Last night, after dinner, I sat down to catch up with a show on the DVR. I normally forward through the commercial breaks, but I needed a water (gotta stay hydrated, right?). So, I muted the set and went to the kitchen. Imagine my surprise when I returned to the couch to see a triathlon. Confused, I hit rewind and unmuted the TV.
I love it! Triathlon is becoming so "commonplace" that a company is using it in a commercial. I know that Amica is a major sponsor of triathlon - Amica 19.7 Triathlon Series - but to have triathlon make it into a national commercial spot...awesome.
Is this a first? Does anyone know of other mainstream brands embracing triathlon to this extent? I'd love to know...
Below is what I saw... Click here if the video doesn't appear.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Anaphylaxis and Running - Not to be Combined
Since finishing Ironman Lake Placid, I have been "training" a friend to help him get to the finish line of his first half marathon at the ING Hartford Marathon weekend. The goal is to get him to a sub-2:00 finish.
Over the course of the last few years, I feel like I have developed a pretty solid understanding of what it takes to get to and through various events. I have trained and competed in a variety of races and distances. I know what works and what doesn't for me. I am not qualified to do anything but coach myself...and I'm not even that good at that - which is why I enlist Coach Martha's help.
That all said, I want to help my buddy get there and I will run the race with him. I took the plan that I wrote for myself, shared it and we are working through it together. It has been going pretty well. The speed and tempo work has been fun. We've struggled on a few of our longer runs. On Sunday, we were supposed to head out for a 14-miler. It wasn't supposed to be anything crazy, but it also wasn't supposed to be a long slow run. We made it a little more than three miles before disaster struck.
Running together is always a little back and forth - we don't always have to be in lock-step. We are always right on each other's six most of the time if not side-by-side. Around 3.14 miles (thanks, Timex Global Trainer), I felt alone. I looked over my shoulder and he wasn't there. My buddy was 30 yards back, hunched over and he looked like he was calling the dinosaurs. I slowed to a walk, turned around and started meandering back - you've got to give folks their space, right? Anyway, I get closer and he raised up - "damn...what's wrong? you okay?"
He looked at me and then went back down. Finally, he was able to get some words out, "My throat feels like it's closing and I have a real tightness in my chest." I panic. Then, regained some composure. I did a mini check on his vitals and kept him talking. His lip started swelling, then his eye. I remembered that before we left, he was eating a peanut butter sandwich and thought, anaphylaxis. I was concerned. He drank some water and then some of my HEED. We started walking back to his house. I kept one eye on him and the other on the passing cars - just in case I needed to throw myself in front of one so that we could call 911. We finally made it home and while we called his doctor his wife went to get an antihistamine.
I'm not sure if it was the drug or just time, but he started showing signs of recovery after we got back to his house. The swelling went down and he no longer felt tightness in his chest. His doctor came by that afternoon (I later found out that they are good family friends) and pretty much cleared him. Thank you!
In hindsight, I know that I should have stopped the first car I saw after getting back to his side. I know that we should have taken him to the emergency room immediately. Thankfully it all worked out, but I know it could have been worse and that we were very lucky. I'm using this experience as my "get out of jail free" card. I know that I may not get another close call and the next time...well, you know.
So, do you have any crazy training stories? Callers, the lines are now open...
Over the course of the last few years, I feel like I have developed a pretty solid understanding of what it takes to get to and through various events. I have trained and competed in a variety of races and distances. I know what works and what doesn't for me. I am not qualified to do anything but coach myself...and I'm not even that good at that - which is why I enlist Coach Martha's help.
That all said, I want to help my buddy get there and I will run the race with him. I took the plan that I wrote for myself, shared it and we are working through it together. It has been going pretty well. The speed and tempo work has been fun. We've struggled on a few of our longer runs. On Sunday, we were supposed to head out for a 14-miler. It wasn't supposed to be anything crazy, but it also wasn't supposed to be a long slow run. We made it a little more than three miles before disaster struck.
Running together is always a little back and forth - we don't always have to be in lock-step. We are always right on each other's six most of the time if not side-by-side. Around 3.14 miles (thanks, Timex Global Trainer), I felt alone. I looked over my shoulder and he wasn't there. My buddy was 30 yards back, hunched over and he looked like he was calling the dinosaurs. I slowed to a walk, turned around and started meandering back - you've got to give folks their space, right? Anyway, I get closer and he raised up - "damn...what's wrong? you okay?"
He looked at me and then went back down. Finally, he was able to get some words out, "My throat feels like it's closing and I have a real tightness in my chest." I panic. Then, regained some composure. I did a mini check on his vitals and kept him talking. His lip started swelling, then his eye. I remembered that before we left, he was eating a peanut butter sandwich and thought, anaphylaxis. I was concerned. He drank some water and then some of my HEED. We started walking back to his house. I kept one eye on him and the other on the passing cars - just in case I needed to throw myself in front of one so that we could call 911. We finally made it home and while we called his doctor his wife went to get an antihistamine.
I'm not sure if it was the drug or just time, but he started showing signs of recovery after we got back to his house. The swelling went down and he no longer felt tightness in his chest. His doctor came by that afternoon (I later found out that they are good family friends) and pretty much cleared him. Thank you!
In hindsight, I know that I should have stopped the first car I saw after getting back to his side. I know that we should have taken him to the emergency room immediately. Thankfully it all worked out, but I know it could have been worse and that we were very lucky. I'm using this experience as my "get out of jail free" card. I know that I may not get another close call and the next time...well, you know.
So, do you have any crazy training stories? Callers, the lines are now open...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Patrick's Rant & a Youth Movement
Over at The Road, Patrick posted a really great rant about the excessive number of products that are introduced to market everyday that allow people to cheat good health by just slipping on some "slimming garment" or taking a magic pill.
I totally agree. I didn't get to where I am today (still not where I want to be) by just kicking back. No, I worked (sometimes really, really hard, sometimes not), made a number of sacrifices and spent thousands of dollars on equipment, entry fees, etc. (this I did by choice, you don't have to spend lots of money to get fit, I know). I've made it my mission to be fit and healthy - not just for me, but for my family. I want to set a good example for those around me. I just wish I would've started earlier...
Like Hunter Lussi. He is 16, has completed 33 triathlons (including 3 of the 140.6 distance), written a book, "America, Get Off the Couch," launched his own fitness program and lobbied Congress to have Labor Day named America's Tri for Health Day.
Amazing! Seriously amazing. Read about him at Runner's World - http://shar.es/0pQ6n.
Hunter is an inspiration. I hope that his efforts pay off and we can do something about the childhood obesity epidemic. Imagine what could happen if kids started getting fit - do you think it could rub off on parents/adults?
I totally agree. I didn't get to where I am today (still not where I want to be) by just kicking back. No, I worked (sometimes really, really hard, sometimes not), made a number of sacrifices and spent thousands of dollars on equipment, entry fees, etc. (this I did by choice, you don't have to spend lots of money to get fit, I know). I've made it my mission to be fit and healthy - not just for me, but for my family. I want to set a good example for those around me. I just wish I would've started earlier...
Like Hunter Lussi. He is 16, has completed 33 triathlons (including 3 of the 140.6 distance), written a book, "America, Get Off the Couch," launched his own fitness program and lobbied Congress to have Labor Day named America's Tri for Health Day.
Amazing! Seriously amazing. Read about him at Runner's World - http://shar.es/0pQ6n.
Hunter is an inspiration. I hope that his efforts pay off and we can do something about the childhood obesity epidemic. Imagine what could happen if kids started getting fit - do you think it could rub off on parents/adults?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
See you in 12 hours, 23 minutes, and 43 seconds.
A really nice thing just happened...my bike fitter, Carl at New England Bicycle Consulting just emailed me and asked if he could do a little write up of me on his blog.
http://nebikeconsulting.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/see-you-in-12-hours-23-minutes-and-43-seconds/
Check it out - pretty cool stuff. Maybe I should write up a piece on my Trek...cause she is beautiful!
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