A Black Sheep, in a Red-Headed Step-Child's Sport

You and Your Heart Rate Monitor

2012-01-11T06:15:00.001-06:00

"Lance isn't the kind of guy to talk about his feelings. Even if he is in a bad mood, you won't know why. It all comes out on the bike. That's why his ride tells a story, not his mouth". Quote from John Koroith - from Lance Armstrong's War, by Daniel Coyle

What up sports fans? I'm sitting here writting this tonight, with my shot of espresso, bottle of water, and watching my 2 roommates plan a trip to Costa Rica at the end of the month, where one of my roommates, Nick, will be racing. For obvious reasons, I won't be joining them, but I feel a sense of peace in putting in a very solid week of training including riding outdoors both days this weekend. And I am reminded of the quote above b/c, I understand the importance of channeling negative energy in a positive direction. Its one of 2 things I want to discuss. The first topic is just as important and the myths around it need to be put to rest - Heart Rate Monitors.

- Let me be the first to say it - being tied to your Heart Rate monitor like its got the cure to cancer is the worst idea for obtaining better fitness, health, speed, strength, fat loss, lean muscle building and any of the other "magical" things its supposed to do. You're better off taking diet pills that raise your heart rate and downing them with a Red Bull. Now I know I am a Polar sponsored athlete, and should be preaching about how HR training is the greatest thing ever, but I can't, b/c, well, its total bullshit. Here's why - your heart rate can be affected by a number of different things that can give you a false reading and leave you either stale or burned out. Climate, hydration, stress, diet, sleep, or lack thereof, and illness all can change your heart rate by over 20 beats!!!! Even time of day affects it.

When I see people married to their HR monitors, I cringe b/c they are not the end all of fitness. They are a chain, and can inhibit performance, and worst of all, rob you of your sense of perceived effort. If I tell an athlete to sprint 200 meters, should they care what their HR is at? Hell no. IT should be high, b/c its a SPRINT. But if they believe they are trying to stay in their "fat burning zone" they won't go all out. The "fat burning zone" is also a HUGE myth that HR companies want you to buy into so you buy more of their products. And if you wear a HR monitor when you are doing CF or lifting, you're an idiot. Simple. The lifts I prescribe are by definition an anaerobic effort. CF workouts are also anaerobic or at least close to it. But guess what - you are burning fat as well as glycogen!!! Simply doing cardio at 70-75% Max HR, which needs to be determined in a lab b/c the standard 220 minus your age is so archaic that its usually 75% off the mark, doesn't mean you are burning fat. In fact, its been scientifically proven that people who are HR junkies burn less fat than someone who goes off perceived effort. Google -"Effects of HR training vs. Perceived effort" and see studies which are proving the HR nonsense is wrong. Or I'll bring you the ones I have in a stack in my room. If you stay in that mythical zone, you are actually delaying the use of fat stores, taking up to 20 minutes to actually tap into fat stores when sticking to that level. You know how long it takes my body to kick into fat stores for training? 3 minutes and change. Why? Interval training, perceived effort training, GETTING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE TRAINING!!!! And the stupid calorie counters on the HR monitors - please stop looking at it as if its accurate. Its not. Why? B/c you really don't know your TRUE Max HR, therefore your zones are off, which means the number of calories you are burning is off. I know this b/c I have done true metabolic testing, in a lab, at the University of Chicago. Several times. I've done Lactate threshold testing where they prick your finger every 3 minutes as you sweat like an animal on either a treadmill or bike to find out how much lactic acid your body is producing. They then tie that to my HR, and even those extremely technical processes get me 85% accuracy of my HR zones! Even the 4 time woman's champ at the Ironman World Championships, Chrissy Wellington has said she only started winning Kona when she ditched her HR monitor and started to go off of perceived effort and other metrics to measure effort.

I'm not saying that HR monitors are bad, I still use mine when I ride, but I also match it with my wattage, cadence, and speed to determine my fitness or how my training is going. I stopped using it on the run, b/c quite frankly, its pointless. Time and distance are my friends there. And don't think I'm saying that using metrics to measure effort are bad. Quite the contrary. I'm a huge numbers guy. I mean major dork. I get tested anually on the bike and run for Lactate threshold, VO2 Max, Metabolic and caloric burn rate. I wake up every morning and use a pulse oximeter to really see what my resting HR is, plus my Oxygen intake. I hawk over wattage on the bike. I've got all kinds of numbers in my head when I train. But the more precise they get, the more useful they become. HR alone isn't precise. And its holding you back. If you want to get faster or fitter, train harder and smarter. Eat better. Drink less. For more on this, see me, and I'll be happy to show you where HR training alone has left a trail of broken dreams on race courses, in gyms, and in homes. People completely disheartened that they aren't making process even though they remain in their "Fat burning zone" for all their training. Its a lie people, so don't believe the hype.

Now, on to point 2. Look, we all have stress, or stuff that gets to us. We have tough times in our lives. B/c that's just how life works. You have 2 choices when something bad happens to you - 1. Sit and wallow, most likely getting sick, overweight, develop deep depression and a whole host of other problems or 2. Get up and fight back. That's right - I said FIGHT BACK. Take that nasty shit you are dealing with, and channel it into something positive. Am I pissed off most of the time? Hell yes. But where do I put that - in my training. The greatest satisfaction comes from taking all the hurt and making it into something golden. I've seen good people get hurt, undeservedly so, but they fought back, and made great things happen. Sometimes talking about it alone isn't enough. Sometimes you have to look inside yourself and find that thing that gives you a positive release. For me, its always been the open road, the beauty of its unforgiving quality, and the comfort in knowing its always there. At the new gym in Lemont, The Next Level, those 4 walls are the place where I can promise anyone who walks through the door feeling awful will walk out feeling refreshed and recognizing they are stronger than they think they are. In there, we are all family, which means we are all in this together. No one gets left behind. And at the end, its a lot of fun. A lot of laughs and positive energy.

Stay Strong, Guy

You and Your HR Monitor

2012-01-11T06:14:00.001-06:00

New direction

2011-12-12T10:57:00.002-06:00

Hey all- since being laid up with my hip, I've been deep water running - more on that later, cycling indoors and writing weekly newsletters to my athletes. I'm going to post them here moving forward to make life simplier for all

Stay in this moment. Don't worry about what tomorrow looks like, and forget yesterday. If you focus on right now, the moment you are in, great things will happen. - Guy Petruzzelli

What's up folks? The above quote is a piece of advice that I like to give my athletes and friends when they are stressing out about life in general. It hit me even harder as I was watching NBC's coverage of the Ironman World Championships from Kona this past October. I sat in awe watching Craig Alexander, at 38 years of age, torch the course, break the course record, and become the oldest winner ever of Ironman. And although he said this was his last trip to the Island, I would bet that Crowie could do it again at age 39. Same for Krissy Wellington, who, with severe road rash, and a torn pectoral muscle suffered from a bike crash 2 weeks prior to the race, calmly and methodically worked up from 21st off the bike, to winning her 4th Ironman title and become the only person who has gone 13 for 13 in Ironman distance races. For those not in the know - that's absolutely unheard of. That means from her first ever attempt at the distance, she hasn't lost.

The question asked of these two athletes is - how? How do they both get past last year - where Crowie missed the break on the bike, and even with the fastest marathon only finished 4th, and Krissy missed the race due to illness - the flu - hitting her the day before the race. The answer is simple - they are good at forgetting. That sounds odd, but think about it - In a race as important and competitive as Kona, how did Krissy, who was not the best runner in the women's field, run down a 21 minute deficient to win this year's race? Because she wasn't thinking about the swim or the bike when she hit the run. All she was focused on was the run, each moment of it, taking each moment in, and finding her strength. She won b/c she didn't start projecting in her head "Shit! I'm 21 minutes down! (That's the equivalent of a 2 touchdown lead in football) There's no way I can make it up". She looked and reacted calmly and efficiently - taking in fluid and fuel, not allowing herself to get so flustered as to forget her nutrition, and possibly blowing the race.

And Crowie? Homeboy had to forget 2010, b/c if he didn't, he would be joining the long list of other former winners who couldn't get past the loss at Kona. There is a long, sad trail of people who have won that race once, twice even, and then, went back for another win, had a bad race, didn't win, and forever considered themselves cursed, unable to win again. I watched guys like Norman Stadler, an athlete -- thought invinceable in his first 2 wins, that he was touted as the next 6 time winner, like Dave Scott or Mark Allen. But when Stormin Norman had bike trouble in 2008 and tossed his bike into the lava fields in his attempt for a 3rd win, his pysche went with his machine, as he was never the same on the island. The point - you have to focus on the moment you are in b/c that's all you can control. Yesterday, hell, 5 minutes ago is gone, its past, history. Forget it. And the next 5 minutes, it will happen, so don't stress it. If you stay focused on the moment you are in, then you are growing, you are learning.

Training is going to be tough, there are going to be moments of doubt. It happens to all of us. That's ok. Deal with what's in front of you and you will be amazed at the results. Trust me. The hardest thing I learned to do is exactly what I'm talking about. I used to ponder bad races, lost sleep over them. And for what? The race was over, there wasn't anything I could do to change the result. Then I would try to find another race immediately to get the bad taste of the bad race out of my mouth, and worked frantically to find the next one, instead of simply focusing on my training, and staying on my schedule. It was mentally and physically exhausting. And the whole time, my training wasn't focused, it was being completed at about 75% b/c I wasn't thinking about it - all I could think about was the bad race and the next race. I didn't even realize my training, the one thing that was so critical was taking a beating, and I was never putting the proper effort in to it.

Once I realized what I was doing, I took a long, hard look at myself and realized I was burning out that I got back on track. Once my training was more focused, I was more confident in myself and boom, my racing got better. I was focused and loose, b/c I knew I had put in the work. I knew my body was ready. Your mental acuity is just as critical, if not more so, than your physical. There are plenty of physical monsters out there, but they are mentally weak. They look like gods, but crack at the first sign of trouble. The workouts designed for all of you are meant to make you as mentally strong as physically strong. Think about it - if you can blast a sub 20 minute "Murph" don't you think you would be feeling unbreakable? Doesn't that make that race, that day of work, or just life seem much more manageable? Don't you think you will have discovered something amazing about yourself - something you never imagined you were capable of? You damn well better b/c that's what we are doing this for!!! I hope that each of you thinks about this - realize you deserve to hold yourselves in a higher regard, recognize you are all capable of more, much more. I know it. Its time you should too.

Last thing - BIG SHOUT OUT TO Krissy for an amazing week of training. She was feeling the focus, living in the moment and it was on display big time Wed night at Laps and Drills. She put on a clinic in the water, great form, and the signs of CF strength work paying dividends big time. She capped it off with some great work with battling ropes today and looks primed for indoor tri season. And save the date - DECEMBER 17 - The Next Level Performance Center - we are having an open house, I'm going to be teaching 2 CF classes and we will have all kinds of cool stuff to try - 200 lb tractor tires, 40 inch box jumps, rings, battling ropes, and more. Look for more details this week

Stay Strong

Guy

When the ride gets rough.......

2011-11-09T21:37:00.002-06:00

NO F'ING WAY!!!!! - My exact -words after getting hit by a mountain biker who hit me, left me lying on limestone trail as he took off.

Where do I even begin? Most of you who read my blog already know the story - I was out for a run on October 30, just stretching my legs, as I came around a corner only to be met by a mad mountain biker, who over shot the turn, and ran smack into me at full speed. I flew in the air, and landed square on my right hip, and instantly knew this was not just a bad fall. The topper - this excellent representative of the human race, who was knocked off his bike, got up, dusted himself off and promptly took off. It was spectacularly awful and amazing at the same time. The absolute lack of acknowledgement of the damage he had done, mixed with the pain shooting through me actually prompted me to stand up. Probably not the best move, but the adrenaline was at full tilt and I knew I had to get to a hospital. Thanks to an older gentleman who came riding by had the kindness to ask if I was ok, offered his cell phone and escorted me to the street where I could be picked up. Yes, I walked a half mile on a broken right hip.

Fast forward to today, and I am fortunate to not need surgery, getting around fairly well on crutches, and feeling stronger every day. But once again, its back to the drawing board, digging deep to get to the next step, and the one after that. In the midst of the injury and the surgery for my ear, a few short words of wisdom were sent to me via email from my best friend, Brian MacKenzie. He wrote - "focus on this moment. Don't look past it, own it, handle it, and move on to the next. But for right now, focus on each moment at a time. That's how you heal, that's how you progress".

Brian knows me well enough to know I was angry, frustrated, flat out pissed. But at the same time he knows what it means to come back from an injury, more than one actually, stronger and better than before. And he knew reminding me of what I did just a little over a year ago, was the best way to keep me on track. He's right. Why? B/c being angry about what happened or dwelling on the work that lies ahead doesn't change anything. It doesn't heal my hip any faster, it doesn't make the guy who did it come forward and confess. And the same goes for anyone who suffers a set back of any kind. If you don't stay positive, then don't expect to heal fast, get healthier, etc. Stay in the moment, no matter the pain, the anger, whatever, stay in it, face it, and then move on. Otherwise, you are giving the power to people or things that don't deserve it. And that's a fact.

In the short time since the accident, my faith in humanity has been restored - members at the club who barely know me offering me rides, offering to pick up groceries, etc. Its been an amazing thing to witness. Its restored my faith in humanity. And, I'm going to get to try water running with the one and only Jennifer Conroyd, have met and started to work with Dr. Matt Peahl, and have been reunited with my good friend, Gina Pongetti who is dead set on getting me healthy again. And of course, my athlete, Moira Gilroy came to see me with a grocery bag of vitamins and minerals, wanting to see her coach back on his feet fast. So I get to take some time to focus on my athletes and clients, research more on the things I love most - improving the human body and nutrition, read, and heal.

For those of you who have reached out already - thank you. It means a great deal to me. And to those just getting caught up to speed, no worries, I'm getting stronger everyday.

Stay strong,

Guy

Riding the roller-coaster - fall racing, surgery, and career moves

2011-10-17T16:08:00.003-05:00

Its fall in the Midwest. That means football, (which can be a frustrating process for Bears fans) changing colors, shorter days and cooler temps. For some of us, it also means the racing season is winding down, and reflection on what kind of season we had, changes to be made, sponsor hunting, and more time with family and friends. Or, if you don't mind racing in the cold, it means Du season is the way to let that pent up energy out.

Truth be told, this wasn't the season I expected to have. Out of the gate, starting this past January, things looked good. Appendicitis was dealt with and not even a speed bump. I was back in the water and my first tri in 10 years was a great hit, a 2nd overall, on a hot day. Then my ears went south on me, and 7 weeks of no racing came and went, as I watched friends and my athletes racing around the US. I went back to Du's and although its been ok, it wasn't as consistent as I had hoped and luck wasn't on my side.

So it came as no great shock to me that at my last ENT visit, my left ear drum had lost more surface area, resulting in more hearing loss, and necessitating surgery to repair it. This news came 5 days out from Powerman Muncie, a race I needed to do, yet was not a fan of the set up. This secret I kept to myself until now. Let me explain.

I love distance racing, especially in duathlon. Because its a grinder's race, and if a race comes down to sheer will and determination, I like my odds. Powerman, however, requires more planning, with both runs being equal distance, so going out too hard is extremely dangerous, but giving your competition too much rope is deadly as well, b/c you don't know who is able to sustain a brutal pace and who isn't. But with the news of surgery, I suddenly didn't mind the set up. I had nothing to lose, and could afford to go for broke. Thankfully, the weather matched the nastiness of the course, with temps only reaching the mid-40's wind gusts up to 30 mph, and no sun. My kind of weather.

There is something unique when you are at the start of a race on a particularly bad weather day, everyone huddled together, the sense that no matter your level of competition, its a shared suffering. That kind of bonding makes seeing one another on the race course that much more special, knowing its tough going for everyone.

Thankfully, I had a good day, using a patient bike and strong second run to pull out a fourth overall, my highest placing in a Powerman race, and going home with some money to show for the effort. Writing this now, I realized that had I not been on a course of antibiotics, and had better equilibrium, the day could have been even better. But hey, I'll take the result and was happy to walk away unscathed and now ready to race once more before calling it a season. I like October racing, so one more sounds like fun.

But the biggest lesson I learned this season was to endure. Endure whatever comes at you, b/c the strength and resolve you build is what makes you who you are on and off the race course. People ask me if I am angry or frustrated as to how things have gone this season. My response is always the same - I haven't given it much thought and won't b/c it starts a negative spiral of emotions and actions that I don't have time for. Instead, I focused on improving all areas of my life, passing my NASM to become a personal trainer at Midtown Athletic Club, allowing me to share my knowledge of Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance with clients and friends more consistently.

I also co-presented my first CFE certification class, and gained more insight into CFE and how it works for others. Great thing is I'll get to do it again next month in Columbus, OH, then in December with the big guns - Doug Katona and Brian MacKenzie. That promises to be extremely entertaining.

And yes, surgery. I guess a season is not complete unless it ends with surgery. Anyway, its a step in the right direction to make 2012 a truly amazing year.

What does all this mean? Well, it means that we will all go through ups and downs, that life isn't fair, and that if you let stuff get to you, that my friends, is on you. Life is going to hit all of us in the ass, sometimes repeatedly in a short span, but if you let it keep you down that isn't someone else's fault. And it sure as hell isn't life's fault. Blaming "life" is a cop out, and quite frankly, a weak excuse for throwing in the towel. This doesn't mean not to have empathy for people who are down, but the first hand you should be looking for to pull you up is your own. Some say that's harsh, but you can't help others until you can help yourself. Take a moment to acknowledge the good and bad, but don't let it define you. Be more than you think you are. At all times.

Stay strong,

Guy

The lessons learned off the bike and run

2011-09-18T22:40:00.006-05:00

"Time means a lot to me because you see I am also a learner and am often lost in the joy of forever developing". - Bruce Lee

I know. I hear the four of you reading this say it, "Bruce Lee? Really Guy?" Well, yes. One of the things that people seem to think about athletes is that we stop searching for knowledge or improving ourselves outside the arena of sports. Nothing could be further from the truth. The athletes I know, particularly my coaches, and closest friends, are always searching, studying, yearning actually, to discover more about themselves. That constant search, the belief that we can constantly improve, even as we age, is what keeps us young, vibrant and always excited to do more. As this season has progressed, I've had my ups and downs, recently enjoying a brief winning streak that was stopped by a rather unexpected DNF at a long course Du where I had an 8 minute lead. Instead of being upset about the ridiculous blow up I had at the half way point of the second run, I took the good and the bad and then applied it this week, and weekend in my training.

What does that mean? I repeated the race, in as close as possible similar course as I could find, changing nutrition and pacing, and this time, completing the 4 mile run/56 mile bike/13.1 mile run without issue. How? Because I recognize the need to be my own guniea pig and how important that is to truly understand how your own body works.

The biggest factor, and I believe this for any level of athlete, starts with nutrition. You can have amazing talent, unbreakable spirit, a heart the size of Texas, but if you don't take care of yourself, sooner or later, the body will break down. At 38 that's the one thing I can assure you - if you eat like an idiot, don't be shocked to have health issues, and huge problems trying to keep up with training and racing. But more importantly, as I watch 2 of my uncles fight colon cancer, maintaining a proper diet is key for EVERYONE. I can't stress that enough. They are where they are because of the diet they sustained for the last 30 years. And they aren't alone.

Recognizing the health issues in my own family were just a microcosm of what is happening in the US, I dug deeper. Thanks to the good Dr. Leighton, I was introduced to the Framingham Study. In short, for the last 30 plus years researchers have spent time in the town of Framingham, MA, finding a correlation between the town's diet and the rise in diseases, like heart, Type 2 diabetes, ADD, ADHD, and cancer. The results are shocking. However, the results do show one major common denominator - high carb diets are wrecking people's health.

I know the term "Paleo Diet" has gotten thrown around recently, people believing its some dietary craze. Its not. Its a lifestyle, not a diet, and as such its effects are more lasting and beneficial to health and longevity. Proper nutrition isn't just for athletes - its meant for everyone. Check out the writings of Mark Sisson - "The Primal Blueprint" for starters. Even if you don't agree - expand your mind, see what is out there that can benefit you and the ones you love. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Its the best way to stay young.

Stay strong,

Guy

Back to racing, gram turning 99 and the continued evolution of the athlete

2011-08-20T19:30:00.002-05:00

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that to happen". - My Ear, Nose and Throat doctor after discovering that my left ear drum had lost 20% surface area due to my last infection.

I'm not going to even address the fact its been a while since I've written to all 4 of you who read this. This time, got to get to business, b/c there is plenty to discuss. The above comment was made to me exactly 6 days before what would have been the biggest tri of my career, the biggest pro field fighting over a decent purse, and driving distance from me. But as you can probably deduce, losing that much surface area on your ear drum (or any body part for that matter) is not a good thing. Medically speaking - I was screwed. Well, it was slightly more eloquent than that but bottom line - no swimming for at least 6 months, the Toyota Cup series out of the question, leaving me with larger lats from lots of laps, and fairly wrecked hearing on my left side. Truth was, not swimming was the least of my immediate worries. I had to face something slightly more serious - permanent hearing loss.

Its funny how in less than 2 minutes your priorities shift, your emotions rock your body physically, and yet you sit back in that hospital chair and are given a moment of clarity and grace, just enough to help you make the best decision for you. Because its incorrect to call it a "right or wrong" decision. Its what is best for you, not the person next to you or the person down the street. So I allowed my doctor to put a small paper cover over the ear drum in the hopes it would start to heal, called a race director in Michigan and decided I was going back to duathlons for the forseeable future, starting with that weekend, July 31. Yes, Brian and Jen's plan was, get Guy fast enough to make a serious run for the Games in 2012. We had put in massive work lung-searing, eye bleeding work. But there was no reason to waste it, or mire in self-pity. Sponsor obligations had me on social media outlets explaining the news, and immediately the "poor you" messages came through. I would have none of it. The decision wasn't hard, it hurt, but that doesn't make it hard. There is always another avenue, another way to compete, to use your talents and gifts in a positive way. And sometimes it takes something tragic to happen to provide you that freedom to make those decisions. Some sponsors walked, which didn't surprise me, this is a business after all, and in our volatile economic times, sponsor dollars are tight, and those who race du's, especially on the pro level, recognize you better have a plan B to make sure you can eat and keep a roof over your head.

Its been 3 weeks and I've raced twice, 2 Oly distance du's which netted me a 3rd place overall, and an overall win. They didn't come easy, they actually hurt like hell, and I had a hell of a time finding my rhythm but in this last week as I prepare to continue my "racing every other week" through November schedule, I feel stronger than ever, lighter than ever, and all that anger and frustration is left out on the race course. Yeah, I'm angry, but in the middle of these 3 weeks was a reminder why I can't ever give up. On August 3rd, my grandmother turned 99, and we celebrated in her favorite style, pizza and beer, with just a few (60) family members at Home Run Inn Pizza, her favorite spot. She stood up before dinner and with a very calm and strong voice, she thanked all of us, expressed her love for us, and her thanks for seeing what she has been so blessed to see. And then she reminded all of us, it was never easy, that b/c of her inner strength, fire and drive that lies in all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the stubborness of my grandfather (a huge Petruzzelli trait) she has reached 99 with grace, humility, optomism and hope. As I scanned the room, I saw it too, seeing my 2 year old niece trying to wrangle herself out of her high chair so she could wreak havoc on the room, as only Vive can, my cousins, fighting so many obstacles to reach new heights of professionalism, my parents, aunts and uncles, the lines of years of that same work ethic and sense of hope that a better future lies ahead etched in thier faces. And I couldn't help but smile and cry, realizing, I will never give up b/c its just not in my DNA. That may be the biggest gift I've been given by my family - that trait.

As we get older, I've realized things get taken from us, without our permission, and even in the best of health, we lose things that we took for granted. What's important to recognize is that you have the power to reclaim them. I was not going to stop being an athlete b/c I had lost some hearing and have a hole in my ear. That's nothing when considering what so many others have lost. Its a bump in the road, pushing me in a different direction. So I am back to viewing racing as "crossing one finish line is simply starting another race". And with that, I share my passion with my athletes, helping them see the potential in all of them - good kids who just need the right direction and the knowledge they aren't in this alone. I'm there for them, as any good coach should be. My rugby player came to me at the beginning of summer 20 lbs overweight, and no speed. This kid walked out of the gym last week, 25 lbs down, stronger than an ox, eating clean and had a swagger, a confidence that wasn't there before. It was obvious to others too, who were happy to see it, especially his parents. Suddenly, the idea that he "couldn't" was wiped out of his vocabulary.

It would be wrong of me to take credit for all this in solo fashion. I am where I am b/c of my "other" family. Brian, Doug, Jen, Kelly, Syn Martinez - who constantly tells me we are family, Patrica, Dr. Leighton, T.J Murphy, Richard Airey and the entire CFE Cali crew. A work in progress - that is all of us. And I am excited again to see what each new day brings, good or bad, b/c I know I will handle it, and constantly evolve into a better person and athlete. That's what it means to reclaim what's yours - never stay stagnant. Never believe you have done "enough". Mediocrity sets in, as does maliase, and then before you know it, 5 years goes by and you are not the same person, having lost years and your ability to grow. My gram isn't 99 b/c she sits around. She reads, she constantly is looking to improve herself, she is still evolving. My hope for myself, my families, and all who read this is that we all continue to evolve as she has.

Stay strong.

Guy

Mid-season musings.

2011-07-14T19:53:00.002-05:00

Its been a bit since my last post, and I admit I have some catching up to do. June came and went so fast, and thanks to a double ear infection, I was limited to one race, The Battle of Waterloo in Michigan which went excellent, but saw me give another gift. After racing neck and neck for the first run and bike, myself and the winner came into T2 together, and I knew that the second run would be tough - hilly, some on single track, and the rest on limestone. Add wet climbs and wind, and it was an idllyc setting for a great finish. But there was a problem - the cold weather (55 degrees) left my hands numb, which gave me fits in trying to get on my running shoes. As I fussed with them, I could see the winner taking off. After a minute of the frustrating process, I finally got my shoes on and began to chase in earnest.

And for the first 2 miles of the 5.5 mile run, I was closing. Everytime the road rose, I would attack, seeing myself gaining ground. By mile 4, heading on to the single track section, I felt like I could reach out and touch the leader. But once in the forest, with the twists and turns, I lost sight of him and ran blind, trying to keep my balance traversing rocks, fallen trees, pools of water and low hung branches. Once in the open, I saw the leader, and the finish line, as he crossed it. 20 seconds later, I was there, the prize of bridesmaid waiting. Still, knowing I could push and literally get away from everyone else, that was a good feeling and one I planned to take with me into my next race.

Unfortunately, the last 3 weeks have seen me in more doctor's offices than race courses. This is typically the time of the year when athletes begin the racing once a week or every other weekend, which was my plan. But my body had other plans. With no other choice but to relieve the pressure, both ears had to be cut open and the fluid drained. If there was ever a reason to ensure you take care of your body, the pain I experienced while having my ears opened and then vacuumed out, made me beg for the pain post clavicle surgery. I swore he was cutting into my brain. It was vicious, and left me dizzy and out of sorts. And it meant more time out of the water and difficulty training on the bike and run.

So, as I read FB posts of friends who are preparing for races the last 2 weekends has been a bit bittersweet but I have discovered something else. Thanks to the words of Jenny, Brian and Doug, I've discovered that taking this time to get healthy, has renewed my passion for training, given me time to get even more fit before my next race at the end of the month, and allows me to watch my favorite race of all time, The Tour. And what a race its been. And along the way, I've enjoyed teaching kids how to swim, spend time with my nieces, and teach them about the greatest sporting event ever. But most importantly, I am learning to be patient, to recognize the importance of not racing out of anger or frustration, and the benefits of properly preparing for big races.

I know all of you type A's are like me - you miss a race or have a bad race your first reaction - find another race immediately and try to crush it. Here's why its a bad idea - you most likely aren't 100% healthy and if you have a bad race again, mentally you will be worse off. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way. Better to focus on your next big event, take some time to get healthy and things will work out. I'm suggesting you start practicing yoga or meditating, but learn to relax and enjoy the ride. You'll be suprised how much better you will feel.

Stay strong, - AND WATCH THE TOUR
Guy

Tuesday's with Dolores

2011-06-19T01:16:00.002-05:00

"If they find a little old lady on the bottom of this pool one day, they'll know who to blame!" - My favorite swim client, Dolores's weekly warnings to me before we start every session.

I've wanted to write this blog for a while, as it is something that has brought a smile back to my face. One of the great things I get to do for a living is teach people how to swim. Young or old, petrified of the water or seasoned swimmer. Somewhere in the middle is my first ever swim client, and by far my favorite. Her name is Dolores, and she's 83 years old. She stands just over 5 feet tall, although as she likes to remind me "in my day I was a good 5'3". I've shrunk dammit! Its all those years of running wrong, they had to fuse some vertebrae in my back 9 months ago, and they robbed me of height, not to mention the hospital bill."

The few phrases above is what makes Dolores a real treat - she's sharp, witty, funny, and absolutely no-nonsense. Of course, she's also 100% Italian, which makes it easy for me to relate to her background. Above all, she has no issue telling you how she feels. There's never a question as to how she feels on a daily basis, and what she wants to do. She started to swim as a way to stay active after surgery, and while in the pool, saw all these people doing laps, moving through the water so effortlessly, it intrigued her. One of those people was me. She didn't even know I worked at the health club, but she had no problem coming up to me one day and asking if I could teach her how to swim. She was abrupt and didn't mince words, and I appreciated that. I told her we would start the following week, on a Tuesday. And that began the journey of my Tuesday mornings with Dolores.

She's in the pool practicing drills a good half hour before I get there, and she is absolutely determined to learn how to swim correctly. She gets impatient with herself, pushes herself, and openly remarks how she refuses to do the water aerobics classes with the "old ladies waiting to die." To call her a pistol is putting it mildly. But every Tuesday at 10 am, there she is, swim cap and googles, kick board, and pull bouy, ready to go. The surgery makes it hard for her to get her left arm all the way out of the water to do freestyle, but damn if she doesn't try her best. And in the last 4 months, she has turned into a legitimate swimmer, doing laps, drill work, and always critiquing herself. The best part, she wants to get better. She may joke that I'm trying to drown her, but its the smile on her face after she accomplishes another goal in the water that tells me what she really thinks.

Over time we've talked, about her life in Italy, her family, other members of the club, fitness and anything else that sparks her on her drive to the gym. There is never a dull moment, and plenty of smiles, and when I am feeling my worst, watching Dolores work so hard, I'm reminded that its never too late to try something new, to face new challenges, to look for opportunities to stay young, to keep learning. I'm reminded of my own grandmother as I guide Dolores through her workout as she shares her words of wisdom with me, solicited or not. In short, she thinks women should take better care of themselves over the age of 60 so they don't get fat, that tattoos are ok, as long as it isn't some "hussy's" name, and that running is the most exhilirating experience in the world. And before her surgery, she ran all over the globe, at all different distances. And even though I promise her that I am always careful when I run, she still warns against too much of it. " You're Italian, you can't afford to lose any height" she'll tell me with a laugh. The best part -she never tells me if she likes the way I teach. But recently I ran into her daughter who is also a club member and with tears in her eyes told me, I had brought Dolores's smile back. And I couldn't help but cry a little too, realizing that it was that stoicism of her generation that kept her from sharing her thoughts with me. And I smiled realizing that she isn't tough for tough's sake; she's just one of a different breed from a different time whose eyes say "I've seen worse."

In a year of ups and downs, the last couple months of solid training and improved racing, mixed with teaching swimming to 6 year olds with non-stop questions, to my favorite gal, Dolores reminds me every week that you can't ever stop learning. b/b once you do, life does end. Dolores embodies living "UNSCARED". She didn't know how to swim when we met, but she was determined to change that. And with everything she was able to overcome to get to this point, well, let's just say I stopped complaining when my workout didn't go as planned some days.

I hope all of you who follow my post are lucky enough to recognize your own Dolores in your lives and take the opportunity to embrace their spirit and drive. I promise once you do, your life will definitely get better, your feet lighter, and your smile will return.

Stay strong,

Guy

Maybe its me, but I doubt it - Part 2, More racing, training, life lessons, and hotels with ants

2011-05-22T23:24:00.002-05:00

"Lock it up" - Brian MacKenzie's advice on a daily basis to me, usually prefaced with some explicit language

I didn't want to write about this again. Actually it makes me even more upset to write about it again than it did the first time. I want to write about my 83 year old swim client who amazes me every day. I wanted to write about the great knowledge gained from the recent CFE cert I took. I wanted to write about this weekend's race and how good it feels to be back in the mix for overall titles in triathlon after an 8 year absence from the sport. How finishing 2nd overall on a hot Sunday morning with more strength and speed than ever was truly gratifying. But I can't. And its not just for me, its my observations that I want to share with those who read this blog and live a similar lifestyle; some wisdom so you don't fall prey to the same mistakes I made.

Its been a couple weeks since I last posted, and life has been, well, interesting. And that's not always a good thing, but the time has provided some deeper insight both in out of the sport for me. People closest to me know I love to live life fairly fast and keep busy. So last weekend I got a chance to spend some quality time with fans of CFE at a Crossfit Endurance Cert, providing more insight into the very specific details that make CFE work. And in the process, got to feel what I had a month ago in California - a sense of family. That sentiment was felt throughout the 40 plus people in attendance, and summed up nicely on Olympic Gold Medalist and attendee Eric Wunderlich's t-shirt - "We succeed because we are family". The notion that "we are all in this together" still means something in the Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance community, and maybe that's why we respond the way we do when we sense a supposed friend showing how unsupportive they really are.

A few days after leaving on a real high from the weekend, making new friends who are like family, and feeling strong going into today's race, I got an email from an old friend that I hadn't seen in a bit. She seemed displeased that my "lifestyle" was making it difficult to see me and perhaps I wasn't a good friend after all. In a few paragraphs it became clear - people who you think get what you do, but haven't experienced the lifestyle up close and personal, really have no clue the commitment, the dedication, determination and drive involved. This is not a knock against people like that, but its a cautionary tale to those of you who are dedicated to CF, multisport, CFE, because it is a lifestyle, not just a sport. This isn't something we just show up and do on weekends. We don't book tee times, we bust ass running, biking, swimming, lifting, eating like cavemen and cave-women; and in the words of Bruce Lee "Striving for perfection even though we know we won't achieve it".

Now, moments like these are uncomfortable. Its that "moment of clarity" where you have to decide to cut bait and run, or pretend to be someone you're not, trying to make everyone happy but yourself. Here's my advice and take it for what its worth - BE YOURSELF. Will you lose some friends b/c of it? Maybe. Will that suck? Probably. But realize, those people really weren't friends to begin with. Stop letting people in your life tell you that you are "weird" or "'strange" or "following a fad". If they haven't lived it personally or watched you go through the ups and downs of racing or crossfit or cfe, really seeing you bleed for your sport, then its a wasted conversation and wasted time. And for those of you who follow CF or CFE, you understand you aren't just making new friends, your making family. Think about that. 40 complete strangers walk into a certification and in less than 48 hours, the common bond of suffering for doing what we love creates an immediate sense of togetherness, understanding and eventually trust.

Personally, I only have a few truly close friends, and we talk pretty much daily, always pushing the envelop, exploring the highest levels of fitness for ourselves and others. Because the bigger and more important part of CF and CFE is paying it forward. The knowledge you gain isn't just for you, its to share to help others achieve something greater. If you don't, you've failed at the most critical part of what we do - teaching what we know to others. And I'm not talking about raking in mad money to share the knowledge. I regularly give advice, build a program for people who need help for free. Why? B/c watching someone light up when they are no longer in pain when running, or seeing how excited they get when they can jump rope, that's payment enough. And that's what family does. We don't charge each other for what we do, we do out of passion and love for what we do.

I know, I'm rambling a bit, but here's where I come out - I like my life, and I realize I am a constant work in progress be it in the sport, training, or in life. And we all are. But as we get older, we have less time for the bs of people who don't get it. So don't get sucked in to disconnected friendships or empty relationships. Rise above. Literally and figuratively. And its ok to be angry. It can be cleansing. Just make sure to channel it in a positive fashion. I know I took my anger and did just that today. And its why I led with Brian's daily advice - what does it mean? It means constantly make sure to clean house keep your focus, live fast, live loud and don't let anyone tell you different. Lock it up - clear your life of bullshit so you can really pursue your dreams, your passions. And the few minutes of sadness of losing a so-called friend will cause will be wiped clean when you are staring at a nasty hill for some gnarly repeats. That's when you can smile wide and shake off the past for good.

Stay strong,

Guy

Bloodied, but Unbowed

2011-05-06T22:55:00.002-05:00

As I sit here, on a Friday night, less than a week removed from Pro Du Nationals, my legs propped up, body slightly tired from a hard week of training, I realize that my head hasn't been this clear in years. However, a few close friends (and coaches) would tell you that just 4 days ago that wasn't even close to being the case. Allow me to elaborate.

A week ago, I was sitting in a hotel room in Tucson, AZ, trying to fall asleep before tackling the first really big race in over a year - Pro DU Nationals. And from the outside, everything looked to be on point. After taking 12 hours on Thursday to get to Tucson from Chicago ( a 3 hour trip) and over-coming a lost bike issue, I was well-rested, and physically ready to go. I knew it was hot, and knew we were at altitude, that the sun would be blazing on race morning, but it wasn't anything I thought would be a problem. I was tapered and should have been thinking having success the next morning. But inside, nothing could be further from the truth. And that's not an indictment against my coaches. They did everything to a tee.

But I was already talking myself out of the race, allowing all the doubt to creep in and any external factor to get magnified. The heat, the lack of oxygen, all of it, dry mouth, and within the first few minutes of the race, I let it all unravel turning a race into a tough training day and kind of an embarrassing experience. This was supposed to be an "A" race, so why did this happen? B/c from the moment I stepped on the plane at O'Hare last Thursday I was not treating this race like anything more than an inconvenience. All I could think about was getting back home. So I am admitting here and now, the poor performance was on me - and my mental lack of preparedness. Why? Well, that's the 64,000 dollar question. But one thing was for certain - all the training in the world doesn't make you mentally ready to race. You can train like an animal, but if you can't bring it out on race day, it doesn't matter. And there's the rub - you can be a beast when training, but you can't be a lamb on the race course b/c no one gets a trophy for training the hardest. I sabotaged my own race.

My lack of faith in myself has nothing to do with anyone else, coaches, friends, competition or otherwise. So two days after being home, I was fortunate to hear from my friends and coaches - Jen Garrison and Doug Katona. Both provided sage advice, and in thier own way they both said - "race UNSCARED". That's going to be different from person to person. But when things don't go well, and they won't all the time, be an adult, own it, and learn. And from that, you can grow and improve and shed those fears with each passing day. So each day since Monday, that's exactly what I've been doing, shedding fears like unwanted weight, recognizing a very honest and real feeling - I am happiest when I am suffering the most doing what I love. That's real, and that is what I need to tap into on race day. And with that knowledge, I am hungry again, hungrier than I was at 21. So I took my knocks in the desert, and what a great wake up call it was. Its made every day since that much more exciting and important. So when things don't go your way, its ok, own the bad days as much as your good ones and trust me, if you do, your training, your racing, your life, will be better.

Stay strong,

Guy

Stay

Living the dream - Training camp, Racing and enjoying the moments between

2011-04-21T05:35:00.003-05:00

"I love you dude!" - CFE Coach Doug Katona and Bad Ass Cyclist as we approached "The Wall" on a training ride outside Foothills Ranch, CA at the CFE Endurance War Camp

As multisport athletes, we know this word all too well - Suffering. It comes in different flavors, and can refer to a variety things - hunger level, training level, race pace, etc. But sometimes, and it is rare, can we say that word while truly enjoying life. 2 weeks ago I was using that word often with a big smile on my face. The reason was simple, I was in Southern California, running and riding in the West Coast sunlight, with my best friends, and other elite athletes who braved the first ever Crossfit Endurance War Camp; the brain-child of my coach and best friend, Brian MacKenzie, and his partner in crime, Doug Katona. Part of the thrill ride included guest appearances by the famous "KStarr" Kelly Starrett, "The Whippet" Richard Airey, and the use of the awesome NLP Crossfit Gym, where Lamar, the gym owner and truly cool dude helped put together a nasty strength session on day 2.

Its been a while since I've done a legit training camp, and this was one heck of a way to do it. Aside from meeting some truly amazing athletes who were all inspirational and uber talented, the lay out for training was post-card perfect, the weather, a tad cold for the West Coast folk, was ideal for this Midwestern boy. Day 1 started with getting picked up at John Wayne Airport by Bmack, then cruising Costa Mesa for some duck tacos and Vietnamese coffee, before packing up th eWoodward Treadmill and Watt Bike, grabbing another 2 shots of homemade espresso, and meeting the rest of the campers. The firs workout, a "leg opener" run was set against the Foothills Ranch, which had a nice, gentle look from the ground, but was lung searing once you got 2 miles in. Led by Richard Airey, he and I jumped in front and I held my own as we hit the mile long climb to the top of the hill, a slog that jumped between 17-22% and took us from 600 feet elevation to 2200 feet in just that mile. Longest mile of my life, but at the top stood Bmack with water and a smile, and as I gasped for air, heard him say "I told you this is where you belong". I couldn't help but look around before descending back down hill, seeing the beauty that lay before us, and realizing once again, he was right.

Day 2 provided some insightful workshops regarding training and nutrition, as well as some quality time with Doug Katona who had a bike ready for me to attack another version of hills. As we sped along the valley roads warming up, Doug laid out the day's ride, promising some "moderate climbiing". To a flatlander - that means a few over-passes. Out there, that meant rolling hills that lasted 3 miles at a pop, with grades between 6-8%, before hitting the biggest climb of the day - a one mile leg breaker, that rose like a monster wave in front of us. Doug, knowing the hill all too well, having ridden with the likes of Chris Horner and Levi Liepheimer on this very course. And it was at the base base of this beast that Doug shouted the above phrase, as he heard me scream out something I can't repeat. But Doug knew something I didn't - that if you want it bad enough, the hill is only a hill, and like any road, can be conquered. So I set into a nice pace, switching between sitting and out of the saddle, relaxing my shoulders, between the pitches of 15%, 22% and the final kick of 300 meters at 18%. And all the while, I gained on Doug, and within seconds, the 2 of us were climbing together in the California sun on one damn fine day. Our smiles could be seen from miles around. Same thing as Chad crested a few moments later, and the 3 of us dive bombed to find a lost camp member.

That afternoon, we stopped at NLP for a insightful but grueling strength workout, capped off by a mobility workout by KStarr. As we checked the clock, I realized we had been at it for 14 hours, and I couldn't help but smile as I foreced some food down my stomach before passing out. The next day, we enjoyed some time on a new torture device, a woodward treadmill. This is one of the truly special kinds of treads that requires you to make it go. There is no "press button and start running". Nope, this bad boy was all on you, and if your form was off, God help you, b/c you were flying off that sucker. A nice 5K romp on that, a little recovery fuel and we were back on the bikes, to do hill repeats. (Apparently Doug didn't think we did enough Saturday) But again, you could see the same thing happeneing on the faces of all the participants - we were hurting, but damn if we weren't having a good time.

I left camp exhausted, but full of hope and a better awareness of my abilities, and more importantly got to share time with great people, make some new friends, and gain a bigger respect for what Doug and Brian have created. Not to mention a deep desire to move to there. As Rich took me to the airport, he couldn't have been more clear - "I'm looking for a roommate, and dude, you haven't even started to tap into your abilities. Move out here, come see what you got in your tank for real." Those words have stuck with me and trust me, the wheels are turning hard.

6 days later, I was at the starting line of my first real outdoor tri in 8 years, in 50 degrees weather and rain, in Southern Ohio. Thinking I would have been shot from the weekend, I actually felt stronger as the race progressed, climbing with more efficiency and realizing something rather critical - no one passed me. It was a time trial start, so my focus was - chase down those who started ahead of you, and don't let anyone come up from behind. And that's exactly what I did - chasing down with fury the 40 some people who started ahead of me, then running my ass off to make sure I closed down any gaps and gave no hope to anyone behind. The result - 2nd overall, 13 seconds out of first. Apparently, I didn't run everyone down, but I am hungrier now than ever. California was just the beginning, an eye-opener, really a wake up call to start believing more in my abilities, to start seeing what Brian, Doug and Jenny have been seeing and waiting for- for this Southside Chicago kid to start enjoying life, and the sport more, and to not short-change myself. All too often I've seen people, myself included, get in a rut, not sure if we are improving or not, and allowing doubt to creep in. That's nonsense. We all work hard, we push, we suffer, we keep trying to get our bodies to the point of "running through walls", doubt can't be allowed to have such power.

Brian started www.iamunscared.com, and on the back of my Crossfit Endurance hat, that word is stictched . The Art of Dealing With Fear, as he refers to it. What we do can be scary, and yes, it can hurt, to the bone, but we have all seen dark times and made it through. We are all Unscared. Its in all of us - just tap into it when times are toughest, you'll be amazed at how wide you smile.

Stay Strong,

Guy

Maybe its me......but I doubt it

2011-04-07T05:41:00.002-05:00

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, its a good time to consider changing sides" - Mark Twain I'm writing this post, a mere 24 hours before heading out to California for what I am expecting to be a pretty amazing experience - The Endurance War Camp, hosted by Crossfit Endurance, and my friends, Brian MacKenzie, Doug Katona, and a special cameo by Kelly Starrett. Normally I would wait to post until after I had returned home from this experience, however, some interesting things have happened lately, and I don't think this recent phenomenon is particular to just me. Recently, I've reconnected with some old friends from high school, who, are a little surprised to see an old classmate competing as a pro endurance athlete. I am 38 so of course the idea that I can even walk upright is shocking. (Note - lots of sarcasm here) In all the brief, and I have to stress brief, conversations, the one word that kept coming up when they would describe my lifestyle was "crazy". Odd looks, change in tone, all sorts of machinations of disbelief and that word, constantly in conversation, had me wondering if perhaps the life of an elite endurance athlete who also utilizes crossfit, and eats Paleo was a little too out there. And then I started to notice others, like family, co-workers, the people at my local Starbucks, all having that same response when receiving my answer to the "what are you training for?" question. And for half a second, I was concerned that perhaps I had gone over the edge. Standing in my place wearing my new weighted vest, preparing to do run hill repeats, my 3rd workout of the day, the thought crept to the forefront of my thoughts. But I soon looked over at some race photos, looked at recent emails from Bmack and Jen, Dr. Leighton and others in my life who really understand and applaud this lifestyle and I smiled heading out into the night for my run with the comfort of knowing - I'm not crazy, I'm just different. Something tells me that many of you have experienced this same thing. Its one thing when someone tells friends or family that they are going to run thier first marathon, or do thier first triathlon; there is that sense of "Go Get 'Em!" and lots of "Good for You's" floating around. But once you make it your life, and take all facets of human performance seriously, changing nutrition, constantly pushing the envelop in your training, racing all over the world, and basically striving to become indestructible, you have somehow gone off the deep end. When asked what my goal was with my training, I simply stated, "I want to be able to run through a brick wall". I was completely serious. That, to me, means there is no amount of pain in a race that I couldn't handle. And in reality, what's wrong with that? I'm not even trying to be cute here. When did we get so soft as a society? When I got back from that run, I called my coaching team, and close friends. We all couldn't help but laugh at the fact that we were somehow seen as "freaks" while trying to define "normal". If normal means working 50-60 hours a week behind a desk, getting minimal exercise, staring down a host of health issues due to poor diet, and feeling winded while walking a flight of steps, then you can keep it. Endurance athletes aren't normal but we aren't crazy either. We are different; we wake early before rush hour and run in the dark, sometimes the frigid cold, or the blazing heat. We ride with power meters to measure our power to weight ratio, swim with added weight to get stronger in the water. But that's not a bad thing, its just different. And maybe its just having spent the last 8 months realizing how much the human body is capable of as I rapidly recovered from 2 major surgeries and returned to racing stronger than ever. Maybe my latest epiphany comes from studying the human body and what it can do, asking experts (see- doctors, nutrtional gurus, elite coaches), but at the core, it still comes down to what inside you. That's different for everyone. But it doesn't give someone who simply doesn't understand the lifestyle license to somehow assume they are living better or more "normal" than those of us who selected this path. No, we don't golf every Sunday, but you better damn well believe we are either racing our asses off or training hard. And guess what - THAT'S OK. So to my multisport/endurance/crossfit friends - don't let anyone tell you that you are crazy or strange. You, my dear friends, absolutely ROCK. And to those of you who know one of "The Breed", if you can't say anything nice, please do us a huge favor and simply go quietly about your business. We have walls to run through. Stay Strong, Guy

When a race is much more than a race

2011-03-28T21:35:00.002-05:00

The look on people's faces when I told them how I spent my birthday weekend didn't scream envy or jealousy. Explaining that I decided to take a trip to Tennessee to start my outdoor racing season the day before my birthday didn't get many to give that "Aww you're so lucky!" vibe. And although I got some sun, the wonderful Chicago winter that seemingly has a stranglehold that won't let go took that away pretty quick. But for me, it was the perfect way to spend my birthday, in some warm weather, testing my fitness against a strong field, on a difficult course, with less than 3 days of outdoor cycling time under my belt. The Tennessee Thrasher Duathlon was my gift to myself, a real leg burner in the Natchez Trace state park in Tennessee. The course had no flat of any kind, pitches on both the bike and run of 12-16% and a second run that was 2/3's single track, covered in pine needles, mud and more than a few tree roots. So on March 20, I and several other athletes stepped out to 80 degrees, warm sunshine and a first run that greeted you with a 600 meter climb out on to the main road. I paced smart, gradually working my way into 2nd, with about 2-3 seconds off the leader. As we crested that first nasty climb, I got into a bit of a groove and rounded the turn around feeling good. The winter strength work had paid off, and I wasn't feeling any ill effects of my appendectomy 4 weeks prior. The leader and I hit T1 a couple seconds apart, and as I got to my bike, I noticed my handlebars were intertwined with another bike. Not wanting to lose time, I yanked my bike out, and took off. I had no idea that single act would provide me with a real gift after the race. The bike packed a solid 2300 feet of climbing in less than 20 miles, and I stayed as close to the leader as possible, now joined by a couple other guys from warmer climates who obviously had a few more days on the bike outside than myself. But thanks to some well timed words from coach Jen as well as some critical strength training from Bmack, I kept attacking, making sure I wasn't losing time. As I got to T2, I was sitting in 4th, but all of us pretty close. Although I was hurting, I knew the guys ahead of me were too, so, I sucked it up, slid around the single track trail as best I could, passing the 3rd place guy, and set my sights on 2nd and 1st. With a little over a half mile, I started to push as hard as possible, but just not enough real estate to make the final catch. I sprinted down the final hill, legs aching but thrilled to grab a podium finish, less than 9 months after shoulder surgery, and 5 weeks from an appendectomy. Yeah, I was healed, and stronger than ever. But the best part of the race happened after I crossed the line. What I didn't realize, was that in my haste of getting my bike in T1, I had knocked over another athletes' bike. Her husband was standing close to transition, and visibly upset. As I approached my bike, he asked if it was mine, and after I said yes, he proceeded to tell me what happened. The bike I knocked over was his wife's, it was her pride and joy, and that she had over come a lot of health issues to be there. I was upset at myself and emabarrassed that I didn't notice what I had done, so I made sure to be at transition when she finished. When she came through and walked over to transition, I saw she was upset and I understood. I would have felt the same. I had no excuse, it was simply negligence on my part and thankfully, she understood. I mentioned that her husband told me she had overcome some health issues to be there, and I was curious as to what they were, and how she did it. How she lived outside her comfort zone to overcome the obstacles in her life. Her name is Christine, and I can't do justice to her story. So here is an excerpt of her email to me: ALABAMA SPORTS FESTIVAL NEW LEASE ON LIFE Christine Schmalzer defied the odds after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997 and now celebrates life by pushing herself in triathlons INSIDE: Complete festival coverage/4-5C By MIKE HERNDON Sports Reporter The triathlon is among the most grueling of all sporting events. A downright sadistic combination of running, swimming and biking, it's seen by many as the athletic gold standard - the ultimate test of strength and endurance. But for Christine Schmalzer, it's really nothing. Not that Schmalzer has mastered the sport. She took it up just two years ago and is entering her second season of competition. It's just that after what she's been through, the pain of pushing herself to her physical limits really isn't all that big a deal. Schmalzer, a 37-year-old from Ethridge, Tenn., was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997. She initially was given six months to a year to live, but thanks to a second opinion and an experimental surgical procedure she's beat that estimate nine times over and counting. After fighting through a period of self-doubt, she's making the most of her second lease on life - and triathlons are a big part of it. "When I'm in a race, I feel like after what I've been through, psychologically, mentally and even physically I can take the pain," she said. "What he went through was a whole different thing, but (Tour de France champion and cancer survivor) Lance Armstrong expressed some of the same things about training. You're sort of more willing to push your body to the wall, because compared to staring death in the face, that doesn't seem so scary." Schmalzer's ordeal started nine years ago when she started having headaches and vision problems. Visits to an eye doctor and a neuro-opthamologist revealed nothing until six months later, when she was riding in a car with her then-fiance, Edward Butler, and she felt her vision closing in from both sides. She had a grand mal seizure in the car, and later had another in the hospital. Doctors performed a biopsy, drilling into Schmalzer's brain to search for the problem while she lay awake under local anesthesia. The diagnosis couldn't have been much worse: a brain tumor, malignant and inoperable. She was told that whole head radiation was her only option for treatment and, even with that, she had six months to a year to live. "It was just shock, then anger (that it wasn't found sooner)," said Schmalzer, who had lost her mother to pancreatic cancer six months earlier. "The next day I felt like I'd been run over by a truck. Because of what we'd been through with my mother, there was just a lot of fatalism: This is it. I'm going to die." But the biopsy's 2 percent margin of error meant hope to Butler, a pilot and industrial engineer. "I've never been lucky," Schmalzer said. "I said, 'Oh, I'm dead.' Butler said, 'No, that's statistically significant.'" As it turned out, it was very significant. Schmalzer went for a second opinion at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, where renowned neurosurgeon Dr. John Tew told her he believed he could remove the tumor. Tew used an experimental procedure involving computer navigation to remove the mass. Subsequent tests then showed that it wasn't malignant after all, but an extremely rare form of benign tumor, making Schmalzer all the more thankful for getting the second opinion. "If we'd gone with that first opinion, the radiation would have killed me by now," she said. "So it's a real lesson in getting a second opinion." Schmalzer said her emotions when first hearing of Tew's more favorable diagnosis ran from disbelief to "just incredible joy." "All you can think about is that you're going to have more time with the people you love and you're going to make the most of it," she said. "There's this second lease on life: I'm going to live every day like it's my last." But after the tumor was removed, the euphoria eventually wore off. Schmalzer had a long recovery from major brain surgery and she still suffered from debilitating headaches. Then, later, she began to feel guilty that she wasn't doing more with her life. "I sort of fell back into my life," she said. "I was sort of existing and trying to be happy, but not really getting there. I wasn't fulfilling this second chance the way I should be." Little could she have known that the key would ultimately lie in pushing her body to its limits of endurance. Although she described herself as "pretty much a couch potato" before the surgery, she'd long harbored a secret ambition: "My whole life, I'd always wanted to do a triathlon." Actually accomplishing that goal, however, was the furthest thing from her mind two years ago when she joined the YMCA in Columbia, Tenn., some 30 minutes from her home in Ethridge, near the Alabama state line. Butler, now her husband, was suffering from back pain and she thought that some exercise at the Y would do them both some good. After joining, she found a group of fellow members who were active in triathlons and, with their help, soon began working toward that goal. "They were incredibly generous in sharing their knowledge of the sport, how they train," she said. "I just jumped in with both feet and did about a dozen races last year, including some ocean swims." One of those events featuring an ocean swim provided a benchmark for Schmalzer. The race, held in Panama City, Fla., came right after a storm that churned the Gulf into 5- and 6-foot swells, making the swimming portion of the race incredibly difficult. But Schmalzer persevered, finishing fourth overall. "When I came across the finish line, I started crying because I couldn't believe I'd done it," she said. "I just had the feeling that if I can work through something like that, I can do other things in other areas of my life. "It's changed my life," she said of the sport. "That's why I really wanted to do this (Sports Festival) race. It's an Olympic-type event that's supposed to promote sports." Since Tennessee does not have a state games similar to the Alabama Sports Festival, organizers here agreed to allow her to compete this weekend in Mobile. Saturday's race at Chickasabogue State Park was the first triathlon to be held at the ASF and, for adult competitors, featured a 400-meter swim, 25-kilometer bike ride and 5-kilometer run. Schmelzer finished the race in about an hour and 35 minutes, placing third in her 35-39 age group and qualifying for the national games next year in Colorado despite taking a wrong turn on the run that added several minutes to her time. Not bad for someone who, when she first started, often had to climb off her bike and rest when climbing hills. "I still have a long way to go," said Schmalzer, whose ultimate goal is to compete in an Ironman competition. "When I first started, swimming a 200 was a big deal. Now on Tuesday, I think I swam 3,600 yards. I was super motivated. Having people who were willing to help me and were generous enough with their time and expertise was a huge thing." The biggest thing for Schmalzer, though, has been regaining her happiness, feeling that her second chance at life has not been wasted. In addition to her triathlons, Schmalzer now counsels other brain tumor patients, helping those who have been recently diagnosed to find the best available doctors and programs. And she's also acting on a lifelong love of dogs by taking in strays and other canines in need of help. "We don't have a humane society in my county," she said, "so it comes down to me picking up dogs who are sick or dumped, paying for their vet bills, getting them healthy, doing a bit of training and finding them homes." She still goes in regularly for MRIs to ensure that the tumor or others like it haven't returned. But with so much to do, there's not much time now to dwell on her ordeal of nine years ago. And that's just how Schmalzer wants it. "I think that's the reason the triathlon has been so good for me," she said. "A lot of times since then, I've either been dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. When I'm training or racing, that's impossible. You're living in the moment. That's such a gift. "I'm happier than I've ever been and I sure didn't think that was possible." This story, this woman, reminded me of what the sport is all about - overcoming. In one way or another, we are all overcoming something, be it physical, mental or spiritual, that gets us to the start line. Look inside you to find out what it is, and never lose that feeling, that sense of excitement that got you in the sport in the first place. I got a great birthday gift, a new friend, and more importantly, the reminder of why I started to race, and continue to - to defy the odds, to overcome obstacles, to be more than what I expected. Its in Christine. And I bet its in you too. Stay strong, Guy

The Q7 Factor

2011-03-21T21:08:00.002-05:00

I know I'm behind on my blogs, but before I post a race one, I've been wanting to write this one for a while.

On a very cold January day, I went to help out my boys from The Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn at the Harper Velo Swap. The usual suspects were there, cyclists of all sorts, shapes and sizes, hawking thier stuff, wearing full on cycling kits, with sub zero temps outside. I decided to take a walk around to see what was what, and heard something rather unusual at these events - genuine laughter. Tucked against the wall were 2 lovely ladies, who were not selling parts, or tight fitting cycling gear. Rather, they were selling and promoting a brand of casual cycling related clothing, that wasn't your standard fare. The t-shirts and hats were cool, and not in a bike-geek kind of way. They were very fashionable, and caught my eye right away.

The next thing I knew, I was shaking hands with the co-owner and founder of this cool little company - Q7 Cycling, Wanda Berg. She was there with team member and equally lovely Lisa, both of whom radiated such energy and happiness I figured they either got lost on the way to a much more exciting place, or were really happy to be in frigid Chicago. I'm still not convinced they didn't get lost, but what I discovered was a true passion for something more than cycling. It was promoting a healthy lifestyle, in a fun and fasionable way. Let's face it, we all have some form of off-the-bike shirt that says "Bianchi" or "Castelli", etc. But this was something different. Here was a company that realized not everyone wants to look like a cyclist, or cares if the world knows they are a cyclist or athlete, yet understands at the core - no matter what level of athlete we are, we all share the passion of being on a bike. The joy of a ride on a beautiful day, wind in your face, sun blazing down, or even a ride in the snow, as it falls around you and you blast through puddles of melted snow before it ices over. So they have taken that passion and turned it into something we have lost - fun.

But don't take my word for it - here's a brief background from Wanda -

Tom and I have been avid cyclists for quite some time with a combined 24 RAGBRAIs and now into the racing scene. We've toured the Western Coast of Ireland by bicycle and try to make a trip to Wine Country on bikes each year. We ride. Road, gravel, trails, mountain, into town, all seasons, self-contained touring and racing......Love it all!! The idea came up in 2008 on a return flight from a cycling tour. We both were not satisfied with much of the cycling apparel out there at the time and were excited by the opportunity to create things that we would like to wear. The idea was to design apparel that was a little more edgy and maybe retro inspired. We wear what we sell and I think that means something.
We knew what we wanted to do......but what do we call ourselves? Q7 Cycling. Both of us feel quality gear is important~ Q. Somehow we both were drawn toward SEVEN. Lucky number seven~it's my favorite number. For Tom it represents the seven continents and the global nature of cycling. That same year we set up the company(2009), I began racing. Shortly after that we threw around the idea of putting together a team. We are a focused team with serious goals, but at the same time we realize the importance of FUN! So..... for TEAM Q7 it's all about quality athletes and the 7 continents we are gonna dominate! haha! Seriously, you are not gonna see us racing in Antarctica----------but we're not afraid ;)

Currently, we are mainly website based. There are a two bike shops in Iowa that carry our gear. In the next five years we would like to be well represented in the retail arena. This has also been our biggest challenge as retail stores like a 50% mark-up as an industry standard. The difficulty for us is achieving these margins as a small start-up with small volumes and making sure they are still great quality. We have worked with a few manufacturers and now have a relationship with a company that seems to be able to help us out at lower volumes.

Another challenge, we have learned is it takes more to sell gear than a cool looking product. People want to know what a brand is, what it represents and if possible, seem to like to have a personal relationship with the people involved. We have recently started attending bike swaps / trade shows to improve our relationship with riders and retail representatives. Our Racing teams have also helped with product visibility and the walk the walk mentality other riders like associated with their gear.

Something else about us----In 2007 we founded the Johnson County Trail Foundation, a non-profit organization to help raise funds for the local trail system. We are passionate about cycling, creating awareness, bicycle advocacy and promoting trail development.
We have two sons, Holden (5) and Jenson (3). They make design decisions on youth apparel. They should like what they are wearing.
We have men's, women's and youth apparel. My buddy made a design on a bar napkin he thought was cool~~we made a shirt from that design. We like to know what people are interested in. I have a gal pal who is a talented artist----she hand painted some short billed trucker caps (you tried one on at the bikeswap) ......she just sent some kick ass belt buckles!
Overall, we would like to promote cycling, ride, offer sweet gear and continue to have FUN!!

What this company keeps at the forefront so many others have forgotten - celebrating the joy of cycling with like minded individuals, having a good time. Its not to say that achieving more in the sport is to be frowned upon, but don't lose that child-like quality that brought us to this beautiful sport in the first place. So go have some fun and check them out at www.q7cycling.com. You'll be glad you did.

And watch out for Q7 hooking up with Crossfit Endurance in the near future - more fun to come.

Stay strong,

Guy

A different kind of motivation

2011-03-10T22:18:00.002-06:00

Ihop made me do it.

Well, perhaps that's not the best way to phrase it. I was gearing up this past Saturday, March 5, to race the Midwest Indoor Championships, and happened to have the TV on. As I was about to turn the TV off, I saw it. The newest Ihop commercial - promoting a new special, chicken and waffles. Breaded, fried, chicken and waffles. I sat there, stunned, as the commercial depicted a couple, who looked relatively fit, gorging on chicken and waffles. As a Paleo Diet convert, not putting my fist through the television became difficult. But even if I hadn't changed my diet, I was never frequenting Ihop for meals, and ate pretty clean, realizing it wasn't the best place to get good fuel for training and racing.

In stunned silence, my mind raced with all the info on Child obesity, adult obesity, diabetes rising at a geometric rate, all the info about how we are the fattest country in the world and here was a commercial not only embracing an unhealthy lifestyle, but celebrating it as well. I really didn't need more motivation to race hard, but with that commercial stuck in my head, I was even more encouraged to put on a show.

So, at 10:45, I was hopping at the start line of the race, my second one in 6 days, and felt particularly strong. Once the gun went off, I never looked back, feeling the strength that returned to my legs after appendix surgery, and my pace was at a nice clip. The best part, I wasn't feeling taxed or near redline, I was faster than ever, and noticed I was feeling really strong. Stronger than ever. That same feeling took me through the bike, where my real motivation for racing this event - my 2 nieces, were there to watch thier favorite uncle do his thing. And as I was first off the bike by over 4 minutes, I was able to hear them clear as day while running around the track solo, constantly pouring on the speed, looking to break my own course record, and capture my third indoor Du title in a row. As I rounded the last lap of the second run, I knew I had the win, and the course record, and was feeling powerful all the way through the end. I pumped my fist at my side and start clapping once I crossed the line, going over to kiss my nieces and Mom. And then I realized it, I was a changed athlete. For the better.

How? Well, Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance. In the 6 days between races, I did 3 crossfit workouts in addition to my endurance training. Conventional training programs will tell you never lift during a race week. Well, I saw first hand that was bs. Granted the race was short, but it still required tons of top end speed and the ability to go near anaerobic threshold the entire time. I felt no ill effects from Crossfit, and actually felt stronger and faster than ever. And this is 4 weeks post appendix surgery. Technically I wasn't supposed to do anything more than walk for 3 weeks after surgery. But I had raced twice, with 2 big wins, and never felt I was loosing anything.

The other main component to feeling good, and constant improvement - nutrition. Eating clean has made a huge difference, but the things I use to supplement meals, or to repair muscles is just as critical. Enter the company - Stronger, Faster, Healthier. The good folks at SFH make the cleanest form of protein out there, and by far the best damn fish oil as well. But don't just take my word for it - go online and check out www.strongerfasterhealthier.com to see the research and testing they have put into thier products. I use thier stuff because of what they stand for, how they develop the products and the time and effort they put into making products specifically designed to enhance athletic performance. Period.

I keep hoping for the day when commercials will be promoting products like SFH or First Endurance, realizing that what they stand for, what they produce, is about creating a truly healthier lifestyle. Then I won't be muttering "f'ing Ihop" under my breath when getting ready to race. Or maybe Charlie Sheen will find a way to sell his "Tiger blood" at market. Watch, I probably just jinxed myself and will see him on a late night infomercial shilling his blood to pay for his "goddesses".

Stay strong,

Guy

You and your shoes

2011-03-03T17:57:00.002-06:00

I know the topic of running shoes has been written about ad naseum in every major running publication to, well, individual athletes' blogs. But I'm throwing my 2 cents in here as someone who has been involved in track and multisport for 20 years, and has been personally involved in shoe development for over the last 3 years.

But what prompted me to write this post you ask? This month's issue of Chicago Athlete Magazine, and the shoe review inside. As I'm sure many of you know, the latest rage in the shoe industry is the "minimalist" or "simulated barefoot" running shoe. Example - Vibrams, (and yes I do have a pair) to Merrell's latest Barefoot shoe that has hit the market. But what makes this article so painful to me is the conflicting information about running form and how it correlates to your running shoe.

The article reviews these new shoes and the minimalist theory of shoes, yet they still discuss heel-toe foot strike and how each shoe will respond to that style of running. That's where I became enraged, b/c for the average person reading the article, they are left with the impression that heel-toe running is the correct form. So people will go out and buy the latest and greatest minimal shoe believing it will encourage faster running times, only to discover that they may actually suffer from knee issues, IT issues and find that the shoes are uncomfortable, thus leaving them with the impression the shoes are nothing more than a fad, discarded to the back of the running shoe closet.

Here's what's unfortunate about that - ITS NOT THE SHOE. I'm not going to sit here and promote one shoe over another. What I am saying is that if you improve your form, suddenly you'll discover you need less shoe. Example - I am flat-footed and pronate. Anyone who is working at a specialty running shoe store would see me walk and immediately try to put me in a stability shoe. However, when I run, I'm on my toes, the correct form for running. Therefore, the need for a shoe with stability is negated, as is a shoe that has a lot of cushioning. What that leaves me with is a lightweight trainer/racer, something close to a flat, which I can get 300 plus miles out of.

My point - FORM is the key. I'm not talking about anything new here. Studies have popped up all over that stress the importance of correct running form, and they do correlate to a lighter shoe. (See Dr. Romanov and the POSE Method) The whole point of barefoot running is to get you on your toes. Don't believe me? Take this simple test. Go out to a field, preferably a football field or a flat grass field without many "land mines" pop off your shoes and socks and run. (Good idea to warm up a bit first) See how your feet react. My bet, you will unconsciously get up on your toes, just like a kid does. Make mental notes of everything you are experiencing while doing it. Try 5 or 6 - 30 sec strides on the grass to really get the feel. When you finish, write down everything you felt, good or bad, and then take that to your local running shoe store and see what they say.

And although I have Vibrams, I won't run in them. Yes, I've done Crossfit workouts in them, yes I have and continue to walk around in them to strengthen my feet, but I'm not a big proponent of barefoot running. I will say they help in getting your feet to regain the strength that they have lost due to over-built running shoes. And its my belief you will feel lighter on your feet and see less of a need for your standard heavy trainers. But for me personally, I'll take a lightweight flat over a barefoot simulated shoe any day. Its not to say shoes like Vibrams don't have merit, or won't work for you. But do your homework before simply diving into the latest rage.

Whatever your shoe preference, if you really want to become more efficient, and faster, while not experiencing pain or injury, work on your form first. Yes, a lighter shoe is going to help facilitate that. But if you are still heel striking, you aren't going to get the bang for your buck from any of the newer shoes hitting the market. Its not something that happens over-night and yes it takes time and patience. (I know, 2 things that athletes hearing) But its worth it. Trust me on this. Your legs and feet will thank you. Then you might find that your next pair of shoes will not only feel better, they'll perform better too.

Stay strong,

Guy

Me, Myself and my Appendix

2011-02-10T18:58:00.002-06:00

"So, it has to come out then?" - my comment to the surgeon after his 20 minute explanation as to why its critical to get your appendix out before it bursts

I really jinxed myself. The more I thought about it as I lay in the the hospital bed, getting prepped for surgery. How you might ask? Because not more than 2 days prior, I thought to myself, "man, I feel pretty good. I'm healthy and normally at this time of the year I get a bad cold or sinus infection. But I'm cruising along! I'm kick ass!" Not so much.

Now, the information that follows is not going to be for the weak stomachs. There will be a lot of TMI, but its important because I didn't know any of this, and I know there are people who read this blog (all 4 of you) who don't know this stuff and should become more aware. So there is my disclaimer for those who continue to read and start to feel ill.

This past Saturday, I woke up at 5 am to what I thought was a bad case of the flu. I felt queasy, but something was different. The pain felt more like a horrible side cramp or "stitch". I tried to relax and fall back to sleep, but the pain only got worse. I went to work at 9 am for a seminar, and the pain had started to localize, all in my lower right abdominal. I still thought it was the flu, and when I ran to the bathroom to vomit, I figured I was right. But the pain didn't subside it only worsened, and now walking started becoming an issue. I was excused from the seminar and decided that if this was the flu, its some weird strain that I haven't heard of, potentially lethal, so I drove to the local critical care clinic.

Ok, this where I will be giving some big TMI. The doctor examined me and when she touched my lower right abdomen, I almost went through the roof. Clearly this was not some Aztec flu or new strain of SARS; it was something much more sinister. So the doc ordered a CT scan as she feared it was an appendicitis. Now I don't know much about an appendicitis, but I know it requires surgery, and it needs to be done rather timely or you will find yourself in a bad way. So I was all set for the CT until I got this awesome piece of news - a CT scan for an appendicitis requires an anema. That's right, an enema. While you are getting the CT.

I've never had an anema, and I was pretty positive I didn't want one. But there was no other way, so I got off the bed and walked, with great reservation, to the CT room. As the guy who was giving me the enema prepped everything, he kept apologizing that this was the only way. All I kept thinking was "stop apologizing and find another way to take this f'ing CT!" Then the fun began as I was on my side, my right side, you know the one that was in pain, and violation number one started. As he was inserting the tube, my entire body just locked up involuntarily as if it was screaming NO to what was happening. And it was at that moment I heard a phrase that caused me to laugh - "Now you need to take a deep breath and relax". Right. No problem. You are only inserting a TUBE in my rear end while pumping dye into me. Its just like laying out at the beach, if that beach was at some POW camp where they torture you for information. After he finished and I was getting cleaned up, I couldn't imagine why people would voluntarily do this. I mean, eat more vegetables or fiber. The idea of colonics became absolutely ridiculous to me at that moment.

So, the scan showed what the doctor already knew, an appendicitis. The good news, it hadn't burst so surgery would be rather routine. Now this is important - if you wait too long when experiencing symptoms like this, your appendix will most likely burst. Imagine a small balloon that fills with poison inside your body. The balloon is only able to take so much air before it burst. When it does, it sprays all that poisonous waste throughout your body. It literally a matter of hours after that when you will simply fall down and die. I'm not kidding. Ignoring these symptoms and trying to "gut it out" can cost you your life. So its not a sign of weakness when you go to the hospital, its a sign of intelligence.

I drove to the hospital where they were waiting for me, and the surgery went off without a hitch. I'm extremely thankful for that. If you catch it in time, the surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning going through the belly button, and 2 small incisions, the size of a dime, are made. Honestly, the surgery didn't really cause me any pain, even though the nurses kept trying to push pain meds on me. What I really was, was hungry, really hungry. But all I was allowed were ice chips. For 10 hours. Overnight. In a hospital. If you have ever had surgery one of the big things to a quick exit is showing that your bowels are awake by urinating. And the more you go, the better you are. In my case, I had an added incentive - if I didn't go enough, I was getting a catheter. So I was all about going pee. And although it was agonizing every time I went, I got up and made a valiant effort.

At 5 am, feeling pretty confident that I had met the doctor's requirements for "evanurse came in with an ultrasound machine to determine how much fluid was in my abdomen. The number was 531 ml, apparently higher than what my doctor wanted. It was at that moment that I needed a catheter. Now I hadn't been given any food or fluid for over 12 hours, hadn't slept in 24 hours and the nurse figured this was the time to stick a tube up my penis. The only polite answer I could muster was, "Umm, I'd prefer not to? Barteleby the Scrivener? No? Not a big Melville fan I guess. Well, he's not an easy read". For those of you who don't watch "Archer" on FX, this joke is lost on you but it was designed to be sarcastic. Let's just say it didn't help my cause. So here she came with something that just seemed uncalled for. And again, the "Deep breath and relax" bullshit advice was given. Seriously. You can't tell a guy to relax when you are about to jam a tube in his penis. It just isn't going to happen. Its like saying "I'm going to jam a hot poker in your eye, and you will be awake to experience all of it. But just breathe deeply and relax, it will be fine."

As she started to insert the tube, I saw stars, then everything went white, and I let out a yelp. And then the bad news came - she didn't do it right. So she had to take it out and redo it. I actually prayed that I would pass out. I felt sick, violated, I mean, just not right on so many levels. I wasn't in pain until they put that in. But I still refused pain meds, b/c this was an easy fix - take out the catheter and I'll be fine. So I would ring the nurse every half hour to get a hold of the doctor and ask when it could come out. I think out of sheer frustration, the nurses made a major effort to get a hold of the doctor, because by 9 am, the catheter was out, and I felt fine. But that was the second violation I experienced in less than 24 hours and I was ready to.

My whole ordeal wasn't that bad in comparison to others who have had this. And I am recovering quickly, having rode on my computrainer today without issue. The "all you can do is walk for the next 3 weeks" didn't sit with me. But the memory of the catheter keeps me from over-doing it. Still, you know your body better than anyone and let this be a warning - don't be too brave or get too cute when it comes to your health. I am doing ok becuase I keep in good health. But it didn't negate the fact I needed the enema and the catheter. So let this be a lesson - LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Don't be a hard ass. You feel something wrong, go get it checked and do it fast. Otherwise, the catheter will be the least of your worries.

Stay strong,

Guy

Season Opener

2011-02-02T10:36:00.002-06:00

"Of course life in cycling is hard. But what you gonna do, complain?" - Former US Postal Team co-director, Dirk Demol

I use this quote mainly for my friends here in the midwest sitting in the middle of the 3rd worst snow storm, at least in Chicago history. Yet, like the hearty types we are, we find ways to survive and thrive.

On the athlete side, we definitely don't hibernate, quite the contrary. We heat up indoor health clubs with the Midwest Indoor Tri Series, which started this past Sunday and runs through the end of February. Its a great way for people who have never done a tri to ease into the sport from a familiar setting - thier health club, to pros who are looking to check winter fitness and win some money in the process.

So this past Sunday I and others jumped in at the Wheaton Sports Center to go head to head for the first time of the season. The field was quality, with guys like Ryan Guiliano and Michael Boehmer competing, and Brianna Boehmer and a strong Wisconsin contingent racing as well. For me, it was great to go head to head with guys I will see all season, helps build some comraderie, as well as give me a sense as to where I stack up against them. And thanks to a revamped training program, I am happy to say I was right there, neck and neck with Guiliano, unfortunately having to back off on the second half of the run, due to stomach cramps. I finished the race by crossing the finish line and running to the bathroom to vomit, realizing I still need to work on that hydration. But my legs were there, and that was evidence that CFE is working.

However CFE isn't the only thing that's been helping me as of late. Aside from improved nutrtion, particularly from Stronger, Faster, Healthier, I am following swim workouts from Robert Burgholzer who developed "Finding Freestyle", an innovative program that runs in perfect sync with the CFE approach. The accident left my right shoulder with a hitch in my stroke, and it would have posed a bigger issue if not for Finding Freestyle.

I met Robert thanks to my sponsorship with First Endurance, and this revolutionary training program has been a huge help in my swimming. Finding Freestyle utilizes a very no-nonsense approach to getting faster in the water. Robert recognized to swim faster, your technique has to be better. The idea of "muscling through" the swim portion of a tri is wasted energy and not necessary. 4 weeks into his program, and my hitch is gone, my kick is stronger than ever, and I feel much more aero in the water. And I still have 8 weeks to go!

For someone who follows a CFE regimen, extra yardage isn't something I look for. Finding Freestyle's work perfectly b/c there are no wasted drills, no wasted time in the water. The entire workout, you are moving, and improving. Yes, you have to be dedicated to working on the drills and following the workouts to the letter, but if you do, the results are there for you. I know its easy to get frustrated, especially in the water, b/c it does take work to get faster. But don't waste that time just doing repeats with poor form. You won't get faster, but you will get more frustrated. So check out www.findingfreestyle.com, it will definitely help you reach your swim goals. Stop beating your head against your kickboard, and check this out. And Robert is extremely helpful, he genuinely wants people to get faster, so shoot him an email with questions. You'll be glad you did.

Stay strong,

Guy

Completing the Article

2011-01-26T14:08:00.003-06:00

To say the last couple weeks have been kind of crazy is like saying the Alamo was "a little violent". Not all of it has been bad, in fact, there has been quite a bit of positive that has come out of everything, mainly the article in Triathlete Magazine. However, as some people have pointed out publically, and even privately, there are some things and people who were missed and for that, I am truly sorry. The focus of the article was Crossfit Endurance, and although that came across pretty clear, there is a disconnect as to how I recovered so quickly to be able to do Crossfit or any type of training. I intend to make that right today.

I didn't miraculously heal simply by going to Crossfit, and doing sport specific training. The simple fact is, I wouldn't have been able to even get to the door if it wasn't for the great team at Acclerated Rehab in Darien, IL. The clinic, owned and operated by Gina Pongetti, was where my rehab was put into place. Gina and her staff tailored a program that would be intense, but would get me healthier faster, as long as I put in the time. I told Gina what I was looking to do, just like I told my coach Jen, and my CF guys Nate and John. The work and time spent at Accelerated was critical because they made it possible for me to get in the gym, back on the bike, in the water and on the run. I didn't just wake up after surgery and start doing CF WOD's. And unfortunately, that was missed in the article.

This is of critical importance for a few reasons - 1. Some very special and important people were missed in the credit they so properly deserved - Gina, Mike, Jayme, Elisa and others from Accelerated, 2. Anyone who suffers a similar injury and believes you can just go back to training the day after surgery is way off, and need to understand that to even get to the point of utilizing any training program, intense physical therapy is needed. I wouldn't trust anyone else to work on me, even though my doctor had a competitor clinic within his office. Gina works with endurance athletes, at the highest level. Top pro triathletes like Peter Reed have gone to Gina and her experience as a triathlete and elite level gymnast has given her tremendous knowledge of the body, its limitations and how to get the most out of someone. In short, she gets it. And that is passed on to her team who carry that same work ethic and mentality. 3. I don't want people to get misconceptions as to how I got back to health. It was a process that started with surgery, then to rehab, with a very specialized program, and then I was able to start adding training. But Gina was as integral a part of my return to racing as Jen, or Nate, or John or Brian. Actually she and her team were the "gatekeepers" of my progress; I knew it was important to discuss my plan with them first before proceeding. The idea was to always be improving and healing quickly. Although I might have been motivated to do it, I didn't have the plan - Gina did.

Anyone, athlete, or not, is not alone in any journey like this. I had more help than was discussed in the article, and its important for those people to get the credit they deserve. Is my blog post enough to correct it? I don't know. But its what I can do, its what I needed to do, for all the reasons stated. Because without Gina and her team, there is no me and CFE. There is no me and racing in 2011. And that's a fact.

Stay strong,

Guy

It never ceases to amaze...

2011-01-20T21:44:00.002-06:00

I would love to say that I have a great quote to lead out this post. I wish I was writing this post in a better mood. I wanted to write about Finding Freestyle, a very innovative method of working on your swim technique that has been helping me ensure my swim stroke is more efficient; something very critical particularly after having my right clavicle broken. But the fact is, I can't do that, be that right now, and the reason why is simple - there are athletes who have read the Triathlete Magazine article and the on-line follow up and are absolutely positive that suggesting CFE as a training method is akin to suggesting making fast food your meal for morning, noon and night.

On top of that, you have people who (and I'd love to know where they find the time, b/c its clearly not used for training) spend time bashing Crossfit without ever walking into a Crossfit gym, yet postulating about the evils of Crossfit, and making ridiculous comments like this one: "Isn't it convenient that this guy is sponsored by Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance?" So, I felt the urge to be as polite as possible and clear the air about the article.

First, to the gentleman who suggested I am sponsored by Crossfit and CFE, let me assure you, and the owners of both training services will support this, I am not sponsored in any fashion by Crossfit or CFE. I approached my Crossfit gym by choice, and receive no monetary benefit from them. Same from CFE. I support them b/c they supported me. By "supporting me" I mean encouraging me to work hard, and put me through workouts, like anyone else that walked in the gym. Yes, initially, when I was in my sling, Nate and John did tailor some workouts for me, but I still paid to go to the gym. I was, and still am, like anyone else who walks in Crossfit DuPage, just one of the crew.

Secondly, I am a pro triathlete. I have a pro license to prove it. I was initially given my pro card in Duathlon, and I was granted a pro license by USAT in 2010. For those looking for my tri results for 2010 - I WAS HIT BY A CAR. Surgery was June 28, 2o1o. That should make it clear why I wasn't racing much. And to the gentleman who suggested that "I wasn't racing hard enough", (in my statements about CFE being harder than racing) here's some insight - if you start every race in a full tilt sprint, I'd love to know if you make it to the half way point of the bike. Pacing, last I checked, was a major part of the sport. CFE workouts are designed to be done at 90-100% effort all the time. That means that you are doing 5k run repeats at full tilt, so when you are racing, you know you can run harder off the bike, b/c you have trained harder.

As to the errors that have been brought to light in the article regarding Brittany's results from IM, TJ Murrphy, the author of the article, has openly apologized for the error and I am sure he will correct it in next month's issue. I understand how that can confuse readers, even frustrate them. But TJ didn't do it maliciously, and from the little I do know of him, he is a good man, a good reporter and is quick to set matters to right.

Now, for all who somehow got the idea from reading the article that Triathlete or Brian Mackenzie, or me, or Brittany believe that CFE is the "silver bullet" for multisport, nothing could be further from the truth. I have seen some of the responses by all these "experts" who are positive CF and CFE are evil, I can't help but wonder why this topic creates such polarization in a sport that constantly claims to be cutting edge. Its worse than politics. The point I thought I made in the article was - "I don't know if CF and CFE is for everyone, but if you are curious, then give it a legitimate shot. Do your homework by actually walking into a CF gym and taking a session. Everyone can search the Internet to support their opinion, but the real research comes from actually doing it. If you aren't curious, then why bash it? Are you personally hurt by someone else doing CF or CFE? No."

CFE and CF work for me. Let me repeat that, because it bears repeating. It works for me. In my training, I believe it will work for both long and short course racing. I believe this because I am going through the rigors of the training, and although it may seem like each workout is short in duration, that's not the case. Again, I know this because I am actually doing it. Will it work for everyone? No. Is it the "Silver Bullet"? No, and let me say this, the only "Silver Bullet" to be at your best in triathlon or any sport is to work your ass off. Same for life. If you want to be great at your job, in your relationship, then you have to work at it, constantly. I attribute any success I've had in life to one trait - I'll work harder than anyone else to get there. So if you are looking for a magic pill or "the next big thing" stop externalizing and look inside. Is the fire inside you to raise your game? I don't care what method of training you follow, if you aren't committed to it, you'll never get the results you want.

I know I am ranting here. I don't want to do that. The whole purpose of this blog was to be fun, informative and insightful. I love the sport very much, and truly believe in its ability to change people's lives for the better. I would like to think that as multisport athletes, we are more open-minded, more inclusive instead of exclusive, and more willing to give things a chance. If memory serves, I think that's how the Ironman got started, a leap of faith by a few brave souls trying something different. The "crazy" people in our communities, families, offices, who are open to new challenges, looking to gain more insight into our fitness and ultimately what we are made of as individuals. I hope that basic premise still holds true.

Stay strong,

Guy

Crossfit Endurance hits the Multisport world

2011-01-10T20:23:00.002-06:00

December 2010 - An email from Brian MacKenzie hits my inbox with a familiar name CC'd. Its TJ Murphy, editor of Competitor Magazine, and all the email from Bmack says is " Guy - talk". So, as is typical with emails from Bmack, I had to scan the entire exchange between him and TJ to find out what it was that I was supposed to be "talking" about. Much to my surprise, TJ was looking to talk to endurance athletes who had put Crossfit into thier training regimen. I exchanged a few emails with TJ, and we planned a call. What transpired since that phone call has been nothing less than exciting, encouraging and extremely promising. The end result, a 10 page article in February's edition of Triathlete Magazine, with excerpts from our interview, as well as Bmack at his best.

TJ and I spoke for a couple hours about Crossfit, how I implemented it into my training and how it accelerated my rehab from clavicle surgery, as well as my ability to improve fitness and strength while my shoulder was still healing. TJ and I shared some common ground - he was suffering from knee problems, and wanted to get back to running, but his knee was keeping him on the shelf. After we spoke, he was so pumped, he got in touch with Bmack, and met up with the West Coast crew. The rest, as they say, is history. For more info as to TJ's current journey, check out Bmack's blog - www.iamunscared.com, -"Project TJ Murphy". Long story short, TJ is dedicated to working with Bmack, KStarr, and Nuno Costa to get healthy, and strong, and most importantly, get back to competitive running.

For me, the article is great, and I am honored to have made it in the magazine. I know I owe Bmack for it, as well as John and Nate out of Crossfit DuPage, and my coach, Jenny Garrison. But the article is the icing, the real joy was knowing that my talk with TJ gave him hope that there is a better way to get healthy, and get back to what he loves. Yes, its a leap of faith, but so is any training regimen. The X factor will always be you. I believe in Crossfit, and Crossfit Endurance b/c it is the better way that I have been looking for. But its not mine to keep - the only way to truly help others see it, is to spread the word and show people, first hand how it works and why it works.

My hope is that the article makes Crossfit gyms across the US explode. And I know Bmack is getting slammed with calls, emails, etc, for coaching and advice. And please, keep it coming, b/c this revolutionary method of training needs to permeate the rigid multisport world. The same people who don't blink at dropping 5k on the "next best thing" bike, need to realize that to make that new whip purr, you better get those legs ready. So, before you invest in the new rims or ultra-cool wet suit, find a crossfit gym near you. Talk to the owners, and take a class. And be sure to leave that ego in the car, b/c it will be more humbling than any race you have done. Open your mind, before you open your wallet. Because I will bet that if you embrace Crossfit, you will realize that you might not need those super ultra light rims with the matching speed suit, and goggles.

Stay Strong,

Guyb

The 4 Hour Body and more

2010-12-30T14:37:00.002-06:00

Tim Ferriss is a madman. He admits as much in his new book "The 4 Hour Body". But after devouring the book like a well cooked prime cut rib eye, I realized, this guy is absolutely one hundred percent, nuts. And I think its awesome.

Now, I know all of about 4 people read this blog, and no one asked me to give an official review of the book, but for those who know me, ever since I got my hands on a copy, I haven't put it down. I use it as my reference guide for everything, particularly in the world of health and fitness. And, in typical Guy Petruzzelli fashion, I was skeptical about the book even before it came out.

I knew of its coming release about 2 weeks before it hit shelves. That was in large part due to Brian MacKenzie and his involvement in the book. Brian sent me the "trailer" to the book, (fyi - very cool if you haven't seen it - go to www.thefourhour body.com), and I was intrigued. It featured Brian and other high level athletes doing extraordinary things in small clips. But I'm not a big "self-help book" fan, in fact, I tried reading 2 of those "world renowned" self help books and couldn't make it half way through. To me, they are akin to people needing a life coach - if you think a book is going to help you deal with life, what happens when life throws you a curve? What if its not covered in "the book"? Do they have a hotline you can call? Anyway, you can sense my sarcasm, and it comes from deep inside, instilled when I was young. My outlook on life is best described by Dennis Miller in his most recent stand up HBO special -"Life is tough, wear a cup". So yes, I was skeptical that this might be a slightly cooler variation of a self-help book. I couldn't have been further off if I tried.

First off, the author, Tim Ferriss, is very upfront and honest about his methods, his research, everything. And he encourages readers not to take what he says as gospel. However, what he is saying is that there is a better way to achieve great health that is outside the norm of what has been preached to everyone who walks into a health club. And to get there, like anything that's worth doing, it takes a leap of faith. The book is not written as a challenge, actually in reading it I get the impression that here is a guy who spent over 10 years conducting experiments, researching, basically working his tail off, and simply wants to share his knowledge with the world. He just wants to pull back the curtain on all the tried and true weight loss, get quick fit bs. And he does so, very unapologetically. But he never demands his reader to do anything - you can take it and try it, or toss it aside. See, he knows what he's got, and what's in the book, but he isn't jamming it down anyone's throat. Because he doesn't benefit from you getting fitter or healthier. He simply lays it out and the rest is truly up to you.

Think about this for a second. Why have fad diets and fad workouts failed? Why do people constantly search for "the next best thing" when it comes to health, but never take the time to really look at what it is they are doing? Because its fleeting, there is no permancy to it, and it is all designed to be temporary. How often do you hear, particularly around this time of the year, " I really want to drop 10 lbs before that New Year's party, so I tried this pill, juice, fasting, - i.e. crap"? And let's say the person achieves the goal. On January 1, I would bet that person is well on the way to re-gaining that 10, and then some. Tim's info is designed for life. But the beauty part, if you fall off the wagon, he explains how to GET BACK ON. No hotline to call, no need to panic if you go on a 3 week bender of glutony, Tim has written the book fully expecting all this to happen. Because he was his best test subject. He knows we will fall at times, but there is a way back up.

So yes, Tim Ferriss is a madman. But he's also a genius. He walks that fine line between both worlds and lets the reader in on both. My introduction to Tim has come from the recent cast of characters that I am honored to call my friends - BMack, Kelly Starrett, Doug, Bryan Diaz, Nate Aye, and John Conquest. The last 4 months have been eye-opening for me, and absolutely fascinating. The book is only one part. The thirst for knowledge, and willingness to be my own lab rat has me more excited than ever. When last visiting with my parents, they noticed this shift - the former hypochondriac son, who fretted over everything was looking forward to learning how to hold his breath under water for 5 minutes. And the change is simple, I learned it from my grandmother - the minute you stop learning, you stop living. So kudos to Tim Ferriss and all who helped in the book. Go get yourself a copy and start living the way you want to. Leave the self-help stuff for the fireplace.

Stay Strong,

Guy

Not another fairytale ending

2010-12-20T22:54:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I headed south, to tackle a marathon and put a big punctuation mark on my comeback from surgery just a 5 short months ago. The training was good, the nutrition was solid, I was mentally in a good place. Having spent time with Nate and John out of Crossfit DuPage, following Jen's plan, with Bmack's guidance along the way, I was confident no matter the circumstances, I was getting to that "indestructible" form that every athlete seeks.

I knew the weather would be cooler, and that plays to my strengths, always having done well in the cold. Until Sunday, December 19, 2010. The "Run the Ranch" Marathon, in Springfield, MO, made me realize that I was still human and had a little more healing to do.

As the race started, it was about 40 degrees, with decent winds. Actually, it was a pretty decent day. And as the race began, I felt great, clicking along comfortably through the first of 8 loops, sitting pretty in 3rd place. My legs were fresh, and responding well. But as I came through the 4 mile marker, I noticed something wasn't right. My right shoulder felt stiff, stiffer than normal, and rather cold. I was in a singlet, figuring it was the smartest move clothing wise. But as the race went on, I realized it was a mistake. The cold, wind, and my sweat, began to freeze that metal plate and screws which sat just below my skin. Now, I have thick skin, but not thick enough to keep out the cold. By mile 6, I knew there was a serious problem. My shoulder was clicking, and locking up. Loop 2 had me grimacing and gritting teeth, reminded of a pain I hadn't felt in almost 5 full months.

Mentally, I figured I could muscle through it, keep moving the shoulder, warm it up, loosen it up, anything, but the wind howled, and by mile 9, my shoulder had shut down. I couldn't move it in any direction that wouldn't cause shooting pain through my shoulder to my neck. The human body being an amazing machine, was already in protect mode, the muscles around the right clavicle starting to tighten up around the clavicle now causing me to hunch to one side and run lop-sided. But I was not willing to give up, still running really well, sitting in 3rd. In a marathon. 30 seconds off the leader. But this time, it wasn't meant to be.

By the half-way mark, I was toast. The pain was blinding now, and I stopped to puke after a seriously hard wave of it hit me. I had to make a choice - risk doing some really serious damage that might require my doctor to go back in, or call it a day, get warm, and get home. I chose the smart path, I jogged to a stop, took off my chip, and immediately looked for the med tent to make sure I wasn't in too bad of shape. I was completely locked upright on my side, my right shoulder was aching. The doctor on site took a good look, explained the cold, mixed with the sweat and wind, was freezing the plate in my shoulder, which was now starting to cut into the bone. If I hadn't stopped, that plate would have come apart, screws and all, and caused me to go back under the knife. The hard part - I hit the half mark at 1:19, and my legs felt fine. I mean really fine.

Once in the car and headed home, I had a few seconds to email friends and family about what happened. As I sat in the passenger seat, talking to Jen, I was reassured I did the right thing. But the biggest nod I got that I did the right thing came from Brian McKenzie - in an email he simply said - "You did the right f'ing thing. Now take a day off and stop feeling sorry for yourself". This coming from the toughest guy I know, a truly indestructible machine. Those words coming from him let me reflect on what I did, and it was clear - although I have healed faster than anyone thought, although I was able to get more fit while recovering, it didn't mean I was indestructible. But its not an excuse either. This plate in my shoulder isn't going to stop me from still getting fitter, faster, stronger. It just means I need to be smarter. It doesn't mean I am going to baby the shoulder now, just be cognizant in certain situations that its there. My doc agreed when I saw him today. He said without question, if I kept running, he would be cutting me back open. So I know I made the right call.

About a month ago when I told my Dad that I was declared fully healed by my doctor, he reminded me even Superman had his kryptonite. He was right about one part - I might have kyrptonite, but now that I know it, I can work on how to overcome it, to not let it slow me down. As a test, I ran 6 miles today. I bundled up correctly, and went outdoors. I felt fine. Yeah the shoulder is still sore, but its tolerable. And there is my hope, smart with toughness gets you farther.

The 2011 season starts January 30. That's a little over 5 weeks. And in a few days, my shoulder will be back to normal, my body well rested and ready to train. And I will be chomping at the bit to get after it. Life is going to do this to you - knock you in the ass when you least expect it, when you feel at your strongest, and b/c you aren't paying attention, you are also at your most vulnerable. So I got knocked in the dirt. That's ok, that's not bad. That's the opening to get up, dust off, and come back swinging. Once you realize life is full of set backs, you are more prepared to deal with them calmly, and efficiently, manuevering through them, and getting back to high ground. This all comes down to faith - faith in your coach, faith in your support group and most importantly, faith in yourself. To become truly indestructible, you need that faith in yourself, to be able to shake off the nay-sayers and do what you know is right for you. To be humble, to be proud, to be strong, open to change, open to learning more about yourself and let go of your fears. To me, this is an exciting time, time to take a leap of faith, in me. I wish all of you the same.

Happy holidays,

Guy

Quick word about shoes

2010-11-29T14:39:00.002-06:00

Hey all, I just read B-Mack's post on www.iamunscared.com regarding shoes. No, not dress shoes, or fashion shoes, I'm talking running shoes, and lifting shoes. And for those of you out there (mulitsport people) who love to buy the latest and greatest without finding out if its the best fit, take a look at this post. It gives a very unapologetic view of shoes, myths of running shoes, and the latest myths of running barefoot. And as someone who owns a pair of Vibrams, I even had to chuckle and re-think why I wear them.

I don't want to steal any of Brian's thunder, but just to add a couple quick things from my personal perspective - its my belief that running shoes have become over-built, over-correct, and make our feet weaker, instead of stronger. Unless someone has serious feet issues, and I'm talking something that's got a foot deformity, or has some type of other ailment that prevents them from running in a neutral shoe, people should be wearing neutral running shoes, and working on thier running gait. That means GET YOUR HEEL OFF THE GROUND. I was stunned a couple days ago when I ran into a former USC track athlete told me she was always told to HEEL STRIKE, not run on the balls of her feet. She was adamant about it, telling me I was wrong, that its heel first. Now it could have been 1 of 2 things - 1. She never ran track at the collegiate level period, or 2. She had a horrible coach. You make your own opinion.

I don't want to go off on a rant about shoes, b/c I know there are a million opinions out there about shoes, but give Brian's blog a look. Its pretty insightful. And do yourself another favor - get on www.mobilitywod.com, and watch Kelly Starett explain why you need to "unglue your sticks".

Stay strong,

Guy

Marathon training - living a life less ordinary

2010-11-21T12:47:00.003-06:00

"Make him cry" -Trainer Freddy Roach to his fighter, Manny Pacqiao during an episode of "24/7 - Pacqiao v. Margarito"

People find inspiration in a number of different places, in a variety of ways. And I've learned that its not fair to knock someone for what that inspiration might be. If it works, good for them. In the last 5 weeks I was looking for some inspiration myself, having called it a season for multisport and preparing for a marathon. And its probably not one you've ever heard of. The "Run the Ranch" marathon set for December 19, 2010, in Springfield, MO, falls one week prior to the biggest American holiday, and is not set someplace that gaurantees great weather. Plus, its an 8 loop course. Yes you read that right, 8 loops. I'm seriously considering listening to the people who keep telling me to get my head examined.

Let me go on record right now - I don't like the marathon. Which is why I don't care if its held in Vegas or London or Italy or Figi. Every marathon I've run hurts like hell, takes too long to recover from, and is BORING. I know by saying this I'm violating every multisport rule about discussing distance racing. But its true. Without the swim and the bike, the marathon isn't exciting to me. Although this time, its shaping up to be different. A couple of reasons - first, using Crossfit Endurance principles to train for it have made me feel more confident going in, and second, watching Manny Pacqiao made me realize I need to shut up and keep training.

Let me explain the CFE stuff first. The reason I'm actually enjoying this marathon training is due to the plan I'm using. My coach, Jenny Garrison is of the opinion that B-Mack and company at CFE are- you race the way you train. If you go out and run 4 20 milers before the marathon at 8:30 pace, what pace do you think you'll run your marathon at? Its not going to be 6:30 that's for sure. So, the actual mileage I run a week may be less than what you'd expect, but there is no fluff. No garbage miles. Not even on a long run. Trust me, my legs are still churning out lots of miles, but compared to the last marathon I trained for 4 years ago, its at least 1/3 less. But I'm 10 times stornger physically, cardiovascularly and mentally. Why? B/c I'm not just running to run. If I run 18 miles, its all broken down, and its not about going easy. Its about living in the zone of discomfort and making peace with it, on all levels. but when you do that, your LT goes up, your AT goes up, and your muscular development is magnified. For more insight, check out Jessi Stensland's "Cardio System Development" for more insight and detail. Then hop over to www.crossfitendurance.com and email Brian about why this stuff works.

Now how does this relate to Manny Pacqiao? Well, watching the "24/7" and the actual fight, which was epic, this diminutive fighter has just won 8 titles in 8 different weight classes, most recently at 154 lbs. And this is a guy who normally walks around at 130-135. His last 8 fights have been against bigger guys. Margarito was at least 4.5 inches taller and on fight night, 17 lbs heavier than Manny. And Manny wrecked him. For those of you who didn't see it, he broke Margarito's left orbital bone and nearly broke his right to match. And this was by punching upwards for the first 6 rds, a style that normally robs fighters of power. As I watched the fight a couple things became crystal clear - 1. This is the greatest fighter of my generation, (although some will argue Roy Jones in his prime) and 2. This is someone who is not afraid to be uncomfortable. That's really what fighting bigger opponents comes down to, you are going to be in a position where you are leaving your comfort zone of equally sized fighters and tackling the task of being in a position where life can be less than great. So for the last 4 years, Manny has actually turned training and fighting outside his comfort zone into familiarity.

The same can be said for how we train in our sport. Its why I embrace CFE and am interested to see how its going to play out on race day. Is every workout super intense and crazy? No, but its not a picnic either. Which is fine- if I want to run a quality marathon then I have to be willing to train hard and smart for it. The same goes for anyone else. Of course, this doesn't mean I'm going to love the marathon. But what the hell else am I going to do in December?

Don't tell my mother about the last line. She already doesn't like the fact that I don't like Christmas. And for those who know my mother or have an Italian mother, you know the guilt trip for not liking holidays usually starts 2 months before the actual holiday. She doesn't need more ammo.

Stay Strong,

Guy

October 2010

2010-11-01T23:40:00.002-05:00

UNSCARED - The art of dealing with fear, living outside your comfort zone

I'm sitting here, on the first of November, and reflecting on the last 4 weeks. And the word that is above has pretty much summed up the way I see the last month. Where does the word come from? Is it something you are going to find in Webster's dictionary? Well, 1. You will find it on www.iamunscared.com, and 2. No, its not in Webster's, at least not yet.

Since I was cleared to race on October 1, my schedule and mind shifted from getting healthy to getting back to racing and getting my career off the ground the right way. A lot to ask, but thanks to some very special people, I was able to do that and more. Step 1, getting back to a race. And the timing was good, the weather was decent, and it was a Saturday, October 9, the day of my sister's wedding anniversary. So off to Charleston, IL and the Dueces Wild Duathlon. I didn't know what to expect, but the day before the race, I got an inspiring email. It was from Brian MacKenzie, the founder of Crossfit Endurance, and a very good friend. The email simply said - "The race is going to be great, b/c its going to be great. Its the only way it can go." With those words in mind, I lined up for my first race in 3 and a half months. I was nervous and excited. But once the gun went off, a sense of clarity came over me that I haven't experienced in years. That clarity came from the confidence of my training, and the constant support of friends. And before I knew it, I was running down 4th and 3rd place, finishing 2nd overall with the fastest run splits. It was the best second place finish I ever had. And the wave of emotions I felt after was amazing.

The real test though was could I recover in time to race hard again. So 2 weeks later I headed to central Illinois again to see what was in the tank. And once again, even in gale force winds, pushing me and the field all over the country roads I held on tight and did something I haven't done since college, ran someone down. The leader, a TT specialist, had put 5 minutes into me on the bike, and with a hilly 10k left, I knew that I had a lot of work to do. But I put my head down and just ran my ass off. I ran blind, pushing past pain and wind trying to catch the leader. Even though I came up short, I had put 4:40 into the leader, and gave him a hell of a scare. 2 2nd overalls in 2 weeks. Only 4 weeks of being able to go aero on the bike. Only 4 months removed from major surgery.

The question everyone asked was, what changed? What happened since early August? 3 people - Brian, Nate and John. The introduction of Crossfit Endurance, the benefits of Crossfit DuPage, all helped me recognize that there is much more inside me than ever before. These 3 guys, who haven't known me for more than a few months, have been there, every step of the way, encouraging me and showing me, that to truly live, is to be UNSCARED. These men are all ex-special forces, and have seen things that Americans don't want to know but should be thankful that the these men and thier troops have handled. And its given them the confidence to move forward and want to share thier knowledge with others. Its a complete 180 from what traditional triathlon training has shown us. These guys want to help others, they want to show people that old school methods don't work anymore. They have a new and exciting way to get fitter and faster. But the best part, without even realizing it, you are gaining confidence along the way. I admit, I was lacking a lot of confidence before the accident, but after I started to work with these 3, I started to notice things, small things. More focus, more clarity in workouts, more drive, faster recovery, more strength and speed, all promoting confidence.

I know there are some skeptics out there reading this, saying Crossfit is dangerous or unproven. And to that I say, good. Don't try it. B/c for those of us who are using it, its a leg up. And I have to thank the 3 of them, especially Brian, for promoting me, giving me words of encouragement, and featuring me on www.iamunscared.com, I am truly honored and humbled.

What I realized this month was that this wasn't about me, it was about all those who helped me. Brian, Nate, John, Jenny and Gina Pongetti. They are my heroes, b/c their selfless acts got me here and are excited about the journey ahead. B/c the journey doesn't end here, it continues, changes form, and evolves, as we do as athletes and people. B/c of these individuals, I live every day UNSCARED. I challenge all of you to do the same.

Stay strong,

Guy

Can't keep a good man down

2010-09-21T09:27:00.002-05:00

The only way I know how to start this blog, is by diving right into the subject - my rehab and progress.

Yesterday, I saw my surgeon, Dr. Chudick, marking the 10 week date since surgery. He and I both knew what was on my mind, especially after he saw me walk in, very determined, very anxious to get answers. Immediately, I was taken into the X-Ray room, took some pictures, and headed back to the room waiting for the verdict.

Dr. Chudick came in, looking serious as always, and pulled up the xrays. There it was in black and white (literally) significant bone growth, almost 90% back to normal. He was stunned. So stunned, he counted the weeks back since surgery, then, looked at the xrays again, then looked at me and smiled. He extended his hand, expressing pretty genuine surprise that I recovered this much, this fast. And with that, he cleared me to race duathlons, cycling road races, and running road races. I can't swim yet, but, that's looking more likely by our next meeting.

What does all this mean? Well, in hard numbers, I took a severe, season-ending, and quite possibly career ending surgery, looked it right in the eye, and took it on, without a doubt I would come back stronger than ever. I took a 20-24 week projected recovery plan, which is agressive even for elite athletes, and got cleared to race, not just train, but race in 10 weeks. Most athletes don't even consider training hard until 24 weeks. But I not only was able to train, but grow bone simultaneously, and get stronger every day, not weaker.

The question he asked was "how". This is my chance to be truly honest as to how I got this far. I wrote down every time someone would tell me to "slow down", "consider hanging it up", "maybe time to give up on my dreams", "that I would never be an elite athlete again", thier names, and saved it all on slips of paper. When these types of comments were made, I would nod silently, and inside, I was saying "no way do I believe you". I followed my doctor's orders. I stayed consistent, and remain consistent with phyiscal therapy. I researched more homeopathic ways of healing, I iced my shoulder and still do, and I did research on the anatomy and more importantly, the genetics of my family. For the last part, I went to the best source I could think of, my grandmother, who at 98, had to know something about our genes.

I kept active, walking, then when I was allowed by my doc, rode indoors. Then got on the elliptical machine. And I always kept those small pieces of paper close by, a reminder of what people thought I couldn't do. Then when I was cleared to run, I started running. But the one thing I did that helped me the most, I never lost faith in myself and my ability to recover, and overcome. When I sat down with Nate Aye and John Conquest out of Crossfit DuPage, I trusted they knew what I needed to get stronger. When I would see my physical therapists at Accelerated Rehab, I trusted they were pushing me in the right direction. And through it all, I never allowed myself to get down. No matter the time it took, the difficulty in doing the simplest of tasks, I never lost faith. And still, I kept those sheets of paper.

On a couple occasions, a close friend would ask how those negative words were helpful. Well, here's your answer- they were fuel for me to get back and better than ever. It wasn't so much about proving people wrong, it was about reminding myself, I have been through tough times before and rebounded, so this was just another bump in the road, another hurdle to jump. And along this journey, I've met some incredible people who I know I will be friends with for a long time.

I'm not 100% recovered, and frankly, its will always by my doctor's call as to when I get to take the next step in training and racing, but my season isn't lost. I can race next month, and although my mulitsport options are limited, there are winter marathons on the horizon, and maybe some 12-24 hour cycling races. What I have learned through all this is, as long as you don't lose faith in yourself, as long as you don't become your biggest obstacle, than no matter what anyone says, you will achieve your goals. If you let negativity in, then it will prevent you from achieving things. If you allow others to sway your opinion, you'll never find your true self, your true goals and identity.

For those who have stood by me during all this, all my thank you's aren't enough. I have learned that I have been blessed with some true friends, and discovered the ones that weren't really friends at all. My biggest hope is that others will read this, and recognize they can do anything, you can do anything, as long as you keep believing. Hard work isn't enough, faith needs to be present to do it right.

Stay strong,

Guy

Never stop growing

2010-08-17T21:21:00.002-05:00

"Pain is the penalty for violating the laws of Nature" - Sun-Tzu

This was one of the first things that Brain McKenzie from CrossFit Endurance said to us, as we sat in the Atlas Crossfit gym in Chicago this past weekend. Since my last post, people have asked, "how's the shoulder? How are you filling your time?" Well, aside from working my ass off in physical therapy, I have been reading, recognizing the need to become a real student of my body to get healthy, stay healthy, and get stronger and faster. And that journey has taken me to places that I would not have imagined. I've had the honor of working with Nate Aye and John Conquest out of Crossfit DuPage, and because of them, got to meet a truly stand up group of guys, all dedicated to doing one thing - making endurance athletes faster, fitter and stronger.

So, last Thursday, I shot an email to Brain at Crossfit Endurance, just to get some info on what they do. He was very direct, he invited me to come to the Crossfit Endurance Certfication class this past weekend, and made it clear it was the best way to see it all. With a personal invite and his graciousness, I took him up on his offer, and had my eyes opened to an entirely new way of thinking. Brain and his crew - Bryan Diaz, the head strength and conditioning coach for CFE, plus Ted Lin, a sports doctor and POSE running method instructor, spent 2 days of taking the typical training of a multisport athlete and turning it on its head. Actually, it was more like they chucked it off a Chicago high rise and laughed while watching it fall.

And the message wasn't just - "Run more efficiently", it was - how to run more efficiently, swim and bike the same. And do the one thing endurance athletes don't have a good grasp on - STRENGTH TRAINING. I was part of that group. I know my body, I lift weights, I bulk up. So, without analyzing why, I just stopped, and stuck to core work. Then I met Nate and John, and my mindset changed, but getting hit by a car has made it difficult to see the benefits of their work. However, Brain took it a step further, and reminded me of what my track coach from many moons ago used to have us do - strength train.

It would be a serious disservice to Brian, Nate, John, and anyone else who develops Crossfit workouts for me to even attempt to describe it here. My point of this blog is to remind those out there who are banging thier head against the wall, wondering why they aren't getting faster or stronger, to stop, and assess what you are doing. Read books, not just blogs. Think outside the box of multisport. We invest so much of our money and time, isn't it worth an extra hour a week to review your training and talk it out with your coach or other experts? I'm more excited than ever to race again, b/c I will have the confidence knowing I have been able to get fitter using different methods, revamped my diet, and got rid of the excess baggage in my life. And lets face it, we all have some baggage that we could use disposing. But bottom line, if you stop learning, and I mean in general and about yourself, that's when you will feel your age. I was with my very lively, and very intelligent grandmother to celebrate her 98th birthday. Andher words to me a couple of weeks ago were simple - "honey, I have never felt my age, because I refuse to let my mind get stale." Now she's 98. I knew at that moment, I no longer had any excuse to not keep growing, as an athlete and as a man.

For more info on Brian - check out www.crossfitendurance.com They are out of California, but don't hold that against them.

Stay strong,

Guy

Recovery

2010-07-08T16:53:00.002-05:00

Me, in the recovery room after surgery last monday - "So, doctor, this is a rather extensive list of things I "can't" do. Where is the list of the things I "can" do?"

Doctor - "Walk"

Me, muttering to myself, "Wow, there's a good chance I might actually commit a hate crime soon."

So yes, surgery took place last Monday, June 28, and it was doozy, from what I was told. I've got some nice hardware in me, and will probably be staring down the barrel of a sweet scar once the incision point is healed. And while I am healing and going through physical therapy, to keep some semblance of aerobic fitness, I am allowed to do the one thing endurance athletes despise - walk.

Don't be fooled by the Michelob Ultra commercials, depicting these weekend warriors who love to run up stairs in heels instead of taking the elevator, smiling and happy. This is a complete lie. The one thing I, and several of my peers hate is walking. And walking stairs is considered a form of torture. Read "Lance Armstrong's War" for a more in-depth understanding as to the real agony of walking and walking stairs. I mean I will literally try to find ways to avoid walking at all costs. Escalators, elevators, chair lifts, hell even one of those scooters you see people at the mall in, I'm all for it. I've seriously considered knocking an elderly person out of one of those things so I could use it to get around.

And why? Its not out of laziness, let me assure you that. You are talking about people who would rather run 75-80 miles a week, ride 300 miles a week and swim close to 12 miles a week, than walk to the mailbox. Laziness doesn't even factor in. We don't like it b/c it hurts. It hurts to walk after a workout or just to go for a stroll. I don't know all the physiological reasons why, but it does. And I think mentally we know, there is a faster way - run or bike to your destination. So, I am left with walking, bad tv, and the LeBron saga. If it wasn't for the Tour, I'm not sure I'd be staying this sane.

So, I've been walking. And it isn't any cooler if you walk on a trail or the street. Trust me. I don't care if you have the greatest playlist in the world cranking, you are still walking, and it still sucks. But today, while I was walking, I realized something. At least I can walk to stay fit. As banged up as I am, I still have the ability to walk, to move my legs, to get fresh air. And with that thought, my feet felt a bit lighter, and my mood brightened.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I have now fallen in love with walking, but I am grateful I still can. But the minute someone tells me I should walk stairs, I can not be held liable for my actions. The phrase alone raises violent feelings inside me. See you at the elevator.

Stay strong,

Guy

Down but not out

2010-06-23T21:57:00.002-05:00

Hello all,

Well, I have been racing and preparing for what looked to be my best and most successful season ever, but everything changed last Friday evening. Arouynd 7:30 pm, while on a light training ride, I was hit by a car. I sustained a broken right clavicle, 2 broken right ribs, 3 stitches and a completely trashed bike. I was fortunate that the ambulance response time was very fast, and want to thank all the staff at Hinsdale Hospital's ER for taking great care of me. I'll most likely need surgery and am looking at 12 weeks minimum to recover. So, its one day at a time for me right now, but I am blessed to have great family and friends who are helping me, not to mention a great team at lululemon oakbrook where I work, and truly caring sponsors.

In the meantime, look for me cheering on friends or working sponsors booths at races. I love the sport and everything it has given me. Life is full of setbacks, and this one could have been worse. A huge thank you to Rudy Project, my Actyum helmet saved my life.

Please be careful out there. And make sure you wear your helmet.

Stay strong,

Guy

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

2010-05-24T23:16:00.002-05:00

"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Basketball Coach, Jim Valvano

So last weekend, May 16-18, I decided to pack up and head north, to Gaylord, MI, to experience back to back days of racing in a beautiful backdrop of Northern Michigan. And I do mean North. A good percentage of the field racing had come down from Canada, less than 2 hours from the race site. And I was not disappointed.

Friday night started out with a cold, windy and hilly 5K open run. The cold actually felt good, and as finished my warm up, I had that sensation it could be a good day. A time trial start added to the excitement, always having someone to chase. I went out hard, not too hard, not wanting to burn matches, with 2 more days of racing ahead. But as I hit the turnaround, I saw a time on my watch that I hadn't seen in while - 7:30. So I did something that just felt right, I accelerated. And as I crossed, I saw the time - 15:32. The run was confirmed with the overall win, and it felt damn good.

Saturday was the very hilly, very windy and very cool evening 40K TT, with a rather impolite 600 meter climb to the finish labeled by the RD as "little alp de huez" a mean 18-25 percent climb that had all of us twisting and turning our bodies to the finish. As I hit the halfway point, I felt good, and was happy to have great road surface for the unforgiving climbs. They came fast and thick, and hurt. But it was a good hurt, the kind you wait to feel, the kind that you learn you can endure with training hard, learning that your comfort zone needs to be pushed out always, constantly improving your fitness, and helping you realize you are stronger than you are. Winning that was special, and I knew that Sunday was going to be tough, with the ride on the same course, and the run even harder.

Sunday came with warmer temps, less wind and a twist on the two 5K runs - soft sand, on the hills. Actually, soft sand on 2/3's of the run course. As we took off and hit the first hill, getting a decent grip on the surface was tough, and patience was necessary to not blow up. Once the lead group of us crested the hill, we were faced with an uneven trail of sand and grass. Coming back to T1 wasn't much more forgiving. But I hit T1 in 3rd, 20 seconds off of first and felt good. Until 10K on the bike. I tried to get away from a chasing group, and redlined. It allowed the group to get past, and again I was relegated to chasing on an unrelenting course. I hit T2 calm, and determined to make up ground. Which is exactly what I did. I felt the burn in my quads as I climbed the sand hill again, this time made worse with everyone having tread through it once. Again I was patient, and reeled in 3 guys, but it wasn't enough. I crossed 5th, but took consolation in being the first American.

In the week following the events I realized that I my comfort zone hadn't been pushed out far enough. I wasn't pushing myself enough in workouts when it called for it. But quitting at getting a win became out of the question - b/c once you give up on improving yourself, once you stop believing you can get better, you have given up on yourself. And if I have learned anything with my training and racing this season - I refuse to quit. I refuse to give up. I realized that its time to make peace with getting "uncomfortable" again, that to get to the top, you have to fight, everyday, and never lose that burning desire to not simply win, but to become fitter, healthier in every area of life.

Stay strong,

Guy

Wind in Chicago? You're kidding!

2010-05-12T16:56:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, I can't help but laugh at athletes in this area, myself included. We wait ever so impatiently for decent weather and when it finally does, we nit-pick it to death. Best example, complaints about the wind.

I don't know if everyone develops amnesia and forgets where we live, but, warm weather in the spring usually is combined with the endearing, and often strong, wind. "The Windy City" wasn't meant as a joke. And in the "plains" areas of Plainfield, Oswego, Yorkville, or other similar topographical areas, the wind is unrelenting because there is nothing to block it. But it happens every year. I mean every year. I've lived in Chicago for the better part of 37 years and I don't remember not having wind. And on some of the warmest days we've had this spring, some strong winds have accompanied it. But the tempurature is so nice, who cares? Well, elite athletes are a good place to start.

A couple weeks ago, it was 75 degrees. In April. In Chicago. And, there were strong winds. On a normally packed Wednesday night group ride, several people opted out, because of the wind. Now, it was strong, and with very fit athletes, the fear of tipping over is there, but, it was more of an issue of riding into the wind. So, they rode thier trainers. With sunshine and 75 degree temps well into the evening. The mind reels at this.

Look, I'm not saying I love the wind, but here's my take - last I checked, a lot of us consider Barrington to be "hilly". The climbs of Barrington aren't even blips on truly hilly places, like the Rockies. So, I embrace the wind to develop my strength on the bike and run. Since we don't have big climbs, the wind can provide some great opportunities to do intervals, learn about what gearing works best, or when running, how to get up on your toes. I say, make the wind your friend, and you'll always have a great training partner. One who will prepare for the inevitablity of a windy race. Don't look at it as hinderance, rather make your peace with it, and work on your weaknesses. You'll be stronger because of it. I know I am.

I actually smile when I get to a race and see the wind blowing stuff around. I know I'm always ready. Start thinking that same way, and you will be too.

Stay strong,

Guy

Wasp Stings, ER visits, Lake flies, and some racing

2010-05-02T18:13:00.002-05:00

"Dude, seriously, what are you doing, oooooooooohhh, that is freaky!!!" - Some kid filling his tires at the gas station where I got stung by a wasp

I know its been a while since I last posted, but let me say, its been an interesting 5 weeks. Powerman left me with a strong desire to have a good race and more importantly, to ratchet up my fitness and race acumen. So, once I got home from Alabama, I got right back at it, training hard, and feeling good.

So I decided to head back to Toledo to do an F1 style DU and was feeling good. So good, I stopped at the gas station the week of the race to vacuum out my truck. No sooner did I drop in the last quarter then I felt something in my shirt. Thanks to Mother Nature bringing Spring early, the bugs were out in force. And it just so happened the insect that got in my shirt, was a wasp. Before I could brush it out. I got stung not once, but 3 times by that little bastard. For most people, this is an annoyance. But for someone who is highly, and I do mean highly allergic, it can be a death sentence. So, as best I could, I calmly went to my truck tool kit, took at my Epi-pen, and hiked up my right pant leg. At this time, a young kid was filling his tires with air, watching me do this, and started to freak out. Thus the above quote. Here's the best part about being allergic to bees, wasps, etc. You have like, 45 minutes to get to an ER, if you stab yourself with an Epi-pen, otherwise, your throat begins to close, your tongue swell, and you choke to death. If you get stung multiple times, it cuts that 45 minutes in half. But, all the while as you are preparing to stick a giant needle in your body, you have to remain calm and focused, otherwise, it speeds to poison to your heart. Its really awesome.

So after stabbing myself, I had to then calculate how long it would take me to get from 75th and Lemont Road to essentially 35th and Lemont road where Good Sams Hospital is. While trying to not freak out, or notice that I was having difficulty breathing and seeing straight. Miraculously I made it, and thanks to an ER doctor who saw me the minute I walked in, I got a room immediately where I was treated. Treatment at the level of allergic reaction that I have, required 2 bags of saline, mixed with benedryll, Pepcid and a steroid. Not to mention, 2 rounds of a breathing treatment, which is essentially pure oxygen that you breathe through a mask for 15 minute intervals. According to the doctor, I had less than 5 minutes before I would have died. But in true Type A personality form, my first question was, "Do you think I'll be ok to race this weekend?" I'm not positive but I think he shook his head in disbelief, looked over at my friend Sheila who was kind enough to come help me out, and muttered something about me being slightly off kilter.

Still, 4 days later, there I was, toeing the line at the Dooby DU. in Toledo. And it was 34 degrees. Sweet. The thin gloves I had on did not help as I tried to get on my helmet in T1. Although I was 3rd in, 10 seconds off the leader, I took 2:12 in T1, essentially giving away the race. I spent the rest of the morning chasing down the top 4 guys, and although I made it close, my normally quick transitions were hampered by being ill prepared. Running 5:20's is great, but not when you are taking 1:30 in transition to get back on the bike. But the race left me feeling strong, recognizing I recovered from the stings, and my fitness was definitely on the rise.

So today, I was up in Wisconsin racing the Paper Discovery Duathlon. I had heard good things, knew it was competitive, and had a field of over 800 athletes. One problem, not USAT sanctioned. I know I have my issues with USAT, but having an official on a rather flat course would have helped. I went off in the elite wave, and for the first 2 mile run, knew I had to stay close to the front to make sure I was in the fight the whole time, giving myself a chance to run down anyone in front of me. At the half mile mark, I was in the lead group, and we hit the first mile at 5:15. But I didn't warm up enough and went out too hard, making me have to back off a bit to avoid burning matches. Got to T1, in 11 minutes, and felt ok, a little tight in my hip flexors. Still, got out into the headwind at 24 mph and was feeling good. Up the road though, I watched as 10 guys formed a team time trial, each taking pulls, and working really well together to get away. I was stunned. It was the most blatant use of cheating I have ever seen. I sat back, refusing to draft, and again, basically giving up the race. I rode the 20 mile course hard, considering the heavy head and cross winds, and plentiful lake flies (which I am still finding in my race bag) and as I entered T2, I saw the lead pack running together, some guys barely hanging on, and others just flat out falling off. I knew I only had 2 miles of running to do something, so, I got off my bike and decided to go all in, and run redline. By mile 1, I caught 3 of them, and as I got closer to the finish I was able to out-kick 3 more. But it wasn't enough. There I was 4th place, and visibly pissed off. As I write this now, I'm still pissed off.

I know it wasn't a USAT race, I know money wasn't on the line, but its the simple fact that I thought that if you are an elite, that you would race with integrity. I'm not condoning drafting among age groupers, but if we pros are to be the standard, shouldn't we set the best example possible? If someone knew to the sport sees a pro draft, what's the first thing they'll think? "Hey if so and so is doing it, why can't I?" I know this sounds like sour grapes, but I know one thing, I may not have been top wrung on the podium today, but I had the clearest conscience of the top guys. And that is the kind of motivation that is going to keep me going all season. And fitness is still improving, considering especially I ran and rode the way I did without any speedwork. I really can't wait to race again. I just hope that the people I am racing against will have a much deeper respect for the sport and themselves.

Stay strong,

Guy

Big wake up call

2010-03-30T11:52:00.002-05:00

I'm going to keep this one short. Yes, I raced Powerman Alabama and got my ass handed to me. There is no other way to say it. I was fit, in better shape than ever, and the heat and hills kicked my ass. I finished, and there were soome DNF's in the pro field, but the second run, I couldn't keep fluids down by mile 3, and I was stopping every 500-600 meters to throw up. It got ugly. So my second run was embarrassing.

I rode hard, but not hard enough, as my 2 minute stagger penalty left me riding solo, unable to have someone to chase. No it was not the perfect race. It was brutal and hard and it was exactly what I needed to know where I needed to spend my efforts for training. I was purposely conservative the first run, b/c it was super hilly, and maybe I should have gone a bit harder. But I'm not using the excuse of climate changes, I'm not blaming anyone for my hydration issues, I'm owning this. But its exactly the kind of kick I need to get back up and come at it even harder. And that's exaclty what I intend to do.

We all fall down, we all have bad races. I had mine. I'm not going to say I'm ok with it, b/c I'm not done with the season, I'm not done training and racing. Far from it. I'm only planning to get stronger, and faster.

Hats off to everyone who raced, especially the Chicago contingent, and Jenny Garrison, who did great, and said afterwards "I'd rather give birth again than do this race." But she did awesome.

Stay strong,

Guy

Living life outside the comfort zone

2010-03-17T23:13:00.002-05:00

"Adversity is an opportunity for heroism". - Former Bills headcoach, Marv Levy

The last couple weeks have been eye openers for me. With the better weather, its provided the opportunity to get outside more, specifically to ride, and push the limits, realizing the importance of living outside the comfort zone.

What does that mean? Well, in purely athletic terms, if you half-ass a work out, you get half-ass results. Its not complicated, there are no tricks or special things you need to do; bottom line, you got to put in the work. And its easy to get in that routine. Trust me, I know. Last year, I thought, "hey, I work hard, I feel like I'm improving, so I'm on point to do well at any race, any distance." And then I promptly went to my first big pro race and got my ass handed to me. Still, I didn't realize though, what the root of the problem was. I wasn't truly putting in the effort, the heart, necessary to make each workout count. I wasn't as careful with my nutrition as I thought. I had more holes in my game than weapons in my arsenal.

So, I had two choices - 1. Gamble that I could stay on that road, and ride it out, or 2. Suck it up, really make the effort to hit the workouts that were given, and really pay attention to what the hell I needed to do. And so far, its been pretty good. I see differences. Some bigger than others, but the focus is there, and with that, comes something I was missing last year - the hunger. I walked into half my races last year, without any kind of desire or hunger. That hunger that literally leaves the taste of acid in your mouth, b/c you want to just get out there and rip it up.

But as I thought about it more, living life outside my comfort zone, or any of us for that matter, that's how we grow as people. Part of lululemon's credo is "Do one thing a day that scares you." I believe that, and add - start to live, really live your life. You hear constantly, "live like each day is your last" , but how often do we really do it? We get comfortable, complacent actually, and that leaves us missing out on huge opportunities in life. Do one thing a day that scares you. If that's too much, do one thing a week that scares you. Call that girl/guy that you think is out of your league, how will you really know until you ask? Change careers, yeah its scary, hell its down-right frightening, but how will you know true happiness and a sense of true accomplishment if you stay in that dead-end job, always doing just enough to not get fired? You die a little bit each day that way. I know it b/c I lived it. And now, each day is an adventure, each day presents new and fascinating challenges, but if you are pursuing your dream, they aren't obstacles, they are building blocks to creating a complete you.

Look adversity in the eye and grab it by its throat and let it know who's calling the shots. I've learned that if you get out of your own way, the sky is the limit. Marv Levy was right, adversity gives everyone the chance to be great. The question is - are you brave enough to face it head on and say, "Let them come, let them all come. I'm ready"? Only you know the answer, and that's the best part - you control your destiny.

Stay strong,

Guy

Winning Ugly

2010-03-07T18:25:00.002-06:00

"It is only through work that either nation or individual moves on to greatness. The great man is always the man of mighty effort, and usually the man whom grinding need has trained to mighty effort" - Theodore Roosevelt while paying tribute to Ulysses S. Grant

Yesterday was supposed to be my personal experiment at the "spring classics" of Multisport in the Midwest, the Orland Park Indoor Duathlon. In its 8th year, I consider it a classic, since it passed the 5 year mark and in multisport that's a huge deal. And it was supposed to be a lot of fun; provide some insight into how my training is going, how my body is responding. But my body had other ideas.

When I woke up yesterday, I felt chills. I didn't sleep well, and I was severly congested, and definitely not feeling well. I took my temp, it was 99.5, not a big deal, but my normal core temp runs around 97, so I knew something was off. I got out of bed, looked at my race bag, and thought, "Screw it, I'm staying home". But the internal conflict wouldn't let me off that easy. So, I emailed my coach to get a second opinion. Her words were pretty clear - DO NOT RACE. So, I sat on my couch, drinking some immune boosting something or other, and put on some music. Drake and friends song - "Forever". I closed my eyes and weighed my options. I could risk going and getting worse, not able to train for a few days, and performing poorly, or, I could go, and just try to end it as quickly as possible and maybe sweat out some of this cold or flu or whatever the hell was in my system. When I opened my eyes, I knew my answer. And within 5 minutes I was at Starbucks getting my pre-race coffee.

Anyone who's a Southsider, and old school for that matter, remembers the 1983 White Sox season and their infamous tag line - "Winning Ugly". As I was warming up on a stationary bike and measuring my effort by the amount of sweat coming out of me at a low level, I turned my music higher, and figured if I was going to repeat as champ, it was going to be an ugly win. A straight, come from the gut type, not worrying about technology or what kind of sports drink I was taking in. I just figured, get fluids, and keep them down and you are ahead of the game. I barely even ran to warm up, I was trying to conserve energy, knowing that my legs would probably be a little tight, that conventional wisdom is, the shorter the race, the longer the warm up. Not this day. 20 minutes on the bike, 5 minutes of running and I took the line.

I walked up to the kid who was my "assistant" counting my laps and checking my times, named DJ. I asked him one small favor - "Whatever you do, don't ever let me slow down. If you see me getting slow or tired, just yell to pick it up". I think that scared him a bit, as he looked at me if I was half-crazed. The first run - 1.5 miles of straight anaerobic torture. I tried to pace, but every time I tried to conserve, I felt worse, so I just hammered. I came through first and thought I was going to hurl. We headed to the bikes, DJ right there, asking me if I was ready. I told him I was probably going to close my eyes for the ride, so he would need to tell me when I hit 10 miles so I would stop. He laughed, but once I started to ride, he saw I wasn't kidding. It was a spin bike, so getting comfortable was easier than last week's race, but riding at 135 rpm was not. I had to close my eyes and just embrace the pain. I was pouring sweat, and just kept cranking. Thankfully, it wasn't long when I felt a tap on my shoulder - I was done. First off the bike and back to finish with another 1.5 mile run.

Now, these aren't daunting distances, but you really have no choice but to go all out. So, again I looked to DJ - just count the laps so I know when to stop. I didn't want to have to think about anything else. I felt chills, but knew I couldn't stop now, I had to suck it up. And that's what I did. I literally would be staring at DJ as time went by and he was one diligent kid, shouting encouragement, and yelling out lap numbers. When I hit 15, I went over, shook his hand, thanked him and excused myself. I quietly walked to the bathroom, and vomited like I was trying to win a contest. I exited the bathroom quietly, thankful that the music and cheering drowned out my own noise.

About an hour later, the race director, Debbie Graham who thought I was crazy for racing in my condition, I think her exact words when she first saw me were, "Good to see you! Wow, you look awful!" called my name as the overall winner and the new course record holder. I graciously accepted my award, as well as my free hair cut and style at Perry George's salon (if you've seen my hair, you know that's just a cruel reminder of why I prefer hats). But what made my day truly special, DJ, the great assistant, walked over to me after the race and said that I inspired him to work out and enter the race next year. And for a moment, I didn't feel sick or tired, I felt honored and humbled. It was the best reminder of why we race - to inspire others, to let people know anyone, and I mean anyone can be a multisport athlete. To give back to those who help us, like DJ did, that's the best reward of all.

Thanks to the great crew at Orland Park and my sponsors. And oh yeah, when I talked to Jenny today, "dumbass" flew off her lips pretty easily. But like I told her, I'm not her smartest athlete, I'll just work harder than anyone else. Thanks Jen. And in memory of my Papa, whose birthday is today, this was for you.

Stay strong,

Guy

The season begins - the "Spring Classics" of multi-sport

2010-03-03T22:11:00.003-06:00

"You'll only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone" - Percy Cerutty

Writing this blog now, I realize how important the above phrase truly is. I've spent the last 4 months living my life outside of my own comfort zone and have discovered that, with the help of others, I've grown more than I did in 36 years. Cerruty knew that if his athletes were not living life off the track outside thier comfort zone, they were not experiencing life in full. He knew that once they did, they would handle the stresses during racing and training much easier, and more maturely.

And that's exactly where I found myself this past weekend, doing my first tri in over 7 years. With sporadic swimming thanks to chronic ear infections, I wasn't sure how things would shake out. But I remained relaxed, not thinking about the antibiotics running thru me, or the fact that I still couldn't hear out of my right ear. Its funny how a race can make you forget that kind of stuff, as you get caught up in the competition and excitement of racing.

I raced one of the Midwest Indoor Tri Series races, at Health Track in Glen Ellyn. The series is one of the longest standing ones in the Midwest, and I guess qualifies as a "classic". My love of professional cycling is always renewed at this time of the year, as the mini-classics of Europe have started, as well as the week-long classics, like Paris-Nice, and the romance and history that surrounds these events. I had always hoped for the same in multi-sport, but with constant sponsor changes, and governing body shifts, some races never get the chance. But the Midwest Indoor Tri Series has withstood the test of time, so, for me, its a classic.

The day actually went better than expected, although I could not get comfortable on the stationary bikes provided, but I felt good, a little worn out from the meds, but all in all, fluid. So much so, that once we hit the run, I hit my stride, and until the last couple minutes, felt that I was on pretty good form for this time of the year. Of course, getting pimped by my coach, Jen Garrison at the bell wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but, if anyone was going to do it, better her than anyone else. And it all hurt, from gun to final bell. All anaerobic, all full gas. There were moments on the bike where I had to close my eyes to shut out the noise and just embrace the pain. And the end result - a 3rd place overall finish. Do I wish that I was first? Of course. But considering my health, and what I had gone through during the week, I smiled, (a rare event indeed) and drove off, feeling better, stronger.

In the Midwest, we don't have many opportunities to measure ourselves against competition and races like this can snap us out of the winter slumber mindset and into race mode. I know for me, that's what happened. I felt energy, alive, and ready to go again. Will I be able to race tri's this season? Not sure. Its all on my health right now. And if I can't, I can live with that. The best thing was after the race, the days following the race, I wasn't sore, I wasn't fatigued, I felt good. I didn't taper for the race, I had put in heavy training and came out on the other side, feeling better, gaining confidence.

But I know I need one more race effort before Powerman Alabama, thoughtfully scheduled on March 27. So, I will be back at it this weekend, racing at Orland Park at an indoor du. I'm still not 100 percent healthy, but its ok. I've learned that racing without anger is actually better than racing with it. It provides more clarity, more focus. A very special person taught me that recently. Someone who is truly good and real. Its true what they say - a good woman is hard to find. And although I am not with her, she had the kindness to remind me of the true importance of letting all the anger go, let that huge chip on my shoulder fade away and just race. I'm forever grateful for that.

And of course, thanks again to Jenny who keeps me in line and reminds me to keep my head on straight. Without her, I know I'd probably be sitting on the couch eating potato chips and drinking beer, giving up on the whole scene. But I still don't like her workouts. Jsut don't tell her I said that, she'll only make them worse.

Stay strong,

Guy

Lululemon Oakbrook's Lifestyle Challenge

2010-02-21T23:48:00.002-06:00

Hello all,

This coming Sunday, February 28, 2010, at the Oak Brook Lululemon, at 6 pm, we will be kicking off the official "Lifestyle Challenge". Let me explain a bit the background and how the program is going to run.

The purpose behind the challenge was simple - getting people to truly commit to living a healthier lifestlye, by imporving diet and exercise. And when I say exercise, we will be utilizing the 3 main components of triathlon, something I consider to be one of the purest and easiest forms of cross-training. When I say "easy" I mean easy in the sense that anyone can do it. I say this because I have seen all shapes and sizes at races across the country, and if one thing triathlon is, its all encompassing. All walks of life can do it, and that includes you.

I know many people make that new year's resolution - "I'm going to be fitter this year, or healthier or eat better, or get in shape", and its usually around this time that the adreline rush of the new year has worn off and we fall into our old routines. Well this is opportunity to get that boost to keep going. We will be providing training, clinics of all varieties from a great group of ambassadors, elite and pro athletes and top level coaches. This program is 100% hands on, and with the assistance of Rick Lapinksi, Cheryl Scigousky, The Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn, Accelerated Rehad in Darien, which is Gina Pongetti and her top flight crew, this Challenge stands to be one of the best chances for you to get out and get fit. Meet people of similar backgrounds, find training partners, discover things about yourself that you never dreamed possible.

And at the end of it, come June, you don't even have to race. True, you'll have all the tools necessary to do so, but the most important thing, getting healthy. Best part - this is all FREE courtesy of your friendly crew at Lululemon Oakbrook.

So, tell your friends, tell your family, tell the guy who just sat down next to you on the train, who won't get off his cell phone. The more the merrier. Look forward to seeing you on Sunday night. You may have spent the better part of your life doing something for someone else, now its time to do something positive for you.

Stay strong,

Guy

The "Unofficial Lululemon 5K fun run" - I went to have fun and a race broke out

2010-02-16T13:25:00.002-06:00

"I always knew I had a high tolerance for pain. I knew I could suffer longer, and dig deeper than anyone else. I knew I would train harder than anyone else to prove it. If it was a sufferfest, I was going to come out on top".

From, "Its Not About the Bike" , by Lance Armstrong

So, I know I'm the first one to say, if its a fun run, then treat it as such. And that was completely my intention as we embarked from the Halsted Lululemon to celebrate the "Traveling Pants" Tour, which culminated with a 5K fun run. And spirits were high on Saturday morning (2/13) as employees, ambassadors and friends headed towards our destination of the Rush street store. And there I was, with my friend and training partner, Rick Lapinski, promising each other we'd have fun. But something happened within the first mile - I felt good, strong, and the competitive side came to the front. All my memories of running on the Southside, ducking through traffic, sprinting down lights, bouncing from sidewalk to street, smiling the whole time, laughing to myself, as I felt my legs responding like they did years ago.

So, yes, it was my fault the pace got pushed. And pushed. And suddenly, it was myself, Rick and a very good female runner who was hanging in. Although we weren't going race pace, I found myself varying the tempo, up on my toes, loving the sun, the wind, the feeling of going hard, that shift of gears that every athlete seeks during winter training; a reassurance that training is going as planned. So there we were, sprinting down Michigan Avenue, ducking the early morning shoppers, the bell hops hailing cabs, all with that all-to-familiar look from people of "what the hell is going on?"

As we reached our destination, I felt even better, and looked over at my two compatriots, as they smiled too, knowing that sometimes, you just need a good, hard run. As we jogged to cool down, the girl who ran with us asked an honest question. "how do I get faster? How can I run like you do and not hurt?" Rick answered first, stating simple truths - embrace pain. And suddenly I found myself responding and elaborating, "You have to be prepared to go to that 'dark place' where the pain leaves you with seeing white spots, black spots, dizziness, the feeling of having to vomit, nearly passing out, and a sensation of hot, white pain, always knowing you will come out the other side a stronger athlete, mentally and physically".

She stood for a moment, then thanked us for the advice and took off. As Rick and I ran back to Halsted, I thought about what I said. It reminded me of everything that I use in my own training. I'm not the most talented or gifted athlete, I have to work harder. And that means suffering more. But, I take tremendous comfort in knowing that I don't fear it. The following quote is so true - "When you make friends with pain, you will never be alone". Rick reminded me of that as we ran back, at a rather healthily fast pace, and I smiled reminded of Lance's quote, of what it takes to reach new levels. And bottom line, you have to be ready to hurt.

The difference for me now, I do so with a support system of coworkers and friends that understand and provide the balance. Its just another reason why I love working for Lululemon. Because I know once I'm done hurting, I walk in the store and feel refreshed and welcomed. I no longer have just pain as my sidekick.

And its with that sense of balance that I am excited to launch our "Lifestyle Change Challenge" out of our store in Oakbrook, IL. We are utilizing tri training to get people to change thier lifestyle and get ready for a race. Come check us out on February 28, 2010 at 6 pm. Come check out the store and stick around for the Challenge.

Stay Strong,

Guy

Things happen for a reason.....

2010-02-04T18:27:00.003-06:00

"He knows, we all know - its going to be better, because its going to be better"

Excerpt from "Lance Armstrong's War" by Daniel Coyle

Ever since the above title book came out, I made a point to read it, at a minimum, twice a season. And its not because I have an infatuation with Lance, but because I admire his will, determination and focus. And his ability to impose his will on those around him to believe in him and more importantly, in themselves. If he believes something is going to work, even in the face of insurmountable odds, he makes it work.

The last few weeks, I've watched as people in my life have done the same. I've watched as they have taken the lessons of the past, no matter how bittersweet, and turned them into a positive. The first sighting was of 3 amazing athletes and truly all-around great guys - pro triathletes, Rich Swor, Greg Reznich, and top amatuer, Jason Smith. These guys were all on a team I created a couple years ago, and to be honest, it didn't work. I took the blame for a lot of that, and deservedly so. But these three have moved on, and are back in top form, and sharing their stories with the world at www.whywetri.net. They took away one very big positive from being on the team - the importance of giving back. In thier stories, videos, etc, you get to see first-hand the way we as athletes live. We aren't playing in the "Big Three" sports, so we live substantially humbler existences, but we are just as hungry as any athlete out there. And in these guys - you believe that the sport is more than just swim, bike and run. You realize they have much to share and they remain so humble and grounded, while putting in massive hours of training and racing like animals at the top of the sport. They never stopped believing in themselves, and thier will has others believing in them too.

Then there is my coach, Jenny Garrison, who, while quietly training to have an amazing season, just became a Lululemon Ambassador. Why? B/c she never stopped believing that as an athlete, a mom, a wife, and an amazing friend, she had much to offer the sport and others looking to improve thier health, and thier lives. I was there on a cold and snowy morning a couple days ago as she entered the YMCA for her morning run, only to be surprised by flowers and the excitement of Lululemon employees and managment welcoming her to the team. I know there is no one more deserving, and I think I was smiling more than she was. Jen understands that others see her as a beacon of hope and empowerment, and her reward for that - being put in a position to share with others her knowledge. She has others, complete strangers, seeing it so strongly in her, they asked her to be an Ambassador. And I know, its only the beginning.

And Rick Lapinski, a good friend, and an amazing athlete, who in the face of adversity, continues to grow as an athlete, but more importantly, as a person. He has been coming in to Lululemon Oakbrook, to assist with our "Lifestyle Challenge" and 5K. He lends a smile and kind words, and most important, genuine care for those around him. Even strangers, he greets with warmth, and encouragement. Why? B/c through everything, he hasn't stopped believing in himself. And it creates that sense of belief in the rest of us. For Rick, the best is yet to come.

Its the power of that statement that in some form, is in all of us. Everytime you wake up, and pull yourself up, even when you don't want to, you do it out of the belief that "things are going to get better, because they are going to get better." When I started reading the book again this year, something was different - I was in a better place mentally, and spiritually, and those words hit home even harder. Because everyday, I am surrounded with people who are positive, who are constantly moving forward, but in a balanced and honest way.

Most of you know I'm not a "touchy-feely" guy, but I've realized too, that things happen for a reason, and more importantly people come in your life for a reason. Everyone I mentioned, they came into my life for a reason and at the time they did for a reason. And as I prepare for what I hope is my best season ever, I have people like Jac, Chris, Suzanne, Cora, Stephanie, Sarah, Marcy, Michelle, Kathy, Katie, Courtney, Colleen, Anna, and another very special person, all who are undeniably believers in me, as I am in them. And we all get it - things will be better b/c we are all working for them to be so.

This realization runs with the one I made about my grandfather - its up to you to not just say those words to yourself, but to believe them. You can say that phrase over and over, but it means nothing, unless you act on it. Yeah, we all get knocked down. Yeah life has setbacks. But when you give up on you, others will follow suit. B/c that's the vibe you are putting out there. You have to be your own change. Even if it seems impossible, its only so if you believe it to be. Do I think that I can be one of the top 3 duathletes in the US? Yes. But for the first time I'm approaching everything that way. The key is, no matter how bad things seem, you will survive. You will overcome. Don't just say it, do it. Be ridiculously optomistic. And when someone truly amazing waks into your life, don't shrug it off. Embrace the gift. They came in for a reason.

Like I always say - I don't know much, but when I read that phrase now, I know, Things will be better, b/c they will be better. I believe it and live it. The question is - do you?

Stay strong,

Guy

Reflections on a season, and an eye on the future

2010-01-03T10:08:00.004-06:00

Normally, I would start out my post with a quote from one of my favorite writers, heroes, or a quote from someone that has had a profound impact on my life. But as the year, and the decade for that matter has turned, I have spent the last few days reflecting on 2009 but more importantly looking towards this season and more importantly this year as a whole.

This isn't uncommon amongst athletes or the general public. But what I was wondering was what exactly made me forget resolutions from years past and fall back into the same routine, forgetting all the promise I would see on each New Year's day, slipping back into old habits, never progressing? Well this year I realized what had been missing - wisdom from a loved one before the New Year. A reminder of where my roots are from and why there is always reason to hope and to follow the dreams and goals of a new year.

So on Christmas day, normally spent with family or loved ones my family does what several others do every holiday, reminisce about the ones we have lost who have had a profound impact on our lives. But this year, after dinner, I sat next to my grandmother, who gave me a deep insight into Guy Petruzzelli, her husband, and my grandfather. My namesake. This was a man, an immigrant who loved his family and spent his years in Chicago working on the famed South Water Market, a true scene straight out of a Damen Runyan novel. He and the other cast of characters were all from the same stock; immigrants from all corners of Europe, full of stories and superstitions, hope and drive, who believed that they were not just truck drivers or fruit and vegetable vendors. No, these men were also doctors, lawyers, accountants, you name it, they knew it. It didn't matter if there formal education never exceeded 4th grade, they were sure they could cure whatever ailed you, even if it was a broken bone, without needing to go to a silly hospital or a real doctor. And it was out of this environment that my grandfather displayed what I wryly refer to as "The Guy Petruzzelli ridiculous optomism". This will take some explanation but bear with me.

My grandfather was infamous for doing things that defied logic, that defied common sense, and left those around him puzzled beyond belief. Example, at the market, my grandfather would trade with other vendors for pigs, chickens and the occassional turkey. And, b/c he didn't drive, he would be seen walking home, down Taylor Street, with a pig, or a chicken, with a string tied around its neck as if it was his pet. Now, my grandfather didn't know how to kill or dress any of these animals, but he believed, that somehow, when he got home, it would work out, and his family would have food. Of course, my grandmother didn't share this same optomism, as she would be at the front door looking at my grandfather with his latest pet, and a look that said, "What the Hell am I supposed to do with that?" To which my grandfather responded with his infamous look, that I too possess. The look that says, "what the hell is wrong with you? This seems fine to me." That look would become a source of undeniable frustration and a constant stream of laughter for all around. I know this, b/c I give that same look.

That story is not enough? Check these little gems out - At the age of 13, with never having taken a lesson to drive a car, he jumped in his uncle's new car, and drove it straight into a street car, an accident in which he walked away unscathed. When asked what he was thinking, he simply gave "the look" and life went on, and he never drove again. As an adult, he was at a public pool watching his friends jump in the deep end and having a blast. So, he stepped to the edge of the deep end and jumped in and immediately sank to the bottom. Why? B/c he had no idea how to swim. But he figured, just like with the car, once he got in, it would work out. As the lifeguards dragged him out, asking him if knew what he was doing, he simply stated, no, but he didn't think it could be all that difficult. Ridiculous optomism at its best.

But the crown jewel of stories took place when my grandfather was living on California Ave,. on Chicago's Southside, and a big rain storm hit the city during the heat of summer. At this time, my grandparents basement flooded, but the basement was unfinished, a simple concrete floor with drains, that my grandfather figured would eventually stop being overloaded and take the water down. Seeing things were somewhat under control, he proceeded to turn on his METAL tv set, standing water still in the basement, his feet comfortably set in the water and electricity running power the tv right in front of him, as smoked a cigar. When my grandmother arrived an hour later, with my father in tow, They found him, comfortably sitting in a lawn chair, tv still on, his feet still in water. This is where my grandmother and father looked at my grandfather in the same fashion as they had so many times before - "Are you absolutely out of your mind?! What is wrong with you?" And all they received in return was that look, a look that said "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? What's the big deal, everything is under control." And as always, he was right.

Our family has several memories like this of my grandfather and all of them create laughter and a sense of awe. My grandmother believes that my grandfather had no concept of fear, which is true, and that he just wasn't thinking things through all the time. To me though, there was something more. I know it b/c I live my life pretty much the same way, doing things that make people close to me believe I am insane or delusional. And neither is the case. What my grandfather and I share is that ridiculous optomism, that sense that no matter the odds or the logic, things will work out. And in those hours on Christmas night, as we laughed at stories of him, I recognized that what carried him through life, and helped him raise a family, was the belief that somehow, no matter the odds, if you believed enough in what you were doing, it would work out. He wasn't shackled by fear, or logic, and its not that he didn't acknowledge it, far from it. But he knew to get to a better life, to get his family in a better place, he had to have that sense of optomism. And what I realize as I write this, is that I do the same. I see fear, I see logic, but I'm of the opinion that if you believe enough in what you are doing, its going to work out. Things will get better, life will improve, and in the world of sport, you can improve, you can faster, and you can reach your goals if you truly believe.

So when I headed out yesterday to do my long run in the bitter cold, on a snow and ice covered trail, I didn't ignore the looks of people who thought me insane or stupid. I just gave them the infamous "Petruzzelli look" back at them saying with my eyes - "What the hell is wrong with you? This is the way I know to get faster, to get stronger. This run will work out just fine." And before I was even finished, I knew it would. With a smile on my face I looked upward, and said thanks. The Black Sheep was not alone in the cold yesterday. And with that optomism, I know 2010 is going to be epic. No matter the odds or logic. I wish the same for all of you in this New Year.

Guy

A time for a change

2009-12-09T11:03:00.002-06:00

"The reports of my demise were greatly exaggerated" - Mark Twain

I've been away a while, and with good reason - much has changed in my life lately, and although at first glance it seemed like things were headed south, nothing could be further from the truth.

At the beginning of November, I was, officially, burnt out. I had no desire to train, race, anything. And much of my stress stemmed from being in a job that I simply didn't love, that I had no passion for. So without going into detail, I was out of the field of law and had no prospects. For about 24 hours. Then I made one phone call, a call that would definitely change my life for the better. I'd been looking to become an ambassador for Lululemon in Oak Brook for a while, and called to talk to the manager, Jacqui Locke, wondering if they were looking for help. The response I received was a resounding yes, and ever since, I have been a proud educator at the store.

What I didn't realize at that time was how amazing of an environment I had been brought into. The positive energy of all my co-workers, the excitement of guests, the opportunity to grow with the company, and truly follow my passion. For the first time, I was somewhere where my passion for health, fitness, competition, and inspiring others to live healthier lifestyles could blossom and continue to expand, all with the support of my employer. Suddenly I was meeting people of like mind, looking to help, truly help me reach my goals as an athlete, an employee, and as a person. I could finally see my dreams coming true. And with each passing day I realized I discovered a career, not a job. My passion had become my work, and with it, a renewed sense of drive, desire and focus to regain strength as an athlete. Now, I don't see roadblocks to success as an athlete, I see opportunity, exploring new ways to get stronger, faster and injury free. Yoga, pilates, kick-boxing, muay thai, all became options for me to expand my fitness.

So now, when people see me, they seem surprised to see a more relaxed look on my face. They don't see that scowl. Not that I stopped being a smart ass, or lost my sense of humor. I'm still me, just happier. And it actually makes it easier to be around me. Especially for me. So, if you're looking for me, I'm at Oak Brook, educating guests on absolutely unbelieveable comfortable clothing for any activity, and building my desire to help others. Oh, and by the way, I'm more excited than ever to start racing again. I'm excited to toe the line next season with the top pros and discover how much I have improved, inside and out.

Stay strong,

Guy

Late season racing - Spooky Du brings back the spark

2009-11-05T13:13:00.002-06:00

There was no question after my last race I needed to do something to get the DNF monkey off the back, and to regain some confidence from Zofingen. So a couple weeks ago, I headed out to the Spooky Du, a shorter du with 2 majot perks - close to home and a late start for elites. By late I mean 2 pm. For someone who does his workouts at lunch and after work, the timing of the race was perfect.

Although I still was feeling the physical effects of Zofingen in my legs, I had enough confidence that I could muscle through the 2 mile/20.8 mile/4 mile race in Central Illinois. Even though this is technically "off season" duathletes are a hard bunch, and usually strive in cooler tempsand less than perfect weather. With howling winds, and no where to hide in the decaying corn fields, it was shaping up to be a good race.

The race started with a little sun and high winds. The run took us around a state park, and was a rolling course, which gave me an opportunity to use all the hill work from Zofingen training. I settled in, almost forgetting the pain that comes with short course racing. I got into T1 10 seconds behind the leader, feeling pretty good. Got on the bike, and took off, feeling the bite of the wind in my legs, and the chipped asphalt rattling my bones. So, I dropped into a bigger gear and just held on for those long stretches of bad road, until we turned away from the wind, and had some help at our backs. I had lost 2 spots to a couple of cycling hammers, but I felt good about my run, and got into T2 down about a couple minutes from the lead, but no less motivated to chase.

And chase I did. I used my strength to muscle through the hillier portions of the run and found myself back into third, closing on second. He must have heard me though, b/c he turned it on just enough to keep me away. Wishing I had another mile or so to run, I crossed 3rd and felt good. It was tough, I was spent, but I hung tough, never quit and most importantly, had fun. Knowing that my legs were still fresh, that mentally I was still focused, it all was a huge boost for my confidence heading into Powerman Florida.

As always, big thanks to my coach Jen Garrison, my sponsors and the crew at the Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn who always keep my bike riding perfect. Thanks to them, I can never use the excuse of a "mechanical" as a reason I don't perform well. Also thanks to my close friends who are always there for support.

The Monday after the race I was also informed my pro card was renewed for 2010, so, although I've had an up and down season so far, I still have the goods to race at the highest level. Without the people mentioned above, it wouldn't be the case.

Stay strong,

Guy

american zofingen-picking up the pieces

2009-10-12T13:48:00.001-05:00

"If you are going through hell, keep going" - winston churchill

Hey all,

Well its been a while since I posted last and that was due to my desire to lay low, and train hard to get ready for what I knew would be my toughest test as an athlete-american zofingen. I guess I didn't realize how tough that test would be.

so let's get the specifics out of the way first. I got to new york friday afternoon and felt good. I couldn't help but notice the catskill mountains we'd be racing in but I didn't let it get to me. I just dug in and got ready to race. Sunday arrived, cold and sunny, great race conditions. The race is tougher than the course map shows. The first run is on a true single track, with rocks, fallen branches, mud, and oh yeah, the climbs pitch up to 18 percent for 300 meter stretches. I remained calm though, figuring it was going to be a long day.

Got to the bike a couple minutes off the lead group of 18, and rode off. The bike started with a 2 mile climb, with stretches of 10-18 percent rises. It was cruel. Followed by nasty, twisting descents. But nothing was like the second major climb, an 8 mile monster that never seemed to end. The difference with this climb, no trees covered your right side and opened up to show you how high up you were. On the second descent, I started to feel dizzy, and had a hard time controllin my bike. I thought it was nutrition, but as I started the second loop of the same climbs, I felt like I was falling, and started to lean over my bars. As I completed the second loop, I had ridden into 10th, less than a minute off the lead group. But I was done. The vertigo was getting worse and the tension in my shoulders from the death grip on my bars,knotted my arms and back so badly that getting out of the saddle was almost impossible. When I got to the start area to hand in my chip, I realized I was not the only day's casualty as others twisted ankles and dislocated toes.

I was checked out by the medic, given some water and refused to lie down. I was despondent and completely shell shocked. Even though I was still a bit dizzy, all I wanted to do was go home, put this out of my memory. But as we drove away I realized something. I was within a minute of true elite level athletes who train in that terrain daily. I was there. And to walk away with that knowledge gives me confidence about going back next year. It wasn't my legs, or my lungs, my fitness was spot on, thanks to my coach jen. So I will be back in may to tackle that beast again.

What did I learn? As I sit here in the car on the road home just west of south bend, in. I learned that to be a truly complete elite endurance duathlete, who can take on any course, I need to know my enemy better. I knew that the course was tough, but simply "climbing lots" didn't cover it. I needed long, open descents, more specific climbing, better understanding of the course,etc. That's not on your coach, that's on the athlete. Jenny got my body ready but its more than that. And that's on me. I know better now and will continue to train smarter. I'm not sulking over this race, I'm taking what I learned and coming back stronger.

To my competition, I'll see u in december at powerman florida. I'm not done yet. It takes more than a good old fashioned ass kicking to stop me.

Stay strong

Guy

Great Buckeye Long Course Du - Adventures in Distance Racing

2009-08-24T09:56:00.003-05:00

"The biggest lesson I learned from cancer was this, pain is temporary, but quitting lasts forever."
Lance Armstrong - Its Not About the Bike

Before I get into this past weekend's race, I think its important to make a few statements just so things are clear. This has not been, at least from an emotional and mental standpoint, a very good year. I'm not going to bore my 5 readers with what exactly that all entails, but the lessons I learned over the last 8 months away from training and racing, far out-weigh what I learned in riding and running. The most important lesson - if you truly respect and care for those closest to you, be most honest with them about everything. Thier love and understanding is deeper than I gave them credit for, and they are the last people I want to lose in my life.

With that lesson in hand, I travelled out to Ohio to tackle my first ever true long distance race. Yes, I have run a couple marathons, and I did the old Springfield Ironhorse race, but I've never done a long distance DU and this was going to be tough. I knew that back in February when I circled this race as one of my big goals, but with things being rocky in my personal life, I didn't realize how hard it would be. Leading up to the race, I knew I had done everything physically correct - long rides, long runs, worked on climbs, worked on pacing, (yes Greg, I did work on pacing) everything I thought would be critical for a good performance. But I never worked on the mental, and as the race got closer, I started to fall apart. Mentally, my confidence was shot, (due to my own failings) and my health had deteriorated. I got another ear infection a week and a half ago, and my hearing in my right ear was sketchy at best. This furthered my belief that I was not suited to race, and that thought crept into every thought I had about racing.

By last Friday, I was debating whether or not to even go. I still felt less than healthy, and I was still on antibiotics, another excuse to not race. But then I would think of guys who raced the Tour with colds, sinus infections, sore throats, everything and they went on to do extremely well. I've raced and trained with antibiotics in my body, so this was nothing new. So, I got home early from work Friday, and was ready to go. Then the sinus pressure kicked in and I freaked. Had I been more confident, I probably wouldn't have even noticed. But I ran to the health clinic again, and had the doctor check me out. She admitted I still had the ear infection, and fluid in the ear, but with a CT scan, my sinuses only showed a slight infection there. I asked her for a no-bs answer, can I race or not? She looked at me, and asked me to step into a room for privacy. Now, this isn't my GP, this isn't even my ENT doctor, this is someone I don't even know, and once the door closed, she told me the following:

"I see no reason why you can't race. There is no denying you are fighting an infection, but it won't hamper you much at all, if you stay hydrated and get rest. But your biggest problem is mental. Your head hurts, and your health isn't improving faster b/c you aren't wanting to get better. You are looking to stay sick so you can avoid something. I don't know what it is, but from a strict health standpoint, you can race. Maybe you should go and see for yourself."

With that, I went home, packed my truck and headed out. Saturday was much of the same, more anxious, wavering confidence, talking myself into and out of the race. But Sunday morning came, and there I was, warming up before the event. The "event" was a 5K run/56 mile bike/13.1 mile run. As I towed the line, my legs felt heavy. When the gun went off, I felt sluggish, and slow, almost in a daze. Coming to the bike, I thought, "I can drop out now, I'm sweating really bad and its not even hot out. It'll be cool, I can just go home and get sleep." But when I got to my bike, I grabbed my helmet and saddled up. I thought, maybe I'll feel better with some wind in my face on the ride.

The bike was a two loop course, which helped, b/c I could gauge my splits easier. The first 15 miles were agony. I felt like I was going no where, struggling constantly to get up to speed. Climbs started to come thick and fast, and every one of them hurt. I was pouring sweat, and my HR was above where I wanted to be. But as I got to mile 20, a good friend and excellent athlete, Brian Barker, doing the Olympic distance Tri, came up on me, and patted me on the back and told me "looking strong! Keep hustling!" I jumped out of the saddle and proceeded to re-focus. I stopped thinking about what hurt, and started thinking about getting in more fluids, getting in more fuel. I was starting to get hungry, really hungry, but I was determined to negative split that bike.

As I came in for my first loop, I felt better, my HR dropped and my legs started to feel fluid. My pedaling cadence wasn't labored anymore, neither was my breathing. I hit the second loop, and started to go. The climbs I was jumping out of the saddle on in the first loop, I was seated and going strong. I wasn't thinking about anything but keeping the gas on. I was still hungry, and I kept taking in gels, but I dropped a bar I had, and I knew that would be an issue. Still, I thought with my body relaxing into the ride, I should be ok. As I prepared to enter T2, my body wasn't happy, and it let me know. I turned my head and vomited still maintaining my speed. This run was not going to be pretty.

I got into T2, my stomach a bit of a mess, and I thought again, "look you can quit now. You did the bike, you rode well, let's just go home. You got in a good workout." But once I got off the bike, I went off of instinct. I put on my shoes and headed out, half wondering what the hell I was doing. The first loop of the run wasn't pleasant. I was trying to take in fluid every aid station, only to throw it right back up a few minutes later. I couldn't increase my speed, b/c my stomach would revolt, so, I just kept my head down and started to grind. As I started my second loop, I heard myself say out loud to spectators "I'm hurting". It was both humbling and freeing at the same time. Yeah, I was in a bad way, but I was no longer ashamed to admit it. And again, the idea of quitting, with the finish line so close, sounded great. But I pressed on, as I heard the words, "Don't quit, you can do this." Again, head down, grinding out miles.

The second loop was a blur of pain and vomit. I threw up 2 more times, but as I neared the finish I stopped caring about my time, and just wanted to finish. I couldn't even pick it up to cross the line. But an odd thing was happening - I was alone. My competition wasn't around. As I crossed, I could barely stand, or move, as the volunteer took off my chip, I was relieved and thankful I didn't quit. I had finished, and I was still standing.

As I stumbled to the lake, I tried to walk around in the water to cool off my legs. That would have worked, if the water wasn't warmer than the air, but still it felt good. I had signed up for a massage, and as I laid on the table, waiting for results, I figured I would get this massage and get on the road. Then I heard something that I couldn't understand at first. A woman's voice saying, "Overall Male Elite Winner for the Half Iron Du - Guy Petruzzelli". The massuesse stopped working on my back and tapped me on the shoulder asking, "Isn't that your name?" I honestly had no clue what she was talking about. Next thing I knew I looked up and there was my award, I had won the Overall Elite title. As I type this right now, I'm still stunned. I knew I was hurting, but I discovered so was everyone else, and I guess I just gutted it out a little better. I started laughing, thinking it was a joke, but everyone kept assuring me it wasn't. I was the champ for 2009.

A lot of people I have talked to about distance racing say that many thoughts go through their head when going long. Disassociation. I tried that but all I could think about was pain and finishing. But now, another thought has entered my head, and has me energized - I want to do it again. Talking with my coach, Jen, she pinpointed pretty quickly the nutritional mistakes I made, and nothing seemed to difficult to fix. The great thing is, there are a few more long course DU's, like American Zofingen in October, where I can try this again. But I think the lead up this time will be different. I did more than shed water on Sunday, I shed a ton of emotional baggage and doubt. I'm not going to say I'm totally confident now, and think everything is roses. Actually I believe I have a lot to learn and even more healing to do. But, yes, I want to do it again.

This race, I can't take credit for much. I owe so much to Jenny Garrison, my coach and friend who stood by my when others told her to bolt, and she had every right to, Greg, who also stood by me and reminded me of what a true friend is, Sheila, who, without her, I wouldn't have even made it to the race, and to my 5 year old niece who always sees the best in me, every time I see her. And a big thanks to Rich and the boys from the Bike Shop, they provided a lot more than just equipment. They had my back, and reminded me of it everyday.

Thanks also to my sponsors who sent me good vibes and had faith.

I know this is a long blog, but I want to say one more thing - the minute you give up on yourself, its easy for everyone else to do the same. The people who I mentioned above reminded me of that and b/c they never gave up on me, even when they should have, I made it. I don't know what the future holds, but I know its going to be better b/c of the people in my life.

Guy

Tri Del Sol - A race is more than just the run and the bike

2009-07-21T22:20:00.002-05:00

With my form coming around, especially after being off of antibiotics, I felt the urge to try and get some revenge on a course that I have had issues with my last 2 outings there. So, I saddled up and headed to Middleville, MI, for the newly named, Tri Del Sol, to see where my fitness was. It would be a race after a tough week of work and training; having driven to Southern Illinois and back with 24 hours for a trial, only to rush to pack up and head to Michigan, less than 24 hours after getting home. But when I woke up Friday morning in MI, I felt a sensation I haven't felt all season - I felt strong, even with 14 hours of training in my legs.

I went out to the course on Friday and rode the bike portion and ran most of the run course. I found myself being thankful for the cooler weather, even with a strong wind. And my letgs were responding well to the hills, so I found myself feeling good, even confident heading into the race.

Saturday morning brought cool temps, and that same wind. It made the sun seem less hot than normal during the summer, and for me, that was a good sign. As we lined up for the start, I knew my plan, and thought, this could be my time. The first run went well, I felt comfortable running a 5:30 pace and even though I was directed the wrong way coming into T1, I was in 5th, 10 seconds off the leader. As I got my bike un-wrangled from the transition area, I remained calm, and started to ride. The first few miles included a bit of an uphill climb, so I rode conservative, but feeling strong, I sat back in my saddle and started to climb with power and caught 2 of the guys ahead of me. As we made the turn on to farm roads with some rolling hills, I started to hammer into the head wind, pulling back more time on the leaders. As I headed into the bike turnaround, I could see I was about 30-40 seconds off the leader, and I felt like I could close the gap. I was a bit concerned as I saw the approaching peleton heading the opposite way, containing about 4 of the guys who were ahead of me on the first run, all too happy to let someone else pull them along.

So, I figured it was best to ride hard, to ensure to put some time between myself and them. As I shifted gears, I started to hear a crunching noise emanating from my rear deraileur. So, I left it in my 53 x 13 and just went hard. As we got to 2 miles from T2, I caught the leader and started thinking about the second run. It was hilly and I didn't want to give any space. As I entered T2, I assessed my legs, they seemed to be pretty loose, so, I was excited to see what I could do. For the first 1 mile of the 2nd run, I stayed with the leader, and we ran side by side. My legs and lungs felt fine, and I was gaining more confidence with every step. And then it hit - my stomach siezed up, and all the fluid I took in on the bike was sitting in my throat. I backed off the pace a bit, hoping it would settle my system. It didn't. So, I let the leader go, surging every so often to stay in contact. But the urge to vomit was always present, and I didn't want to stop, afraid it would cost me a place. At mile 3, with a 2 miles to go, I got passed by 2 guys, who I knew I could stay with on the run, but my stomach just would not cooperate. As we approached 800 meters to go, I just went as hard as I could figuring I could hold on till the finish. As I crossed, I immediately ran into the bushes and vomited violently, cursing that my hydration/nutrition were my downfall in a race I truly felt competitive in. But the silver lining - my legs and lungs were fine, and as I collected myself and approached the winner, he said that he was sorry I got sick, but glad I didn't hang with him as he was at redline. I rode 3 hours on Sunday, and my legs felt great.

A part of me is excited that my training and fitness is reaching a new point, allowing me to dig deeper, and sustain faster paces for longer periods. But with my goal being half-iron distance Du's, my concern about my nutrition grows even greater as I know I can't afford to have these issues at that distance. Thankfully I have some time to work this out.

As always I want to thank my coach, my sponsors and my Bike Shop guys who are now replacing a cracked rear derailuer, (I still don't know how I raced on it) for having faith in me and helping me constantly improve. Yeah, it wasn't first, but being able to run myself into a top 5 place, 90 seconds off the win, with a bunch of liquid in my throat for 4 miles, lets me know, things are definitely coming around.

Lumberman Du and falling back in love with the sport

2009-07-05T18:42:00.002-05:00

I know its been a while since I have posted, and to be honest, it was with good reason. Sometimes I wonder how much other people care about what I write or how I race, but at then end of the day, writing for me is cathartic. I would writes even if no one read, because it helps me get a better handle on what I have going on in life. And by doing this, I can step back and see exactly what's going on and where I want to go from this point.

Last weekend I traveled up to Cadillac, MI to race the Lumberman Du, as I needed to get a race in my legs and to get my head back in the game. 2 weeks prior, on June 13, I sat in my hotel room in Ohio, trying to get ready to race the Flag City Duathlon, one which I wanted to do very badly, but I couldn't move. I could barely lift my head off the pillow, and I stumbled to the mirror to wash my face. My vision was blurred, and I felt dizzy. It had seemed the stress of work and training and everyday life had caught up to me, and for the first time in years, a race morning had arrived, and all I could think about was going back to sleep. And that's exactly what I did. Sure I spent 15 minutes cursing myself, willing myself to get dressed and go, but as tears came down my face, I realized, racing would not have done me any good, and most likely would have made me feel worse.

After getting up 2 hours later, I drove home in near silence, not sure what to do. Thankfully, my coach Jen had provided me some words of comfort and solace, making me realize that to push on this day would have caused longer lasting issues. So, I got home, unpacked and went for a run, hoping to clear the cobwebs. It didn't help. And 2 days later, I found out why, as I sat in a doctor's office, with a horrible ear and sinus infection. It gave me a bit of comfort knowing there was nothing wrong with my legs, or lungs, but the question was-how did Iget to that point? Had I pushed to hard in training or tried to squeeze in too much with work? On a couple's days rest, I thought about that. I thought about why my workouts seemed to be more difficult to get through. Why going to work was becoming a struggle. The answer lied in what is in many of us Type A's - we don't stop until we hit the wall, and when we do, its a nasty crack. I had been pushing to prove people wrong, pushing to prove that I deserved respect, basically, pushing for all the wrong reasons. I used to love every training session, every race, no matter the difficulty, b/c the sport is where I found my peace, it is my sanctuary. Because the road never talks back, it doesn't shout at you, it doesn't leave you, its always there, waiting for you.

After a couple days of letting the antibiotics get in my system, I started to train again, builing slowly. I figured I needed a race though, b/c I don't like long breaks, I get stale and my race sharpness tends to fade. So Michigan it was. Saddled with a new bike, and still on some heavy doses of antibiotics, I wanted to see where my legs where, but more importantly, where my head was.

The thing is, even as we try to slow down our daily lives when a race approaches, and keep ourselves away from unecessary stress, life doesn't always see it the same way. But instead of fighting against it, I went with it, and found it wasn't so bad. I arrived at the race feeling revived, and excited. Although it was windy, I felt decent in my warm up, and figured I'd drop it from the gun and see what happened.

As we started, I carefully put myself at the front, and would change the pace with surges every couple minutes to see if I could shed some guys. As we hit the turn around, I realized it was working. So, I kept that going all the way in to T1, and from the looks of the faces of the guys who were still close, they weren't feeling so great. I had just run my best opening 5K of the season in just over 17 minutes, without ever going in to the red, or really pushing too hard. The bike changed my world though. On a new bike that I had only ridden 3 times before the race, I couldn't get comfortable. I was constantly moving around on my saddle, trying to find that "sweet spot" where you can just put your head down and go. I gritted it out though, but found myself passed by one athlete, who put about 45 seconds into me. But I was trusting my running legs, so I was not too worried. Then the amount of antibiotics I was on caught up to me. I was sweating way more than usual and found myself getting badly dehydrated. As I drank the rest of my bottle and took a few Enlyten strips, I was hoping it would be enough to win the day.

I got into T2, quickly changed and zipped out. I was running hard, constantly keeping a look at the leader. The gap closed to 100 feet right before the turn around, and all I could think was, "just 1.5 miles to go, just drop it now and he's yours." So I surged, and surged again, and as I hit the mile to go marker, I became dizzy. I was dehydated badly now, chills running through me, and my equilibrium off kilter. I hung on, desperate to close it down, but it was of no use. I was shot. I ended up giving time back, and came in second, just over a minute back. I walked over to congratulate the winner, excused myself, walked into the bushes and began vomiting violently. Even though I felt awful, and I needed to get fluids in me, what I realized was, I never, ever gave up, never stopped fighting, never allowed myself to feel defeated. Hell yeah I wanted the win, but this was the step in the right direction that I was looking for. It brough t back the fire, the desire to race, and the desire to win. And armed with that, the season looks a lot brighter already.

Guy

Tin Man Duathlon - Coming in to form

2009-05-29T13:02:00.002-05:00

"Look, if I had a nickel for every talented kid whose come through this place, I'd have a lot of nickels. But, in this sport, if you can gut them out, out-last them, you can beat the talented, even the ones who are in great shape. Talent doesn't replace heart. It never does, and it never will. That's going to be your strength, and that's how your going to win. You're going to get your big engine going, and then when it comes time, you gut them out. You make them hurt more than you are. Not everyone likes to suffer that much. If you race with your guts at the end, you'll find out who can handle it."

Neal Mundhall - Former Head Distance Coach, Men's Track, Winona State University

For those who know me pretty well, its been a fairly crazy month. I've made some changes, for the better in my life, and that has had a positive impact on my training and racing. I won't lie, I started to truly not enjoy training and racing for a while there, and was consumed with trying to prove others wrong, instead of sticking to my training plan, and racing plan. I was training too hard, doing everything at full speed, and it was wearing me down, mentally and physically. I had originally planned to head to Minnesota, my old stomping grounds to do a race I haven't done in 15 years, the Apple Duathlon. But the weekend before, I was tired, more tired than I should have been, and feeling mentally drained. When I got to work last Monday, the 18th, I was shot, and looking at a work schedule that was going to be unrelenting all week. So, I had to re-evalute - what is more important; how do I achieve everything I want without stretching myself to the point of breaking?

The decision came to me pretty easily while sitting through a seminar that I was not particularly interested in - I would not go to MN, but I would race somewhere competitive, and keep my focus on long course moving. I wouldn't need to taper, and I could save some money, and most important, not put myself behind the 8 ball at work. Enter the Tin Man Duathlon, in Columbus, OH. Good course, great competition, and close enough to jet over after work.

So, I packed up and headed out with my TT bike, the first time I would be riding it, let alone racing it all season. I was slightly concerned, b/c I haven't been aero all year, and with new bars and a different set up, I wasn't sure what to expect. So I rode the bike 30 minutes the night before the race, made some minor adjustments, and figured I was fit enough to bang it out.

The race was at Prairie Oaks Metro Park outside of Columbus, and when I pulled up, I couldn't have been happier. Nothing but gravel trails to run on, and smooth, newly paved roads to ride. As I warmed up, some of the big Du names of the Region started to show up, Jimmy Little and the infamous Brian Barker. As we said hello, I thanked Brian for his kind words on the infamous forum thread, telling him I owe him one. In typical fashion, he responded like a true gentleman and fierce competitior - " No you don't owe me, you don't owe me a thing. Let's have some fun today." I was immediately at ease with those words. Here's a guy who is an amazing athlete, amazing person, overcame cancer recently, only to dominate the sport once again. A true warrior and a truly stand up guy.

The race started, and with Brian off the front, I stayed close, a couple seconds behind, avoiding some of the larger rocks on the path, feeling pretty good, but noticing the heat start to creep up. As we entered T1, he had a slight gap, maybe 10 seconds, and I was off. I got aero as soon as possible, and just started to hammer. The legs were feeling good, and even though I was moving around on my seat, trying to get comfortable, I was keeping my breathing under control, while upping my speed. As we headed back to transition, with about 5 miles to go, I saw Brian flat. I was bummed, knowing that it would have been fun to keep banging heads all morning.

Not a minute later, Jimmy Little came up on my and hammered past. But, unlike last year when he would ride away from me, I kept him firmly in my sites, determined to not give up this race. I hit T2, and was down about 45 seconds. After the first 2 steps on the run, I could feel that aero position on the bike have its affect. My lower back was super stiff, and my legs were not coming around. Not good. But, after about a half mile, I started to loosen up, and get into a groove.

The second run twisted through the park, with slight rollers here and there, and more gravel to manuever. I hit the half way point and could see Jimmy, as he was being paced by Brian. I started to get excited, getting that old stalking feeling back, running guys down to really make it a guts race. Then at mile 2, I started to blow up. The heat and my lower back were not getting along, and I felt the knots forming. I keep going though, not giving up, and holding my own. With less than a mile 2, guys came up on me, and I couldn't respond. I was in agony, and the harder I pushed, the blacker the pain. But the finish line came, and standing there was an exhausted Jimmy Little, and Brian Barker, to congratulate me. I had fallen to 4th by less than a minute. I missed the podium by 6 seconds. But Brian saw something that day he hadn't seen from me in a while - the guts to dig deep and keep going, even at the hardest moments, b/c that's what makes winners.

That moment was follwed by another good feeling - these guys who used to beat me by minutes, would have been mine had I not had an issue. I was right there with them, and they knew it, and admitted the same. But as the 5 of us stood around and talked, another feeling came over me, I was having fun again. I'm super competitive and don't like to lose, but, I was able to share those moments with people I respect and who respect and love the sport. Any lingering doubts I had about not going to Minnesota were instantly erased. I was exactly where I wanted to be.

After I did my usual vomitting, my partner in crime Greg and I started to do a cool down. And I smiled the whole time, thinking, I can't wait to race these guys again. I'll be ready, this year is different and its not just about the pro card. Its about what you have inside of you. Your heart, your fortitude. So I hope we make it another gut it out race the next time we all meet, I expect a different outcome. But a better group of athletes, I 'd be hard pressed to find. My hats off to Jimmy for the win, and of course to Brian, for being the man he is.

Stay strong,

Guy

Mulitisport Mayhem - nothing like Spring racing in the Midwest

2009-05-12T12:27:00.002-05:00

So, after a hard week of work and training, I headed to Central IL, for a sprint DU - Multisport Mayhem in Mattoon, IL. It was a Tri/Du combo so, it was good to see how I would match up with running and riding with triathletes and to see how the legs were doing.

The course is not super hard, however, Saturday morning brought cold temps, and howling 25-30 mph winds. As is typical with Spring racing in the Mideast, the winds were also gracious enough to be swirling, so you never really got a tailwind for any substantial period of time. The first run went as I expected, with the first mile plus, into the wind, and a cross wind, with me hitting T1 in 2nd and feeling relatively decent.

Hit the bike, and rode as hard as possible, passing lots of triathletes, and chasing down the guy leading the Du. Now, the bike would have been a lot more tolerable if it wasn't resembling the Team Time trial from the Giro D'Italia. I know the country roads weren't closed off, but, when I caught the leader, I felt like I was his lead out man for the sprint at the end of a stage. I thought about pulling up to see what he would do, but, into the head wind I knew I would come to a standstill. I finally just hammered the last mile into T2, and took off on the run. Same course, same wind. I was hurting a bit, but started to come around, when this guy came back on me. He even thanked me for pulling! We raced to the line, but he got me. After I crossed, he saw I was pissed, so, he came over to congratulate me, and thank me again for pulling and protecting him from the wind. I kid you not.

The idiot didn't realize the RD was right there, as were about 5 other people who were stunned he thought this was ok. He got a 3 min penalty, and I got the win. Its not really the way I wanted to win, but, it was a win. Its my fault for not really dropping him sooner and running his race instead of my own. So, there's your lesson - always race your race, not someone else's. Yeah, he may have got his, but I still believe if you race your race, you'll feel better no matter what the result.

Something else I learned from this race, and its something we all are known to do from time to time - don't leave your best race in your training. I do 95% of my training solo, as many of us do. But, we need to be better barametors of our effort. I know I wasn't tapering for this race, and had close to 13 hours of training in my legs before the gun went off, but its not an excuse for leaving my best running on the trails closest to my home. I have done that twice this year, and it proves costly. I went into Powerman AL flat, b/c I had over-trained, and then, in an effort to show that Powerman was not indicative of my ability, I repeated the same mistake going into Mayhem. I agree that some over-training, or very hard blocks of training are necessary to improve LT and stamina, but not every workout should be a race. In talking with my coach after the race, she put it plain and simple - "You train too hard. You don't back off on easy days, and it costs you. " I share this with everyone so if you see yourself doing the same, maybe reading this will help you re-evaluate how you train and race.

On a side note, as some of you may know, I was the topic of conversation on a forum that I will not mention. The comments regarding my status as a pro were questioned by a few athletes whom I did not know, nor have I raced against. It was my first time experiencing such hateful and crude comments from complete strangers, who know nothing about me. I am not going to address them here, because I know nothing would make them happier, and I refuse to stoop to that level. What I would like to say is, when anyone bad mouths an opponent, for any reason, it diminshes all of us in the sport. In the current economy, multi-sport is not high on sponors priority list. When they see bashing taking place, why would they want to support that? If our sport is truly supposed to be "a sport that anyone can do, or at least try" and if we are truly grateful for the opportunity to race, at any level, then better we focus on improving ourselves, and growing the sport, not acting like high school children, writing notes in class. To sink to that level is abhorrent, and keeps this sport from reaching a more mainstream market. Having the benefit of being on both sides of the sport, in marketing and as an athlete, when things like that pop up, its negative publicity that we don't need. So the next time you think you have some cute comment to make about your fellow athlete, or would like to rant about your fantastic abilities and how you can beat so and so, stop and think long term. If we don't do it now, we'll soon be relegated to racing each other on training runs. Think about it.

Stay Strong

Guy

Sometimes, a Good Kick in Ass is What You Need

2009-04-20T15:17:00.002-05:00

So, I headed out to do my first really big Pro event - Powerman AL, which also served as the Pro LC Champs for Duathlon. I was nervous, but excited to be racing against a truly top notch field. Got in Friday late, so Saturday, went through my usual routine, and tried to check out the course. They changed it 4 times in 4 weeks leading up to the race, so, figuring it out was really hard. Even the RD wasn't sure at the pro meeting.

But this much I knew - 3 loops on the bike, with 27 turns, and 3 180 degree turns on roads that rival Chicago's southside. But we all had to deal, so, ready to race. Sunday, I was warming up under light rain and gusting winds. The wind advisory was calling for 50 mph+ gusts, and it didn't disappoint. But I stayed calm, and just got ready. Gun went off, and I stayed with the leaders for the first loop of the run, We were sitting around 5:20 pace, which wasn't bad until I realized, I was getting the chills. I was getting dehydrated and that's not good. So, I backed off, figuring to make up some on the bike. Hit T1, a little dizzy, but got on my helmet and went. Bike was hard, going from 25 mph, to 5 mph in less than 2 blocks to turn. Couldn't get into a groove until halfway thru lap 2, then started to hammer. Passed 2 male pros, and didn't look back. Every time I could put it down I did. Got into T2, and my poor nutrition and hydration caught up to me. I was starving and still had the chills. I took a gel and water at the first 2 aid stations, and it helped for my second loop, but not enough to hold off the pro from Kenya in the last half mile. I ended up 6th, and exhausted.

I'd be happier, if it wasn't for one key thing - I talked myself out of the race before it even started. I had a bad week at work, let it get to me, and I didn't focus. So, I let my nutrition suffer, along with hydration and boom, I was already out of the running before the gun went off. We all have our moments, the key thing I will take away is this - I can still grind out a decent race, but, when my head is in it, I know there is better racing in my legs. We all have those moments, they aren't always sharp peircing events that draw away our focus, they can be a long, slow burn, that leads us to go through workouts without the same kick, and without our heads where they should be. The competition was tough Sunday, but, so am I. Lesson learned, and as always, the hard way. I will be sure to deal with life better as it comes, instead of letting it build to this point. I can't point out, only back at myself. So, learn from my mistake - stay focused, and don't defeat yourself - we are all better than that.

The Long Road to No Where

2009-04-06T15:08:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, I decided to get out of town and train. Put in quality miles away from home. I've had a stressful month, family, work, and team issues, that need my attention, but sometimes can overwhelm my focus. So, I packed up Friday afternoon and headed North, yes you read that right, North, to get in some work. Its seems counter-intuitive for an athlete to go someplace colder to train, however, I wasn't simply seeking warm weather; I was looking for open roads, both familiar and foreign, the joy of training and suffering in solitude, found in doing in the opposite of the norm. And to that end, I succeeded. But my mind, always going, didn't stop to take the time to make peace with some things that I found myself still struggling with when I came home.

The purpose of the hard training is to prepare for the pro long course National Championships, this year to be held at the Powerman, AL venue. I have waited years for the opportunity to race a National Championship as a pro, and I was extremely excited about the prospect of doing well enough to represent my county at the World Championships in the pro field. Then, the news came through, this year there would be no long course duathlon world championships. In a single instant the governing bodies that be, decreased the value and importance of not only Powerman AL, but the amatuer National Championships, in Auburn, CA. This same entity that has been beating the drum about "saving duathlon" put all their eggs in one basket, and backed the short course national championship in Richmond, VA, turns and basically diminshes the value and importance of the long course versions of the sport.

The phrase that pops to mind (at least the only one that is suitable for print) is "cut off your nose to spite your face." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly what has happened. Yes, supporting the short course national championships is necessary, but, there are a large number of athletes, just like in triathlon, who prefer the longer distance racing. They are now shut out, with a championship event, that doesn't provide the opportunity to challenge themselves against the best in the world. I specifically changed my schedule to go long, enjoying the longer training sessions, learning the difference in the pain from long to short, looking to become a more complete athlete. On a personal level, that won't change, but, I'm not alone, and its for all of us, that I write this - USAT YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN MISSED THE MARK.

And they didn't just miss it by failing to back the longer events, they diluted the race experiences firther for both pros and amatuers by seperating the championships. Pro Long Course is in Alabama, amatuer - California. Over a month apart. California will not have a pro field. Why? The race is harder, the challenge greater and what a better way to help promote the sport than by watching the pros you admire racing side by side with you? Same can be said for short course. With all the hoopla surrounding the Amatuer Short Course Champs, there is no pro field, instead we are sent to Minnesota to have our own championships a month later. Why can't the pros enjoy the feeling of being around probably the biggest crowd the US has had in quite some time for duathlon? And in turn, why can't we put on our best for the amatuers to see? If we are to be truly united, then don't seperate us; instead encourage us to race together, on the same course, under the same conditions so we can see the future of the sport develop in front of us.

Am I ranting? Well, yes. But its not without purpose. As a duathlete, I constantly feel like that song "Don't Give up on Me", by Solmon Burke, pleading for USAT and fans to stick with us, b/c our sport is fun and sexy too! Just come look! There are bikes and prizes and everything, even a nice venue!

I hope I'm wrong. I hope its me that has missed the mark. I hope that what is being done by the top brass of our sport creates a renewed interest in our sport and shows a sharp increase in participation and viewing. I want to be wrong. But more than that, I wanted the chance to represent the USA in a long course world championships as a professional. Its a good thing I come from Chicago, where the phrase, "Wait till next year" is a part of every Chicago sports fans vernacular.

Thanks for letting me vent, and to those who didn't like the post, a much nicer, and gentler version is on its way. The moral is, we can be faced with tremendous adversity and disappointment constantly, and for many we are, but, what makes us true men and women, is how we rise above that, pick ourselves up daily, dust ourselves off, and dive head first right back into the fray. This sport is made for grnders as much as it is the graceful. Anyone from the Midwest knows that. We don't back down, and we won't quit. Just ask us. So, Worlds or not, I'm going to Alabama with a lot to prove, and a lot to do. To those who have their own "Alabama" be it in work, in sport, or in life in general, don't quit. No matter how dark, don't quit. I can't promise the light is at the end of the tunnel, but if you quit, you'll never find out.

Stay strong,

Guy

First Pro Debut, and a bittersweet homecoming

2009-03-25T10:22:00.003-05:00

"If you are going through Hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill

I have been thinking about the above quote more often than not in the recent weeks. Not because my training is suffering, or my racing, actually, knock wood, those have been moving along pretty well. So, I'll start this blog with the good, and then get to the rest.

I headed out to Tennessee this past weekend for the Natchez Trace Duathlon, a short, but extremely hilly course, with top-level competition. I was a bit nervous about the terrain, since the Chicago winter only provided me 4 days of outdoor riding, but I had been training pretty hard, so I was hoping my fitness would carry the day. After checking out the whole course on Saturday, I knew that even though the race was short, it would play to the strengths of the most fit, so, I gained some confidence as I ran the single track trail for the second run.

Race morning arrived, and I was nervous as I saw the guys lining up to race. I just kept thinking about the advice of my coach - calm mind, watch your “get out pace” and never let up. The first run started out with a nasty climb for over a 1/2 mile, starting at 6% grade and kicking up as high as 19%. So, I let a couple guys go, figuring, they were going to gas early at that pace. Fortunately, I was right. By the end of mile 1 on the first run, I was sitting in 3rd, only 10 seconds off the leader. Got back into T1 and hit the bike, climbing out the same way we did on the run. But I felt strong, and spun up the hill on to the open road. As the bike leg progressed, I felt stronger and started to push the hills hard. I knew I had lost a couple places on the bike, but, not a lot of time. I stayed calm, not wanting to blow up with a closing 5K run. Whipped out of T2, and hit the single track.

It was muddy from the previous day’s adventure race, and the guys who passed me on the bike began to suffer as they sunk a bit in the mud and were tentative on the dry portions of the trail. I took a chance about 1/2 mile into the second run, doing a 30 second surge to pass 2 guys, and get into some clean air to get out of the trail. After 1.5 miles, we hit the road again, with a steady climb to the second mile marker. I saw 2nd and 3rd place, as well as first. With a mile to go, I wasn’t sure if they were hurting or not, but I knew it was time to go. I kept surging till I caught 2 and 3 as we hit the last 600 meters back to the park. I saw first place, but I was feeling the lactic acid taking its toll as the final climb on the run cut in to my legs. But, I crested and sailed down, feeling great. As I walked thru the finish chute I felt great, thinking maybe I should have gone harder, then after one sip of water and another step, I ended up vomiting in the nearest trash can. Thankfully, away from the crowd. I felt a bit better seeing the 3rd place guy having to be put on Oxygen after crossing the line and collapsing. You hate to see that, but thankfully he was ok.

I left the race feeling elated. I felt like I had made an impression, and it was a good one, more for myself than anything. I couldn't wait to tell family, friends and of course, my coach. I spent the long drive back doing just that. Then, I got home.

I have stayed silent on this topic for a bit, because, for better or worse, I keep a lot of things to myself, particularly when I am struggling with something. I don't like to burden others, and I figure that I am strong enough to work stuff out. And, that's usually the case. But over the last few months, as a team director I have been working diligently to get people on my team what they deserve, what they have earned and worked so hard for, the right kind of recognition. To put in modern terms, I was trying to show that, "No one puts baby in a corner." And being a bit naive and too trusting, I ran around trying to make deals, scramble for money, everything. I was given more empty promises and false hope than I could imagine. Every day for the last 2 months has been a roller coaster with these people. And for what? Only to discover, that they use your ideas, and your inititives to develop something without you, and completely neglect the people you are trying to help. I love our sport, but I have come to learn, the hard way, that the business end of it, is no different than any other major operation. The people who speak about promoting, "the growth of the sport - helping those who really need it, showcasing better talent" are leaving out the most important part - only if you are have no problem living without any moral code or ethics. I am not a sweetheart, not by any means, but, I would like to think that a person's word is still solid. Unfortunately, in this industry, from what I have seen, it means no more than a "hello". And that's a sad statement about what we are becoming as a society as a whole.

Some people have told me, "hey, what do you expect, these guys don't know how to see big picture, they don't care about the grass roots, the working man's/woman's pro, who is raising a family, while trying to go out and be tops in a pro field. They want glitz, they want hard bodies, and eye-catching story lines. They want hype." Well, there is plenty of that in this sport isn't there. At some point, and I don't know when, once the sport became more mainstream, all that talk about growing the sport at its purest level was no more than talk. Sure, local races grow by leaps and bounds, but who is really taking notice? And who is noticing the bright stars that are coming out of places like the Midwest? I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'll match the talent here against any other state or region in the US, and I'll always take Midwestern athletes. Hands down. From my coach to my close teammates, they are rock solid and damn good. I mean really damn good. And they deserve respect. They deserve recoginition, because not only do they train and race hard, they give back to this sport, as much as it has given them. They are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, raising families, and getting to start lines in International events and kicking ass. Truly. Without my coach, I would never be a pro athlete today. I'm positive of that. And if I didn't have others around me like Adam Brown, Tony White and Rich Swor, I wouldn't be as excited about every day of racing and training like I am.

So when someone asks why are you making yourself crazy to help your mates - because without even knowing it, they help me, just by being who they are. I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world because of them. And they flat out deserve better. So, I'll hammer the phones, I'll take the hits, because I'll be damned if people I consider to be family get denied what they deserve. I hope for those of you who are reading this, take a look around and be thankful for those people in your life like the ones I have. And I hope you take some time, to show them how much you appreciate them. Even in small ways, it means a lot. Whether we believe it or not, we are still all in this together. Just because its an individual sport, doesn't mean you got to where you are alone. Be grateful, be thankful and most of all, don't let anyone tell you you aren't worth it. At the next possible moment, you go out and shine, to remind them how wrong they are. Let them do the running after that.

Stay Strong,

Guy

Starting the season off right

2009-03-12T12:17:00.003-05:00

So, I know I haven't blogged in a bit, but, I am promising to get better at this. Life gets busy some times, and with the winters in the Midwest, we tend to fall in to routines and a bit of a funk. We can't get out as often to train as we want, and we start looking at our compu-trainers thinking they would look better floating in Lake Michigan. But, I have always believed we are some pretty hardy athletes, having to deal with inclement weather, and cabin fever, so, once we get some day light to race or get outside, we are tough to beat.

So, this past Saturday, March, 7, I got out and raced. But it was inside. I know what you are thinking,"where did all that moxie you just spit out above go?" Well, I missed what was to be my first race on February 28, b/c no one can stay healthy in my office or on the train I take, so, no matter what I did, I caught the stomach flu people were all too happy to pass along. But, I wanted to see what the last 3 month of really solid training had done for me. So, to the Midwest Indoor Du Championships I went.

The cool thing about indoor races, the people are more relaxed, they are very affable, and happy to help. This race was no exception, the volunteers, the staff, everyone at the Orland Park Sportsplex were fantastic. Towels, water, Gatorade, whatever you needed, they were right there. And the spectators were great too, b/c they are so close to the action.

The race consisted of a 1.5 mile run - 10 mile bike - 1.5 mile run. The track we ran on was small, 10 times around to a mile, with tight turns, so, needed to not be over-anxious, and watch my ankle go flying. Warmed up really well, then got ready to start. As I was warming up, my sister, and my niece/manager, got there, just as I was about to take the track. Of course, my sister sees me in my race kit, and her first comment, "It looks like you are wearing a Holloween costume" broke the tension and brought a smile to my face. A quick kiss from my niece, and I was off. I grabbed a pretty decent lead on the first run, settled in to about a 5:30 pace and was feeling fine. Finished up the run with a good 1 minute lead, and a 7:50 for the first run, and then, hit the spin bikes. True its not like riding your own, but we all had to ride them, so, no bitching. As I got going on the bike I looked up and noticed a decent sized crowd had gathered around. Other athletes getting ready to race and spectators were shouting me words of encouragement. It felt pretty cool, and reminded me of what I love about the sport - the commraderie in pushing each other and helping each other. Wrapped up the bike in just over 14 minutes, and then time for that second run.

At this point, I had no idea where everyone else was, I was just thinking of the best time posted of the day, and what I needed to do to beat that. As I started the second run, I tried to do math in my head, which I realized I can barely do while sitting down, with a calculator (that's why I practice law). I stopped that nonsense pretty fast and just dug in. At one point, half way thru I heard people chanting my name. At the edge of the track was my sister and niece cheering me on, smiling and laughing. One of my teammates, Gary Gieger was there too, snapping photos, and I dug deeper, thinking I want this one bad.

I crossed the line, knowing I had won my heat, but not knowing where I ended up. For a few seconds, I walked slowly on the track, then heard my sister, "Hey, come check this out!" People were applauding, and she told me I had the best time of the day. I came to find out an hour later, my time broke the course record by 3 minutes. I was stoked. I felt fine, my fitness was definitely good, and getting in a race, even a short one, felt great. I felt like a bit of a rock star as I was interviewed by local papers, and had photos taken. I made sure to get my niece and sister in them too, b/c of all the voices, I could always hear thiers.

There was one other thing motivating me that day. It was my Papa's birthday. The memory of him, and my Nonno, together, was on my mind the entire race. I always think, how lucky I am that they came to this country so I could do this. To see that same look in my sister's face, and then in my niece's smile, made my season opener, truly special.

Guy

I finished up the bike

A Time for a Change

2009-02-01T18:57:00.002-06:00

"The only pace is suicide pace, and today seems like a good day to die" - Steve Prefontaine

I have the above statement written on my refrigerator, to remind me every day, exactly how I live my life, the only way I know how. Most people who know me well, know I have 2 speeds, full on, or sleeping. But the quote of Pre, meant something more - never live with regrets, live every day like its your last. So, it was with that mindset that I approached my coach late last season with a question I didn't think I would ever get the chance to ask again -"Do I have what it takes to go pro?" In typical Jenny fashion, she was very excited and very supportive, and encouraged me to apply. But I still wasn't convinced I had the stuff to race at that level. My self-confidence isn't exactly great, but with her guidance, and some very close friends support I started to really get my head around the idea.

So with the season ending in 2008 and having secured my second Mideast Duathlon series title, I did the one thing that I had tried to do 13 years ago, I sent in for my pro card from USAT. The process takes time, so I spent the better part of the fall, resting, getting surgery on my sinus cavity, and improving my overall health. But, with each passing day, I became more restless, wondering if I was going to make it or not. As more time passed and Christmas grew near, my hopes started to wane, and I wasn't sure I was ready for USAT to tell me "Sorry, you're decent, but not good enough to be a pro. Better luck next year." And then, just after Christmas, I got the word - I had been accepted, I had gotten my pro card. I was officially a professional duathlete. A wave of emotions came over me, excitement, relief, joy and yes - fear. As cool as it felt to say "I'm a pro" I realized, holy shit, "I'm a pro! The competition is going to be tougher, the pressure will be greater, what the hell do I do know?"

So I went back to the one person who knew best - Jen. She carefully laid out the game plan for moving forward, and slowly I started to feel more confident, more at ease. And the training ramped up, and I started to see progress, I was feeling stronger, more lean, more fit. But with one of the worst winters in the last 13 years in Chicago, gauging progress has been difficult. And with 4 weeks from my first race, I am scared, but excited, no doubt.

The decision to go pro wasn't easy. The amount of free time I have is already close to nothing, I work a full time job and have to make sure I keep up with that, and I don't want to look like some joke when I get to the start line. But I thought, 13 years ago, I was in the same position, ready to make this leap, and I allowed others, and a car accident to prevent me from doing it. And 6 years passed before I could even get the strength to train again. So now at 35, I was given another chance, and if I am to live life to the fullest, then I plan on grabbing this opportunity and giving it everything I have.

Some people close to me, don't understand why this is so important, why I needed to do this now. They puzzle why I would want to live like a college student and hermit, training and racing, and giving up my "prime earning years". But my response is simple - I have been blessed with another chance to do the one thing I love at the highest level, and that is more important than any climbing the corporate ladder, or buy the big house, or the big car. And this is what I say to everyone who is facing the same question - the answer is always right in front of you - will you regret not taking that step? If the answer is yes, then make that leap of faith. Even if you fall, you can do so proudly, knowing you were brave enough to try. And that's what separates champions from the rest.

So aside from training, I have been studying champions, in all different individaul sports and what they all have in common - keep the amount of people close to you small, make sure they are trustworthy and will always tell you the truth, and don't believe your own press clippings. That is the a sure fire way to fail - believing your own hype. Anyone can be beaten on any given day, so, cut out the bs, stay humble and get the work done. Watching the GSP v. BJ Penn fight this weekend, that's what stuck out the most to me - GSP closes the circle 4 weeks from a fight, he makes the sacrifice, b/c being a champion means more than hanging with friends all night, partying with girls, etc. Its about looking yourself in the mirror, and saying - How bad do I want this? I ask that everyday, and even sick, and tired, I always smile, knowing, I wouldn't want it any other way.

I want to thank my sponsors, my coach my friends, family, and most importantly, the ones who never thought this possible. The ones who 13 years ago told me to give up the dream, that I wasn't good enough. B/c of you, I am here now. So thanks for the doubt and lack of support, it was the extra push I needed to get here.

Stay strong

Guy

Don't call it a Comeback, but I still plan on watching...

2008-12-29T15:37:00.002-06:00

"Road racing imitates life the way it would be without the corruptive influence of civilization. When you see an enemy lying on the ground, what's your first reaction, to help him to his feet? In road racing, you kick him to death." Tim Krabbe, from his novel, The Rider

I didn't want to be happy about this. As a point of fact, I was down right angry when I first heard about it. I think you all know what I am talking about - the return of Lance Armstrong. Now, I am sure many of you are thinking, "Guy, with all the stuff that's going on in your life, why would you write about Lance's return to cycling? More importantly, we all know you love Lance, so why the love loss.?" All points are true and worthy. However, I have sat back, refusing to get involved in conversations with friends, associates, training buddies, strangers, dogs, anyone that wanted my opinion on it. Why? Because as a true fan of Lance, I was dissapointed in his return at first.

See, I was looking at his return from 2 different perspectives - First, as a fan of Lance, but more importantly, a fan of watching champions go out on top. Many of us saw what became of Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, (actually, a number of boxers), Roger Clemens, Bobby Hull, Brett Favre, and others who just couldn't let go. Couldn't check thier respective egos at the door and just realize - the time had come to step down. With Lance, it was perfect - he literally walked away in 2005 as the 7 time Tour Champ. Top of the world. As an athlete, you couldn't dream it any better. I know when I decide to walk away as a pro duathlete, I'd love to leave with the title. I know winning the Mideast Du Series title again this year made turning pro easier, and stepping it up a notch mentally and physically. And I wasn't buying the whole, "Spread the word about Cancer", not that I doubt that will happen, because of his return, but, it was a weak argument at best. Don't get me wrong, I still wear my Livestrong bracelet, not for Lance, but b/c cancer still kills millions, and touches the lives of many in my family. So, I want to see cancer get the attention it needs to find a cure. I don't want to lose anyone else close to me b/c of it. In fact, I still have on my wall, the framed Sports Illustrated issue. with Lance on the cover, signed by the Man, right before the 2004 Tour. It was given to me by a dear friend, and cancer survivor of 20 years. She is a fan too, and living proof that cancer survivors are true fighters. But, I wasn't buying that reason to return to ride in the sport's most grueling race.

Second, as a team director, my thoughts immediately were - if I was running a Pro Tour team, would I be able to take this risk? I mean, Lance is not a guy to play second fiddle to anyone, so, what do I tell my top guys? "Hey, I know we were planning on making you the man for the Tour, but, see, Lance is here now, so, we need you to scratch your dreams of winning, and work for him." What? I mean, yeah its Lance, but, could you imagine, being, oh, say ALBERTO CONTADOR, and being told to work for him in the race that you are poised to win again? And we all knew he was going to Astana, b/c it was Johan, and Lance was not going to work with anyone else. So, yeah, I was upset. I didn't want him to tarnish the image, I didn't want him to come back and get crushed. I didn't want him to become another statistic, another aging athlete with too big an ego. And the whole, "Cycling needs Lance back to help the sport", was bunk too. Cycling was suffering because of drugs, not a lack of great riders. So, I tried to ignore it, just like all the other things that were Lance during his time off the bike; the Matthew M. bromance, dating one of the Olsen's, leaving Cheryl Crow. I wouldn't listen.

But then, something happened. And it revolves around a conversation, albeit a short one, I had with my grandmother.

My grandmother became a fan of Lance because of me. I would bring over Tour DVD's and she was fascinated with him, his ability to climb, in particular, and his work ethic. She would watch it with such excitement, and just knew, no one could do that on talent alone. So, while sitting around a week after Thanksgiving, she leaned in at a kitchen chair, and asked me, "Do you think he can do it again? I'll tell you, if nothing else, he'll sure as hell make it exciting. He's one in a million. They don't grow those kinds of athletes on trees. He just works so darn hard, I don't think they can beat him with his work ethic." She sat back in her chair and began to discuss other things, but I was stunned. It was like a slap across the face. Here I was, I huge fan of Lance, and all he has accomplished on and off the bike, and I was trying to dismiss it. My grandmother had touched on the one thing that had always drawn me to Lance - his work ethic. I know no one works harder. So, I started noticing things; magazines with him on the cover, him working out and being photographed while doing so, looking ridiculously fit for this time of the year, all making me realize what I always knew - he will never half-ass anything. That same big ego that won't let go, is the same thing that is making damn sure he's coming back, full gas.

Now, I am not an cycling expert, I am not a coach, or someone fully immersed in the physiology of the human body and its ability to perform in extreme conditions. But, I have faith that hard work pays off. Does it mean he will win? I don't know, and the thing is, neither does he. He might have a better feeling of it than a fan or lay person, but, there are no gaurantees. He is just eliminating the intangibles. See, you might not like the return, but I dare you to bet against it. I don't know about the Tour, but, I think he will win the Giro, (a race I consider harder than the Tour - I mean snow covered mountains, 35 degrees and sleet while climbing? Come on.) And with the Tour, here's one thing I have learned watching it the last 9 years, and its the one reason I think he could win if Contador fails - experience. This is a 3 week race, where in a matter of hours, the entire race can change. The flats can change from day to day, the weather, the climbs, the way the body reacts, everything. Nothing is certain in the Tour except pain and exhaustion. That's his edge. Not convinced? Ask all of the "heir apparents" that were supposed to be the next "Lance". The best example - Alejandro Vlaverde. The man thought to be the one to win at least 5 tours, can't finish higher than 6th or 7th. Why? Because the Tour does not forgive. If you are on a bad day, the Tour will eat you. Ask Cadel Evans from this year's edition. Without Astana, it was his turn, and BOOM, he hits the floor, never recovers and good bye Tour.

Lance has seen it all though. The rain, the heat, the climbs, the way the road can change in a matter of minutes, depending on the crowd the weather, the other riders, everything. And that, is his one edge over his rivals. It might be small, but that's the edge. I'm not saying he will win, nor am I saying he should go for the win, if Contador is on, but, if Contador falters, well....

So, I am excited again about seeing Lance race. I would have watched cycling either way, b/c I am a fan of the sport, not just him. But don't call it a comeback, he did that once. This is just a return, hopefully to glory.

A time for many thanks, and things to be thankful for

2008-11-28T21:21:00.002-06:00

"The only pace, is suicide pace, and today seems like a good day to die" -Steve Prefontaine

I know the above phrase, seems, a bit out of place for this holiday season, but I hope what follows sheds some light on why I chose it. Yesterday, was Thanksgiving, and as I sat in my place, I reflected, for the first time in months, how much I did have to thankful for. I finished my season, with another Mideast DU Series title; the first athlete to ever win the title twice, let alone, back to back, and in the process broke the points record. And I finished it all in one piece, and for that I was extremely thankful.

Although we compete in an individual sport, where it appears as though it is just one person, fighting time, the elements, and other individual athletes, very, very few of us get to that start line alone. And for so many of us, we couldn't even imagine the finish line, if not for the ones who love and support us along our journey, no matter if its one race, or a season full of races. Parents, kids, husbands, wives, girlfirends, boyfriends, friends, coaches, all of them help us, in thier own way to get us to be the best, to get to the finish line with a smile, no matter how much we struggle during the race, or how much it hurts. Because at that moment, just before you cross the line, you see thier faces, the ones you love, smiling, big proud smiles, and instantly, that pain goes away. Its replaced with relief and accomplishment, and pride.

That's why, I want to say thanks, to those who got me to the finish line, and let them know I am thankful for them. To my coach, Jen, who, with her crazy workouts and absolute faith, gave me courage to dig deeper, to face the pain, and to embrace it, and know, truly know, that there is more inside of me than I realize. I expect 2009 to be even greater with your guidance.

To my family, who, although not completely understanding what I do, or why I do what I do, still, is there for me, backing me up, and making sure I stay safe. Two people in particular, my niece and my grandmother, who both can make me smile no matter my mood, and who never cease to amaze me with thier energy and absolute and unconditional love. I am thankful for that strength they provide, it carries me daily.

To my friends, Greg, Sheila, Robyn, Whitney, Batman, Rich D., Sweet Cheeks, Trixie, Boy Wonder, all of you, everyone on Mideast Team Elite - all you guys, you inspire me daily, on top of making me laugh. You have no idea how great that feels, and I can't thank you enough for it.

Amidst all this, I have to thank someone who recently came into my life, Dr. Paul Jones. With the help of cousin, Dr. Guy Petruzzelli, he helped save my life, and my racing career. The chronic sinus infection that plaqued me for 5 years, had set so deeply into my sinus cavity, that it had eaten away at the walls of my sinuses. The infection spread to my right ear canal, and was approaching my brain. In 6 months, I would have suffered irreversible brain damage, and hearing loss. Finally, after years of suffering, of alway going too hard, and getting the "quick fix" antibiotics, I stopped, and had surgery to remove the infection, and to save my life. I am eternally grateful for my cousin, and Dr. Jones, for ensuring the surgery was a success, and ensured that my breathing, and my health would be extremly solid, forever.

So, today, I am thankful, for, my life. For the good days, the bad days, and everything in between. Realizing what could have happened when we don't slow down, just for a second, well, its scary. I have always been known as having 2 speeds - full on, and sleeping. I don't know any other way. The opening quote, sits on my fridge as a daily reminder, to live life to the fullest, but maybe, just maybe, stop, along the way, to give a lift and a kiss to those who live that same life with us, even if its for brief periods. I won't ever slow down, especially now with a clean bill of health, but, I realized, that if not for the love of others around me, I never would have found out what was really wrong with me. I hope that all of you realize that in your own lives, and that you stop, and savor the moments and the people around you. Don't stop, but, don't leave them behind. Because they are ones who truly have your back, trust me.

To my niece/manager on her 5th birthday - Reflections on the last week of the season

2008-10-16T10:39:00.002-05:00

"You know what Uncle Guy, I'm one crazy kid" - Isabella "Boombah" Fairclough, my niece and manager

So, last week, from October 5 through the 11th, I raced twice, and ended a successful season, even though I am always looking to do better. The last week of the season was an emotional one for me, for a couple of reasons. First, my manager/niece turned 5, and I wasn't able to be at her dinner b/c I was training. But please don't fear, I will be at her party this weekend with 115 other family members. Yes, 115 family members for a 5 year old's birthday. We're Italian, so enough said.
It was also my sister's wedding anniversary, and I don't know anyone in my life who has done more for me than her. When I was at my lowest, she took me in, and let me live with her and her husband for almost a year till I was back on my feet. She was the push I needed to start racing again, 5 years ago.

Her, and her daughter, my niece, my God daughter, my manager, Isabella. The day before she was born, I was lying in a hospital bed, with a heart rate of 175. I was 30 years old and thought I was going to die. I was 40 lbs overweight, trying to make a comeback in the sport, and failing miserably, constantly getting sick. An antibiotic I was on caused me to have horrible anxiety attacks. When I was released, I went straight to the hospital where my sister was giving birth. I was still very shaky, but, when I saw my niece, I knew if I wanted to see her grow up, I needed to get healthy, now. So, she and I share a special bond, as I always tell her, she gave Uncle Guy his second chance. For those who know me, know my family is very important to me, and know that I treasure my relationships with them more than anything, and without them, I wouldn't be here.

I guess another reason we share a special bond, is, that, here is someone, who knew nothing of my past, and just loves me, unconditionally. She is always happy to see me, and we talk like adults to each other. Well, I think its how adults talk, since she is smarter than me, and she holds her own very well. I harbor hopes of her becoming the next big thing in multi-sport, even had a shirt made with "La Bella Triathlete" on the front, and 2020 Olympics on the back. However, watching her soccer games, I don't know if athletics will be her thing. She came to the sidelines to show me her mosquito bite, and I in turn responded, "Look, you have to play past that". She gave me a look, similar to my Mother's, that said, you're an idiot, and an uncaring one at that. I don't know if my sister will want me to attend many more of her games.... Needless to say, she spends way too much time with my Mother and sister, b/c she talks with her hands, that makes you laugh and cringe at the same time, knowing she becoming quite the Italian woman, and has started with the "20 questions" like my mother, becoming just as nosy.

But Isabella, or Boombah, as I affectionately refer to her, embodies the essence and character of the strongest women in my family - my grandmother, my Mother, and my sister. And even though she is no longer with us, she has glimpses of my Nonno in her. I can see it when she smiles and laughs hard, its a laughter that is pure and simple, one of true joy. As adults, I think sometimes we lose the ability to laugh purely; we have become too jaded by everything in the world, things that have skewed our point of view. But, my faith is always restored when I hear her laugh.

The last 5 years have seen me progress not only as an athlete, but as a person, as well, in large part, because of the time I get to spend with her. And I don't think I am alone. I watch her with my grandmother, who, at times, seems tired and weak, but, when she sees Isabella, she lights up, and takes 30 years off her life. She is the spark, the light that comes along every so often, in a family, that you are simply drawn to, and become infected with her happiness. You can't help but leave being with her feeling better about life, about yourself. And this last week, I had her in my thoughts all the time, constantly reminding me, that I don't have to miserable all the time, that I don't always need to be in a bad mood, and when I heard her on the phone wish me Good luck, I couldn't help but crack a wide smile, knowing she would be happy no matter how I did. I dedicated these last 2 races to her and her mother, my sister Laura; two women who are always looking out for me, always supporting me, and always reminding me, not to take myself so seriously.

As for the races, I tried to pull a Boy Wonder and race twice in 6 days. 1 shorter du, and then 1 long du. I raced in Kentucky on Oct. 5 where I witnessed Dub C set the tri course record as I cruised to a comfortable top 4 finish in the du, not pushing, knowing I had a long race 6 days later. I was happy with my running, 10:50 open 2 mile run, and a 25 and change closing 4 miles, I was feeling good about the last race. At the same time, I had another, larger goal, being the first athlete to repeat as Mideast Du Series Champ, and breaking the points total. As I toed the line on Saturday, the 11th, with the mercury rising, I just wanted to finish strong. As the first run was finishing - completely cross-country and I was already dehydrated, bad.

I had nasty chills, so, got on my bike and started to get fluids down, and Endurolytes. It wasn't enough, and I watched my lead shrink on the 40 mile bike. By the time I got off to start the second run, I had nothing, and was completely out of it. I shuffled thru the run, unable to keep water or Gatorade down, and basically running unconscious the last 2 miles. It was 90 degrees, and I finished 3rd and completely shot. Sliver lining - I won the Mideast Du Series for the second straight year - broke the points record, and had the most wins in the series. That thought alone revived me enough to stay awake for the rest of Saturday.

They say the mark of a true champion is one who defends, and I did just that, and let me say it was worth every trip to a med tent. Even though that decision is under appeal, I am still happy with my result, and hope that I do indeed get to keep the title.

So Boombah, and Laura, these were for the 2 of you. I still keep wondering though, how, are you going to fit 115 people in your yard for her birthday? Does she really know 115 people? I think its probably all family, but, it sets a pretty high mark for this kid. She's going to expect a football stadium full of people when she turns 16. As her uncle, I think its best that I constantly remind her of that idea. Its what uncles do best. To Boombah, with love.

Guy

Michigan DU Champs - Getting the Run around

2008-09-12T16:55:00.001-05:00

Well, after a bit of a nasty week for me, I had to gear up to head to Michigan for the Tri/Du Champs, to score more points for that Mideast Du Series Title. I got stung by a wasp a week ago, and I am allergic, so, I got to log some fun hospital time, complete with an oxygen mask, shots of adrenaline, Benedryl and IV bags. Loved it. Just how I wanted to spend my Labor Day weekend. So, all that junk left me out of it all week, and I wasn't sure how the race would go. Fortunately, I slept a ton Friday night and on Saturday, so I was rested. The course on Saturday was much nicer than Sunday, when it rained all morning. It was cold, and a steady rain fell during the whole race. We started out with an opening 5K, that was later determined to be at least a half mile too long. So, I was happy to see my bike when I hit T1. Having crashed in the rain earlier this year, I wasn't about to take too many risks on a mike course with a lot of turns, lots of traffic, and very wet pavement. We did these crazy turns into other parks to make up distance, but I rode steady, kept myself in second place, and figured I could catch the leader on the second run. Got to T2, about 2 minutes down on the first place guy, but my legs felt good, so, I took off, although I couldn't get one of my flats on completely, so, I ran with my heel coming out of my left shoe. The run was rollling and on, well, mud, and rocks, but I was crusing, and then, I ran into a volunteer who told me to turn around. She was insistent, even though I knew better. It wasn't until the guy who was in third came up to tell me, to keep going straight, that I got it right. So, I went about 400 meters out of my way, and ran super pissed off from there. I tore through miles 2-4, then, they had us go through some weird subdivision, and I knew I was making up time. I could see the leader, and he was hurting, so I put it down again. And again, another volunteer had me take a wrong turn, until she realized what she did, and shouted at me to come back. By then, the eventual winner, went past me, and I ran after him, hoping he would come back to me. I never did catch the guy who finished 2nd, so, I ended up 3rd, about 45 seconds off of 2nd, and visibly upset. It didn't help when we discovered that the second run was also about 3 quarters of a mile too long to boot. But, my hats off to Kenny and Annemarie at 3D. They admitted the error in the distances, and apologized, and apologized for the confusion on the run course. I kept my cool, b/c, I like Kenny and Annemarie, and I know the issue with the volunteers wasn't thier fault. Just an FYI for those doing 3D races. It was my first, and it was a little dissapointing. But, I did get much needed points, and ran into the Sprint Tri Winner - our own "Batman" Matt West, who gave me a nice high 5 on the run, and watched Tom Link put on another amazing performance in the Oly. Tri. We had some fun afterwards in the post race party. Of course, that was after I crossed the line and puked all over the place. Yes Greg, I puked again. But I waited to finish to do it.

Happy Birthday Mom, from your Alien Son

2008-08-27T08:50:00.003-05:00

The month of August, for our family is extremely busy. Aside from the usual weddings, enagagement parties, and other vaious reasons we get together, most of which are made up holidays, we have several birthdays. The month kicks off with my Grandmother, then keeps on rolling with cousins, and then comes to a full stop for one person - my mother, Angela "Lina" Petruzzelli. Its odd that so many people want to celebrate her birthday, considering, she herself, won't tell you her age, or the exact date of her birthday. For example, I am not allowed to tell you how old she is, or what year she was born. At 35 years of age, I still have to fear a 5'1" Italian mother kicking my ass.

But, last week, my Mom had her birthday, and with her birthday on the 19th of August, and my race on the 17th of of August, I thought it would be nice to bring her home a win. I spent a lot of time thinking about the last time I raced around her birthday, and realized it had been 14 years since I had done so. As luck would have it, that race, in 1994, was the then "Mrs. T's" Triathlon in Chicago, still the World's biggest, and I was able to bring home the biggest prize, winning the amatuer division. It was a bitter sweet day, my Mom, wasn't able to come to the race, as she was bringing my Nonno home from the hospital, after being diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. At the time, I thought the race result would lift her spirits a bit, but, it was tough to do so. However, at Christmas that year, she presented me with a gift that I still have, although, I don't show it to many people - a framed picture of the cover of Inside Triathlon, with me, running down to the finish at Stetson and Wacker, in a flowered speedo, and purple half top. (Hey, in the early to mid 90's, all guys wore that). It let me know, it was a special day for her too.

So, 14 years later, I am in Indianapolis, warming up, and laughing, thinking of that day, and that picture, and my Mom, and how even as much as things change, they still stay the same. I did have a good race for her, I won my AG, and had a top 5 overall finish, unfortunately, due to a bogus "blocking penalty" that seems more fitting in soccer, I dropped a few places in the overall picture. But I was able to pad my lead in the Mideast Du Series, and it got me one step closer to repeating as Series Champ.

When I talked to my Mom, though, the pre-race pep talk still hasn't changed. My Mom has always been a big fan, especially when I started racing, but, as the family grew, and as I got older, my return to racing 4 years ago after a long lay off, wasn't a huge priority anymore. Unless the race is close, like 10 minutes from where my folks live, and there is coffee. Her talk though, still makes me laugh. Let me give you every Saturday night coversation before a race:

Me "Yeah, so I feel pretty good, looking forward to racing, its going to be hot, but I'm excited"

Mom -"Really? Its going to be warm, huh? Yeah, you don't like the heat. Don't you get sick in the heat? Guy, if you start to feel sick, or if it starts to hurt too much, just stop. Its not worth getting sick over all this. If you go to the hospital, how are we going to get there? You are miles away, better you just quit then land yourself in the emergency room."

Me - "Ok, Mom, well, I think I'll be ok, I mean, I am being careful."

Mom - "Yeah? That's what you said about the last race, and what happened? You threw up. You can't put your body through that, its no good. Listen to your mother, I know."

Me - "Ok, Mom, well, I better get to sleep. Talk to you after the race."

Mom - "Ok, well your father and I will probably be out at Caputo's and then we are going to Oakbrook, so call my cell, but if I don't pick up, we're probably busy."

This is pretty much, verbatim, every pre-race conversation, including Worlds in Hungary last year. Now, don't get me wrong, I know she means well, but, this isn't your typical, Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi type speech, that makes you want to get out there and tear legs off. But, its my Mom, and I know, in her own way, she is telling me to go out and do my best. I know this, b/c I know how she got to this country. She came here as a little girl, from Italy through Canada, through, discrimination, language barriers, loss of family, to be here, and to be the one who everyone can't help but love, even when she's telling you something you don't want to hear. ANd why? Because in your heart you know its the truth. So, with her big brown eyes, glasses sliding down her nose, she gives you the look, the knowing look, that she's on to you, so don't get cute.

I know I give her a hard time, but, she has been there for me, good times or bad. She was there when I started "triathaloning" as she called it, and when she can, still comes out. But, its not the typical, "Go get 'em", "you can do it" support. Case in point - This winter, I did the Mideast Indoor Duathlon. Thankfully, it was in Orland Park, so it was close to home for my folks. My mom arrived, leather coat, fur collar, designer dress pants, and shoes, you know, your typical "I'm here to support my son/athlete" clothes. As I was warming up, she was saying how I didn't look well, and that was true, I was just coming off the flu and a sinus infection, and that maybe, I should sit this one out. Until she spotted the photographer from the local paper taking pictures of me warming up on the track. She casually walked over, and said,"You know, that's my son. He's very good. Let me see the pictures. Oh no, don't shoot him from that angle, it makes him look bad; or maybe you should do it THIS way, it looks better." Suddenly, the race was on, and my Mom was barking orders to a paid photographer who she doesn't know. But the photographer, was somehow drawn to my Mom, as most people are, and listened to her, and amazingly, stayed with her throughout the race.

As I finished the first run and bike, in the lead, I headed back to the track for my last run. I started, and amid the cheers of strangers, there was my Mom, making the "hurry up" motion with her arm, swinging it about. Basically, what she was trying to say was "Look, hurry up and get this over with. Your father and I need to get some breakfast, and I have things to do." Here I am, basically, breaking my ankles running around a track that takes 12 times around to make a mile, and according to her, I'm lolly-gagging. I'm at 5:20 pace, and I couldn't finish fast enough. I actually found myself speeding up, to the point of dizziness, b/c she kept doing that. People around her looked in amazement, as if to say, "What the hell else do you want him to do? He's going break-neck pace, running basically circles around a lamp post, and he's going too slow?" Shockingly, my Mom was not fazed.

When I finished, I leaned against the track wall, and slowly sat down, my Mom, giving me the "what's wrong with you" look, as I was trying to get my bearings. See, she was done and ready to go, as long as I had won, so she could tell the newspaper people, which she did right after I finished.

Most people in the sport see this as, well, a little "off", but, when you meet her, you find yourself, doing as all of my friends do, find her to be extremely funny, and charming, and very loving. Ask my coach, Jenny Garrison, or my friend Greg. Yeah, she isn't going to show up in the middle of no where Ohio to watch her son race, and yes, racing would be more convenient if it was on her schedule, but, when I get back to Chicago, I know she'll cook for me, and will be happy I am ok. But, unlike my Grandmother, a bib number for a present wasn't going to cut it. Trust me, she was happy with it, but, it looked a lot better with the new digital camera I bought her for her present. Suddenly, the bib number was great.

And why "Alien son?" Well, I am the only family member who does anything athletic, at least to the level I do, so, she doesn't know where it comes from. So, most days, she will refer to me, in public as her Alien Son. I've actually been introduced by her to strangers as that. Thing is, she may be on to something. She usually is. Love you Mom.

To My Grandmother, on her 96th Birthday

2008-08-08T11:41:00.002-05:00

"Persistence is what has gotten us this far. That, and heaps upon heaps of determination. We had nothing handed to us, actually, we felt unwanted at times; looked at with disdain, and called several names. But not a one of us, your Grandfather in particular, who had to learn a new language, kept his head down and pushed forward. And that's what's in all of his grandchildren. Determination - persistent determination." Excerpt from "Her Kitchen Table - my conversations with Laura Petruzzelli"

On August 3, 2008, I raced the Mideast Regional Du Championships, against a pretty rock solid field. I was not peaking, I was not on fresh legs, having raced 2 weeks prior, and snagging a big win in Michigan at Clark's Lake, where heat and 90% humidity ruled the day, (neither of which are my friend), and got the AG win I have been trying to get for the last 4 years. It was made even sweeter with my 3rd place OA, and the fact that I won my AG, 35-39, on my first try.

However, on this same day, my grandmother Laura, turned 96. That's right, she's 96. Completely mentally clear, gets around just fine. She has been a guest at my place for UFC Fight Night Parties, and is never one to miss a good time. So, after accepting my award on this past Sunday, I jumped in my truck to get to her birthday party, and to give her a gift that I knew she would like - my race number, with a note written on it from me.

Some might think, " you gave your grandmother a race bib? A sweaty, dirty race bib? You couldn't pony up for something better?" Actually, I could, but, as she has told all of us, at 96, she doesn't need much. And to be honest, she doesn't. She has her home, her family, her health, and lots of love. Material things were never a big deal to her - its what comes from the heart that she treasures most.

On Sunday, really the whole weekend, I thought much about her, and my grandfather, whom I am named after, and everything they went through, and what she continued to go through, every day, to keep our family together. For a lot of us, doubt can creep in pretty easily before a race; you may not think the course suits you, the weather isn't what you like, the field is tough, etc. I know a let some of these thoughts enter my mind, and I know, its wrong. But it happens, and at a race I have had a huge issue with for the last 4 years, the negative thoughts were swirling all week. But, I remembered my grandmother, not just who she is today, but what she stands for, for our whole family. She is the rock, the stalwart, and living proof age is only a number.

When the race started it was hot, and humid, and racing on roads covered with 6 feet of corn on either side, I knew it wasn't going to change. But, I kept thinking about her words of encouragement in my life, her letters to me at college, and after, encouraging me, when times were at the darkest for me. Her words rang even louder, when I threw up, twice, on the bike course. I didn't stop riding, I barely even slowed down, knowing she wouldn't stop either. And when I got to the second run, feeling dizzy and dehydrated, with 10K to go, I did as my grandfather did - put my head down and pushed forward. I know at those moments he was with me, watching from above, and back home, my grandmother knew in her heart, that I had it within me to suffer, greater than the others, and that would carry the day. And, she was, as she usually is, right. I crossed the line, and touched my heart twice, once for grandpa, and once for her. My grandfather's spirit, and my grandmother's words raced with me Sunday, and I couldn't have done it without them.

I know I talk about my family, and we laugh, at length, how we have some really funny times, superstitions, and quirks, all stemming from "The Old Country", but, I wouldn't be who I am without them. So, dedicating the race to my grandmother was not only the least I could do, but it was the most memorable gift I could give her - its one we can share.

Thanks again to all my sponsors, friends, and especially to my coach, Jen, who continues to have faith that I will do the right thing at races, even if I can't figure out my hydration. But, hey, it doesn't hurt to hope, right Jen?

Rudy Project - Click To Win Contest

2008-08-07T16:52:00.002-05:00

Rudy Project - Click To Win Contest

Ohio - its always been good to me

2008-07-09T12:08:00.002-05:00

Its that time of the year where those of us who are duathletes, living in the Mideast Region, must make the pilgramage east to Ohio, to get in quality racing. So, for the last 3 weeks I have been to my "home away from home", both Northern and Southern Ohio, racing, and hoping to find good form. Thankfully, the trips proved to be worth it. I raced the Maumee "Battle of the Bay" Olympic Distance Duathlon on June 22, and with strong head and cross winds, was able to get away and stay away on the bike, netting the overall win for the amatuer open, and 3rd overall among the elites. I did still have problems on my second run, as there was no shade and the heat and sun, had me start to dehydrate bad. Fortunately, I was able to hold it together long enough to get a great finish. Plus, I added to my points with the AG win, in the Mideast Du Series, which I am hoping to win again.
From there, I decided to race, for the first time, over the 4th of July weekend. So, I headed back to Ohio, this time to the very popular and well attended Ceasar Creek Duathlon, where over 800 athletes, for the tri and du, came to race on a great course. Although marketed as an Olympic Distance race, both runs were long - the opening 5K turned out to be 3.6, and the bike, was actually 28 miles, not a 40K. And the humidity, always present in southern Ohio in the summer was in full swing. But, I battled again, and used a smart first run and solid bike to get me enough time to win the open Olympic Distance Du, and 2nd among the elites. Another great race for points, but, my body still did not respond well to the heat. According to my friend who was watching, by time I started the second loop of the second run, I turned a different color. He didn't recognize me at first, that's how much sun I got in less than 20 minutes. I was dizzy, dehydrated and exhausted when I crossed the line, but when the RD told me where I finished, I revived enough to raise my arms, and give a shout, so thankful that I was starting to put it together. Now, all I need to do is figure out my hydration, and maybe I can beat the elites. The one thing that has definitely helped - Roctane. That stuff is my "go to" nutrition on the bike, and has been critical for me in these last 2 races. It really works.

As always, I need to thank my persistent and determined coach, who, started racing again, after giving birth some 10 weeks ago, and is doing quite well. Also, I want to thank my sponsors, who, are always a huge help. In particular, I want to thank the one guy who was determined to get me aero on my bike, no matter how many fits we did - Rich Ducar of the Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn. He shook his head in frustration at me, more often than either of us would care to remember, but, he hung in there, and the fit has made all the difference.

Also, a big thanks to my friend Greg, and his Mom for coming to watch the race this past weekend. It was a huge boost, and I was really happy to see them.

The Bog I should have written weeks ago

2008-06-24T09:08:00.002-05:00

"Honey, this family is one of survivors. At the core, we are a blue collar family, with strong morals, and ethics, but its our love for one another that we use to help each other. We are a family of immigrants, born of strength, and honor, and love. You'll be surprised at how strong your family truly is" - From "Her Kitchen Table - my Sunday afternoons with Laura Petruzzelli" , February 2004

I know that the reason I started this blog was to write about racing, training and multi-sport in general. And to that end, I have done so, and to keep that up, I will comment that I races this past weekend, and won the Overall open title for the Olympic Distance Du at Maumee Bay in Ohio, - the Battle of Ohio. It was a great feeling and a great win, one I definitely needed, and hope to build on for the rest of the season. And I need to thank my ever-patient coach, Jenny Garrison, for her faith, and her drive, to make sure I didn't get down on myself from prior races, and held it together, even in the roughest times on Sunday

But, what I really wanted to write about, and haven't for a few weeks, was something I witnessed over the weekend of May 31-June 1. It was the 2 day, Avon Breast Cancer Walk, and my sister, girlfriend and cousin, a breast cancer survivor, participated. For those who don't know what its about, its a 2 day walk, where the participants walk 26.2 miles the first day, and 13.1 on the second, finishing at Soldiers Field. This was my sister's second time at this, she had done it last year as well, and I was there with her, her husband and my niece to watch her finish. This year, it hit even closer to home when my girlfriend decided she too wanted to do it, and when my family discovered that another of my cousins had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

So, over that weekend, I watched a sea of pink, band together, close to 5000 people strong, walking for to stomp out this disease. And there were all walks of life, from mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, grandmothers, all, walking together, laughing, and crying to complete this journey, and show thier support, to prove that they will not go gentle into that good night. As an athlete, it was inspiring, beautiful actually, knowing these women, weren't out there to compete with one another, but to help each other. Strangers, stopped to give some water or Gatorade to a walker in need. These women, with a complete out-pouring of love and determination, the likes of which you rarely see anymore. Over those 2 days, those women dwarfed what I do as an athlete, b/c they did it for someone else, the entire process was selfless. There was no medal or trophy at the finish, just food, and family, and respect, and a well deserved thank you, for doing something for others.

As an athlete, that can be a very foriegn concept. When we race, we are usually doing it for ourselves. Even if the proceeds of entry fees go to charity, we are still out there to win, for ourselves, not others. We can easily pay lip service to saying how important it is that we do races for a cause, but, at the end of the day, we hope it is our name that is called to come to the podium to get our award. I fully admit, I do that, and I venture to guess others do as well. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Which is why what these women did, is that much more amazing to me. You can't get a multi-sport athlete to walk around the block for coffee, let alone 39 miles. It just doesn't happen. I know this, b/c everyone I talked to about it, said the same thing - "No way I'm walking that far. I'll run 20 miles, but walk? Are you nuts?" Or some variation thereof.

So how does that quote from my grandmother fit in? Well, watching my sister do that walk, I realized, she is living proof of my grandmother's words. I think a lot of us in this family embody those sentiments, but, on that weekend, she shone brightest, and it was made even clearer by the words she wrote on her bib number - "I am walking for those who can't". My sister, who carries my grandmother's name, without realizing it, carries her heart and soul as well. My sister is not an athlete, but, she would be damned if she didn't finish that walk, and do it in a pretty good clip to boot.

Unfortunately, in my family, cancer is all around us. Uncles, aunts, fathers, mothers, daughters, brothers, lots of people in my family suffer different variations of it. I lost my Nonno to it, and I lost a piece of myself as well when she died. But, I know, as a family, we will fight, and fight, and fight, till the bitter end, to survive, and more importantly, become stronger as we battle through. And I know too, that my roots, lie within my grandmother's words as well, and it is that, my fellow readers, that I used this past weekend, to remind myself why, I cannot ever quit, why I cannot and will never give up; its not in my genes. No matter how white the pain, it is nothing compared to what she, and others in my family survived.

So this is for both Lauras in my life - at 33 and 96 I have learned more from both of you than any class, book, lecture, etc. And most importantly, I learned what I am made of.

2/3's of a good race still won't get you the podium

2008-06-09T15:32:00.005-05:00

Hey all,

Well, I want to keep this brief, b/c if I don't, I'll get more frustrated, and for those who know me, that's not good. Before I start, let me reiterate, I hate, hate the weather in Chicago, as we again were treated to really special stuff this past weekend. A little over a week ago, I was riding in winter cycling gear, in 45 degree weather. This past Sunday, 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity. Plenty of time to acclimate.

Now, I sweat more than your typical athlete, I mean a lot more. Like, crazy amounts more. I'm the guy wringing his shirt out in 70 degree weather, so, days like yesterday, not my friend. But, I was positive I had hydrated properly, and took all the steps to be ready for the heat. And for the most part, I was. But only for the most part.

The Battle of Batavia, looked to be competitive yesterday, with some of the fast guys I raced against in Galena showing up to duke it out on a flatter course. A course, which suited me just fine. I had broke the first run record last year, and was hoping to stay with the fast guys on the first run so I wouldn't lose time on the bike. Once I got to the race, I was dealt a bit of bad news, the race director decided to split the Du into 2 waves, by Bib number. So, numbers 1-75 went first, 76 and over went off 4 minutes later. Mind you, this is being run in conjunction with a tri, so there are a lot of people all over the place, and a lot of them were first timers. My number was 82, I was second wave. The guys I wanted to race with, were in the first wave. When I looked at my wave, I knew I had no one to pace with, so, I politely, yes politely, asked to be in the first wave. I was told no, and accepted the answer, it wasn't going to change how I was going to race anyway. So, we went off, and I went hunting, looking to pick off people from the first wave, and use them as a carrot to help me keep pace. I entered T1 with a comfortable 11:58 opening 2.4 mile run, and felt good getting on the bike. I knew I was on a good day, checking my watts and speed, I was motoring. And I felt good. I mean, not just physically, but mentally, and not to get to existenntial, but spiritually as well. I was making up time, and I knew it. I wasn't passed once on the bike, and just kept tracking down that first wave. Got off the bike, took my initial few strides, and felt loose, so I started to go. The heat was bad, but, it wasn't until about 1.5 miles into the second run that I really felt it. My body started to shake with the chills, and I was getting dizzy.

I backed off my pace a bit, and was determined to keep running, and not stop. I knew I was giving back time, but, I was not going to give in. The last mile was torture, I was really dizzy, started to get tunnel vision, and thought I was going to black out. I crossed the line, and by the time they got my chip off, I leapt into a bush and started to vomit for a good 5-7 minutes. Fortunately, my girlfriend was there, and grabbed a medic, who took me in the ambulance. After a few minutes my vitals came down to acceptable levels, and I started to feel a bit better. Until I realized, I gave back all the time I made up on the lead group.

When the dust settled, I was less than 2 minutes out of the top 3, and less than 20 seconds out of 2nd in my AG to boot. The moral of the story - the race is not just about the 2 or 3 legs we race, its about the nutrition, hydration, rest, everything that goes with it. I thought I did everything right, but in talking with my sister, a nurse, and my team director, there were about 3 things I could have done differently that would have saved my race. The silver lining - it wasn't my legs. My legs were there, and the power and strength was there too. So, back to the drawing board with my coach, and figure out ways to beat you guys who beat me this weekend.

Family - Blood's thicker than water, but, what do you do when that Blood is crazy?

2008-05-28T11:01:00.003-05:00

This is less of a blog about training and racing, and more of an insight into my support system, my family. Its funny I say support system, because the traditional thought is, a support system would be considered, particularly in multi-sport, as a group of people who are there to help you, encourage you, and basically be the moral support you need to race. This past Memorial Day, my family gathered at one of my Aunt's house, and reminded me of our twisted form of "support". Ours is not, what one would consider, traditional. When we support, we mean, taunting, razzing, and constantly asking the question, "So, when do you think you'll stop doing all this non-sense?" Real feel good moments. But, I know, in thier own way, they are there for me, even if its to laugh at me after I crash.

But this gathering of about 20 of us, proved once again, why I don't think its a great idea to invite them out to a race. First off, 20 of us, sounds like 220 people, all working in the options Pit at the Chicago Merc during a huge trading frenzy. And we wonder why, at the age of 40, most of us are hard of hearing. I have always considered myself fortunate to be Italian, and in particular, 100% Italian, from parents who are immigrants, where Italian is still spoken as often as English. Most of my family has kept that same tack - marrying 100% Italian husbands or wives, so, its basically family, on top of family, but, we all understand each other. And I have always laughed at the stereotypes of Italians portrayed in the media, b/c, I know better. But, the one thing Hollywood got right, we are loud, I mean louder than necessary. For an outsider, it would seem as though there is a huge fight breaking out, when in reality, its just us talking. That's why it always seems like there are more of us, we are basically shouting at each other just to talk about the weather. Still, every male in my family tells me the same thing, don't marry an Italian girl, they are crazy and this family can't take any more crazy. On Memorial Day, truer words could not have been spoken.

So, on this great holiday, with many of my cousins around, and my 95 year old grandmother in the house, my generation decided it was time to remind our parents and granparents, at the bang up job they did at raising us. We started trading war stories as to emotional scars we got as kids, that have stayed with us well into our adult life. Not to mention the ridiculous superstitions we grew up with, only to discover, how goofy we looked, making the sign of the cross every time someone sneezed or dropped a fork.

But, back to the stereotypes. The common theme in American culture is that the Italian male is the head of the family. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every Italian family I know has a matriarch, and let me tell you, even from her deathbed, she still rules with an iron fist. There is no one who will get the attention of a room full of family like the eldest female. She calls the shots, trust me. And by all means, don't make her mad. The same is true for us. My grandmother, God bless her, is completely mentally clear, and gets around fine. Heck, she still remembers the names of her grammar school teachers. However, she has been a bit ill as of late, so, we are always concerned when that happens. So, to see her at my Aunt's talking and laughing was great. Until it was story time. She was all smiles until one of my older cousins decided to explain his fear of elevators, and why, it was her fault.

Now, my Gram has always been a tough lady, but, she still has a huge heart, and is extremely sweet and nice. But you get her going, and watch out. Apparently, at the tender age of 4, my Gram and her sister, took my cousin in question to Bonds Department store, while babysittiing. So, they got in an elevator to get to the floor they wanted, and low and behold the elevator, did not go up, but rather rapidly, descended, and opened to a Fallout Bomb Shelter, designed for a nuclear attack. Understandably, this was a bit traumatic to my cousin, at the age of 4, and made all the more so, by my Gram and her sister laughing. However, my cousin, wasn't laughing quite as hard, and as he aged, developed a true fear of elevators.

Now, as he relayed this story, my Gram's ears perked up, and for everthing she remembers about her grandchildren, and she remembers quite a bit, that little piece of history escaped her. However, what she did remember was baby sitting my cousin on later occassions and having to walk up flights of stairs b/c he wouldn't get on an elevator. And she made it quite clear, she was none too thrilled about that, either. Of course, this was all wrapped around the phrase, "If you weren't such a cry baby, I wouldn't have had to damn near kill myself to get your grandfather a pair of socks!" As another cousin mentioned, its phrases like that, which are usually the start of a horrible fight.

As most of us ran for cover to laugh, my cousin, sat there in shock, at the fact that my grandmother had been holding a grudge having to walk stairs all this time. Not to mention, she didn't remember why he was afraid of elevators, until the age of 18, even though she may have had something to do with it. But she wasn't done there. She was just getting warmed up. One by one, she was tearing apart all of our life-scarring stories, and we couldn't help but laugh at each other, when our stories were told through the words of this woman we all looked at as our sweet grandmother. But at 95, why hold back? I fully supported her rant, realizing, why not tell everyone how you feel? I mean, I think if you reach the age of 80, the gloves can come off. Sure, some of us have nervous twitches, some of us have physical scars that will never go away, others have debilitating fears of spoons, but, we are all family, so, its ok. Ok, so, maybe some grown men in my family still can't climb a ladder without the fear of getting pitched off, that's ok, we're FAMILY - these things happen.

The funniest part is, when I talk to friends about my childhood, or even my adult life with my family, I realize, its not just any family, its our FAMILY that is insane. Now, anyone who knows me, knows, I am far from normal, but, at one point, between laughing fits on Monday, I was at the kitchen counter with my sister, and we both watched these people, our blood, telling each other horrible things about one another, and stories of our youth, that we don't even remember, and realizing, that, we are 2 things, really looney, and really lucky. See my Gram's point was dead on. Yeah, we are all goofy, but, its us, its our blood, its our family, they are our stories. They are our history. They are our tears and sounds of laughter. They are our highs and lows.

When I started this blog, my family was at the front my thoughts, b/c no one provides greater fodder for something like this than the people closest to you. So, I suppose the Italian stereotype of having a big, close family is true. But, that's only a small part of the story. Its what that closeness brings, both good and bad. But you go through it all together. I have 3 cousins, all female, all sisters, who live on the same block. Now, I love my sister, but, if I had to see her everyday, one of us would be in the morgue. And, honestly, we all had odds if the 3 girls would make it without a hate crime. Its not to say they don't fight, but, by and large, they get along, and have grown even closer. They realized that no matter how many friends they make, no one will be closer to them, than each other. No one will support them more. And that's what a true familial support system means.

So, do I mind that my family thinks that racing is crazy? Well, when you consider the source, no. My main point of this blog is, no matter how wacky your support system is, as we get into the heart of the season, remember to thank them, and love them back, even if they are nuts. Me, I'm still trying to get over my whole fear of spoons.

Galena - Don't Let the Race Get Away from You

2008-05-19T11:51:00.002-05:00

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 10:06 am Post subject: Galena Triathlon/Duathlon

Well, it was time for me to forget about a horrible Nationals, and there is no better way then to go do the hilliest short race in the Region - Galena. Went out there Thursday night, and realized once I got there what a great place it is to train. Hills are everywhere, and its a perfect place for a team camp. Stayed at Eagle Ridge, which is the best place to ride and run, and not be bothered by traffic. Got to the race on Saturday, and in typic fashion, the duathlon started well after the tri - actually 50 minutes after the tri's first wave. So, we hung out at the duathlon start line around 8:45, with over an hour to kill before we went off. The tri looked like it was heating up, lots of guys coming up the steep climb out of transition, and hitting the bike course hard. Finally, it was time for the Du to start, and the 34 and under took off first. The first run, which was advertised as a 2 mile run, turned out to be a 2.6 mile run, but, don't get me started on the treatment of duathletes. Anyway, 3 minutes later, and the 35-39 men took off. The first run is mainly straight down hill, and then a short, 300 meter climb at 8% to the turn around. I was leading the run for my wave, and catching half of the the first wave by mile 1. I hit the 1 mile mark at 5:25, and felt really comfortable, not, pushing hard, turned around to head up, and got to the 2 mile mark, with about a 30 second lead. I noticed there were only 3 guys from that 34 and under wave still ahead of me, but, there was lots of real estate left, so, I wasn't too worried, plus, they had a 3 minute head start. Got to transition, and basically had to wait in line to get out, mobs of swimmers coming out of transition as well, and the duathletes were put at the farthest rack from Bike Out. Anyway, got on my bike and felt pretty solid. Then the head wind picked up, and the hills started to bite into my legs. I went into conservation mode, and tried to just relax as much as possible on the early climbs. By mile 6 I had lost a couple of spots, but, I tried to stay calm and get around the slower triathletes as I rode. The ride was hillier than I thought, tons of sharp, steep climbs, and with the head wind, I was losing time, and I could feel it. I dug in about mile 9, and tried to hammer as much as possible, trying to stay consistent. The road was packed with triathletes, most of whom were having a hard time climbing, and were swerving all over the road. With no race marshalls, people were riding 3 across, and it was a bit dangerous. Got into T2 and knew I had to make up some time. I hit the first mile, which is a pleasant 6.3% climb for 400 meters, then, you turn and climb at 8% for another 400 meters, and slowly climb to the first mile mark. But, I was making up time, and I knew it. I was cramping bad by mile 1.5, but I ignored my stomach and just kept going. The run basically is a climb all the way to the turn around, but after the first mile, its not really bad. I passed 2 duathletes and kept hunting for more. At the turn around I saw the 3 guys from the first wave, and I was on them. By mile 3, my stomach was on fire, but, I knew I was almost home. The last mile takes you down hill the same way you came up, so, I tried to run it as best I could, thinking I was in good shape. When the results came out, I was a bit dissapointed, 8th OA, and 4th in my AG. The silver lining, the only place I gave up time was on the bike. Admittedly, I'm not the best climber, but, I was hoping to ride at least 5 minutes faster than I did. But, definitely a confidence boost for my running, with an opening 2.6 at 14:56, including a one mile climb, that averaged 7% and a second run that ended up being the 4th fastest overall. The biggest thing I learned - DON'T GET COMPLACENT. When I was riding, and in the second run, I was passing a lot of people and thought, man, I am doing well, I am making up time. What I stopped doing was - pushing. We all have moments like this - we are doing well, things seem like we are in the lead - so, we stop pushing. That's a bad move. And that's exactly what I did. I was passing everyone, but, not realizing I wasn't passing the right people, b/c unconsciously, I wasn't going to redline pace, and that's what I should have done. So, when you are out there - stay focused, no matter where you are in the race, don't start to to let the race get away from you. Especially if you are feeling good, and want a good finish - you need to keep the pace up. Saw teammate Simon Trude and his girlfriend, looked like they had a great race as well.

April Showers bring Road Rash....

2008-04-30T15:34:00.002-05:00

So, its been a while since my last post, as I was preparing for the Duathlon Short Course National Champs, this past weekend. Everything was going pretty well, I was staying healthy and out of trouble, which, is pretty amazing for me. I even had my lactate threshold tested on the bike the weekend before the race, and felt a good sense of confidence heading out to Richmond, VA.

I had heard all the usual things you hear from other athletes about the course - it varied from being pretty easy, to flat out impossible, with a little in between. Our sport is great when it comes to exaggeration, we're worse than fisherman. Some guy I talked to, couldn't believe I would leave the comforts of the Midwest to race in the Hills of Virginia; as if one of the climbs was the next Alpe D'Huez. But, I felt my fitness would carry the day, no matter the conditions.

So, I headed out to Richmond, and arrived in sunshine and 80 degree weather. It was unreal. There were college girls in bikinis, the race course was 2 blocks from my hotel, there were college girls in bikinis, the run was mostly off-road, which I love, and did I mention, there were college girls in bikinis, laying out, getting sun, all over the run course?

Friday and Saturday, I followed my tradition, of sleeping a ton, only going out to train, and generally avoiding a lot of people and aggrevation. I did manage to get some sun from training, and it felt great. The warm air, the warm breeze, my legs took to it all and I felt great. Right up to Saturday night, when the first crash of thunder came. I figured, the rain would pass by morning, and even if it didn't, I have always raced well in the rain, so, what's the big deal?

Everyone is huddled in transition, which is now like cold soup, setting up, trying not to get thier racing flats soaked, while trying to warm up. The 80 degrees was replaced with 55 and 95% humidity, and it only got worse. I still felt good though, so, I shrugged it off, and went to the start line.

It was mile 3 of the first run that I felt them, and they did not arrive gently. I sensed something wasn't right, I was pouring sweat, and suddenly, wasn't sweating nearly as much. The chills crept up my back, my arms and my legs. The first thing I thought, "I'm blowing up, I'm dehydrating 17 minutes into the National Championship." There were no mile makers, but, the run was 2 loops to make up the opening 10K. So, on the second loop, I slowed down considerably, and hit both water stops. I went into damage control, and started thinking, let them go, you'll get fluid on the bike, and will catch up. But once I got to my bike, things got ugly.

The bike course started on steep, short incline, on a blacktop road, with several quick switchbacks. I got on my ride, started up the climb, and got out of the saddle for the second switchback. Next thing I knew, I was kissing pavement, and blood was coming out of my right elbow, and forearm. Then, I did something I have never done in a race: I looked up at the sky, lied there for a couple of minutes and debated quitting. The race wasn't 45 minutes old, and I was on the ground and dehydrated. As I write this, I don't know what made me get up, but I did,, checked my bike and took off for the 4 looped course.

The rain came and went in spurts, and on this ridiculous course, we had to manuever through a parking lot, that lead to a forest preserve. It also required us to make a 180 degree turn, on wet pavement, with tree seeds lying everywhere. As I safely rounded the turn on my second loop, I again got out of the saddle and accelerated. Same result, me on the ground, now with more blood, and a red stain starting to come through my race suit, on my right hip. At this point, I knew, my day was done. Everytime I tried to get out of my saddle to accelerate, I could feel my back wheel, start to give, so, for all the power I had in my legs, it was rendered useless.

The second run was a formality to get to the med tent. It was my worst race as a duathlete, and I picked one of the biggest stages to do it on.

Now, most of you are probably wondering, what's the point though? I mean, ok, yeah, you had a bad race, but what do we learn from this. Well, let me tell you. My immediate reaction on the ride home was - " I need another race immediately to prove that I am fast and belong with the top guys out there." And, for the last 4 days, that's all I have bugged my coach about. But, she has stayed firm, and pointed out that, gut reactions like that, are not always the best choice. And she's right. As type A's, we hate failure, and let me tell you, I can't stand it. It stays with me, and haunts me until I am able to right the ship. We need that immediate correction, otherwise, we go nuts. But, that's not the way to go. Yeah, I'm angry and frustrated, but, is sneaking in another race going to make things better, especially if that other race jeopordizes the plan I have for the season? No way. And, although it took my coach, my team director, and a fellow athlete to see this, I have concluded, we are all going to have bad days, and some stuff, like crashing on a wet course, is out of our control. The things we can control, like hydration, we fix, and move forward. The key phrase there is - MOVE FORWARD. Listen, ask my Mom, my sister, my Dad, anyone close to me, I will be miserable for days after a bad race, but, its not helping. The thing I have learned, is that, each race, has its place, and sometimes, they will provide more dissapointment than joy.

I'm not going to sit here and try to tell you I'm not angry, and that I am going to forget what happened, rather, I am channeling that energy to get me ready for my next race. I will take out my frustrations on that course, on that field. But wasting energy every day until then, re-thinking this past race in my head, its exhausting and pointless. The race is done, and I can't re-do it. None of us can. When this happens to any of us, use the one muscle we don't use enough - your head. Take a couple of days, and mellow out. Train, for sure, but, don't use every training session to try and re-do the race. Don't even think about your next race, at least not for a couple of days, and just train, clear your head space. Stop over-thinking. I think I say this more for me, than for everyone else, but think about it. And remember this, the only race you can't recover from is the one you can't let go of. Its like pining over lost love, which I have also done. And you know what that got me? A huge phone bill, some big credit card bills sending gifts that were never used, and more emptiness. Its the same with your racing. Learn what you can from it, and move on - move ahead.

Did I mention that there were girls in bikinis in Richmond? Sorry, its been a long winter.

So, You can't win a DU in the first mile of the first run, but you can definitely lose it...

2008-04-08T08:41:00.002-05:00

I know its been a while since I last posted, and with good reason. One, I was suffering from that absolutely horrid flu that was running around the city like flies at a picnic, and two, I was focusing on training for some upcoming races. So, I finally got to race outside this past weekend, in the great state of Tennessee. Ah, the South. where else can you find an adult book store, about 40 feet from a 4 story illuminated cross? You can't even make stuff like that up.

The best part about being a duathlete is that, you can almost be guaranteed you will be leaving bad weather, only to race in worse. And, true to form, that's exactly what happened. I drove through rain all of Friday, trained in rain and cold on Saturday on the course, and race in 48 degrees and damp. Of course, back home, here in Chicago, it was the nicest weekend in months. Another reason you triathletes don't realize how good you have it.

Anyway, on to the race. I was a bit nervous about the course, considering we were near the foothills of the Smokey Mountains, and, I have logged more computrainer time than I would like to remember, but, after riding it, I felt good. Yeah, it was hilly, but, my winter work had paid off. Actually, as I ran the course, I felt good. Really good. I went to bed feeling confiident and excited.

The next day, I got to the race site, set up and warmed up. I talked thru my game plan with my coach at least twice, to make sure we had it down. I kept quietly repeating my splits to myself as I warmed up. I knew I could do it. So, we lined up for the start, and the gun went off. I don't know if it was 10 or 20 seocnds into the first run, but, I took that beautiful game plan I had laid out, and framed in my head, ripped it up and tossed it in the trash. For whatever reason, and I really think it was b/c I was finally racing outside and felt good, I decided today would be a good day to open with a 4:30 opening mile, as if I hit the mile marker in that time, the race would end and I would be declared the winner. Like the other 3o miles of racing would be declared a nullity. Needless to say, I have had brighter moments in my life, but this day was not to be one of them. By the half way point of the opening run, I felt like I had cinder blocks for quads. And then my idiocy sank in, as guys who I had marked to stick with, including last year's winner, went past me.

So, I hung on, running 2 minutes slower than I had planned, and then proceeded to hit that hilly bike course which seemed a lot hillier with fried legs. I finished the race off with a mediocre second run, that saw me do no more than pass a few athletes for an AG win, but, not the Overall place I hoped for. When I saw the splits, I realized, had I stuck to my plan, I would have been fighting for the win, or a top 3 finish at worst. Instead, I barely rounded out the top 10.

So, as I try to with this blog, is impart some knowledge of my errors on to others - when feeling good, DON'T DITCH YOUR PLAN - STAY CONTROLLED. For triathletes its the equivalent of having the fastest 400 meters in the swim in the mile swim, with the rest of the race to go. It gets you nothing, except tired and burnt out. Whatever you planned on proving, you didn't, but you did prove you are an idiot. I was talking with the top 3 guys after the race, and they all couldn't help but ask, "what the hell were you doing?" You looked like you were in a sprint." Indeed, a sprint apparently only I was the only one racing that sprint. The other athletes realized there was more racing to be done. Yes, I learned a very valuable lesson.

But more importantly, I had hoped to learn more from this race exactly where my fitness is. And because I raced like a moron, I didn't get that info. Early season races, need to be treated with as much care as your A races, b/c they are your gauge - they will help you determine where you are either lacking or excelling, and help you build from there. But, you need to race smart to get that info. My coach can still use my results to make changes, but, the biggest change has to be to my head, the one muscle athletes sometimes neglect until its too late. I have always been a big believer of racing from the gut, but, if you aren't careful, you too will be giving gifts like the one I did this weekend. And for those who read this and know me, I hate giving gifts, particularly at races.

So, be smart out there. Use your head, not just your gut when you race. It can definitely save you the same aggrevating experience I had. And to that guy from Indy who pimped me in the last 400 meters of the run, I'll see you again at Short Course Nationals, and trust me, I won't be giving gifts that day. To the rest of you, pay close attention to my dumb move. It could save your next race.

Why Esquire Magazine needs to re-think its "Ten Things Men Don't Know About Women" Segment

2008-03-20T14:21:00.002-05:00

So, as a commuter, I can only play Brickbraker on my phone so often before I start to go nuts, so, I do my best to get a good book, or a good magazine to keep me occupied for my train ride. I usually head for ProCycling, or Bicycling, or Velonews, as a fan of cycling. I know I am a multi-sport athlete, but, honestly, I can't take the tri mags we have. The emphasis on "Tri" We duathletes get it, your sport is bigger, draws bigger numbers, gets more pub, blah, blah, blah. But, aren't you guys even sick of the repetition of the articles? I mean, unless you are a straight IM athlete, what do you read those for? Please don't tell me product reviews, b/c you and I both know you are way better off reading a single sport magazine to get a more thorough review. And please don't tell me you race to get the newest issue b/c of Scott Tinley's column. I would like to think that we, as a multi-sport community, are smarter than this.

Anyway, I was purusing the magazines and noticed Esquire magazine. Now, I try to stay up on current events, including men's fashion. Since I am stuck wearing a suit most days, it never hurts to see what's out there. Plus, Rachel Hunter is turning 39 and looks as hot as ever in this month's issue, so, you see my point. But, for some reason, this rather tasteful magazine, has added a new section, apparently to remind us males, how little we know about women. First off, ladies, trust me on this, we are well aware as to how little we know about women. As a point of fact, when we do talk about women, the general consensus is, we don't understand you, never will, and are tired of trying. I know guys who wake up every morning and apologize to their wife just in case something happens later in the day.

So, I started to read this month's "10 Things" which is always written by some celebrity, who, sorry guys, none of us have a chance in hell of ever dating, let alone getting within 50 feet for fear of a restraining order. Now I have read former "10" columns in the past, but, this time I realized, there is some bs going on here. It seemed more like "10 things you don't know about THIS woman" not womankind in general. So, I started to ask some female friends if there was any merit to her statements. Turns out, not really. So, now, we have a problem, b/c schmucks like me are reading this column every month, and thinking "Wow, look at everything I am learning about the female species! I am so hip! I am so with the times! I'll get a date in no time!", when in reality, we are better off reading Bazooka Joe comics. So, I say, shame on Esquire, b/c we males, have been duped again, which, honestly is not super hard to do, in believing these women were speaking for their entire gender, when in reality, they were simply talking about themselves. And like I said, unless you are a celebrity, and I am talking A-list here, you aren't getting close to these women.

What I realized though, is that women are desperate to teach us stuff about them, in the hopes that somehow, our eyes will open, and we will run to pick up "Martha Stewart' Living", "The Secret" and get tickets to see the "Vagina Monologues". Ladies, let me tell you, you are trying way too hard. Now, I don't profess to be an expert at relationships, as a point of fact, I am horrible at them. My most lasting relationship is with my niece, and that's only b/c she is 4 and doesn't know any better yet. But if you are so desperate to teach the males of this planet how to understand you better, let me tell you a few things about your target audience. And guys, you really can't get mad at me here, b/c 1. I am not sharing the big secrets, and 2. In the long run, this info should help you. Always looking out for my boys.

First, women, the most important thing you need to know about us - we are not that smart. Period. Example - male multi-sport athlete knows for months his mate's sister is getting married, and that his gal is the maid of honor. Knows, maybe even penciled the date on the fridge. But, on that same Saturday, he is slated for a 5 hour ride in Wisconsin with some other athletes, and is fully intent on going. See, in his mind, he can, do the ride, come home, take a nap and make it to the reception on time - perfect! Of course, this is absolutely contrary to the female's notion as to how the day should go. So, ladies, what you do is TELL US WHAT YOU WANT. Trust me, we are not mind readers. If we are left alone for too long, the idea of changing clothes becomes an issue. So, don't assume we will know what the standard course of action for a specific event is, b/c we don't. See we aren't dumb in the get up, go to work, go to school, make money, train right, keep tabs on your fantasy teams, sense. We are just clueless on stuff for relationships. We aren't doing stuff out of spite or to make your life more difficult, we honestly don't know any better.

Second, and this falls in line with the first thing, give us direction as to what you really want. If you want us to go and see your parents with you, say " I would like you to come and see my parents with me." Or, and even more important, tell us, EXACTLY how you feel. If you say, "I'm fine" and you aren't, we will ponder it for about 5 seconds and then move on to the ball game. Then, when you come flying around the corner of the living room 5 days later telling us why you are upset about something that happened 3 weeks ago at the mall, we are not only caught off guard, its going to take a monumental amount of effort for us to even remember 3 days ago, let alone 3 weeks. So, when in doubt, let it out, right then and there. Otherwise, its like it didn't happen, at least to us.

Lastly, and this goes for all of us, we all look at other women. Just like you ladies look at other guys, you are just more subtle about it. Now, I am not advocating that a guy should walk around with his girl, like his head is on a swivel, but, we are going to look. Especially in our sport, where, let's face it, its all pretty much on display. How do you not notice the tiny girl with the circus breasts in transition? Here's the crucial part - guys - you're lady knows you are looking, but doesn't need you doing any of the following: drooling, staring so bad you start to go cross-eyed, or pointing at her to your girl and say "Check that out! I bet she floats just fine!" That, would be in poor taste. Trust me, tried it, got left at the race site. Not pretty. But ladies, we are going to look. Here's the important part - WE ARE JUST LOOKING - WE AREN'T TRYING TO GET WITH THEM. Have some confidence that your man is happy with you, he's just, well, a guy. Its what we do. Its like my locker room blog, you don't even want to know the nonsense we do in private or even in public when we think no one is looking. I have seen more businessmen pick thier ass in public than I like to think about it. It doesn't matter eductation, social status, etc., guys have these common denominators, and you ladies need to realize them, so that your life will be easier.

I know this won't make it into Esquire, but maybe, just maybe, some ladies will go home, look at thier man, and just give him a knowing hug and kiss. Or, maybe, I am about to get a lot more hate mail than I normally do. Either way, I think I made a pretty decent point. Now, go back to your Inside Tri Magazine to read about the right gear ratio for IM Placid. Especially all of you who never plan on racing it.

Sometimes, staying inside isn't such a bad thing....

2008-03-11T16:23:00.001-05:00

I don't usually like to talk about my racing results in general, because, well, I always get the impression that non-athletes get bored hearing it, and athletes are ready to start comparing times. But, on this occassion, I wanted to get something out there.

As some of you know, I was in Phoenix last month, getting ready to race the Desert Classic Du, and unfortunately, got hit by a horrible ear infection that knocked me out of competing. I found brooding over the subject for a few days to be comforting, but, thanks to the advice of my coach, I found another race right away, an Indoor Duathlon, in Orland Park. Perfect. Nice and close to home. Low key, and I could even convince some of the family to come out. So, I set my mind to training, and getting in a race.

The mind plays tricks with you when you miss a race, but, what I learned is, you can outsmart yourself. The key is, think slow. For me, this isn't too hard, b/c well, I'm not too bright. But, when you think slow, you learn to deal with things easier, and stop your mind from reeling. And that's what I did. I just focused on training and getting a race in my legs.

I got to the event early Saturday morning, and a wave had already gone off. In it, contained last year's winner, and local health club bad ass, so, I figured it would be good to see his numbers before I took off. I went thru my warm up, and as usual, felt lousy, but was glad to have that feeling back. Then I pulled up my compression socks, all white of course, and in my black one-piece tri suit, took off. Now, as a few of you know, my sense of pacing is, well, poor. This day was no exception. It was a small track - 10 times around for a mile, but for whatever reason, I thought I was running on a nice 200 meter indoor track. Later in the day my ankles told me otherwise, but, I lit out, and really didn't think at all, only focused on going as fast as possible for the opening mile and a half run. When I hit the line for the last lap, the clock read 7:07. I thought it was wrong, but, then the pain was coming on full throtle, so, if nothing else, it felt like a 7:07.

Then on to the spin bikes, with no tension, pedaling away at 120 rpms. You know, just like a normal race. 10 miles of this nonsense, and then back to the track. I had a lead on everyone, but I wasn't going to let off the gas. I hit the second run, another 1.5 miler, and ended the show with an 8:20. I beat the leader and last year's winner by 3 miuntes. I would like to thank Pantera, as in the final laps, all I heard in my brain was "Cowboys from Hell" pushing me to finish. I didn't notice but a crowd had gathered, and I was shocked it was to see me and congratulate me on a great, and winning time. I was elated, and more importantly, felt like my fitness was where I wanted it to be.

The biggest point I want to make is, I know, as a lot of elite amatuer athletes do, we avoid indoor races, as they don't really mimic a true race. Well, maybe they don't but, I will tell you this, they do help provide people in a cold weather climate figure out where your fitness is. Am I going to go out and run my next race at 4:53 pace? Probably not, but, if I can make more turns than a clown car and still run sub 5's, well, that says something. So, instead of looking down your nose at the indoor races, use them to your advantage. If nothing else, it keeps you motivated training in the cold. Yeah, I was running around the track and noticed the cold and snow outside, but, I was RACING, and that felt great. Its true, if you are a hero in January, you probably will wilt before June, but, if you go out to a local indoor and have some fun, you may be suprised at what happens. I know I was.

I need to thank a few people, mainly, my coach, Jen, who kept me motivated, and definitely got me racing right. And to my folks, who, didn't think I was going quite fast enough, and needed to tell me to pick it up, everytime I went past. Nothing like watching your Mom making the hand motion to go faster as you are already at redline pace.

And to Jane, well, thanks for being there. You didn't have to be, but, as a true friend, you were a great source of inspiration.

To those reading this, thanks for reading. I will have funnier stuff coming up soon, but, for this race, the Black Sheep needed to get a good one in.

When in Doubt, put on a Towel

2008-03-04T14:22:00.002-06:00

So, there has been something that has been bugging me for a while, (I know, "one thing?") but, I realized again this week why it needs to be addressed and fixed asap. I am talking about locker room etiquette, at your local health clubs. Now, I am going to speak primarily from a male's perspective, but, I have the good fortune of having some inside info on you ladies as well, so, you will not be spared.

As a multi-sport athlete, who doesn't swim, and really doesn't lift, most of my workouts are done outside, or at home, on my trainer. I love the convience of that, b/c having a computrainer and a pretty thick skin for the cold, has provided me great opportunities to get more fit, while avoiding the club. But, there are times, when you just can't. For me, I have my dreaded treadmill speed workouts, which my coach finds amusing, knowing I am miserable on it, smacking my hands on the console, getting funny looks for my outfits, and generally hating everyone staring at me.

So, I was at the club again last night, and sure enough, it hit me. Now, I don't mean that literally, but I have to tell you some guys come damn close, when parading around the locker room. Let's start with the walking around naked. My whole thing is, why? I mean, I know its all guys, but, you aren't at home, believe it or not. And then, what in the sweet name of Jesus, are you doing sitting your bare ass down on a bench, that other guys use to put thier feet on to tie thier shoes? Its a shock there aren't more cases of cholera reported every year from this activity. Are you insane? You are putting your ass where Joe just tossed his dirty work boots on top of, to dry your feet. Think about that. No really, think about it. Think about what Joe walks thru every day before hitting the club. Now, envision that on your rear end. You can go vomit now.

I know its mainly the older fellows who practice this, but it doesn't make it any more right. A lot of clubs have TV's in the locker rooms, where you can catch up on sports, business, etc. And some clubs have couches, that seem inviting. Now, if you want to stop and watch a bit, great. But do you need to watch TV without any clothes on, after you just got out of the sauna? Basically, you have now thrown your sweaty ass down on the couch, where others have probably done the same, and again, exposed yourself to God knows what, while watching the O'Reilly Factor. Now, I know some guys don't want to go home, but, the club is still NOT your HOME. If you want to go work up a sweat, take off all your clothes and sit on your own couch, to watch the ballgame, great, just let me know that's what you do before I get invited over.

If this was the biggest infraction, it would be bad, but, unfortunately, I have seen worse. At some clubs, they have several amenities, combs, shaving cream and hair dryers, you know, for your man-perm. They key thing is that the hair dryer is reserved for the head. Never in my life have I looked at a hair dryer and thought, "Screw this towel thing, I am blow-drying myself!" So, what, could possibly possess you guys from using the blow dryer, that again, is a communal blow dryer, to clean, a. your genitals, or b. the crack of your ass? I mean, do you not realize you are not alone in the room? When I saw a guy drying his ass crack, I was mortified and thankful I don't have enough hair to even consider blow drying it.

See the key thing is, guys need to wake up and remember, you aren't at home, and you are not in private. Plus, others are going to use stuff, or sit where you are. And last thing guys, if you get a phone call in the locker room, please, please don't put one leg up on the bench, with your polo shirt on, sans pants or underwear. I don't need to see Johhny Businessman and all this glory as if he was doing deep knee bends without pants.

Now ladies, I have heard, from a very reliable source, you aren't much better. The difference is, men, really don't care about how we look in the locker room, we are just oblivous as to what we are doing. My understanding is that some of you ladies like to be on display. Like the ones who put on thier make-up with no clothes on. Or those who prance about the locker room, with nothing on, hoping to get some attention. What kind, I don't know, but, from what I understand, there are some proud ladies out there, who need to re-think that whole thing.

Here's the deal, anyone who knows me, knows I am not a prude, but, please, put something on. I don't care if you look like an Adonis, that's great. But save it for your lady, not for the boys. We get it, your buff, and fake-tanned. Congrats. Me, I am thinking of getting a treadmill for my place. With baseball season approaching, I don't know if I can handle trying to catch the Sox score with a bunch of sweaty naked guys hudled around the TV.

Why you shouldn't get sick in Phoenix, or learn to deal with dissapointment

2008-02-28T10:17:00.002-06:00

So, its been another week, and for all of those waiting for some great race report, I don't have one. The race didn't happen, well, at least not for me. Long story short, I was fighting a sinus infection before I left, contracted an ear infection when I got to Pheonix, and landed in the ER the night before the race in extreme pain, and extremely dizzy.

Now, the reason for the title of today's blog, is what happened at the ER. On top of waiting for 3 plus hours to get seen by a doctor, I was surrounded by, "snow birds". I am sure most of you know who I am talking about here, and let me tell you, there is nothing quite like being in an ER, in another state, surrounded by other people from out of state, who, all seem to have an extremely contagious, and deadly disease. Coughing up large amounts of something was going on everywhere, and I suddenly forgot my throbbing ear, and was looking for a HAZ-MAT suit. So, I went to another side of the ER, which was open and allowed me to actually take deep breaths without fear of catching Yellow Fever or Polio. But, as was my luck this entire trip, another "bird" wheeled herself to my area, and began to hack up what could only be described as tar. I kid you not, she could have tarred my family's old driveway from the south side of Chicago.

So, I basically balled myself in a corner, in the fetal position, with a Michael Jackson mask on, waiting for my name to be called. As the room began clearing out, I settled in, and started noticing I was the only person left in the waiting room. And 3 hours just blew by, as I was watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. Apparently, according to the nurse I asked, I required a bed for my condition, and there were none free. I don't know how she figured out my condition without examining me, but, some people just can sense things I guess. Anyway, I get into a bed with the curtain thing, and all my friends from the waiting room are in there, except now, they are hooked up to machines and leaking fluids, and moaning in pain. I was a bit concerned, to say the least. So, I get in, and I get a doctor, who was, to put it politely, less than interested. He threw that flashlight thing in my ear, and in my throat for all of 3 seconds, and told me I had the flu. I found that to be amazing, since none of the symptoms I stated were associated with the flu. But, as long as you have a stethescope and rectal thermometer, you can call it whatever you want. I asked him to look in my ear again, and then, he stated, "Well, it looks blocked, and red. You seem to be in pain, but I think, since you are going home in 2 days, you should see your physician for furthre care. I can give you Vicodin for the pain, if you want."

Ok, even reading what I just wrote, makes me want to fly back there and choke this guy. Basically, he told me what I already knew, except I walked out 75 dollars lighter, and without any meds, and still in pain. I got the feeling those other folks weren't going to be leaving any time soon with this guy on duty. Either that, or, he would see the guy bleeding from his eye, and tell him to run it under cold water to make it stop.

So, I did the only thing I could think of, I called my Mom. Now, I love my Mom, to death, and she is best, but, when it comes to my racing, let's just say, there is a lot more "I told you so" than you need to hear. So, when I called, I got the Italian guilt, for getting sick, and for getting sick out of town, and for not knowing better. With that upbeat conversation in hand, I called my coach, and proceeded to have a rational conversation about the race. As usual, Jen, made sense, and supported the idea of bagging the race. But, at the same time, she helped me see the benefits of getting home and healthy, to protect the rest of the season. Since I woke up at 3 am on Sunday feeling worse, it was the right thing to do.

So, on Monday, back to the airport, and the security, and the bike box question came back. And, remember, its early, and I have no filter. So, yeah, I said it was a rocket launcher, that I got on the Black Market from the Russians, and needed to get to Chicago asap. The agent didn't laugh nearly as hard as the other people behind me. Again, these people lack a sense of humor. They make the employees at the Daley Center look like the Red Cross. So, with a wax earplug in, I got on the plane, with some Motrin and thankfully got home before the storm hit. I raced to my doctor who said that she could see my ear infection from the door, and b/c super Doc in Phoenix didn't start me on antibiotics, it spread back into my sinuses. I was elated at this news. In all seriousness, it was a minor consolation, as I hate to miss races. Last April, I crashed at the race site the day before the race and opened up my right calf, and both palms, and my left hip. I needed stiches, but refused to go to the hospital, knowing they would come open during the race. So, on race day, I got out there, and in 30 degrees and sleet, I raced, in shorts, with blood streaming down my legs and hands. I'll race with pain. But, when I can't focus, see straight, or my ear feels like its getting hit with a hammer and a railroad tie, I had to call it.

This was the first time this happened to me, and it was, well, pretty dissappointing. But, the thing is, at some point, we all have to deal with dissapointment in the sport. I think of Norman Stadler in Hawaii last year, as well as others in other big events. And look, I am not saying I am not upset about it, I am. But, better to put that energy into the next race, into your training. We all need to be honest with ourselves, and our bodies and sometimes, that means, we need to call it a day, before we do irreparable damage to ourselves. Ask Chris Leigh. No, it doesn't feel good, yes, you will be depressed for a bit, but, in the long run, you will get past the moment, and find other opportunites to shine. Our sport is replete with success stories, as well as stories of those who did not avoid the pitfalls of illness and racing, and you have to decide which side you want to fall on. Some people brag about never having DNF'd, and gutting out the worst races. But, ask them what the long term damage was. For me, I could have easily busted my ear drum open, or, b/c my equilibrium was off, landed in some cactus on the run and I would still be in Phoenix, where Doctor Hatchet would be looking to fix my toe, to cure my ear. The biggest thing is, DON'T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF. These are minor setbacks, and when you get healthy, or past a personal issue keeping you from racing, you come back, renewed and refreshed. I am already thinking about my next race in a week and a half and I can't wait. I don't need to fly to get there, so, half the battle is already won. But I don't care what level you race at, be smart. Trust me, I have spent years, and still do, spend time, not being smart with the sport. And it always bites me in the rear. This time, I am using my brain, not my guts, and I am glad.

As for Phoenix, don't ask me if it was pretty or not. I didn't look and I should have. But, I will tell you the hospital water was delicious.

A Funny thing happened on the way to Pheonix...

2008-02-21T21:41:00.002-06:00

First let me say to my fellow loyal readers, all 3 of you, I apologize for being a bit behind as of late with my postings. I have been busy with work and with preparing for my first race of the season, the Desert Classic in Phoenix. Coincidentally, I am writing this from Arizona, after spending the better part of the day, getting here and figuring out how to put my bike back together.

So, its this trip, at least the start of it, which has prompted me to write today's blog. Now, let me say, I am not the best flier in the world. I don't particularly enjoy flying, and to point it out, last year, at this time, I did 2 races way out of town, Austin, TX and Lake Charles, LA. I drove to both. But, when I qualified for Du Short Course Worlds last year, I was out of excuses. I did look at Google maps to discover the only alternative to flying to Europe was to drive to New York, run into the Atlantic, and then swim to France. All 3400 miles. So, I opted to fly. And, I discovered, that international travel was not all that bad. My bike was on the plane, with no extra charge, I got a meal, a couple of meals, choices of films, and this is all in coach. So, I figured a 3 hour flight to Phoenix would be a breeze, right? Well...

Let me say, to those who are not athletes reading this, we multi-sporters tend to be type A's and I am no exception. My patience level, is normally, zero, and I am miserable most of the time, so, at 5 am, in the frigid cold at O'Hare airport, I have no filter. Upon arriving at the check in, I was greated by Miss Congeniality, who was definitely not happy with her current station in life, and was prepared to let us all know about it. And, with cutbacks in the airline industry, check in, involves, touch screens, not real people. Now, I am not adverse to technology, but, this is a joke. It was like getting my boarding pass from an ATM.

When I figured everything out, and got the pass, it was like a receipt you get from a store. Now, I am already loaded down with bags, trying to deal with Ms. Happy-pants who wants to charge me a small fortune to put my bike on the plane, and I am holding a filmsy piece of paper, which is all I have to get me to Phoenix. So, I folded this "pass" in my pocket and proceeded to deal with Medusa. First, she looked at my bike box as if dear Aunt Bessy was in it, and was being transported to her final resting place. Then, in a completely sarcastic tone, she asks, "Is that a bike box?" With no filter at 5am, I, an not a ray of sunshine. So, I responded in typical Petruzzelli fashion, "No, actually its a land to air missle launcher. I am doing some testing on it in the desert." Let's just say the conversation went down hill rapidly from there. I was lucky I got off with just paying the 80 bucks to throw my bike on the plane - one way of course.

So, I hit the Starbucks, and grab a muffin, b/c, like most of us, my metabolism is running on high, so, I need to eat. I grab an over-priced muffin, and put on my IPod and wait to board. Now, I am not going to mention the airline, but its not a big one. So, I am boarding, its been 2 hours, and I am still hungry. But, I am figuring, I'll get something lousy to eat on this flight, so, I can make it to Phoenix. Then, as I sat down, I was greeted by the over-head voice, stating, if you want to eat the "snack pack" of a bad bagel, and old fruit, its going to cost you 5 bucks. At this point, all I could think was, "Are you F'ing kidding me?" On top of the lack of food, the one flight attendant didn't even give in-flight, delusion of safety, instructions, which according to one of my readers, is an FAA regulation. Now, I could go on about that bs, safety talk, but we all know that in case of a fire or a water landinf, the best thing to do, is put your head between your legs and kiss your rear end good bye.

So, we take off, and I realize that this flight is full of 2 types of people I don't like -. Cubs fans headed to Mesa for Spring Training, and Golfers. I don't know which one is worse, but I hate them equally. The Cubs fans were already talking about the World Series, and how this is the year, and blah, blah, and that, was truly annoying. As a die-hard Sox fan, and a Chicago native, a few things are certain, death, taxes, a Daley in office, and the Cubs inevitable choke at the crucial moment.

On the other side, are the mopes talking about all the golfing they can't wait to play when they hit the tarmac. These guys were blowing so much smoke up each other's rears about how great they all are, and the new clubs, and thier improved swing, and, "Wait till you see my new putter, if you know what I mean" jokes, that I thought my ears were bleeding. If these goofs are so great, why aren't they on the PGA Tour? Oh, yeah, I know, b/c they are LYING. I have never met a bigger bunch of over-exaggerators than golfers. I don't know what it is, but they put on those goofy pants, and automatically, they act is if they are one step away from getting on Tour. Its pathetic and sad, and I don't think I was playing my movie nearly loud enough to drown them out.

Thankfully, we landed, and getting a rental car, while, a bit of an ordeal, wasn't the worst. But its now 9:15 Mountain time and I'm still hungry and in a bad mood. I'm not sure this is the way I hoped to start this trip. But, if any of you were ever considering traveling with me, perhaps now is the time to re-evaluate.

The 26 hour drive here, still sounds better to me.

Love, in the Time Multi-sport

2008-02-14T08:28:00.003-06:00

So, its Valentine's Day, and I have a few words. Before I get too deep into this blog, let me say, I am not a relationship expert, by any means. In fact, for the family members and freinds who read this blog, they will quickly point out at how awful I am at them. I have failed at more relationships than Elizabeth Taylor has. So, what qualifies me to write on the topic? Well, my experience in doing the wrong things, can help you avoid the same mistakes, and because its my blog, so I can write whatever I like.

Now, I know we are all aware as to what "holiday" today is, its been with us, since the New Year. We were barely getting over bowl games, when we started to get bombarded by jewelry commercials, or flower adds, or whatever else comes with this day. I have discovered that, for whatever reason, we need to announce holidays months before they actually occur, as if we will suddenly forget Christmas, or Thanksgiving. Thank God for Target, or whomever else puts out endless ads 4 months before the actual holiday, otherwise, I think a lot of us would be walking around aimlessly on December 25, not sure what to do.

Anyway, for those of you in relationships, and a multi-sport athlete, its time we got down to brass tacks. First, for my fellow 3 or 2 sport friends, if you are starting a new realtionship, and your new mate is not really aware as to what your sport entails, let today be the day you have the "talk." Now, we all know what "talk" I am referring to, its usually the one that occurs the day you are supposed to go to your girlfriend's cousin's wedding, for which she is a bridesmaid, and you have to get in a 5 hour ride, and waited until 6 am, day of, to tell her. We all know what happens next, lots of tears, bad words, complete shock, you might get a shoe to the head, or, up your, well you get the point. Here's the deal, the season is close, you are probably starting your build period, so, tell them now. Prepare them for what really happens. Don't sugar coat it, explain what its all about. If they are understanding, great, and if not, neither of you need to waste anymore time, and can part ways amicably. Trust me, that is far better than, coming home from that 5 hour ride, to discover your clothes in a burning inferno on your front lawn. Trust me, replacing a wardrobe costs more than buying those new race rims.

And that leads to the second part of the talk - explain how much this sport costs, not just in time, but in money. Your significant other may be thinking about a nice little getaway this summer, on a secluded beach, when you have already allocated your money to stuff for the sport, i.e. new Scott Plasma, new Blackwell Race Rims, new 2XU wetsuit; you get the idea. And your idea of a "getaway" means, open roads to ride for hours and trails to run, or, a bug race weekend. The thing is, if you aren't honest from the start, inevitably, you will both end up frustrated, hurt, feeling a sense resentment and alone again. You shouldn't have to hide your sport and everything it entails, because when you do, brother, when it does come out, oh, the tidal wave of aggrevation that comes with it, makes the sound of a pen in your skull sound pleasant.

Now, this is not all about you, remember. If your partner, after they take a collective deep breath, agree to stick it out, take them at thier word, but let them know, that if at any point, they can't deal with it, its ok. Not everyone thinks getting up at 4 am to race on a rainy Sunday morning is a great time. Be cognizant of that. But if they are staying with you, make time for them too. For example on this holiday, if they say they are supportive, get them a little something that will help them feel connected to the sport; a true part of it. Buy them some really cool casual gear from Sugoi, or any of the gear companies, that bears the same tag as your race kit. I am not suggesting to get them a tri kit and and a wet suit, but, look into some of the more fashionable and sport-like items from those companies. That way, they see you appreciate their support and want them to feel a part of it.

For those of you who are dating, are considering dating a multi-sport athlete, or are married to one, this is your day to show them how much you care about them too. Here's the deal though, don't buy us more gear, we have enough, and we will most likely get our own. Unless your partner asks for some, find him or her something fashionable to wear, that didn't come from the latest Cycling World catalogue. Multi-sport athletes, especially the more elite ones, tend to dress, on a regular basis, as if a race is going to break out at any minute, and they need to be ready for it. I am no different, I have found my 2XU long sleeve running shirts to be preferred wear, and the next thing I know, I am in racing flats, a technical t-shirt, and either jeans or running pants, as if I was walking up to the start line. So get that special athlete something else, a sweater, a shirt, jeans, something, anything, that is not made out of Dri-Fit material. And I have found it best to avoid discussing the bigger ticket items, like the bike. To avoid hate crimes on this holiday, don't ask if you special someone could use anything new for their bike, b/c the answer is always yes. Listen, I just got myself a new bike, all carbon, a real beauty, completely tricked out, but if someone asked if I needed something for it, I'd be all over it. We are tech junkies, so, avoid that, b/c inevitably that seemingly innocent question will have you pouring over websites or visits to the local bike shop looking at pedals, bars, stems, and cringing at every price tag. Trust me on this, you love each other, don't discuss the bike.

So, my dear friends, that is my advice for this Valentine's day. Is it going to work? Hell, I don't know, its never worked for me yet, but, maybe one of you will get lucky. Just remember, candy and flowers can be given any day of the week, you don't need Hallmark to remind you to get that special someone in your life a gift. You can do that anytime. But for this holdiay, try my advice, and maybe I will too. Happy Valentine's Day.

Why the Grammys Restored my Faith in Music

2008-02-12T16:04:00.001-06:00

First, let me start by saying that, for those of you looking for something related to multi-sport today, let me tell you, stop reading now. You will be dissapointed.

This past Sunday, as I was lying around on my couch, fighting a miserable sinus infection, and realizing there was nothing on TV, I begrudgingly put on the Grammys, thinking it would be another sad festival of talentless singers - yes Britney, I am talking about you, and lame hosts. However, this year, was a pleasant surprise, at least for me. Now, I didn't really care who won what awards, I was interested in the performances. Besides, the Grammys are as bad college football Bowl games, there are way too many awards, and even the mediocre are getting one. I remember old Grammy shows, where, people like James Brown did his "7 capes" act, and it took 10 minutes, but damn if you weren't glued to the screen. I thought those days were gone. Until this past Sunday night.

So, when I watched Tina Turner and Beyonce light up the stage, I was loving it. "Proud Mary" never sounded better, and I think Beyonce was having a tough time keeping up with Tina. It was awesome. Then, watching Kid Rock sing with Keeley Smith, trying to duplicate Louie Prima, it was such a treat. Not to mention the Foo Fighters, who lit up the stage, and say what you want about Kanye, I still loved "Stronger" and "Mama", and there were more than a few tears on that one. Besides, how couldn't you like Daft Punk, in those space suits, hitting computer screens as Kanye was rocking the crowd? And I know Aretha Franklin looks like she swallowed herself, twice, she still has the pipes to carry a tune. However, for those music savvy people out there, Aretha was missing singing that final gospel tune - James Brown. Anyone remember what movie that song made an appearance? That's right the Blues Brothers, and it was James Brown who was setting fire to that stage. And lest we forget, Amy Winehouse, who, for all her failings, and there are many, she sounded phenomenal.

Which brings me to my most recent revelation - we, as a society, give a pass to those who are talented, truly talented, when it comes to thier personal issues of drug or alcohol abuse, or whatever other debauchery they involve themselves in. Think about it, Amy Winehouse is not the first really talented artist with a drug problem; anyone remember, oh, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, James Morrison, Keith Moon, Guns and Roses, Aerosmith, Alice in Chains, etc, etc. But, like all those who came before her, she too, gets a pass because she has true talent. If she sucked, like Britney, then we would pummel her with bad press, and call her callow, demented, twisted and in desperate need of help. Now, a blind person could have seen Amy was not all there in her performance, as she stumbled on the stage like a drunkard in a Hunter S. Thompson novel. But, she held it together long enough to belt out that soulful voice, almost with a Motown feel to it, and in those moments, we lost sight of her addiction, and just heard the music. The key for her now, is to maintain that talent, and not become another Courtney Love.

But look at how hypocritical we are - we bash Britney, and we just want to hug Amy, and leave her be, to express herself, and her music. Listen, I am not trying to waive the flag for that hill-billy disaster, but, the disparity is laughable. The thing is, we have been doing for so long, we don't even realize it. Was anyone really worried about the drug problem that beleagured the Rolling Stones? Hell no, we just wanted more "You can't always get what you want", and we didn't care what type of narcotic it took them to produce it. I am not sheltering myself from this, I am the same.

Case in point - I love Velvet Revolver. Just as I loved Stone Temple Pilots and Guns and Roses, the mixing of the 2, has been great. But, when I went to see them in November of 2004, it was pretty clear that Scott Weiland had not kicked his heroin problem. He got on stage, in a theater that was about 50 degrees, and in 15 minutes, he went from wearing about 4 layers on his torso, to being shirtless, and sweating like he was performing on the sun. Now, I know stage lights are hot, but c'mon. The thing is, my buddies and I laughed it off, and just sat there loving the music. But, if they sucked, all we would discuss is how drugs are ruining the band, and how Scott needs to get clean, and blah, blah.

My point is, lets check ourselves a bit before we start making judgment calls on artists, when we know we love them. And have some faith in music again. I was so skeptical about the inudstry, feeling like no one would perform unless they got paid ungodly sums of cash, but, to watch the Grammys, you felt the music alive again. And for a little while, I forgot I was sick, and just loved the show. So, find out where your favorite band is playing, and go see a live show. Its good for the soul.

The Group Run/Ride/Swim - Are you ready to Race?

2008-02-08T15:22:00.000-06:00

So, last night as I was doing my run, and getting sicker with each step, feeling my throat become scratchier by the second, I decided to let my mind wander on to other things to pretend like I wasn't coming down with something. This did not work out well, as the first thing I noticed was that, in the Western suburbs of Darien, Westmont, Downers Grove and Woodridge, no one plows the streets. Apparently, there was a union meeting, and they just decided they weren't going to plow for the entire winter. I was running on streets, where it had not snowed for over 16 hours, yet, the streets were replete with snow drifts, slush, and the obvious tire spin outs. I knew I should have never given up my city job.

Then I started to think about the group run I was going to have to bail on for this Sunday, as I knew I was not feeling well. As I thought about it, I started casting my mind back(thanks Phil Liggett), to some of my other group "training" runs/rides. We have all been there, but I think its time we started to recognize how ridiculous all of us can be when we get together.

The premise is always innocent enough, in fact, its actually clouded in some sort of, "this will be fun!" banter, using words like, "long and steady" to describe the pace, a way to break up the monotony of solo training. And so it begins. You start packing your bag the night before, all excited to be outside with your friends, training together, like a Pro Tour Cycling team, out for a ride. You set your alarm for a weekend morning, and you jump up, have some coffee, load the car and head out, anxious for what the day will bring.

Then you arrive, and all of you are huddled together, ready to start, with more than one person giving that bullshit reminder,"Now, everyone, we are all going easy. This is a long run/ride, and its not a race, this is training. So let's have fun." That's like telling a crack addict, "now look, I know there is all this crack around you, and its free, but, don't smoke it, its bad for you." Are you kidding me? Inevitably, what happens? Some Alpha gets bored, or is out to show thier fitness, and BAM!, the race is on. Soon, that 13 mile run, that you were supposed to do in Zone 1-2, has been pitched for a hang on and pray, at zone 5, with your eyes bulging, and ending with dehydration and heavy legs. The group gets fragmented, a few people trickling in at a time, all with that same look of, "Why did I agree to this? I am totally shot. This is so stupid. I hate everyone here. All these people suck. I am never doing this again." Sometimes, after the group catches thier collective breath, finger pointing begins, accusations start to fly, only to be carried on all week in email rants. Until, the next week comes, and you, like an alzheimer's patient, forget all about the last group workout, and head back out.

Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of doing some group workouts. And yes, in order to get faster or stronger, you need to train with faster people. But, training does not mean racing. Now, our sport is dominated by Alphas, and I admit to being one myself. I am not innocent of pushing the pace on a group run or ride, and have paid the price. But, I am admitting it, and like they say, that's half the battle. I recall a few years ago, right around this time, a group of us were doing long runs, 2 hours plus, and every run started out the same, harmless for 5 minutes, then tempo pace, then, a constant effort to drop the weaker runners, as if some golden calf was waiting at the end of the run. I was lucky enough to not get injured or over-train, but some were not so lucky. And what did it prove, besides the fact that we were all stupid?

The thing is, being Billy or Bessie Bad Ass in training, doesn't get you a medal. Being the fittest or fastest guy in your training circle is great if it translates into race wins. Otherwise, you become the pain in the ass of the group. Trust me on this, I have done it. I have a friend that I run with on occassion, and every run, usually turns out with us racing each other in nasty conditions, on horrible trails, and feeling absolutely dead by the end. And we always promise each other, we won't do it next time. Of course, until the next time.

If you are fast, people will know - because we will see you race fast. You don't need to show the world how fast you can run the Wednesday night 4 mile fun run in under 24 minutes. We get it. You have talent. Unfortunately, showing it off on Wednesday, doesn't leave you with much for race day. Instead of beating on each other, let's try to work together on those group workouts, and I bet you will see everyone get faster, and not hate the few who always cause the split. You know who you are. And yes, everyone is talking about you, and they have nothing nice to say. Here's your clue, if finish a workout, and you are standing alone, while everyone else is filing into the parking lot or wherever, glaring at you, or, even pointing at you, its not because they admire you, they are secretly hoping you don't show up next week. You are the one who doesn't get invited to breakfast of coffee afterwards. Think about it.

So, enjoy your group workouts. Just remember, when everyone is making post-workout plans and you aren't included in the conversation, maybe you want to re-think today's pace.

Triathletes vs. Duathletes, Can't we all Just Get Along?

2008-02-07T10:38:00.001-06:00

The short answer to the above age-old question is simply, no. I have thought about this for some time now, and have been told to be mature about the subject, but, maturity is not my thing. S0, I am coming at this from the least jaded standpoint I possibly can, which, again, is also not my thing.

First, it might be best to educate our fellow 3 sport friends on a few things. First, and foremost, our season, is usually longer than yours. For example, the Du Season starts in Phoenix, at least for those trying to qualify for Worlds, at the end of February and runs to early October. This is in part, due to the fact that you triathletes hate to share your spotlight at races with us lowly dualthetes. So, our season resembles something like NASCAR.

Second, and this kills me, you need to stop acting like we get a break from training, b/c we don't swim. I don't know how to break this to my tri friends, but, we actually fill that time that you spend in the pool, RUNNING AND RIDING. We don't just do a triathletes schedule, minus a third. To be proficient at all in our sport, you need to fill that time with Du specific training. Ah, I can see the "deer in the headlights: look on your faces right now. "You mean, you ride and run more?" Um, yes.

Third, please, oh please stop acting like we spend less money on the sport, b/c we don't swim. True, we don't need the $500.00 wetsuits, or goggles, and all the swim paraphanalia, but, we end up going thru more running shoes, gear for our bikes, food, energy supplements, etc. Trust me, and my retail friends who gladly take my money, will tell you, we spend as much as you.

Also, enough with the, "well your races aren't as long as ours" talk. If a duathlete wants, we too, can attend races that last anywhere from 3-10 hours, i.e. Zofingen, American Zofingen, the Prairie Punisher, etc. And remember, oh you of the 3 sports, its all on the legs.

Now, we do have some benefits that triathletes don't. For example, if I want to do a really popular duathlon, I don't have to sign up a year in advance, or give my friend going to the race, my credit card info to sign me up the next day for the following year's event. Also, I don't have to pay insane entry fees to go to a big race. But there is a flipside - even the biggest Du's, don't have near the flash and flare of a big tri. Our post race parties, including Du Worlds, involved cold water, a bagel, and in the case of Worlds 2007, Orange Fanta. Yes, a carbonated drink to help cool you off and re-hydrate. Why I couldn't think of anything better. Perhaps, hot coffee.

Now you triathletes try to pretend like you want to get along, but, honestly, do you? Let's take, for example the comment a friend made to my last post, claiming that triathletes are bitter that we don't have to ride 56 miles in the cold. Now, that's a "liar, liar, pants on fire" comment if I ever heard one. Although not all of our races include a 56 mile bike leg, let me assure you, that I would trade a 56 mile ride , being a little wet in 50 degrees, over 25 miles in sleet and 30 degrees. Anyone remember last year's Ceasar Creek Du? How about Frost Yer Fanny? And let's not forget Powerman Alabama. Oh, it was balmy. And here's the thing, when we get on our bikes to ride - we are wet. Its not like you run an open 10K at 32 minutes and not sweat. We aren't mutants. We have sweat glands, just like you. So, we are cold, wet, and constantly beating on our legs for the duration of the race.

As for the who's tougher discussion, let me say, I have seen both sides. I was a triathlete in my former life, and I will tell you, that an every distance of Tri, has an equivalent distance in duathlon, and the Du is way harder. It just is. I am not speaking out of turn here, I raced tri's, pretty consistently, and at a high level for 5 years. And Du's are harder. And I wouldn't go back to triathlon if you paid me, unless it was a lot of money, than maybe I would, but, we are a hardier group of athletes. So, if that makes us tougher, I guess we are.

Here's the deal - we all have to race on the same courses, at least for the most part, and we train together, when we can, but that doesn't mean we have to get along. I have no problems with a triathlete not liking me or duathlon, all we are asking for is some respect. Basically, respect the fact that we are as strong as you, as fast as you, and if you had to skip your precious swim, and replace it with a 5K to start, there may be some tears in your eyes as you enter T1. But we don't need to like each other. Mutual respect is enough.

So, enjoy your swim workouts, and your swim toys, pull bouys, kick boards, water wings, whatever you use. I'll be outside running.