Enjoy the Journey - there is no return ticket

George Carlin on aging! (Absolutely Brilliant)

"Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. 'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.

Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50, and your dreams are gone...

But! wait!! ! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50, and make it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!

After that, it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's, and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.' Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1.Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's family name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally used up and worn out, shouting '...man, what a ride!' "

Keep it smooth,
Brad

The Double Run

Within my current block of training Coach Z has incorporated a double run day into the mix. This is a common practice for pure runners who are single sport athletes. I believe many triathletes also utilize the double run at various places during the season. It can be a very effective way to boost run volume while limiting the muscular fatigue & damage if done wisely. I have found the most benefit in my own training and coaching of athletes to apply it as a primary longer run done early in the day or morning with specific focus on tempo, race pace or hill work then later in the afternoon or evening a VERY easy shake-out/recovery short run on soft surface & flat terrain. A three to four hour minimum window between runs will allow for recovery. The second run can be very therapuetic if done on grass soccer fields or a trail while not monitoring heart rate, speed, etc. Throwing in some barefoot running if on grass or the infield of a track as part of this embarassingly-slow second run can be fun and good for strengthening the support/stabilizing muscles, ligaments & tendons of the feet. If doing some barefoot running I highly recommend starting in brief increments and slowly growing the amount of time from week to week (start at 2-5 minutes and each week add a minute or two over a block of training).

The double run can be a great way to maximize your time while boosting your run volume in preparation for a key race.

Keep it smooth...
Brad

Prize $$$ for Professional Triathletes

There is a current poll within the US professional triathlon ranks regarding prize money with the formation of a new committe to address voiced concerns. Before you start slinging tomatoes thinking this is simply a cry for more money, take note...it's not really about more money. As several of my colleagues have indicated the currrent prize money break down at most races lacks a systematic fractional breakdown as seen in other professional sports such as cycling, golf & tennis. For example, at the NYC Triathlon first place was awareded $10,000 and fifth place $500. At IMUSA last year I finished in the final spot of 8th place, good for $500, which is the same amount I earned recently at the 3M Half Marathon.

While I am grateful for the gift of good health and to be racing against the world's top triathletes, five hundered bucks doesn't even cover the entry fee or travel expenses for most races. As triathlon continues to grow in big numbers, it is my hope we, as professional triathletes, are able to position ourselves more favorably in promoting the sport and its sponsors. Of course, this demands a high level of professionalism on all levels.

Keep it smooth...

Brad

Grace

Life has been kind of crazy since the holidays, but all in a good way with travel the last two weeks to Austin & Tuscon. Ran the 3M Half Marathon in Austin posting a 1:09 in some rather windy conditions with gusts up to 40mph. The start of the race was delayed an hour as police barricades were blowing onto the course. Never seen that before.

This past weekend I had the privilege to help coach at the annual ICTN/FCA-Endurance training camp in Tuscon. It was a fantastic weekend filled with faith, fellowship, fun and of course fitness! While I certainly enjoyed the opportunities for training alongside the other athletes from across the states and Canada, I benefitted most by the spiritual shot in my arm. Each night of the camp we gathered as a group for a message from one of the pastors. These guys have an incredible gift of motivating & inspiring through faith and are true examples for me of what manhood is all about. One of the themes that seemed to be on my mind & heart as I took in their words was grace.

I recognize this word might be unfamiliar to some and has different meanings for each of us. For me it simply refers to the sense of warmth/peace I feel when God is present in my life, or at least when I recognize His presence. Triathlon is not about me, but rather using the gift of good health God has privided me to share His love with others. This can come in various forms like racing for a cause, encouraging & pushing my training partners, motivating others to embrace a healthy lifestyle through exercise and coaching/challenging my athletes to be their best.

Grace is God's gift to us which allows us to good by other people. Whether you are a believer or not, I'm pretty certain you have experienced this at certain times in your life. Perhaps it was a time when you reached out to a friend in need or put your spouse & family before your training. Grace flows through the simple, everyday things in our lives. It is not really about lightning bolts falling from the sky. It is my prayer you may feel/see God's grace working in your life today.

Above are a few pics from the climb up Mt. Lemmon. It was a bit surreal along the way as a snow storm had dumped several feet of snow towards the top and Tusconians were taking full advantage of it with sledding, picnics and bar-b-ques. The atmosphere was close to circus-like. One unlucky person was involved in a sledding accident and air-lifted off the mountain as seen.

Keep it smooth...

Brad