Apologies to Johnny Cash

Mike W. inspired me during a 10 mile sweat-fest run yesterday (I lost 6.2 pounds, a 10k!). He began singing the Johnny Cash song, "I Hear the Train a Comin'", and talking about the man in black since I had on a black shirt, shorts and running shoes. In honor of my Alabama daughter Andrea, who recently began running and found out she unfortunately shares a trait of mine, I changed a few lyrics around and came up with this song. Start humming the tune and it will make some sense.

I hear the bear a comin'
It's rollin' 'round the bend,
There’s been too much ‘bama sunshine,
Since, I don't know when,
I'm stuck in this road race,
And time keeps draggin' on,
But that bear keeps a-rollin',
On down to Homewood town.

When I was just a baby,
My Mama told me, "daughter,
Always be a good girl,
Don't ever run like Dad,
He sounds like a bear
And scares the neighborhood”.
But I ran a race in Clanton,
Just to see how fast I was,
And I heard that bear a blowin',
And saw the runners scatter to the woods.

I knew it wasn’t on purpose,
Why Dad ran that way,
He couldn’t help himself,
And the noise that he made,
But now I do the same,
It doesn’t seem so bad,
Those people just keep a-movin',
Away from me.

Well, if I finish this race,
If the bear comes out in me,
I bet I'd move up a little
In finishing time and place,
Far from first or last,
That's where I’ll probably stay,
Kind of like Dad,
And that’s okay with me.

London Olympics 2012

I love the Olympics! Imagine waiting four years hoping to qualify for your national team, making it, then training to peak for one day, one special race or event. Talk about reality television, it doesn't get anymore real than that!

The first Olympics I remember watching on television were 1968, held in Mexico City, I was eleven years old. I felt horrible for Jim Ryun when he "only" won the silver medal in the 1500meters. The broadcasters and newspapers ripped Ryun apart for not getting the gold. I saw Bob Beamon come out of nowhere to set the world record in the long jump. I remember the tension when sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the Black Power Salute during the medal ceremony.

Now sports fans wait for the drama to unfold in London. I'm a runner, so the track and field events are my favorite. Here is the schedule. Watch for Molly Huddle, a 5,000 meter runner who grew up near Elmira and competed in the Rochester area many times.(finals 8/10). Of course Jenn Suhr, the world class pole vaulter who graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College, is competing (finals 8/6). The women's marathon is Sunday, August 5 and men's marathon Sunday, August 12.

Western NY people will also be cheering for Ryan Lochte in swimming (he lived in the Bristol area until 12) and Abby Wambach, Mercy High School graduate in soccer.

Other favorite sports to watch are equestrian, beginning July 28, cycling, swimming and the triathlon. The truth is I watch almost everything (except rythmic dancing, sailing, trampoline-when did that become an Olympic sport?, badminton, handball and water polo). I understand a degree of athleticism, years of practice, the difficulty involved, especially water polo, but they aren't usually exciting to sit there and watch a whole game.

Lake Placid Ironman

Well, I was considering registering for the 2013 Lake Placid Ironman at noon today. After all, I just  finished my first 70.3 distance, who cares if I slogged to a 6:48 time and probably wouldn't have made it to the finish line without Jan and Lou biking along for much of the half-marathon?

I went to the web site, the price for registering went up to $650, plus a processing fee. If you decide not to do the race they will refund $150. Yet their business model absolutely is a success judging by almost every one of the IM's selling out, usually in a few hours at most. When Jan did Lake Placid three years ago registration was under $500. Still a lot of money, but a 30% increase in fees seems ridiculous. But then, the first NYC IM sold out in minutes and is over $800.

Yes, in addition to all of the other sane reasons not to attempt an Ironman, I am too cheap.

Ten Reasons Not to Enter an Ironman;

1. I would need a new wetsuit, my current one was bought used and has gouges all over it.
 Cost $180+
2. I would need a faster bike. My road bike is nice, an "entry" level Trek that was under $800. Yes, training helps get better, but buying speed would make a 112 mile ride easier. So, let's say I find a lightweight, aerodynamic, fitted bike on sale. $1500-$2000 would be a moderate amount for that.
3. Accomodations. Understandably the local motels/homes for rent/condos charge more during IM periods. Usually there is a minimum 3 night stay, in fact, you have to check in to IM by Friday for a Sunday race, so your hand is forced. Figure room costs to be doubled. Many times homes you can rent require 2 weeks, one for IM week, one around that time or another time in the year (this is assuming you can find a room or house at all-they get booked while people are standing in line the morning in-person registration opens). Let's go with 4 nights in an average motel, nothing fancy. $1000.
4. Swimming lessons. With a wetsuit I am a moderate swimmer, middle of the pack in my age group maybe. A few lessons when having to race 2.4 miles might be in order. $400.
5. It's a damn long way to race. 140.6 miles. Ridiculous.
6. I get dehydrated easily and the older I get the more susceptible I am to the vagaries of weather.
7. I don't own a pool, public pools aren't always open (Bport state closed all summer, Roberts Wesleyan closed...well... the water disappeared overnight...). Lakes get darn cold around here between October-May.
8. 112 miles on a bike? My butt is sore just thinking about it.
9. Planning ahead. I'm supposed to know what I am doing with my life a year from now? I have a hard time thinking about what to make for dinner tonight.
10. Time. Time to train, eat, sleep. It's a part-time job, 15-25 hours a week of training, for months. That's a big load on the athlete and his/her family.

Total monetary price is a minimum of $3900, plus transportation and food. If you have a nice bike and wetsuit already, still figure $1650 plus food and transportation. Really, this is a big commitment, one I won't be doing.

Bicycling Etiquette for Women

Apparently during the 1890's in America there were rules women in particular should follow while biking (from Utne Reader July/August 2012, reprinted from the New York World magazine of 1895).

Don't faint on the road.
Don't cultivate "bicycle face". (not sure what that means)
Don't attend church in your bike costume.
Don't wear clothes that don't fit.
Don't scream if you meet a cow. If she sees you first the cow will run away.
Ask for assistance if going up a hill.
No gum chewing in public, exercise your jaws in private.
Don't use bicycle slang. This is for men to use only.
Don't appear in public on a bike unless you have learned to ride well.
Don't ask "what do you think of my bloomers?" (nowadays that would be bike shorts?).
Don't scratch a match on the seat of your bloomers.

What Next?

It's always difficult to finish a major race and find the motivation to keep training at a decent level, and for some people to train at all. There has to be some mental and physical down time. But, depending on how you did in the race, it's not always easy to convince yourself that is exactly what needs to be done. This is especially true if the race was a long event, like a half-marathon to ironman distance.
What if you fell short of a goal time? Do you pick up training where you left off and look for another race? Once I ran the Marine Corps Marathon missing the Boston qualifying time by 63 seconds. A week later I felt pretty good, was desperate for a BQ time and signed up for the Philadelphia marathon. Three weeks to "train". In hindsight Philly was a good race for me, but I fell apart around mile 19 and missed qualifying by 8 minutes.
Eight days ago I completed a goal race, the Tinman half-ironman. My finishing time was about 30 minutes slower than the slowest I thought possible, but I am still proud of myself. All sorts of thoughts go through my head; do I spend six months next year or the year after and try again, hoping for a better time? It's always a crap shoot for the weather, staying healthy, and even if I cut 30 minutes off my time, so what? I'd finish in the top 30% of my age group instead of 50%? I can't find the motivation to think about that.
The immediate goal now is running the Marine Corps Marathon in 16 weeks. It's great to have a plan in place, not fall into some depression because I don't know what to do next. Exercise needs to be a continuous life-long process. Having goals helps keep you motivated, whether it's the local 5k, a sprint tri, trail running, or incorporating a race with travel plans. It doesn't even have to be running. Sacrilege, I know, but the body was meant to move, not blob out at a desk, behind the computer or in front of the television.

Tupper Lake Tinman

"Raquette Pond was angry that day, my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."

Jan/Me Transition Prep

Well, maybe not that bad, but it was a bit undulating for the 8:00-8:20am starting times.

I chose the Tinman race because wetsuits were allowed, the cost was $100+ less than IM trademarked races, and most importantly, the weather would be in the highs of 70-75 at most (Typically I don't race well in heat). I was correct on 2 of the 3 criteria.

It was near 70 at 7am. By noon we were in the 80's with bright sunshine and lots of wind (the wind was okay for the run, a bit rough for the swim and darn hard on 30+ miles of the bike, the 80's did not feel good on the run). Jan opted out of competing for the day, having completed an IM and four previous .5 IM's in her triathlon career, she didn't see the need to beat herself up in the heat and wind. I needed to get the dnf monkey from Disney Florida .5 IM off my back.

Eileen went first, at 8am, for the start of the sprint (.6 mile swim, 18.6 bike, 6.6 run). Lou, Mike and I began in the last wave for the Tinman, at 8:20. Unfortunately Lou had health issues and couldn't complete the swim. Mike decided to talk to the swimmers around him (who talks while swimming?), which gave me an advantage coming out of the water. I ended up about 3 miles ahead of him at the halfway point of the bike, thinking he would reel me in at some point. Unbeknownst to me a flat tire for Mike at 40 miles added another 10+ minutes to his time (why is it always the rear tire?).

Mike W finishing the bike leg. Jan on left cheering.

MM in yellow hanging on for dear life coming down steep hill.

I was a mess in transition, tired, a bit disoriented, Jan came over and got me straightened out and I took off in a full...walk. Then the hills and heat really got to me. Fortunately Jan and Lou met me around 5+ miles with water, electrolytes and most importantly moral support. That's when I found out Mike had dropped out in the first mile of the run with leg cramps. I felt like crap, was running 10+ minute miles, my calf was cramping up and wasn't sure about being able to finish. They made me keep going, following me on their bikes for much of the last 6 miles. My daughter Amanda's voice kept playing through my head, "patience Dad, this it all about finishing". Amazing how much the athletes in the rear of the pack support each other, it was nice and helpful, you can talk a lot more when combining walking with running. Around 10 miles I felt better, except for the cramping that would appear after every 4 minutes or so of running. It was a slow slog to the finish, about 30 minutes slower than anticipated, but at least I did finish my first and last half-ironman.

We had the BEST location for our motel, literally right next to the start/finish/transition area, a 100 yard walk from our bike rack to the motel room (Sunset Park Motel). Didn't have to worry about driving, parking, bathrooms, it was great. Thanks to Joanne for the photos.



Finished




Lou, Eileen, Mike W., Me, Jan post-race



Celebrating 30 years of Tinman - AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com

Celebrating 30 years of Tinman - AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise