nashville running company

December 10, 2014

Measuring Progress

I used to have a black Camaro with over-sized rear tires and a crazy loud stereo. The Clarion power booster and Pioneer triaxial speakers made me the most hated kid on the block.

Old men and woman would swing their rakes in disgust as I blew through the neighborhood cranking Boston’s “Don’t Look Back.” And it kinda made sense because I was too young to have anything to look back at. But now, as I turn into an old man with a rake, it’s almost impossible to ignore the past, and frankly, I think it can be a healthy reminder of what we’ve accomplished.

Last week my neighborhood running store asked if they could interview me for a massive blog feature story. Owner, and former University of Oregon track team runner guy, Lee Wilson, thought I would be a good testimonial for their Couch to 5K program. I thought, “Hell, I’ve spent a ton of money there and they’ve given me free water and use of their bathroom a few times, why not?”

So, I stopped by the store and sat in front of a young woman named Jenna who peppered me like Barbara Walters. I mean, tough questions that make you squirm and blush. She didn’t use a recorder and occasionally wrote a note or two, but let me tell you, she nailed the story. Frankly, I don’t even remember what I said, but somehow she captured the essence of how I grateful I am that my buddy Jim tricked into signing up for Nashville Running Company’s Couch to 5K.

The three-year-anniversary of “my starting to run” is this January. Since that day I have done many things I never dreamed of. Two full Ironman, three 70.3’s and many 5 hour bike rides. It’s not really that big of a deal to me now, but I am genuinely amazed at what the human body and spirit can accomplish.

So, today, I am looking back at that January day in 2012 when running 60 seconds seemed like climbing Everest. Just yesterday I lopped down the trails for an hour and five minutes while making bird calls.

It’s quite a transformation, but I think more than anything, I’m just grateful to be able to do that. When you can just get up and go, it is an insane feeling of freedom, and there aren’t many things better than independence.

And I can’t help but wonder where this will go next. I have no interest in doing anything more extreme than an Ironman. I just want to find that place that feels right and gives me energy. That makes me the strongest, happiest, and best person I can be.

Is that a steady diet of Ironman, Xterras, or leisurely runs? I’m not really sure, but for some reason all of this makes me want to get another Camaro.

You can read Jenna’s full masterpiece here.

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July 28, 2014

The Music City Triathlon

Oh, I’m not really going to talk about the Music City Triathlon, but it’s a damn catchy title . . . especially since the race drew tons of people and . . . happened today.

I’m kidding! I have a few things to say about it.

One, it was HOT! Two, it was WINDY. And . . . three, I doubt I could have done it today.

But, I went down to watch, which was kinda great because I was hanging out with Nashville Running Company (NRC) Kingpin, Lee Vip. He’s really kind of a big deal, but he has no problem handing out water or wet rags. And today showed his aid-station-generosity isn’t limited to “running only” events, which is quite the badge of character.

If it were up to me, I would consider giving NRC naming rights for the Music City Triathlon. The NRC-MCT has a nice ring to it.

I spectated last year, too, because I was training for Wisconsin, but once I got down to watch I was seriously bummin’ I didn’t do the race. In fact, I think there is some video footage of me crying because I was going for a 3 hour ride instead of doing a well organized and fun triathlon about 10 minutes from my house. Actually, that crying footage may be from today . . . and when I missed Hot Chicken Fest.

Lots of crying video . . . and I have made no attempts to hide this part of me. In fact, I even disclosed that “I am sensitive” in my blogging application to USAT, which was promptly rejected, and now I’m starting to wonder if this could have been the reason for my stonewalling.

I guess you have to be tough to be a USAT athlete, or even their blogger? I don’t think owning my sensitive side means I’m not tough. Quite the opposite, really, but in retrospect, maybe I should have used “compassionate.”

Either way, I don’t think you can fully dismiss someone as your blogger just because they declare their sensitivity. Can you?

I mean, there are entire training courses dedicated to this issue. If nothing else, USAT was putting money in the bank by protecting the need for blogger sensitivity training in the future.

So, back to the NRC-MCT.

There was serious pain on that course, and obviously I was reaching out to comfort many of the athletes. Normally a little breeze is a good thing when it’s hot, but it was knock-you-over windy. And I was literally overheating just watching Lee Vip dish out fluids.

It was a big day down on the Cumberland and I loved the new Transition set up right on Nashville’s most famous intersection. I also heard the Olympic swim was about 200 meters long, and on a sweltering day like today, I think I speak for the organizers of the NRC-MCT when I say, “You’re welcome.”

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Next time you go into NRC, tell them Crushing Iron sent you.

Here’s how my three hour ride went. [follow_me]

February 24, 2014

Dry Creek 1/2 Trail Marathon Race Report

Not many would call me country, but what transpired in the deep woods of Tennessee yesterday will soon have dozens of Crushing Iron readers calling me a nature boy. The Dry Creek Marathon (and half) was another spectacular example in the long list of contributions Nashville Running Company has delivered to a growing, and wildly masochistic, running community.

I woke at 5:30 am, walked the dog, then followed my printed Mapquest directions to the covert Dry Creek Race Headquarters. I shared war stories with Corey, Wasky, and Jim, then dug into my pre-packed race bag. First thing I noticed was (even with the uncanny day-before-planning) I forgot my Swiftwick’s. Luckily I was wearing a pair of Timberland over-the-ankle-hikers, but this adds to my increasingly controversial history with socks.

Continue reading “Dry Creek 1/2 Trail Marathon Race Report”

March 10, 2013

Tom King Half Marathon

Today, part of the Fab 5 +1 went out to help at the Nashville Running Company water stop for the Tom King 1/2 Marathon. Jim, Kevin, and Alli rode their trainer bikes for inspiration, I handed out water, and Daniel decided he was gonna bust a groove on the course. Mark was taking care of his daughter.

It was a beautiful morning for running, mid-50s, a little overcast, and it served Daniel well as he nailed down the fastest Fab 5 half marathon time of 1:33:30. A great time that beat his best time by over 2 minutes. We are all getting stronger and faster by the day and, as good as it is, I anticipate that number will be beat by someone in the group soon. He’s set the new goal for a 1/2 and it’s 1:30. Who’s gonna get it?

Jim, Kevin, and Alli put in two hours on the trainer then the guys rode the road for another hour. I left, joined them for breakfast, then put in a couple hour ride on the Greenway. It was a really nice day and the ride was great except for the throngs of people walking on the BIKE PATH!

Actually, I’m kidding. They deserve to be out there and quite frankly I get a tad annoyed at bikers when I’m running, so, oh well. Everyone, including me has to chill.

I have to say, the first outside ride kicked my ass a little. Yesterday’s swim was lurking and I just haven’t been feeling it. Tomorrow we’re going for a two hour jaunt on Natchez Trace and while my legs are saying no, I love that I’m able to get off the trainer.

Here are a few pics from the race today. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

January 5, 2013

Save it, or Shave it? Video

The other day I posted about fellow Ironman Wisconsin teammate Daniel Hudgins and his quest to raise money for the homeless by using his controversial hair as bait. You could vote (by donating) to “save or shave” the hair and the tally came down to the wire in a tension filled finish! He raised over $3,000 dollars and all proceeds will be given to Room In The Inn. The excitement was captured in my latest video:

December 14, 2012

If Running Clubs Were Gangs

Before East Nasty floods the streets on Wednesday runs, Mark Miller stands before us offering sage advice, group events, and a list of great things the running club is doing for local schools and charities. I’m not sure why, but every time he stands on that hill and “calls for everyone to move closer,” I imagine he is the Guardian Angels’ version of Cyrus from the Warriors.

The Warriors is a 1979 Cult Classic that follows one gang’s (the Warriors) struggle to make it back to Coney Island after being framed for shooting New York’s kingpin or the underworld (Cyrus) at an all-city gang retreat in Central Park. As you can imagine the Warriors did a lot of running in the movie and it made me wonder what it would be like to have other running clicks trying to take us out as we pound the streets of East Nashville.

“Can you dig it?”

The East Nasty “Warriors,” hit the streets armed with tight lycra, head lamps, and Gu energy packs. The goal: Talk or run our way to a safe return to 5 Points (Coney Island).

We turned right on Woodland with eyes peeled for the NRC “Boppers” led by Lee “Big Moe” Wilson, Hunter “Boxcar” Lane, and Season “Greenback” Kaminski. The Boppers roll in purple vests, ties, and fedoras and protect their turf with high speed chases. They are difficult to miss and even harder to escape.

The Boppers, however, must have been grilling veggie burgers out back because we cruised through Upper 5 Points without incident. But a new challenge awaited as we descended a short hill on mid-foot onto the turf of the Lipstick Lounge “Lizzies.”

Starr, Sarah, and Roxanna use seduction as their weapon of choice. They lull you to sleep with flashy smiles, spike your drink, then steal your girlfriend. Fortunately they were distracted by Karaoke night and we rolled by unnoticed.

We pushed the next hill with intrepid smiles and gazed an eery school building which doubles as the home of a low class outfit known as The Orphans. Often found lurking in dirty green t-shirts and jeans, the Orphans are more bark than bite. They have low numbers and offered little opposition to nearly 200 Nasties armed with water bottles and reflective vests.

Glancing at our Garmins, we turned down Eastland then crossed the dangerous 14th Street intersection before hearing the startling sound of clicking beer bottles emanate from a rundown hearse. We turned down our iPods and noticed the disturbing rattle was accompanied by a hipster vocal.

“Nasties . . . come out and play . . . ”

The Bad Kroger “Rogues” were up the their old shenanigans. Always a spine-chilling sight, the Rogues are a prominent street gang typically too drunk on 40’s to pose a real threat. We cut a hard left and headed toward safer terrain.

But we were far from home.

This particular route is called “The Church Run” and several gangs were sure to be waiting, including The Southern Cross.

We weaved our way to Fatherland and headed straight into harms way at East Park. Even though it’s the off season, everyone knows the Baseball Furies are in Winter Training. Sure enough, less than one block from their natural grass turf, I caught a glimpse of pin striped uniforms and heard the signature sound of baseball cleats clicking on pavement.

Luckily one of the East Nasties is an college baseball umpire and knows how to eject angry ballplayers. Another scare averted.

After the Furies’ fiasco, there was only one obstacle looming, but it was a big one.

The Shelby Street Turnbull ACs cruise the neighborhoods in a ragged school bus and get their kicks from picking on defenseless runners.

Our only hope was to catch them napping because Shelby is a big ass hill with no escape routes. We turned our headlamps to dim and made a run for it. Thankfully, the Turbull’s didn’t see us until it was too late and their bus wouldn’t start. These guys are a lot of things, but runners isn’t one of them.

On this night, the East Nasty Warriors would prevail. We told war stories at home base, took off our colors and strolled down the street to the running club Christmas party.

#ENFL

Tonight’s Diet: Water, Beer and Chili

October 5, 2012

Why Not You?

I’m finally reading Born to Run, which is an otherworldly story about a mysterious tribe of super- centered and super-human athletes nestled in remote caves of Mexico. They’re called Tarahumara (the Running People) and routinely run for dozens or hundreds of miles in the course of a normal day. It is their lifestyle. Children run free as soon as they leave the cradle, adults run for fun, ritual, and competition, and elderly Tarahumara continue this tradition late into life.

In Chapter 6 they referenced a 90 year old man who commonly hikes 20 plus miles into the mountains. The writer asked another tribesman how a man of his age could complete such feats of strength and endurance? In true Tarahumara fashion the man simply said, “Because no one told him he couldn’t.”

I once heard someone say “Florida is God’s waiting room,” and while it made me laugh, I always thought it was sad. Sure, we get old, but I’ve never liked our culture’s view of aging. Why do we settle for a pension, rocking chair and a handed down afghan while watching re-runs of I Love Lucy? (Well, besides the fact they are hilarious!?!)

My father has never been the healthiest of men and, in many ways, has succumbed to the myth of aging, but I have always admired his passion for being a good golfer. In fact, because I don’t see him often, that’s how I gauge his health. He can still hit the ball as far as me and routinely scores in the 70’s as he approaches that age. More importantly, he does it often.

Like many people I have casually thrown the phrase, “It sucks to get old,” but never wanted to accept it. Ache has always been a part of my life and in youth you simply play through the pain. I’d drag myself back to shortstop and embrace the next challenge. The body always adapted and found its way back to “normal.”

In January I attempted to run as an endurance exercise for the first time in my life. I wasn’t sure I had the patience to stick with the “slow build” Couch to 5k program, but, for once was determined to follow the rules. There were many days I didn’t want to go, but I dragged myself to NRC and met the group. There were other times when I felt good on an off day and wanted to test my limits, but resisted. I stayed on course and credit that program for everything I have done since.

The more we do something, the more it brands our fiber. It becomes natural like running is to the Tarahumara. Whether it is writing, reading, photography, dancing, swimming, biking, running; we can do it if we create a good base and develop habits.

The Tarahumara seem super human, but for them, running is easy. It’s kinda like lounging in a recliner to us. Running People don’t design spread sheets or sit through webinars, but they do make sales calls (in person) and drink corn beer like it’s a treat from God. My guess is, to them, posturing in an ergonomic chair and staring at a computer screen sounds harder than running 100 miles. It’s what we do that makes a difference.

So, I have set my sights on the “impossible.” A 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, followed by a full marathon. The marathon alone (on my best day), will be 240 of those first day sixty-second-runs in succession. The bike ride will take at least 6 hours. The swim is the equivalent of 42 lengths of a football field. But, like the elderly man, if I believe it, who’s to say I can’t?