GVH (link to Word document for team results)
FF managed to sweep last place in all four categories we were entered in. But, at least we scored points in those divisions, which further on in the series could make a difference. Always tough when you move runners down in age group to fill out a team, which we did for the women's open and men's masters teams.
Also on an individual basis the following people scored points (top 15 in each division score, then totals are added for year end awards):
Keri Baker 30-39, 9th and Sarah Kimball 13th
Therese Christo 50-59 5th
Emily Schmeling 20-29, 9th
Christine Klein 40-49, 8th, Carolyn Privitera-Gage 10th
Jim Roche 50-59, 15th
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Pete Glavin Upstate NY XC Series
A beautiful day to run marked the first race in the xc series. The course, a 5k jaunt around some of the trails of Mendon Ponds that Pete Glavin used to like to run on, included a taxing climb up Cardiac Hill.
Complete individual and age group results are available here. I will post team standings as soon as I can find them.
Our Open women's team was lead by Keri Baker in a time of 21:50. James Roche was our first male finisher in 19:50. We had a nice tight team finish for the men's 50-59 age group, with John Benson, Al Vasbinder and Frank Quattrone within 21 seconds of each other.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Role Models
A thought popped in my brain a moment ago that I should live my life more like our professional athletes, our role models. To that end I am:
1. Taking performance enhancing drugs and when I get caught denying it all. When the proof is too overwhelming I will blame it on my trainer who must have been spiking my drinks.
2. Punching any photographer, or at least his/her camera, that gets in my way.
3. Kicking any dogs who bark at me when I'm out running.
4. Getting drunk and running over people with my car.
5. Okay, I'll just get drunk and at 4am, with four friends in the car, drive around the city, an accident waiting to happen.
6. Throw my helmet into the stands, not thinking that I might injure a person.
7. Calling my supervisors/coaches/fans etc. idiots in public, on the radio, tv, twitter, in a newspaper article and then wonder why they turn against me and I get traded.
8. Beat or verbally abuse my wife and hit her father.
9. Gamble away more money on one visit to a casino than most people make in a year.
10. Keep my boyz around me, even though they are lowlife drug using slime, cuz, well, their my boyz. Yeah, they may shoot someone outside the bar I'm visiting, but can you prove it?
A verbal apology will take care of all this right? Seems to work for our "role models". "If he would just apologize it would be so much better." NO, no really, it doesn't make up for you being an ass. Really, it doesn't. How about behaving like a decent human being from the beginning?
What would happen if you or I behaved like this in the real world where we work? Fired? In jail? Sure wouldn't get to sign another longterm contract for millions of dollars with another organization.
1. Taking performance enhancing drugs and when I get caught denying it all. When the proof is too overwhelming I will blame it on my trainer who must have been spiking my drinks.
2. Punching any photographer, or at least his/her camera, that gets in my way.
3. Kicking any dogs who bark at me when I'm out running.
4. Getting drunk and running over people with my car.
5. Okay, I'll just get drunk and at 4am, with four friends in the car, drive around the city, an accident waiting to happen.
6. Throw my helmet into the stands, not thinking that I might injure a person.
7. Calling my supervisors/coaches/fans etc. idiots in public, on the radio, tv, twitter, in a newspaper article and then wonder why they turn against me and I get traded.
8. Beat or verbally abuse my wife and hit her father.
9. Gamble away more money on one visit to a casino than most people make in a year.
10. Keep my boyz around me, even though they are lowlife drug using slime, cuz, well, their my boyz. Yeah, they may shoot someone outside the bar I'm visiting, but can you prove it?
A verbal apology will take care of all this right? Seems to work for our "role models". "If he would just apologize it would be so much better." NO, no really, it doesn't make up for you being an ass. Really, it doesn't. How about behaving like a decent human being from the beginning?
What would happen if you or I behaved like this in the real world where we work? Fired? In jail? Sure wouldn't get to sign another longterm contract for millions of dollars with another organization.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Triathlons
Congratulation to Terri Christo and Patty Pirnie for completing the Syracuse 1/2 IM on Sunday!
Sunday, September 19 was also the Finger Lakes Triathlon. It was a close battle between Macho Man Weinpress and the Princess, with Macho Man squeaking through with less than a minute victory. Eileen did finish first in her age group, however, demolishing the competition by 3 minutes. MM was an honorable fourth in his group.
In the Olympic distance, Queenie (Jan) won the swim, transitions were close, but I took the bike and run. Queenie finished third in her age group.
Roger Howe finished second in his age group.
Once again it was made clear that I am a very average triathlete, at best. The most nerve racking part of participating in a triathlon is packing for the event. I've been on week long vacations with three kids that involved less stress.
Things I learned at the Finger Lakes Triathlon:
1. Sunday morning is a busy time for Amish (Mennonite?) families riding in their buggies. I saw at least 6 out on the bike course. Did you know car seats aren't required in buggies? Don't they get cold in the winter, there's no heat in those things? Maybe thinking about this stuff when on the bike is why I bike slow?
2. Evidently suitcases are okay to have in transition?
3. I still cannot swim in a straight line unless in a pool with markers.
4. Flat tires stink. I didn't have one, but saw 10 people out of the race, at least temporarily, with one.
5. Spit in your goggles before the swim. Foggy goggles do not help with sighting.
6. Canandaigua Lake has really tall weeds growing up from the bottom, even at 800 yards out. I thought I was in the Goblet of Fire/Harry Potter movie.
7. Transitions are a great place to rest and be laid back. Not really, but it seems to be a habit of mine.
8. 4:30am comes early.
9. Hammer Nutrition works for me and Jan in a race of this distance/time.
10. I can beat Jan when she is not in triathlon shape.
Sunday, September 19 was also the Finger Lakes Triathlon. It was a close battle between Macho Man Weinpress and the Princess, with Macho Man squeaking through with less than a minute victory. Eileen did finish first in her age group, however, demolishing the competition by 3 minutes. MM was an honorable fourth in his group.
In the Olympic distance, Queenie (Jan) won the swim, transitions were close, but I took the bike and run. Queenie finished third in her age group.
Roger Howe finished second in his age group.
Once again it was made clear that I am a very average triathlete, at best. The most nerve racking part of participating in a triathlon is packing for the event. I've been on week long vacations with three kids that involved less stress.
Things I learned at the Finger Lakes Triathlon:
1. Sunday morning is a busy time for Amish (Mennonite?) families riding in their buggies. I saw at least 6 out on the bike course. Did you know car seats aren't required in buggies? Don't they get cold in the winter, there's no heat in those things? Maybe thinking about this stuff when on the bike is why I bike slow?
2. Evidently suitcases are okay to have in transition?
3. I still cannot swim in a straight line unless in a pool with markers.
4. Flat tires stink. I didn't have one, but saw 10 people out of the race, at least temporarily, with one.
5. Spit in your goggles before the swim. Foggy goggles do not help with sighting.
6. Canandaigua Lake has really tall weeds growing up from the bottom, even at 800 yards out. I thought I was in the Goblet of Fire/Harry Potter movie.
7. Transitions are a great place to rest and be laid back. Not really, but it seems to be a habit of mine.
8. 4:30am comes early.
9. Hammer Nutrition works for me and Jan in a race of this distance/time.
10. I can beat Jan when she is not in triathlon shape.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Triathlon Showdown!
The FingerLakes Triathlon takes place on Sunday, September 19, with the swim start in Canandaigua Lake.
In the sprint race (.5mile swim, 13 mile bike, 5k run) Mike "Macho Man" Weinpress takes on Eileen "Petite Princess" Weinpress. The bookies are giving EPPW the swim and bike legs, meaning Macho Man has a scant 3 miles to chase her down and keep his honor. This race may be decided in the transitions. If Macho Man can stay away from eating a sub between the bike and run he may pull off a victory.
The Olympic distance (1500m swim, 22.5m bike, 10k run) has Jan "Queenie" McCullough versus Mike "Muffin Top" McCullough. Though Queenie is a much better swimmer, the wetsuit seems to negate her speed advantage. Swim is a tie. Bike will be close, the hill out of Rushville may decide this one, then Muffin Top has to hang on during the run. Transitions, again, could be the ultimate victory decider. Will Muffin Top have to wrestle an octopus getting out of his wetsuit? Let's hope no one has to see that show!
In the sprint race (.5mile swim, 13 mile bike, 5k run) Mike "Macho Man" Weinpress takes on Eileen "Petite Princess" Weinpress. The bookies are giving EPPW the swim and bike legs, meaning Macho Man has a scant 3 miles to chase her down and keep his honor. This race may be decided in the transitions. If Macho Man can stay away from eating a sub between the bike and run he may pull off a victory.
The Olympic distance (1500m swim, 22.5m bike, 10k run) has Jan "Queenie" McCullough versus Mike "Muffin Top" McCullough. Though Queenie is a much better swimmer, the wetsuit seems to negate her speed advantage. Swim is a tie. Bike will be close, the hill out of Rushville may decide this one, then Muffin Top has to hang on during the run. Transitions, again, could be the ultimate victory decider. Will Muffin Top have to wrestle an octopus getting out of his wetsuit? Let's hope no one has to see that show!
Monday, September 13, 2010
You May Not Be Racing If...?
1. You carry and drink from a coffee mug while in the race and don't spill a drop.
2. You are wearing the same clothes for the race that you wear to the office for work.
3. You have been out there for 3.5+ hours for a 13.1 mile race, are about 35 years old and your mother/grandmother who is cheering for you can keep up the same pace.
4. A mother pushing a two child baby stroller, while walking on the sidewalk, is beating you.
5. Average marathoners, who ran double the distance, are beating you as you complete the 13.1 mile race.
6. Spectators only know you are a race participant because of the race number you are wearing.
7. You are not sweating. At all. In fact you probably don't even need to bother showering that day.
8. You can eat a take out meal while participating in the event.
2. You are wearing the same clothes for the race that you wear to the office for work.
3. You have been out there for 3.5+ hours for a 13.1 mile race, are about 35 years old and your mother/grandmother who is cheering for you can keep up the same pace.
4. A mother pushing a two child baby stroller, while walking on the sidewalk, is beating you.
5. Average marathoners, who ran double the distance, are beating you as you complete the 13.1 mile race.
6. Spectators only know you are a race participant because of the race number you are wearing.
7. You are not sweating. At all. In fact you probably don't even need to bother showering that day.
8. You can eat a take out meal while participating in the event.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Muffin Top
Cute name, right?
Or maybe it's the name of a new bakery, ala Elaine from a Seinfeld episode? "Elaine: Oh yeah. It's the best part. It's crunchy, it's explosive, it's where the muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of does it's own thing. I'll tell you. That's a million dollar idea right there. Just sell the tops."
Actually Muffin Top is what Jan is calling my belly, because apparently I've put on a few pounds and am now shaped like a muffin top. This is not a complement. A zipper broke on a pair of my Dockers last week. For awhile I thought this was a defective pair of pants, but now I'm wondering, was it my muffin top belly breaking free and doing it's own thing, stretching the pants beyond limits?
Since I'm not opening a bakery anytime soon, I guess the cookie consumption has to drop, the alcohol cut to 2 or 3 days a week and the running mileage boosted upwards. Who knows, maybe I'll actually be able to run fast again.
Or maybe it's the name of a new bakery, ala Elaine from a Seinfeld episode? "Elaine: Oh yeah. It's the best part. It's crunchy, it's explosive, it's where the muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of does it's own thing. I'll tell you. That's a million dollar idea right there. Just sell the tops."
Actually Muffin Top is what Jan is calling my belly, because apparently I've put on a few pounds and am now shaped like a muffin top. This is not a complement. A zipper broke on a pair of my Dockers last week. For awhile I thought this was a defective pair of pants, but now I'm wondering, was it my muffin top belly breaking free and doing it's own thing, stretching the pants beyond limits?
Since I'm not opening a bakery anytime soon, I guess the cookie consumption has to drop, the alcohol cut to 2 or 3 days a week and the running mileage boosted upwards. Who knows, maybe I'll actually be able to run fast again.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
TrailRunner?
For reasons I do not understand, once you become a member of the U.S. Snowshoe Association, you receive a complimentary year's subscription to TrailRunner magazine.
I haven't read a magazine that makes me feel so inferior since browsing through a Muscle & Fitness issue at the car repair shop a few months ago. I'm a toothpick, always have been, evidently always will be and seeing these airbrushed, tanned, men with bulging muscles is not good for my ego.
One might ask, "Mike, you're a runner, how could a running magazine make you feel inferior"? A logical question.
Evidently one is not a "real" trail runner unless you do a 100 mile race. But, not just any 100 mile race, as if that isn't a ridiculous enough distance. Nooo, my friends. Maybe you opt for the Vermont 100 as your race? 100 miles, that is my house in Spencerport, NY to Rich stadium (home of the world famous Buffalo Bills)in Orchard Park, NY and back again! Vermont has "little" hills and dirt roads with climbing totals of only 14,160 feet (similar to climbing Pike's Peak). 70% of entrants complete this baby of a course.
No, if you really are going to do 100 miles why not try the Hardrock 100 in the Silverton Colorado area, 33,992 feet of climb and 33,992 feet of descent for a total elevation change of 67,984 feet with an average elevation of 11,186 feet - low point 7,680 feet (Ouray) and high point 14,048 feet (Handies Peak). Then maybe, just maybe, you will be considered an ultrarunner.
Hardrock is one example, there are many other races available. Perusing Trailrunner, reading the descriptions of running at night, temporarily losing your mind after 15 hours of being in the deep forests, walking/running/jogging over boulders, down steep ravines, across streams probably isn't my cup of tea.
I do like wearing trail shoes though, they are damn comfortable while I'm sitting at my desk in the library.
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