Run to Win

This week last year dealt mostly with Lance Armstrong’s interactions with Dick Pound.

• First, Lance Armstrong published a letter criticising Dick Pound, who then responded in a predictable manner by rediculing Armstrong. This week last year also included some leaked testimony that alleges that Lance Armstrong admitted to taking EPO. Thankfully, the past year since then has not involved Lance Armstrong being continually accused of doping; the attention has instead shifted back to the rest of the bicycling world.
• My training got derailed a bit after I broke my ring finger. It had mostly healed by the time I got married; we were able to hide how difficult it was to get the ring on.
• If you want to improve your sleeping, then try not to fall asleep in front of the television. It is bad for your back and neck, and it can overstimulate you and lead to restless sleep.
• The Whirlaway 10k was this week last year, which was part of the USATF-NE Grand Prix race series. I was only three weeks removed from a marathon and barely broke 36 minutes. Unfortunately, the race was not held this year, so it looks like last year was the end of the road.
• This week last year was the first time that I started highlighting articles from a year prior, which I have done every weekend since then. Two years ago, I reviewed Running with the Buffaloes and Eat to Be Fit. I also shared how to make Beef Jerky and how to deal with migraines, and the enjoyment of a good Beach Run.

Dean Karnazes has done a lot of incredible feats over the past few years, but setting the world record for treadmill running over a 24 hour period was not one of them. He managed to run over 130 miles, an equivalent of 5 marathons, but the record stands at 153.76 miles.

This record attempt was made in an effort to raise money for “Athletes for a Cure” and to promote Accelerade. “Athletes for a Cure” is dedicated to finding a cure for prostrate cancer. People were able to watch Dean run on the treadmill, which was on a platform attached to the Reuters building in Times Square, from 3 different webcams.

While running for 130 miles is impressive in and of itself, I can not imagine running it on a treadmill. I could not understand it when the Great Lakes HSA 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge was going on, and it makes even less sense when you are the only person doing the running rather than participating in a relay.

(Official Site: Accelerade 24-Hour Endurance Run)

Windy Hagar married her track coach at the beginning of the week after coercing her folks into signing a consent form. She is 16 years old and a Junior in high school; he is 40 years old and just resigned from the staff at her school. It is the fourth case in the past year or so in North Carolina with an innapropriate relationship between a kid and a teacher or a coach.

I do not have any kids yet, but I can not fathom allowing my daughter to do something like that. I probably would have some harsh things to say if she tried marrying somebody twice her age when she was 18 or 21, but at 16 I have to think that I would move our family out of state rather than become a party to this whole situation. Maybe it is because I’m a yankee and I grew up near the top of the country, but I can not understand why a parent would allow their daughter to get married so young, ignoring the age difference between her and her husband.

You can read the whole story and watch a video clip from Good Morning America over at ABC.com.

Bicycle activists in Toronto are fed up with the city government. The city has spent less than half of the money earmarked for putting in bicycle lanes, and is 2 years behind schedule. Cajoling the city has not had any luck, so they have decided to take matters into their own hands. They have been painting their own bike lanes onto the roads in an effort to make the city sit up and take notice.

“The shop owners on Bloor said they thought it was the city staff painting,” said Rick Helary, manager of road operations in Toronto. He says the total cost of the clean up was $1973.74. This is a small price to pay, says the Repair Squad’s ringleader, a man in his late 30s(members of the group asked their names not be used). “The city is taking way too long. There is no need for this. Why don’t they just paint the bike lanes? People are dying.” The most recent cyclist killed in the GTA died earlier this month when he collided with a garbage truck on Bayview Ave., near the 401.

I am not sure how much good this will do, but I hope that it works and that they stop doing it soon. It is interesting to see people complaining that the city is not spending enough money rather than that they are spending too much.

Portland has some pretty good bicycle access; quite a few of the major roads have bike lanes and there are more slated to be painted in the next few years. The trick is convincing drivers that bikes have a right to be in the road, and convincing cyclists that they need to follow the rules of the road.

(Source: The Toronto Star)

At Complete Running, Mark Iocchelli and Steve “Runner” Walker are debating about whether or not you should refuel during a marathon or whether you should just stick to water. Both make some good points, but I definately side with Steve on this one. I have learned what works well for my body, and everybody needs to learn what works for them. I do believe that there are a few guidelines that can make a difference, though, and that are a good basis to experiment with.

First, my credentials. I have run more marathons than Mark, and not quite as many as Steve. I’ve run all of my marathons faster than either of them, owing largely to my age and the fact that I am only a 5 or 6 years removed from averaging 85-100 miles per week throughout the course of a year. My goals tend to be a little different than what they might put down as well; depending upon how my next few year’s of training and racing go I would not be surprised if my barely attainable goals move down towards a trials qualifier.
(Click here to continue reading…)

In a continuing collaboration with Scott over at Straight to the Bar, we will be writing about alternative exercises throughout the month of June. Cross training can easily be expanded outside of the realms of running, weight lifting, bicycling and swimming.

This week, Scott suggests that you walk for at least 10,000 steps per day (about 5 miles.) Replacing a few simple chores with your feet instead of your car can easily cause how far you have walked in any given day to add up.
(Click here to continue reading…)

The results for the New England Mile are available and are now online. The official press release is copied below. The race was a great time, and I am looking forward to it again next year. The race was twice the size of last year’s field, and it is very exciting to see that sort of growth.

Overall Results | Top Ten Males & Females | Top Ten Masters M/F
Age Group Results | Father/Son Team Results | Father Daughter Team Results

June 17th, 2007
Portland, Maine

The organizers of the KeyBank New England Mile got what they wanted when Pat Tarpy shattered the 4 minute barrier running 3:54 and collecting the $1,500 prize sponsored by The Downeast Group at Smith Barney, to lead a pack of 5 talented Mainers who all ran 4:05 or better.

“I’m still keyed up from Tarpy’s performance,” said an elated Pete Bottomley, Key Bank New England Mile director. “I expected Pat to be fast but I was surprised that he broke the 4 minute barrier by such a large amount. It was inspiring to watch.”

The lead packed came through the quarter mile in 56 seconds. 20 seconds later Tarpy surged to the front and was never really challenged. He led through the half mile in 1:56 and was running strong and smooth at the ¾ mile marker that he passed in 2:56. With 30 meters to go and the crowd going nuts Tarpy eased back a little and took a moment to wave to the crowd.

Ayalew Taye, who will attended Georgetown University in the fall, finished second in 4:02 followed by Gabe Rivard in 4:03, Jeff Caron in 4:04 and Louie Luchini in 4:05.

“We had truly amazing performances in all age group and gender categories with over 300 people running the race. I think we’ve hit our mark and I hope this race will continue to go and become a Father’s Day tradition,” exclaimed Bottomley. “We already have a commitment for equal award money for the female runners next year. Claudia Camargo shattered the women’s record running 4:27 which equates to a sub 4 mile for men. I would love to be able to reward a woman with the same amount of prize money that the men receive for that type of performance.”

For race results go to www.newenglandmile.com

For more information and interviews contact:

Pete Bottomley
207-807-1133

Patrick Tarpy absolutely dominated the field at the New England Mile this morning, coming in at an impressive 3 minutes, 54.8 seconds. His excellent race was the first sub-4 minute mile run by a Maine runner on Maine soil, and earned him a $1500 bonus that was generously donated by Smith Barney. When the race was over, he was asked at what point he knew that he was going to break 4 minutes. His reply? “Yesterday.”

Congratulations to Pat, and to the rest of the great field of around 300 finishers this year. Official results will be available later this afternoon.