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USA Soccer: That's a Winner

RyanActive — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:55:45 GMT

United States women's soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo made a beautiful save in the 72nd minute of the gold-medal game against Brazil, one of about 10 stops she made during the crucial match.

She said she would almost a year ago after not playing against Brazil in the World Cup. Now we believe her.

Solo and the rest of the defense led the United States to a 1-0 victory over Brazil and a gold medal in the Beijing Games. The lone goal was scored in extra time, when Carli Lloyd poked one through in the 96th minute.

Solo and the defense then held on.

This is a big victory for the Americans, who probably weren't favored to win. Though they played well against Brazil in friendly matches leading up to Beijing, Brazil still had bragging rights until now.

"We've seen Brazil three times since that last match, but it wasn't the same," Solo said. "On the world stage is when teams really come to play so it sat with us a little bit but we were confident in our team defending, so I knew it going to be a different game altogether."

In some ways, the Olympics have been disappointing for the Americans (Michael Phelps aside). Softball lost a gold it was a huge favorite to win. Track and field has had several setbacks. Women's gymnastics lost the team competition to China.

Women's soccer provided a little relief in the post-swimming Olympics for the USA. It took us 100-plus minutes of action to figure it out, though U.S. defender Lori Chalupny knew long before that.

"We just look in each others' eyes and we believe and we know that we can do it," Chalupny said. "It's just a feeling that we have and nobody can break that bond. It's awesome."

Keeping the Rubber Side Down: Toshi�s Mini-Cal Tour on Lil� Giant

ToshiMoshi — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:42:43 GMT

I will be cycling from Nor-Cal to Central California and back starting from Thursday 8/28 to Monday 9/1. The trip will be from San Jose, CA to Bakersfield, CA and the distance is about 240 mile one way, 480 miles total. Some may wonder why I picked Bakersfield (or Bakes as the locals call it). What’s there to do in the middle of California besides cow tipping and bake in the sun?
First and foremost, my girlfriend lives there and it’s my turn to visit her. Second, I’ve been planning this trip since I worked at my old job. But I’ve kept making excuses and putting it aside. Now that I’ve finished my first 50K run and my friend Chad had inspired me by taking 38th place in Leadville 100 MTB, I am ready to take on the challenge.

Here’s my route:
Map my bike route

As this is my first bike tour, I will spend a night in Coalinga (mile 140) at a motel. I’m not too comfortable setting up a tent and sleeping on the road yet. May be on the next tour. Here is my tentative itinerary:

8/28 (Thu) Leave in the morning (6am) and start biking. Destination Coalinga. I may stop by my parent’s house in Gilroy (mile 30) and in Hollister (mile 40) to see my friend.
8/29 (Fri) Leave Coalinga and arrive in Bakes in the afternoon.
8/30 (Sat) A day of recuperation.
8/31 (Sun) Leave early morning (sorry, no church service) and bike to Coalinga.
9/1 (Mon) Leave Coalinga and bike back to SJ. I may stop in Gilroy if I'm too tired.

With that said, I have a 12K trail race this Saturday at Mt. Madonna County Park. This race features some of my favorite trails including the 1,100ft climb in the first 1.5 mile on Sprig Lake Trail that really puts your lungs to the test. I’m hoping for a sub-1hr finish.

Other races this year:
Sun 9/28: 1/2 marathon at Quicksilver County Park (my training ground)
Sun 10/26: Full marathon in San Jose (Metro Silicon Valley Marathon)

I have not registered for this one since I don’t know how my business trip to Japan (10/5-10/11) will affect my training. But, I’m hoping to run a sub-3hr.

Sat 12/6: The North Face Challenge 50 Miler in the Marin Headlands near San Francisco.

My first 50 miler!

Note to self: change the blog title.

Hawaii Advances To US Championship Game

ActiveTom — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:42:54 GMT

Despite building a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Northwest Region champ Mill Creek, Wash., couldn't overcome the hitting of the West champ Waipahu, Hawaii. Mill Creek will now be watching the rest of the Little League World Series from the stands. Tanner Tokunaga and Iolana Akau each hit two-run, first-inning home runs and Hawaii built a two-run advantage it never relinquished as it defeated Washington, 9-4, in a U.S. semifinal at Lamade Stadium. Hawaii (4-0), advances to Saturday's U.S. final where it will play either Florida or Louisiana.

"The next time we take the field there's only two U.S. teams left playing," Hawaii manager Timo Donahue said. "That says a lot." Back in pool play, Hawaii also trailed 2-0 in the first inning of a game against Florida, and held scoreless until the third inning. But this time, Hawaii got right back into the game.

Errors were costly for Mill Creek in first inning allowing Christian Donahue to reach first base. Then Tokunaga slammed a 0-1 pitch onto the hill over the center field fence thus tying the game 2-2. This was followd by another error by Mill Creek as Winchester reached first base and Iolana Akau lined a two-run home run over the center-field wall, putting Hawaii ahead to stay, 4-2.

"When I was up I was nervous because I got beaned the last time," said Akau. "I just tried to get a base hit and came through." Washington managed to pull within 4-3 in the second inning on KJ Neaville's home run, but in the third inning, Winchester hit his first pitch down the left-field line for a home run. Kainoa Fong finished a three-run rally, hitting a two-run double and extending the lead to 7-3.

Washington had several chances to even things up with Hawaii. They had seven hits but left 11 runners on base including two in scoring position in each of the last five innings. Trailing 7-3 in the fourth inning, Washington loaded the bases with two outs, but scored only on a passed ball before Tokunaga, pitching in relief, ended the threat with a strikeout. Washington also had second and third with one out and the heart of its order coming up in the second inning, but was unable to score following Neaville's home run.

"One of those big hits could change the game," Washington manager Scott Mahlum said. "I felt like we had a chance to get more runs in the first inning and break it open, but Hawaii just hit a couple more out of the ball park than we did." "I just told the guys to be proud," Mahlum said. "We're the first team from Mill Creek to ever get here. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a great experience."

The final blow for Washington to have a chance came in the in the bottom of the fourth as Winchester hammered a two-run home run shot to almost the same spot he had hit one in the third inning and extended Hawaii's lead (and final score) to 9-4. "I just go up there and clutch up and hit the ball," said Winchester, who has three home runs in four Series games. "We're just having fun."

Unlike the 11 runners left on base for Washington, Hawaii left just four runners on base and now will watch the Florida-Louisiana game to see if it can capture the World Series title like Ewa Beach, Hawaii did in 2005. The next time we take the field, there's only going to be two U.S. teams left," said Donahue, "and that in itself is saying a lot."

The Washington team showed a lot of class at the end of the game. After the traditional Little League shaking of the opposing team hands, the whole team went in front of where the Hawaii team parents were sitting in the stands and applauded them. A very classy act to be sure.

BOX SCORE
Mill Creek, Wa. 210 100 - 4 2 2
West Waipahu, Hi. 403 20x - 9 8 0

W - Caleb Duhay (1-0). L - Derrick Mahlum (0-1). S - Christian Donahue (1). 2B - Kainoa Fong (WP), Peyton McLemore (LC). HR - Tanner Tokunga (WP), Iolana Akau (WP), Pikai Winchester, 2 (WP) KJ Neaville (MC).

What are Pose Clinics?

Sport Technique Clinics — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:47:35 GMT

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August 21

bvcc — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:15:28 GMT

Distance: 5.0 miles
Time: 56:19

Pace: 11:15 per mile
Stretch: Yes

Weekly mileage: 20.3 miles
Cumulative mileage: 373.4 miles

Tomorrow: Off

Comments: I have to remember to stretch after my runs. I have felt so much better this week, when I have stretched, than I did last week, when I didn't. I don't know why it is taking me so long to learn that lesson.

in the dark ... on a plane ...

Goonz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:44:31 GMT

Running in the dark is fun. Especially when one feels really safe in one's neighborhood. Last night I did the new standard 5+ at 8pm, right when things started to get dark, and not only was it way cooler than the 90-degree temps we had during the day, the waning light made me pay less attention to where I was in my loop, made it easier to zone out and just run, and helped me run faster. There were hills, I'm positive, I just didn't feel them.

I'm glad I made it out. Again, I didn't bring the watch because that has been working for me to leave it at home and just not worry about how long these runs are taking me. Who cares, frankly. I'm getting a workout in, I run pretty hard at somewhere between 9:30 and 10:00 per mile, and I feel better about myself when I'm done. What more is there?

I'm in the airport right now, waiting for my flight to Orlando to spend time with my fam for the weekend. I will likely head our for at least one run while I'm home, but it will be hot and muggy and flat. Ick. I'm stoked that I got a fun run in before leaving.

But the bonus is that my family is coming to the climbing gym with me! How fun(ny) will that be? They have no idea how hard it's going to be, how sore their hands are going to feel, and I really really hope they have fun learning how to belay, belaying each other, and trying to climb some easy top-rope sport routes. We shall see ... the harness, shoes, and chalk bag are packed and ready to play! Hoping for the best, as always ...

8/21/08 - RCW

wildwolf — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:16:10 GMT

This morning was 4.5 miles around the Mall. I have to admit that it is beautiful to be on the Mall in the dark and run past the lit WWII and Lincoln Memorials. Then turn to see the orange horizon beside the Washington Memorial and finally to see the hint of the sun rising next to the Capitol. I suppose this is my reward for being up at such an ungodly hour! The run? Well, it was ok. My butt/leg are still having problems, but today's run was a bit better.

Lolo Jones: Class Personified

Bruce Hildenbrand — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:14:33 GMT

One of the lowest and highest moments in the 2008 Olympics, for me, happened in the Women's 100m hurdles final. Lolo Jones was out in front and on her way to a gold medal when she struck the ninth of ten hurdles and finished out of the medals. That was the lowest point of the night, the highest point is what came next. Lolo, who admitted to NBC TV that when she took the lead she saw the gold medal around her neck, offered no excuses. She didn't use that awful line "I guess it wasn't meant to be" that we hear so often from athletes coming up short you start to wonder if they can handle defeat. No, Lolo accepted defeat with honor an class, something we can all aspire to. Hopefully Lolo will be back in 2012 and I will be rooting extra hard for her to take the gold.

I am not going to say 'I told you so', but I predicted that Usain Bolt would break Michael Johnson's 200m world record and he did just that. It was great to see him run hard all the way to the tape. Frankly, I don't understand all the hoopla over Bolt's apparent grandstanding in the 100m. He was the class, no, the super-class, of the field. All the criticism sounded like sour grapes from a bunch of people who realize that the 100m is going to be a pretty boring race for the next 8 years or so. Why don't people embrace Bolt's dominance like the do Tiger Woods? What's the difference between Tiger's fist pump and Bolt's chest thump? Give the kid a break. He is the biggest thing on the track and field scene in years and hopefully he can propel the sport out of the spectre of doping where it currently resides.

My apologies to the tiny nation of Togo. I inadvertenly reported that the nation of Tonga won the bronze in the whitewater kayaking. Sorry about that.

OK. One last question. Are you a Merritt or Wariner fan? Who's gonna win the men's 400?

Bruce

Lolo Jones: Class Personified

Bruce Hildenbrand — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:59:07 GMT

Getting Psyched for Baltimore, 2008

Steve Carton — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:39:28 GMT

It's been awhile since I've written. I'd like to say I've been hard at work training, but that just ain't so I went through a funk in July, coupled with a long vacation and some work travel that left little time for running. But October 11 and the Baltimore Running Festival is drawing closer and I definately needed to get going with the training. Thank goodness for the great base we've created in the last 18 months. I was able to jump back into the long runs at about the 16-mile point. Not fast, but in the DC summer heat, I slow down a lot anyway. But now I'm back on track and feeling great about it. This is an off week -- my mother in law passed away and my family is embroiled in the funeral so not much time for training, but that's okay -- I'll be back on it next week.

I decided to run Baltimore as a part of "Team Sadie" representing Sadie's Gift Charity (http://www.sadiesgift.org/) if they'll have me. So if this kind of charity interests you, please let me know how much you would like to donate and I'll hook you up. More on that later.

I've been trying some protein mix in my fuel for the long runs and this seems to work well for me. Or, at least I don't feel bad or anything. Hard to tell if it is actually doing anything, but as the runs get longer, the protein may pay off. We'll see. At least I'm not smelling amonia anymore.