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Peterborough 1/2 Ironman

Thomas Hall — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:43:52 GMT

Team Polar

It was great day for a half Ironman race. The winds were gentle, not humid and not too hot. Definately different than prior years when the wet bulb temperature has been sky high. For a change I arrived at the race site early and had time for a gentle warm up run before taking the plunge.

The swim was normal for a mass start. As always there was a few bumps along the way - nothing major. My swim times are a bit slow this year showing what happens if you only swim once a week. No surprises here.

The bike course design in Pewterborough suits me very well and thus I have always had solid results in my prior 6 times at the event. I had planned on holding back on the bike tthis year to have some extra "umph "for the run - by pushing less than normal output (watts) for a half Ironman race. Well, the race dynamics and the copmpetitive juices got flowing albeit countered by my race plan to hold back somewhat, but on balance the end result was I held my "normal" watts and heart rate for the distance....... The result was a 2:33:05 bike split with an average speed of 35.3 km/hr.

The run course has changed from the prior years. It now has two loops of Ashburnham Park (one at the start and one at the end) where you run on grass. Not so good. Heading onto the run, I was closely watching my heart rate with a plan to hold 4:35 pace/km with a heart rate average of high zone 4/low zone 5. This was working for the first 4km. Faitgue took over and dragged me down for the next 10km before I got over it. It was hot, not super hot. By the time I reached the last 3 km loop, my target run spilt time was a distant memory but overall I knew my time was going to be favorable. The run was 1:41:36.

I finished at 4:54:43 and placed 3/39 in the men 50-54. It was a good pre Newfdoundland 70.3 race warm up.

The bike legs are strong and I plan on running better next time out.

Bye for now,

Tom

addicted to events

Princess Ariel — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:33:58 GMT

it seems that ever since i started training for my first sprint triathlon back in may...i've been addicted to signing up to more and more of these events...i enjoy training and the ppl at these events...will it ever stop? i dont know...it seems that as i finish one, i immediatly look for another...that is if i'm not already signed up for one...sigh...i guess this is a good addiction...it keeps me motivated to be in shape...i'm guessing that eventually i'll get bored and look for something else to do...but for the mean time i'll enjoy myself and the benefits/results i get from doing this...:D

Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon

Coach Jenny Hadfield — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:02:57 GMT

Well, I'm back from the last frontier and getting ready for our next adventure, the Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon. But before I move on with CDC, I must do a recap.

Every once in awhile I find myself surrounded by an amazing "group" of people. Meaning everyone in the group is simply amazing.

Sometimes it is a small group and other times, like on our cruise, it is a larger group. In either case, the group is fueled by the collection of amazing energy that comes from each person. I like to call it "karma." The best way to describe this journey, the Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon was a fun adventure with some of the greatest folks I'd ever want to meet. We had runners from Thailand, Australia, Canada and all over the nation. All of whom immediately bonded at the cocktail party on our very first evening together.

I think it was because everyone was willing to put their preconceived expectations aside and went with the flow. We set up the staged marathon so that in each port you run a race...and by the end of the trip you complete 26.2 miles (the fun way:). That, in and of itself is a challenge, but we added to the adventure by asking them to gently step outside their comfort zones for the week. To try something new and challenge themselves in less traditional way. From learning to navigate to running on a tough trail, everyone took on the challenge, embraced the path less traveled and grew together and individually for it in the end. BTW, I am a firm believer that you practice what you preach so I made myself where pretty high heals (okay, high for me) and formal dresses most of the week. (completely out of my comfort zone) It as tough but I loved every minute. Well, except when my feet began to talk to me.

Anyway, I am grateful that I get to do what I love for a living and others are willing to adventure on with me. It was a privilege to spend a week with such a great group of runners and walkers and I have a lot of wonderful memories to boot!

The Great Alaskan Marathon Cruise will set sail again in June, 2010. John and I hope you can make it!

Happy Trails,

Jenny

Pictures

Center PAO — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:13:34 GMT

Welcome to the Naval Special Warfare Center's Picture of The Week Blog.
Here, we'll post pictures of what life is like in training.

Reflections on the Race of Truth

Frankie Andreu — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:48:00 GMT

Frankie Andreu weighs in on the surprising results of Tuesday's individual time trial and the hangover from leading a breakaway to glory: "Feillu was suffering immensely from the efforts of the break yesterday. But at least he had his day in yellow..."

Plus, who else is riding in the Garmin-Chipotle team car? And Frankie looks ahead to stages 5 and 6, including the hills leading to Super-Besse.

Desert Storm by Team BC

Timothy Moore — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:21:41 GMT

There were three of us on the start line at the Desert Half Iron in Osoyoos on Sunday for a perfect day of racing. We awoke to no wind. Yes, nothing. The lake was like a sheet of glass.

It was a two-lap swim course with a short run on the beach in between each lap, followed by an out and back ride with Richter Pass making two appearances and then a two-lap run course. There was a slight headwind heading out on the bike course and a magnificent tailwind on the way back. Wow.

In short, Charlene captured a podium finish with third, Carolyn was fourth and I was 11th. More details to follow.

Surprises Continue at the Tour

Bruce Hildenbrand — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:54:13 GMT

Today was the first big test of the 2008 Tour de France, an 18-mile (29.5 km) time trial in Cholet, and there were a few surprises both in the stage winner and the holder of the yellow jersey. Well, the same guy won both with an inspired ride which left heavy favorite Fabian Cancellara in fifth place. It all goes to show the up and down nature of cycling. Last year 'Spartacus' as he is known to his teammates, was winning against the clock and in the front of the whole peloton.

But, this is not about those who didn't deliver, this is about those who did. And, Gerlosteiner's Stefan Shumacher did just that making the post-race trip to the podium for both the stage win and to get the maillot jaune. My guess is his failed bid to win stage one is all but forgotten and it was a bittersweet victory for his team who is losing their title sponser at year's end. Maybe that is a valid reason for sipping champagne tonight at dinner instead of the sponsor's bottled water.

Shumacher wears his teams lowest number which means that he is the designated team leader, but few believe that even though he has won hilly classics like the Amstel Gold Race, he will not be up with leaders in the big mountains. Hey, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy the yellow jersey while he has it. In fact, not having to worry about defending it in the mountains probably takes a lot of pressure off both Stefan and his team.

The next big test is the stage to Super Besse on Thursday. There are two moderately big climbs one right after the other for the first authentic mountain-top finish of this year's Tour. Shumacher might just be able to climb well enough to hold onto the jersey, though if he does succeed, the Pyrenees loom two days later. What's a rider to do?

In the chase for the overall title, Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov were right there, but all their challengers, Cunego, Valverde, Sastre, were closely grouped about a minute back. That's bad news for those three, but it's good news for us as there will clearly be some fireworks when we reach the mountains.

How about those Garmin-Chipotle boys? Millar and Vandevelde rode exceptionally well to put both of them top ten on the stage and top ten overall. In fact, Millar was a hair's breadth of taking the stage, a second top-three finish for the team in two days.

The other American squad, Team Columbia, put two of its boys in top ten as well with George Hincapie and Thomas Loqvist. The Swede also claimed the white jersey as best young rider. Not a bad day for America if you are keeping score.

I am still rooting for Mark Cavendish to win a stage. Tomorrow is an excellent opportunity before then next sorting out on Thursday. Now that France has both a stage win and held the yellow jersey, maybe they will settle down and quick flying up the road at every opportunity. Not!

Bruce

USA Softball Enters Final Stretch of Bound for Beijing Tour

mikeyactive — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:46:12 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The USA Softball Women’s National team traveled to Portland, Oregon on Sunday to begin their final stretch of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour. A tour that started in February, the long journey across the U.S. will pick up again on Tuesday evening as the U.S. visits Portland for a match up against ASA Regional All Stars. This begins what is the final three weeks of the tour before departure to defend its fourth–consecutive Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing in August.

"It is a very exciting time as we are embarking on our last leg of the tour,” said two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Crystl Bustos. “The sites have been great and it is hard to believe it’s almost over. We are going to be extremely focused the next month to get ready to defend our gold medal come August in China.”

With just eight games remaining on the schedule, following Oregon, the Americans will travel to Spokane, Washington before bussing through Yellowstone National Park for a game in Rapid City, South Dakota on July 15. On July 18, they will play in Springfield, Mo. before heading east to Stratford, Conn. for competition on July 20. Another National ProFastpitch contest is then scheduled on July 22 against the Akron Racers followed by a Salem, Va. visit on July 24. The final game of the tour before the team departs for China will be in Irvine, Calif. on Saturday, July 26.

With a record of 51-1, the U.S. is hitting a remarkable .432 as a team and has outscored opponents 599-26. Leftfielder Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) leads all batters with a .474 batting average with 16 home runs and a team-high 83 RBI. Bustos has a team-high 23 home runs while Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, Fla.) has earned a team-high 46 walks. Lead off hitter Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) is a perfect 20-for-20 in stolen bases and is No. 2 on the team for batting average at .422.

From the circle, Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) leads the way with a 17-1 record with 102.0 innings pitched with 179 strikeouts. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) is 12-0 with 92.0 innings pitched and 193 strikeouts while Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) has totaled 89 innings pitched recording a 13-0 record with 176 strikeouts tallied. As a whole, the pitching staff has held opponents to a .089 batting average and has a combined .47 ERA.

(Game report provided by USA Softball)

Food Records: A helpful tool to lose weight

Nancy Clark RD CSSD — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:11:42 GMT

If you want to lose undesired body fat, keeping food records is a good place to start. A new study reported in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports that among 1,685 dieters, those who kept food records at least 6 days a week lost twice the weight of those who didn’t keep food records. (18 vs. 9 pounds).

Unfortunately, most of my clients hate to keep food records. Or, they keep them on “good days” but not on the days they overeat. Sound familiar?

Writing down what you eat takes energy. If you have the energy to eat well, you likely have the energy to write it down. On the flip side, if life is draining your energy, you feel stressed, and are eating poorly, you likely lack the energy needed to record what you consumed (nor do you want to face the facts). Yet, if you were to make yourself accountable on the “bad days,” you would likely eat less, and might even learn from the experience.
For example, you might learn that eating 10 Oreos did not solve any of your problems, rather just made you feel worse. The next time you feel tempted to smother your stress with cookies, you might think twice and ask yourself: “How many of these Oreo’s will solve my problems?” The answer, of course, is none. And the threat of having to record 10 Oreos might deter you from indulging. Give it a try?

Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD

Author

Guided Missle Destroyer To Be Named After LT Michael Murphy

NSW Motivator — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:07:44 GMT

U.S. Navy honors Penn State grad
By Adam Clark Collegian Staff Writer

When Michael Murphy was in middle school, he got into a fight with three boys who were shoving a special education student into a locker.

Murphy's actions led his mother, Maureen, to nickname him "the protector," a role he assumed in his adulthood as a member of the Navy SEALs.

But while protecting his country in 2005, Murphy, Class of 1998, was killed in the mountains of Afghanistan after exposing himself to enemy fire to call for backup.

Murphy has received numerous military awards, including the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor. And in May, the U.S. Navy announced it will honor Murphy by naming its new missile destroyer the USS Michael Murphy.

"It's just such an honor," Maureen Murphy said. "I can't even describe it. It's such a big thing to have a ship named after you."

Michael graduated from Penn State with degrees in psychology and political science, his father, Daniel Murphy said.

"He liked the school very much," Daniel Murphy said. "It was a place where he could be on his own, but he wasn't that far from home."

Michael lived in East Halls for two years before moving to an apartment off campus and stayed active by playing ice hockey, Maureen Murphy said.

"He loved it," she said of Michael's years at Penn State. "I know that it was a great time for him."

After graduating from Penn State, Michael was accepted into several law schools but instead decided he wanted to become a Navy SEAL, Maureen Murphy said.

When his mother shared her concerns about the dangers of being in the military she said he told her, " 'Mom, you always think there is always good in everybody, and that's true, but there are some people that make other people's lives miserable and they need to be dealt with.' "

As a Navy SEAL, Michael once again assumed the role of protector, but also prepared for a new role, as he proposed to longtime friend and girlfriend Heather Duggan, Maureen Murphy said.

Michael and Duggan planned to marry in November 2005, but first Michael was deployed to Afghanistan as the leader of Operation Red Wing. There, he was charged with leading a four-man team searching for a Taliban leader in the mountains near Asadabad, Afghanistan, according to a Navy press release.

On June 28, 2005, Michael, 29, and his three SEAL teammates were surrounded by more than 50 anti-coalition militia. As gunfire ensued, Michael knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire to gain better reception to call for help.

During the call, Michael was shot in the back and dropped the transmitter but picked it up and completed the call.

After more than two hours of fighting Michael and two of his teammates were killed, but because of Michael's successful call, the fourth member of the team was eventually rescued.

"When everything happened they flew in from all over the country just to say goodbye to him." Maureen Murphy said of Michael's death. "That kind of speaks volumes."

Michael had planned to eventually leave the Navy and had already checked into working with the FBI, Maureen Murphy said.

Maureen Murphy is the sponsor of the USS Michael Murphy and next June will weld Michael's name as well as her own name into the ship at the laying of the keel ceremony, Daniel Murphy said.

"Michael Murphy's name, which will be forever synonymous with astonishing courage under fire, will now be associated with one of the U.S. Navy's most technologically advanced, most powerful and most capable warships," Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter said, according to a Navy press release.

Michael's biography is scheduled to be published next summer, Daniel Murphy said.

"I feel that even after his passing he still touches lives," Maureen Murphy said. "I've been proud of him since the day he was born."

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/07/08/us_navy_honors_penn_state_grad.aspx