Bobby McGee's Three Essential Run Drills

Believe

Our/My Obsession With Counting

I noticed it first on the hill run the other day --  little rocks tidily placed a'top the gate that guards the hill where I do repeats.  Picture something like this, 

only with granite rocks a top a metal fence.

Then I noticed it at Crossfit, a solid line drawn with the dry erase marker with ticks marking the reps the athletes were completing.  And then again at masters swimming, when the athletes calculated out loud the yardage they were about to complete as outlined in the workout.

Triathletes, or actually, most athletes, are a community of counters.  We want to know stats -- how far, how fast, how many.  We are in constant need-to-know basis if we are improving or not.  And how do we measure that?  With a Garmin upload, or a score on a white board or a high yardage swim in a short time frame.

Is this an obsession?  Maybe.  Is is worthwhile? Probably, if you have a purpose to your fitness.   Do we need to see constant improvement as we grow older?  Hmmm. 

I've yet to take the GPS off and run for fun.  Or take the mountain bike out to just discover a new trail.  I'll get there.  I promise.

But it's gonna take some time. 

Is it just me?

Brick House Biker Chick -- My Friend Jen

  Jen is not your typical female mountain biker.  She dresses differently for one.  But her skills speak for themselves.  She is on the podium regularly at local mountain bike races.  She's a mom, she's a friend and she's a killer cyclists.  Go get 'em, Jen!

The Vegan Runner

Scott Jurek's story Eat Vegan & Run in  June 2012 Runner's World

I am a devoted reader of Runner's World Magazine.  There are always great ideas and interesting suggestions for runners of all capabilities in every issue.  Lately, I've been thinking more and more about diet and how it compliments the athletic workout.  My interest was piqued at this paragraph:

I spent the next two to three years testing the theory. In the spring of '97, I cut out meat. I won the Voyageur again. Then fish. I won the Voyageur a third time, and placed second in my first 100-miler, facing ultrarunning's top competitors. When I finally went vegan in 1999, I lost a layer of fat—the layer that came with eating the cookies and cakes and cheese pizza that so many omnivores and even vegetarians gulp down. I learned that I could eat more, enjoy it more (fruit tasted sweeter, vegetables crunchier and more flavorful), and still get leaner than I had ever been in my life. I started on more whole grains and legumes. Muscles I didn't even know I had popped out. My blood pressure and triglyceride levels dropped to all-time lows, my HDL, "good" cholesterol, shot up to an all-time high. I had virtually no joint inflammation, even after miles of pounding trails and roads, and on the rare occasion I sprained my ankle or fell and whacked my elbow or knee, the soreness left faster than it ever had before. I was running in the morning, working eight-to 10-hour days, then running 10 miles in the evening—yet I woke up with more energy every day.


See the whole article here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-303--14320-1-1X2X3X4X5-6,00.html

When The Boston Marathon Gives You Lemons

Kim and her three cute kids

by Kim Arnett

It’s been a few weeks since I ran the Boston Marathon, which means I’ve had lots of time to think about the race and analyze it from a hundred different angles!  I think that interestingly enough, despite it being one of the most difficult races I’ve done, in some respects it was also one of the best.  

I remember looking at the weather report for Boston a few days before the race and realizing as the race inched closer that the forecast was indeed accurate and we were in for an unseasonably warm run.  I tried really hard to kind of discount that fact and tell myself a little heat was not a big deal.   Then, when I was told that for the first time ever, the marathon was offering “deferments” and race officials were actually encouraging non-qualified runners to not run, it was hard not to become a little anxious!

However, after finally accepting things for what they were, HOT, I decided to just enjoy the race for what it was…the Boston Marathon.  I allowed myself to really take-in the sights and sounds of the course.  It was so nice to stand in the staring corral and not feel the anxiety that I generally do.  Like most runners, I put lots of pressure on myself to make each race my best one yet!  Knowing that doing so was absolutely out of the question, I felt much more relaxed than I have at the beginning of any previous marathon.   

It was still very difficult.  The heat took its toll on many of us, including my nephew (an elite runner) who was pulled from the course at mile 22 and didn’t finish. There were a few times when I questioned my own ability to finish, but when I did finally cross, with my very loyal and dear running partner and friend, Barbara Brimhall right by my side, I experienced the same flood of tears that come at the end of every marathon.   

Whether you finish fast, slow, or somewhere in between, finishing a marathon is a tremendously gratifying experience.  That sense of satisfaction is what keeps me running marathons.  I’ve heard a few fellow runners say that the experience of running Boston in record hot temperatures has put them into retirement!  For me, my experience has left me hoping to have the chance to run that historic race again.  And if I do, rain or shine, I plan to enjoy every single step!

El Fuego E Misty

by Misty Bowlby

When signing up for races I usually like to pick ones that are places I like to visit, so when Mosley’s presented me with the idea of a Vegas weekend I said why not?

Tour De Fire is considered a pretty difficult ride but known for providing some of the most beautiful desert scenery in Nevada. We started out knowing that we would be doing a lot of climbing at an easy pace because we had to endure for 74 miles.

The morning started out great.  We set a nice pace and were prepared for the adventure ahead, unfortunately Nevada is also known for their high winds which was no exception for this day. We pushed a 20 – 25 mph head wind pretty much all the way up the canyon, which after a while gets very wearing. Every time we would reach what we thought was somewhat of a summit the road ahead proved us wrong with more mountains that were waiting for us to roll slowly up. I think there were a few times I thought to myself that there was no way I was going to make it to the turnaround but I would just watch my wheel turn and keep digging.

Once we finally reached the turnaround point we were greeted with the most amazing SAG stop… popsicles, ice water, chilled peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (that tasted like heaven), ice cold towels to help cool you down and some of the most friendly, helpful volunteers I have ever met! What an amazing feeling to know that going back should be much easier that the hardest part was behind us.

After getting hydrated and fed we set out for our mostly downhill return, however I encountered a few hiccups along the way. At about 17 miles from the finish I had lost complete feeling in my right foot which was then followed by a horrible burning sensation, we stopped at the first available SAG stop and I struggled to get my shoe off my ridiculously swollen foot. Prior to this ride I made the decision to ride a different bike that had better gearing and unfortunately didn’t change out my shoes as well, this is what was causing my problem. I iced my foot to get the swelling down enough to get my shoe back on and proceeded to ride the next seven miles, once again I lost all feeling in my foot, mind you I had just had surgery a few months ago on this same foot.

Stopping at the last SAG before the finish I knew there was no way I could get that shoe back on and had the fear that if I did I would do further possibly unfixable damage to my foot. I had to make a decision to not finish a get a ride in, at first I was completely bummed but after thinking about it I had done the hardest part of the ride fighting against mother nature the whole way, and that I could live with. It was a great experience and I was very grateful I was able to do it with good friends, I now am a member of a small group of 4 riders from Mesa that can say we did the Tour De Fire!

The Mosley clan and Misty

The Tour de Fire gang plus Tom

Happy Mother's Day

Tour De Fire

Looking for a fun ride this Saturday?....worried about the 95° forecast?  Come on up to cool Las Vegas (80°) for one of the best centuries you will ever ride...come ride the Tour de Fire!   The entire route starting at Boulder Beach on Lake Mead is within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Valley of Fire State Park.  The route is though some of the most beautiful desert you will ride and the desert wild flowers are at their peak.  Pick your distance from 20, 48, 60, 74, 99 and 134 miles (out and back route).  There are only 3 stop signs on the whole 134 mile route and very little traffic...unless you’re talking about the desert tortoises that wander onto the road.  Well stocked rest stops no more than 10 miles apart and great community support!  Great Harvest Bread Company will be providing a light breakfast, and Outback Steakhouse will be serving lunch at the finish line!  Proceeds from Tour de Fire benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.  

Registration and packet pick-up Friday, May 4^th at Procyclery, 7034 W Charleston, Las Vegas, NV 89117. 702-228-9460.  No “day of” registration (officially), but latecomers won’t be turned away...something can be worked out.

Mention “Dream Big with Lorie” or “ProWheel Builder” and save $10.

For more info check out http://tdfire.com/

Here’s a shout out that appeared in the May 2008 Bicycling Magazine:

Tour de Fire

It's even more of a challenge than resisting the penny slots.

By David Salmon

Test your mettle against some of the toughest conditions Mother Nature has to offer: The Tour De Fire's route covers 134 miles, with 11,000-plus feet of climbing and temperatures that routinely reach into the 90s. The course begins at Boulder Beach, skirts the sapphire-blue depths of historic Lake Mead, winds through desert terrain and climbs into the Valley of Fire, where brilliant red sandstone formations loom like something out of a Martian landscape. After conquering a climb with a 12 percent grade, you'll turn around and retrace the route. All ride profits benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

 

To Be An Athletic Supporter

by Amy Demke 

"Do you want to volunteer at Ironman with me?" Lorie asked me this years ago when she had just started doing marathons.

"Sure! I love to volunteer." I served in volunteer clubs in high school and I belong to a church that is certainly no stranger to volunteerism.

Registering athletes is inspiring on many levels. There truly is no age barrier, no body type you don't see, no color of skin not represented. They come from countries all over the world and no matter the language they speak they offer a thanks for volunteering.

At the Phoenix Marathon, I was able to meet some fellow senior volunteers who also help weekly at Arizona Brain Food. They do it just because they can. I saw people who were in the race who were volunteering as well because extra hands were needed. I saw my own children volunteering. Sure, Carly wanted to be a part of the Arnett dance party but she was still helping!

So I think back to the first Ironman and the different paths Lorie and I took. When she exclaimed how awesome that experience was she meant she was inspired to train for one. I was inspired to cheer her on.

To quote a line from the movie Grease, " If you can't be an athlete than be an athletic supporter!"