that the good guys and gals always win. The people paying attention include “the haters:” folks who want to see you struggle. They check the race results and feel better when they notice you still can’t beat their bike split. They stock their water bottles with endurance-formula “Haterade” and sip away while hoping no one reaps the rewards of hard work on the road or in the office. Biggie might tell you they have Ph.D.’s: player-hater degrees. Don’t mind ‘em. Deactivate them from your consciousness and go back to work on that sandcastle masterpiece you’ve been so diligently sculpting. It's starting to take shape, isn’t it?

Good luck building your sandcastles.

Respect,
JPD

Giro d'Italia Update

Brutal conditions and climbs at yesterday's Stage 17. Ivan Basso holds on to a comfortable 5:43 lead. Photos | Results

Deactivating Pat Robertson

The "robust-living" Pat Robertson wants to sell you a whole lot of crap, including an age-defying shake that allows him to leg press 2,000 pounds.

Headline You Thought You'd Never See

"Lance Just Wants to Finish Hour Behind Winner," reports the AP on Lance Armstrong's goal for his first New York City Marathon. Last year's winner, Paul Tergat, ran a 2:09:30.

iPod Nation: Nike iPod Sport Kit

Nike and Apple are developing a wireless system that allows Nike shoes to communicate with iPods to track a runner's performance and help choreograph songs to the moment. So no more Grateful Dead at mile 23, when what you really need is a shot of AC/DC. Impressive, but when they develop an iPod that synchronizes with the "paraphernalia" used by certain elements of our population who prefer artificial stimulation to the endorphins we get from a runner's high, then they'll really have the killer app. Story.

Activating a Second-Grade Alcatraz Escapee

"Fueled by several slices of pizza, a 7-year-old boy braved the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay on Monday and became one of the youngest swimmers to cross the channel from Alcatraz Island to the city."

Ullrich: Younger Germans Too Soft for Sport

Jan Ullrich has called out Germany's younger generation of athletes, saying they could not handle the pain athletes had to suffer to be successful. "We're always playing down our pain," he said. "Those who judge me have no idea how much pain we go through every day. They would scream for three years non-stop if they only got a feel just once for the pain we endure every day."

Activating the Memphis Activator

To the triathlete doing the Memphis in May Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday who, while running in that oppressive heat around mile 4, yelled out to me, "You've Been Activated!" You, mystery tri-guy, have been Activated! Your activation gave me a much-needed pick-me up. Thanks. Sorry I couldn't focus enough to see who you were or ask your name, but I sure did appreciate that. Hope your race went well.

St. Louis triathlete John Beyer is pictured in the Memphis Commercial Appeal race story.

PEZ to Giro: Ciao, Baby

The PEZ is in Italy for the Giro's last week. Great photos.

An Endurance Athlete With a Vegan Diet

Bradley Saul, a former pro-cyclist and founder of Organic Athlete, says athletes can thrive with a vegan diet.� He's also a raw foodist. Think I'll stick with my plain old vegetarianism.

Words You Don't Want to Overhear One Flight Attendant Whisper to Another

"This flight is really bumpy."

Lactic Acid: Friend Not Foe

You've felt the burn and been told that it was the lactic acid buildup that made your muscles tired. But now scientists are saying that lactic acid is a fuel, not a caustic waste product. "It's one of the classic mistakes in the history of science," said George A. Brooks, a professor in the department of integrative biology at the University of California-Berkeley. The reason trained athletes can perform so hard and so long is because their intense training causes their muscles to adapt so they more efficiently absorb lactic acid. New York Times story.

Oh No You Didn't, Russ Springer!

Russ Springer apparently doesn't much care for cheaters. He may not have good aim — it took him five tries to drill Barry Bonds' steroid-inflated body — but you have to respect his stick-to-it-ness. And you gotta love a baseball vigilante. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark recaps The Springer Show. Springer? Probably crazy but Activated.

Race Report: Duathlon Age Group National Championships

May 7, 2006, Mason, Ohio

It was chilly on race morning, with temperatures not even 50 degrees. I was glad not to be thinking about swimming. Would I freeze my arms off on the bike if I went sleeveless? What's everyone else doing?

I got set up in transition, got some help getting my disc wheel tire inflated, did a short warmup, hit the bathroom, etc. Everything felt fine.

The under-35 males started at 8am andthe old guys (35-44) and I went two minutes later. The conditions were great for running and everyone bolted forward and slightly downhill when the gun went off. This was not your local fun-run. Guys were haulin'. At the first mile I was in the middle of the pack and my watch said 5:47. Mile 2 was uphill and so things started to even out as the first 6.2 were covered doing two loops that sent us past the crowd at the transition area. I was feeling good and running close to my fastest 10K time. Right where I wanted to be.

T1 went smoothly and I was soon on my bike and hammering. I was feeling great and kept moving my average speed up until it actually hit 24mph. It was not going to stay there as the rolling hills and the inevitable headwind made the going tough on me. I seemed to lose my momentum and then got frustrated when the course seemed too long (even 1/2 a mile can seem like a lot when you've ridden 25 already).

Random thought while riding a bike at 22mph: If I ever get married and have a son, I don't think I will name him D'Brickashaw.

I finally got to the end of the bike portion. I made a clean shoeless bike dismount. My legs felt very tight when they hit the pavement. As I jammed my feet back into my running shoes for the final 5K, both legs tightened up and I had no choice but to slow down to avoid major cramping. I took my time, maybe an extra 20 seconds. When I thought it was safe to proceed I cautiously started jogging towards the transition exit along with Mark from Arizona, who was racked next to me and competing in my age group. As we crossed under the archway we both hit our watches for the start of the final 5K run.

My legs loosened up on the downhill and I did what I could to keep a solid pace. I could see that I wasn't going to hit my goal time, but knowing that I wasn't too far off and only had a few miles left, I pushed onward and felt good on the final straightaway and right turn into the finishing chute.

My first thought after completing the distance was "that was tough, but I'm really glad I did it."

I waited around for preliminary results which showed that I was 76th out of 300+, but only 16th out of 25 in my age group. Top 12 qualified for worlds with a rolldown possible all the way to 20th place.

A few days later I received an email that read "Congratulations! You are being contacted because you have earned a spot on Team USA for the 2006 Short Course Duathlon World Championships....on July 29-30 in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada." Cool! I better find my passport...

Rise and Shine

Super-achievers tend to wake up early, reports Fortune magazine (he posted at 5:15 AM).

Lance Still in Control

This predictably shallow People magazine report on the divorce of Lance Armstrong and Kristin Richard notes that ex-wife Richard revealed to Oprah that the marriage turned her from an opinionated career person into a "yes" woman.

Race Review: ITU Duathlon

May 6, 2006, Mason, Ohio

I had the opportunity to watch an ITU Duathlon comprised of elite professional athletes, including several international stars. I timed my arrival at packet pick-up for the age group National Championships, which I was competing in the following day, so that I could watch the pros do their thing.

Man, these guys and gals blew me away. About 18 men started things off.



They ran 4 loops of 2.5km before getting on their bikes. The pace was nuts from the get go and the lead handful of guys averaged around 4:50 per mile for the first 10K.



I noticed one guy holding back and looking very comfortable: American Tom Jeffrey.

In ITU duathlon, drafting is legal and very much a part of successful racing. Soon on the bike, the overall contenders made their move. Two Belgians and a Frenchman moved to the front and worked together seamlessly throughout the 8 laps of 5km. They averaged almost 27mph!! THEN, when it was time to determine who would win the thing, they sprinted another 5K at around a 5:00 per mile pace. Unbelievable. In the end, my Belgian boys made me proud, dropping the Frenchman to third, while American Jeffrey overcame cramps in T2 to win the US crown and get 4th overall.

From the USAT website: "Three Europeans battled it out for the top spot, with 22-year-old Belgian Bart Aernouts taking the overall title in 1:41:55. Countryman Joerie Vansteelant, 24, a two-time U23 world champion, finished in 1:41:14, with last year’s ITU world champion Anthony LeDuey, 33, of France taking third in 1:41:22. The three were part of a group of seven who ran the opening 10k in blistering 4:50 pace. They surged away from the chase pack in the bike, finishing the 40k course close to a minute ahead of the next closest competitor (Jeffrey)."

Here's the "whoof-shrugging" Belgian winner Aernouts doing a post-race interview. Duathlon champions can't be doing it for the money. He earned $2,000 for the win.



Later, at the hotel, I introduced myself (in Flemish) to the Belgians and although they were very friendly (and probably tired), I don't think they knew what to make of the American trying to speak Flemish (sort of puzzled, I suppose).

The women racers were just as impressive, albeit in smaller numbers. Basically, the winner sprinted to the early lead, literally, and never looked back. Here is Helen Lawrence putting in an early surge to create a gap.



"In the women's elite race, this year’s third-place finisher at the European Duathlon Championships, Helen Lawrence (England), 30, outpaced the field from the start, jumping out to a quick lead and finishing in 1:58:43. Boehmer (Ixonia, Wis.), 28, a former Division I runner at University of Colorado and Wisconsin, teamed with Canadian Shari Boyle on the bike to try to catch Lawrence, but the tandem were actually overtaken by Anne Preisig (Falmouth, Mass.), 38, and Kathryn Kasischke (San Diego, Calif.), 30, before T-2. Boehmer and Boyle regained their advantage after the first lap of the 5k and Boehmer was able to edge Boyle by six seconds, finishing in 2:01:42. Kasischke turned in a time of 2:02:44 to finish as the second American and fourth overall."

Racer X: 100 Best First Lines From Novels (19-21)

Wherein Anonymous Racer X takes the 100 Best First Lines From Novels and turns each one into the opening of a really lame tri-blog post by an infuriatingly self-obsessed triathlete.

Today's installment: Opening Lines 19-21.
Previous installment (16-18).

19. I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me; had they duly considered how much depended upon what they were then doing;—that not only the production of a rational Being was concerned in it, but that possibly the happy formation and temperature of his body, perhaps his genius and the very cast of his mind;—and, for aught they knew to the contrary, even the fortunes of his whole house might take their turn from the humours and dispositions which were then uppermost:—Had they duly weighed and considered all this, and proceeded accordingly,—I am verily persuaded I should have made a quite different figure in the world, from that, in which the reader is likely to see me.
I'm not worried about being a rational Being. But speaking of fathers and mothers, it would have verily rocked to have professional triathletes Tim and Nicole DeBoom as my parents. I bet if I had genes like that, Sandi from Accounting would never edge me out in another 5K.
— Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy (1759–1767)

20. Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
Of course I compete in triathlons for myself, to author my own heroic life script with wondrous conquests that give me great personal satisfaction. I have my hero, and he is me. But if I expect to land any hot tri chicks, these pages also must show how cool and cut I am.
— Charles Dickens, David Copperfield (1850)

21. Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.
My God, when did newly plump Buck stop training? Seeing Buck Mulligan buck naked sent shivers through my spine. And since he can no longer call himself a cyclist, why was he even bothering to shave his legs, I wondered in silent horror. Or was it pity?
— James Joyce, Ulysses (1922)

Heather Gollnick Keeps Pushing

Mother's Day story on professional triathlete Heather Gollnick.

The writer

loves

annoying

one-sentence

paragraphs.

Don't Drink and Broadcast: Deactivating Rick Sutcliffe's Bad Idea

Ex-Cubs pitcher and current ESPN broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe went out drinking with Bill Murray and then went on the air with the San Diego Padres' TV crew. Listen to the carnage. Somewhere Harry's smiling.

Turn Your Bike Into a Moped!

Pedaling is SO 2005. Get The Wheel and get 200 miles per gallon on your mountain or hybrid bike. Notice on their demo video that, even with the 20 MPH speed, nobody wears a helmet.

Michael Pohlman, RIP

If you're a veteran St. Louis-area runner or cyclist, then there's a good chance you've been passed by Michael Pohlman or his younger brother, Doug. Riding last Sunday with a group including his brother, the 48-year-old Michael died after a cycling accident.

Lance Likes Basso Over Ullrich

Visiting his former Discovery teammates at the Tour of Italy, Lance Armstrong predicted Ivan Basso would win the 2006 Tour de France. He had previously said Jan Ullrich would succeed him. "Apparently, Ullrich has been injured and didn't start racing until Romandie, which is way too late to start racing (for the Tour)," he said. "And they say he's a little heavy, although I haven't seen him. So it seems like Basso's ahead in his preparation." Basso currently lies in fifth in the Giro G.C., 11 seconds behind the lead�.

Oprah Admits James Frey Himself Is a Fabrication

CHICAGO, IL—On the heels of new revelations that James Frey's "My Friend Leonard" also contains significant amounts of fabrications, talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey has announced that Frey himself is, in fact, a fabrication. "I'm deeply saddened to tell you all that James is just a sophisticated hologram created by my good friends at George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic," announced a damp-eyed Winfrey to a stunned studio audience. "But that certainly doesn't take away from the tremendous suffering he has gone through." Aimee Albatini, who earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Chicago's Roosevelt University in 2002 and who currently works as a bartender at Mother's on Rush Street, actually penned the best-selling "A Million Little Pieces" and its sequel. "Real is overrated! Real is overrated!" chanted Oprah over the rising cheers of audience members.

Activating Gatorade's Cool U.S. Soccer Commercial

Hard to believe, but the U.S. is ranked fourth going into the World Cup. Here's the Gatorade commercial. David Letterman suggests the Top Ten Ways to Get Americans Excited About Soccer. "Drunken monkey goalies."

Race Report: Steamboat Classic Sprint Triathlon

April 30, 2006, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Rain and wind was forecasted all weekend throughout Missouri. As I made the two-hour drive to southern Missouri's "boot heel," it looked to be an accurate prediction. I struggled to stay alert, wondering if I had perhaps pushed too hard during the week and not gotten enough rest. I was relieved to see "the bubble" swimming pool and pulled in safely.

I began the swim in heat 3, lane 9. As I lapped my lane partner twice during the 500-yard swim, I incorrectly assumed I was having a fast swim. Doh! Like tri-comedian Larry later said, "When I started the swim, the lap-counter was clean shaven. When I got out of the water, he had a full beard."

Onto the bike and the chase was on. The rain was holding off but there was plenty of wind. I played it safe on the corners, realizing that wet, cracked pavement with strewn grass clippings was not the time to stay aero to save a few seconds. Others weren't so fortunate. There were several crashes and at least one hospital visit. I spotted FOA Mary up the road as we got closer to T2. She held me off until the run with her swim-bike prowess. Strong! (4th woman overall).

I began pushing on the run and the sun was out. Meteorologists?! The mile markers were not coming quickly enough and so I figured I was having a mediocre race - similar to my last go here in 2004. With a couple miles to go on the run, I believe I moved into the lead of my 32-person heat, so it was looking more respectable. My last "mile" was easily the fastest of the day and won't win any awards in the precise measurement category. As I ran down the hill and made a hard right into the finish, I felt good and was happy to take some minutes off my 2004 time.

The results were even better; 6th overall and a 1st place age group award (creative trophy maker - you've been Activated!).

Are You the Keymaster? Because I Am the Gatekeeper, and I Swear to God I Will Toss You Off This Bridge

Tot Grounded From Running Long!

A four-year-old Indian boy who ran 40 miles in seven hours last week (roughly my time) has been grounded by doctors from running long distances, reports the BBC News. This story is so absurd that it feels like a phony, but the BBC isn't exactly known for its Onion-style humor.

Happy 5th Birthday to an American Beauty

Kevin Spacey as Everyman American hero Lester Burnham in his American Beauty final voiceover narration:

"I'd always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all. It stretches on forever, like an ocean of time.

"For me it was, lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars. And yellow leaves from the maple trees that lined our street. Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper. And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird. And Janie...And Janie...Carolyn.

"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me...but it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once and it's too much...my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold onto it. And then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure... but don't worry...You will someday."

Happy birthday, Joseph.

Tony La Russa Comfortable With His Manhood

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has strong feelings for Cards outfielder So Taguchi: "'If I was the opposite gender, I'd be chasing him. I'd be dating him. But I'm not, so I don't. But I'm making the point."

Deactivating a Cruel Robber

Round-the-world cyclist Heinz Stucke made it through Zambia and Gambia but had his bike ripped off in Britain. He had 335,000 miles on the bike, which he had been pedalling since 1962. Not to worry: He later found it in a park. "Every blow that does not kill me only makes me stronger," wrote Stucke. Here it is.

Walking Man Has Dropped 100 Pounds

With less than 10 miles to go, Steve Vaught has lost more than 100 pounds on his walk across the country. At least when we run out of gasoline 20-30 years from now, we'll all drop a few unwanted pounds by walking and cycling to our fast food restaurants and strip malls. Here's the official TheFatManWalking.com site.

Would You Jump Into This Water?

Thousands did at last week's St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Florida, reports the St. Petersburg Times. Just as some of the least experienced athletes were entering the water, conditions worsened and a stiff wind swept east over Tampa Bay, kicking up 4-foot swells. About 50 to 60 swimmers had to be pulled out of the water by race officials and volunteers. One volunteer saved the life of an apparently lifeless swimmer by giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Clearly race organizers have to do a better job with safety. And overeager participants need to realize it's OK to "just say no" to those conditions.

Respect the Thrombus

"Deep vein thrombus (DVT) is a fancy man's dialect for 'a ginormous blood clot in your legs that can break free, travel to your lungs, and send you to that same farm in the sky that your childhood dog Sherman went to when dad took him for a drive.'” Sherman? I love that line. "Author, author!" But clots are serious business if you're an endurance athlete. This Inside Triathlon article will help you understand the risk factors.

How Sweet It Is: Ending Soda Sales in Schools

The nation's largest beverage distributors have agreed to halt nearly all sales of sodas to public schools. This makes so much sense as a step in battling the childhood obesity crisis, but I'm honestly amazed that the beverage industry let it happen. Since the William J. Clinton Foundation announced the news, I'll go ahead and Activate both the soft drink industry and former President Clinton, who noted that, "This one policy can add years and years and years to the lives of a very large number of young people." Next let's take a look at the cafeteria menus.

Church Lady Clocks a Teacher

Dear Church Lady: I am shocked by your violent reaction to our incidental contact during the swim — that elbow that grazed your nose was quite accidental. While I admit that I made innocuous motor boat noises with my mouth when I passed you on the bike course, that was done only in good fun. To punch me like that after I nudged you out of age group hardware at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Blessed Virgin of the Hydration Belt sprint tri was a total cheap shot. I suggest we settle this like real women — on the Ironman Wisconsin course in September. Lady, you best keep your head up during the bike. Signed, The Teacher You Clocked.

Dean Karnazes Can't Stop Running

The ultramarathoner is planning to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 different states. Why? "Curiosity."

Activating Pat's Run

Last Sunday, more than 3,000 people completed a 4.2-mile race to honor former NFL star and slain Army hero Pat Tillman in San Jose, where he grew up. "There was nothing dark about Pat except his death,'' said Mary Lydanne Tillman, his mother. "He loved activity and the atmosphere at races and marathons. So this was the perfect event for him.'' San Jose Mercury news story.

Activating Activeness

Specifically, Activeness co-founder JPD.

Word is that JPD, coming off a half-marathon PR, won his age group and placed sixth overall at a local sprint triathlon on Sunday. JPD capped off his race with a blazing (to me, at least) 32:07 time for the five-mile run.

And congrats to FOA Mary, who had her usual excellent race and finished as the 4th woman overall.

High-achievers JPD and Mary: You have been Activated. It's a beautiful thing when all that cold-weather training and offseason work pays off.

Gut Check for Ullrich

Jan Ullrich kicked off his 2006 season with a disappointing 90th place finish. This pic indicates that the massive German may have been saving his energy for the post-race buffet. The more things change...