Bike Racks In the Rain, Smokers Under Cover

Deactivated.

Activating Ryan Hall

The 24-year-old Stanford grad ran the fastest debut marathon ever by an American in London: 2:08:24. Kenya's Martin Lel won the London Marathon in 2:07:41. Hall ran a 59:43 to set an American record at the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon in January.

Ryan's "Marathon Diary" blog entry: "I knew that I could run 2:08, and even faster, but it was even more special to have been leading the London Marathon in what the press was calling possibly the greatest marathon field ever assembled. I had taken my swing."

The Eight-Year-Old Marathoner

Second-grader Zhang Huimin, who lives in southern China, is preparing for the 2016 Olympics.

"On this Saturday, as she does most weekends, the girl will run more than 26 miles before school -- on top of dozens of miles she runs before school each week. Those statistics cry out for skepticism, but watching her run for more than four hours or interviewing marathon officials who recorded her recent races makes it hard to find any hints of a hoax."

Chicago Tribune story.

My New Favorite Riding Partner Is a Cat-2 (Year-Old)

The stylish pink basket is perfect for holding Clif Bars, gels, salt tabs, extra bottles, cell phone, money, tubes, tools, etc. during our rides up and down the driveway. She's always willing to take a strong pull up front, hammers the descents, and doesn't usually spit on me.

Look for her as the first woman rider in the Tour de France in 2030 (wonder if Floyd's case will be decided by then?).

Floyd Landis Update

Still getting screwed by apparent USADA collusion with the French LNDD lab and L'Equipe. Still proclaiming innocence despite many positive samples. Still confusing my simple caveman mind.

Official floydlandis.com response.

Goal Diego, Goal!

Definition of a "longshot:"

Tom Boonen Wrecks His Lamborghini

Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen had a beautiful yellow Lamborghini. Then he smashed it while trying to dodge a cat crossing the road.

Lessons:
1. Belgian sprint specialists pull in a lot of Euros.
2. Cats are annoying.

Earth Day: If You're Not Passing, Get Over (i.e., Activating Irony)

I rode up to the bored-looking guy manning the gate blocking the park road and asked what was going on. He looked offended and glared at me like I was the CEO of Dow Chemical and I had just flattened his kitten with my Lamborghini.

"It's Earth Day, man."

Earth Day workers blowing smoke into my face as I rode past you in the park: You have been Deactivated.

Earth Day SUV drivers who ventured into the city park today to gather by the thousands to celebrate our devout commitment to saving the planet by buying little violet flowers, Tibetan worry beads and hemp watering cans — clogging traffic, spewing toxic emissions and blocking my ride route in the process — you have been Deactivated.

Earth Day came, did its thing by reminding us of the grave consequences of what we're doing to the planet, and now has outlived its usefulness. The point of awareness is no longer tipping — it has tipped. Instead of a pep rally/picnic/green product convention, what we need 365 days a year of serious thinking about the Earth and a commitment to changing our society's living and consumption patterns. And we need more non-smoking people to come into the park on non-Earth Days to try a walk, run or ride. Maybe then they'd appreciate the air they're breathing and the beauty surrounding them and care just a little more.

Shout Out to FOA Activeness! and Charter-Hater Marshall

Do not be enchanted by the high-speed value package offerings of Lucifer: Charter Communications. Sooner than later you will pay the price for pawning your soul and aligning with the world's suckiest provider of Internet and cable TV connectivity. Any sign of competency they show is a house of cards resting on the New Madrid fault, and if I knew how to short a stock I would do it to CHTR. Until then: Who do you think will take out Tony Soprano? My vote is with Carmela, who traded her soul for the lifestyle long ago.

Mountain Biker

Good shot sent in by FOA Kevin C.

Man Swims Amazon River

52-year-old Slovenian Martin Strel successfully completed a swim down the Amazon River. It took him only 9-weeks. He averaged 50 miles a day. That's 3,272 miles.

What?! You figure a fast Ironman swimmer can cover 2.4 miles in an hour or so. If he swam that pace for his entire journey, that would mean he was swimming 21 hours a day. Nuts. It's like swimming from Miami to Seattle.

Deactivating the Boston Marathon Weather Forecast

A friend who is running it Monday sends along today's ominous message from marathon officials. Up to five inches of rain, a 25 MPH headwind for most of the race and 50 MPH gusts?!

FORECAST:
The most up-to-date weather forecast calls for a predicted Spring storm on Monday, including heavy rains (potentially 3 to 5 inches), with the start temperatures in the mid to upper 30's. Wind will likely be East (in the face of the participants for most of the race) in the 20 to 25 mile per hour range, with gusts to as much as 50 miles per hour. This will produce a wind chill index of 25 to 30-degrees Fahrenheit.

RISKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN COLD AND WET CONDITIONS:
Combined with the rain, we are concerned that predicted weather conditions will increase the runners' risks for a condition called hypothermia.

We Are the Cyclists

"We are The Cyclists — the most energy-efficient beings on the planet."

"Sleep is for babies: Gamers play all night."

Weirdo Wii player hopped up on grape soda, you have been Deactivated. Same for you, local cable access reporter who asked him 50 questions -- each more inane than the last. Nintendo should come out with a Wii triathlon game.

Guinness Confirms First Run Around the World

Forty year-old Briton Robert Garside waited three years for Guinness World Records to confirm him as the first runner to run around the world. It took the former policeman six years to cover the 30,000 miles across six continents. He must have had a lot of PTO accrued. He called himself the Runningman during his quest. I wonder if MC Hammer approved this nickname?

For the name, the PTO accrual, and the downright incomprehensible feat of running around the world, you not only are a Guinness World Record holder, you have also been Activated!