Only a REAL Runner would have toes like this!
Identify these toes and win a prize.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Shoreline Multi-Distance Festival
The sunny, hot Saturday morning didn't stop our hero, Mike W from completing his second 1/2 marathon of the year. After four miles, realizing the 80+ 8:30am temps weren't favoring a quick pace, MW did the wise thing, backed off the pace and enjoyed the farm field scenery of Hamlin. Almost 300 people ran the half and there were NO dnf's, which is incredible, considering the weather.
Lou and I competed in the Tri on Sunday, which unfortunately was changed to a Duathlon because of the white caps in Lake Ontario. The race became a 2mile run/15.7bike/2 mile run. The top 10 reasons I beat Lou at the race are:
10. I paid Joanne to keep his asthma inhaler.
9. Lou, missing the swim, biked with a wet suit on.
8. The wind was intense and the sail Lou attached to his bike for speed actually pushed him backwards.
7. I got to T1 first and let the air out of Lou's tires.
6. MW, road marshall supreme, sent Lou in the wrong direction. For a few minutes Lou thought he was winning the race!
5. The run course looped through a small woods section and Lou couldn't pass up a chance to become one with Mother Nature. He's a runner, why use a real bathroom if you don't have to?
4. Lou's water bottle was mysteriously switched to American Honey Bourbon. He wobbled more than normal on the bike.
3. Lou noticed Joanne taking photos of him and got off the bike to pose.
2. My slight head start on the bike out of T1 allowed me to switch the arrows on a couple of roads, sending Lou in the wrong direction.
1. Lou couldn't decide if he was in the 55-59 age group or 60+. His mind was working overtime trying to do the math and when Lou began using his bike computer, which only does time/speed/rpm he became totally confused. The computer began sparking and flew off his bike onto the road. Lou tried to use his spidey hands to grab it, got caught in the spokes, spun around and upside down, landing back on the seat. But the time loss was too great and he couldn't make it up on the last run.
Victory goes to....ME!
Lou and I competed in the Tri on Sunday, which unfortunately was changed to a Duathlon because of the white caps in Lake Ontario. The race became a 2mile run/15.7bike/2 mile run. The top 10 reasons I beat Lou at the race are:
10. I paid Joanne to keep his asthma inhaler.
9. Lou, missing the swim, biked with a wet suit on.
8. The wind was intense and the sail Lou attached to his bike for speed actually pushed him backwards.
7. I got to T1 first and let the air out of Lou's tires.
6. MW, road marshall supreme, sent Lou in the wrong direction. For a few minutes Lou thought he was winning the race!
5. The run course looped through a small woods section and Lou couldn't pass up a chance to become one with Mother Nature. He's a runner, why use a real bathroom if you don't have to?
4. Lou's water bottle was mysteriously switched to American Honey Bourbon. He wobbled more than normal on the bike.
3. Lou noticed Joanne taking photos of him and got off the bike to pose.
2. My slight head start on the bike out of T1 allowed me to switch the arrows on a couple of roads, sending Lou in the wrong direction.
1. Lou couldn't decide if he was in the 55-59 age group or 60+. His mind was working overtime trying to do the math and when Lou began using his bike computer, which only does time/speed/rpm he became totally confused. The computer began sparking and flew off his bike onto the road. Lou tried to use his spidey hands to grab it, got caught in the spokes, spun around and upside down, landing back on the seat. But the time loss was too great and he couldn't make it up on the last run.
Victory goes to....ME!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Shoreline Triathlon
The Shoreline Multisport Festival is Saturday, July 23 and Sunday the 24th. Saturday is your choice of a 5k or 13.1 mile race. Look for Sals members MW and Pete "Father Time" in the half. Jan may run, or may not. I will be working at the race.
Sunday is the sprint triathlon, a 1/2 mile swim in the calm waters of Lake Ontario, 15.7 mile bike ride on the flat roads of Hamlin, and a 4 mile run near the shore of the lake. Rumor has it Lou, he with the newly shaved face after 30+ years with a beard, is doing the tri. Unfortunately for Lou, shaving won't be enough as I plan on beating him.
My guess is we will come out of the water close to one another, he will beat me in transition (why can't we have wetsuit pull off volunteers?), I will gain a slight advantage on the bike (if there are no flats), he will catch me in transition and I will crush him on the run.
Sunday is the sprint triathlon, a 1/2 mile swim in the calm waters of Lake Ontario, 15.7 mile bike ride on the flat roads of Hamlin, and a 4 mile run near the shore of the lake. Rumor has it Lou, he with the newly shaved face after 30+ years with a beard, is doing the tri. Unfortunately for Lou, shaving won't be enough as I plan on beating him.
My guess is we will come out of the water close to one another, he will beat me in transition (why can't we have wetsuit pull off volunteers?), I will gain a slight advantage on the bike (if there are no flats), he will catch me in transition and I will crush him on the run.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Fundraising
It’s interesting to reflect on how fundraising has changed over the past four decades. The first recorded “walkathon” was in 1969, the CROP Hunger Walk in Bismarck, N.D. $25,000 was raised and the idea spread to other non-profit groups.
By the 1990’s the running for charity boom had a firm foothold in the U.S. There are event producers who make their living setting up races for charities, trade shows and technology vendors. Major charities have an in-house staff whose sole purpose is to organize events and recruit runners to their races. Team in Training (Leukemia Society) employs 350 full-time people who organize endurance events. In 2010 $1.65 billion was raised by non-profits through athletic events.
The question to ask is, “how much of the money raised by the participants goes towards prevention, finding a cure, treatment, etc.?” The average event takes .50cents of each dollar raised to cover costs. Other fund raising methods generally take .15-.20 cents. (direct mail costs .20, major gifts, .10-.18). The American Cancer Society does well with its’ Relay for Life, holding costs to .8cents for each dollar raised, but this is unusual. If a charity can get sponsors to pick up some of its costs, then more money goes towards the actual problem. Still, someone has to pay.
In 2010 there were 36,958 athletic fundraisers in the U.S. (from the “Run, Walk, Ride Fundraising Council”). If I tell people at work I am participating in a race, or working at a race, one of the first questions is, “what is the race for-meaning who am I raising money for?” It’s ingrained in the public’s mind that is the only reason to participate. If I answer, “I have no idea” or, to be really bad, “it’s not for a charity, it’s to see how fast you are or if I can finish” I am looked down upon. Why would I or how could I do an event just to see if I can finish or not know or care about the charity?
The Boston Marathon, supposedly a qualifying only race, increased its charity slots from 100 to 1,250, charging the non-profit group $350 for each slot. A legit qualifying runner pays around $130. They have more charities looking to get a slot than openings, despite the price. The NYC marathon collected $3.8 million in 2010 from charities, selling 7,400 slots for up to $950 apiece. But the fund-raising groups still figure they make out, because they charge the runner 2-5x that amount to enter. Some groups get aggressive in their suggested techniques. The Susan B. Komen foundation tells participants that if eating out, instead of leaving a tip, ask the waitress if you can use it as a donation and better yet, have her give up the entire day’s tips. Others say to make contact at least 3-6x with a potential donor, or tie a ribbon on your donor’s finger and not let them remove it until they made a donation.
If you are thinking of starting your own charity event, follow this general rule (scientific studies have looked into this): long distance events raise more than short ones, sponsors seem to give more money when they believe the event will be painful for their friend. Suffering seems to make the event more meaningful.
This article may make it seem like I am against running or biking for a charity, I’m not. If a race is a fundraiser for a charity, fine. But participants may want to take note of how much of what they raise actually goes towards real research, or directly help people. I also have absolutely no problem with an event organizer holding a race and none of the fee going to a charity. If I go to a baseball game, pay for parking, get a seat, watch a game, I don’t expect the team to give money to charity. If I race and my fee covers registration costs, bathrooms, police and ambulance, water/food, a safe course, timing, permits, and even a profit for the organizer who is trying to make a living, that’s fine too.
Reference: Smart Money, July 2011
By the 1990’s the running for charity boom had a firm foothold in the U.S. There are event producers who make their living setting up races for charities, trade shows and technology vendors. Major charities have an in-house staff whose sole purpose is to organize events and recruit runners to their races. Team in Training (Leukemia Society) employs 350 full-time people who organize endurance events. In 2010 $1.65 billion was raised by non-profits through athletic events.
The question to ask is, “how much of the money raised by the participants goes towards prevention, finding a cure, treatment, etc.?” The average event takes .50cents of each dollar raised to cover costs. Other fund raising methods generally take .15-.20 cents. (direct mail costs .20, major gifts, .10-.18). The American Cancer Society does well with its’ Relay for Life, holding costs to .8cents for each dollar raised, but this is unusual. If a charity can get sponsors to pick up some of its costs, then more money goes towards the actual problem. Still, someone has to pay.
In 2010 there were 36,958 athletic fundraisers in the U.S. (from the “Run, Walk, Ride Fundraising Council”). If I tell people at work I am participating in a race, or working at a race, one of the first questions is, “what is the race for-meaning who am I raising money for?” It’s ingrained in the public’s mind that is the only reason to participate. If I answer, “I have no idea” or, to be really bad, “it’s not for a charity, it’s to see how fast you are or if I can finish” I am looked down upon. Why would I or how could I do an event just to see if I can finish or not know or care about the charity?
The Boston Marathon, supposedly a qualifying only race, increased its charity slots from 100 to 1,250, charging the non-profit group $350 for each slot. A legit qualifying runner pays around $130. They have more charities looking to get a slot than openings, despite the price. The NYC marathon collected $3.8 million in 2010 from charities, selling 7,400 slots for up to $950 apiece. But the fund-raising groups still figure they make out, because they charge the runner 2-5x that amount to enter. Some groups get aggressive in their suggested techniques. The Susan B. Komen foundation tells participants that if eating out, instead of leaving a tip, ask the waitress if you can use it as a donation and better yet, have her give up the entire day’s tips. Others say to make contact at least 3-6x with a potential donor, or tie a ribbon on your donor’s finger and not let them remove it until they made a donation.
If you are thinking of starting your own charity event, follow this general rule (scientific studies have looked into this): long distance events raise more than short ones, sponsors seem to give more money when they believe the event will be painful for their friend. Suffering seems to make the event more meaningful.
This article may make it seem like I am against running or biking for a charity, I’m not. If a race is a fundraiser for a charity, fine. But participants may want to take note of how much of what they raise actually goes towards real research, or directly help people. I also have absolutely no problem with an event organizer holding a race and none of the fee going to a charity. If I go to a baseball game, pay for parking, get a seat, watch a game, I don’t expect the team to give money to charity. If I race and my fee covers registration costs, bathrooms, police and ambulance, water/food, a safe course, timing, permits, and even a profit for the organizer who is trying to make a living, that’s fine too.
Reference: Smart Money, July 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Swimming
A swim club, all teenaged boys and girls, was working out in the three lanes next to Jan and I last night at SUNY Brockport. They seemed to float through the water with smooth strokes, body up, while I beat on it, dragging my legs along.
Since I'm having thoughts of competing in the Shoreline Triathlon in two weeks, seeing if I could swim 1/2 mile, without my buoy for support, seemed like a good idea. Also the 50 meter lanes, instead of the usual 25 yards, was a mental block that I needed to overcome to build some confidence towards swimming in open water.
Of course I timed myself. After three laps I didn't know if I would finish and was worried about how pathetic I looked compared to the kids flying by me. By lap five I decided it didn't matter how I looked and started to relax a bit. After lap six I knew I would finish, but my time would probably be slow. My first lap, as usual, was the "fastest", a 2:28 for 100 meters, overall I averaged 2:42, for a 21 minute 800meter (about 880 yards) total. The kids were doing 100 meters in 1:25! Even with a wetsuit I couldn't come close to that. Last year at Shoreline I raced the 1/2 mile in 16:40, with a wetsuit, or about 2:05 per 100.
Friday - Canandaigua Lake swim, with Jan, Eileen, Lou, Mike and Joanne for support. I can't wait, especially with a stop at McGregor's afterwards.
Since I'm having thoughts of competing in the Shoreline Triathlon in two weeks, seeing if I could swim 1/2 mile, without my buoy for support, seemed like a good idea. Also the 50 meter lanes, instead of the usual 25 yards, was a mental block that I needed to overcome to build some confidence towards swimming in open water.
Of course I timed myself. After three laps I didn't know if I would finish and was worried about how pathetic I looked compared to the kids flying by me. By lap five I decided it didn't matter how I looked and started to relax a bit. After lap six I knew I would finish, but my time would probably be slow. My first lap, as usual, was the "fastest", a 2:28 for 100 meters, overall I averaged 2:42, for a 21 minute 800meter (about 880 yards) total. The kids were doing 100 meters in 1:25! Even with a wetsuit I couldn't come close to that. Last year at Shoreline I raced the 1/2 mile in 16:40, with a wetsuit, or about 2:05 per 100.
Friday - Canandaigua Lake swim, with Jan, Eileen, Lou, Mike and Joanne for support. I can't wait, especially with a stop at McGregor's afterwards.
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