Anonymous Racer X Sighting

Friend of Activeness (FOA) Joe sends this report of a sighting of Anonymous Racer X, who teaches us all how to live life at 80-90% VO2max.

Yo. I think I saw X this morning at the Y.

As you know, the Y opens promptly at 5:00 a.m. I showed up at 5:15 to swim and on my way to the locker room I heard madness in the cardio room. Upon a further look, I discovered a beast of a man, running on treadmill 5 at an incredible rate. The Y had only been open for 15 minutes, but the treadmill computer showed that he had already logged 10 miles. Mind boggling! I tried to walk around to get a glimpse at his face, but that experience turned out to be Biblical... All I could see was a very bright light and it appeared that he was gnashing his teeth. After evaluating the rest of him I discovered that he wasn't sweating. UNREAL!

Further, every TV in the room was displaying coverage from the 2004 IM Kona, but not the usual NBC coverage. It was one camera crew following behind one man during the entire event.

After my 40 minutes swim workout, I exited the Y to find that the room had gone back to normal except Treadmill 5 now has an "Out of Order" sign posted on it. I think I may have smelled burning rubber.

Do you think it was him?

Activations: Microcosm Run

February 17, 2008

Crazy run out there today.

I had a 21-miler schedule on the marathon training program. The weather was potentially volatile. High winds and possible heavy downpours later in the morning. The temperature was OK, so I decided I would run the three miles toward the gym, thinking I could duck in and do some treadmill mileage if the weather turned. Or, if things looked OK, keep going, circle toward the park, run a few loops and head home.

First, I wondered if my knee was capable of going 21 miles. I had a boost of enthusiasm from the previous day's 5-mile race, but I had doubts as to whether I could cover that kind of mileage and what the weather had in store.

The fuel belt was loaded and I headed out. The knee was sore early on. I was already questioning myself. Do I turn back? No, it will loosen up. Man, it's windy. I'm getting blown backwards and sideways.

At mile 3 passing the gym, no signs of rain. I'll keep going. Hey, is that Activeness' John driving up toward the gym on this back street? It was. A short exchange on what we were up to and then I kept going.

Around mile 6, the rain started. Then it opened up. I don't know the definition of a monsoon, but that's what I'm calling it. I was soaked and the wind was ripping. I better turn back, this is crazy. I'll go back to the gym or home, this is not looking good. Less than two miles later it stopped monsooning and I eventually turned back toward the park again on a different parallel street.

By mile 10 I felt good and thought I could possibly go the distance if I could continue like this. I headed up the big hill in the park, waved to Dave heading in the opposite direction and started to feel more pain in the knee. I'll see if it feels better at the top of the hill, I thought to myself. It didn't. I had reached my pain threshhold and decided I better turn around and head for home, which was probably another 3 miles away. Halfway down the hill I see Dave and it looks like he wants to join me, but before he gets any ideas, I stop and tell him I'm hobbling. We jogged a little more and caught up on life (and our injuries) before he offered me a much needed ride home. Turns out he just had his fourth child two weeks ago. Wow.

I only got in 11.5 miles of my scheduled 21, but I was happy to be home in one piece. While frustrated with an unexplainable injury, I thought back on this crazy run as a microcosm of what life throws at you over time.

There was enthusiasm and confidence from Saturday's race result, mixed with doubts and questions. There were headwinds slowing me down. I unexpectedly saw a close friend when I least expected it, checking on my progress. The heavy storms came and forced me to regroup and head toward safety. The storms then let up and gave me new courage to keep going. Then another setback, telling me I should stop for the day, followed by a bail out and lift home from a helping friend. It hit me that the mind games, emotion and events of just that one run mirror life's twists and turns, peaks and valleys. It was simply a microcosm of life played out in an attempted Sunday long run.

Race Report: Ghisallo Frosty 5

Five months have gone by since the Ironman in Louisville last August. During that time, the hours of training have been replaced by other life-changing preparations, namely moving into a new house, getting engaged, and planning a summer 2008 wedding!

Although the swimming pool has not gotten much play, I've tried to do some running to prepare for a potential spring marathon.

With a Saturday morning open from travel, appointments and classes — and a local race literally around the corner from home — it seemed like the perfect occasion to test the competitive waters after a lengthy hiatus from the racing scene. I wondered if doing OK on a treadmill recently would translate to a real race.

It was in the 20s temperature-wise but the turnout was impressive and a lot of familiar faces and old friends were there. Jamie and future MILOA Judy (Mother-In-Law of Activeness) came out to support me and our friends who were running. Thanks!

We started the five miles heading north, just past my house, then right at the cemetery. Wow, people were flying out of the gates like it was a 100-meter dash. Am I going that slow? No, this feels right.

The course was similar to one I ran by coincidence the week before on my own. Something I like to call the memory run -- going past my high school and junior high. At the first mile I was in front of the church where a week earlier I had been going through marriage preparation class. My watch said 6:09. Perhaps a little fast, but there was a good stretch of downhill in there. Soon the pack had thinned and I was picking off a few people and uncharacteristically not being overeager, nor getting passed by the patient runners who really know how to race. Around midway we came near the start area and I gave a wave and took a cup of water. The gradual hills hurt me and the chasers behind me would pull even by the top of each climb. I seemed to then recover and surge forward. Closer to mile 4, I could see Todd, Rich and Amy (lead woman) ahead and I thought I was gaining on them slightly.

The final mile was quicker than miles 2-4 and I was able to cross the line about 30 seconds above my PR. My creaky knee had held up and I was happy to have a good showing after such a long layoff. It was good to see the neighborhood in action and have a lot of friends out there. The post-race smorgasbord at Ryan's house was a great way to cap the morning.

Anonymous Racer X: Presidential Runs

I stopped in the middle of my usual Tuesday 20-mile run to vote in yesterday's primary. Because the presidential race is often called a marathon, the only non-heathen candidate I could vote for is marathon preacher Mike Huckabee. But I have to say he's on notice: For the primary I can forgive Huck for not believing in evolution (show me the proof) and for being from Arkansas. But if he does get the Republican nomination then I am going to need him to break 4:00 in the marathon before the general election if he wants the X Man's vote. I hope he's doing plenty of fartleks.

Later,
Racer X

Anonymous Racer X: My Super Bowl 'Live Blog'

6:00-6:25 Caught some of Fox's pregrame show while sorting new shipment of GUs.
6:25-6:30 Sent email to Bill Belichick informing him that I'm currently without a tri coach and asking him to submit a proposal.
6:30-9:30 Rode trainer while watching personalized DVD of 2002 Ironman Florida race. Went harder when downstairs neighbor began hitting ceiling with broom.
9:30-10:00 Shaved arms in shower.
10:00-10:07 Visited espn.com to see if any of my 'squares' won in Globo-Corp office pool. Couldn't figure it out.
10:07-10:10 Envisioned how badly I would kick Eli Manning's ass in a masters swim workout. Wondered if Plaxico Burress owns a tri bike.
10:10-12:00 Tossed and turned in bed after realizing I should have done trainer workout in Zone 2 instead of Zone 3. Worst Super Bowl ever.

Later,
Racer X

Anonymous Racer X: Treadmill Shock

Something is wrong with the treadmills at my gym. "Out of order" signs are hanging on the last five treadmills the X-Man has used for my long (20 miles or more) runs. Is it because they are inferior Korean models and not American-made classics? Is it because of my punishing, take-no-prisoners style of running? I've been told by jealous gym patrons that the pounding of my feet combines with my incessant grunting to create a roar akin to a commercial airliner taking off but, since I use a Zune for tunes — I don't understand the world's fascination with iPods — it's not a problem.

When I do my long runs indoors, I get there at 4:59 AM, one minute before the gym opens, so I can sign out three successive treadmills for the duration. I run on the middle machine. On the treadmill to my right I place my cooler of sports drinks, energy bars, gels, fruit and ice. The treadmill to my left is where I store my personal-needs equipment such as towels, Body Glide, replacement shirts, socks and shoes, heart rate monitors (always bring a backup), electric razors (a three-hour run provides the perfect time to shave my legs and chest), a standup mirror so I can monitor my form and the collection of fans I use to simulate wind resistance.

Apparently some people complain to gym management that one person should not be able to tie up three machines at a time but, like I told Abbii, they're just jealous my three percent body fat. Snap!

Later,
Racer X