Three Thing Thursday

Wow, is it Thursday already????

1) Bayshore Weekend races went fantastic. The team did so great that we were able to leave the course before they shutdown the finish line! Now this may not sound like a big deal but it truly is, we're notorious for being the last group of participants on the course.

2) I actually got on my bike and did 40! That's minutes, not miles..... I have a long way to go if I plan on riding three centuries in three days! Oh my............

3) The track workouts are going like gang busters! The ladies are kicking out some pretty consistently fast times. Now it this translates to faster races is another question.

Three Thang Thursday........

1) Another marathon and 1/2 marathon weekend for this coach! We head up to Traverse City tomorrow for Saturday's race. The weather shouldn't be an issue since we're close to the North Pole!

2) I am so excited about our Wednesday evening track workouts. The participants are really showing up in numbers and they're having fun.It is so impressive to see a group of adults exercising outside. I still have people come up to me and ask what they're training for, I always answer the same thing 'life'.........

3) I am also interacting with my 'Couch to 5k' participants and it's a totally different set of questions and answers. Keeping them motivated to get in fifteen minutes of activity will be interesting to say the least. I have one gentlemen that wants to win his age group! Like I told him now we have a goal............

Peace

Wednesday's Why & Whats???????

Okay, that friend I spoke of decided to go back and do speed work with the gazelles again! Why is he so stupid?????

Why does the water taste better at the gym when I'm working out than the water at work????

Whatever happened to taking off from November to February in the colder regions??? People are training year round.......

What other body readings would you like to see on your watch/gps unit? Would you like to see body temp or blood pressure?

Why do people make that mad dash for the finish line after struggling for 99% of the race?

Does it really help if someone says 'good job' while you're racing?

What is your favorite saying when you're racing?

Why am I so shocked when a service worker seem genuinely polite and receptive?????

Tuesday's Thoughts..............

Are we as runners not very bright when it comes to our bodies? This past weekend once again proved to be unusually HOT in Green Bay and Cleveland. The race(marathon and 1/2 marathon) was cancelled after 2:35 in Green Bay, but they continued in Cleveland with runners dropping like flies.

I personally had two TNT alumni in Cleveland and it got scary for both of them to watch people on the side of the road as well as assisting another runner until EMS persons showed up!

So, when do you as a runner say enough?

When do you take responsibility for your body?

We're suppose to be so in-tune with our bodies. We're suppose to know what's good for the body and what's bad for it. We're on the leading edge of technology and a shit-load of information pertaining to it.

So why do we need race directors to tell us to stop?

Are the scarlet letters DNF that hard to swallow instead of a lengthy visit to the medical tent?

Is this heat something that we're going to have to contend with going forward?

Will races start at the butt-crack of dawn to ensure completion before the heat of the morning?

Will we evolve to running races at night?

Three Things Thursday..............

1) Track workouts began with an all women group! These ladies were really impressive as they sped along doing 400s and 600s! I always love when people come up to me and ask what they're training for. Depending on my mood, I sometimes say the Olympics! It is a beautiful sight to see adult women hitting the track.

2) Do any of you get to sleep in on the weekend? I have training Saturday morning and then volunteering for Back to the Beach on Sunday. I have to be at the race at 5:30 AM on Sunday!!!!!! No wonder I hate Mondays........

3) Sandy's Fall TNT team starts their group training on Saturday. Her team is huge in comparison to mine, she has about 30 runners! Our park is starting to look what I imagine Central Park in New York must be like on the weekends. Several different organizations are meeting up and running as groups similar to what we do. It great to see so many people being physical......

Wednesday's Why???????

Why would a reasonably sane mature runners embark on speedwork sessions with a herd of Gazelles?????

I have a 'friend' that did just that! He decided to see how much he could do in anticipation of competing in a race in the near future.

This 'friend' tried to mix in with some of the other mature runners but soon found himself passing other runners! WTF??????

Needless to say after a few sets of 600s, my 'friend' started feeling some twinges in his knee. Fortunately, he knew better to continue and just jogged back to the start.

Did you know that jogging can add years to your life????

Well after icing his knee, my 'friend' decided that he will take better precautions next week!

Why are some people so stupid??????

No names were given to protect the innocent........

Tuesday's Thoughts...............

We are closing in on finishing another TNT season, this past Saturday we had another 20/12 miler and everyone did fantastic! It's amazing to see these individuals go from nothing to 20/12 miles and smile!

This season has been so rewarding that I've agreed to be a virtual coach for the Leukemia Society's 'Couch to 5k' program for the Detroit Free Press 5k.

I'm getting Spring Fever and can't stand being inside on these glorious weather days!

Is it just me that thinks the month of May is under appreciated? Haven't you noticed how long the days are? You can put the kids to bed and still get outside.

I'm trying to become a morning runner again, I just need the alarm clock to cooperate.

BEvERage versus Chocolate Milk, no contest!

3 Thing Thursday........

1) We had our 'Everything you Need to Know' clinic for the team and the alumni from the spring team showed up to celebrate and tell some stories. I can't believe how close of a team that we have, for them to dispense some insight and advice to the other team. Fun was had by all.

2) The gym brought in a Glute Hamstring Development machine and I think I over did it! OUCH........ Have you ever used a unfamiliar machine and paid for it later?????

3) I get to be at TNT group training this Saturday! I've missed the last three weeks, due to traveling. I can't wait to get out there and kick some participant arse!

Peace...

Wednesday's Why????????

Why did I position myself at the base of the hills at the Flying Pig?

My calves are still screaming at me!!!

After watching how a lot of people look and feel finishing their endurance event, I can honestly ask why do they do it?

Granted the weather played a role in it but it wasn't and could not have been fun..........

Why are old men only wise in Barbershops and Locker rooms????????

People are just crazy............. HA

Tuesday's Thoughts.........

Another TNT event where the weather played a major role in the results! As Nelly would say, "it's gettin' hot in herre"

The Flying Pig started to look like a death march once the sun came out in full force! Even with a 6:30 AM start, it caught a lot of folks off guard. All of my folks finished but it was UGLY!

The last TNT participant finished in 7:27ish for the marathon. Long coaching day............

Would you rather run in heat or rain?

My gym opened back after renovations. I went a week without doing any strength training and survived!

Hot Gatorade sucks!

A hot dog and coke taste like heaven after being on the course for 7 1/2 hours......

A cold BEvERage taste even better after a coke and hot dog.

My Garmin battery lasted the entire time on the course.

The Flying Pig Victory party doesn't last 7 1/2 hours.

I get to coach again in three more weeks!

Peace..........

T.G.I.Flying Pig

I am getting ready to head south to coach for the Flying Pig Marathon and 1/2 Marathon for Team in Training Michigan!

I am in the process of dotting my i's and crossing my t's....

In my eight years of coaching for TNT, this is my first trip to the Pig. I only have one participant from my team going and she's running the half but I'm sure someone from Michigan is running the full.

This is always a fun time for me to dispense my coaching knowledge on others.

I love saying stuff like, 'left, right, left.....' or you trained for this!

What do you think about Good Coach/Bad Coach?????

Should I be tough on my participant and go easy on the others?

It's suppose to be hot, so should I don my lucky hat?

That thing can hold a lot of ice!

Hopefully I'll have lots of photos to share.

Peace.....

Whirlwind Wednesday............

Okay, I'm back from Flo-Rida and had a great time!

With the thousands of people on the beach, I was able to run into DisCombobulated Beth!

Okay, back to me...... It's amazing how much you can drink and sweat out if you start early enough......

Well the St. Anthony's Triathlon went well for the team but not for Sandy........(sigh)

She went into the event a tad sick and was pulled from the water halfway through because of cramps and a panic attack. Needless to say, it wasn't much fun afterward watching people cycle and run....

I was able to get on the run course and run with my TNT walk coach and it was a death march out there because of the heat!

I had my usual fun time encouraging the runners to go faster and telling jokes, so it wasn't a total wash.

The other thing that I noticed about triathletes is how much they can drink! There must have been an unlimited amount of beer at the after-party???????

So now, it's back to normal until the weekend when I'll be headed to the Flying Pig to motivate some more folks.

Okay, time for a nap!