Best of luck to our three Sal's marathon participants, Lou, Mike and Pete. All three are in great shape and have put in the training for a legitimate chance of qualifying for Boston in 2011 or 2012.
Let's hope for good weather, low wind, little or no rain, cool temps for the race.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
As The Sports World Turns
1. Big Ben, QB of the Steelers, is on a 4-6 game suspension for questionable behavior in a bar with a girl. He must have been tutored by Tiger Woods. Now they can go to treatment together.
2. The Pittsburgh Marathon sold out, at 16,000 runners, an increase of 6,000 over last year! It must be the influence of our Sal's group deciding to participate that made other runners think this is the race to be at.
3. The first annual Flower City Challenge 13.1 mile race doubles its' predicted number of entrants, with over 1,200 registered! This is going to be so cool. The race course is really nice and the support of Mayor Duffy is a huge help.
4. The NFL draft goes to a 3 day format and at least the first round is on prime time tv. This is a sign the apocalypse is upon us. How many of these draft choices really make it in the league for more than a couple of years? Experts spend weeks, no months, looking at game film, giving physical and psychological tests to the athletes, and still many of the players have no impact on their team.
5. The price of an Ironman race has increased to $550, yet most of them still sell out within an hour or so. Why didn't I think of this as a business venture?
6. You can enter an Iron Distance race for about half that cost. Everything is the same except for naming rights. I guess you couldn't get an IM tattoo either? Oh, and you wouldn't be eligible for qualifying for the Hawaii IM race. Would you still tell people you did an Ironman? I say yes, normal people wouldn't know the difference anyhow.
7. The Bills will draft a lineman, pay him lots of money, develop him for three years, then not re-sign him and he will become all-pro on another team.
8. The NBA bores me. I've been a Celtics fan since the late 1960's and I can't even watch a complete one of their games anymore.
9. A big congratulations to the Sal's finishers at the Boston Marathon; Roger O'Dell, Mike May, Lance Calvert and Andy Arnold.
2. The Pittsburgh Marathon sold out, at 16,000 runners, an increase of 6,000 over last year! It must be the influence of our Sal's group deciding to participate that made other runners think this is the race to be at.
3. The first annual Flower City Challenge 13.1 mile race doubles its' predicted number of entrants, with over 1,200 registered! This is going to be so cool. The race course is really nice and the support of Mayor Duffy is a huge help.
4. The NFL draft goes to a 3 day format and at least the first round is on prime time tv. This is a sign the apocalypse is upon us. How many of these draft choices really make it in the league for more than a couple of years? Experts spend weeks, no months, looking at game film, giving physical and psychological tests to the athletes, and still many of the players have no impact on their team.
5. The price of an Ironman race has increased to $550, yet most of them still sell out within an hour or so. Why didn't I think of this as a business venture?
6. You can enter an Iron Distance race for about half that cost. Everything is the same except for naming rights. I guess you couldn't get an IM tattoo either? Oh, and you wouldn't be eligible for qualifying for the Hawaii IM race. Would you still tell people you did an Ironman? I say yes, normal people wouldn't know the difference anyhow.
7. The Bills will draft a lineman, pay him lots of money, develop him for three years, then not re-sign him and he will become all-pro on another team.
8. The NBA bores me. I've been a Celtics fan since the late 1960's and I can't even watch a complete one of their games anymore.
9. A big congratulations to the Sal's finishers at the Boston Marathon; Roger O'Dell, Mike May, Lance Calvert and Andy Arnold.
Friday, April 16, 2010
New Career?
Swedish scientists have begun transferring body heat generated by rush hour commuters to heat nearby office buildings.
"downtown Stockholm and a sea of Swedes are flooding Central Station to catch a train to work. The station is toasty thanks to the busy shops and restaurants and the body heat being generated by the 250,000 commuters who crowd Scandinavia's busiest travel hub each day. This heat used to be lost by the end of the morning rush hour. Now, however, engineers have figured out a way to harness it and transfer it to a newly refurbished office building down the block. Unbeknownst to them, these sweaty Swedes have become a green energy source: "They're cheap and renewable," says Karl Sundholm, a project manager..."
Due to my known propensity for generating heat and sweat, the Swedes have offered a substantial sum of money to assist in this endeavor. After many calculations the scientists figured my running and biking indoors for a couple of hours a day replaces the need for several thousand commuters. I will be responsible for heating three office buildings. If you don't see me running on the canal path for awhile, just assume I'm in Sweden working out.
I knew one day I would be a pro athlete and this is as close as I'll ever get.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Mindless Ramblings
Predictions:
An American male will not win Boston this year (big surprise, though Ryan and Meb will make a race out of it and finish in the top ten).
A male Kenyan (Elijah Keitany-pr 2:06) will win. I just like the name Elijah.
Madai Perez (pr 2:22) will win the female division. There are no elite American women racing.
New Roger will win the Sals division, followed closely by LanceIlovehelicopters, Mike May and Andy.
Congratulations to: "Joan Benoit Samuelson, 52, the 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist, ran 60:52 to finish 18th in her first Cherry Blossom race. She beat all 40-year-olds and set a U.S. age-group record for 10 miles, shattering the mark of 62:01 set by S. Rae Baymiller in 1994." Washington Post. Jan and I ran the the Cherry Blossom race two years ago. It is a great race.
Why do the rudest drivers on I490 have large NY Yankee stickers on their SUV's?
An American male will not win Boston this year (big surprise, though Ryan and Meb will make a race out of it and finish in the top ten).
A male Kenyan (Elijah Keitany-pr 2:06) will win. I just like the name Elijah.
Madai Perez (pr 2:22) will win the female division. There are no elite American women racing.
New Roger will win the Sals division, followed closely by LanceIlovehelicopters, Mike May and Andy.
Congratulations to: "Joan Benoit Samuelson, 52, the 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist, ran 60:52 to finish 18th in her first Cherry Blossom race. She beat all 40-year-olds and set a U.S. age-group record for 10 miles, shattering the mark of 62:01 set by S. Rae Baymiller in 1994." Washington Post. Jan and I ran the the Cherry Blossom race two years ago. It is a great race.
Why do the rudest drivers on I490 have large NY Yankee stickers on their SUV's?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Pittsburgh Marathon
Lou, Mike W. and Pete are running the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 2. (Eileen may also run, depends on an injury healing).
Top Ten Things That Will Happen at the Pittsburgh Marathon.
10. Jan and I will get lost or stuck in traffic on our way to spectate (we are going to Pittsburgh for a wedding Saturday night)and miss our three amigos.
9. After arriving at his hotel, Lou will drive around in circles in the parking garage until he gets just the right spot.
8. MW will be able to watch a Yankees game on cable tv the night before the marathon, but fall asleep during the second inning.
7. People will cheer for Lou more than anyone else in the race (Lou is such a natural name to shout out, LOUUUUEEEE, GOGOGO LOUIS, LOULOULOULOU).
6. Lou will take a scale to measure the calories in each Gel package he uses during the race.
5. Joanne, Eileen and Yolanda will enjoy three hours of big city shopping and wear out their charge cards.
4. Water stop volunteers will be confused when Pete keeps asking for pickle juice.
3.MW will finish in 3:39:22, Lou will run a 3:44:08, Pete a 3:56:18 and all three will qualify for the 2010 Boston Marathon!
2.MW will eat a greasy cheeseburger (or two) for a post-race celebration meal.
1. The group will end up off the expressway, heading towards Ohio on a dirt road, listening to Country & Western music from the 1960's on the radio when trying to drive home to New York.
Top Ten Things That Will Happen at the Pittsburgh Marathon.
10. Jan and I will get lost or stuck in traffic on our way to spectate (we are going to Pittsburgh for a wedding Saturday night)and miss our three amigos.
9. After arriving at his hotel, Lou will drive around in circles in the parking garage until he gets just the right spot.
8. MW will be able to watch a Yankees game on cable tv the night before the marathon, but fall asleep during the second inning.
7. People will cheer for Lou more than anyone else in the race (Lou is such a natural name to shout out, LOUUUUEEEE, GOGOGO LOUIS, LOULOULOULOU).
6. Lou will take a scale to measure the calories in each Gel package he uses during the race.
5. Joanne, Eileen and Yolanda will enjoy three hours of big city shopping and wear out their charge cards.
4. Water stop volunteers will be confused when Pete keeps asking for pickle juice.
3.MW will finish in 3:39:22, Lou will run a 3:44:08, Pete a 3:56:18 and all three will qualify for the 2010 Boston Marathon!
2.MW will eat a greasy cheeseburger (or two) for a post-race celebration meal.
1. The group will end up off the expressway, heading towards Ohio on a dirt road, listening to Country & Western music from the 1960's on the radio when trying to drive home to New York.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Top 10 Ways to Beat D.M. in a Triathlon
DM=Famous triathlete - Dennis Moriarty
10. Don't wait 30 seconds after the gun goes off to begin swimming (time saved -30sec)
9. Swim in a straight line (save 3 minutes)
8. Learn to get out of my damn wetsuit! (save 3 minutes)
7. Bike faster (in 2008, my first Shoreline Tri I avg. 19.3mph which I thought was pretty good - DM averaged 23.8mph and beat me on that leg by 8:55!)DM likely won't get faster, he is already one of the top Tri guys, I, being quite average, have lots of room to improve - time saved - 5 minutes
6. Not have some fool move my stuff on the transition racks while I'm biking so I can locate it when I come off the bike (save 1 minute)
5.Run faster? Maybe I can, but DM is just much better at this. (time saved 0)
4. I'm experienced at tri's now, having completed 3 sprints, 1 du, 1dnf 1/2 IM compared to DM's national rankings, hundreds of tri races,IM's, overall Shoreline/Hamlin Beach wins, age group wins. Well, okay, maybe this tactic isn't that great?
If learning to swim, bike and transition don't work, I'll try the following tactics:
4. Line up behind Dennis for the swim and loop a weight on his ankle just as he begins his first stroke (save 1 minute)
3. Hire Hooters girls to distract DM. They will be stationed at the swim exit and transition area. I'll pay extra if they "help" him remove his wetsuit. (save 3 minutes)
2. Spike his water bottles. (save 2 minutes, possibly much more if the alcohol makes DM be friendlier to the Hooter gals).
1. Use proven Mike W. race tactics, plenty of elbows, "accidental" foot tripping and bad jokes (save 2 minutes).
In 2008 Dennis won our age group in a time of 1:19:35, I finished 7th in 1:43:05 a 23:30 difference, or as some people like to say, "DM cooled down, was on his second beer, changed clothes and was eating a hot dog as you finished".
I need to find other ways to close the gap, the 10 ideas above save me 20 minutes and a couple may be considered illegal in some circles. Suggestions are welcome.
10. Don't wait 30 seconds after the gun goes off to begin swimming (time saved -30sec)
9. Swim in a straight line (save 3 minutes)
8. Learn to get out of my damn wetsuit! (save 3 minutes)
7. Bike faster (in 2008, my first Shoreline Tri I avg. 19.3mph which I thought was pretty good - DM averaged 23.8mph and beat me on that leg by 8:55!)DM likely won't get faster, he is already one of the top Tri guys, I, being quite average, have lots of room to improve - time saved - 5 minutes
6. Not have some fool move my stuff on the transition racks while I'm biking so I can locate it when I come off the bike (save 1 minute)
5.Run faster? Maybe I can, but DM is just much better at this. (time saved 0)
4. I'm experienced at tri's now, having completed 3 sprints, 1 du, 1dnf 1/2 IM compared to DM's national rankings, hundreds of tri races,IM's, overall Shoreline/Hamlin Beach wins, age group wins. Well, okay, maybe this tactic isn't that great?
If learning to swim, bike and transition don't work, I'll try the following tactics:
4. Line up behind Dennis for the swim and loop a weight on his ankle just as he begins his first stroke (save 1 minute)
3. Hire Hooters girls to distract DM. They will be stationed at the swim exit and transition area. I'll pay extra if they "help" him remove his wetsuit. (save 3 minutes)
2. Spike his water bottles. (save 2 minutes, possibly much more if the alcohol makes DM be friendlier to the Hooter gals).
1. Use proven Mike W. race tactics, plenty of elbows, "accidental" foot tripping and bad jokes (save 2 minutes).
In 2008 Dennis won our age group in a time of 1:19:35, I finished 7th in 1:43:05 a 23:30 difference, or as some people like to say, "DM cooled down, was on his second beer, changed clothes and was eating a hot dog as you finished".
I need to find other ways to close the gap, the 10 ideas above save me 20 minutes and a couple may be considered illegal in some circles. Suggestions are welcome.
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