STtrainer / Swiftwick Socks Cheer Station at the Country Music Marathon

This isn't my first time around the block, and it isn't my first time watching a marathon.

But this IS my first time having over 60 clients in a marathon, and the first time that the Country Music had something like a million racers participating.  So we did it up right with two of my favorite things: Beer and Swiftwick Socks: 

Richard Radford of Rad Rides (an awesome bike "wrench") wore the infamous Tux-T, and a 16 keg.

Trent Rosenbloom, race director of the Flying Monkey Marathon, was one of the first runners to reach for cup of the liquid gold.

Rebecca was out showing full spirit for the runners.

Photo: Me (w/ megaphone) and my fiance Susan.

Terry "Nut Cup" Walker made a sign with all 50+ of my runners' names, but I think they ran past too fast to read them.

After a while things got pretty crazy.

Mark Cleveland of Swiftwick really brought the spirit.  This was the first time he ever watched a marathon.  Maybe next year run it? Then the unthinkable happened....we ran out of beer. We cashed a 16 gallon keg and 6 cases of PBR.

Fortunately Mr. Cleveland and the lovely Melissa of Swiftwick had along BOXES of "Music City" Swiftwick Socks.  So we set up a SOCK CHANGING STATION.  At least 50 people stopped and changed their socks, exchanging crusty socks for awesome Swiftwick socks.

People were swapping their socks like crazy.

It always helps to have little kids handing out Mardi Gras Beads.  Their mommy ran hella-fast.

Libby P, full of team spirit.

Chase Ledbetter knows how to bring the spirit; team kit, and beads.

All-in-all this was one great day watching the marathon.   It was great to see 99% of the half marathoners got their race done before the weather came in.  See how my racers did here. 

Drake Relays 5K Track Race

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Check out this amazing web site www.flotrack.com.  "Track's back."

In Defense of Pool Swim Triathlons

Triathlon consists of Swim-Bike-Run.  Traditionally the swim portion of a triathlon takes place in an open water body, such as a lake, river, or ocean.  But with the increasing number of triathlons, the swim often takes place in a swimming pool.  Swimming pool triathlons are a a viable race format because 1) They allow for beginners and novices to gain experience in the sport, and 2) They still allow for elite-level racing.

Early in my triathlon career (~1999-2003) I raced every year at the Race for Sight in Columbia, MO.  This race was the season-opener in the Midwest.  It was particularly unique in that it drew both a large number of beginners, as well as an elite field.  As a rising elite amateur, I looked forward to getting my butt handed to me at that race every year.

In several tries the best result I had gotten there was 6th place.  One year I got 6th place at that race, then won the next 5 races in a row, cinching the Heart of America Triathlon Series in Iowa.  The best result I ever got was in 2004, when I finished 3rd place.  First place that day was TJ Tollakson, 2nd place was Ric Rosenkranz, and 4th place was Willie Pickard.

The now defunct Race for Sight has been replaced by Columbia Missouri's TriZou Triathlon.  Two things have stayed the same.  1) It is a great season opener for beginners and novices, and 2) the elite field is no less impressive than before.  In fact, the 2009 edition of this race saw Andrew Starykowicz, Simon Lessing (yes, THAT Simon Lessing), Andy Pele, Ted Zderic, and Chris Vander Linden sweeping the top places.

In Tennessee, the season opener used to be the JCC Triathlon on Memorial Day.  This was a great triathlon that launched hundreds of triathlon careers.

It too has been replaced, by McMinnville City Triathlon on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.  The Memorial weekend date remains a fantastic race for beginners, but also a viable short-and-fast race for competitive triathletes looking to hone their speed.  I raced (and won) McMinnville Tri as a sharpening race last year and I can say that it is very-organized and fun.  The race is well-supported by the City of McMinnville and Team Magic. 

Photo: Terry and Beth are getting ready for the race.  They are novice triathletes and gained valuable experience at this race in 2009.

Photo: I was first overall in 2009 and Tiago Barerra, my team mate on ACME Multisports, finished right on my heels. 

Call the Sponsors

My friend and client Jason Haggard texted me to say he had won his age group at the ADPi Triathlon at MTSU.  He was stoked, as was I.  Here are a few pictures of his race...

Photo: T1

Photo: T2

Photo: On the run, gesturing.

I noticed a pattern of gesturing that appeared to start sometime during the run, and lasted well into the post-race activities.  In fact, Jason continued to gesture even in the presence of his two young children who had come out to support him at the race. 

Photo: Still gesturing.

The gesture appears to consist of a "hang loose" gesture held up to his jawbone in the manner as speaking on a cell phone.  Perhaps this is the "call the sponsors reference.  In this picture he is holding his fingers to his stomach pointing at the Title Sponsor of our team, Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance.

The gesturing continued....

Photo: After the run, still gesturing.

Now here he is pointing one finger at his latex-clad gluteus, which I have on good authority says, "Stephen Taylor, Endurance Coaching Fitness Training, STtrainer.

Keep in mind, at this point in the race Jason held the belief that he won his age group.  He had feelings of champion-ness, and thus was identifying with Mark Cavendish, the originator of the "Call The Sponsors." Gesture.

Mark Cavendish, gesturing.

Mark Cavendish, gesturing (in context.)

Cavendish in fact was gesturing as he was crossing the finish line of a stage of the 2009 Tour de France.  It is a tradition in professional cycling that the winner of a bike race can gesture while crossing the finish line.  It is a way to put an exclamation point at the end of a great race.  It is quite impressive that, here, Mark Cavendish has outsprinted all the other extremely fast cyclists and even has time to sit up and gesture. 

 Jason, gesturing at an earlier date.

Jason achieved minor celebrity for another gesture, documented here.  I will leave it up to Bike Snob NYC to delineate the meaning of the "AYHSMB" gesture and the pertinent context.  

In '"presumably" winning his age-group a this race, Jason was awarded a $5 gift card to Olive Garden. Around the same time, accusations began to arise that Jason may not have been the one-who-gestures-justifiably.  With the results in question, Jason promptly reinterpreted the AYHSMB gesture to mean to mean "All You Haters, Share My Breadsticks.  That is, he offered to share his Olive Garden gift card. 

Upon examination of the calorie content of Olive Garden breadsticks, this might not be a bad idea.

Note the 140 calorie count per breadstick. 

Even more importantly, Olive Garden Breadsticks come in an all-you-can-eat format.  Jason, oftentimes a controversial figure due to his incessant gesturing, has been criticized for his body composition here. 

I for one say "Eat those Breadsticks!"  If they gave you the gift card, make haste to Olive Garden.  I myself would probably opt for a frosty mug of Sam Adams, but hey, you have to choose your carbs.  In any case, Jason is not alone in loudly exclaiming his love of Olive Garden. 

Kendra, from "that show."

Kendra a reality celebrity who is know for some fairly dubious choices in residence and cohorts, also loves Olive Garden.

I was at a trail ultramarathon a few weeks ago, looking at some of the runners, and I remembered this retailer called Zombie Runner:

If you go to an ultra or a major marathon, you will quickly realize that this title is not too far from the truth.   The first few minutes of a race looks like a full-on infestation attack.  In the pre-dawn hours, this is what I saw rushing at me:

As the day progressed, the full-on horde dispersed into zombie one's and two's roaming the countryside.  In the Zombie Survival Guide, author Max Brooks states, "Zombies will never give up...they never tire and they never slow down."  

These guys weren't exactly groaning like zombies.  The one appears to be smiling.  But still.....

So this got me thinking about other running scenarios that closely resemble zombie attack scenarios.  Here is a picture from the Expo at the Boston Marathon: 

And a post-apocalypse horde trying to get into a shopping mall: 

More-over, there is some basis that cardio endurance training actually improves your chances of survival in a zombie attack:

If you really want to get into the topic of Zombie Survival, get this book.  

New York Times Article on Weight Loss

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18exercise-t.html?ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

2008 Country Music Marathon

Watching the 2008 Country Music Marathon.

Team Big Fat Panda

I actually coach the Big Fat Panda.  He has some nice things to say about me on his blog. 

The feelings of admiration and respect are mutual.  Big Fat Panda is doing Ironman New Orleans 70.3 this weekend.  He is a great guy and this appears to be a worthwhile cause.  Send him prayers and a little lettuce if you have any to spare. 

 Although I would have spelled it "Phat" because this Panda is not really "Fat" any more.  Sort of like he is getting Phit and Phat like my friend Corrine.

Music City Runners Practice

Music City Runners meets Monday nights at the Parthenon in Centennial Park (Nashville.)  Practices last about an hour.  Each session includes some brief coaching about running, a little socializing, then a great running workout.  

The weather is beautiful and there are lots of great events to train for right now. 

Hopefully we will see YOU out there soon.  Remember, it's FREE. 

Problem Solved---

I was doing a bike fitting the other day and my client came in wearing these: 

I don't know whether or not I am truly qualified to be an exercise stylist, but it hurts me to see someone cycling in white cotton socks.  Fortunately I am an ambassador for the Swiftwick Sock Company and I had a pair sample pair handy.  

Problem solved, happy feet.

Country Music Marathon Preview

Get there early to centennial park, and carpool with friends to make it easier.  I recommend taking Charlotte Ave to the backside of Centennial Park...this will be your fastest route there.

The line to the portopotties will be impossible on race morning.  I recommend finding alternative bathroom facilities for pre-race (nearby hospitals, restaurants, bushes.)

The corrals will be full and crowded.  Get in the best possible starting corral. 

Estimate on the "fast side" if you get what I'm saying.

Oh yeah....running the CMM!

And at Mile 11 look for the STtrainer special aid station.  

We will be blasting music and having a good time cheering on the runners.

If you have a special drink request let me know....

Otherwise it will be beer. .  

We show lots of spirit to the runners on race day.

We have so many friends in the race, how could we not be out there supporting them?

Oh yeah, Mardi Gras beads make the last 2 miles so much better!