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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

ATHLETE INTERVENTION!!!

I believe you may know where I am going with this, possibly you are reading this and we're talking about you.

I meet alot of people in the course of my day-to-day travels, conversations and communications with athletes.  I have also "been there", "done that" when I look back on my running career and found myself avoiding social situations and once doing a track work-out at on a saturday nite...

(:

Fortunately, I didn't go full tilt and abandon all sense of reason, I always took time off (average of one day/week) and I still managed to squeeze some tennis, golf and other activities into my training.  And, I still pursued a normal social life, for the most part, whatever that means!

Lately though....

As I embark on this Ironman mission, I have started to notice that there are way too many un-balanced folks out there, especially among the triathlon crowd.  To be fair, cyclists and adventure racers can be pretty intense too, so let's just throw everyone into the same category:

"endurance junkies".

Are you one?

Here are some examples, see if you fit.

- one guy I know thru a friend is running a marathon every week for six straight weeks, all driving distance and within Ontario (Scotia Waterfront, P.E.C., Ottawa Fall Colours, Toronto Goodlife Marathon, Niagara, Hamilton)

Is this normal?  Is it healthy?  Certainly not environmentally friendly....(:


- a local, well-known Dentist in Toronto has run consecutively for 30 years, no days off, we've referred to these athletes in prior blogs, streakers...and this same Dentist will run his 200th marathon this month

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Reward yourself..

Yes, life these days is chock-full of "rewards" and "member benefits".

But we're talking sweets and indulgences here folks, mostly..

I read an article from a long-ago friend, who only eats french fries after she runs a marathon. never again throughout the year, how crazy is that!

Advice to friend...run more than one marathon, how can you deprive yourself of french fries!

It got me thinking though....

I always used to lecture runners in clinics on the creation of a reward system to look forward to after a special occasion such as the marathon. it could be easy as double-servings of dessert all week, or a special nite out with the loved one(s) you have neglected for so many weeks and months!

It could be sleeping in on a Sunday morning, or not going to the gym, exercise class or doing anything fitness related for a few weeks.

Two of my friends who were dating at the time and running their first marathon decided to take a holiday to Italy in the afternoon of their race, talk about pressure to get to the finish line. imagine How long that flight would be if you had to bail at 30km...

As for me....

What do i do?

To inspire, motivate and help in some small way possible to reach that finish line?

A few things, for those still reading:

- I usually plan another race or adventure after, sometimes it's much later, like months or years, but it keeps me going and doesn't allow complete atrophy after the goal race is finished

- I take a full week off from running, not sure what i will do after the Ironman, something tells me my body will want to do something, maybe tennis...

- I always go to a mid-week movie, and stay up super-late within a few days of the race, usually alcohol is involved

- I like to meet my "downtown" friends on the thursday or friday at , for cocktails, sightseeing and basically ding something that I never get time to do, usually because I train after work mostly

- I eat and drink whatever, wherever and how-many-ever I choose, for at least 2-3 weeks after-the-fact.

Wait.

I always seem to do that anyway, lucky me!

Scratch that last one.

Reward yourself and tell us about it.


pd
peter@mynextrace.com

Monday, September 15, 2008

Can you believe...

They cancelled another marathon due to the heat, this time in Rochester, N.Y.:

http://www.mynextrace.com/Article720.htm


Quickly on the heels of another big race that attracted world-wide attention for it's controversial decision:


http://www.mynextrace.com/Article526.htm

http://www.mynextrace.com/Article528.htm


Have we become wimps?

Are the insurance rates too high?

Are the Greeks of old laughing in their graves at us?


Just imagine that runners finished the marathon distance long before they had things called energy bars, gels, shot blocks, salt pills, jelly bellies, sharkies, lunch-bucket buffets (hydration belts)...sports drinks.

And, there were no chiropractors, massage therapists and sports medicine specialists like we have today.

soft I say.

soft.

We've gotten soft....


PD
peter@mynextrace.com

Friday, September 12, 2008

World's fittest man..

Can you believe this?

I just read in a magazine (GQ 2002 - in case you're wondering), there is, or was, actually a category in the Guiness Record Book.

"World's Fittest Man".

wow.

Check this out, Joe Decker must have had a whack of free time on his hands:

The challenge consists of the greatest cumulative distance and totals completed in a designated series of sporting activities by an individual over a 24-hour period.

Decker broke the world record by completing 100 miles of cycling‚ 10 miles of running‚ 10 miles of hiking‚ five miles of power walking‚ six miles of kayaking‚ two miles of swimming‚ 10 miles on the NordicTrack and 10 miles of rowing. Decker then completed 3‚000 abdominal crunches‚ 1‚100 push-ups‚ 1‚100 jumping jacks‚ 1‚000 leg lifts and 278‚540 pounds of weight lifting.

Now, my immediate reaction this this?

BOLLOCKS!

Training for my first Ironman, and having done a fair bit of paddling, situps, weights, etc. I can tell you this much, I think there is some embellishing going on here, like maybe a downhill ride, a motor in the boat, and a VVVEERRYYY slow stop-watch.....
(:

Let's see the video....


PD
peter@mynextrace.com 

Sunday, September 7, 2008

world fittest man article

can yu believe this?

I just read in a magazine (GQ 2002 - in case you're wondering), there is, or was, actually a category in the Guiness Record Book.

"World's Fittest Man".

wow.

check this out, Joe Decker must have had a whack of free time on his hands:

The challenge consists of the greatest cumulative distance and totals completed in a designated series of sporting activities by an individual over a 24-hour period.

Decker broke the world record by completing 100 miles of cycling‚ 10 miles of running‚ 10 miles of hiking‚ five miles of power walking‚ six miles of kayaking‚ two miles of swimming‚ 10 miles on the NordicTrack and 10 miles of rowing. Decker then completed 3‚000 abdominal crunches‚ 1‚100 push-ups‚ 1‚100 jumping jacks‚ 1‚000 leg lifts and 278‚540 pounds of weight lifting.

Now, my immediate reaction this this?

BOLLOCKS!

Training for my first Ironman, and having done a fair bit of paddling, situps, weights, etc. I can tell you this much, I think there is some embellishing going on here, like maybe a downhill ride, a motor in the boat, and