Hy-Vee Triathlon World Cup Race 2009

Be sure to watch the finish sprint of this race. 

Forget You on Glee

Sometimes pop music just makes me happy and I want to share it.  Probably we all feel like telling this to someone from time to time.  If you haven't seen this from the TV show Glee, enjoy below.

Meanings of Ironman (Part 1 of 3): Origins and Intellectual Property Issues

I was reading this discussion forum thread with meandered into a debate on the meaning of Ironman.  Ironman, Iron Man, 140.6, etc mean a lot of different things to different people. Let's look at some of the historical, current, and various uses of the term "Ironman."

Old School
If we are going to be thorough we should acknowledge the very first Ironmen.  During the Iron Age of mankind (~500BC to 800AD) life consisted of hunting, various agricultural activities, and a war every now and then.  

Iron Age men existed a long time before the rest of these versions. 

Comic Book Character
In more contemporary terms, Iron Man was used by Marvel Comics for the character of the same name, pictured below.  Like many other Marvel characters, Iron Man has been made into a movie recently.  I will give credit to Robert Downy Jr and everyone else involved, they've done a good job.  

 

Comic book geeks like myself know that this iteration of Iron Man is actually known as War Machine, which is a lot like the approach of some Ironman triathletes.  Personally I never was too into Iron Man comics...I was more of a Punisher and X-Men reader.  

Body Building, Etc.
Another historical use of the term Ironman refers to guys who look like this:

Photo: Ben Greenfield displaying one version of an Ironman performance.

Ironman (in the body building sense of the word) is some kind of empire of magazines, competitions, and product.  I'm not sure which is more of a caricature...the comic book Iron Man or the guys in this video:

 

Seriously though, these guys ARE intense athletes.  They have to have a very strict diet and rigorous training program.  I am not writing this to bad mouth anybody.  Besides, at least these guys still wear speedos, unlike triathletes in 2010.  

Not to be outdone by those strictly going for size, aesthetic development, and really dark tans, there is another kind of Ironman/body building/size/strength thread out there, namely people who want to be able to bend iron.

 Another version of an Ironman:   "How to Bend Nails" 

This movement is both a reaction to training for aesthetic reasons, and against commercial gyms.  It includes Cross Fit, kettle bells, boot camps, TRX, and all manner of improvised workouts.  My friend CJ Ong writes about the Free Fitness Movement on his blog the Crucible.  Before forming opinions about CJ, be aware that he has done Ironmans, Triple Ironmans (Ultraman,) AND body building competitions. So he is not just an Ironman, he is all the different kinds of Ironman except the comic book character and the Iron Age man.

Sabbath
Our overview of Iron Man would not be complete without name-checking the Black Sabbath classic.  By now it is somewhat of a parody song.  For this reason I don't enjoy it as much as other Black Sabbath songs from this era, which are hard without being TOO hard if you know what I mean.  With this album they basically invented metal. 

When the recorded Iron Man the psychedelic movement was still in full swing. Damn that Ozzy Osborne is crazy as hell. Check out their video for Iron Man here.  It is really crazy.   Although I guess if you were going to do an Iron Man in the late 1960's, you could at least have the benefit of an Aqualung which might help you with the 2.4 mile swim. 

The (First) Ironman Triathlon, M-Dot, and the WTC
When 15 guys lined up on the shore of Waikiki in 1978 to settle a bet, there is no way they could have imagined the behemoth that the race format would eventually become.  The whole premise began with the argument, "Who is the best athlete; runners, swimmers, or cyclists." 

Evidently some legal wrangling and business deals have had to occur for all the different versions of Ironman co-exist.  You know those Medieval dudes have some really nasty lawyers!  But seriously if you want to know how the tradmark business go settled, then you really read this article written by Dan Empfield on Slowtwitch.com (the older version not the new one.)

Ironman (Part 2 of 3): The Tattoo, Sticker, and Corporation

When I first got into the sport of triathlon, I asked a mentor, "Why do they call us tri-geeks?"  I will never forget her response. She said, "Let's see, because you go for a run in the morning, you swim at lunch, and you go for a bike ride after work."  The first triathlon club I ever belonged to was Columbia Multisport Club, five time national club champion in the largest division (beating among others L.A. Tri.  They had--and continue to have to this day--a very popular listserv called "trigeeks@columbiamultisport.com."

Have you ever heard the expression, "I did it for the T-shirt?" It seems backwards that someone would do a race so that they can wear a t-shirt to let others know they did a race.  What about enjoying the race itself?  Doing it for the sense of achievement or fun?  Well Ironman Triathletes tend to take it one step farther.  They are not satisfied just "wearing the shirt."

We aren't called tri-geeks because we exercise a lot.  It is because triathletes vainly display the M-Dot tattoo. (The below pictures of M-Dot tattoos are interspersed with quotes from an actual discussion forum thread about getting M-Dot tattoos...quotes do not correspond to the pictures.)

"I say hell yeah!  So what it's not Kona earned?!?!  It's still a friggin' ironman and that is AWESOME!!

 "For those of you that have IM tattoo's- Did you get it right after the race or did you wait a while? Can anyone recommend a good tattoo parlor in Panama City? I'm planning on getting one after IMFL.
"Does it matter if you are sunburned? I'm planning on getting mine around my right shoulder blade. Basically where it will only be seen if I'm swimming or in a jog bra.

"I will probably wait until I get home. The long drive home will be hard enough on my legs without having a new tattoo on my back! I'm planning on getting my inside my shoulder blade. It won't be covered by a bra strap, jog bra or swimsuit. We're going to try out a temporary M Dot tattoo on first. After looking at the prices of  M Dot jewelry, Hubby told me to get a tattoo instead!

"This may be extreme, but I actually got mine 30 minutes after I crossed the line at IMAZ and got back in time to root on the last finishers...I wanted to get the tattoo where I raced and I was leaving Tempe early the next morning.  I called ahead and scheduled an appointment, based on my moderate goal finish time...

"I printed out an ironman logo, and the tattoo guy resized it with a copying machine. Freehand drawing doesn't sound like a good idea, since there's a circle involved and stuff.

Even thought I am not worthy of sporting an IM tat yet, it would be nice to have a copy saved for the big day. Only have done 1/2 IM, Timberman . In the process of signing up for the new 101 series in Bradenton, Fla. in may. 1.8 mi. swim, 80mi. bike and a 18 mi. run. Do they make a 1/2 IM or 3/4 IM tattoo? lol Could you please send me a copy? Hope to do IMFL in 08. Should I get the tattoo on my leg or my back? Thanks for the help.

My commentary:
And this one is a variation since she did a "non-WTC iron distance" at Beach 2 Battleship.  Getting an Ironman tattoo is like getting a Nike Swoosh tattoo or a McDonald's Arches tattoo.  Getting a 140.6 tattoo is like getting a tattoo that says "sports apparel" or "hamburgers."

I understand what an epic and profound experience doing an iron distance triathlon is; I've done eight.  I've won a 140.6 tri and gotten 3rd in two others, and been to Kona.  My criticism specifically is the need people have to advertise their achievements with the M-Dot tattoo. It is like someone who has to cover the back of their car with stickers advertising every racing distance they have done, providing irrefutable evidence that "I am a Tri Geek." 

Part of the issue I have with the M-Dot logo, brand, and the WTC is that corporately, Ironman has become an overly commercialized corporate entity.  The sport/brand/corporation of Ironman is owned by a company named Providence Equity Partners.  This company views the sport of triathlon and for that matter the spirit of Ironman as little more than a flippable commodity.  And if flipping this commodity is it's business, then business is good.

The WTC has engaged in an aggressive expansion including the popular "Ironman 70.3" distance with at least 34 races, and in 2011 a nationwide series of olympic distance triathlons called 5150.  I won't say that this business expansion is itself a bad thing, it's just that the entire sport is becoming dominated by one particular brand.  Well, actually two brands.  The other giant is Falconhead Equity aka Competitor Group, which owns Triathlete, Inside Triathon, VeloNews, Muddy Buddy, and the entire Rock n Roll Marathon series.

When those 12 guys and 3 gals lined up on the beach for the very first Iron Man Triathlon in 1978, they would have never imagined what a corporate mega-entity of pre-packaged experience, magazines, and lifestyle accessories their little experiment would become.  Before you get your Ironman Tattoo, consider "Do I want to advertise for this company?"

And consider...How the rest of the world views Ironman triathletes.   Perhaps Ironman Triathlon has "jumped the shark." (Part 3)

Meanings of Ironman (Part 3 of 3): Champions, Finman, and Jumping the Shark

In this series I've explored some of the meanings of Ironman.  For some it is a comic book character, a body building competition, or a heavy metal song.  Others choose to commemorate their Ironman experience by getting a tattoo.  One thing for sure, Ironman is big business.
People are getting these tattoos like crazy.  Here is one impressive example:

 

This tattoo is even more impressive when you see it on the back of its owner, Ben Greenfield:

I have a feeling that this is not Mr. Greenfield's first time posing.  In fact he has done not one, but at least two kinds of Ironman.  From part 1 of this series, here is Greenfield posing at a body building competition:

This is the same guy who was body building, and now he is doing triathlons with a huge M-Dot tattoo on his back.  He is displaying the trends which are at risk for taking over the Ironman brand: Hubristic bragging fodder and conspicuous consumption. 


But first--before I come across as completely critical of Ironman (and just nasty in general,) I want to give at least a couple counter-examples.  The first I will give is the current Ironman superstar Chrissie Wellington.  I had the chance to see Chrissie race recently at Ironman Arizona.  To be honest I was super-excited to watch her.  Her talent as a racer is exceptional, and her form is remarkable.  After seeing Chrissy run past, Susan said "I want to be her."

And I can see why she said that.  Chrissie is a moving display of power, efficiency, and speed.  Her body appears to be made of 123 lbs of pure muscle.  Her technique is flawless and her killer instinct is undeniable.

Chrissie around top ten overall (including pro men) at Mile 4.

Her technical skill is perfect, her physique is amazing, and she crushes the competition.

  

But the most striking thing about Chrissie Wellington isn't any of the above, it is that has fun while she is racing.  She displays pure joy in movement and in fact is smiling most of the time she is racing.  In interviews she displays nothing but class and humility.  After winning an Ironman, she returns to the finish line until 12am midnight to congratulate each and every finisher behind her.  She is on the cover of magazines, on advertisements, and she has three Ironman world titles.  She doesn't need a tattoo or a sticker on her bumper to advertise to the world.  She does it for fun and to challenge herself. 

You don't have to be an Ironman Champion to display the true spirit of Ironman.  Here are three other examples from among my friends and clients:

This is Corrie and she is about to start her first half iron distance triathlon in this picture.  It is at the Rev 3 in Sandusky.  She is here with her friends and the STtrianer team. Corrie is kind, humble, and friendly.  But she also is one to challenge and push herself.  She has steadily worked her way up from beginning triathlon to olympic distance and now a half iron.  She has been at it for 2-3 years and will probably take 1-2 more years before she takes a shot at an iron distance race.  That is, if she ever decides to do one.  She still uses a road bike and her bumper is not covered with "I'm a triathlete" stickers. 

Perry is pictured here at Ironman Louisville.  He knew he had a window of time between his first and second children's births to get his shot at an Ironman in.  He has worked diligently for 2-3 to get to this point.  Despite the demands of being a health care executive and having a young family, Perry worked very hard to prepare for this race.  He was not one to take short cuts.  I gave him a plan to be well-prepared for Louisville, and he never complained about the difficulty of the workouts.  If you are going to do an Ironman you better be ready to do 100 mile bike rides.  And if the race is in Louisville, you better do those rides in the heat. His performance on race day is the testament: he went sub 13 hours, had negative splits on the marathon run, and never felt distressed throughout the day.

Perry is pictured here running with his dad.  Much like my father The Fergus, Perry's accomplishments have inspired his father to get healthy and exercise.  While an Ironman triathlete can inspire others, taking the time to train for one is another matter.  If you are a parent with small children, carefully consider if Ironman training is a good idea.  It takes a lot of time to prepare for this race.  If you can't train 15+ hours a week for a few months, doing an Ironman may not be a wise idea.  And if you can't make that balance, then don't punish your family by being selfish with your time. 

Another great example is Brian.  He too did his first Ironman at Louisville this year.  He has children, career, etc, and he managed to get the training time in to be ready to finish this race.  He is so interested in triathlon he actually invested in Nashville's ACME Multisports.  Despite being a part owner of a triathlon store, he has never come across as showy or materialistic.  He doesn't brag.  He doesn't flash bling.  And he comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

Now I do want ACME Multisports to sell lots of bikes and schwag. But I think Ironman, and triathlon in general suffer from conspicuous consumption.  People want to throw money at the sport, buy the most expensive bike, trendy minimalist running shoe, or new skin racing suit rather than learning the fundamentals of the sport.  Don't get me wrong; it is cool that you can obtain the same equipment and race alongside the pros.  Here is a picture of Jordan Rapp at Ironman AZ.

Jordan Rapp (on the right, another extremely classy guy) is shown here next to an age grouper.  Note they have very similar helmets, bikes, wheels, glasses, and racing suits. The age grouper has decidedly the more impressive socks.  The difference here is that Jordan is 1) displaying proper usage of a triathlon bike, and 2) is 38 miles ahead!

This is not an isolated instance.  Having been a triathlon coach for over 10 years, I can identify good and bad technique.  Attending any triathlon on any given weekend, you see people who have no clue what they are doing.  They may have spent the money to buy the things you are supposed to buy, enter the races you are supposed to enter, and maybe even put in the necessary training time.  But there is not evidence of the small additional mental effort that it takes to do things correctly. 

The problem with all of this is triathletes have earned the reputation of being incompetent and boastful show-offs; people who spend lavishly on unnecessary gadgets but can't even use them correctly.  If you want to fake-it-till-you-make it, go right ahead.  But it makes you and the rest of the sport look bad.  Just don't cheat like this guy.

This is a picture of Fin Man, so known because he attempted to cheat and use fins at Ironman Florida a couple years ago.  He was in fact disqualified after being caught with the fins, a fact which he disputes to this day.  The fact that Fin Man was disqualified did not prevent him from claiming he had finished the race, in this shocking picture:

Finman at the New York Marathon the next day with a sign on his back which reads, "Finished an Ironman in Florida Yesterday"

Believe it or not, this guy actually went to the trouble to arrange air transportation from Florida after presumably finishing an Ironman to be at the race start the next day in New York.  If you want to do this then more power to you.  I supposed its cool. Heck, wear the finisher shirt from IMFL and tell someone all about it if they ask you.  But don't put it on a paper sign on your back, especially when you got disqualified at the race.  Finman's continued his craziness after serving a 1 year suspension from all Ironman races. Unfortunately the rambling Finman Challenge video appears to have been taken down. 

I have had a lot of fun in my days racing Ironmans and iron distance triathlons.  But I tell you it all gets to be a little too much with the tattoos, stickers, show-offs, and cheaters.  The hubris, consumerism, and corporate control sure seem to detract from those who are genuinely seeking a cool, personally fulfilling experience.  Sometimes it makes me wonder if possibly triathlon hasn't...just maybe... Jumped the Shark

I hope that isn't Finman swimming around under the ramp, or Fonzie is in real trouble.

Trail Running Extreme Gear

The purpose of this post is to share with you a few items I found indespensible for my double-crossing of the Grand Canyon (Rim to Rim to Rim.)  This was achieved in November 2010.  Climate conditions ranged from 5F to 50F+, and included ice, sand, 6" snow, rocks, and of course very steep drop-offs.  A good portion of the run was in the dark.

The first thing I want to rave about is my Craft Knickers.  I know knickers are traditionally more of a women's running apparel, but they are so comfortable and versatile that I just love them.  They cover the knees which it is nice to have warm in cool weather, and it's not like your shins really ever get cold.  Another nice thing about knickers is that they have a slimming appearance effect.  I am just like your next triathlete with a healthy amount of body image issues, but I always feel great when I am wearing these pants. 

Craft Knickers





Craft Women's Active Knicker


The next thing I want to rave about is my Columbia Mobex backpack (show in the pictures above and below.)  I have been running with a CamelBak M.U.L.E. for a few years when I obtained this new backpack at the Nashville Muddy Buddy.  The basic concept is a dome tent.  There are plastic poles that loop around and give the pack an open, large-capacity design.  It doesn't come with a hydration bladder but you can easily purchase one that will fit in the designated pocket inside the pack.  (I used 100 oz for this run.)

Cargo access is easy with several external pockets as well as a water bottle holder and a small pouch on the waist belt.  It was very easy to have all the items, hydration, nutrition, lights, extra gloves, etc I needed without constantly taking the pack off. 

The best part was that my companions on this run had their packs stuffed tight...Besides being a light packer this backpack offered so much storage capacity that I only had it about 2/3's full. It really worked great!

Columbia Mobex backpack--It comes in at least 3 sizes so shop around on Amazon to find the one that is the best fit for your needs.


Columbia Mobex Sprint Backpack (Black)


 Yak Trax---I have never purchased Yak Trax before in part because I've never felt the need.  If it is icy out I just go run on a golf course somewhere in the snow.  But when I learned that we were facing some snow and ice conditions at the GC, I decided this would be the time to purchase a pair.  (There is something about falling a thousand feet to your death that is off-putting.) 

Simply put, these worked great.  If you are in a scenario where you are trying to run (or walk) on ice or packed snow, definitely consider picking up a pair of these.  I opted for the Yak Trax Pro which offer an extra velcro strap to hold them on a little more securely.  They just slipped right over your shoe and don't really inhibit your footstrike when you are running on normal ground.  In fact I kept them on some time after we had descended past the snow-line.

Snowy conditions on the North Rim.

Helping Hara put her Yak Trax on.

Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats for Snow and Ice,Black,Small

In case you haven't seen this yet.......

The North Face Manifeso

There is a very good, shortened version of this video playing on TV right now, with a White Stripes song in it.  If anyone can find that video let me know. 

Ice Skating; Team Cross-Training Social Night

This was a fun night with the team near the end of my tenure in Nashville.  Centennial Sportsplex (home of FTP triathlon training) has an indoor ice skating rink. Among those in attendance were some of our team members with families.  I think there were a combined total of 10 or 15 young people with our group.  One thing that was surprising was the degree to which ice skating is good cross training, especially for strengthening the ankles.  This was a very fun night, one that I hope we will repeat in the near future.

Worst idea I have seen in a while....

And I'm sure they only weight 5 lbs each. 

Des Moines is Known For More Than the Hy-Vee Triathlon

I was in Des Moines to visit my parents recently.  There is a sculpture garden in downtown Des Moines that I have been wanting to visit.  Pappajohn Sculpture Garden page here. 

This allowed me a convenient opportunity to spend some time with "The Fergus."  He was probably a little sore from running Chicago, but he was still up for a little clowning around.

A sculpture garden is a great way to find some quiet time and feed your soul.  

This horse sculpture is one of two in this exhibit.  It looks like wood but it is really made of bronze.  There is one like it in front of the art museum in Chattanooga.

A view looking up.

The Fergus in front of Snowmen.

This sculpture is the shape of a kneeling person.  It is made up of letters that remind me of the graphics in The Matrix.

A view from inside.

Standing inside I felt really powerful.

Des Moines is known for something else powerful.  The Hy-Vee Triathlon is a one-of-a-kind race.  For the last three years it has been the only domestic ITU World Cup race.  In 2008 it hosted the Olympic Trials.  And on the amatuer side, it has a huge citizens race.  The community of Des Moines and the Hy-Vee Food Stores Corporation really get behind this event, and truly make it a focus of the community.  In fact, I have never seen a triathlon with this much community awareness.  It is similar to when a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is hosted in a city.

September 4, 2011
5150 Age Group Race
5150 Age Group World Championship
5150 Elite World Championship

The only race that could compare to the organization of the Hy-Vee Triathlon is the Ironman corporation(WTC.)  Iron-ically, the WTC has rolled out it's nationwide 5150 series, and Hy-Vee is affiliated.  Check out the race website, and don't forget to visit the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden when you visit.