Man in the Arena : Tags : ironman_world

Today's Prologue was the kind of opening event organizers dream about. The morning fog burnt off by noon, just in time for the pre-race benefit time trial. Local radio and TV personalities, amateur riders, a former mayor of Palo Alto and this guy...

...who warmed up the 2.1-mile time trial course up for the professionals to come later. Joining in on the action was 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack (wearing a not-available to the public Specialized aero helmet).

By the time the pros starting taking off, the crowd was pretty into it. Palo Alto was awash in la vita cyclisma. It seemed like every other person was riding a bike or walking around in their kits, cleats or helmet. I felt like I was in Amsterdam.

As the cycling content manager at Active, it warmed my heart to see roadies mix with mountain bikers, riding past singlespeeds and fixes. Recumbent bikes and a few hand-crank cycles could be seen. And best of all, kids seemed to be enamored with the fact that they could ride their bike in the street. The cycling love was ever present and there was nary a "They'realldoperssowhocaresthisisAmericaanywaygoplaysomefootball" sentiment about.

But really, the riders put on the show--both on the course and off. Fabian Cancellara's time trial blew the competition away (as Bruce predicted.), but American favorite Levi Leipheimer stayed close in the fourth spot. The talk of the starting area were the sweet Slipstream Stashes:

Though I'm not sure how aero they are, the facial hair must have worked, since Slipstream placed four guys in the top ten. Then there was the nose plugs, a "traditional/superstition" according to Bruce Hildenbrand (I'll get his video explanation up as soon as I can).

A few more observations:

-Cancellara was the only rider to not sit down before the time trial. Instead, he arrived late to have his bike measured and weighed, then rode around until just before he needed to take off. He then just coasted his bike up to the gate, waited, and won the day.

-Mario Cipollini arrived with a camera crew, a million-dollar smile and perfect hair to a raucous welcome by the crowd. As good a greeting as any that the American riders received.

-Fan access was amazing. Team buses filled the streets and riders warmed up right next to the sidewalk as spectators watched in awe. More than once I saw or overheard someone ecstatic over being given a water bottle by a pro. Kind of like that Mean Joe Green commercial where he gives the kid his jersey after getting a Coke. Really cool. The riders seemed more than happy to be visible to the public.

Lots to look forward to in the coming days. Tomorrow it's Sausalito to Santa Rosa--Levi's current home. Should be a good reception for the defending champ.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: amgen-tour-of-california, cycling, ironman_world_championship, leipheimer, palo-alto, levi_leipheimer, mario_cipollini, fabian_cancellara, chris_mccormack, team, slipstream

That's been the question concerning training since Thanksgiving. Should I get up at dawn on my day off to run a 5K turkey trot? I could just run the same route later.... I went. Had fun. Good decision.

That weekend, though, was a different story. I'm trying to stick to Gale Bernhardt's half-marathon training plan in preparation for the OC half-marathon on January 6. But the Sunday after Thanksgiving I just wasn't feeling it. So I stayed inside, watched football and read comic books. Oh well.

Then Tuesday came along and with it, Arch's ActiveX training ( Welcome to ActiveX). Should I join up, even though it wasn't really built in to the training? I did. It hurt. But it was fun. It's significantly easier to stay motivated while working out in a group setting. Plus, I look **** good in those videos, huh? Haha!

But one workout an athlete doesn't make (does sense that make?), and when the time for ActiveX workout no. 2 came along on Friday, there was another stay or go decision to ponder. It was raining and Arch was promising an outdoor workout. But shoot, if and Michelle are going then I gotta go, too, yeah? Can't wait to see the video for that one.

Now it's Saturday afternoon. The training plan calls for a 2-hour run--the longest I will have ever done. But UConn plays Gonzaga on ESPN soon. And then the Ironman World Championships is on. And then it'll almost be dark, and then...

0 Comments Permalink Tags: activex, ironman_world_championship