tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86118842024-03-06T22:29:36.736-06:00Life Is A Tri"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever. Live strong."Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.comBlogger1475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-79372830016909430102012-02-05T19:50:00.001-06:002012-02-05T19:50:58.235-06:00Super Bowl XXXVVVVIIIIILLLL Whatever<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; ">Well, it may not have been the worst Super Bowl halftime show ever (Black Eyed Peas still hold that crown) but it was certainly the weirdest. A lip-synching Pop Tart vamping with the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys, 2 escapees from Wayne's World and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.</span>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-80513304023225341152011-08-29T19:37:00.000-05:002011-08-29T19:38:06.084-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Any 50-something man who is so stupid as to call golf "exercise" ought to look down at his waistline once in a while. Idiots.</span></span>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-28663971302275696972011-08-29T19:28:00.002-05:002011-08-29T19:31:19.798-05:00It Ain't Easy Being An Oracle!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The "Oracle of Omaha" <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardsalsman/2011/08/28/warren-buffett-and-the-other-anti-rich-capitalists/">takes a good whacking</a> for having his head up his ass and his hand in your pockets...and mine.</span><div>
<br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-24428754636981154432011-08-29T18:01:00.004-05:002011-08-29T18:06:34.791-05:00Rahmbo Rocks ChicagoChicago Tribune: <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-emanuel-offers-chicago-triathlon-quip-20110829,0,2042868.story">Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on his performance in the Chicago Triathlon where he finished ninth out of 80 in his age group:</a>
<br />
<br /><i>“You may say I’m unfit to be mayor, but you can never say I’m an unfit mayor."</i>
<br />
<br />OK, that's one of the better finishing quotes I've heard. Probably written by some speechwriter.<div>
<br /></div><div>The news stories about the Chicago tri have me a little nostalgic. OK, I'm there next year!</div><div>
<br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-13767984036168417102011-08-21T17:33:00.005-05:002011-08-21T17:39:47.745-05:00Bike, Check! Helmet, Check! Lawyer, Wha?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So what should you buy next, after the bike? Yes, a helmet, I know. But after THAT? If you're in NYC, a lawyer might be a good idea.</span><div>
<br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-25197246544680860612011-08-20T15:03:00.004-05:002011-08-20T15:22:44.454-05:00Avoiding the Swim Freakouts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The <i>NY Times</i> weighs in on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/sports/rise-in-first-time-triathletes-raises-safety-concern.html?_r=1&hpw">preparing triathletes for the "chaos" of open-water swimming</a>. I've found that getting better at open-water swimming requires lots of, well, open-water swimming. You think there's some mysterious secret? There's not.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Long-time readers of this blog remember my rants about swim freak-outs and how they diminished only when I forced myself to race every two weeks all summer long - April 'til October. 15 races or so. I'll never be great but now my HR stays below 'aortic rupture' territory.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I'm fortunate to live near - and train in - Lake Michigan with its many moods - rip currents and 4-ft waves one day, millpond calm the next. Wetsuit: ON! Goggles: ON! Game: ON!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And if you're uncomfortable in the water, do yourself and other racers a favor: position yourself at the BACK of the pack (with me!) and maybe off to one side, not in the middle and certainly not the front.</span></div><div>
<br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-19367380635456183762011-08-14T12:36:00.006-05:002011-08-20T15:26:41.182-05:00Runs, Trains and Medicine BallsNice run this morning, along the river and through the woods, no Grandmother's house to be found. <div>
<br /></div><div>Kept company by quacking ducks, droning cicadas, a long-legged Greyhound doggie and the irritating horn of a freight train making its way through town. <div>
<br /></div><div>Man, what's UP with blowing your train's damn horn at every intersection? Ever hear of NOISE POLLUTION? Ever hear of a sleep-deprived citizen dragging your sorry ass outta your locomotive and going all "Hey Government! Regulate THIS!" on you? But I digress...</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Finished up with core exercises using a 12-lb medicine ball and some stretching. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Now it's a triple-shot Redeye at my favorite coffee shop, hi-fi on the wi-fi, blogging, news-reading, working on various business ventures and watching the world go by. Wish you were here.</div><div>
<br /></div></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-83570838925303352011-08-10T20:57:00.002-05:002011-08-10T21:07:49.946-05:00Buh-Bye Honda Financial Services!And so the Flying Lunchbox is finally paid off. Free and clear. In my name and my name only. <div>
<br /></div><div>The hauler of triathlon bikes, wetsuits, drum kits, furniture, Tri-Daughter stuff and the occasionally incontinent Golden Retriever is now MINE, MINE, MINE, ALL MINE!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-74308617909939116262011-08-08T11:20:00.004-05:002011-08-08T11:25:07.725-05:00Couch Potatoes Need Not ApplyTwo deaths in this weekend's New York Triathlon and the NY Times' headline is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/sports/man-dies-during-new-york-city-triathlon.html?_r=1&ref=sports">"</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 26px; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:24px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/sports/man-dies-during-new-york-city-triathlon.html?_r=1&ref=sports">Death During Swim Renews Questions About Event’s Safety."</a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 26px; font-size: medium; ">No mention is made of the couch potatoes dying over the weekend while doing nothing.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 26px; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-40311849660196703002011-08-07T19:38:00.003-05:002011-08-07T19:43:07.951-05:00Vertical Man Goes Vertical<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Great weekend in Steamboat Springs, CO. Visited some favorite dining spots, hiked up to the gondola's top to work it all off. Perfect weather - warm days, cool nights. Right now my view is looking west, high over the Yampa Valley as the sun turns everything golden. Home tomorrow, work Tuesday.<br /><br />While I'm at it, the Dems' new narrative is that it's a "Tea Party Downgrade." Ummm, OK. Not a "Wasteful Bail-Out Downgrade?" Not an "Expensive, Health Plan Downgrade?" Or a "Two Endless Wars Downgrade?" Right, it's an "Our taxes are too low downgrade!"</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">How silly of me and so nice of the usual, useful idiots to enlighten me.</span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-65096844897288995792011-08-01T19:19:00.002-05:002011-08-01T19:24:52.660-05:00Are You Kidding Me?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">A free copy of <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/espn-the-magazine/">ESPN the Magazine</a> landed in my office today. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? There's NO lamer, more boring, utterly wretched example of sports journalism at work anywhere in our post-lockout wasteland. So some dipwad NFL player doesn't like nail clippings on his training table. Some pre-pubescent skier isn't fond of speed-dating. They're KILLING TREES to tell me that crap. Are you kidding me?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; line-height: 14px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; line-height: 14px; font-size: medium; ">Why can't the JOURNALISTS ever go on strike? </span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-50142874626362829762011-07-20T21:32:00.011-05:002011-07-22T09:17:08.765-05:00Pretty Soon Starvation Will Be the Trendiest Diet Of Them All!<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">Once upon a time it was OK to eat meat, red and otherwise. A time when butter, eggs and cream were staples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The French do it, gleefully, and suffer far lower rates of heart disease and other uniquely American maladies.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">But no, we couldn’t be like the French, could we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>Sacre bleau!</i></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">And so red meat was jettisoned, leaving ‘healthy’ meats like fish and poultry.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">Then it was better to be vegetarian, no meat at all.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">But if vegetarianism is good then vegan must be even better.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">And if vegan is good then raw, unsullied, virgin food is the <i>ne plus ultra</i>!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">Pretty soon starvation will be the trendiest diet of them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After all, who’d want a carrot to feel the pain of cold steel?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">Me? I’m sticking to the Mediterranean diet – olive oil, fish, poultry, pasta, bread, nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, healthy dairy, intense black coffee, red wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>60% carbs, 20% each protein and healthy fats.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">And the next time an overweight, undernourished, teetotalling, carrot-crunching vegan throws some dietary criticism my way, I’m gonna invite her onto the triathlon course and kick her ass. Kindly, in a manner befitting the emotionally sensitive, growthful, modern kinda guy that I am.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Not that I have anyone particular in mind...</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-45690121783906340452011-07-20T20:40:00.002-05:002011-07-20T20:44:08.308-05:00Should Drugs Be Decriminalized?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Probably. Will they be? Doubtful. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Why not?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Don’t kid yourself. It has far less to do with proclamations about youthful morality than you think. The fight is really about which side in the ‘war on drugs’ gets to bank the spoils.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But first, a question: why aren’t the headlines full of lurid stories about gangs wearing Distiller A’s colors shooting it out with other gangs wearing Distiller B’s? Hasn’t happened since prohibition ended. Hmmm…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Think about it, and, as with most things, follow the money. And never, ever underestimate a civil servant’s instincts for self-preservation.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Who </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">benefits</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> from illegal drugs apart from the leaders of a few thousand crazed Mexican thugs? </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The taxpayer-funded, anti-drug establishment, that’s who.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Narco-Industrial Complex</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A few decades ago, when the wars were in Korea and Viet Nam, it was called the ‘military-industrial complex.’ It’s a few generals and captains of industry sitting behind the lines, directing armies of underpaid foot soldiers doing the dirty work and the dying.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It’s a back-scratching web of those with power to tax and spend in support of an agenda: politicians, lobbyists, regulators, law enforcement officials, government employees, their unions and those in their orbit - the court system’s judges, defense attorneys and for-profit prison operators.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And we shouldn’t forget the vendors - the sellers of guns, Kevlar vests and night vision scopes to what has become a paramilitary operation.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Damn Hippies!</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Who benefits from decriminalization? In short, not the vested interests, but lowlifes – today’s users and yesterday’s felons. The dealers. Growers. Farmers. Hippies. Immigrants. Entrepreneurs. College kids. Importers. Head shop owners. Hustlers. Weird pharmacies selling brownies.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yikes. Who’d want that? Better to get rich fighting a losing battle than to declare ‘peace’ and watch your former enemy get rich!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But don’t worry. Our kids are safe. The good guys are winning, right? Well sure, they control the narrative.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Full disclosure: I don’t use illegal drugs and wouldn’t if they were decriminalized. But as someone with a definite libertarian streak, I’m content to let you make all the dumb decisions you want. I’m also content to let you bear the consequences.)</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-87908583691839114422011-07-20T19:19:00.010-05:002011-07-21T12:41:37.025-05:00The Team That Tris Together...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbyJHhLk_XrYGKMZAOCuwHYd6eCO1DQgUPCj4LH74xrGqlNoHzjk94L8lwkT2F7RHstu5Sm2WKoPws8vqadiGJV7XbUdmAtTbT-rYgBdBa1csqWMKZTWXlOss90bTK2zzcCQt/s1600/Timex+Multisport+Team+Car-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbyJHhLk_XrYGKMZAOCuwHYd6eCO1DQgUPCj4LH74xrGqlNoHzjk94L8lwkT2F7RHstu5Sm2WKoPws8vqadiGJV7XbUdmAtTbT-rYgBdBa1csqWMKZTWXlOss90bTK2zzcCQt/s320/Timex+Multisport+Team+Car-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631598532287422322" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">...what? Stays together? We're about to find out! Good luck to the five Timex employees competing in Ironman Lake Placid on July 24.</span> <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I wonder if Ironman success is in their job description? Regardless, this's pretty cool!</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Middlebury, CT – July 20, 2011 – Timex, a leader in outdoor and sports performance timepieces, today announced that<b> five employees from its sales and marketing teams will toe the line together</b> on July 24 in Lake Placid, NY, and attempt to conquer the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Cumulatively, the group has completed eight Ironman triathlons, however Ironman Lake Placid will mark the first time they will all compete head-to-head in the same venue.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Lake Placid will mark the fourth Ironman race in the careers of Keith Meyer, Manager of Event Marketing and Sponsorships, and Brett Jacobson, Account Executive, Sports, as well as the sophomore appearances of Dave Schultz, Vice President of Sales, and Jason Tillinghast, Product Manager for Advanced Products. Heberto Calves, Vice President of Marketing, will seek to add “Ironman” to his title after several Ironman 70.3 finishes.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Training for and competing in Ironman events has allowed each member of the team to shape a unique approach to their respective roles, grounded in personal sacrifice, a passion for the sport and first-hand understanding of athletes’ needs.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>“I've been kicked at the swim start, longed to get off the bike to start running at mile 95, and had my hamstrings tighten uncontrollably at mile 15 of the run,” said Schultz. “So when I talk to athletes about our product, I know exactly where they are coming from and what their needs are.”<span style=" ;color:red;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Ironman Lake Placid is the second oldest Ironman in North America and serves as a qualifying event for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI. More than 2,500 athletes will enter the calm waters of Mirror Lake for the mass start swim before riding and running through the Adirondacks and passing by the historic landmarks from the 1980 Winter Olympics.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Pictures to follow. Rock on Team Timex!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p></span></div></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-40284224047889410082011-06-05T13:44:00.005-05:002011-06-05T13:58:32.049-05:00Daily Training<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Earlier: an easy 1:15 run, shaking out a few cobwebs. Proud form, quick tempo, 21 right foot falls in 15 seconds, driving the arms forward (because where your arms go the body follows.) Pushing it up the hills, running strongly down. Stretching before and after.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Now: reviewing tomorrow's schedule and re-caffeinating with an extra-shot Redeye.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Later: haven't planned that far ahead! It's Sunday!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Quote for the day: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a title="Click for further information about this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/29671.html" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); text-decoration: none; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pain (any pain--emotional, physical, mental) has a message. The information it has about our life can be remarkably specific, but it usually falls into one of two categories: "We would be more alive if we did more of this," and, "Life would be more lovely if we did less of that." Once we get the pain's message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away.</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Peter_McWilliams/" style="color: navy; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peter McWilliams</span></i></a></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Life 101)</span></i></span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-27835001422631902572011-06-04T12:18:00.001-05:002011-06-04T12:20:19.191-05:00The Daily Dose, Vertically Speaking<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> "I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(E.B. White)</span></span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-46071688677933534792011-06-03T18:05:00.004-05:002011-06-03T18:12:59.113-05:00Vertical Man's Resurrection<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And so it begins. The long, slow slog, the base building, the dark, cold, early morning workouts, the Boot Camps, the "I forget how many 25's this is!" laps in the pool, the carefully-watched calories and carbs, the fun, the fear and the blood, sweat and tears.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">All for <a href="http://ironmancda.com/">Ironman Coeur d'Alene, 2013!</a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Yeah, I know 2013 is 2 years off. I've been slacking a LONG time and it's gonna take at least that to do enough penance. Time to get off my ass, get back to training, back to blogging, ranting and maybe some raving. Deal with it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And I'm starting a triathlon business, called, unexpectedly, "Life Is A Tri." Some cool gear and triathlon-themed stuff. Stay tuned and keep those Visa cards handy.</span></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-82106548719450258472011-02-20T09:34:00.000-06:002011-02-20T09:36:17.539-06:00Sunday Mornings Sure Are Fine!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Wall Street Journal's weekend edition in my hands, NPR's "Weekend Edition" on the radio and strong black coffee racing through my veins - Sunday mornings don't get any better! Out for a run later once I see whether we're getting rain or ice. I'm running either way, just like to know what I'm in for.</span></span></span>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-41332359834561522242011-02-02T11:09:00.005-06:002011-02-02T11:20:21.379-06:00Never Pick A Fight With Someone Who Buys Ink By the Barrel!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I know there's lots of competition for the award, but is there a bigger idiot in professional sports than Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder? </span><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dan-Snyder-is-trying-to-get-a-newspaper-reporter?urn=nfl-315778"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">He's trying to get a reporter fired for penning a critical article listing Snyder's many missteps</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> during an ownership tenure spanning 12 years and Jeff George, Albert Haynesworth and Jim Zorn.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Snyder tripped over a sewage ditch and fell face-first into a pool of money. Too bad some IQ points weren't included.</span><div><br /></div></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-29757615211834630722011-01-31T11:17:00.002-06:002011-01-31T11:20:17.744-06:00Look Out Texas!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As soon as a few consulting gigs are safely underway, I'm throwing my bike and the rest of my tri-gear into the Flying Lunchbox and heading to Texas for several months of warm-weather training. I'm gonna spend many hours gazing at the bottom of Lifetime Fitness's lap pool!</span></span></span>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-53996330662047804692011-01-15T20:50:00.004-06:002011-01-15T21:12:51.163-06:00A Chicago SportsgasmI've heard this weekend described as a Chicago "Sportsgasm." What's a Sportsgasm?<div><br /></div><div>Well, it means fans get to boo "Omaha Tommy" Ricketts and his team of stumbling bums at the Cubs' convention, cheer the Bulls efforts against JeBron Lames and the Miami Hate, curse da Bears' cringe-worthy offense in their playoff game against the Suttle Swamphawks, and yell "Let's Go Hawks" as the Blackhawks skate in a home-and-home series with the Nashville Prednisones. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or something like that. Sportsgasms are hard to pin down.</div><div><br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-57843313798350763062011-01-14T21:04:00.003-06:002011-01-15T14:25:15.480-06:00Time To Run, Shovel Or Leave!Despite a lingering cough and 30" of snow, I'm hellbent to get in a run tomorrow. Or maybe I'll just shovel the driveway. That's aerobic, right?<div><br /></div><div>Then I'm loading up the Flying Lunchbox and heading to Texas for several months. Better weather, better training...just all 'round better! Maybe a race or two while I'm there.</div><div><br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-74546903851864686132011-01-03T10:05:00.004-06:002011-01-03T18:26:44.482-06:00Happy (Cough) New Year (Cough, Cough!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Flying home from Steamboat last week, I had the good fortune to be seated in front of what sounded like refugees from either a phlegm depository or a tuberculosis sanitarium. I cursed the capricious Airline Gods for their seating arrangement, tried to hold my breath for 2 hours, failed, and fell back on the hope that clean living, good food, constant handwashing and hot tea would confer immunity.<br /><br />Silly me. </span>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-29921821925831188542010-12-29T09:09:00.005-06:002010-12-29T16:54:56.306-06:002010's Popular Workouts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">From </span><a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/Fitness-Trends-From-2010-12741304?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fitsugar+%28FitSugar+-+Healthy%2C+happy+you.%29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Fitsugar.com, here's a year-ending list of 2010's fitness trends</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">;</span><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Barefoot running. (A trend I don't get at all.)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Working it "old school" i.e. working with your own body weight, <i>sans</i> fancy props and expensive equipment. (Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges...it sounds like </span><a href="http://lifeisatri.blogspot.com/2004/10/boot-camp-to-jump-start-your-training.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Fitness Boot Camp</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> all over again!)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Yoga mixed with everything. Snowga - on the ski slopes. Paddleboard Yoga - in the water. Koga - while kickboxing. (No thanks. I have enough problems with Downward Dog as it is.)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Triathlons</b>, a "frenzy (that's) been building for a decade." (Thanks in part to Hollyweird.)</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I'm not sure how I feel about triathlon being deemed either "frenzy" or "trend." That has an air of impermanence, don't you think?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">While I'm at it, a few posts from the archives about Boot Camp fun and working it "old school;"</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://lifeisatri.blogspot.com/2005/04/what-are-atomic-sit-ups.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">What are Atomic Situps?</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://lifeisatri.blogspot.com/2005/11/cmon-maggot-drop-and-give-me-20.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">C'Mon Maggot! Drop and Give Me 20!</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611884.post-47108553944079419222010-12-28T22:27:00.003-06:002010-12-28T22:34:06.533-06:00Tri-Daughter Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Tri-Daughter center of gravity is slowly moving to the southwest. Tri-Daughter #2 recently announced she's leaving Portland, OR and joining T-D #4 in the Tempe, AZ area. That means more places to stay for P.F. Chang's Rock 'n Roll Marathon and, maybe, someday, IM-AZ. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Or just a nice winter getaway any day...like today.</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Vertical Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331183720066540623noreply@blogger.com0