tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34253400983573254932024-03-13T07:27:38.602-04:00JOURNEYS OF A TRIATHLETE FATHER OF FIVEOne man's insane attempt to raise a family, compose music, train for triathlons, and stay married.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-6903155700598078362012-12-28T16:55:00.001-05:002012-12-28T16:55:25.955-05:00The Friday Top Five: The Five Greatest Albums From 1991 You've Probably Never Heard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKebfAWWfZo/UN4VC1kazKI/AAAAAAAABSQ/dQ-VUcbdZAU/s1600/five.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKebfAWWfZo/UN4VC1kazKI/AAAAAAAABSQ/dQ-VUcbdZAU/s320/five.png" width="320" /></a></div>
If you are like me you most likely have severe psychological trauma induced by traumatic popular culture phenomenon from the eighties that you had absolutely no control over: parachute pants, friendship pins, girls with feathered hair, and Bon Jovi. Let's not forget the wave of terrible music that brought us forgettable bands like Oniogo Boingo (the only reason I remember these guys is because they were recently an answer in a crossword puzzle I was doing in the car so I could pretend not to listen to my children argue in the back of the car over the relative merits of their favorite Pokemon cards). Let's not forget Howard Jones who is solely <i>to blame</i> for his song, <i>No One Ever Is to Blame. </i>Yes, the eighties brought us a scourge of wonderful tight leather pant donning wannabe-Sabbath bands such as Ratt, Skid Row, and Cinderella. If you thought those bands were good, go back and listen to them now. Of course, the eighties were not all bad musically, and I will probably list the most fantastic artist from the eighties in another post, but for now, I would like to focus on the year 1991.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag3Zn3M8gIo/UN26_M4a03I/AAAAAAAABQw/GfHKPXfZ83w/s1600/Bandwagonfanclubalbum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag3Zn3M8gIo/UN26_M4a03I/AAAAAAAABQw/GfHKPXfZ83w/s1600/Bandwagonfanclubalbum.jpg" /></a></div>
5) Teenage Fan Club, <i>Bandwagonesque: </i>The undisputed greatest Scottish rock band since <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwnhjItTSs" target="_blank">Mogwai</a>, their <i>Bandwagonesque </i>beat out Nirvana's epic <i>Nevermind </i>album for the number one spot by Spin magazine in 1991, and deservedly so. This power-pop quartet combines Soupy Sales like minimalistic lyrics—Soupy would ask children to write him a letter that was 50 words or less—with an old-school rock sound reminiscent of the Kinks with hummable melodies and crafty songwriting. Songs like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhXl-Glv1dg" target="_blank">"The Concept"</a> deserve a place alongside those "epic" tunes in rock history such as Prince's "Purple Rain," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and that "Stairway" song.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What you do to me...<br />
I know, I can't believe<br />
There's something about you<br />
Got me down on my knees<br />
<br />
What you do to me...<br />
What you do to me...<br />
What you do to me...<br />
What you do to me...<br />
<br />
Coincidentally, Iggy Pop claims that Soupy Sales was instrumental in his 50-words-or-less approach to lyric writing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu0ubQIYjKI/UN33pgw507I/AAAAAAAABRA/N8oIKw-B0EM/s1600/MyBloodyValentineLoveless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu0ubQIYjKI/UN33pgw507I/AAAAAAAABRA/N8oIKw-B0EM/s320/MyBloodyValentineLoveless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
4) My Bloody Valentine, <i>Loveless: </i>The cover for this album about sums up what the sonic experience is. This Irish alternative rock band found the subtle balance between experimental sound led by guitarist Kevin Shields and the subtle, gentle nuances of Bilinda Butchers sonically sweet, soothing voice that transfixes listeners and delivers them to a place between psychedelia and computer concert music. Not only do I have fond memories of my classmates back when I was an undergrad at a small liberal arts college in the midwest/middle of nowhere doing a stirring a cappella rendition of "I Only Said" at 3 o'clock in the morning outside of my apartment as one of my former girlfriend was visiting for the weekend, but I still listen to this album straight through for about two weeks once or twice every year. Like a good book or film, <i>Loveless</i> continues to deliver anew with every listening. It is like listening to Bach's <i>Art of the Fugue—</i>discovering new sounds, timbres, gestures within this album that keep you asking "how did I miss this?"<br />
<br />
Oh, and the girl? They effectively sealed the deal. She was so annoyed by my friends that I don't think I saw or heard from her ever again after that weekend. I still talk to all of them twenty years later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL4ngOa2KmU/UN4FhhVcf0I/AAAAAAAABRg/l9AVXNEGjo0/s1600/ATribeCalledQuestTheLowEndtheory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL4ngOa2KmU/UN4FhhVcf0I/AAAAAAAABRg/l9AVXNEGjo0/s1600/ATribeCalledQuestTheLowEndtheory.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">3) A Tribe Called Quest,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span><i style="font-style: normal;">The Low End Theory: </i>This album can be viewed as a cultural artifact that links jazz and hip hop to the same cultural roots. Upon its release, the hip hop magazine,The Source, dubbed it an instant classic and gave it its coveted five mic rating. The lyrics are intelligent and acutely aware of pop culture and their position within it. Not only are the lyrics unbelievably solid, but the samples used on this album—which would now cost a fortune to attain the rights for—are as varied and wonderful as the album itself. Everything from "A Chant for Bu" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers to "Fly Like an Eagle" by The Steve Miller Band. A Tribe Called Quest knows their music and is not afraid to <strike>steal,</strike> er, borrow from any source that adds to the music, and the samples do just that. They are integrated into the compositions in a way that is organic, rather than forced like many hip hop artists who do not have the breadth of musical knowledge that Tribe demonstrates. Of course, the reason that I always argue with my hip hop students that old-school hip hoppers are more acutely aware of different musical rhetorics is because unlike today's hip hop musicians/rappers, the pioneers of the movement did not grow up listening to hip hop. They were inventing it. If you listen to DJ Kool Herc, Afrikaa Bambaataa, and Melle Mel talk about the early days of hip hop, they talk about listening to funk and disco and rock and roll and incorporating the "break beats" and riffs into their own compositions. The group fuses jazz and hip hop on this album in a seamless fashion and even hire legendary jazz bassist—and former member of Miles Davis rhythm section, Ron Carter, to play on the track "Verses from the Abstract." But the samples on this album do not convolute the music. The music here is stripped down to the essentials: drums, bass, and lyrics.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3JmF38iOcA/UN4KAEH3agI/AAAAAAAABRw/nKAgKyGExkk/s1600/Lenny_Kravitz-Mama_Said_(album_cover).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3JmF38iOcA/UN4KAEH3agI/AAAAAAAABRw/nKAgKyGExkk/s1600/Lenny_Kravitz-Mama_Said_(album_cover).jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
2) Lenny Kravitz, <i>Mama Said: </i>Long before he played the role of Cinna in <i>The Hunger Games, </i>Lenny—son of television icon Roxie Roker who played Helen Willis, half of the first interracial couple on the Jeffersons, was making music. Good music. The follow up to his controversial debut album, <i>Let Love Rule, Mama Said</i> contains the same gospely, funky earthy quality as <i>Let Love Rule</i>, but is not overpowered by Kravitz's early musical influences. Some of the highlights of this album are the tunes "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pknuXRKhAXo" target="_blank">Always on the Run</a>," co-written by former Guns-n-Roses guitarists Slash, and "All I Ever Wanted," which was written in collaboration with Sean Ono Lennon. "Always on the Run is a staple of my iPod "I'm-Going-to-Kick-Your-Ass-Running-Next-to-Me -on-the-Treadmill" Mix. Lenny's voice is really versatile throughout his career. He can sing slow, passionate gospel-like tunes using his falsetto like on "Fields of Joy," and "Stand By My Woman," or rock it out with his trademark bluesy growl on tunes such as "Always on the Run," and "All I Ever Wanted." If you do not own this album, or his debut album, <i>Let Love Rule, </i>please stop reading this immediately, run to your local CD emporium and purchase a copy of each. Please feel free to download them both from the Steve Jobs memorial music store as well (a.k.a. iTunes).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fez9_2u5aSs/UN4R7ve4DkI/AAAAAAAABSA/YuXfgLmF-dY/s1600/Pixies-TrompeLeMondeCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fez9_2u5aSs/UN4R7ve4DkI/AAAAAAAABSA/YuXfgLmF-dY/s320/Pixies-TrompeLeMondeCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
1) The Pixies, <i>Trompe le Monde: </i>Not only is Trompe le Monde one of the greatest albums of 1991, or of the nineties, but it considered by connoisseurs of fine music everywhere to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The fourth and final studio album by this Boston based neo-punk rock outfit is one for the ages. Lime Lizard's Michael Bonner said that it was a strong contender for best album of the 20th century." What makes the album so wonderful is the succinctness of the tunes—the longest song on the album , U-MASS—is only 3:01 coupled with an incredibly inventive harmonic language rarely indicative of anything in rock music, let alone punk-influenced rock music. You do not expect the music to take you to some of the places it does, and because a lot of it moves at about a million miles per hour, it does so with such force and ease that makes it mesmerizing. They do an outstanding cover of "Head On" by The Jesus and Mary Chain and their tunes "Distance Equals Rate Times Time," and "Alec Eiffel" leave you wanting to run a marathon, or at the very least, pedal a little bit harder. Their track "Space (I Believe In)" is one of the most clever lyrically on the album. Looking for someone to come and fill up some empty "space" on one of their tracks, they brought in a percussionist who added to the mix. So, the song became about him:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We needed something to move
and fill up the space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we needed something this
always is just the case<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey with one f jeffery
took up his place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sat on a carpet and with
tablas in hand took up the chase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey with one f jefrey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">now it occurred to me as he
drove away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d= r x t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spacious (he's so) spacios<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(i belive in ) space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey with one f jeffery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">now i'm going to sing the
perry mason theme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(he's so) spacious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spacious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(he's so) spacious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(he's so) spacious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey with one f jeffery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey with one f jeffery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jefrey
with one f one f.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></i>
Before you dismiss the seemingly austere text, give a listen and decide for yourself.<br />
<br />
Until next time. Train Smart.<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></i>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-36358641432558036362012-12-26T11:35:00.000-05:002012-12-26T11:38:02.435-05:00Say What? A Blog Post?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-od2IBDPEdXg/UNsmb1v9-JI/AAAAAAAABQg/zdlatvI3VOA/s1600/Real_Genius_560x330_MSDREGE_EC012_H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-od2IBDPEdXg/UNsmb1v9-JI/AAAAAAAABQg/zdlatvI3VOA/s400/Real_Genius_560x330_MSDREGE_EC012_H.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The Year In Review: </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Here I go again. I have been on hiatus for a long time. But like Val Kilmer said in his role as Chris Knight in Real Genius—the greatest film ever made about lasers liquidating human targets from outer space— "... Let's just take a step back. No, I was wrong, I'm sorry, take a step forward. Now, take a step back. Step forward. Back. And then we're ch-cha-ing." </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Seriously... </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Sometimes we need a little reflection. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Okay, a lot of reflection. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
And like old friends (which you and me are), we should just be able to pick up and get going again at the drop of a hat, or at the very least, the drop of your 10k PR time. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
2012 was insane, or as they say in Insano, Brazil—<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228551/Insano-Brazil-Worlds-tallest-scariest-water-slide-high-14-storey-building.html" target="_blank">home of the world's largest 14-story water slide</a>—"insano in the mebrano." </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I have decided that instead of going back and trying to fill in every enthralling detail of my multi-sport life (which I am sure pales in comparison to the ride that one Mr. Lance Armstrong has been on lately), that I will instead turn the page and move forward. I will recap what is important with the type of brevity and succinctness by such filmmakers as George Lucas and Peter Jackson. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I ran a PR at the Musselman HIM Triathlon this year. I was excited about that. It was my best half run so far and I think it is getting easier still. I attribute a lot of my success to my coach who kept me in line running slowly when all I really wanted to do was motor. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I went out to Cedar point in September and worked behind the scenes for the Rev3 Half/Full. What I realized working that race is how unbelievably crazy it is from before the sun rises until long after the sun goes down. I have only ever worked this race, but I can tell you that the nine hours I put in working that morning/afternoon were some of the most difficulty fun hours of work I have ever enjoyed. I had to stock aid stations—ice, bars, gels, meet and greet volunteers. Volunteers are awesome, aren't they?! None of us would have a race if it weren't for these people volunteering their time to hang out part or all of their day making sure you are hydrated, sane, fed, good-humored, and inspired. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I capped off my official race season with a go at the 31st running of the Wineglass Marathon, a one-way shot from the town of Bath to Corning, New York. The race medals are unique glass medals made by Corning Glass. My training up to the marathon is what I like to refer to as "spotty" at best. I did one 18 miler about three weeks before, but my heart (and legs) were out on the trails more last season than any other time. I did a lot of running and biking on the mountain midway through last season. Unbelievably, not only did I survive this "race," but I felt really great the whole way through. Unfortunately, I decided to go for a 13 mile trail run two weeks after this marathon and injured myself. I do not always make the best decisions. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
My official 2013 race schedule?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I will be doing a ridiculous amount of MTB riding in 2013. I have plans for some epic new races (to me) including a 24-hour MTB race and a six hour race. Little man will be racing all summer as well, so he and I will be getting on the mountain together all off-season to train together. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I will begin my triathlon season in Middlebury, Connecticut at the Rev3 Quassy HIM. This is an incredibly difficult ride and run. Hilly! Any of you northeastern-ers looking for a kick-ass, difficult test of your place early in the season ought to come out and run this puppy. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
In June, I will be running down to a little place called Buenos Aires, Argentina for a performance. One of the first things I researched when I found out I had a performance in Argentina was where I could go mountain bike riding. More on that later. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I am going to run my "home" race. The Musselman HIM will happen in July. I will be working or racing at least two other Rev3 races this year as well as killing it on the mountain with my friends from team <a href="http://Crankskins.com/">Crankskins.com</a>. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Okay, off to the pool. My body should have remembered how to swim. Maybe. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Train Smart!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-1767007176275618892012-07-19T08:33:00.001-04:002012-07-19T08:33:16.051-04:00My Pearl Armada And Career MTB Race #2<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://shop.pearlizumi.com/index.php"><span id="goog_110893025"></span><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYF4_6gsH30/UAfwDN54obI/AAAAAAAABQE/tChdef4h2Gs/s400/photo-6.JPG" width="300" /><span id="goog_110893026"></span></a></div>
<br />
Um, I can explain.<br />
<br />
What appears to be a photo of Imelda Marcos' prison floor is really just part of my Pearl Izumi collection. Yes, I said "part." I am an endurance athlete, back off. On the far end are my Tri Fly Carbon IV's, but I am missing my Tri Fly Carbon III's and my newly acquired <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/ride/fohttp://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/run/footwear0/road.-productCode-16111001.html#2IPotwear/mtb_footwear.-productCode-15111001.html">MTB All Road's</a>.<br />
<br />
And, yes, I have run in every single pair of these kicks. Every once in a while wifey will ask me when we can get rid of a pair.<br />
<br />
GET RID OF A PAIR?<br />
<br />
Would you ask me to get rid of one of my children?<br />
I think not.<br />
<br />
It is extremely easy to write a review of a product line that you absolutely dig. That is the way I feel about my arsenal of Pearl Izumi kicks. Plain and simple, they are the shiznit.*<br />
<br />
I have been wearing Pearl Izumi running and bike shoes for about six years. It started when I got my first pair of Iso Shifts. I went through a few pairs of these and decided to get another pair of kicks for my track/speed workouts. I ended up going the <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/run/footwear0/road.-productCode-16111001.html#2IP">Streaks</a> (the BLUE ones pictured right next to my trail shoes). A few months ago I purchased the <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/run/footwear0/road.-productCode-16111003.html#3OG">Syncro Float IV's</a> for some of my longer runs. The Float is well cushioned and mildly supportive for the mild pronator.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3BvLvFto84/UAf6rDirwOI/AAAAAAAABQQ/Z-O1uCpj-Ao/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-19+at+8.13.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3BvLvFto84/UAf6rDirwOI/AAAAAAAABQQ/Z-O1uCpj-Ao/s320/Screen+shot+2012-07-19+at+8.13.20+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
The kind people at Pearl Izumi sent the Rev3 team a pair of their outstanding Iso Tranisition triathlon specific shoes, as well as their Tri Fly Carbon IV's. I'll be honest. I was a little concerned with running a HIM with the Iso Transitions because when you pick them up it feels like they defy gravity. How can gravity-defying shoes offer me the support I need? I am not big on all the technical babble about shoes: "They do this, it has that, etc." What I do know is that I ran my fastest and most comfortable HIM split in my Iso Transitions. Coincidence? Negative, Ghost Rider. When you are more comfortable on the bike, you can bike faster. When you are more comfortable in your shoes, you can run faster. I have loved my trail shoes, but they also serve a dual purpose as my everyday "kicking it around town shoes" and thus I am ready for a new pair. I have been gradually increasing my trail running to build some more strength, but mostly for my sanity. I love being out in the trails, trying to navigate my way around, all while avoiding impaling myself on busted tree limbs, or cracking my dome on a rock on the ground from falling over roots hidden by leaves on the trail. I just ordered a pair of <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/run/footwear0/trail.-productCode-16111009.html#3PK">these!</a><br />
<br />
Gang, if you want "<i>Run like an Animal," </i>you must visit the <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/">Pearl Website</a> and get with it.<br />
<br />
* For my hip hop impaired blogger friends, urbandictionary.com defines <i>shiznit </i>as the shortened term for "that is the shit, isn't it?" (ex. "that taco's the shiznit.")<br />
<br />
<b>OTHER NEWS:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
My little man and I went out last night for our second go at a MTB race. He had a much faster race than last week, finishing 6th overall in the 8-12 junior category. Way to go little man! I, on the other hand, decided that I was going to race the 40+ Sport division last night. This meant doing 5 laps around a fairly technical, tight single-track course. I kind of missed the start of the race. I was out at my car trying to charge up my Garmin which unfortunately remained dead for my race. I did okay considering I raced on Sunday. I went out there to just do it and have some fun, and that is exactly how it went down.<br />
<br />
<b>Good News:</b> I only spilled once and it was not so bad. Man, trying to bike on sand is ridiculous.<br />
<b>Bad News:</b> Mountain biking requires a totally different kind of fitness than triathlon.<br />
<br />
More soon. Train Smart!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-83323802539545327392012-07-18T13:36:00.000-04:002012-07-18T13:36:13.967-04:00The Friday Top Five: My Five Least Favorite Things About Triathlon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEPY2vkpRtA/UAbgRyE07uI/AAAAAAAABPk/HSj_yrBP4FQ/s1600/five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEPY2vkpRtA/UAbgRyE07uI/AAAAAAAABPk/HSj_yrBP4FQ/s320/five.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ironically, my idea for this top five came while I was out pedaling away on the Musselman course this past weekend. You have a lot of time to think when you are pedaling 56 miles. Do you ever just think about stuff when you are on your bike for a long-ass time and start cracking up? Certain things really annoy me about the sport of triathlon. Least of which is the fact that I am just not very good at it—<i>yet.</i> I have finally discovered that you can only race well at a distance that you have the time to train for. Duh. This has come as quite the revelation for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hROXSsIuAp8/UAbzH0sNHJI/AAAAAAAABP4/xfp6ckc0d9s/s1600/dumbass+ironman+tattooos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hROXSsIuAp8/UAbzH0sNHJI/AAAAAAAABP4/xfp6ckc0d9s/s1600/dumbass+ironman+tattooos.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>5) Ironman Guy/Girl: </b>You know them. The most annoying Ironman/girl has a tattoo on their ankle/calf/neck (like a member of some notorious Los Angeles street gang). Coincidentally, for some strange reason (or maybe not so strange), I started singing NWA's "Straight Outta' Compton" (kicking it old school) in my head as I was passing people on my bike during the HIM this past weekend. Particularly the part that goes "I'm a bad muthafu**er, and you know it."<br />
<br />
But I digress....<br />
<br />
Look, you may very well be Ironman Guy/Girl. If you are, I'm sorry... sort of. Ironman is to the triathlon world like the Empire is to the Force. They are the evil corporate monster. I have never competed in an Ironman sanctioned event, and I do not intend on ever giving them my hard earned cash. I encourage my fellow triathletes to vote with your legs and head to another race every season. There is a new cat in town. A kinder, gentler, more awesome race series by the name of <a href="http://www.rev3tri.com/">REV3</a>. You also know Ironman Guy/Girl because they tell you they've competed in an Ironman. They usually <i>think </i>they are dropping this subtly. You know, something like, "Ugh, I want to have a beer, but I am competing in Ironman two months from now, and I do not want to be dehydrated for my race." They will also wear the M-dot hat/t-shirt/shorts/jersey that they paid a ton of loot for so that everyone will know that they are in fact an Ironman. The coolest thing about wearing my Rev3 visor is I have athletes come up to me all the time asking me which Rev3 races I have done. It starts real conversations. Imagine that!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNnQI_f3-PQ/UAbhu5ARYcI/AAAAAAAABPs/NfaAoneFHcI/s1600/stop-making-excuses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNnQI_f3-PQ/UAbhu5ARYcI/AAAAAAAABPs/NfaAoneFHcI/s320/stop-making-excuses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
4) <b>Excuse Guy/Girl: </b>You know these types. They pass you at mile 20 of the bike, hammering like it's the final leg of the Tour de France, or early on in the run thinking they are Craig Alexander or Chrissie Wellington. When you pass them later in the race, they say something like, "Hey! Good job... we've been playing cat and mouse all day. (You think to yourself: "No, we haven't. <i>You've</i> been playing cat and mouse all day. I am out here running my race, homeslice). Then, they say it... "Yeah, I am just out here for a training ride/run/HIM. I have an Ironman coming up in September." <b>GIVE ME A BREAK, DUDE!</b> It is funny how they are just out there for a "training ride" when you finally run back into them near the end of a ride or run. When I perform poorly at a race, I own up to it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u8S0-fnFIM/UAbf3iHli5I/AAAAAAAABPc/q-my-OfBweQ/s1600/chan-aero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u8S0-fnFIM/UAbf3iHli5I/AAAAAAAABPc/q-my-OfBweQ/s320/chan-aero.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what you look like, aero-helmet guy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>3) Disc Wheel/Aero Helmet Guy</b>:<b> </b>My feeling about aero helmet/disc wheel guy is that I better not pass you with my non-aero wheels and my regular biking helmet on the course. Look, I have an aero helmet, and I have worn it at REV3 Full Cedar Point—twice—but I am not wearing one in a sprint or Olympic distance triathlon. That just screams "newbie."For some reason the sound of a disc wheel drives me crazy.<br />
<br />
2) <b>Cat and Mouse—But Obviously Can Not Keep Up With You Because I Do Not Hold A Steady Pace—Guy/Girl:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
These people are SO annoying. This past weekend I was racing and some woman flew by me smoking fast. Less than ten minutes later I look up and see her and a bunch of other people who flew by me earlier. As I pass them, I know they see my REV3 kit and recognize me. So, what do they do when I pass them? Their fragile egos can not handle being passed by someone that they once passed, so they speed up and start motoring. They use every bit of energy trying to keep up instead of just sticking to their race plan and pace. Look, I'm okay with this. These people usually bonk at the tail end of their ride, or when they begin the run. Thank you! If you are this person... YES! I am racing you, but I do not care to play cat and mouse over 56 miles. If you are faster than me, good for you. If you are using every last ounce of energy trying to keep up with me, you need to enroll in some sort of self-help program to work on your self-esteem issues.<br />
<br />
1)<b> Elitism: </b>For years, I have had a big problem with the exclusivity of triathlon. Nothing screams "I am a privileged upper-middle class white person" like the sport of triathlon. You might not like it, but it is difficult to disagree with me. I have certainly seen more people of color competing in triathlon, but the majority of the participants are white. I would really like to see someone start a program to bring the multisport lifestyle into the inner cities and provide opportunities for inner-city youth to train and compete. Am I crazy? I feel like I have to do something to make this sport—the sport that I love—more accessible to more people.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
That's all I got. Train Smart!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-64488770701625050212012-07-17T12:39:00.001-04:002012-07-17T13:23:46.391-04:00Musselman Half Iron Distance Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr-teJqhBGw/UAWVHv2OV6I/AAAAAAAABO0/Q4UgEOmcAVI/s1600/musselman_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr-teJqhBGw/UAWVHv2OV6I/AAAAAAAABO0/Q4UgEOmcAVI/s320/musselman_hero.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A new PR!<br />
<br />
Today I ran the Musselman Half Iron Distance Triathlon in Geneva, New York. This race was my very first Half Iron distance race six seasons ago, so it holds a special place in my wee triathlon heart. Since REV3 Full last year, I just have not been able to get my shit together to put together a decent race. This race is always particularly daunting for me because I know so many athletes who compete and I usually go into the race with some unrealistic expectation of how I should perform. In other words, race anxiety.<br />
<br />
<b>SWIM: 39:33</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
My swim was absolutely terrible. I don't think I have ever swam so poorly in a triathlon since my very first one seven seasons ago. Okay, I lie. Every swim I have is <i>pretty</i> terrible. I motor in the water and forget to look up to find those buoys. The result? I end up swimming a good 150 to 200 yards longer. I never turn my Garmin on during the swim anymore, because the last time I did, it said my top speed was 70 m.p.h., but I am sure my swim today would look more like an EKG of someone trying to be resuscitated after their heart had stopped. I heard a lot of athletes talking afterwards that they thought the swim was pretty choppy—especially on the way out. I did not find the waves to be too bad. I just kept telling myself, "let's have a nice swim out here." I have to say, the last little bit of the swim that exits the lake and goes through the narrow canal went faster than I had anticipated. My run out of the water and into transition was pretty strong. I almost failed to mention the <strike>best</strike> worse part of the swim. My goggles decided to come off somewhere between the first and second buoys. Yeah, that was great fun. Nothing like treading water with your legs while using your hands to put the rubber back through the notches on the side of your goggles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sbrsportsinc.com/trislide_products.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKh_rCHrEUs/UAVZkBfXwAI/AAAAAAAABOk/f_mqFhNv_Io/s320/TRISLIDE_POP-next-to-CAN.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<b>T1: 2:35</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
As soon as I got out of the water, I saw a few of my friends who were cheering me on. I know that you go by them really quickly, but it is so awesome to have that support out there on race day. I got into transition, took off my wetsuit VERY easily, thanks to <a href="http://www.sbrsportsinc.com/trislide_products.htm">TRISLIDE!</a> For those of you who have not used TriSlide yet, I'm sorry. It is magic in a can and nothing even comes close to getting you in and out of that wetsuit quicker. I put on my helmet, sunglasses, bike shoes (sans socks), got my nutrition into my REV3 kit and started to run my bike out of transition.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>BIKE: 2:45:39</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Little did I know that I would get as wet on the bike as I did on the swim. About 20 miles into the bike ride, the sky started looking pretty ominous. Then, without warning, there were a couple of claps of lightning and the sky opened up and started pouring. I took every corner very slowly, as this time around, I made sure to connect my breaks and inflate the hell out of my tires. I did not mind the rain so much. I would much rather it be cool and rainy than 90 degrees like it was last year. It sure helps to keep the heart rate down. This was a fairly decent bike for me. It took me a good ten miles to get my hip flexors and bursar to stop being annoying from all the extra kicking I did on the swim trying to make my way back to those buoys. I felt good motoring out of T1. This time last year, the first few miles of the bike were just excruciatingly difficult. I was coming off of a knee injury that did not allow me to run for about eight weeks, and my riding was limited too. The first few hills on this ride felt WAY better than last year, and that gave me early encouragement. My coach said to hold back a bit on the bike, and that is exactly what I did. I kept hydrated and took in all my nutrition. I only needed to pick up one extra bottle on the bike. I quickly put it all into my aero bottle, finished the rest (splashing most of it on my face), and kept motoring. I had to hold myself back the last 15 to 10 miles in. I looked at my watch and thought "Holy Smokes, I feel awesome! I could just pound it hard." I knew I would end up paying for it on the run if I did that.<br />
<br />
<b>T2: 2:24</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
T2 took me a little longer than I would have liked. It would be great if all my transition times were under 2:00. I wanted to make sure I had all my nutrition before I went out on the run. It took me an extra few seconds to find where I had placed my Fuel Belt bottles, but eventually I got them in my belt, got the race number on and started running. I could hear my old training partner Manuel yelling at me in transition, telling me to hurry up. He was videoing me with his iPhone and doing commentary like it was on television. Hysterical!<br />
<br />
<b>RUN: 1:58:39</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I actually brought two pairs of kick with me into transition. I had my Pearl Izumi Syncro Float IV's and my isoTransition. My thought was, that my right calf was sort of tight a day or two before the race, and I might try to put on some socks and run in the Syncro Floats for a little added stability. The rain on the bike made the decision to wear the Iso Transitions pretty simple. I slipped out of my <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/tri/footwear/ride_footwear.-productCode-15112004.html">Pearl Izumi Tri Fly IV Carbon's</a> and into my <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/home_middle_nav/tri/men/0/footwear.-productCode-16111005.html">Pearl Izumi Iso Transition</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I actually thought my run was a little faster than what the results said. Maybe in a state of oxygen-deprivation, I forgot to hit my lap button immediately. I don't know. It is all a blur. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b><br />
I started out on the run thinking that I should start slower than I think I should go, and gradually increase the tempo as the race went on. I looked down at my watch as I started running out of transition and noticed I was running a 7:24 pace. Yeah, somehow, I do not think I am going to be able to maintain this the whole way, <i>yet</i>. I slowed down and settled into a good groove. I skipped getting anything to drink at the first three aid stations because I was taking in nutrition from my Fuel Belt. I stopped for water at mile four and every single stop after that to hydrate. A couple of times on the run I could sense that I was towing that line between feeling good and dehydration settling in. It is amazing when you have finally arrived to where you can get a sense of what your body is telling you.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This was my first sub-9:00"-mile HIM trot. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b>RESULTS:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>OVERALL:</b> 172/829<br />
<br />
<b>40-44 AGE GROUP: </b>36/109 <br />
<br />
This was exactly what I needed. A little confidence builder going into the second half of the season. I now know that I can and <i>will</i> improve on this time and that choosing not to go long this season was a very wise decision.<br />
<br />
<b>WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?</b><br />
<br />
1) You are your first coach. Whether you are a coached athlete or not, ultimately, you are responsible for putting in the time and figuring out your nutrition. I had my coach to bounce ideas off of and help me through the process—which made the process quicker—but I still had to take an inventory and put it together.<br />
<br />
2) I really dislike training in the morning. I only really dislike it because I dislike going to bed early. I've spoken about this before. Wifey and I get the bambini usually get the bambini in bed around 8:30-9:00. During the summer, it could be later if we have things going on and are traveling back from somewhere. <br />
<br />
I think that age groupers like myself have a tendency to overtrain sometimes. I put in the hours this year, for sure, but I focused on the intensity of my workouts, rather than trying to go out and bang out a bunch of 100 mile rides because I think that is what I need to do to be competitive with people who bike 250+ miles a week.<br />
<br />
3) I can still go faster. This year proved to me that I still have the capacity to run faster off the bike. I will have one more go at the half distance at REV3 Cedar Point in September. I am hoping to nail the nutrition again and have another decent day, maybe another PR.<br />
<br />
Okay, Friday top Five in a few days. More soon. Train Smart!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-59501430650251591512012-07-13T09:43:00.001-04:002012-07-13T11:42:51.722-04:00The Friday Top Five: The Five Things I Have Learned Being Married<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_oYbXGI7wI/UAARJDj10tI/AAAAAAAABOI/29Ci2nm23A4/s1600/iStock_5-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_oYbXGI7wI/UAARJDj10tI/AAAAAAAABOI/29Ci2nm23A4/s320/iStock_5-web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Those of you with living with a domestic partner understand how difficult it is to negotiate space, time, and responsibilities. Relationships constantly evolve as we evolve as people. I mean, are you the same person <i>now</i> that you were ten years ago, let alone, <i>five </i>years ago? I shudder to ask. Over the course of my eleven years of utterly blissful marriage to my wonderful wife—who I am lucky to have (I know this because I am reminded of it daily by my wife and my family)—I have learned some things about myself and my skill set that have come to light thanks to my wonderful wifey. Here are the top five:<br />
<br />
5) <b>DOMESTIC DUTIES: </b>According to my wife, before I met her, I as unable to actually cook and clean and perform simple domestic chores. I found this revelation especially worrisome because I don't know how I survived six years of living on my own as an undergraduate and during graduate school before meeting my wife. Apparently, I suck at performing the simplest of tasks: folding laundry, making the bed, and doing the laundry, because I am no longer able to do these things. I know what you're thinking... I purposely sabotage the making of the bed and folding of laundry so that I do not have to do it. Negative. After putting together a couple of piles of clothes, wifey will inevitably sigh, grab about half of them and refold them. I love cooking, and my wife does not mind when I cook. However, upon finishing dinner, it apparently looks like "a hurricane went through the kitchen." If I clean immediately after dinner, I am allowed to cook for the family again without permission. However, if I wait too long to clean up after myself, I lose my cooking privilege for an undetermined amount of time.<br />
<br />
And while I am on domestic chores, what the hell is the sense of making the bed? Yes, I realize it looks nice, but when I was in college, I think I actually made my bed twice during a semester, and that was only because I washed my sheets. Again, I am not sure I actually made the bed, but rather, made it so I could sleep in it comfortably.<br />
<br />
4) <b>I AM NOT AS FUNNY AS I THINK I AM: </b>Marriage has taught me that although I think I am one of the most hysterical and good-humored persons on the planet, that I am in fact about as funny as the film "Leaving Las Vegas." When I took my new job and went into school the first day to teach, my wife looked at me and said, "Mark, don't try to be funny, you are not that funny." I think she was only half-serious. What I have learned about teaching is that I have stopped being cool and funny in the way that my students think of "cool" and "funny."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwEjSvugxBk/UAAayPlmJyI/AAAAAAAABOU/aQ1TSq1fXUk/s1600/P1010564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwEjSvugxBk/UAAayPlmJyI/AAAAAAAABOU/aQ1TSq1fXUk/s320/P1010564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
3) <b>I AM A TERRIBLE DRIVER: </b>Although I've never been in any accident (that was my fault), I may in fact be the worse driver in North America. I know this because my wife is actually responsible for giving me directions like a Nascar pit crew while I am driving with her anywhere. "You're going to fast," "Don't get so close to that car." What I like most of all are the comments and rhetorical questions she asks as I am driving:<br />
<br />
"What do you think, you're driving a Ferrari?"<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
"Yiiiikes! *under breath* Not safe... not safe."<br />
<br />
2) <b>I DO NOT NEED TO EAT A FEAST FOR DINNER EVERY NIGHT: </b>Huh, who knew? You mean, I don't need to eat a meal every evening like it is my last meal on Earth? Yeah, unfortunately, this is one of the things left over from my impressionable Italian upbringing that is the most difficult to break from. Dinner time growing up was a festival of food. It did not matter if it was Sunday or a holiday, my mother always made a large dinner for the family which invariably consisted of enough pasta to feed an entire army barracks, or just my brothers and me. Wifey has taught me that not only could we just eat cous cous salad for dinner sans meat, but we can also have breakfast for dinner on occasion. Honestly, who does enjoy waffles and bacon any time of the day?<br />
<br />
1) <b>I NEED TO PRACTICE MY MIND READING: </b>This is one of the most important skills that any person in a relationship should hone if in fact they want a long, happy relationship. Your mind-reading skills and powers of perception are two of the most crucial skills that you can hope to improve upon throughout your relationship. I have been trained to notice something as simple as a haircut. I should state that not only do I notice the haircut, but if I <i>do not</i> notice the haircut or new outfit within the first five minutes of speaking to the wifey, I obviously am completely self-absorbed and therefor do not care about her feelings. It is also important to work on your mind-reading so that you can know what your partner is thinking without them actually speaking the words. This is particularly difficult if you do not possess the abilities of an extra-sensory empath like Deanna Troi. I would suggest keeping a detailed journal of your partner's body language as a quick reference guide as how to respond to potentially life-threatening situations.<br />
<br />
<b>More soon. Train Smart!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-66625903344488803442012-07-12T23:42:00.001-04:002012-07-12T23:42:28.340-04:00Mountain Bike Race and HIM Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jX1VhHlZk58/T_-Y7vGLkAI/AAAAAAAABN8/5fMaVctpr6g/s1600/bannerdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jX1VhHlZk58/T_-Y7vGLkAI/AAAAAAAABN8/5fMaVctpr6g/s640/bannerdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nothing, in my humble opinion, gets you ready for a HIM like going out and racing your first mountain bike race, <i>ever</i>, accompanied by your eight year old who also went out there for his first attempt. It might not have been what my coach would have like me to do, but I do not have a history of being an extraordinary rule follower. Let's face it, I'm a musician. Worse, a composer and jazz musician. I might as well live in a van down by the river. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How did I fare?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shoulder = 0 Course = 1</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yup. You know, when you race a triathlon, they put the trees much further away. I say all these more experienced riders in front of me navigating the twists and turns and thought "I should be able to do that." Negative, Ghost Rider. I raced in the "Beginner" category. I quickly learned that "Beginner" in MTB terms has a completely different connotation than how most people think of the word. You see, everyone who races does the same course, it is only a matter of how many laps you go around. The "beginner" race was only three laps, or 7.1(ish) miles. This was more than adequate for my first time out as I think I would have vomited if I had to do one more lap. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is how it went down:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>THE START: </b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was 3rd into the trails. It seems that MTB racing is dependent on the start to some degree. There is not a whole lot of room to pass doing single track. You basically have to call out "can I get by you?" Most of the time, people are very cool and will let you by. But you start in a big group and motor to be one of the first riders to the trail. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjOAkjWAYNU/T_-PLDgnE9I/AAAAAAAABNw/kat8FmekL_A/s1600/laps.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjOAkjWAYNU/T_-PLDgnE9I/AAAAAAAABNw/kat8FmekL_A/s640/laps.png" width="294" /></span></a></div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LAP 1:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I motored on the first lap trying to pass as many people as I could. I passed a lot of the 5-lap racers who went out 30 seconds before us. This was both good and bad. I realized that MTB tactics are completely different than tri tactics. You really have to be smart about choosing when you are going to take another rider. I noticed that many of them were pretty agile on the single track but struggled up some of the moderate climbs. The problem is that you have to really pass them on the single track because it is even more difficult to try to pass someone on the climb. If I was behind someone moving more slowly, it slowed me down and made it more difficult for me to climb instead of clipping along at my regular cadence. There was this dude in front of me who was a little, um, "larger" who I tried to get around. He was breathing like Godzilla. I mean this guys was really huffing and puffing. I started imagining that it would be really funny seeing this guy with an oxygen tank strapped to his back like my hydrapack with a mask on his face the whole time.</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Realized that this is indeed my first MTB race as I struggled to take in enough oxygen. I also remembered that I was in fact wearing my Hydrapack, and that I should perhaps take in some more to drink.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LAP 2</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was on these laps that I decided to smash my left shoulder into a tree as hard as possible, forcing me to the ground writhing in pain momentarily until my adrenaline kicked in and I heard people passing me. Nothing really motivates like hearing people passing me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Later, I was trying to take someone in front of me. Instead of calling out "can I get around you?" I decided to take a 6" inch ramp rather than go around a tree to save time. This ended poorly. I ended up flying over my handle bars and landing on my head first. My neck was a little tight. When I got back on the saddle and started riding I could tell my balance was a bit off too. Ah, these things are only temporary, and who needs balance MTB riding anyway? Coincidentally, my little man cleared this ramp when we went out on our course ride through. Dammit! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LAPS 3</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Started to understand that you can not go out and "kill it" every second—even for a 7 mile MTB race. I finished pretty strong. Unfortunately, falling down MTB riding is a lot like a boxer getting hit in the face. It takes a lot out of you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am sure other people must have fallen out there, but I certainly did not see anyone. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I digress...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHAT I'VE LEARNED:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mountain bike racing is no joke, yo! It takes a lot of mental focus to navigate your way around trees on narrow single track, make it up steep sudden climbs, and not topple over the front of your handle bars while trying to clear the tree that Mother Nature so conveniently left at the end of your descent after a quick switch back. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As luck would have it, my Rev3 family hosts an epic mountain bike race in November at the Shenandoah River State Park. The website describes the 6 mile trek by stating "This course is so sick we had to take it to urgent care."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am suddenly salivating at the prospect of racing <a href="http://www.rev3adventure.com/race/king-of-the-mountain-mountain-bike-race/">this!</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WEEKEND:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This weekend is my annual "home" race. The <a href="http://www.musselmantri.com/">Musselman triathlon</a> takes place in the town of Geneva, New York and is a great event for the family to attend. It is right on beautiful Seneca Lake—one of central New York's scenic Finger Lakes. Many of my friends will be there racing with me this weekend, so I look forward to seeing many of them out on the course. Self proclaimed Race Dictator, Jeff Henderson, puts together a safe, wonderful, and fantastically eco-friendly race. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After the weekend, I am looking forward to the premiere of<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> “Libba,” for flute and piano as part of the
American Icons Concert at the Cazenovia Counterpoint Festival. I was one of three composers asked to write pieces for the acclaimed Society for New Music to write
a a piece inspired by the songs of African-American blues and folk singer,
Elizabeth “Libba” Cotton. </span></span><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>44</o:Words>
<o:Characters>254</o:Characters>
<o:Company>HWS</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>311</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I finished "Libba," I went out for a two hour training ride. I chuckled to myself (yes, chuckled), as I thought about posting something on Facebook that read "Finished another piece and went out for a two hour training ride...you know.... just like Beethoven use to do." These are the things I think about while I am riding my bike. Not "What is my cadence?" "Is my heart rate under control?" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, time to prepare for bed. Train Smart! More soon. </span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-72184527207840204182012-07-06T21:29:00.001-04:002012-07-06T21:29:27.765-04:00The Friday Top Five: The Top Five Reasons I Race Triathlons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aI5b52oYT3w/T_eQogq3oII/AAAAAAAABNk/NXJm5Fxh-VU/s1600/top-5-friday-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aI5b52oYT3w/T_eQogq3oII/AAAAAAAABNk/NXJm5Fxh-VU/s320/top-5-friday-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Do you remember when the Friday Top Five was a staple of my blog? I do. It has made a return... AGAIN.<br />
<br />
The Top Five Reasons I enjoy Racing Triathlons:<br />
<br />
5) <b>DIET</b>: Look, I am Italian. If I did not train for triathlons, I would look like a pastry chef who had very little in actual sales. I am genetically predisposed to sit on my couch in front of a television drinking vino and watching "futbol" while yelling like an enraged East German weightlifter. Running triathlons not only keeps me centered—clearing the proverbial cobwebs out of the ole' noggin—but it ensures I will burn way more calories during the week than I can possibly take in. I have eaten ice cream guilt free for years.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yMwlXwX_lk/T_eLYtyJVUI/AAAAAAAABNY/AKuFvji7tpk/s1600/Homer-Rock-and-Roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yMwlXwX_lk/T_eLYtyJVUI/AAAAAAAABNY/AKuFvji7tpk/s320/Homer-Rock-and-Roll.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
4<b>)</b> <b>SPANDEX: </b>Don't judge me. Being able to wear spandex is as close as I will ever come to channelling my inner, late 1980's rock star. Nothing says "David Lee Roth" like men wearing brightly colored, tight fitting clothing as they sweat their way across the finish line while throwing up the Ronny James Dio horns. This is also usually done while screaming something unintelligible. A little caveat. Women look much better in spandex than men, and women never shout anything ridiculous or act like they've just cured cancer or<br />
discovered that time travel is actually possible with a DeLorean and Flux Capacitor.<br />
<br />
3) <b>GEAR: </b>I love my various GPS watches. I love being able to dump my data on to my machine and check out what kind of effort I put in that day, how many miles I biked/ran, how many feet I climbed, what my fastest mile was, where I crashed, etc. Of course, what I have realized is that I do very little with this data except to put it in the very capable hands of my coach, and to be honest, I am sometimes negligent about doing that responsibly as well. I know, slacker. I also like boring several of my non-triathlete friends to death by showing them my ride and run data. This is usually met with a combination of indifference and pity as the people I show feel sorry that I actually take the time to compile such seemingly meaningless information.<br />
<br />
2) <b>CALVES: </b>Nothing says you've been out hunting and gathering with a forgotten tribe of neanderthal cave dwellers like a ginormous set of calves. If you live in a house and enjoy indoor plumbing and silverware, chances are anyone you know with enormous calves are either genetic freaks, or do a crazy amount of biking. To me, my calves are a way of letting the sane, well-adjusted non-triathlete types who don't hate themselves know that I could totally kick their ass in a race up a hill with our bikes. Who am I kidding? No one is jealous, but my running and biking friends sure take notice of my freakishly large calves. If their was a magazine titled "Calveboy," mine would have the centerfold. That is just weird.<br />
<br />
1) <b>THE "TRIATHLON" DROP: </b>No Matter how humble you think you are about racing whatever distance you race, you know you can drop the fact that you run triathlons in just about every conversation. For example:<br />
<br />
Friend #1: My son really loves painting. He has been drawing pictures of the sunsets on the lake.<br />
<br />
Friend #2: "Oh, how nice, have you considered enrolling him in an art camp?"<br />
<br />
Triathlete: "I love that lake. I usually do a couple of laps around the buoys twice a week for my open water swim. My time has improved since the beginning of the season by about a minute."<br />
<br />
or...<br />
<br />
Colleague #1: "A bunch of us are running a 5k on Sunday. I know you're a runner, are you interested?<br />
<br />
Triathlete: "Oh, I have some speed work to do on Sunday, but maybe I will just do it and come to the race. A 5k is really not that long for me, since I am training for an Ironman."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>IN OTHER NEWS:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
First, I have to give a big shout out to my little man who jacked one over the fence for his his very first Grand Slam home run. I am unbelievably proud that he is both incredibly athletic, and like his parents, embraces his inner-nerdiness by taking clarinet lessons this summer. Awesome.<br />
<br />
I just finished another commission for a great group here in NY. It has been a really busy summer professionally. First, a premiere at the Kennedy Center, and now another big performance. The good news is, I just finished the last of three big pieces I had to write this summer. The last being a string quartet for the acclaimed NYC <a href="http://www.publiquartet.com/">PubliQuartet</a>. I am looking forward to taking some time off from writing music and back to doing a little more blog writing.<br />
<br />
Stay Tuned... I will be writing about my fleet of Pearl Izumi shoes here shortly. Until then...<br />
<br />
Train Smart!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-26777209675305120312012-06-25T09:51:00.003-04:002012-06-25T15:52:04.334-04:00REV3 Quassay Race Report<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk-ETJ17hdY/T9yKuSv6PBI/AAAAAAAABMs/q3oB_G6KZoo/s1600/582380_10150907445788423_1974695775_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk-ETJ17hdY/T9yKuSv6PBI/AAAAAAAABMs/q3oB_G6KZoo/s400/582380_10150907445788423_1974695775_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flashing a little Rev3 Love, yo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a blast at Rev3 Quassay Half Iron distance. What can I say?<br />
<br />
How do you prepare for the first race of the season, and probably the most difficult half iron distance triathlon you have every run you ask?<br />
<br />
Well, the weekend of the race, you fly down to Bethesday, Maryland for a pedagogy conference with a group of your colleagues. You sit in various hotel conference rooms listening to some amazing speakers—all while digesting sub-par conference food and inhaling enough caffeine to restart Jimmy Hoffa's heart. Then, the night before the race, you ride in a taxi for an hour and a half to fly into Connecticut and arrive at your hotel the evening before the race at 10 p.m. having had nothing to eat or drink since noon. It might not be the <i>right</i> way to do things, but I wanted to race, so I made it happen. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit. I think I did drink some water throughout the day and had some apple-cranberry cocktail on my plane ride.<br />
<br />
The reason this race even happened for me was because of my incredibly patient <a href="http://www.trimommylife.com/">coach</a> and all of the incredible staff at <a href="http://rev3tri.com/">Rev3</a> who made sure that I could pick up my race packet race morning. My coach actually brought my bike from central New York all the way to Connecticut and set it up for me in transition the evening before. How is that for dedication? To be honest, what is better than meandering through a race locale the morning of the race expending important energy. This is what happens when you are a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" athlete. Thank you Rev3!<br />
<br />
<b>THE SWIM: </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I don't want to brag, but I am going to. I had the best swim time of everyone in the entire race, including the pros. I know, I know.... drastic improvement from last year. Read it and weep, friends. I finished first out of 1,067 with a 24 minute swim time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BbdOuyoO6nQ/T-Ds3zqWeLI/AAAAAAAABM4/vK_tO_wLE-k/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-06-16+at+9.39.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BbdOuyoO6nQ/T-Ds3zqWeLI/AAAAAAAABM4/vK_tO_wLE-k/s640/Screen+shot+2012-06-16+at+9.39.58+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
What? You say you want some swimming lessons? Here is what you do...<br />
<br />
You accidentally go off in the wrong wave, or should I say the right wave, but are racing the wrong age group. I was suppose to be in this group, but when they asked me my age race morning, I said I was 39, not remembering that I am actually racing 40-44 this year. Oops! It does not matter, I am telling everyone else that I averaged a 1:16/100m time. I age grouped up to the 40's this year!<br />
<br />
<b>THE BIKE: </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Listen, if there is one thing I have learned after six seasons of running triathlons, it is that your i.q. is severely compromised the minute you walk into transition race morning. Suddenly, you develop what I like to refer to as S.I.A.D.H.D. or <i>"Spontaneous Involuntary Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." </i>I am not sure how it happens, but as composed as I tell myself I am prepping my equipment, I always seem to overlook the most obvious things.<br />
<br />
This morning, the most obvious thing I overlooked became unbelievably apparent I made my way down the first descent of the day—mere seconds after I exited transition. As I made my way down the first hill, I couldn't help but think it might be a good idea to actually attach my front breaks. Oh, and that reminds me.... it might have been a good idea to actually pump my tires up race morning as well. C'est la vie. I had to quickly put my stupidity out of my head immediately or else I was not going to enjoy the rest of my day. So, I stopped my bike, attached my brakes, watched a number of people pass me before I made my way again starting at the base of a hill with no momentum. Awesome!<br />
<br />
The bike felt pretty good initially, especially right after my swim. The course is pretty hilly and eventually, the fatigue from the weekend had caught up to me. I held back knowing that I was not exactly in mid-season form (I am not sure that I ever really get in mid-season form). By the time I hit mile 45, I was ready to get off the bike. The course is pretty grueling. So much so, that I broke one of my unspoken rules by going over 40 m.p.h. on my bike for the first time down a hill in years. I hit 46.5 m.p.h. I was taking everything the course was going to give me. No breaking down any of those hills. Although, I have to tell you that I could feel those crosswinds blowing on my wheels as I was motoring down those steep hills thinking, "what the hell am I doing?"<br />
<br />
<b>THE RUN: </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Oddly, after getting off the bike and running, my heart rate and legs felt really good. I thought, "holy smokes, you might actually be able to hold this pace." I looked down on my watch and I was averaging 8:30's for the first 4 miles. That was until ..... the first hill from hell. Oh, man. The hills on the run were relentless. You start running and think, the top has to be up here somewhere. Rev3 has a great sense of humor. They made a sign with Nelson from the Simpsons pointing at you with a caption underneath it that read "HA HA!" I had to walk portions of the run as my run fitness was still not where it I want it to be, but I have made some awesome strides in the past couple of weeks in improving my run. I ran the best 12.25 mile run ever this weekend on a really hilly course. Don't you love it when you go out there and your body just feels strong?<br />
<br />
<b>THE FINISH:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNSFLd36JlA/T-hsRw2XxPI/AAAAAAAABNM/dVbqAc9x17w/s1600/576733_10150907445593423_1749093859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNSFLd36JlA/T-hsRw2XxPI/AAAAAAAABNM/dVbqAc9x17w/s400/576733_10150907445593423_1749093859_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't I look incredibly happy? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I realized after racing Quassay that I had a lot of fun at this distance. What does that mean? It means that I am not going to race another iron distance event for the foreseeable future.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because I love my children, and my life.<br />
<br />
Seriously, I had a lot of fun racing Quassay and thought that despite not having put in as much training as I would have liked to prepare for this race (which is okay because I went out there to get one under my belt), I had fun out there. Iron distance is fun only if you know you have the time to train for it, As the bambini get older, the demands on the time that wifey and I dedicate to our children's activities (baseball, gymnastics, dance lessons, music lessons, hand gliding lessons—totally kidding with the hand gliding)—leave less time to train for a gigantic race. This is okay! I realized that I will have a lot more fun training for and performing well in Olympic and HIM distance races. Good thing Rev3 has both!<br />
<br />
<b>OTHER NEWS:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5KWRj-69gw/T-hrM0qjwII/AAAAAAAABNE/3p0fx8gn__E/s1600/282348_838274763921_1162394467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5KWRj-69gw/T-hrM0qjwII/AAAAAAAABNE/3p0fx8gn__E/s400/282348_838274763921_1162394467_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father's Day bike/run!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I recently purchased a mountain bike and have substituting a lot of my one hour spins for mountain bike rides.<br />
<br />
The verdict.... I love it! I got into biking in my twenties by mountain bike riding. When I was in college, I led an Adventure Club and one of the activities I planned every year was a trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia to go mountain bike riding. On one of my first dates with wifey, we went to Snowshoe to do some biking and had a blast. I actually got her out on the trails with me this week to do a little riding. Both of my boys are enjoying getting out on the mountain and doing some riding, especially my little man. How he motors with his bike up some of those hills is beyond me. He is going to be as strong as a mule.<br />
<br />
More soon. Train Smart!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-82683847850986831452012-05-30T09:46:00.001-04:002012-05-30T22:33:08.387-04:00Missing My Mojo?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUOw1V80viY/T8YkOZmgLWI/AAAAAAAABMg/vEQiVzXD7bc/s1600/mojo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUOw1V80viY/T8YkOZmgLWI/AAAAAAAABMg/vEQiVzXD7bc/s1600/mojo.jpg" /></a></div>
The fact that I have not written a blog post since—what seems like the Paleozoic Era—can have several possible explanations:<br />
<br />
1) I have had the busiest year of my professional life. It was difficult trying to find the time to write when I was so busy at work. I was plenty busy between training, prepping classes, and grading papers until one o'clock in the morning. Any blog posts I would have written would have been rife with grammatical errors (more than usual), malapropisms, and insipid babble. Wait, that has been my modus operandi this whole time. Why change now?<br />
<br />
2) My <a href="http://www.trimommylife.com/">coach</a> is trying to kill me. (We went to graduate school together at the Ithaca College Music Conservatory). I am convinced I did something to upset her years ago and her singular means of retribution is by covertly trying to work me to death. I kid—sort of—but my volume up to this point in the pre-season has been far more than last year at this time. I kid, she is incredibly awesome, attentive, and intuitive about my training. (Even though she is trying to kill me).<br />
<br />
3) I received a commission to write a new work in five weeks that will premiere at the Kennedy Center in two weeks (june 9th).<br />
<br />
4) I needed a little break from writing. Like playing jazz, if you do not take a break from your musical rhetoric every once in a while, you'll find yourself playing the same types of things on different tunes. That is hardly creative. I guess, if writing a blog is not fun because you are so consumed by other things that you are going to compromise the integrity of your writing, then I feel like I should not write. But, here I am, renewed, reinvigorated, and ready to kick ass!<br />
<br />
So, instead of going back and retracing every footstep of my life from the last month, I think it would be more worthwhile to discuss where it is I go from here. I am unbelievably fortunate to be a member of the <a href="http://rev3tri.com/">Rev3</a> team again this season. For those of you multisport people who have been living on another planet the last few years, Rev3 is the best thing since chocolate was paired with milk, the invention of the wheel, indoor plumbing, and The Beastie Boys (R.I.P. Adam Yauch). What makes the Rev3 race series unique are its athletes, staff, crew, and partners. The athletes—both pro and age-groupers like myself—share an incredible camaraderie.<br />
<br />
Training has been especially difficult the last couple of months. I had been struggling for weeks to figure out just why the motivation has not been there this season. Am I burnt out? Too much on my plate? It suddenly dawned on me what the problem has been. Although I recently moved to an area that some around my parts refer to as a "triathlon playground" (I have a lake, <i>literally,</i> in my backyard, a great rolling bike course around the lake that is amazingly—56 miles, and plenty of large shoulders for running).<br />
<br />
My lack of motivation really has to do with my lack of friends, or rather, training buddies in my new community. The problem has been that since we've moved, wifey and I do not really know too many people in our new community other than the families that live in out neighborhood, none of which are triathletes. We use to go to our local YMCA and bring our children. They had a lot of activities for all of them to do for my oldest (10) all the way down to my youngest (4). More, wifey had a lot of girlfriends that she would meet up with to work out with. I had a group of athletes that I would train with inside and outside of the gym. Since our move, it has really been difficult to get out on those 4+ hour training rides solo. There are times that I absolutely enjoy going out and training by myself, but there are other times that I wish I had someone to "shoot the breeze" with out there. I have been doing some things recently to shake off the dust. I just purchased a mountain bike and have been working that into my training as well as a trail run once a week. I find that the trail running gives me just enough of a break from the regular routine to keep me sane.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWRQ-96rRxU/T8YgX0Vw1tI/AAAAAAAABMU/l_aeCuEAmKo/s1600/530412_812474408041_43006750_35940344_1280905903_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWRQ-96rRxU/T8YgX0Vw1tI/AAAAAAAABMU/l_aeCuEAmKo/s400/530412_812474408041_43006750_35940344_1280905903_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>I did participate in a really awesome race with some colleagues a few weeks ago called the Seneca 7. This was a 77.7 mile, seven person relay race. I raced the Ragnar relay last year, but I found this race—although short, much more difficult. The Ragnar race I did was in the Adirondack Mountains (from Woodstock to Dobbs Ferry, New York). The Seneca 7 was a race that went around Seneca Lake—one of central New York's scenic finger lakes with wineries nestled on the banks on either side. What made this race especially difficult is that you are essentially running three relatively short legs—between two and six miles—at 5k pace and you only have three hours of recovery time in between in which you are sitting in a van getting stiff and cold after your run. Terrific! We faired pretty well, even though I got lost on my second leg. How is this possible you ask? When you are running a relay that traverses remote parts of central New York and the volunteer crew who is suppose to be at an intersection telling you which way to go is not there.... well.... it's quite simple. I actually only ended up running an extra 1.5 miles, but I had paced myself to run 4.5 miles. By the time my third leg came around, I was toast and ended up having to walk a portion of it. It was great fun though. We may not have come in first (I think we were something like 45th out of 140 teams—which is not bad), but we definitely had the most awesome team t-shirts ever! Are those incredibly dorky, or what? The race medals were really cool as well. It was a cut out of the lake in an aluminum oval with the number of the leg you ran also cut out on the medal. I have to hand it to race director Jeff Henderson, who always puts together a top notch race.<br />
<br />
<b>Next up: REV3</b> Quassay this weekend! Holy smokes! I can not believe this race is already here. My coach and I have decided to treat this as a "training race" to gauge where I am at this point in the season. I know I am not "A-race ready," but I feel better prepared at this point in the season than I have in years past, especially my swimming which I worked on a lot this pre-season. I know that I have to work on my running the next few months. I know it is still not where I want it to be because I have that feeling of dread every time I look at my week and see a long run or two. It'll get there.<br />
<br />
Okay, a race report to follow. I have found my Mojo again.<br />
<br />
Train Smart!<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-43332937313189066492012-02-20T19:21:00.004-05:002012-02-20T19:21:56.006-05:00Kick Out The Funk<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ayIQxDgGFA/Tz-1cbWZX7I/AAAAAAAABLg/5MORaW1600k/s1600/James+Brown+jamesbrown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ayIQxDgGFA/Tz-1cbWZX7I/AAAAAAAABLg/5MORaW1600k/s320/James+Brown+jamesbrown.jpg" width="309" /></a>There is good funk:<br />
<br />
James Brown.<br />
<br />
George Clinton.<br />
<br />
Sly and the Family Stone.<br />
<br />
At its best, funk is a perfect recipe of soul, jazz, and Rhythm and Blues that deemphasized melody and instead placed emphasis on the downbeat—so that white guys everywhere with poor rhythm and a terrible body awareness could understand what it means to groove. Yes. There, I've said it. Funk helps white guys dance. Well, funk and vast quantities of malted hops and barley.<br />
<br />
Nothing transports me back to the late 1960's like listening to the "Godfather of Funk" himself, James Brown. Music, like language, is more than just a tool to communicate. They both help us understand how people within a culture <i>think.</i> Plain and simple. We study languages to understand the way people think. We study music to understand the way people think.<br />
<br />
What makes<i> Papa's Got A Brand New Bag,War,</i> and <i>Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine </i>so awesome<i> </i>are there ability to infuse unprecedented levels of sexual <i>mojo </i>to whoever dares listen to these libidinal masterpieces. Seriously, why do I always feel like I want to dress like Shaft and have the same swagger whenever I listen to JB?<br />
<i>Then, there is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BAD</span> funk:</i><br />
<br />
You wake up in the morning to look at your workout(s) for the day and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of spending more of your discretionary time with your ass on a bicycle, or running miles than sitting on a couch and allowing yourself to eat chocolate covered almonds and drink good stout. The best thing about the end of my season—which has culminated with REV3 Iron Distance at Cedar Point the last two years—is that I spend at least two weeks recovering, eating whatever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want.<br />
<br />
I find that <i>the Funk</i> starts to creep in about two months after you've started your base training. You know what I'm talking about....<br />
It's December and you have started your training for your first race..... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in June</span>... and realize... it is going to be a long, long winter.<br />
<br />
There is good news. You can shake off the funk. A couple of good workouts in the gym and you are back to feeling like Bootise Collins. For me, there is also no substitute for sleep. Admittedly, I am still a total slacker when it comes to getting my butt in bed early. You would think that I would have no choice in the matter—than after getting up at 5:30 a.m. for a 3 hour training day—my body would go into a voluntary coma. Nope.<br />
<br />
Does anyone else do this?<br />
<br />
Do we as triathletes just enjoy pushing ourselves to the absolute bring of sanity? Wait.. don't you really have to be insane to even do this in the first place?<br />
<br />
Kick it out.<br />
<br />
The Funk.<br />
<br />
Seriously.<br />
<br />
<b>ADDENDUM:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I will have an awesome product review in my next post and some exciting news.</span><br />
<br />
More soon. Train Smart!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-15026179358462592302012-02-01T14:39:00.000-05:002012-02-01T14:45:11.163-05:00Vegans, Beer 4-Packs, And Training!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3EC2fulkyY/TymRUv-VxaI/AAAAAAAABLE/b2jajpzCnfo/s1600/vegans-are-everywhere.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3EC2fulkyY/TymRUv-VxaI/AAAAAAAABLE/b2jajpzCnfo/s400/vegans-are-everywhere.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
"If God didn't want us to eat animals, why did he make them out of meat.?" — Homer J. Simpson</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As much as I love Israeli couscous and quinoa, I start salivating like Pavlov's dog at the mere thought of a strip steak. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I do not really understand vegetarianism, let alone, vegans. I have listened to arguments about health benefits of vegetarianism for years from good friends who swear by it. I understand ideological vegans and vegetarians, but some can be a bit judgmental and militant towards us omnivores. My wife recently found herself in the middle of a heated Facebook exchange (as heated and serious as one can take a Facebook exchange) with a vegan who could not appreciate my wife's ignorance for ruining the world by eating animals. All I have to say to this is ... really? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoOoBy6j4zk/TymUPoUS6VI/AAAAAAAABLM/XXxvcYIlrdU/s1600/soap-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoOoBy6j4zk/TymUPoUS6VI/AAAAAAAABLM/XXxvcYIlrdU/s320/soap-box.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Do you drive a car? Do you put gas in it? A bicycle? Does it have parts that were manufactured in a factory? Do you make your own clothing? Oh, you do? From hemp? What do you use to sew it? A sewing machine? A needle manufactured in a factory in China? Unless an ideological vegan is prepared to live off the grid, eat only local ingredients, make their own clothes, dig their own wells, and live without indoor plumbing, please do not judge my wife. Or, if you do, prepare to be judged yourself. Pick your battles. I do not often stand atop the soap box, but I really get irked by the shortsightedness and hypocritical thinking by some folks. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
All I know is that after 3000 yards in the pool, or by mile 10 of a long run, I start visualizing and smelling cheeseburgers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
This can not be a coincidence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Speaking of the pool, I had a really great second swim test this past week. I guess I should preface by saying I have never been a really efficient swimmer. I have only been swimming as long as I have been doing triathlons, which is six seasons. Before beginning triathlons, I was the guy who use to swim flinging his head from side to side keeping it above the water, or bury my face in the water and kick like hell and fling my arms in front of me with the hope that I might be getting somewhere quickly. What the hell was I thinking?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
But I digress...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I shaved 18 seconds off my previous 400 time trial time. 18 seconds!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
1 went from a 7:15's, all the way down to two consecutive 6:57's. That is good improvement for me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The crazy part is that I feel that my effort has not nearly been as hard. I have learned how to re-relax in the pool while I am swimming. As a musician, I can attest to there being some similarities between performing on your instrument and training. As a pianist performing concert repertory, you have to make a conscious effort to continue to relax while you are playing—especially difficult passages. Improvisation can be even more mentally demanding. It is is one thing to play repertory form the printed page, but it is a completely different thing to compose "on the spot" in front of an audience while you are performing jazz. Nothing really prepares you for that like practicing technique and understanding the theory of jazz improvisation, but relaxation is key to this as well. Young jazz musicians will often feel the need to play too much, or continue to introduce new ideas rather than expanding on ones they have already stated. A more experienced player will allow space, and time for musical ideas to develop without being nervous about their audience. You have to trust your instinct, follow your own trajectory, rather than being worried how the music is being perceived <i>in the moment.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, my swimming has borrowed a page out of my musical playbook: "Allow it to happen."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>RANDOMNESS:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>BEER: </b>What the hell is up with my favorite beers now being sold in four packs? I want <b><i>MORE</i> </b>of a good thing, not less! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It happened first with Young's Double Chocolate Stout, followed soon after by Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout. To my knowledge, my favorite beer on planet Earth, or any other planet for that matter, Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout has never been sold in a six pack, only four packs. Is it something specific to stouts? Are beer companies worried about the caloric intake of stout drinkers specifically? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>NETFLIX</b>: Yeah, so I recently discovered Netflix. Perhaps you've heard of it? For the past couple of years, I have been searching for ways to make my tedious long weekend trainer rides to seem a little less.... tedious. Music in my ears does not work, nor does reading. Although, I did read much of books six and seven of the Harry Potter series while working up a nice sweat. I am not sure whether my heart rate use to elevate because of my hatred of Voldermort, or because I was actually working hard. This brings me to my next random topic:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>SPARTACUS: </b>I am a sucker for those sword and sandal type films. You know, Gladiator, Clash of the Titans, Alexander, etc. I recently started watching the new Spartacus series—based on the legend of the famous Thracian leader who led his army of slaves against the the Roman Empire—on Netflix while on my trainer. It is everything I could ever want in a program for my long rides. There is plenty of gratuitous sex, graphic violence, and poor acting. What I find the most difficult to understand is how every single male gladiator and slave in the show are incredibly jacked for performance enhancing drugs. Seriously, how are these guys 6'2, 240, incredibly ripped with six packs while seemingly be limited to about an 800 calorie a day diet. More, they show these cats bare chested in the middle of winter crawling on the side of a mountain in the snow. They are not shivering. They barely notice that it is even cold, because their giant muscles and underdeveloped gladiator brains—and an apparent slight neurological problem not being be able to feel pain or cold—has left them unfettered by these minor nuisances. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
...and one more thing. Since when did these women have breast implants in ancient Roman times? Seriously! If you are doing a period piece, it is difficult to take it seriously when there is more silicon in the breasts of some of the actresses than all of the semi-conductor industry. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>TRAINING: </b>Training has been going unbelievably well. As in, I am doing it. Consistently. Perhaps that is why I have not been around as much as of late. I know... I know.. I use these lame excuses like having five children, blah blah blah, and a job that comes home with me every night (i.e. grading papers), blah blah blah, and a training schedule that I try to fit in to a ver busy professional life. LISTEN... I am NOT complaining. I am the luckiest human being on Earth. I have an unbelievably patient wife. Speaking of which, my wife has resurrected her amazing dance career and has been performing quite frequently after taking several years "off" to have children. I am quite proud of what she is able to do. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rev3tri.com/america/about-the-run-across-america/"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFu5xvSbxPA/TymOqt0LwRI/AAAAAAAABK8/5HJ-XlWojao/s640/raa_map.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>RUN ACROSS AMERICA: </b>You know what is really, really, really cool about the REV3 race series?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Answer: Everything.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
But, do you know what else?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The amazing folks over at REV3 have decided to run across America. I know, how lame. I mean, they are going to just run across America once? How many times did Forest Gump run across the United States? The REV3 goal is to raise $100,000 for the Ulman Cancer Fund. I know that we have all been affected by cancer. I lost a lot of people I love dearly, especially my father, to cancer. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
What's that? You say you want to do your small part to kick cancer's ass? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Do your part <a href="http://rev3tri.com/america/about-the-run-across-america/">here</a>, would ya?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>REVIEW: </b>I have an unbelievably kick-butt review coming up in my next blog post. Trust me, it's a winner. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Train Smart!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-72501900169879419412012-01-18T16:32:00.005-05:002012-01-18T16:32:53.111-05:002012: A Fresh Perspective<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It is a new year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I am a <i>little </i>wiser.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Where have I been again?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CikFo-NlpXo/Txc2ab2vZ5I/AAAAAAAABKc/zgr5boAS_t0/s1600/P1020802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CikFo-NlpXo/Txc2ab2vZ5I/AAAAAAAABKc/zgr5boAS_t0/s320/P1020802.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>Well, for starters, I put a lot of "time in the bank" at home over the winter recess. I know how incredibly busy my semester is going to be, so I wanted to make sure that I got to spend a lot of time with the kiddies. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<--- This is a picture of my girls and me playing the game Headbandz. You put a card in the headband and try to guess what it could be by asking questions before the time runs out. It is silly and fun, and my girls love playing it, which means, I love playing it. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Over the break, we all spontaneously decided that we would take a rock climbing safety course. I have never tried rock climbing. Neither has wifey. We are both semi-afraid of heights. I've learned that rock climbing is really good fun and a good way to keep upper body strength. We've learned that we have some various degree of spidery children among us. All but my youngest could take the course. It is mere matter of being able to fit in the climbing belts. My twins barely fit. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I also have been writing and performing quite a bit. Wifey dances with a regional modern dance company called <a href="http://biodance.org/">BIODANCE</a>. I wrote and performed a piece with them recently in Brooklyn. Working with wifey is fun. It gives us the opportunity to spend some quality time with each other while seeing some really cool places (and drinking some kick-ass beer). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qf8eoy-Qzx0/Txc3RuY4EII/AAAAAAAABKk/q5xA34_kHh4/s1600/P1020786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qf8eoy-Qzx0/Txc3RuY4EII/AAAAAAAABKk/q5xA34_kHh4/s320/P1020786.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nknlkU-BVc/Txc3UY4smxI/AAAAAAAABKs/xCsSa71zDRs/s1600/P1020772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nknlkU-BVc/Txc3UY4smxI/AAAAAAAABKs/xCsSa71zDRs/s320/P1020772.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
How hysterical is the painting on the wall of this restaurant that we went to in Brooklyn??!! Nothing says classy like pole dancing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oaUTBvpQ_l4/Txc32INM96I/AAAAAAAABK0/S6fxkQ2T6Gs/s1600/P1020884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oaUTBvpQ_l4/Txc32INM96I/AAAAAAAABK0/S6fxkQ2T6Gs/s320/P1020884.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I also have been writing and performing quite a bit. Wifey dances with a regional modern dance company called <a href="http://biodance.org/">BIODANCE</a>. I wrote and performed a piece with them recently in Brooklyn. Working with wifey is fun. It gives us the opportunity to spend some quality time with each other while seeing some really cool places (and drinking some kick-ass beer). I am here with four of the members of BIODANCE after a week long engagement at a theater in western New York. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Observations:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>• </b>Uncle Ben (and Voltaire) were correct— "<i>With great power comes great responsibility."</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
• There exists an inverse relationship between the number of children I have and the amount of hair I have left.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
• On the way home in the car the other night from the gym, I looked out the window of our mom-mobile and commented on how beautiful the moon looked. The full moon shone brightly, unobstructed by any clouds. Then, out of the blue, Luca asks me, "what is mooning?" I caught wifeys eyes out of the corner of mine and we gave each other a quick look. So, I proceeded to tell the kids what <i>mooning</i> meant.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
There was a pause.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Finally, Julian—the second oldest—says, "Dad, I bet you would like it if mommy did that to you."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Wise man, that Julian.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
He's right.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Kids 5k: </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I don't know what exactly prompted discussion, or who brought it up, but there was a 5k race last weekend in town that my kids asked if they could run. Over the summer, they have run some "kid fun runs." Neither of them ever did a run over one mile. Wifey was skeptical. I got the, "Mark, do you really think that they are capable of running a 5k? That is really far. I did not see any reason why they could not just go out there, run/jog/walk slowly if they needed and have a good time with their old man. So, we went and made it in a nick of time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It was really cute. Both of them wanted to start up in the front, but dad convinced them that we should start near the back and pass everyone along the way.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, this is how the race went down:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Luca—as he always does—started like a bat outta hell. Julian took it slow and steady. He managed to run the first two miles nice and steady, but at the first long steep hill had to walk a little bit. I stayed with him the whole time reassuring him that it was okay to walk. He continued running again shortly after that and he managed to catch his older brother. Nice!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Both of them got first time 5k medals, and Julian finished 3rd in the 0-10 age group. He just turned eight. He was super excited to get a ribbon and a medal!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The boys have been asking me when we are going to run another 5k.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Bikes:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Bikes! Wifey and I decided that our Christmas present to the children this year would be to bite the bullet and buy brand new bikes that were worthy of the hills and bike trails around our new house. Wifey pointed out that she thought it was fair considering that their father now owned three really nice bikes. Don't tell the wifey, but I am in the market for a 29'er. My friend EJ over at <a href="http://crankskins.com/">Crankskins </a> has convinced me that I need to get on a mountain bike and experiencing the thrill of <strike>crashing into trees</strike> cross training.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Oddly, I started my love of cycling by mountain biking. When I was a student, I founded the "Adventure Club" on campus. We would go white water rafting, spelunking, skydiving, etc. One of the greatest trips I ever scheduled for the club was to Snowshoe, West Virginia to go mountain bike riding. Let's face it, West Virginia is really just a giant adult playground. Seriously, have you ever been there? Morgantown—where West Virginia University is located—was/is the most metropolitan "city" in West Virginia. Even Morgantown had a real <i>"you might run into Davy Crockett</i>" sometime soon sort of feel to it. It was the only place that I have ever been in North America where coonskin caps are still in style.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Inspiration:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
You know, I remember once asking my father on my 35th Birthday if he would like to be thirty-five again. He was seventy -five years old then. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked at me quizzically and said "Mark, I would like to be sixty-five again." I thought that was a hysterical and unexpected answer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As we continued talking, he explained that even though his body was not able to do the same things it once could, that his mind still believed that anything was possible. He used the example of the ottoman that lay in front of his chair and said, "Look at that. In my head, I know I can jump over that. I have memory over me doing that very thing. But I know that if I try to do it, I am going to kill myself."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As my father was telling me this, I couldn't help but think of Lew Hollander—the eighty year old, who in 2010 finished the Ironman World Championships in Kona in 15:48:30, knocking off more than an hour from his finish the previous year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The mind is amazing. What you believe you can do is sometimes more important than your ability to actually to be physically capable. It is my belief that persistence trumps talent. Perseverance is the secret to discovering new talent within ourselves. Pushing ourselves past the point that we thought we were capable of allows us to believe that even more is possible.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
What I learned from my father was that people who are successful in life are often not the most talented in their discipline, but they are the people who outwork everyone else. They don't complain how tired they are. They continue to work, to learn, never resting on their laurels, never compromising the integrity of their work, and above all else, always remaining humble.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
They don't give reasons why something can not be done, but rather, ask, "how am I going to solve this problem? How am I going to make it work?" When everyone is debating whether it is a glass half full, or half empty, they've already drank the water.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>TRAINING:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Training has left me reenergized. I have made some really decent strides with my swimming over the last month. After six seasons of learning how to swim, I think I am starting to finally realize what people mean by "the feel of the water." Hey, better late than never, right?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
My body has been pretty tired as a result of bumping up the training volume a bit earlier this year. I am scheduled for my first triathlon at Rev3 Quassay, where I will race the Olympic distance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
My biking seems to be the thing I need to work on the most, although I recently discovered Netflix! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Yes, yes... I know what you are all thinking... recently??!! I mean, we've always known about <i>Netflix, </i>but wifey and I have finally decided to try it out. Can I just tell you how much faster Netflix makes my trainer time go? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
A <i>lot!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Tomorrow is my first day back teaching classes after a nice, long break.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I get to teach History of Rock and Roll (at 8:45 in the morning!) </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Rock on!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Some awesome news happening soon. Looking forward to sharing. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Train Smart!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-15388864715829930902011-12-21T09:39:00.002-05:002011-12-21T09:39:58.799-05:00Lazer Helmet Give Away: And The Winner Is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HKzWivY-5k/TvHtXQfcaQI/AAAAAAAABJ8/qoQ-BIdTDDg/s1600/helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HKzWivY-5k/TvHtXQfcaQI/AAAAAAAABJ8/qoQ-BIdTDDg/s320/helmet.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Congratulations to some chick named <a href="http://ugwi.blogspot.com/">Laura Wheatley</a>. She is the proud new owner of a Lazer Tardiz helmet. The rest of you should be green with envy.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who signed up to participate in the giveaway. I appreciate your PATIENCE more than you know.<br />
<br />
I started getting some messages on "the" Facebook from followers asking if they had won. Thank you for stalking me. The last couple of weeks have been crazy. I just got all of my grades in yesterday. As much as I love spending time adding and subtracting numbers, grading is the last glamorous part of a college professor's job. Plus, my ass has been busy training once again. I am really getting back into the swing of things after a month and a half of relative laziness. Know how that feels? Yeah. Like you've been hit by a truck. Around ten o'clock at night, my energy level resembles that of a tree sloth.<br />
<br />
Congratulations Laura. Send me an email to let me know which Lazer helmet you would like.<br />
<br />
<br />
A BIG THANK YOU to <a href="http://www.lazersport.com/">Lazer</a> for allowing me to have this super-awesome giveaway on my blog.<br />
<br />
For anyone who did not win, have no fear! Contact me about how you can receive a 20% discount on a new Lazer helmet!<br />
<br />
More soon. Train Smart!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-36167263381103195462011-12-16T08:44:00.001-05:002011-12-23T15:33:11.388-05:00The Friday Top Five: The Top Five Greatest Tunes About Rock n' Roll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhe-01Z9Y3E/TvSc84TiStI/AAAAAAAABKU/yF0LAwlVBZo/s1600/Chuck_Berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhe-01Z9Y3E/TvSc84TiStI/AAAAAAAABKU/yF0LAwlVBZo/s320/Chuck_Berry.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<b>The Friday Top Five: The Top Five Greatest Tunes About Rock n' Roll</b><br />
<br />
<br />
As someone who <i>actually </i>teaches a course titled "The History of Rock and Roll," I feel a unique sense of entitlement with all things rock& roll. In fact, I have self-appointed myself the absolute authority on all things rock and roll. I mean, after all, Michael Jackson dubbed himself "The King of Pop," and Howard Stern declared he was "The King of All Media," why should I not be Dr. Rock and Roll? I mean let's face it, I even have the official name plate on my door.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sG38ADdYtFI/TvSWbxrG-GI/AAAAAAAABKI/TT4YibRVaQg/s1600/297414_680516343061_43006750_35311167_5649013_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sG38ADdYtFI/TvSWbxrG-GI/AAAAAAAABKI/TT4YibRVaQg/s400/297414_680516343061_43006750_35311167_5649013_n-1.jpg" width="238" /></a>I know I will receive some comments and other suggestions for this list... I'm looking at you <a href="http://danglethecarrot.blogspot.com/">Jeff</a> and Rock Star.<br />
<br />
Picking the five best songs ever written about rock and roll is a lot like picking my favorite dish containing lobster. I mean, does it matter? I heard a comedian once talk about how lobsters completely got the short end of the stick. He went on to say, "...when God was creating all the animals, he said, "Okay, lobster. I'm going to make you red, and give you these little claw things on the front. Yeah, that's it. (muffled voice) Oh, yeah, and the most intelligent creatures on the planet are going to find you absolutely delicious."<br />
<br />
I decided to base my list on songs that really celebrate rock and roll for what it is; a subversive, ass-kicking, stick-it-to-the-man, in-your-face, "My amplifier goes to eleven," form of musical expression.<br />
I had to eliminate tunes with "Rock and Roll" in the title that were played by fringe rock and roll bands at best, like The Velvet Underground. I love the Velvet Underground, but they are about as rock & roll to me as say, The Cure, or Elvis Costello.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, I had to rule out tunes like "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band" by the Moody Blues, and "So You Want to Be A Rock and Roll Star" by Tom Petty. While peripherally tunes about rock and roll, they do not speak to the true nature of what it means to bang your head and feel the power of guitar distortion. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
5) <b><i>For Those About to Rock</i>, AC/DC: </b>How cool is it that those of us who have never served in the armed forces can still be saluted? This tune from the 1981 album of the same name features starts with lead singer, Brian Johnson, engaged with a little antiphonal (call and response) between himself and the band. The music is raw, heavy, heavily influenced by R& B guitar licks that are predictable, but tasty.<br />
<br />
4) <b><i>I Love Rock and Roll</i>, Joan Jett: </b>This tune feels nostalgic because her lyrics "I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the jukebox baby. I love rock n' roll, so come an' and take your time an' and dance with me" harkens back to a time when you could actually pay for tunes on the jukebox without having to take out your ATM card and take money out.<br />
<br />
3) <b><i>Rock and Roll Music</i>, </b><b>Chuck Berry, </b>Look, Chuck Berry is unequivocally the architect of rock and roll. There would be no rock guitar if it were not for Chuck Berry. Who would the Beatles cover, and Brian Wilson—of the Beach Boys—rip off if were not for Chuck Berry? He explains in the song how rock&roll has a backbeat, and if you want to dance with him, it has to be rock& roll music that you're listening to.<br />
<br />
2) <b><i>Long Live Rock, </i>The Who:</b> A tribute to rock and roll artists dead or alive, this tune mixes some honkey tonk, with good ole' fashion ass-kickin' rock and roll to reaffirm that rock and roll is here to stay.<br />
<br />
1)<b> </b><b><i>Rock and Roll, </i></b><b>Led Zepplin: </b>Proof that when you spend enough time away from rock n' roll, you really need it. I feel this way every morning when I need my jazz fix. I have to sit down at the piano in the a.m. and unleash some demons. I spend and hour and a half playing tunes, improvising, and getting my daily therapy before I go out there and face the ever-increasing sarcasm of la vie quotidienne.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>TRAINING:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Hey, guess what? My ass is IN gear and I am training hard again. This year, it does not appear that I will be facing some of the same kinds of stresses as previous seasons. Let me recap the last two seasons for you:<br />
<br />
2009: My father passes away a day before his 81'st birthday. It came unexpectedly. This put a bit of a damper in my training. I ran the Musselman HIM less than two weeks later.<br />
<br />
2010: Left a steady academic position I was in for ten years after completing my doctorate to take a one year position and pray that it would turn into something more permanent. It did. The stress of applying for gigs, and reapplying for my position left me spent and struggling to find time last season. Had an injury that kept me from running for about eight weeks. Oh, I decided to coach my son's baseball team last summer. What the hell was I thinking?<br />
<br />
2011: Have some major writing to do this year. I have a couple of huge commissions on the burner that I have to get done. Unfortunately, I prefer writing and training in the morning. Finding balance is going to be difficult.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Coach Kelly has me hitting it pretty hard already. I like that. There is something to be said for ramping up slowly, but I really dislike waiting until, say, April to start having any significant long runs.<br />
<br />
I did a 2800 yard swim yesterday, followed by an hour of interval work on the bike. I have also been doing some weight training this pre-season. I use to be a strength athlete and I trained pretty hard. I miss pumping iron, but it has been a really long time since I've bench pressed, or did dumbbell flys and my chest is absolutely killing me.<br />
<br />
I think I am going to run a 5K this weekend. It will be fun to go out there and really test myself early. I have not run a 5K in years. Isn't that crazy? I have been more interested in running 10K's. Something about going out there and running fast enough to elicit vomiting really scares the hell out of me. A little vomiting never hurt anyone.<br />
<br />
I was pretty excited about my recent heart rate test. After warming up for 15 minutes and doing 3 short 30-second intervals, I ran hard for twenty minutes. I remember reading something years ago that someone wrote about how to run faster. This coach once said, "in order to run faster, you need to run faster," and that is exactly what I did.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I have to admit, I don't envy all of you who live in warm-weathered locales who have to deal with heat and humidity all year round, but I am not excited about having to sit my ass on a trainer in my basement during the winter. Ugh!<br />
<br />
More soon. Train Smart!<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
Training is going swimmingly. Pun intended.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-82585562785856138052011-12-04T13:31:00.001-05:002011-12-09T15:53:22.107-05:00The Friday Top Five: The Top Five Things You Give Up When You Become A Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Kekz5oEBj8/TtzFFetdSWI/AAAAAAAABJc/1J7lh9STf_U/s1600/fonzie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Kekz5oEBj8/TtzFFetdSWI/AAAAAAAABJc/1J7lh9STf_U/s320/fonzie.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
5) <b>Being Cool: </b>Although some parents try desperately to remain cool by declaring to all the world that they would "would never be caught dead in a minivan," having an infant pee, poop, and vomit on you makes what type of ride you're rolling in the least of your problems. You have to worry about whether anyone at work can smell that vomit on your clothes because you were too tired to change them on account of staying up all night wondering why how your child will cry all evening for you then manage to sleep all afternoon when you need to run errands.<br />
<br />
4) <b>Listening to your music in the Car</b>: I have tried desperately to indoctrinate my children to my musical aesthetic. It has worked for the most part. Sometimes, it is a little embarrassing. I mean, I remember my boys singing "Brass Monkey" at some pretty inopportune times as well. Now, my youngest wants to hear her Suzuki violin CD and everyone in the car will sing Lightly Row, Twinkle Little Star (to the rhythm of "Mississippi hotdog"—a personal favorite of mine). I have also listened to enough Disney tunes in the car with the kids that I have temporarily "misplaced" the CD... perhaps forever.<br />
<br />
3) <b>Reasoning</b>: It is nearly impossible to try to reason with five year old. Their brains—although amazing sponges—do not function quite the same way as a fairly well-adjusted adult. I use "fairly adjusted" here, because, let's just face it, all of us are still recovering from the trauma of are dysfunctional childhoods. Children believe that are at the center of the universe and that everyone and everything should revolve around them. Forget trying to speak sensibly to a screaming toddler. What I have learned is that inconsolable screaming over<br />
not having the right dinner fork or wrong socks to wear with their school clothes is usually a result of on of two things:<br />
<br />
1) child is hungry<br />
2) child is tired<br />
<br />
Here is a diagram of how the average child thinks:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8ciLIurWOw/TuJzmKpiobI/AAAAAAAABJk/P1Unbcl1N-s/s1600/388905_299111690121680_150502178315966_978125_515660552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8ciLIurWOw/TuJzmKpiobI/AAAAAAAABJk/P1Unbcl1N-s/s640/388905_299111690121680_150502178315966_978125_515660552_n.jpg" width="528" /></a></div>
<br />
2) <b>Sanity</b>: Yeah, wifey and I left this at the turnstile long ago. (I am not even sure what that means). All I can attest to is that having young, fragile lives to take care of every second of the day is a daunting task. There are times when I have been so crazed trying to get the kids ready to do something that I leave the house without remembering to bring my computer, or lunch, or brain to work with me.<br />
<br />
1)<b> Sleeping In</b>: Yeah, forget this completely. Sleeping in when you have small children means waking up past 7 a.m. I remember the first time we had to set a mandatory "sleep in" time with my oldest son. He came into our bedroom and climbed into bed with me and asked if we could go downstairs and play. It was 6:30. I said "No, buddy. We have to sleep until seven o'clock." He nestled in right next to me and went back to sleep.... or so I thought. As soon as the clock hit 7 a.m., he turned around with his<br />
eyes wide open and said "Okay! It's seven o'clock daddy, let's go downstairs!" Ugh!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Training: </b>Training is going pretty well, as in I am finally training and not just cobbling together a bunch of half-assed workouts and feeling good about myself. Guilt has a way of turning the screw and<br />
<br />
My recent delve back into the world of training/self-flaggalation has been directly linked to a few different factors:<br />
<br />
1) I was tired feeling like out-of shape. If I intend on keeping my ridiculous Ironman like diet (which I have absolutely no intention of departing with), then I thought that perhaps I should start training more consistently. I am self-motivated, but I needed some time off to regroup after Rev3 Full Cedar Point to reassess what I wanted to focus on this season.<br />
<br />
2) I have a coach. I am now trained by <a href="http://www.trimommylife.com/">Coach Kelly</a> over at <a href="http://www.T2Multisport.com/">T2Multisport</a>. The cool part about training with Kelly is that I have known her for a long time. We went to graduate school together some.... hmm, 12 years ago!<br />
<br />
3) Work: This semester has been incredibly crazy, not to mention the fact that we moved twice in the span of two months. We are settled now, but it made training insane.<br />
<br />
I have some lower back pain that I have been wrestling with. I could not figure out where it was coming from. I thought that perhaps it was a result of bumping up the training again. Wifey's back has also been hurting her. We have been giving each other nightly massages. Bonus.<br />
<br />
Last night I finally figured out where all my pain is coming from. I knew that is must be some movement that I have been doing because it is really localized. While I sit in my office, I often throw my feet up on top of a chair—as I am sometimes sitting in front of my computer for hours out of my day—and write. Last evening, I noticed that my torso was having to twist around to put my feet up and that the numerous hours I have spent in that position have caused a great deal of pain. It reminded me of when I was a graduate student at the Ithaca Conservatory and I spent the summer painting houses. I was young then (with more hair), and I spent hours on a ladder painting trim with my arm stretched over my head. I didn't notice anything at the time until the next morning when I got up and my neck was absolutely killing me.<br />
<br />
<b>The Rest:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
My youngest has graduated to her first <i>real</i> violin after spending a few weeks on the noodle-roni box. So awesome! Watch out, <a href="http://www.vanessa-mae.com/">Vanessa Mae</a>!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNNkRqxRS7I/TuJ0YlYyttI/AAAAAAAABJs/w1IBgw5ahqc/s1600/393377_718236471621_43006750_35573613_1356330921_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNNkRqxRS7I/TuJ0YlYyttI/AAAAAAAABJs/w1IBgw5ahqc/s320/393377_718236471621_43006750_35573613_1356330921_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai7qiTgbtEQ/TuJ0cE5EkaI/AAAAAAAABJ0/E80oBRjZ9W8/s1600/390699_722953224211_43006750_35590769_1184646744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai7qiTgbtEQ/TuJ0cE5EkaI/AAAAAAAABJ0/E80oBRjZ9W8/s1600/390699_722953224211_43006750_35590769_1184646744_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-37848560492981008152011-12-01T10:59:00.001-05:002011-12-01T12:54:19.996-05:00Lazer Awesomness! Tardiz Helmet Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FtxPCV3CNk/Tteq9t2FPVI/AAAAAAAABJM/MhoTmXzLLNE/s1600/lazer-tardiz-11-zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FtxPCV3CNk/Tteq9t2FPVI/AAAAAAAABJM/MhoTmXzLLNE/s320/lazer-tardiz-11-zoom.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friends! (Triathlon nerds and their supporters)</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">Amazing news. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">The fine folks over at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.lazersport.com/">Lazer</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">have once again allowed me to giveaway another one of their super fast—and fashion conscious—Lazer Tardiz aero helmets. </span><br />
<br />
In case you missed my review of the Lazer Tardiz helmet you can find it <a href="http://tridadoffive.blogspot.com/2010/10/lazer-tardiz-tt-helmet-review.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ontzagwekkend! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Dutch for awesome, at least according to Google)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I find this funny, given that the Dutch word for "Awesomeness" according to Google, is "awesomeness." But I digress. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided that I wanted to do another giveaway via my blog because on any given day, about a quarter to half of the hits are from people going to the review of the Lazer helmet that I wrote. Surprisingly, I am unbelievably popular in Laos and Senegal. Who knew. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFXBioJZsqI/Ttex1No2tJI/AAAAAAAABJU/hgzdBl8aaf4/s1600/lazer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFXBioJZsqI/Ttex1No2tJI/AAAAAAAABJU/hgzdBl8aaf4/s640/lazer.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love my Lazer helmet. It is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">zeer comfortabel! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">So, here is the skinny:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Go to the <a href="http://www.lazersport.com/">Lazer</a> website and then come back and leave a comment<br />telling me which Lazer Tardiz helmet design you like most AND when you would wear it. (1 entry)<br /><br />2. Be a follower of my blog, leave a separate comment letting me know<br />who you are. (1 entry)<br /><br />3. Become a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LazerHelmets?ref=ts" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;">Lazer Helmets on Facebook</a>. Leave a seperate<br />comment letting me know. (1 entry)<br /><br />4. Post this contest on your blog, leave a separate comment letting me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">know you've done so. (1 entry)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will do a random drawing next Sunday, December 11th. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-48385889152732253442011-11-19T15:06:00.001-05:002011-11-25T13:20:49.766-05:00Blogs, Bambini, And Bonking And The Friday Top Five<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blogs:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not me, it's you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look, it's not that I don't love you, it is just that I need a better way of managing all of my fellow bloggers. Currently, I sift through ALL 170 of my dedicated followers and try to hit each of the blogs on a rotational basis. This proves tedious. What makes it tedious is that Blogger opens up this window with a link to their blog. Actually, often I can not even get a link to the blog. This is especially annoying when you would like to reciprocate the blog love you just received. Then, there are times that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I get to these blogs, only to find out that they have since removed it, or they have not written a post in about three months. Still, much of the problem with not hitting everyone's blogs effectively lies in my inability to manage them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So! I am open for suggestions on how to do this most effectively in Blogger. Any thoughts? Is there an effective way to make links to all the blogs that I read? I see blog menus at the top of some blogs that allow for the reader to easily click on a blog. This seems like it would take a computer science degree, or an especially large amount of time trying to figure out. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVnnQV_SW_A/Ts_BDBPcm8I/AAAAAAAABJE/7TB4BkYka3I/s1600/P1020617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVnnQV_SW_A/Ts_BDBPcm8I/AAAAAAAABJE/7TB4BkYka3I/s320/P1020617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Bambini:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wifey and I have the best children in the world. Now, don't get me wrong. Just the other day, I was having lunch with my friend <a href="http://www.trimommylife.com/">Kelly</a> and I asked her if she ever wants to put a muzzle over her children's mouths because they drive her to the brink of insanity. I think we both agree, that while we love our children unconditionally, that we sometimes wish that our houses came with round cushioned sound proof rooms. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, while there is certainly a lot of insanity going around, they do manage to fill our lives with an unbelievable amount of joy and humor. Our children say the funniest things. For instance, yesterday morning, Stella looks over at wifey sitting at the kitchen table and says "Mommy.... daddy's triathlon stuff is all over the couch!" I came home from work last week and Julian came running to the door telling me that he had a special performance that he and his sisters were going to perform for me and mommy that evening. The kiddies have two parents that are artists. They recently attended a concert that wifey and I were in in which I made a bunch of my own instruments and improvised on several instruments throughout the performance. Julian had decided that he was going to spend the day building his own set of musical instruments before I arrived home from work that evening. Check out a small part of the performance:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzDv3Vq8djksAz8FhO1BQCaY5dBN9O4QJG2-5M_BPkyycQh1-gk3D45EtLo6qg_lFvr3I6nuOmCt8l0qmf0RA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Bonking:</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a really rough run on Saturday morning. I went out for my usual 10k, but completely bonked at mile four. Like, as in, my heart rate was stratospheric. I think it was the result of: 1) Not being adequately hydrated. Imagine that. Me. Not adequately hydrated. The guy that went to the hospital twice—one of those times being personally chauffeured by my local volunteer ambulance service—over the span of five years. 2) Not enough rest. Yeah, not only had I not gone to bed early enough all last week, but I wake up far too early on account of our kids deciding that they want to make as much noise as humanly possible during the wee small hours of the morning. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>THE FRIDAY TOP FIVE:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Friday Top Five: The Top Five Things That My Children's Generation Will Never Know:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think every generation probably looks at the next and thinks how fortunate they are to never have the opportunity to be able to do things that they were able to experience. Those pioneer work ethic folks that grew up before the turn of the century probably felt bad for their children who would never know how to churn butter, live without indoor plumbing, and never experience the natural glow of gas lamps. Having grown up during the 1970's and 1980's, I am really a gen-exer. Thus, my list will represnt the poor taste and bias of a disillusioned generation having had to live through both bell-bottoms and Cyndi Lauper: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) <b>The Adult Magazine</b>: Look, whether for better or worse, one of the rites of passage for a teenage boy was the shame and humiliation they had to suffer going into an adult bookstore to get a glimpse, or purchase an adult magazine. With the proliferation of pornography on the internet, it seems that those days no longer exist. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) <b>Vinyl</b>: I was part of the last generation of teenagers going out to purchase albums. I always chose albums over tapes. My friends thought I was crazy, but there were two reasons for this:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) Album art is pretty kick-ass. They either have to scale everything down to fit on a tape cover—or CD for that matter—or completely eliminate some of the material. That is lame. Album covers were sometimes provocative, humorous, or grotesque. Whatever the case, when I was a teenager, I would spend <i>hours</i> in a record store looking at the cover art of albums. It was my way of getting my artistic fix if I was unable to actually purchase the album, which was most often the case. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) You could always tape the album as soon as you brought it home. I had this crazy idea that I could tape all my albums and when one of the tapes started wearing out, then I could just record it on another tape, thus, preserving the life of my album. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) <b>Arcades:</b> Sure, arcades still exist, but not like they did back when I was growing up. Games were generally only a quarter to play. About ten years ago, a bunch of high-priced arcade/bars starting opening up in large, trendy metropolitan areas around the country selling "points" on cards depending on how much of your hard earned money you were willing to part with. Wifey and I went to one of these places. After putting just $5 on our card, we realized that was only good for, hmmm, two games. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember going to the mall as a teenager with a couple of dollars. That was my afternoon. It was usually a combination of Joust, Dig Dug, and Galaga. I really had to pace myself with my two dollars, otherwise I would be watching other people play for the remainder of my afternoon. I would have to comb the mall visiting Spencer Gifts, looking at posters of Samantha Fox and nameless poster models in scantily clad clothing with my friends. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The games today are ridiculously sophisticated. When I was learning how to play Mario Kart a couple of years ago with my boys, I found the learning curve really steep. It moves fast. For the life of me, I can not understand how more people are not suffering from neurological disorders as a result of prolonged exposure to these psychedelic video game experiences. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nowadays, kids can sit indoors, <i>all day</i> on their Wii's, Crackstations, or other video gaming devices. As if nerds were not isolated enough, now nerds sit on their couch all day eating <i>crap</i> and playing video games, because mom and dad do not want to bother being parents. Look, I am not defending video games at all, but at least when I was a kid, we would have to stand to play them. More, we actually interacted with other nerdy kids about the best way to defeat that bad dude on the fifth screen of Kung Fu Master. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was recently an exhibit at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, of on hundred old video games like Tron (my personal favorite), Pole Position, Bezerk, Defender, etc. The exhibit was so popular–especially with nerds that fall into my demographic–that they actually purchased the exhibit. Do you realize that we will be the first generation of octogenarians playing Madden?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) <b>Pay Phones/Phones with Cords: </b>I will never forget the first time I realized that I had to actually bite the bullet and purchase a cellular phone. It was gigantic and had an antennae that I had to pull up. I actually remember rotary phones. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) <b>Rock and Roll: </b>The only way my children will ever understand what rock and roll is will be my me playing it and talking to them about it. There are no rock bands anymore. Seriously. Can you name one? A rock band. You know... like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. I had a conversation with one of my classes the other day about how we are still talking about Led Zeppelin forty years later. How many bands from their generation do you think will be current forty years from now? We will look back on Maroon Five and Dave Matthews as horrible sociological experiments. The idea of rock and roll being dead brings up an even more interesting question. How will we ever experience the work of The Who again? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In modern dance, there exists several repertory companies that keep the work of seminary figures in the modern dance world alive, such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon, and Merce Cunningham. Are there going to be Rock and Roll repertory companies, or are we only going to know what theses bands sound like from video and audio performances? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Training:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, we have some unbelievable, unseasonably warm weather here in western New York. The sun has been shining all weekend with temperatures approaching the 60's! In late November! Ah, global warming does have its perks. I start my official season training on Monday. Can not wait. Looking forward to getting the official ball rolling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> More soon. Train Smart!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-54395214814121942882011-11-18T07:50:00.001-05:002011-11-18T14:12:00.038-05:00The Friday Top Five: The Five Worst 80's Artists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbuCO7lOC_U/TsZUnd0W2GI/AAAAAAAABI0/9jQnRD3NoL0/s1600/miami-vice-dj-pmt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbuCO7lOC_U/TsZUnd0W2GI/AAAAAAAABI0/9jQnRD3NoL0/s400/miami-vice-dj-pmt.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Remember the 1980's? I do. Skinny leather ties, John Hughes films (I was no-so-secretly in love with Molly Ringwald), leg warmers worn over jeans, Atari, and Garbage Pail Kids (wifey still has a huge mint collection of them in the basement). Those were among some of the coolest trends that transpired from an era that gave rise to the perm and copious amounts of Aqua Net hair spray. It was sometimes difficult to distinguish the faces of many of the girls in my high school because the feathered bangs and porcupine-like hairdos negated their faces. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
To be fair, there were some cool things that emerged from the 1980's. The 1980's were the golden years of both New Wave and Hip Hop. Bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello and Art of Noise (named after the famous <a href="http://www.unknown.nu/futurism/noises.html">Luigi Rusollo manifesto </a>of 1913) meant that nerdy keyboard players who previously got no love from screaming coeds attending their concerts, were now nerdy keyboard players that still got no love from screaming coeds, but were at the cutting edge of popular culture. It was this decade that invited a whole generation of white middle class suburban kids to wear baggy pants and imitate the subversive underground hip hop culture that was emerging by adopting the gesticulations and jargon of artists like RUN DMC and LL Cool J. The 80's ushered a new dance style of movement referred to as <i>breakdancing. </i>With <i>Breakin' II: Electric</i><i> Boogaloo</i> as my inspiration, I spent countless hours perfecting my moonwalk and windmill. I am proud to say that I can still throw it down and in the same awkward way nearly thirty years later. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
There was, however, some really terrible music that emerged during this era. Listed below are the top five songs that I am embarrassed to even say I know. If these artists were never to happen, I think the musical landscape of the 1980's would be a far better place:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
#5) <b>Mister Mister</b>: Yeah, so take those broken wings and fly the heck out of here, because that song is wickety-wack. What made this band most possibly most embarrassing was the post-Bing Crosby-crooner-like lyricism that said "I am trying to be Steve Perry, but I am just not that cool." Interestingly enough, the band members all went on to have pretty decent careers in music afterwards, writing hit songs for artists like Madonna, Whitesnake, and Rod Stewart. However, lead guitarist and bassist, Richard Page, released a Christmas EP in 2010. Christmas albums are the official death of an artist's career. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
#4) <b>Night Ranger</b>: This San Francisco based pop-rock band quintet's most popular radio hit was the power ballad "Sister Christian" which peaked at #5 in 1984. They are still doing it after all these years. Nice, old guys in leather pants. Move over Loverboy!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
#3) <b>Toad the Wet Sprocke</b>t: Years ahead of their time, I like to define them as the slightly less sophisticated Dave Matthews Band of their generation. You know, really Wonderbread. I am sure that the same things that made their music attractive to scores of soccer playing teenagers in the 80's are also what make Dave Matthews attractive to this generation of musically misinformed college coeds. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Oh, you Dave Matthews apologists, don't get me started. So many of my students ask, "Yeah, but they are such talented musicians, right?" They might be, but Yngwie Malmsteen has great facility on the guitar, but he is still embarrassing. I am not going to front. I own a CD though. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
#2) <b>Richard Marx</b>: Did you know that his debut album yielded four hit singles and went on to sell four million copies? Don't even pretend like you did not rock it out in your mom's minivan to "Don't Mean Nothing," and I am quite confident his "Hold on to the Nights"track made it onto that mix tape you made the girl you were going to spend the rest of your life with in ninth grade. His second album, <i>Repeat Offender</i>, knocked Prince off of the number one position. Prince! Who is cool and can play his proverbial ass off! <i>Repeat Offender </i>went triple platinum in a number of months and eventually went on to sell five million albums. Blame it on the emergence of Gangsta' rap, but unfortunately Rick never attained the same level of success he enjoyed with his first two albums. In 2006, he appeared on the Fox television show "Celebrity Duets." Although the Fox network is known for its quality programming like <i>Who Want to Marry a Multi-Millionaire, </i>appearing on a Fox reality television show is kind of like making a Christmas album—the kiss of death.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFRitM2jlTY/TsZi4ylXWDI/AAAAAAAABI8/P6GggQeH214/s1600/rick-astley-graph-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFRitM2jlTY/TsZi4ylXWDI/AAAAAAAABI8/P6GggQeH214/s400/rick-astley-graph-640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
#1) <b>Rick Astley: </b>Rick Astley falls into the category of artists whose songs all sound the same. Among the artists belonging to the dedicated club of making all of their music sound the same are ZZ Top, Dave Matthews Band, and Howard Jones. The best thing that Rick Astley has contributed to popular culture is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickrolling">"Rick-Rolling"</a> phenomenon. He defines the quintessential white man dance. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Who are your bottom five?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<b>TRAINING:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We have all been there as athletes. You know, those times during the year when you are trying to compress the six million things that you want to do into a 24-hour period. What is up with this rotation of the earth being so quick? I have to admit though, now that we have been dealing with 24-hour days our whole life, it makes the idea of even having a slightly longer day confusing, and possibly, downright problematic. I mean. have you considered how perfect our clocks look with five numbers nestled on either side of those hemispheres between the twelve and the six? What would it look like to have even one more hour on that clock? Yeah, clearly not right.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
My training the past couple of weeks have been pretty decent. The guilt of taking some downtime and continuing to eat as if I were still training for an iron distance event has caught up to me. To be honest, I clearly have to start training my proverbial ass off again, because I am not about to give up my 3500 calorie pancake breakfast with real New York State male syrup anytime soon. I have started to Rev my engines once again and start thinking about next season. My work-induced "downtime" during the month of October has officially left me hungry for more pool time and long runs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
It is shaping up to be a beautiful weekend here in western New York. I might get out for my last November ride of the season this weekend. Almost all the way through November and <i>still </i>no snow!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
More soon. Train Smart!</div>
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-55981868251175133182011-10-29T16:39:00.001-04:002011-10-29T17:45:08.472-04:00Pardon The Interruption....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hoBXSXRqoQI/TqvzkH9t9gI/AAAAAAAABH4/HJbc1hL5-lU/s1600/IMAG0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hoBXSXRqoQI/TqvzkH9t9gI/AAAAAAAABH4/HJbc1hL5-lU/s400/IMAG0159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Yeah, so, I am not even going to "front" (as those of who are truly in touch with our hip hop sensibilities like to say). I have been absent. I will spare you the details, but let me just say this:<br />
<br />
We've moved.<br />
<br />
Have you ever moved?<br />
<br />
Have you ever moved with children?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0TIs-JHWk0/Tqvz4mu0LFI/AAAAAAAABIA/u2ycmqPhC7o/s1600/blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0TIs-JHWk0/Tqvz4mu0LFI/AAAAAAAABIA/u2ycmqPhC7o/s400/blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Moving with the bambini was like trying to herd cats.<br />
<br />
The picture above is is a view from our deck looking out at the lake in the morning. I get to roll out of bed every morning to this spectacular view. Talk about motivation! It is just there, calling me down. If we did not have winter here eight months out of the year, why would I ever do laps at the pool? This "waterfront"—although the actual waterfront is a wee bit father than it looks—is nothing new for us. Heck when we moved into our first house eleven years ago we had a teeny, tiny retaining pond in our backyard for the the development behind us. Eleven years later<br />
<br />
We moved twice in the span of a month. Who does that, or more importantly, <i>why</i> did we do this?<br />
<br />
Well, as we were waiting to close on our new house, and start the kids at their new school, we thought it would be a good idea not to live in our van down by the river, er, or lake in this case. It really came down to wifey and me not wanting to start the kiddies in there previous school and have to move them after a month. I know it seems crazy to some, but we thought it might have been a bit more difficult, especially given the fact that our twins were starting full-day kindergarten. The amazing thing about our children is that they just rolled with everything. Perhaps it is the fact that they are so close in age, but they were barely phased by the chaos the last month. When we moved into the house we rented from one of my colleagues, the kids were outside riding their bikes around the block, immediately making new friends.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, the month following Rev3 has been absolosmurfly insane. Thus, I am just getting into the swing of training again. My new neighborhood provides the perfect triathlon training ground as far as I am concerned. I have a brutal 4.5, 7, and 9 mile loop that have me running up hills that I literally have to pump myself up for minutes before arriving. I can not make any excuses for taking a little time off, other than the fact that I have been a bit physically and mentally spent from the pace at work. Of course, if I don't train, I get a little lethargic and am not as efficient at work as I should be. When I swim during the afternoons and head back to my office, I am incredibly productive.<br />
<br />
Speaking of swimming, the women's swim team invited me to start practicing with them, which of course, I graciously accepted. I think they all secretly enjoy kicking my ass, but you would never know it. They are incredibly encouraging all the time. Why don't I work out with them men's team? We don't have one. Needless to say, I am currently the slowest "honorary member" on the team.<br />
<br />
I am still "unpacking" from Rev 3 Cedar Point and looking forward to another season under the fearless leadership of Mama Bear herself, Carole Sharpless. My nephew, Nicholas seeded me this video in a torrent file a couple of weeks ago.<br />
<br />
Our fearless team leader, Carole Sharples interview 1/2. You'll understand after seeing this double feature, why Carole is well-suited to lead a team with so many personalities—she has multiple personalities herself:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwI2WCtc16GuVuNEYLZzE3IT05HUa0xuknJd-e3IYR_T80QE5cDck3HOmSEVSqwbaM2YE1PtsjRAdRHS2yoQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have some other big news for 2012 coming soon. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-90944263057276573772011-09-20T15:14:00.000-04:002011-09-20T15:14:15.786-04:00Rev 3 Race ReportWell, I had to sit down and finally write this report. I am not sure if this will be a race report or an online therapy session for me. I am still psychologically recovering form my race. I think this one is really going to take a while because I thought I was on the verge of doing something spectacular for me. A lot of friends have supported me this week by telling me "we've all been there." Unfortunately, this does not really make it any better.<br />
<br />
Really, this is the tale of two races for me: the one until mile 10 of the marathon, and the one after mile 10 of the marathon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOV2EAsMAn0/TnjS6KG7GMI/AAAAAAAABHU/LLPvsH8FtZM/s1600/320405_10150295114593423_606323422_8104137_729645656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOV2EAsMAn0/TnjS6KG7GMI/AAAAAAAABHU/LLPvsH8FtZM/s400/320405_10150295114593423_606323422_8104137_729645656_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I taught Friday morning. My nephew, Nicholas (who was incredibly supportive the whole weekend even as he was making his documentary film about my whole experience) came to my class Friday morning. My class ended at 11:05 and we made our way downtown to eat some breakfast before departing for the weekend.<br />
<br />
I stayed pretty relaxed the car ride to Sandusky, Ohio—the site for the Rev3 Full race. It is about a five and a half hour car ride. The only thing that was troublesome for me about the trip is that my nephew packed the back of his Subaru Forester like he was going on an excursion across the Americas for a undetermined amount of time. He packed several cameras, a tripod, clothes for every conceivable natural disaster, and enough homemade chocolate chip cookies to make the Keebler elves envious. The ironic part is that Nicholas also has the family "vain gene" which necessitated him a black tank top most of the time. My bike was also IN the car with us, so I could not really put my set back to ever stretch out my legs. Being 6'2" has some slight disadvantages.<br />
<br />
I ate great all weekend. By great I mean a lot of carbohydrates a lot of the time. It was as if I had died and gone to Italian Culinary Heaven. Friday night, a bunch of Trakker teammates and friends got together for some good food and conversation. I was feeling pretty relaxed. Nicholas and I got to our hotel around 9:30, put on my Recovery Pump, and decided to call it a night.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqABIVmNbYY/TnjKikYeY6I/AAAAAAAABHM/Seg03pmJIvA/s1600/320082_2410992279899_1404005159_32914558_1801402846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqABIVmNbYY/TnjKikYeY6I/AAAAAAAABHM/Seg03pmJIvA/s400/320082_2410992279899_1404005159_32914558_1801402846_n.jpg" width="300" /></a>Saturday morning, a bunch of Trakkers teammates went out to the shores of Lake Erie (and do I mean erie!) to spray athletes down with "Magic in a Bottle," otherwise known as TriSlide. I had strict instructions from Coach Mary to stay off of my feet as much as possible. Luckily, my awesome teammate Kelly was there to make sure that I was diligent about this.<br />
<br />
The Race:<br />
<br />
<b>Transition: </b><br />
<br />
Unknowingly, this is where everything started to go completely wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KelnYnfs3m8/TnjRv7xI8RI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Ss_W29SnxsE/s1600/320691_2181598014254_1076064401_32557136_945382587_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KelnYnfs3m8/TnjRv7xI8RI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Ss_W29SnxsE/s320/320691_2181598014254_1076064401_32557136_945382587_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>I felt really relaxed. I filled up my aero bottle, pumped my race tires. I headed out to the beach with Kelly's husband, Kelly. Here we are getting ready to head out on the beach race morning. Yup, those are the pants I wore. I was warm, and I match. What can I say. MC Hammer would approve. The only thing that completely messed me up was that when I got out to the actual beach near the start, I had suddenly realized—with less than twenty minutes before the actual start—that I forgot to take all the nutrition out of my backpack and into my swim to bike bag. Not good. Needless to say, I got the nutrition in the bag. Let's just leave it at that. I am confident that there were several USAT rule violations happening that magically made my nutrition appear in my bag at transition. I put on my wetsuit and got into the water for a little swim. This is a picture of the view the entire swim:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w183rlx0qv0/TnjWJ1bZV5I/AAAAAAAABHY/FOahQt7taD0/s1600/blackness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w183rlx0qv0/TnjWJ1bZV5I/AAAAAAAABHY/FOahQt7taD0/s1600/blackness.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am not exaggerating a little bit. I could literally not see an inch in front of my eyes. Perhaps this was the reason that my heart rate spiked and I thought I might drown on the way out to the first buoy. Or, perhaps I was completely psyching myself out. I have never swam a more physical swim than this. All the way out to the first buoy, I was being hammered, pulled, dragged, kneed, slapped, and moved. Of course, I would be lying if I did not admit to moving a few bodies aside to get to where I needed to go. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once I got past the first buoy, it was clear sailing. I got into a rhythm and felt pretty good... I even kicked a little. A little. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wXbHImLPj0A/TnjXyNekKnI/AAAAAAAABHc/6maSsy7T57Y/s1600/swim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wXbHImLPj0A/TnjXyNekKnI/AAAAAAAABHc/6maSsy7T57Y/s640/swim.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
My swim time last year was 1:24:57. I definitely had a better swim. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
My bike time improved as well. Last year my course average was 19.16, and I biked a 19.26 this year. I even biked a faster split despite the fact that I stopped during special needs to grab two water bottle—something that I did not do last year. The bike was fine, except for the fact that about 40 miles in I suffered some unbearable pain that I had not experienced biking all season. REALLY?! Does this have to happen NOW? The pain was shooting from what I believe is my IT band straight down to the right side of my right knee. I do not know that I would have necessarily biked any faster (although I would like to think I could have), but being free from the pain would have made the next seventy miles of the bike a heck of a lot more enjoyable. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
I did make a critical error on the bike and that was that I started drinking Gatorade more than I usually do. Even as it was going down, it is a lot more sugary than my First Endurance. I am not use to it. I had brought two bottles of EFS on the bike with me and picked up another two bottles during Special Needs, but I dropped a bottle somewhere—who knows where it is now—on the bike and was without my last bottle of EFS for the last hour of the ride. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEIWRx2vdXg/TnjY9A5REFI/AAAAAAAABHg/9Lj837epmZM/s1600/Bike.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEIWRx2vdXg/TnjY9A5REFI/AAAAAAAABHg/9Lj837epmZM/s640/Bike.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Okay, The End.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dammit, there's more!<br />
<br />
Yeah, so, again let me just state the obvious: I'm an idiot. I started out feeling really good on the run. I walked every aid station fueling up. I guess this is where I made my second mistake. I brought a bunch of EFS mix with me in my Fuel Belt that I did not end up drinking. The reason why escapes me. I guess I was feeling so good that I did not bother to do everything that I trained with that got me to this point. I was effectively changing my game plan midway through the run. I was maintaining 10:00 minute miles throughout the run until I got to mile 10. All of a sudden, I started feeling reall, REALLY nauseous. I was not dizzy, I just felt like I was going to hurl. I looked down on my Garmin and I was at mile 10 somewhere around 1:35. I knew right there that it was going to take hurling, or a miracle to start feeling better. I was optimistic that I would feel better soon. Unfortunately, my optimism did not last long. I got to mile 13 and had to sit down. My body was dehydrated and exhausted. Wonderful! I knew my "race" was over. Then it happened. I started puking between mile 14 and 15 of the run. I thought I would feel better immediately. Not the case. Around mile 18, I sat underneath a tree to get some rest and contemplate the meaning of life. In about 20 seconds, I was surrounded by volunteers and medical staff asking me if I was alright. They took my vitals and said my blood pressure was running a bit low (100/60) and my oxygen was about 88%. I figured that had to be about right since my muscles were probably using every bit of it. They offered to take me to the hospital or to the finish line. I knew one thing. I might not have the race I intended on having, but there was NO WAY I was NOT getting a FINISHER T-SHIRT!<br />
<br />
From that point on, I knew that this race was all about the t-shirt. I can honestly say that I have never worked harder for a t-shirt in my entire life than I did at Rev3 Cedar Point Full on September 11, 2011! The good news? I DID get that awesome t-shirt. I am now a two-time Rev3 Full Finisher, and although I did not have the race I had anticipated, or that I know in my heart I still have in me, I learned a lot this season from my coach. She should definitely shoot me for not implementing the game plan come race day though. I had a great time amongst friends, teammates, and my wonderful nephew Nicholas who spent part of his vacation with his uncle Mark. I think that was the greatest part of the whole experience. Nicholas and I got to share some really special time together. He was so encouraging the whole time we spent together.<br />
<br />
I am retiring from Iron distance racing for the foreseeable future. I have children to raise, and music and performances to work toward. I will continue to race with nothing more than a half-Rev3 in my future. I know this sounds sick, but I will miss the training. What's wrong with me?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtXMoi7ZIg/TnjkY54caHI/AAAAAAAABHk/1TNDpldKBS0/s1600/run.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtXMoi7ZIg/TnjkY54caHI/AAAAAAAABHk/1TNDpldKBS0/s640/run.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Since the Ironman diet is still in full effect, I think I better get out there again and start swimming, biking, and running. I just did a swim with Musselman race director Jeff Henderson. We swam in Seneca Lake sans wetsuits on Sunday morning. Holy smokes, was that water cold! I swam fast.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all of my Trakkers teammates and friends who encouraged me to cross that finish line... run, walk, or crawl!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4sDQ3Z3zLU/Tnjl5o395nI/AAAAAAAABHo/89l0X5Art_w/s1600/307473_2181596374213_1076064401_32557130_693111959_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4sDQ3Z3zLU/Tnjl5o395nI/AAAAAAAABHo/89l0X5Art_w/s640/307473_2181596374213_1076064401_32557130_693111959_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-78129890629724608782011-09-02T15:45:00.001-04:002011-09-02T15:47:37.201-04:00Ground Control To Major Tom: Countdown to Rev 3 Cedar Point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQUoRwEuvxk/TmEncEK5lPI/AAAAAAAABHA/Avl32tj0OYk/s1600/space-suit-mmua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQUoRwEuvxk/TmEncEK5lPI/AAAAAAAABHA/Avl32tj0OYk/s320/space-suit-mmua.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>T-Minus <strike>10</strike> 9 days and COUNTING.<br />
<br />
I've realized a some things:<br />
<br />
1) With ten days left to go, I should probably book my hotel for Rev3Full Cedar Point. I am NOT kidding. This is just how I have to roll. I know... I know... how long does it take to book a hotel room? Look guys, I have FIVE kids. I <i>might</i> be sleeping in a tent outside on the beach before the race. The good news? The walk to the swim start will not be far.<br />
<br />
2) I am nervous— way more nervous than I was before my first attempt at this distance. Why is that? I think it is a combination of having some sort of expectation of how I should do now after having one iron distance race under my belt, and being scared to death of how much pain I will be in at mile 15 of the run.<br />
<br />
3) There is no substitute for sleep.<br />
<br />
4) I have little time for sleep between now and Rev3<br />
<br />
5) I will sleep when I'm dead. It's overrated anyway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnLOWwQCsk8/TmBQ-3wc18I/AAAAAAAABG8/imQcZ7274lw/s1600/297414_680516343061_43006750_35311167_5649013_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnLOWwQCsk8/TmBQ-3wc18I/AAAAAAAABG8/imQcZ7274lw/s320/297414_680516343061_43006750_35311167_5649013_n.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_ZP7CPEHAc/TmEqR4g8EcI/AAAAAAAABHE/YQFDEbAsVNU/s1600/IMAG0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_ZP7CPEHAc/TmEqR4g8EcI/AAAAAAAABHE/YQFDEbAsVNU/s320/IMAG0123.jpg" width="191" /></a>6) I have got the best job on the planet. Really. I came in to work the other day with this name plate on my door.<br />
<br />
7) Blog posts tend to get less long and less funny the closer it gets to Rev3 Full Cedar Point. Some inverse relationship thing. I am not a mathematician. I don't know.<br />
<br />
8) There are only 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary, and those who do not.<br />
<br />
9) I received a new t-shirt in the mail the other day. None of my friends really understood it. Even those who have raced the distance. Do they teach periodic tables in school anymore? Is it just me or is my head a little fuzzy? Must be taper week.<br />
<br />
10) David Bowie, although very cool, androdgynous, and quite svelte in leather, has absolutely nothing to do with this blog post.<br />
<br />
Oh, one last thing.... my CRAZY friend Alexa just wrote a HYSTERICAL post about our Iron distance showdown <a href="http://alexaharding.blogspot.com/2011/09/ironman-face-off.html">here</a>. I have some serious reservations concerning some of the rhetoric in her post though. Allow me to unpack a little:<br />
<br />
#1) Alexa claims that as a full-time professor I have my summers off. That could not be further from the truth. First of all, five kids does not allow you to ever have your summers off. In fact, going to work at the end of the summer is like going on vacation. Don't judge me, those of you with children know what I'm talking about.<br />
<br />
#2) Alexa wrote a list of advantage/disadvantages to handicap our showdown. What was interesting is that she said because I am a man, I have an advantage. Her argument for this was that no matter how fast Chrissie Wellington is, she will never beat a male pro. I am not sure I buy this argument. No... no, in fact I <i>know</i> I do not buy this argument. First off, you can not compare elite, pro triathletes to a couple of age-groupers with real jobs and responsibilities outside the world of triathlon. Secondly, I think the REAL comparison should be AGE, which is completely ignored in Ms. Harding's post. Alexa is a <i>at least</i> a decade younger. Sure, you could point at kick-ass age-groupers in their 50's and 60's and say age does not matter, but it does. Not to mention, that most of them (old fast men and women) have been going faster for longer than either one of us.<br />
<br />
#3) Alexa has got one thing right. We both can be loud, but if it were a competition, she has me beat by a long shot. We both have decent abs and we are not embarrassed to wear as little clothing as possible to let people know that we've suffered long, hard hours for our statuesque ancient Greek-like physiques.<br />
<br />
#4) If I win, it will be the upset of the millennium. It would be like Frazier beating Ali, the Buffalo Bills winning at least one Superbowl against a superior opponent, or the coyote finally catching that ever-elusive Roadrunner. Whatever the case, I am going out there to kick-ass and have the time of my life, again!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrT1-jIpYfI/TmEyMparG5I/AAAAAAAABHI/rAvs6TlrL2A/s1600/P1010949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrT1-jIpYfI/TmEyMparG5I/AAAAAAAABHI/rAvs6TlrL2A/s400/P1010949.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Today is my anniversary, I am going to celebrate with wifey tonight. I've been together eleven years with my best friend. You are awesome wifey. Thanks for all of your support this year!<br />
<br />
More from Rev3 soon!<br />
<br />
Train Smart!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-45844086810197053172011-08-21T16:30:00.002-04:002011-08-21T16:37:52.787-04:00The Friday Top Five: Top Five Things I Love About Training For Rev3 Cedar Point FullDo you know why it's Sunday and I am posting the Friday Top Five today?! Because I am convinced my coach is trying to kill me. Honestly, I am not sure what I did to piss her off....<br />
<br />
I think that working with a coach has has made one thing glaringly obvious this year: I had NO idea what the heck I was doing last year when I trained on my own. NOW, that is NOT to say that you can not train your proverbial ass off and race well. I really believe that for people with no time to set up workouts or, more importantly, asses the data from your workouts in any meaningful way, I would highly recommend going this route. The other problem with assessing your own data is that it is much too easy to lie to yourself about why you are not performing at a high level.<br />
<br />
Without further adieu....<br />
<br />
Top Five Things I Love About Training For Rev3 Cedar Point Full<br />
<br />
5) PERSPECTIVE: Training for the Rev3 full provides perspective on what is really important. Training for the full distance is time-consuming. If I do not get my ass out of bed and up at five in the morning for a 6 hour ride, it CAN NOT happen. Why? Playing catch with my boys, building legos with the bambini, or coloring pictures with my girls pays more dividends down the road than beating my last Iron distance time by an hour. Not to mention that staying gainfully employed means making sure I don't substitute training for say, syllabus design.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4) <a href="http://www.ironmomma.com/">COACH MARY</a>: Seeing steady progress in my swim and run are exciting. Coach Mary is the ultimate jedi-f-ing-Master. I am not sure how I arrived at this level of fitness after not running for 8 WEEKS, but I am excited that I am not hurting anymore and running fairly solid. I learned a lot this season about training, pacing, nutrition (and Coach Mary learned something about my nutrition plan.... I call it the "Olivieri Small Panini Plan, or just O.S.P.P. for short). Don't worry, I'll explain my "untraditional" nutrition plan in a future post. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The progress has not been limited to the bike. I have done several hour swims in open water the last few weeks. I am swimming as fast this season sans wetsuit as I was swimming last year WITH my wetsuit. If that is not improvement....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After a few long rides in some rolling hills, I also appreciate how quickly my bike fitness improves. I went out for a ride on a course I have ridden a bunch of times. I was scheduled for an easy hour zone two ride the other day. Something about hitting hills makes going into that westerly New York wind a heck of a lot easier.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfp6gOd6EfY/TlFpPVI0y9I/AAAAAAAABG4/Y1sbl56Da_M/s1600/i-am-above-elitism-t-shirt-vintage-t-shirt-review-snorg-tees-snorg-tees.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfp6gOd6EfY/TlFpPVI0y9I/AAAAAAAABG4/Y1sbl56Da_M/s320/i-am-above-elitism-t-shirt-vintage-t-shirt-review-snorg-tees-snorg-tees.gif" width="320" /></a></div>3) ELITISM: There is no substitute for that totally elitist, self-rightous feeling that comes after finishing an long run before seven or eight in the morning. I also enjoy casually mentioning the fact that I "just rode six hours today, now I am going to the pool with my family for the rest of the afternoon." Sure, snobbery is not attractive. If you want to truly come off as being an elitist, you have to be (or at least pretend) that you are totally aloof to the fact that you are acting like Thurston Howell. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPI5Qx0TyMQ/TlFncUp2NBI/AAAAAAAABG0/E5zyltY5uP8/s1600/1984-barbie-great-shape-aerobics-fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPI5Qx0TyMQ/TlFncUp2NBI/AAAAAAAABG0/E5zyltY5uP8/s320/1984-barbie-great-shape-aerobics-fb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one looks better in spandex than a disproportionate<br />
Barbie. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>2) SPANDEX: Look, if I have to wear it to race, I better have the svelte, rippled physique of a seventeen year old Swedish downhill skier (even I am not sure how I arrived there with that one, but go with it). Sure, my wife makes fun of me because of my 80's aerobic attire, but if I need to wear spandex—and, boy do I ever—I might as well be in my best physical shape of the year. </div><div><br />
</div>1) FOOD: Consuming over 10,000 calories on any given day is both fun and annoys the heck out of many of my friends. It is only during Iron distance training that I can somehow justify eating half of a sheet pizza, drinking a gigantic chocolate milkshake, and having a bowl of ice cream for an evening snack. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
RANDOM CRAZINESS:<br />
<br />
Building over the past couple of weeks has been both EXciting and EXhausting. I can barely log my workouts for Coach Mary because as soon as I get home from a six hour ride, my kids ask me to go on a bike ride with them. I look at them suspiciously, but then I remember that they are way too young to lay on the sarcasm that thickly.<br />
<br />
• Yesterday after my ride, Julian asks me "...when I get older, can I have your Kestrel so I can beat me you at Ironman.<br />
<br />
I said, "Julian, what makes you think you are going to beat me at Ironman?" He replied, "Dad, I am really fast, and you will be older."<br />
<br />
• I remember when going out for a 10k, an hour bike, and a 1000 yard swim seemed like crazy long distances to have to traverse. I have an hour bike tomorrow and I am like "thank goodness!"<br />
<br />
Okay, that's all for now. Looking forward to seeing all my Trakkers teammates and blogger buddies at REV3 Cedar Point in 20 DAYS!<br />
<br />
Train Smart!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-61344104448210115862011-08-11T13:32:00.000-04:002011-08-11T13:32:44.263-04:00Ramping Up For Rev 3 And Watching Rugrats Run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyRPYOQNm5I/TkQNJsuo99I/AAAAAAAABGE/fAUyuRVBqrY/s1600/elevation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyRPYOQNm5I/TkQNJsuo99I/AAAAAAAABGE/fAUyuRVBqrY/s400/elevation.png" width="400" /></a></div>I had a really great build week last week thanks to the fine art of <strike>torture</strike> planning <a href="http://ironmomma.com/">Coach Mary</a> laid out for me. I had a great six hour ride on Saturday through some hills followed by a nice 30 minute run. All said and done, it was nearly 4800 feet of climbing. Now, I know it is not nearly as much as I would do if I lived, say, in Colorado, but it is pretty darn good for western New York.<br />
<br />
I learned a couple of things around mile 90 of my 110 mile bike ride:<br />
<br />
1) My sense of humor severely diminishes after mile 90.<br />
<br />
2) I want "real people" food after 90 miles, like pizza, or a cheeseburger.<br />
<br />
3) TriSlide is an essential part of any 6 hour bike ride.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4) My nutrition plan going into this year's REV3 Cedar Point is far better than I experienced last year. I will be consuming copious amount (at least a bottle per hour) of grape EFS.<br />
<br />
Hopefully this will all pay off with a FUN day at REV3 Cedar Point. I am really starting to look forward to the race, despite all the craziness of trying to prepare classes for the fall semester.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpm3_RrjyJQ/TkQNtzv8i7I/AAAAAAAABGI/HNceu2k9iMM/s1600/252178_675063480641_43006750_35219855_4230380_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpm3_RrjyJQ/TkQNtzv8i7I/AAAAAAAABGI/HNceu2k9iMM/s400/252178_675063480641_43006750_35219855_4230380_n.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>I had a swim a one hour swim the other day—with another one scheduled here shortly—that I completely rocked. I mean, check it out.... my top speed was 121 mph. Take THAT Michael Phelps! Not to mention, I did over 2600 feet of climbing on my swim. That is surely unprecedented. When forced to explain how this is even possible to wifey, I told her that I would start underneath the horizon and continually swim back into shore. A canoe would bring me back out and I would repeat. Wifey rolled her eyes and said something about being an idiot. I am not sure. I really was not listening.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Last Thursday wifey and I took the bambini out for a "fun run" that is sponsored by one of the local running clubs. They offered for events for the kiddies: the 100 meter, quarter mile, half mile, and mile. Everyone wanted to try running. Below is a picture of my girls just before the race and a picture of Stella showing of her race bib.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BG4Laloqp7o/TkQM93tq_nI/AAAAAAAABGA/8F6Ql45P2rM/s1600/P1020249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BG4Laloqp7o/TkQM93tq_nI/AAAAAAAABGA/8F6Ql45P2rM/s320/P1020249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yk79TNogFz8/TkQOfVryVJI/AAAAAAAABGM/YJR16BRQQPA/s1600/P1020251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yk79TNogFz8/TkQOfVryVJI/AAAAAAAABGM/YJR16BRQQPA/s320/P1020251.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a>The "race" organizers had all the events back to back. The kids <i>maybe</i> got three to five minutes between races to rest and enjoy their delicious popsicles. Our one daughter, Janina, ran all of the races. She won 100 meter and did pretty well in the quarter—considering she is just five years old. She must have her mother's genetics. Everyone did awesome and had such a blast. Luca surprised wifey and I by going out super fast in the 800. We thought he was going to throw up, but he managed to stride out the middle 200 yards and sail easily past the finish line relatively upright. Tonight, he is going to attempt to run the mile. Luca is as competitive as his old man. He gets distraught when I beat him at chess. He said he wants to come in first. I reminded him that these runs are not timed—they are just about going out and having fun running—to which he replied, "...yeah, I know, but I want to win the fun run." I was proud and tearful for a moment.<br />
The first video is of the 100 meter. This was hysterical. You can see my daughter in the right hand corner in purple pass quickly past the camera, but watching Stella run is absolutely wonderful.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzDYNCNC5dr4-ruIA271XOIMfESWs0TmLfZg3XXgmqQ-b42yxgmUqO4Q7WmRp1xhWl_WdCCwBF2nyooJVMmg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyT-5LcNizTaRJ3Zc2LPsJsL-CXQ1Am1w9Yq60-B0rplhf02o1AvFjq9C-aT23LMS3_jvJZhsept6uQSW9xeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtDD3HvNiAg/TkQRScTUJYI/AAAAAAAABGQ/FMpesunXVkY/s1600/278813_672818180241_43006750_35176778_5870598_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtDD3HvNiAg/TkQRScTUJYI/AAAAAAAABGQ/FMpesunXVkY/s320/278813_672818180241_43006750_35176778_5870598_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>Heading out this weekend for another six hour ride and 30 minute run. I would like to thank <a href="http://www.recoverypump.com/">Recovery Pump</a> for ensuring that I am still able to run, let alone walk, on Sunday!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More soon. Train Smart!</div><br />
</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3425340098357325493.post-92064789295249609462011-08-03T13:26:00.001-04:002011-08-03T13:27:31.642-04:00A Triathlete's Manifesto: CAN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y-GCAfyZtc/TjmEACRDCZI/AAAAAAAABF8/JCAk9zLjbIE/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-08-03+at+1.19.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y-GCAfyZtc/TjmEACRDCZI/AAAAAAAABF8/JCAk9zLjbIE/s400/Screen+shot+2011-08-03+at+1.19.02+PM.png" width="243" /></a></div><div>"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Fight Cancer<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Beat Cancer</div><div><br />
</div><div>Last One Picked In Gym Class</div><div><br />
</div><div>To Let My Children Know That Anything Is Possible</div><div><br />
</div><div>The T-Shirt</div><div><br />
</div><div>Challenge Myself</div><div><br />
</div><div>There are thousands of athletes that train for triathlons every year. Everyone has something that motivates them. I have heard every reason why people dedicate so much time to go out there on a weekend, spend your heard earned dough, and beat the hell out of yourself for a few hours. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Lately, I have been getting a lot of questions asked by people—especially family—why I do what I do. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Do I have something to prove? Nope. I ran Rev3 Full last year. I know I am capable of doing the mileage. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So, why the hell do I subject myself to a part-time job that I will never get paid for? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Those of us who do it, understand why. It is not really a choice. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It is a lifestyle. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Like the "choice" to become a composer. It was not really a choice. I had an involuntary urge to want to be accompanied by music all the time. It was not that I "chose" to be a composer, but rather, it chose me. I can never stop thinking about music—it is in my head <i>all </i>the time. I write daily, I play daily. I write music because it is my passion and I have to do it. Whatever it is I do, I want to do it an an exceptionally high level. I think that is one thing I have noticed about triathletes. I have not met too many athletes who race triathlon that are complete slackers outside of that world. Everyone I know are incredibly hard-working human beings who work hard in every aspect of their lives—whether it is parenting, their careers, scholarship, academics, or their athletic endeavors. I have noticed that triathlon does have a tendency to attract people who are incredibly goal-oriented. That is a good thing, right? Even when I was tending bar in college, I asked myself "what can I do to maximize my tips?" No, <a href="http://www.trimommylife.com/">Kelly</a>, I did not take off my shirt. Despite what you think, I have worn a shirt more this summer than I have been without one.</div></div><div>There are few things I dislike more than people who say things like "...I just don't have the time," "...we can't do that. It's not possible." </div><div><br />
</div><div>I have never understood—nor will I ever—understand the notion that something is <i>not</i> possible. How is THAT possible?!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have worked with people who have given me this line. I would rather work with people who try to find ways to do the seemingly<i> impossible </i>rather than resign themselves to some imaginary notion that they can not do something. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dd3uS7JHmd4/TjmDPBeNwSI/AAAAAAAABF4/sI5gIYr8y0E/s1600/StevePrefontaine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dd3uS7JHmd4/TjmDPBeNwSI/AAAAAAAABF4/sI5gIYr8y0E/s400/StevePrefontaine.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div>I see people overcome enormous obstacles everyday. Forget about triathlon. I look at heroic people—ordinary people—with live with physical disabilities, chronic pain, even terminal illnesses—who do not resign themselves to limitations imposed upon them by the words of others, or by their own bodies. Those who live with these "limitations" somehow muster up the courage to summon superhuman will—not allowing their brain to listen when the body says "quit, now," "you're tired," "you can't do this." These people are fighters. They are winners. They are inspiration for me. I think of the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt. If you don't know their story yet, I dare you to watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRHxHapwirw&feature=related">this video</a> without getting choked up. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Why do I train? For me, I get little satisfaction out of the physicality of the sport. I mean, I don't wake up in the morning and say "Alright! I am super-psyched about my one hour open water swim and 45-minute training run today!" Okay, I do like to be out there hitting it hard, and I do love the feeling that I have after accomplishing a ride/run/swim, but to me, the more attractive part of triathlon is the mental component. Anyone who puts in the time to train can run a successful triathlon at any distance. By "successful" here, I mean that they can <i>finish</i>. Qualifying for Kona is not an option unless you are genetically predisposed, work your ass off, and, alas, MAKE TIME!</div><div><br />
</div><div>When friends say they don't have time to a man with five children, a full-time job, and a ton of projects constantly on the burner, I feel like I should have a free pass to just punch them in the face. For the record, my wife feels this way too. However, I am not a violent man, and the passive-aggresive route is so transparent to anyone with a brain. But, I do ask, "Is it that you don't have time, or you are just not interested in making time for that?" I have friends that are casual runners. Some even will run the occasional half marathon. One of my friends gets out to run two days a week—once during the week, and one "long" run on the weekend. I always wonder (aloud), why don't you do more running during the week?</div><div><br />
</div><div><div>"I don't have the time to train." </div><div><br />
</div><div>Let me translate what that really means: I am NOT motivated/interested in improving my run. I am okay with being mediocre. There are other things in my life that are more important to me. </div><div><br />
</div><div>OKAY—I get that! But, don't say you do not have time to train. I have gone for runs this season at 5:30 in the morning and 11 p.m. at night. I fit it where I can. I also do not run merely to train. I run for my sanity. If I don't run, I become a very irritable person. I need it to help clear the cobwebs, and to escape from the sometimes harsh and brutal realities of <i>la vie quotidienne. </i></div></div><div><br />
</div><div>So, back to the mental part. That is the most difficult. Finding the will. You know, there are days that I just DO NOT want to go outside, I do not want to do it. This has been especially true the last couple of weeks in western New York as temperatures have consistently been in the low-90's, and the humidity can only be described as "brutal." I feel for my blogger buddies like <a href="http://danglethecarrot.blogspot.com/">Jeff</a> and <a href="http://www.annesirondream.blogspot.com/">Anne</a> who remind me that they live in that weather eleven and a half months out of the year. In the end, I know that if I don't go outside and start training that I am going to feel worse for it later. I am going to be grumpy, tired, lethargic, and filled with guilt (I getter over the guilt thing pretty quickly though, I must say). </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>TRAINING: </b>I am currently in the middle of a build week. Everything has been going pretty well. I am biking and swimming where I think I should be. My runs have seemed a bit flat this week, but it could be because of the unbelievably oppressive heat and humidity (I'm blushing Jeff). The asphalt was well over a hundred degrees on my 45 minute run the other day. When I was done, it felt like I ran through a sprinkler. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I have a monster 6-hour ride this weekend. Yikes. I am going to try to hit a very hilly course. I will probably post the course here when I am done. If I am still alive. </div><div><br />
</div><div>More soon. Train Smart!</div><div><br />
</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07837974906193121567noreply@blogger.com12