Athlo Blog

Marathon popularity has grown tremendously over the past few years.  Every year thousands of people across the country will run their first marathon.  For many first timers, choosing the right marathon is very important.  There are hundreds of great marathons in the US, but P.F. Chang’s Rock N’ Roll Arizona Marathon tops the list of marathons for first timers.

The criteria used to make the list were a flat course, at least 10,000 runners, unique sights and most importantly a fun atmosphere.  

1. Rock N’ Roll Arizona - This Phoenix marathon lives up to it’s name.  With a live band at every mile and a free headliner concert after the run, you’ll forget all about your iPod.  The event is in January but the weather is usually great.  About 20,000 runners turn out for this rockin’ good time.
2. Las Vegas Marathon - How could running on The Strip alongside hundreds of Elvis costumes get any better?  Only with a run through wedding chapel that has a real reverend.  This December marathon is capped at 10,000 runners but is the ultimate destination marathon for all the entertainment the city has to offer.
3. Walt Disney World Marathon - If you’re looking to make your first marathon a family vacation, there’s no better place that Disney World in Orlando.  You’ll run through all four theme parks - Disney World, Epcot Center, MGM and Animal World - and are sure to see a host of Disney characters.  A January run will mean less humidity and pleasant temperatures for all 12,000 runners.
4. New York City Marathon -  If two million cheering spectators don’t get your excited, you should probably get a new hobby.  This is the biggest marathon in the country.  Runners go through New York’s five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan and finish in the world famous Central Park.  Crossing the finish line at the Tavern on The Green in November is something you’ll never forget.
5. Marine Corps Marathon - This Washington D.C. marathon is also referred to as the “Marathon of Monuments.”  The route takes you along incredible sights in the Washington, D.C. area, including the White House, Capitol Building, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon.  The run finishes at the Marine Corps Memorial.  It has become so popular runners have to enter a lottery for the 21,000 spots.  This special marathon should be on every runner’s list to complete before they die.

There are plenty of marathons first timers should think twice about attempting but number one on that list is the Pike’s Peak Marathon in Colorado Springs.  An 8,000 foot ascent followed by and 8,000 foot descent, topping out at 14,110 feet elevation, is no ordinary marathon.  Runners often cross the finish line bloody and battered.  Try the Pike’s Peak Ascent first before you try the full marathon.

The only sport that seems to have more trouble with athletes using illegal performance enhancing drugs than baseball is professional cycling. The latest big name to go down is German Stefan Schumacher. Some of you may remember him winning both time trials in this year’s Tour de France and wearing the yellow jersey for two stages. He was caught using CERA, an advanced form of blood doping agent EPO, using a new lab test. Two other riders, who combined with Schumacher for 5 of the 21 stage wins in this year’s Tour, were also recently caught using the advanced test.

Even Bjarne Riis, winner of the 1996 Tour de France and coach of this year’s winning team, recently admitted he used EPO to win the race. The top rider for Riis’ team in 2006, Ivan Basso, was prohibited from riding that year due to his relationship with known blood doping doctors. Basso had taken second place in the Tour the last year Lance Armstrong rode it and looked poised to be the next dominant champion.

Other top finishers in the most prestigious bicycle race have been exposed as cheaters. Michael Rassmusen took fourth in 2005 and held the yellow jersey in 2006 for most of the race until he was removed by his team for missing multiple drug tests. 1997 Tour winner, and five-time runner up to Lance Armstrong, Jan Ulrich disgracefully ended his career due to relationships with the same doctors as Ivan Basso.

Unfortunately, American riders are no strangers to blood doping. In 2003 Tyler Hamilton took fourth overall in the Tour de France despite a broken collarbone suffered in Stage 1. However, multiple failed drug tests in 2004 landed him a two-year ban from cycling but he managed to keep his Olympic gold medal on a technicality. Even more infamous is cyclist Floyd Landis who earned the dubious honor as the only professional rider to ever be stripped of the overall Tour de France win. He was later found a cheater for his testosterone to epitestosterone ratio and stripped of his yellow jersey.

This is only a few of the many cheaters who have been caught. Numerous other top riders and Tour stage winners have been busted for EPO and other illegal drugs. No one can be sure how many have gone undetected. Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling has created a huge stir and rekindled debate over this burning, lingering issue of blood doping in professional cycling.

Due to the popularity of the initial Veterans program, the available slots filled up fast. Outward Bound is now opening an additional 400 slots for their 1/1/2009 – 3/31/2010 schedule. All costs, to include lodging, food, equipment, staff instruction, and state-side roundtrip transportation to and from the expedition site, are fully covered by a generous grant from the Sierra Club Foundation.

Eligibility

Any military veteran of either Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan or Operation Iraqi Freedom can apply for an expedition. Family members are not eligible. However, the Sierra Club funds other military programs that do include the entire family.

How to Sign Up

Enrollment opens on Tuesday, October 14th at 1:00 pm Eastern Standard time on the Outward Bound website. Slots are sure to go fast again this time so submit your application right away. This is program is a great way to thank veterans for their service.

Earlier this year Scotsman Mark Beaumont completed the fastest circumnavigation of the world by bicycle. The previous record stood at 276 days 19 hours.  When Mark started his journey in Paris on August 10th, 2007 his goal was 195 days.  Amazingly, he completed this epic trip in 194 days 17 hours.

How He Did It

To actually break the record Mark Beaumont had to travel the 18,296 mile, 20 country route set by the Guinness Book of World Records.  He traveled solo and carried about 66 lb of gear on his bike.  An iPod was his only companion.  Mark rode 100 miles a day, every day, with one rest day every two weeks.  Doing the math, he averaged about 94 miles a day over the course of 194 days.  He battled crashes, dysentery and broken wheels along the way and said that “my greatest memories of the whole world cycle are of the people I met along the road.”

How He Trained

To me, one of the most amazing parts of his story isn’t the actual journey, but how he trained for it. Knowing very little about ultra-endurance cycling, I would have assumed he did training rides of 100-200 miles at a time to simulate actual conditions.  However, he never once did a 100 mile training ride during his 13 month preparation.  That could have caused tendonitis or other repetitive strain injuries.  His approach was high intensity, shorter rides and a mix of cross training.   The last part of his “training” was to put on weight.  This might sound counterintuitive but the body needs fat reserves to prevent fatigue and breakdown.  Lance Armstrong’s coach Chris Carmichael helped famous ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes complete 50 marathons in 50 days by putting him on a 6,000 calorie a day diet, doubling his body fat, before starting.

Up next for Mark Beaumont? Attempting to break the North Atlantic rowing record next summer.

Yesterday I participated in the first annual Wheels In The Woods bike tour in Arbor Vitae, WI. The tour offered 109, 58, 38, 15 and 5 mile routes in the beautifully scenic North Woods of Wisconsin. Despite the routes not always being well marked (causing me to make a couple wrong turns), the weather, scenery and people made this a very enjoyable ride.

I’ve done century rides in Colorado, Wyoming and Texas but none of those courses compared to riding along lakes and forests when the leaves are changing colors. Throw in in a blue sky, 65 degree temperatures and the day could not have gotten better. Roads were safe with little traffic.

The locals I met definitely made this ride interesting and more challenging. Having done a 24-hour moutain bike race, marathons and triathlons I used to think of myself as somewhat tough physically. That was until mile 65 of Wheels In The Woods when a group of 4 guys asked me if I wanted to jump in and ride with them.

The most impressive of the group made me look like a professional couch potato. He rode from San Francisco to Wisconsin in 30 days earlier this year, has biked around Lake Superior in 3 weeks and has ridden coast to coast twice. And no matter how hard I pushed during my turns on the front of the group, I couldn’t drop the 60 year old guy who still does triathlons and century rides regularly. The other two also had a list of epic athletic achievements. I was proud of myself just to hang with them.

Whether you are a new to cycling or very experienced, Wheels In The Woods has a course length to match your fitness level and scenery everyone can enjoy. All proceeds benefit the kids at Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary School. If you’ve done a cool bike tour or have physical accomplishments that makes me look weak, I would love to hear about it.

Lance Armstrong announced on his website, LiveStrong.com, that he is in fact returning to professionally cycling in 2009. The reason, he said, was “to launch an international cancer strategy.” For him personally, it must also have something to with believing he can still compete at the professional level and win the Tour de France.

Velo News reported that Lance will compete in five road races, including the Tour de France, as a member of team Astana. His age will certainly be a question as he turns 37 this month. The oldest Tour winner ever was Firmin Lambot in 1922 at the age of 36. Seemingly insurmountable challenges have never stopped Lance in the past though. Plus, he has stayed incredibly active in his “retirement”.

Lance plans to announce more details about his cancer strategy and racing comeback on September 24th at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

Triathlon popularity has grown tremendously over the past few years, especially the Ironman distance. If you are considering an Ironman next year, the most important thing to know is registration sells out fast! Ironman Wisconsin sold out in 10 minutes this year.

Race sizes are generally small. Wisconsin only allows 2,200 entries. Triathletes who registered for this year’s race were able to register for next year’s race a week before the general public. That doesn’t leave many spots for people doing their first Ironman.

Registration for the general public is usually the morning after the actual race. You have to be there in person and cannot register someone else. A photo ID is also required.

Most 2009 Ironman races I know of are already sold out. Ironman Louisville still has about 45 slots for the August 30th, 2009 race. Here are a couple more late season triathlons you still have a good chance of registering for:

• Ford Ironman Florida Registration - Sunday, November 2, 2008 9:00AM-11:00AM
• Ford Ironman Arizona Registration - Monday, November 24, 2008 7:00AM-9:00AM

If you have your heart set on a particular race but registration is sold out, research whether or not they offer charity spots. The cost is usually double the entry fee, with half of that amount going to charity, but still gets you in. A fundraiser or help from friends and family are a couple ways to reduce how much of the $1000 you’ll have to pay.

I plan to register soon for Ironman Louisville 2009. Look for more posts from me on triathlon training.

Although the 100 meter Olympic champion is often labeled as “the fastest man in the world”, it is the 200 meter sprinter who actually has the fastest average speed.  The record breaking performance by Usain Bolt of Jamaica last week was amazingly impressive, but not as impressive as Michael Johnson’s 200 meter performance at the 1996 Atlanta games. 

Usain Bolt ran 100 meters in 9.69 seconds, giving him an average speed of 10.31 meters per second but Michael Johnson’s 200 meters in 19.32 seconds was an average speed of 10.35 meters per second.  Not a huge difference, but enough to question why the 100 meter champion gets an undeserving title.

As of now, the 100 meter female sprinter is the fastest woman in the world.  However, since Florence Griffith-Joyner set both the 100 and 200 meter world records in 1988, there isn’t much of an argument.  Her average speed for the 100 meters was 9.53 meters per second but her average speed for 200 meters was 9.37 meters per second.  A female sprinter would need to run a 20.96 second 200 meter, beating Flo-Jo’s record of 21.34 seconds, in order to have a faster average speed.  Usain Bolt would have to run an unbelievable 9.66 second 100 meter if he truly wants to be the fastest man in the world.  If he doesn’t start celebrating with 20 meters left like he did at the Olympics he can probably do it.

Most people have never heard of Dave Wiens, but they probably know who Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis are. Well, Dave Wiens is the guy who can beat them both on a mountain bike. Wiens beat Lance this past Saturday to capture his sixth straight win at the grueling Leadville 100 mile mountain bike race.  

Leadville is located in Colorado and the entire course is more than 9,000 ft above sea level. The race also happens to contain 14,000 ft of climbing. Dave Wiens beat the ex-Tour de France champion Floyd Landis last year and in doing so broke a course record that had stood for 10 years. This year, both Lance and Wiens each smashed that record by over 10 minutes, with Weins coming in two minutes ahead of Lance. The third place finisher was more than 30 minutes behind them. Lance’s performance is impressive given his training going into the race. However, it is somewhat comforting to know that he is human and capable of being beaten. He even has to get off his bike and push it sometimes, just like the rest of us.

Congratulations to Dave Wiens on his amazing streak. Will Alberto Contador or Carlos Sastre be the next guys to try and challenge him?

For most people, running 100 miles sounds like as much fun as a bare knuckle fight with Mike Tyson. But for those looking to put their bodies and mind to the ultimate test, an ultramarathon is probably on their list of things to do before they die. It’s definitely on mine. An ultramarathon is by definition any distance greater than the normal 26.2 mile marathon.  A large number of ultramarathons today seem to be at or close to 100 miles. A race this long and challenging requires some serious training and lessons learned from those who have gone the distance before.

I recently came across a blog called The Run Down maintained by Charlie Nickell and Greg Hardesty that is about, you guessed it, ultramarathons. One post in particular, entitled So, You Want To Run 100 Miles, was a collection of tips and advice from people who have completed multiple races at that distance to those of us considering it. As I expected, not one of them said it was easier than they thought it would be. The general consensus was that at some point you will feel terrible and consider quitting. But it is those who are able to overcome and push through the pain, even if you just keep walking, that will discover a sense of satisfaction that I can only imagine.

Check out The Run Down and hopefully they will continue to post more great articles on their site. Active.com has a large list of ultramarathons you can register for but there are some, like the Western States 100 and Badwater Ultra 135, which require you to qualify in other races before you are allowed to enter.  If anyone has done an ultra and can think of big mistakes to avoid on a first attempt, drop a comment and share it with us.