Lead or follow

Lead or follow, but never get in the way.

Stay tuned...

Hit-and-run, and an update

Perhaps you caught my two Examiner.com news stories about the hit-and-run of friend, and triathlete, Debbie McGregor a few days ago.

In case you hadn't read the news, here is the television newscast with my interview and links to the stories:

"Plano Ironman triathlete hospitalized in hit-and-run"

"Triathlete hit-and-run victim recovering from broken back"

Update: Debbie moved out of the hospital and into a rehabilitation center for physical therapy. It won't be long and I'll be writing about her return to triathlon.

Stay tuned...

Under the influence

Saying my name in the same breath with Team Hoyt and Terry Fox is darn near sacrilege. OK, it is sacrilege, so at the risk of tainting the reputation of these true greats I'll continue here for just a wee bit more but only long enough to make a greater point -- reading about all of the runners at RunReviews.com is a must. Prepared to be inspired. There; I warned ya.

I'm humbled and more than a little nervous to be included on their list of "Most Influential Runners." How nervous? Does the expression, "feeling like a ho in church," express it well? Now that I find myself in such esteemed company, I have no choice but to step up my blogging (and running) game.

Humility and nerves aside what I'm feeling the most is thankful.

I will do my level best to live up to the title and respectfully sit in the last pew, next to the door, with my running shoes on.

Stay tuned...

First for Liberty

Flash back to January...

Me: "Your first 5k of the year and you placed second in your age group. What race do you want to run next, another 5k?"

Harrison: "No."

Me: "No?"

Harrison: "I want to run a 10k."

Me: "When?"

Harrison: "Before my 10th birthday."

Me: "Sounds like fun. Let's plan it."

Back to the present day and the Liberty by the Lake 5k and 10k in The Colony, Texas. Not only would Harrison's running a 10k be a first but Kathryn, my 14-year-old, would also run her first 5k. It would be a perfect holiday activity for us. We three agreed we would run together until the 5k and 10k courses split, after than I would pace Harrison.

The report is: they finished! Kathryn's reaction to her run, "I had fun, 'cuz I'm awesome like that."

No argument here.

"That was so HARD!" said Harrison after we crossed the line together, "I need to run more before the next one."

Again, no argument from me.

A natural question is, how long will it be until he takes to the road and begins training? And my answer is, I'm not sure and, to be honest, I'm not worried about it. At his age he's probably too young for a traditional training program and it's likely to not be all that beneficial either. For him, running should still be play and not structured training. He should run just for its joy. Run to simply feel the leaves crunch beneath his feet, hear the wind in the trees, and hop over rain puddles. He should run to find a place away from school work, and sisters, and chores, and people telling him what to do. Run so he can be with his own thoughts and dream his own dreams. Run to that place where all desires can be trusted and doubts released. Run to be with his friends and yes, run to be with his Dad.

My wish for him, Kathryn, and Margeaux is they find the joy of staying physically active on their own and make sport a lifelong activity.

And may their first choice in a running partner be me.

Stay tuned...

Endurance groups non grata

Bartonville, Texas has a message to runners and cyclists groups of over ten; pay or go away.

Click here to read the story I wrote for Examiner.com

What do you think of Bartonville's decision? Prudent safety mesasure or infringement of peaceful assembly? All comments are welcome.

Stay tuned...

IM-toxication

OK, I admit it, I didn't think it would happen so soon -- the inaugural Ironman Texas is coming, and true to my word, I'll be racing it on May 21. Why the confession? Well, that requires a bit of brief (very brief) history.

Last September, after crossing the finish line of Ironman Wisconsin, I announced the indefinate suspension of my Ironman racing. Four Ironmans in four years, with the last two raced only a month apart, it felt the time was right to step away from the MDot punchbowl. And I did so, happily, without regrets. But, I also did so with one leeeetle proviso in my suspension agreement.

I negotiated with myself - and told many - the only two Ironman races that would bring me back would be an invitation to the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii (as if THAT would happen) and the inaugural Ironman Texas, which as far as I knew was a long way off if ever. Thinking there was a strong possibility of neither event happening, I temped fate. And fate came calling last week when it was announced - and I wrote about - Ironman Texas would be held in The Woodlands next spring.

It was decision time. Would I keep my word by signing up for inaugural race or back pedal if somebody called out me and the proviso?

My decision is to meet fate and enter the race.

Having a few days to think about what I chose to do a wee bit of concern came over me and concern grew into doubts. My doubts continued throughout today until I read these words I wrote after completing Ironman Wisconsin, "There's an entire other world that begins on the other side of exhaustion and sweat. It's a place with its own rewards for the present day. An athlete that pushes himself to this place is intoxicated with the athlete's truth and the dedicated lives to go there. They know the blindly intoxicated sees things the sober man never will."

So with that, the Ironman Bar is open and the drinks are on me.

Stay tuned...

California Beamin'

On the clearest of days, in the earliest light of morning, Grapevine Lake's waters stretch dark across the Texas prairie floor like a shadow. Not yet catching the first glowing fingers of dawn, only an occasional silvery shimmer dances off the silent surface hinting of the coming gold. With the long, sweltering early summer days and short nights the water keeps her warmth like a lover keeps her smile; the closer your approach, the more inviting she becomes.

Her early-day visitors survey the waters quietly while preparing themselves to enter her. They first approach her with deferential calm. I'm satisfied to just touch her surface lightly before wading into depths unknown, as it is still not day. Once confident of my place and position, only then do I dive under her surface to feel the water envelope me. With every sense heightened, the darkness under the water and the rush into my ears; my entire body is sensitive to the slightest change of current under my belly and hands. It's all familiar and yet a mystery at the same time. What lies in the depths cannot be seen, but what I feel is familiar and I know it supports me in this vulnerable time. Call it an "athletic sweet surrender."

As the sun rises, the beach tan sand turns warm and grassy greens glow. Golden strands glimmer against the horizon when kissed by the sun and curves give up their last shadows against the light. Dawn has won this morning like California's promise of the future; it may be cloudy and the very earth may shift under your feet today but nothing can match the brightness and sturdy resolve of the potential of a new morning.

Art curator, Aaron Rose is right, "In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." Such is the same with every swim, every bike, and every run you and I make, but only if we slow down long enough to notice. More importantly, take time to tell somebody and write it down.

Stay tuned...

Amor fati

There's an old story about a young man from humble beginnings who makes it big in business. To reward himself, he purchases a large boat and on its maiden voyage he throws a party on deck. Proud of his accomplishment, he invited his parents on board to celebrate. He's especially eager to welcome his father because he served in the navy in the great war. On the day of the party the young man gave his friends the grand tour of the boat carefully pointing out the features of the vessel; the sail, the radios, the helm, the wheel, even his new white Captain's hat. At the end of the tour his father pulls his son aside to say, "To your friends you're a Captain, to me and your mother you're a Captain, but to a Captain you're no Captain."

Now, replace the father and young man with me and the word "Captain" with "triathlete" and you'll understand my dilemma.

I have the title of triathlete, but do I have the credibility? In my self-debate on the matter, my title withers under the mantle of the sport because not since last year have I raced in a triathlon and the absence weighs heavy on my mind. The last time I joined the ranks of the triathlon faithful was Ironman Wisconsin, and only seven weeks before that it was Ironman Lake Placid. For some, two Ironman races within two months would be a lifetime's accomplishment alone but I'm not one to be satisfied with yesterday's efforts. This is 2010 and, as of today, I haven't raced in a single mutlisport event. The one half-marathon and three 5-kilometer runs I completed earlier this year were just that, runs. Undoubtedly, worthwhile training for triathlon but without a swim and bike, a run-only-event is like spaghetti and meatballs without sauce and noodles. Adding to my dilemma of the audacity of calling myself a triathlete is my dropping out of the Boston Marathon and what was to be my first triathlon of the year, the Capital of Texas Triathlon on Memorial Day. It seems lately even my meatballs are small.

Breaking the great toe on my right foot in April is the underlying reason for the race drop outs and who could blame me for setting up my spectator's chair for a few months? As I have painfully learned, a broken bone, especially on the foot, is a powerful deterrent to training, let alone racing. I have also found out its a powerful depressant.

It's been said that in time, my body would heal; and this I knew but after the bone healed there remained a looming unknown. That is the unknown of the return; the recovery. When the accident happened I understood I'd have to break my race plans but what I didn't see coming was the breaking of my spirit; the very thing that makes a triathlete. Some would say what makes a triathlete a triathlete is completing a triathlon. A fairly simple standard to meet but not one I consider valid. Stringing together a swim, bike and run merely means you completed a triathlon but it doesn't forever make a triathlete. If you're new to the sport and somebody told you that once you cross the finish line you'll always be a triathlete, I'm sorry to break the news to you but it's not true. Captains are not made just because they but a boat and a hat and triathletes are not ordained triathletes just because of a finisher's medal. What makes a triathlete is the training, racing, and, most importantly the spirit. You must have all three, together, at the same time. None of which I have today. This despite having finished four Ironmans and oodles of shorter distance races.

Or this that had?

Since the break, I swam a bit, biked around 20 miles a time or two, and walked a couple of miles a few times a week. Gradually I extended both time and distance as the pain in my foot allowed. Today, at the start of my first post-break, 30-mile ride and 45-minute run, I had aspirations of completing the run with enough flair to sustain a lie in the coming months the broken toe didn't slow me down at all. By the time I hopped off of the bike the temperatures were approaching a brutal 100 degrees for a run. Within a minute, I was struggling with both the road and internal demons. My toe hurt; a lot! And my lungs burned with every heavy-legged stride. Together they evoked the self-doubting negative talk which can kill the desire to achieve. I wanted desperately to run valiantly, but my body was breaking down and so was my resolve. Clearly, it was too much too soon but I wanted to complete the 45-minutes of running, even if I had to take walk breaks. Why didn't I pack it in and regroup another day? But if I quit now, wouldn't it make quitting easier in the future? How badly did I want it? What was I willing to pay, physically and emotionally? Is it incongruity to push myself during recovery while desiring to pick back up like nothing had happened?

The better angels of my nature prevailed. I finished, toe throbbing, stopping to walk a total of ten minutes only. However, the fact remains, I couldn't complete a standard distance brick workout without stopping. Neither a captain or triathlete is he?

Amor fati

Still, I pressed on. Perceptions will be what they might be but I could do something -- not much, but something -- real toward the person I want to be.

During the last half of the run I thought about how anyone waging in the skirmishes of a premature recovery (surely I wasn't the only one) was reflecting precisely the self-overcoming and personal transformation that animate the philosophy of the late 19th century philosopher Fredrich Nietzsche.

Nietzsche insisted that inner conflict was inescapable. Human beings embody multiple drives, deep ambiguity and ambivalence, and internally mirror the ongoing flux of the cosmos. Refusing to accept what he took to be the false consolations of religion, Neitzsche was convinced that our world lacks inherent meaning and value. We can call this belief in "cosmic meaninglessness." As such, the only meaning and value possible must be humanly constructed and fragile.

Is not this lack of inherent cosmic meaning and purpose challenging us to respond positively? To accept our lives in their entireties and to fashion them in such a way that we luxuriate in our time on earth without the distractions of resentments.

He wrote, "My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it -- all idealism is mendaciousness (a lie) in the face of what is necessary -- but love it."

Amor fati, then captures a high human value: maximally affirming life with full understanding of its tragic dimensions. Breaking a bone and having to drop out of races being one of them. An abundantly healthy spirit respects the order of rank based on merit, cherish opportunities for self-transformation through struggle and rich exertion, seek personal challenges from motives of joy and love of life, and scorn cowardly hopes for pity and rationalization's salvation.

This is my only life on earth and if I confront it with aesthetic creativity and a full heart it will be quite enough.

Stay tuned...

Flanders Fields

Sport is an expression of our inner selves - no different than written word, speech, music, or art. While we compete we are not the writers but the ones being written about by those who study us. We know what they are merely trying to know. They are seeking belief, while we already believe. Our difficulty is in expressing the whole truth of that experience, that knowledge, that belief.

We choose to race, or not, like the activist who takes up a cause and chooses to march, or not, the voice - metaphoric or literal - is the same. Hold it not back, because it is our right to use it or not.

The very fundamental of freedom is speech and its forms expressed. It's the foundation, the cornerstone, the pillar of liberty set by the architects of our country. Liberty is loved by free men everywhere and feared by tyranny anywhere. It's because of the love; men and women are sent to sacrifice their lives to keep it for all surviving. And it's because of their sacrifice we remember them on Memorial Day.

"In Flanders Fields," was written by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while fighting in World War I after presiding over the funeral of a friend killed in battle. The poem was published in 1915 and put to music in 1917. The poppies referred to in the song are of the flowers growing wild on top of the hastily made cemeteries for the soldiers in the Flanders region between France and Belgium.

As a tribute to the war dead, my daughter Kathryn sings "In Flanders Fields." Please click below to listen to a brief introduction and then the song.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Stay Tuned...

Oh, the people you'll meet

Well known for kicking off the North American race season, its warm breezes and fast course, the St. Anthony's Triathlon brings athletes from around the world to St. Petersburg, Florida. Some of their names are known to followers of the sport, while many are not. Some set record times and compete on the sports largest stage, while others set personal records on stages small. Some are Olympic competitors, while others will never don a wreath of olive leaves. Some cross the finish line in less than two hours, while many others take three, maybe four; each striving, and each deserving of their athalon.

Let's meet some of them.

Meet Gary Jones (@ChefTris)

Gary knows his recipes. Take a splash of swim, turn over the cranks, add a dash of run, a pinch of salt tablets, pour in sweat, cover with a visor, and cook for hours. Voila! It's a feast made for a triathlete.

When he's not perfecting his course cooking he's creating treats for the guests at Disney's Wilderness Lodge as resort chef. I had the opportunity to meet Gary and his wife al fresco two days before the race. He's a big fan of the "Zen & the Art of Triathlon" and the "Stay Tuned Report" podcasts. Gary, if you're cooking, I'm hungry. Just sayin'

Meet Carla Geiger

Carla, the quintessential, neophyte age grouper triathlete was searching for a race entry and found a cause along the way. While looking for a way to register for the sold out St. Anthony's triathlon, a friend pointed her to an altruistic doorway - philanthropic racing. Every year, St. Anthony's

sets aside entries for athletes pledging to raise money for charity. After the race is sold out, an athlete can gain entry by raising money for one of the race's chosen charities. Her choice, "Project One," sponsored by the Sportsgrants Foundation. Project One provided her online market tools to promote, solicit, and collect donations to benefit the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center. And they gave her a snazzy race kit too. (see photo) A two time graduate of the University of Florida (Bachelor of Music and Master of Music) and a family affected by the ravages of cancer, the cause touched her inner noble athlete. Plus, two weeks prior she lost a long time friend to cancer, so, the affiliations matched her motivations. Sponsored by her friends, she raised money to help Shands continue its research of a cure for cancer of all types.

Meet Mandy McLane (@mandymclane)

If you see Mandy (left in photo below) before the start of a triathlon use that time to say "hello," because that will probably be the last time you'll see her until you finish. Where will she be during the race? Most likely, a head of you; way ahead of you. A former collegiate swimming champion, Mandy began racing triathlon in 2008 and quickly made her presence felt. In her first year of racing she placed in the Top 10 at the 2008 USA Triathlon National Championship. Under the coaching and mentoring of Ironman 70.3 World Champion, Joanna Zeiger, she continued her winning ways into 2009 with numerous podium finishes in the Elite Amateur division. If all went according to plan, St. Anthony's would be her final race before turning professional. How did she do? She nailed it with a victory; first overall female amateur. Like I said, introduce yourself early and anticipate in the future to stand in line for an autograph.

Meet Doris Steere (@steeredc)

Relaxed in manner and urbane in style, her "girl next door" looks and demur stature belie an Type A attitude to training and racing. Although she's only been at it for a short time, she has become a fixture on the age group podium. Her impressive race results didn't go unnoticed by athlete global positioning device maker, Trakkers, either. Doris (center in photo) is a member of their sponsored team along with notable professionals Richie Cunningham and Heather Golnick. Armed with a wicked fast bike and a punishing run, Doris is the kind of gal to flash you a big smile while dropping you like a bad habit.

Meet Sarah Reinertsen (@alwaystri)

Look up "inspiration" in the Encyclopedia of Awesome Athletes and you'll read about Sarah. The first above the knee amputee to complete Ironman Hawaii, she serves as an ambassador, and athlete of the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

I first met Sarah at the 2007 Wildflower Triathlon and was struck by her willingness to talk to the many athletes there to meet her for as long as they wanted. Meeting her again at St. Anthony's, she was no different. Bubbly and making everyone around her feel good she said, "Yes, I remember you. It was Wildflower, right?" Inspiring, motivating, and a great memory too.

Oh, the people you meet in triathlon. These are just a few of the inspiring, noble, and purposed athletes I've had the privilege to meet at St. Anthony's.

Stay tuned...

Dancing with AllTri

Now for some fun.

Who says triathlon training is just about swim, bike, run, repeat? Training with a group, there's bound to be spontaneous fun bustin' out anywhere. AllTri.org is so much fun we can't help but get happy feet. Watch each athlete of the spring team dance and show off the name of the charity they are raising money for in their upcoming race. (Can you find me?)

Boston Breaks

How down I could be.

An appealing part of triathlon is the variety of the training. Get bored with swimming lap after lap, after just-a-black-line-below-you lap? No problem; go for a run. Get burned out on the run? No worries; hop on your bike. The combinations of mixing the events together are endless and all of it helps make you faster in the other sports. That's why this past Sunday, during the last week before the Boston Marathon, I didn't hesitate to join in a super-short triathlon. Swim 400 yards, bike 3 miles, and run one mile; no problem and no harm.

Think again. Kismet came to kick my butt.

After exiting the water , I grabbed my bike with shoes attached to the pedals, ran through transition, and threw myself onto the saddle while rolling. It's a little maneuver called a flying bike mount. I've done it 100 times in training and racing and never suffered more than a bruise on my butt.

Not so with flying bike mount number 101.

This time I missed the pedal with my bare right foot and the big toe slammed into the pavement; getting dragged across jagged concrete before stopping.

Ouch!

Yeah, it hurt, but the feeling was more numbness than acute pain. At that moment I thought all I did was stub it, and even though it was bleeding, it looked no worse than a scratch and a cracked toenail. Unconcerned, I put on my cycling shoes and pedaled away. Although the numbness turned into a throbbing pain it wasn't enough to stop me from transitioning to run and trotting the course to the finish line.

Moments afterward the numbness turned to sharp pain and hours later, sharp pain became, "CRAP, that hurts!," pain.

The next day I hobbled myself in and out of an X-ray room and awaited the orthopaedic surgeon.

"A compound fracture; bad one too," he said pointing to my toe bone on the computer screen, "See that?," putting his finger on a thin, gray line horizontally crossing the bone. "That's where the bone pushed through the nail and broke the skin. It's an 'open air' fracture. You came pretty close to tearing half your toe off."

Yikes!

"Maybe you won't get arthritis." Maybe? His words floated through the room but that one word, "arthritis," hung in the air.

He asked how it happened and I told him about the swim, and the jumping on the bike, and the run, and blood, and yadda, yadda, yadda. The more I talked the more incredulous he looked at me. "And you jump on your bike like that for what?," he asked.

"To save time. The time in transition counts against you. It's important to get on your bike as fast as you can," I answered.

"About how much time do you save?"

"Dunno, 10 seconds, maybe 15."

"And if you fall off your bike or break your toe does that save you time?"

*BLINK* *BLINK* A sarcastically couched, rhetorical question. Impressed, I'm left speechless.

"I assume you won't be at next week's triathlon, Doc?"

"That's a safe bet," shaking his head in disbelief.

So there you have it. One week before the greatest marathon on earth, I break a toe. For six weeks, minimum, I'll be on the sidelines. Maybe a little swimming and cycling in the meantime but, no running.

It sure changes my big plans for the weekend, maybe the season, and perhaps I should be angry and petulant but honestly, I'm accepting the circumstances. Maybe some good will come from this and all will be fine. In fact, it's already begun. First, I learned that I will be invited to run Boston next year. The Boston Marathon's policy is to not deffer invitational entries but when and organization I helped in 2007 read my Facebook and Twitter posts they, unsolicited by me, appealed on my behalf and secured my slot to next year's race. Must be the karma? And second, I will be on hand as my son attempts to break eight minutes in a one-mile race this weekend and I'll be in the audience for his performance as Captain Hook in Peter Pan.

Yes, I'm disappointed I won't meet up with Twitter friends and bloggie peeps who have supported me through my training and yes, I'm disappointed I won't put all of the training to use or most importantly, honor my sister-in-law, who passed away from a stroke, by wearing red, her favorite color, and running in her name.

Admittedly, I was in a funk after meeting with the surgeon. That was until I began receiving your emails, Twitter messages, and phone calls from all over the globe; sympathizing, empathizing, and encouraging. Exemplary of their sentiment is this message from friend, and professional triathlete, Brooke Davison, "Brian! So sorry. What horrible timing. And yet as we know, most times adversity opens up new doors (if we remain open to possibility.) Hugs."

And here I am, with open arms and open heart for Brooke's possibilities.

How down I could be, but how optimistic I am.

Stay tuned...

Betokens of Boston?

Kermit The Frog sang it well, "... a Rainbow Connection; the lovers, the dreamers, and me."

Often my visions of a possible future are crystal clear. Sometimes so clear they are joined by sounds, scents, and feel. They come in an instant, make their mark, leave just a quickly, and usually return. Along with the vision also comes a plan to make them real; a road map, compass, and instruction manual all delivered in a moment.

That's the ethereal.

Then there's the earthly.

Having a vision and a plan without the labor is merely fancy fantasy. Inspiring as they may be, their usefulness is nil. To make any worthwhile goal a reality you have to get dirt under your fingernails, sweat, and stink up the place. Inspiration without perspiration is like unrequited love; or unrequited wrong. Take your pick, both are unsatisfying.

Maybe because I've run it twice before, my visions of the race are that much more clear. Beyond the vision, I feel the memories on my skin and hear the sounds in my ear. All of it recalled clearly. I see a sea of runners bouncing past the Doughboy in Hopkinton, hear the cacophony of the women of Wellesley, feel the cramping legs cresting the hills of Newton, and finally all three while turning left from Hereford onto Boylston Street for the quarter-mile dash to the finish. I'm damn near sweating just thinking about it.

Again, that's the ethereal.

Now the earthly. My training for this year's Boston Marathon is bogged between vision and stink. The moment I learned I was invited to run the world's greatest marathon, the vision of finishing strong and happy made my heart race. It was my athlete's clarion. That's the inspiration. Then came the part about the sweat and dirt under my nails.

Early in my training plan, when the runs were short and intense, I ran them well and felt great after too. But as the days turned into weeks and the runs became longer, and recovery between them shorter, I began to flag. Each training day was more of a chore than a day to excel. "Boston, here I come," was replaced with, "Boston, ugh!" Twice I have run 18 miles as prescribed by my schedule - like downing caster oil - and twice I bonked at 15 miles; reduced to walking most of the remaining three. Afterward, there was no runner's high, no sense of accomplishment, and no satisfaction of maintaining the schedule. Instead; I was hurt, sick in my stomach, exhausted for the rest of the day, and dejected.

Enter the mercurial.

Only 18 days until Boston, and just one long-run remains on my schedule; a 15-miler. Not only am I not interested in the training run but my excitement for the greatest marathon on earth has faded. Perhaps it's because I am, for the third time, going into the race under-trained or perhaps the earthly and the ethereal haven't thrillingly joined together as I saw in my original vision, but clashed; doing that unrequited love thing I mentioned earlier.

Regardless of how I feel today, I will get the training done with due effort and response. My hope is that it's enough.

Do the late training days betoken a bad Boston or will the early dirt carry the race?

Stay tuned...

Sir Isaac comes a calling

OK, it's quiz time. What is Newton's first law of motion? How about the third law? And, finally, what does physics have to do with running shoes? Apparently, plenty.

Once you understand the relationship you may never think of running shoes the same. And, once you apply it to your running you may never run the same. Possibly, you'll run better than ever. That's the message delivered by Newton Running to a packed room audience at Luke's Locker in Dallas on Tuesday.

Newton Running is a relatively newcomer to the running shoe industry dominated by Adidas, Nike, and New Balance. Despite their youth, they are shaking up the multi-billion dollar industry and making inroads, and fans, with their expanding line of products.

The result of nearly two decades of research before coming to market, their shoes are designed from the ground up, literally, to take advantage of the laws of motion and assist the runner to run more naturally and thus more effectively, as told by Newton's Co-founder, Danny Abshire and; Director of Product Management, Ian Adamson. Nearly all of today's running shoes are over-padded, excessivley elevated in the heel, and promote heel striking instead of the more efficient mid-foot strike. They made their case in a well presented series of slides, videos, and dissected shoes.

"Land, lever, and lift is how we were meant to run and that's what our shoes do," says Abshire. The distinguishing feature of their shoes are the external actuator lugs and supporting membrane on the sole designed to absorb the shock of landing and return the energy during the leg lift.

Modern technology meets ages old technique Messrs. Abshire and Adamson were followed by an informative,and no less entertaining, presentation by Mark Cucuzzella, MD, Associate Professor of Family Medicine at West Virginia University and an accomplished runner in his own right. He brought home the point of running in the proper form can mitigate injuries while increasing performance.

After a question and answer session with the standing-room only crowd, the presentation ended with raffle prizes and shopping with a 15% discount throughout the store.

Newton Running plans on conducting more symposiums across the country including at this year's Boston Marathon Expo.

Pencils down

Here are the answers to the opening questions about Newton's Laws:

• The first law of motion is often referred to as the law of inertia in that an object that is at rest will stay at rest until an unbalanced force acts upon it and an object that is in motion will not change its velocity until an unbalanced force acts upon it.
• The second law says the acceleration of an object depends upon its mass and the force applied; Force = Mass x Acceleration.
• The third law is of reciprocal actions; to every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.

With that, this ends your physics lesson for today.

Stay tuned...

Carolyn's crossing

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

-- Lord Alfred Tennyson

Sadly, my report is, my sister-in-law, Carolyn has passed away. She crossed the bar comfortably; in her sleep. Thank you to all continuing to support our family through your messages, emails, phone calls, and embraces.

Carolyn Diane King, 1954 - 2010

Stay tuned...

There's something in the air...

... or there's gonna be this Thursday, February 18th at 2:00 PM (Eastern) / 11:00 AM (Pacific) on LA Talk Radio.com

I have been invited to appear on the Simon Gowen Triathlon Show for a lively, no-holds-barred, chat about the sport and its coverage in the media, especially the web media. Also appearing on the show will be:

• Rebecca Dussault, 2010 ITU Winter Triathlon World Champion, the first non-European to win the title.
• Jenna Shoemaker, top ten world ranked USA triathlete
• David Wallach, staff writer, ChicagoNow.com

I'm excited to appear on the show because when it comes to broadcast journalism, Simon is the Real Deal!

Tune in to LA Talk Radio.com, Channel 2 by clicking here on February 18th at 2:00 PM (Eastern), 11:00 AM (Pacific)

If you can't listen to the show live you can download it the day afterward on iTunes by clicking here.

Stay tuned...

49!

Like I tell my kids; there are only two real tough guys in this world, me and Chuck Norris, and he bakes me birthday cakes.

Stay tuned...

Liberty to Freedom Challenge Run

Independence Hall to Gettysburg

Coming July, 2011

Who's in?

Stay tuned...

Confirmed!

Shuffle like a snowman

It's not often Dallas has an extended freeze with temperatures dipping into the teens. For ya'll northern region peeps, a few days in a row without getting above freezing is an annual thing and these days they would call it downright balmy, but to us heatlubbers, it's cause for drastic measures like 24-hour -non-stop-weather-updates, news of stores selling out of scarves, sand trucks on bridges, and my favorite, reports live from outside a house with its sprinklers on. Oh, the HORROR! The only thing preempting the weatherman are stories of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL playoffs. Which, by the way, they beat the dreaded Philadelphia Eagles to advance to the second round...

... but I digress.

When it gets cold in these parts finding an empty treadmill at the gym is as easy as finding a fan of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Tain't easy. That left me with one choice, run outside or chuck the Boston Marathon training plan. I chose to run the Snowman Shuffle 5k.

When I pulled into the parking lot near the starting line it was 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Yeah it was cold but the wind was calm and the sun was shining. No worries. Plus, I had on a beanie cap and some of them winter running tights which, in my opinion, look nice on the ladies, but us fellas? Not so much. Any britches that fit so tight someone can see what religion a guy is need to be worn behind closed doors. Why do they make them with only a little material in the crotch anyway? If I were the designer of them things I would put a bit more fabric there to keep something a mystery. You know, keep the bloom on the rose. But again...

... I digress.

All set for the race I hit the starting line with a simple race plan: run 8-minutes per mile which is one minute faster than my planned marathon pace. And do it without looking at my wristwatch, to rely only on perceived exertion.

There was nothing extraordinary to the course. A simple out and back along the shores of White Rock Lake. The first leg is ever so slightly downhill making a negative split on a challenge. Despite the chill, I felt good the entire time keeping my heart rate in check. As I rounded the bend to the final 100 meters I resisted the urge to sprint and cruised into the finishing chute in a time of 25:00.00, for a pace of 8:03 per mile. Right on schedule.

Not long afterward, the race director set up a table with awards inside the clubhouse overlooking the lake. It was a popular place filled with athletes keeping warm and reviewing the results. I stuck around to see who the winners were and to make a contact or two. I wasn't expecting to win anything but when the announcer came to call the awards for males 45 to 49-years-old I paused to listen.

"With a finishing time of twenty-five minutes, in second place, is Brian Brode. Is Brian still here?"

"Duh'hell'yeah I'm here," I thought.

My first ever podium in any event. Woot!

OK, I know a 25-minute 5k isn't close to any speed record but I won't disparage my time because the efforts of anyone finishing after me may be a personal best and deserving of commendation. 'Nuff said.

But, still... I got second place, boyz!!!

Yet, the highlight of the day wasn't getting an award. No, the best part was meeting up with runner Tweep Suanna Lundsberg. She ran the 10k event and also finished 2nd in her division. Along with her friends, she made for a extraordinary day.

Cold? What cold?? Apparently it's warmer on the podium.

Stay tuned...

A change is on the way.

You will change the way you follow triathlon.

Coming April 2010.

Stay tuned...

Podium Lessons

A few weeks ago I was talking with a parent in my son's Cub Scout pack about training for a springtime 10k together. He's never run more than a mile and that was, in his words, "twenty years and fifty lbs. ago." I said to him, "Your timing is perfect. Time to make a change is now."

No sooner did I speak those words when I felt a tug on my arm, "Dad, Dad, Daaaaaaaad!"

"What is it, Harrison?"

"I want to do that."

"Do what?"

"Run a 10k."

"You want to train for a 10k?"

"Yeah, but... but... I... ummm... want to run it with you."

"OK, we'll do it together." High-FIVE!

And so we are.

First stop; the Dallas Running Club's Frigid 5k this weekend. He had a goal of bettering his last 5k time of 25:55 set in November. Not a bad goal for a 9-year-old, I thought. I would be his pace man.

Although he started at a quick place, fast enough to set a personal record, he began to fade at the half way mark and at two-and-a-half miles he slowed down considerably and said he needed to walk. I told him to take as much time as he needed to get his strength back and then run again. We walked for a hundred yards or so when suddenly, without warning, we were passed by a boy about his age. I said, "Harrison, I think that guy is in your age group. You should try to catch him."

Some would have just let him go and some might give an excuse why they couldn't make pursuit. But Harrison took a deep breath, wrinkled his face like a worn catcher's mitt and gave chase. He ran at a full sprint with arms pumping and chin pointed high while I ran right on his heels. When we caught up to the boy, with only 50 yards to the finish, Harrison gave him a dismissive look and kept on going as hard as he could. Never looking back, we crossed the finish line together in a time of 27 minutes and 35 seconds.

His effort earned him second place in his division. After he was presented with his trophy he exited the stage and waited at for the boy he passed on the course, the third place finisher. When the boy approached, he extended his hand. I overheard him say, "Hi, I'm Harrison. Good race." The boy looked like he wasn't sure what to do or say. They shook hands and walked away without saying another word.

It wasn't his fastest 5k but what Harrison achieved was far better than a personal record and more valuable than a trophy. Today he gained valuable lessons of determination and sportsmanship.

Back in the car for the drive home I asked him what he wanted to do next. He said, "Let's run together more but first can we stop and get coffee?"

That's my boy.

Stay tuned...

Not Just an Enthusiast

Turn up the music, let's have a good time

Don't pull no punches, lay it right on the line

New wave, old wave, third wave will do

It don't matter when I'm dancing with you

All I wanna do is rock 'n' roll

All I wanna do is rock and rock some more

Wanna rock, Wanna rock

~April Wine, "Wanna Rock"

Somewhere I read, "the difference between a runner and an athlete is a name on a race application." If that's the case, today, I'm an athlete. March 14th will mark my return to endurance racing when I cross the starting line of the inaugural Rock N Roll Half Marathon - Dallas.

Since my last long race I've run a bit, cycled some, and the swim, well I've done that even less. A break from regimented training was needed and welcomed but the time has come to kick the couch and pound the pavement. Bye, bye sleeping past dawn and hello hill repeats, tempo runs, and fartleks. So-long, cheezy poofs and welcome back recovery drinks. It's time to get back on track, the oval kind, not just the idiom and prepare for the 2010 race season. Check back here as I announce my schedule soon. There are a couple of surprises in store.

Stay tuned...

Macca in Dallas

2007 Ironman World Champion Chris "Macca" McCormack came to Dallas last night for a question and answer session. I found him to be articulate and approachable. He's an engaging speaker with a compelling professional and personal story. I hope to have the audio recording available later today.

Stay tuned...

Hook'em Weekend

Podcasting and reporting on triathlon has many rewards. Foremost is the meeting of the sport's greatest professional and age-group athletes.

Here are a few photos from my weekend during the 2009 Longhorn Ironman 70.3 in Austin, TX.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned...

US Open Triathlon LIVE AudioCast and TweetCast

Put up a boat load of money, design a fast race course in one of America's flashiest cities and what do you get? The world's fastest triathletes ready to race, of course, and Athletes for a Cure will be there to bring it to you LIVE.

Join me and my co-host, Stu, of the Simply Stu triathlon podcast for a live, wire-to-wire TweetCast and simultaneous AudioCast of the Lifetime Fitness Toyota US Open Triathlon from Dallas.

Coverage begins at 8:00 AM (Eastern) on Sunday, October 11, 2009 and will continue until the conclusion of the professionals' race.

Follow on Twitter

Get live from-the-course tweets by following @athltes4acure

Follow live audio on your phone and computer

Get live audio and color commentary of the race here; www.BlogTalkRadio.com/athltesforacure and on your phone at (914) 338-0298.

Listen to Athletes For A Cure on Blog Talk Radio

Don't miss all of the action as series point leaders Matt Reed and Sarah Haskins race head-to-head against the world's strongest Olympic distance triathletes; Greg Bennett, Javier Gomez, Mary Beth Ellis, and Rebeccah Wassner, and many other triathlon stars.

Stay tuned...