Whom do we believe?

Here's some interesting inside stuff...

I'm at the Ottawa Marathon, Race Weekend, lots of people, lots of sponsors, running celebrities, "people in the know"..

Frank Shorter is here, in fact he's everywhere...

He'll be joining me and many others on the 2nd annual run and fun vacations Miami Marathon / Caribbean cruise:

http://runtheworld.ca/miami.htm

I just happened to overhear a conversation with Frank, in case you don't know his background and history, feel free to google his name and read. Despite a stellar career that is un-matched by most modern-day marathoners, Frank seems hell-bent on overturning his 1976 Olympic Silver Medal. East-German athletes were later found to be juiced up BIG TIME at those games, including the Gold Medallist Cierpinski, who "came from nowhere" to capture fame and fortune at select, high-profile races...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldemar_Cierpinski

A "list" was found from that era of German sport, which including names of many athletes on a diet shall we say of questionable supplementation.

With a legal background, and a sincere interest in cleaning up the sport, albeit with a BIG personal bent, Frank had these comments. The same-day news hit the airwaves surrounding Paula Radcliffe's (women's world record holder) decision to pull-out of the Beijing Olympic Marathon, on the heels of men's #1-ranked Haile Gebrselassie deciding to also pass...

"They're all on EPO, and the extreme heat mixed with this drug use makes for a fatal combo", so with drug-testing being so prevelant it makes sense to back out..

(In those words more or less)

So on race day, at the VIP tent, I am speaking with a well-known running agent (yes, just like major professional sports, there are a few individuals who earn a living helping the world-class runners to scratch an existence out of their passion for the sport)

"Oh, there goes Frank wining and complaining again, he's still so bitter..."

(In those words more or less)

(Of course, this agent represents some of the best runners in the world, and a positive drug test would not be good for business)...):

Which side are you on?

PD

peter@mynextrace.com 

Volunteers needed!

Yes, we're now officially getting the word out to our readers about this very serious and important assignment, no amateurs please.

The world's most famous marathon, Boston, has added a new wrinkle to their Race Weekend. already requiring thousands of volunteers, Boston is in need of a few more, men especially, so keep reading guys.

We have learned for the first time that the t-shirts made available to the athletes will come in both men's and women's sizing, as opposed to the standard, one-cut, small-medium-large and x-large variety.

Alert the media!

What does this mean to the B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association) and the overall success of the race weekend?

- No more washing the car with an ill-fitting commemorative Boston Marathon cotton t-shirt?

- No more ladies using the shirt as a night gown?

- No more shirts resting quietly (abandoned) in a top-shelf closet with high-school photos, this year's upcoming xmas gifts for the kids, and the embarrassing sex-toy your husband bought you 12 years ago...

(:

Ah, no....

It means that volunteers are needed to help the women (especially) to size-up their shirts at the check-in desk. I was informed of this amazing new position while at the Ottawa Race Weekend, where a few fellows stood in front of my booth with Boston jackets of a colour I was not familiar with:

"Is that a media jacket you have on?"

"No, volunteers",

"Oh, my media jacket was burgundy, and I know the runners' jacket this year was blue".

"We volunteered on the Saturday, helping women to pick the correct size of race shirt. They needed help getting the shirts on and off, and an opinion as to how it fit"

(wry smile on face of guy standing in front of me, like he now felt embarrassed to admit the guilty pleasure of his philanthropic deed - "HHmmm, no, that doesn't seem to be fitting very well, let me help you take this off and try another one on...."...

"Is that better than putting a medal around the neck of a sweaty finisher" ..was my reply...(I job I volunteered at the Avon Run for Women many years ago)...

"Much better, because we were still able to run the marathon!"

Music or no music?

Maybe I am revealing a little too much about my deep self here, but I still refuse to listen to music while I exercise (bike, run, roller-blade)...

I used to, just before I started training in earnest for my first- ever clinic for a marathon in 1995. the instructors were talking about safety and all that, especially since we were a big group (100) and we were running at night (january).

So I put down the sony sports walkman (big, yellow, heavy thing, now used as a door stop) - and started to discover what true serenity, endorphins and loneliness are.

(:

Indoors on a treadmill, now that's another story!

Remember though, this is well before the invention of the MP3 players, the i-pods and all the other gadgets that now go with the sport (business) of running. I still really like to head out the door and see what happens, in my mind of course, and I like to think of solutions to professional and personal problems I might be going thru.

Plus now with a dog on a leash I really need to pay attention, Jefferson, get back here!

The issue has become so prevalant and potentially dangerous (distracting) that many big-city races try to ban the use of ear phones and music as a safety precaution - like that's going to work! You might as well try to ban short skirts and tight tops at a nightclub district..

Maybe though as I get "older" and look for new ways and means to get motivated, I should re-consider this strategy, even if it's just to pump up some music at the beginning, or in the middle when I need a boost...

Music suggestions anyone?

P.D.

peter@mynextrace.com 

Mother was right

I was reading an interesting front-page article this week, on how some people (like me for sure) have a genetic pre-disposition to eating large amounts of chocolate.

Seriously....

As a fan of scientific research, I kept reading, and eating, grabbing handfuls of chocolate-covered almonds to sheer delight!

The article came from the May 14th edition of the Toronto Star, and since the University of Toronto conducted the study, it must be accurate! (it was published in Physiological Genomics for the geek-folks who care).

Turns out 1 in 5 of us have this little gene - named GLUT 2 appropriately enough, and the study group consisted of two groups. The first were older, sedentary and over-weight, the second were younger, fit and lean. If you haven't met me, or know my history, then I fit into the latter category, only 41 years of age could be taken either way. I am very immature for my age, so let me pretend to be "young", for the sake of research!

So it got me thinking....

Could this apply to athletes? Can we also "predict" our potential in some future marathon? Do some of us actually have no hope of ever going to Boston (sorry Steve)...?

Can some of us "be like Ed" (Whitlock) and become World Champions at a later age?

Was my father a secret endurance machine, growing up in small-town Fardella (pop. 1,000, south Italy)? Did my mother's ancestors in Ireland walk miles and miles to tend sheep, and were they hearty and strong people? Do my three sister's who struggle with exercise and fitness routines now have a chance to catch up to their all-round jock brother?

Was there a milkman involved somewhere?

(:

Maybe we now have another excuse at the finish line:

"Hey Dave, great race today, how did you pull that off?"

"I just spent the last week poring over my old family albums and photographs, and realized I have athletically inclined grandparents, so I "willed" myself to a P.B. How was your race?"

"Oh, I had dinner at my parents' last nite and after the 2nd serving of dessert decided to run for fun this morning"

(:

PD

peter@mynextrace.com 

April 1st blog

this is not a local post...

seems like 2007 / 2008 will be a challenging time for outdoor sports enthusiasts. 

I am reminded about this topic as I wandered in High Park this week, with Jefferson, and we came across ice as thick as two feet in certain places at the foot of the infamous "spring hill road".

if you haven't found yourself at the bottom of this hill, after an exhausting 7.8 km's. then please excuse this posting.  One of the longest-standing races on the Toronto running scene, the Spring Run-Off, could really use spring right about now!

For the first time ever, the race set-up will be moved elsewhere in the park, as snow is still packing the area where the pre and post-race activities are concerned.  Even worse, the course is un-passable to the fleet of foot in several locations, no worse than the bottom and part-way up the tough hill that covers the race course 2x, in the first km and last, crucial 200 metres.

big deal?

not if you're the poor guy who has to shovel and pick thru this the day before the race....

It won't be the first time that a race has been adversely affected, and it seems to be a disturbing trend (are you reading this Al Gore?):

- 2007 Boston Marathon came oh-so-close to being out-right cancelled a mere 12 hours prior to race day, extreme high winds and bone-chilling rain created a double-whammy for not just the runners, but the medical team and volunteers who would be called upon to provide a safe environment for the runners

- 2007 Chicago Marathon is actually cancelled in mid-race, extreme heat and humidity forces race organizers to urge runners to stop on course, thousands heed the advice while many stubborn runners wind their way on sidewalks to the finish line

- Raleigh, N.C. Marathon - 1998 edition cancelled due to last-minute snow storm, the one and only snow plow could not clean all the city streets!

- 2008 Beijing Olympics (especially Marathon) threatened to be cancelled and/or boycotted by elite athletes due to oppressive heat and pollution

Many triathlons of course are affected, usually with a cancelled swim due to high winds and dangerous, un-safe swimming conditions

this is not a local post...

seems like 2007 / 2008 will be a challenging time for outdoor sports enthusiasts. 

I am reminded about this topic as I wandered in High Park this week, with Jefferson, and we came across ice as thick as two feet in certain places at the foot of the infamous "spring hill road".

if you haven't found yourself at the bottom of this hill, after an exhausting 7.8 km's. then please excuse this posting.  One of the longest-standing races on the Toronto running scene, the Spring Run-Off, could really use spring right about now!

For the first time ever, the race set-up will be moved elsewhere in the park, as snow is still packing the area where the pre and post-race activities are concerned.  Even worse, the course is un-passable to the fleet of foot in several locations, no worse than the bottom and part-way up the tough hill that covers the race course 2x, in the first km and last, crucial 200 metres.

big deal?

not if you're the poor guy who has to shovel and pick thru this the day before the race....

It won't be the first time that a race has been adversely affected, and it seems to be a disturbing trend (are you reading this Al Gore?):

- 2007 Boston Marathon came oh-so-close to being out-right cancelled a mere 12 hours prior to race day, extreme high winds and bone-chilling rain created a double-whammy for not just the runners, but the medical team and volunteers who would be called upon to provide a safe environment for the runners

- 2007 Chicago Marathon is actually cancelled in mid-race, extreme heat and humidity forces race organizers to urge runners to stop on course, thousands heed the advice while many stubborn runners wind their way on sidewalks to the finish line

- Raleigh, N.C. Marathon - 1998 edition cancelled due to last-minute snow storm, the one and only snow plow could not clean all the city streets!

- 1995 New York City Marathon - extremely high winds closed the Verrazano Narrows bridge to wheelchair athletes and any/all foot traffic and police motorcycles, the weather at the start was so cold hundreds of runners who waited around all morning decided to bail on the race and jump on the baggage buses, for a warm ride back downtown!

- 2008 Beijing Olympics (especially Marathon) threatened to be cancelled and/or boycotted by elite athletes due to oppressive heat and pollution

Many triathlons of course are affected, usually with a cancelled swim due to high winds and dangerous, un-safe swimming conditions.  But this doesn't really count...

Welcome to the un-predictable sport of endurance athletics!

PD

peter@mynextrace.com