New Balance

The running shoe company, New Balance, was a sponsor for the Flower City Challenge, held over two days in Rochester, NY (April 28,29). On Saturday athletes could choose to do a duathlon (5k run, 20m bike, 5k run) or triathlon (5k run, 20m bike, 3m paddle in the Genesee river). Sunday’s events were a 5k run or a half-marathon.

Nearly 4,000 people took part in these events. But that is not the news. The best part of the entire weekend was New Balance providing complimentary running shoes to paid staff of YellowJacket Racing, of which I am one.

Amazingly there are ten great reasons to love my FREE shoes;

1. Lightweight, only 9.6 ounces.
2. 4.5 stars out of 5.0 possible in Road Runner Sports customer reviews.
3. Retail price $99, my price $0.
4. The black color goes well with dress clothes for work.
5. The black goes well with all of my running clothes.
6. My feet were comfy while working 9 hours during the ½ marathon.
7. They make me feel like a fast runner.
8. Named Best Gear of the Year by Outside magazine 2011.
9. Did I mention they were free?
10. Mike Weinpress (MW) is jealous, really jealous.

Chocolate, The New Diet Food?

Continuing the science theme articles of late, A UC at San Diego  study, showed that adults who eat chocolate on a regular basis are actually thinner that those who don't. One thousand men and women were involved in the test, which found that adults who ate chocolate on more days a week were actually thinner -- i.e. had a lower body mass index -- than those who ate chocolate less often.

It seems modest, regular chocolate consumption might be calorie-neutral -in other words, that the metabolic benefits of eating modest amounts of chocolate might lead to reduced fat deposition per calorie and approximately offset the added calories (thus rendering frequent, though modest, chocolate consumption neutral with regard to weight).1000 adult men and women from San Diego were involved in the test. The size of the effect was modest but the effect was "significant" -larger than could be explained by chance. This was despite the fact that those who ate chocolate more often did not eat fewer calories (they ate more), nor did they exercise more. Indeed, no differences in behaviors were identified that might explain the finding as a difference in calories taken in versus calories expended. "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight," said Golomb. "In the case of chocolate, this is good news -both for those who have a regular chocolate habit, and those who may wish to start one."
B. A. Golomb, S. Koperski, H. L. White. Association Between More Frequent Chocolate Consumption and Lower Body Mass Index. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2012; 172 (6)

Excellent news! Butterfingers and Reeses PB cups to all!

Pooh Corner

There are times a little pooh can be a bad thing. Winnie-The-Pooh is not a bad thing, or little really.

But on a Friday night, after driving ten miles to the SUNY Brockport pool and seeing a note on the door, "no swimming until further notice!", pooh can be bad. Jan and I saw the sign and became nervous. "What if the pool is closed all weekend, all semester, what if a pump broke, how will we train?" "What else can a husband and wife do on a Friday night besides swim?" "This is a disaster!" The Eeyore in me came out instantly.

We ran upstairs to the Recreation office and asked when the pool might be open again. Apparently there had been an "accident" with a swimmer and the ability to contain his pooh during the morning open swim hours. The pool was being cleaned and allowed to filter until the following day. In addition to being suitably disgusted Jan and I both thought of the same image;

Bill Murray, Caddyshack, after draining and cleaning the pool because pooh was found floating in it (really it was a Baby Ruth candy bar). For some reason we decided to not swim all weekend.

 

Exercise, Alcohol & Women's Health Magazine

Yes, I admit to skimming through a magazine that is meant for Jan, “Women’s Health.” If it’s okay for USMC Gunnery Sargeant Highway (Clint Eastwood) in the film “Heartbreak Ridge” then it’s okay for me! Sargeant Highway is reading Bazaar and Femme in this 1986 film, but the knowledge gained about women is the same. I highly recommend this strategy to understanding a woman’s mind, at least a little.

The March 2012 issue of Women’s Health has an article about the connection between exercise and drinking. “A 2009 scientific study of 230,000 men and women found that the more people exercise the more they drink, with the most active women consuming the highest amounts every month.” Hmmm, sounds like …well, no names shall be given out, but you know.

This peaked my curiosity and I located the journal article online, “Do alcohol consumers exercise more”, by Michael French, Sep/Oct 2009, American Journal of Health Promotion. Drinkers of all ages were 10% more likely to engage in vigorous exercise. Female drinkers exercise about 7.2 more minutes per week on average compared to abstainers. When compared to abstainers, light (1-14 drinks a month), moderate (15-45), and heavy drinkers (46+) exercise approximately 5.7, 10.1, and 19.9 minutes more per week. The results for women indicate that drinking is associated with a 10.1% increase in the probability of exercising vigorously! Nearly the same result occurred when looking at males, though men are allowed more to drink (light; 1-29, moderate; 30-75 and heavy; 76+). Which means that Jan shouldn’t get mad anymore if I finish off the bottle of wine, it’s just me being a guy, right?

The conclusions of the study point out that risk-loving individuals are predisposed to choose sensation seeking behavior, such as exercise and drinking. Also, it may be a correlation between physical activity, alcohol and socializing after a sporting event. People who drink more than average may use exercise to compensate for the extra calories gained and are attempting to counter-balance the negative effects of drinking.

All of this has made me want to continue reading Women’s Health, but first, excuse me while I top off my wine glass before Jan comes back to the room.

Running From the Law

Feeling refreshed after a night of swimming intervals with our best buds at the SUNY Brockport pool, Jan and I climbed into our gas guzzling SUV (known as "The Ex" for Ford Explorer) and headed home. At the intersection of Chappell Street and Adams Street is a three way stop. As a law abiding citizen, who drives without talking on a cell phone, without an animal on my lap, seat belt buckled and not combing my long locks of hair, I made sure to come to a stop.
     At least I thought I stopped. A Brockport police officer, who must have been sitting in a dark car on Chappell St., had other thoughts. Minding my own business I head east on Adams when the cop car comes screaming out of Chappell, lights full on, siren, bright spotlight on the side blinding me. Of course I pull over to let the officer pass on his way to whatever emergency is occurring somewhere in the village.
     Apparently I am the emergency! Jan and I are stunned. I know the routine, have my license ready and Jan gets the insurance card and registration. We can't figure out why he would be stopping us. The officer comes up with his flashlight ready (why a flashlight, that g'dam spotlight could illuminate a football field)!  All I can think of is, "how much will this cost me?", whatever "this" is.
"Where are you coming from tonight"
"The pool, my wife and I just finished swimming".
"Do you still live at Hillcrest Drive?"
"Yes Sir."
"Did you see the stop sign"?
"Yes, sir."
"Do you think you stopped?"
"Yes sir."
"You know there is a three-way stop there, right?"
"Yes sir, I'm sure I stopped."
"Looked like you tapped your brakes when you saw me, but rolled through."
"No, I'm sure I stopped sir, I didn't even know you were there". (this is true)
"Sit here for a minute".
Now all I can imagine is the ticket being written and Elvis singing. Yes, Elvis.

Of course then he checks my record back in his car. Which there isn't one, thankfully, I haven't been pulled over in 25 years, really, and then got a moving violation because my speedometer was verified not to be working correctly, so no speeding ticket.
"Okay, since you say you really stopped I'm going to let you go, but make sure from now on you drive within the speed limit and always come to full stops".
"Yes sir, I will, thank you".

I was still shook up for most of the night with Jan and I wondering if I had really fully stopped or not. On my way to work today, as on most days, I was doing 5-10mph over the expressway speed limit and being tailgated by cars who wanted to go 20+ over the limit, a motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic, cut off repeatedly by people who need to fit into a space not big enough for a car while we are going 65 miles an hour, talking on cell phones, eating breakfast, who then swerve across three lanes of traffic to sit at the exit ramp while I stroll by. But that is all okay.

Spring Forward 15k

The 10th running of Fleet Feet Sports Spring Forward 15k was held on April 1 at Mendon Ponds Park. Fortunately the predicted rain held off until the race was completed, though it was a cold day with temperatures hovering in the 30's.

The rolling, hilly course is always a challenge, but another participant record was set with 562 finishers, 296 of whom were female. Tim Chichester won the race in 48:42, a 5:13 pace. Jennifer Bigham finished first among females in 56:53, a 6:06 pace and beating Trisha Byler by a narrow 13 seconds.

Sals runner Frank Quattrone won the 55-59 age group in 1:09:17, just 16 seconds ahead of second place. I finished 7th in the same age group, far back of Frank, in 1:14:55 (8:02/mile). But I was satisfied with my effort and time, especially being able to stay strong in the last 1.3 miles (7:30 pace). Jan was fifth in the 50-54 age group, 1:23:09 (8:55 pace). The three of us picked up RROY points and Frank is now in first place for his age group in the series! Jennifer K. ran a strong 1:13:36, 12/52 in a tough age group.

Another 175 people completed the 2.5 mile race. Parking was at a premium. Cars were strong out on the roads for a mile in either direction. YellowJacket Racing had timing result kiosks. Instead of posting paper results on the side of a truck runners went to a machine, punched in their race bib number and printed out personal results. In the future these results will also include age group placing instead of time and overall finish place. Sending a text after crossing the finish line was also a new option.

Something About a Bike

Who says Country & Western can't be about triathlons? This song by Kip Moore is on the radio every morning. Maybe the lyrics are a bit different in his version, but not by much. It's a sure thing he really meant to sing about bicycles and bourbon.

Something about a bike on a country road
Another flat tire, you got time to kill
Nobody’s gonna stop to help, so stop bein’ a toad
Something about a bike on a country road

Something about bourbon sitting on ice
After a long hard bike ride makes it taste just right
On that patio on a summer night
Something about bourbon sitting on ice

Something about a girl in tight bike shorts
With a bourbon glass pressed against her lips
On that patio, will make a boy a mess
Something about a girl in tight bike shorts

Something about a kiss that's gonna lead to more
On that patio, back behind the shed
The most natural thing, you've ever felt before
Something about a kiss that's gonna lead to more

Something about a bike on a country road
And a girl in tight bike shorts with a bourbon pressed to her lips
Begging for another kiss
Something about you and me and the birds and the bees
And Lord have mercy it's a beautiful thing
Ain't nothing about it luck, something about a Trek

Something about a hot tub around 10pm
After two of those bourbons you wanna crawl on in
You don't need no clothes, just hang em on a limb
Something about a hot tub around 10pm

Something about a bike on a country road
And a girl in bike shorts with a bourbon to her lips
Begging for another kiss
Something about you and me and the birds and the bees
And Lord have mercy it's a beautiful thing
Ain't nothing about it luck, something about a Trek
Ain't nothing about it luck, something about a Trek