I’m in conversion hell, so this will take at least another day, but here are a few more pictures from the one and only Flying Monkey.
The Flying Monkey Marathon
Wow. This course ate up some very good runners, but everyone seemed to really love the Flying Monkey! This from the website: We will time and measure the distance, but the course will not be certified and it will not be a Boston qualifying event. If you get to the end and you (or your gadget) believe the route to be long, we won’t charge you extra; if you believe it to be short, just keep running. There will be no bands, cheerleaders, wave starts or crowds. We promise no marathon Personal Records, but we guarantee every runner a PR – a Permanent Remembrance of a well-earned marathon finish. We promise to give you approximately 26.2 tough and memorable miles, with a total of over 3600 feet each of elevation gain and loss, or over 7200 feet of overall elevation change.
I went out to take a few pictures and ended up taking hundreds, which I’ll post on Flickr sometime tonight. In the meantime, congrats to everyone who finished one of the tougher marathons you’ll ever run! East Nasty represented in a big way! 
Triathlon Training: Effects of Chlorine
I have a few questions for you experts (or self reflecting types) on pool swimming. What are the effects of chlorine? It gets in my head a little because I’m well aware that Skin is the body’s biggest organ.
I try to get a good soap shower afterwards, but can often smell the the chemicals late into the night. Is there a special soap/shampoo I should be using? Has anyone felt like they’ve experienced chlorine detox during the day? Good swim caps? Pre-swim body apps? Any other thoughts on this topic?
Edit: I just found this link from Lance’s old operation – http://www.livestrong.com/article/196874-long-term-effects-of-chlorinated-water-on-the-skin/
Lessons From a Dog and Old Russians
I marvel at my dog’s ability to hit top speed. She could be in a dead sleep and pop to all fours in less than a second. That same feat normally takes me several snooze sessions and a few groans. I’ll open the door and she’ll be at full stride chasing a bird the minute she hits the ground.
Her diet consists of the same exact thing every day. Roughly a cup of Blue dog food in the morning, a couple treats at lunch and another cup of food at night. She only drinks water.
Is there something to this?
I recently read “Born to Run” and the centerpiece of the story was the Tarahumara tribe that is famous for running super-human distances of 50 to 100 miles just for the hell of it. By all accounts their diet seems remarkably consistent and simple.
Hall of Fame baseball player, Wade Boggs, is another guy who pops into my head. He allegedly ate only chicken before games. He was one of the steadiest hitters I’ve ever watched in baseball. Nothing flashy, but almost like endurance hitting. Night after night he would step into the batters box and perform one of the hardest sporting feats with amazing consistency.
And as I write this, a friend reminds me of the old Dannon commercials featuring 100 year old Russians who ate yogurt like fiends. And man were they spry!
Now, I’m just throwing this out for discussion, but are modern diets too diverse?
It goes without saying that it’s harder to work out when we’re not feeling well or exhausted. Could we be putting unnecessary strain on our digestive and immune systems with a wide variety of foods?
Today’s Diet:
Breakfast: Coffee
Lunch: Salmon, broccoli, blue cheese potato chips, cinnamon rolls
Snack: Hershey’s Bar
Dinner: Homemade chicken noodle soup, cottage cheese, two small pickles
Writing drinks: De-caf Coffee, Seltzer Water
Ironman Inspiration
Surround yourself with inspirational people. Even the simplest thing can lift you to greater things. For me it’s when someone unleashes a buried passion.
On Wednesday, I ran with the East Nasties and the power of a group cannot be underestimated. It’s amazing how a bunch of motivated people can take your mind off limitations. I had been limping around thinking about my wanky knee for weeks, but the minute we took off, the energy of 250 people took me away.
I trudged along at a 9:30 pace, but just being out there again felt great and restored my faith. We ran about four miles and by the end my knee was an afterthought. I felt like I could knock out a half marathon, I went to 3 Crow Bar for some Guinness. Sometimes, I think our higher powers forgive a couple post-run-beers.
My first conversation is usually with Jim. He got me into this mess and now I poke and prod for stimulating insight at every turn. His run was much faster and he rattled off a list of plans for his Saturday. P90x in the morning, followed by a 9mile run, 8 o’clock bed time, then a 1:50 am 5K as an overnight Ragnar Relay simulation. All of this, and his foot has been bugging him for weeks. “Sometimes you gotta work through the pain.”
I hear that, buddy!
Then there’s Kevin. 
I watched as he did Ironman Louisville this summer which ultimately sealed my decision to take on Wisconsin. He routinely leads a pace group for East Nasty runs, is doing Ragnar, then following it up with the ball busting Flying Monkey marathon 7 days later. Between all that, he parties like a rock star.
I’m listening, bro!
As I was walking out of 3 Crow, I ran into a couple women that started the Couch to 5K program with me back in January. Both are running further than ever, and it’s likely that neither realizes their role in my success. One caught me a little off guard when she said she’s been studying to be a yoga instructor, and it’s things like this that truly make me happy.
I think it’s because I love when people people follow a passion. I’ve spent a lifetime working on ways to improve my life, my habits, and my instincts. When someone shares a story like this, it literally strengthens my bond with humanity. Knowing we’re in this together is extremely comforting.
So, when I stop by Ugly Mugs every morning and see Andy and Matt working on their dream business before they go to a job, it jump starts my day. When I see workout posts from fellow Ironman Wisconsin teammates, Mark and Daniel, I dig deeper. And when I read inspirational posts of fellow bloggers it drives me to keep releasing my thoughts to the world. The words, the actions, the people lift me higher and fill in the blanks to this mysterious quest for higher purpose.
Running is King
I hated running and could fake a cry with the best of them if it would help me avoid jogging in gym class or later in sports.
But I loved biking, and did a bunch of mountain bike races, including Chequamegon Fat Tire 40 in Hayward, Wisconsin. And while I have you, I’ll drop a reminder that I placed 1,500th out of 3,000 racers. Exactly in the middle and 1,499 places behind Greg Lemond.
I swam a little bit, too. My parent’s house was half a block away from the municipal pool in Beloit, Wisconsin and I spent loads of time hitting on girls and hiding boners in the shallow end. I love water, and while I was never a distance swimmer, I’ve always made time for a few laps at the local Y.
But running was a nemesis.
Frankly, it hurt. My ankles have always been fragile and anything more than a dash to first base or out to play shortstop was too much. In baseball we mainly ran sprints to loosen up and the teams I was on never overdid such tomfoolery.
Now, though, I realize that I missed the boat. A little bit of distance running would have made me a better athlete, especially late in the game when the legs go south. If I were ever a coach again, I would have to pull some hocus pocus out of my bag to convince the kids they need to run more.
Running is still hard. It still aches the most of the three sports, but it is without a doubt the reason I have started triathlons.
Once I erased the mental baggage of running, everything else fell into place. But I could have never done it without the Couch to 5K program. I always went too far too fast and quit.
If you hate running, but have a perverted desire to do it anyway, I suggest you take it very slow and follow a Couch to 5K program to the letter. No more. No less. Stay within yourself and let your muscles build naturally.
Without those seemingly inconsequential 60 second jogs back in January, Ironman Wisconsin never would have crossed my mind. Running can be a bitch, but in my triathlete world, it is the real work.
Clandestine Love in the World of Spam
I am amazed and delighted that WordPress filters spam messages so I don’t have to look at them. But, when I do, it only reaffirms, that I am loved.
Take this gem from Maragret:
| I am very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc. |
Or this thought provoking tease from Adena:
| Utterly indited content material, Really enjoyed reading through. |
Who am I to turn down these pearls of wisdom from Burberry trench coat sale:
| Never mind.I really think a little exercise would do you good.Keep your temper under control.If you would only try, you could do it.That’s a good idea.I am too tired to speakIt is not so easy as you think.It doesn’t make any sense to get up so earlyHow much does it cost? The editor over looked a print error. |
And just when you are about to give up, sincerity oozes from someone like dresses coast:
| Dude.. I am not a great deal into checking, but somehow I had to read a lot of articles upon your blog. Its awesome how interesting its for me to see you more often then not. |
So, as you see, inspiration is everywhere, even in your Spam Bucket.
A Picture is Worth Dozens of Pounds
My good friend Roger is 5 weeks away from running his first marathon and has a photograph of me to thank. Actually he was in the picture too, and what happened to us that blurry night was an undeniable catalyst for change.
Our friendship started innocently enough around two years ago when Roger and I (Both Wisconsin natives) hatched the grand plan for Badger Nation Nashville at the Village Pub in Inglewood, TN. Wisconsin football was on a roll and we wanted to capitalize by using beer and cheese to seduce local residents into our social circle. After several PBRs we penned these highly sophisticated, yet simple bylaws that have Constitution-like staying power:
Official Badger Nation Nashville Bylaws
1. No rooting against the Badgers.
2. Spread word of the Badger.
3. Don’t shoot badgers. (Ben’s Law)*
4. Don’t diss Jeffrey Steele.
5. Meet at Village Pub & Grill when you can make it.
Fast forward two years after the “bylaw meeting” to my house, where a nice group of Badger Nation Nashville kids are celebrating another big victory. Roger and I had been drinking for about 8 hours and decided to give everyone a treat by singing Wisconsin’s Alma Mater song, “Varsity,” which was quickly caught on video. The playback was astonishing.
I had always felt pretty good about my body, but when I watched the video all I could see was a blubbery seal flopping around on a leather sofa. I begged fellow BNN member, Brian, not to post it on the web and thankfully he didn’t know how. I went silent and may have even retreated to my bedroom to sulk. What I didn’t realize at the time was, the video had a similar impact on Roger.
It didn’t happen immediately, but our minds shifted to training mode. Roger joined Weight Watchers and started running. I laid around for a few more weeks before Jim convinced me to do Couch to 5K training. I really didn’t want to run, but that video looped in the back of my mind. For the first time in my life I felt like a fat ass! I had no choice.
I have told this story a bunch of times and I’m convinced that taking a picture of yourself is the best form of motivation. Preferably late in the night after a drinking or eating binge.
Now, Roger and I are hatching different plans. Five short months after that fateful photography, we did the Country Music Half Marathon together and the ante continues to rise.
What started as a 5K for me has turned into Ironman training. Roger is ready for his full, with aspirations of a Half Ironman next summer.
It has been a dicey journey that started on a bar napkin and evolved into something etched in stone. And even though the Badgers suck this year, I think Roger would happily join me for an encore rendition of Varsity after the last game of the season.
* Montana Ben is a Pub regular who spends his summers in Montana shooting badgers so they don’t fuck with his cattle.
A Zen Wake Up Call
Sometimes when I think how good my book can be, I can hardly breathe.
–Truman Capote
The good news is . . . my IT Band pain seems to be gone. The bad news is . . . I absolutely sucked on my swim tonight.
I realize bad nights are imminent, but this was just an awful performance. I could barely breathe, and swimming three measly laps in a row was kicking my ass. After some serious staring at the ceiling, I have concluded it must be one or a combination of these three things:
1. Horrible eating
2. Too much beer
3. Watching an Ultra Marathon
Now, I’m pretty sure it’s not the last one–although I did spend about four hours on a bike. The bad diet and party train, however, are likely suspects.
I’m not gonna sit here and labor over my transgressions, but I need to realize training is fragile. I put serious effort into strengthening and working through my IT band when I could barely walk, and tonight’s swim is a hard slap in the nuts to keep my diet in check.
An Ironman is no joke and on nights like this, I realize that, not only would I not have finished, I would have likely drowned before the first buoy. And while I am a little pissed about the performance, I’m glad it happened.
Learning and forgiveness are the core of my training. I won’t learn everything overnight and I have to forgive myself when I don’t.
My memory is short and I tend to cheat the present by not being the best I can in that moment. But the goal is to learn a little more every day and the accumulation of those lessons will be the payoff in training, health, and life.
Should the NYC Marathon Have Been Canceled?
The NYC Marathon has just been canceled and I’m not sure it’s the best call. It was obviously a tough decision (and I realize I am commenting from the outside), but events like this can give community energy and help with the rebuilding process. Not to mention there will be tens of thousands of extra hands to help out before and after the race.
This situation reminds me of a letter my old General Manager had framed on his wall when I worked for the Indianapolis Indians. It was written by FDR and sent to Kenesaw Landis, Commissioner of Major League Baseball at the time. It is now called, “The Green Light Letter” and was in response to a question of whether or not MLB should cancel the baseball season during the war:
My dear Judge:
Thank you for yours of January fourteenth. As you will, of course, realize the final decision about the baseball season must rest with you and the Baseball club owners – so what I am going to say is solely a personal and not an official point of view.
I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before.
And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.
Baseball provides a recreation which does not last over two hours or two hours and a half, and which can be got for very little cost. And, incidentally, I hope that night games can be extended because it gives an opportunity to the day shift to see a game occasionally.
As to the players themselves, I know you agree with me that the individual players who are active military or naval age should go, without question, into the services. Even if the actual quality to the teams is lowered by the greater use of older players, this will not dampen the popularity of the sport. Of course, if an individual has some particular aptitude in a trade or profession, he ought to serve the Government. That, however, is a matter which I know you can handle with complete justice.
Here is another way of looking at it – if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of the fellow citizens – and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.
With every best wish,
Very sincerely yours,
Franklin D. Roosevelt
I lived through the Nashville floods a few years ago, so, on some level, I understand what the Northeast is going through. Several people have lost their possessions, homes, and lives. This is a brutal experience and I completely empathize for everyone who has been affected. But as New York knows all too well, and we saw in Nashville, there is no choice but to move on.
New York’s race is the largest in the world, and if you’ve ever watched a marathon, you know how inspirational they are. The Country Music Marathon ran by my house every year and after watching, I was always ready to tackle the world and change my life.
I really feel having thousands of runners and spectators embracing streets that were just ravaged by a storm is a symbolic way to say, “This is our home. We will not give in.”
Marathon runners touch lives all the time. They are people who have committed to a very difficult challenge. I don’t see how it can hurt to have 40,000 people with that type of character on your side.