Track & Field Filled Weekend

   

A day late on the blog but for a good reason. Earlier this evening I wrapped up a fun filled and crazy (no sarcasm) weekend of track & field. On Friday and Saturday, my teams competed at Bucknell University which was followed up by hosting a high school meet today. There were 650 high school athletes scheduled to compete at the meet. My teams performed incredible over the weekend in the competition and hosting the high school meet. Weekends like this make me realize how lucky I am to coach a great group of young student-athletes.

Despite the crazy weekend, training went very well.I did miss 1 swim and 1 run but the other workouts went according to plan. After 4 weeks of pain free running, I am now ready to add some longer runs to my schedule and hope to go for an hour run sometime this week. Now after 4 weeks and close to 850 total miles, this week will be a bit of reduction in volume. As I increase my run volume I will be taking a bit of biking mileage off the calendar. I have been averaging  over 190 miles the past 4 weeks.

New Training Totals
Week
Bike  - 7 rides/ 199 miles/ 8.95 hours/ 22.2 mph
Run - 3 runs/ 10.5 miles/ 1.27 hours/ 7:16 per mile
Swim - 2 swims/2 miles/ 1.01 hours
Total - 12 workouts/ 211.5 miles/ 11.23 hours

2013
Bike - 26 rides/ 716 miles/ 3230 hours/ 22.2 mph
Run  - 14 runs/ 46.5 miles/ 5.69 hours/ 7:20 per mile
Swim - 11 swims/ 11.5miles/ 5.67 hours
Total - 51 workouts/ 774 miles/ 43.66 hours

Goals This Week
Bike - 6-7 rides/ 155-170 miles
Run -  4 runs/ 18 miles
Swim - 3 swims/ 3 miles

I am also continuing my better eating habits. And before everyone wonders, the ice cream and coffee is still there but I may have reduced a little (very little). Who knows, maybe it work?

https://www.tricolumbia.org/events/?eid=2

And according to the site only 4 months, 1 week and 5 days till I qualify for Kona!

My Two Cents; Maybe More Like One Cent

Well in some regards this ad is true....minus the EPO, blood transfusions and testosterone he neglected to say he was also on, he was on his bike 6 hours a a day. Even if it was the "culture" of cycling, drugs or no drugs there still was no cyclist who prepared like he did. This will be as far as I go in painting a positive picture of Lance Armstrong. As an athlete and coach there is nothing more I preach than competing honest and clean!

Now, before you go bashing me, in no way am I condoning what Lance did. In fact, I am very disappointed in finding out that like most other cyclist (professional ranks) he was doping. Did I wish all this was not true...Yes! At the same time, I was not naive enough, throughout his career, to not even have the slightest doubt in the back of my mind that he could be clean!

I watched the first night of the interview and would have watched the 2nd night but I was hosting a track & field meet that night. To me the interview was over in the first 3 minutes.

Oprah - Did you use EPO? Tesosterone? Blood Transfusions?
Lance - Yes

OK - interview done! The she asked what everybody supposedly needed to know, Why? Did Oprah need to ask that for us? Come on people, he was making millions from sponsors every year. Like he said when sponsors starting dropping him, "That was $75 million  day." He was also the feel good story.  He survived cancer, which we can't take that from him. In all reality, there is a very good chance the man should be dead!

Now people are also upset because he did not show enough emotion and remorse during the interview. They are also the same people who would have said, it was fake and he was acting if he showed that or cried. Let's just get down to the truth, everything he did his entire life was calculated, so for him to act any other way would have not gone over well. He was just himself. We learned during the interview what a lot of people already knew about Lance....he is a prick! He has always been one and had to act that way. There is no defending that about Lance.

I think what I am most annoyed with at this time is the amount of moral police, especially in the media, that have come out bashing Lance for admitting he doped all 7 of his tour victories. I have watched the media vilify  Lance for doping but at the same time they want to give a free pass to Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire,etc. into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Why? It is the Steroid Era of baseball. Just put an asterisk on it! Sorry, media you can't have it two ways. You cannot select cheats that are worse than others! They are all cheats! If I recall, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are still denying they never tested positive.....Hmmm? Sound familiar?

Let's talk Ryan Braun (MVP/Drug Cheat). When he tested positive, he doesn't fight that he tested positive, he fights the collection process. Recently, Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman wins his appeal of a positive test on the collection argument but yet his teammate tested positive also and took the suspension. Seems fishy to me??? Two teammates, same position test  positive...sounds like a reason for NFL to test more of that team? Why not? Are we to believe training really changed that much over the past two decades that football players have got that much bigger and faster? Last I heard, the NFL Player Union is still fighting HGH testing? Isn't HGH an illegal drug without prescription?

Where is the uproar by the moral police on the NFL and MLB?

Yes, I am a coach in cross-country/track & field  but I am also not foolish to believe that the sports I coach, at professional level, are clean. But if you followed twitter during the interview, I was appalled at the amount of tweets from people who acted like their sports were 100% clean. I saw one tweet  that said, "Lance don"t bring running into this." Are you kidding me? How many positives are there every year at the World Championships/Olympics? Even now the stories of the Kenyon groups doping are coming out, but track & field is clean to them. Or now that I am back competing in triathlons, the amount of triathletes acting like it is pure. "Triathlons does not want Lance" was one tweet. Now before this blog gets too long and I bring up numerous examples, I ask all track & field athletes to watch the 30 for 30 show on ESPN about the 1986 Olympic 100 meter final and the cover up at the US Trials. For triathletes, I just need to bring up the story of a 54 year old age grouper who was just busted for doping....54 year old?? WTF!!!

For those people I just remind them of the saying - "Those who live in glass houses, should throw no stones!"

I found this article by Scott Tinley, a former Ironman World Champion, and thought it put a lot into perspective. Please read:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57564452/fifty-shades-of-lance-armstrong/

We need to be careful of the pedestal that we put our heroes upon! The moral police in this situation, fan or media, were just too naive to understand the culture of the sport or did not want to belive that Lance could fall into that. They were blinded by the feel good story of Lance beating cancer then beating doped riders. At times, I believed it all because of all the so called negative test, but in the back of mind I had doubts. As someone who followed the sport, it did at times seem to good to be true. Now because of their blind faith and idolizing, Lance is the worst human being ever.

Will I continue to watch the Tour? Of course! Even now with better testing and a biological passport, I will still wonder if the winner is clean.It seems as the doctors and athletes in all sports will always be one step ahead of drug testing.

Will I continue to support Livestrong? As a person who had cancer, yes! Livestrong has done a lot to raise awareness regarding cancer and cancer research. I wear my bracelet everyday and will continue to wear it. Do I have a problem with Lance competing again if they reduce his suspension? No! Everybody deserves  a second chance as it seems most sports give their cheats that chance.

What am I on (other than my coffee and ice cream)?
I am on my bike 7-9 hours a week, running 2-3 hours a week and swimming 1.5-2 hours a week!

Compete clean!

Let my bashing begin........

5 Salads But No Way The Ice Cream Stops

  

Almost back to normal! After this week's training, I can say with certainty that the soleus strain is healthy. I had my longest run and also the fastest run since the strain. This occurred during my brick workout this morning. The workout consisted of a 25 mile spin on the bike (22mph/141bpm) followed by a 4 mile run. The run was 28:00 with descending miles and the last two miles were 6:53 and 6:51. I am going to take one more cautious week but shoot for  15-16 miles. I also feel very good about the swim as on Wednesday I swam a relaxed but steady mile in the pool. I covered that mile 27:12 giving me confidence that being on my bike in 30-31:00 at Eagleman will be very possible. Either this coming week or the next will be a reduction in volume. The past three weeks have totaled over 600+ miles and 30+ hours of training.

Training Totals
Week
Bike - 7 rides/ 195 miles/ 8.85 hours/ 22.0 mph
Run - 4 runs/ 14 miles/ 1.69 hours/ 7:14 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 3.25 miles/ 1.64 hours
Total - 14 workouts/ 212.5 miles/ 12.39 hours

2013
Bike - 19 rides/ 517 miles/ 23.35 hours/ 22.1 mph
Run - 11 runs/ 36 miles/ 4.42 hours/ 7:22 per mile
Swim - 9 swims/ 9.5 miles/ 4.65 hours
Total  - 39 workouts/ 562.5 miles/ 32.42 hours

Goals (leaning towards another big weak)
Bike - 6-7 rides/ 180-200 miles
Run - 4 runs/ 16 miles
Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3-4 miles

After this week, I feel very confident in my ability to accomplish the ultimate goal - Kona '13

I even started trying to eat a little healthier but don't worry the ice cream will not stop!  (5 Salads this week)

T & F Mini-Camp Complete

  

The first ever Crusader Track & Field Mini-Camp is in the books. I wish all of the team members could have been here but it was a fun time had by the 60 athletes who returned to campus 6 days early! For 5 days (tomorrow off) the athletes worked out twice  a day getting a head start on the start of the second semester portion of the season. Our first meet is Friday evening so these additional 5 days will be very valuable. It was also nice to have the team back as it added some life to Selinsgrove.

My training continues to go very well and the running is improving quickly. All four runs (even if only 13 miles) were completely pain free from step one of each run. My swim is now back to where it was before the holiday break and 10 days off. Biking continues to go well but I do miss getting outside. For some reason, riding indoors is more ass numbing than outdoors. Thankfully on the weekends there have been some good soccer games on Fox Soccer to watch during 2 hour indoor trainer rides!

Training Totals
Week
Bike - 7 rides/ 197 miles/ 8.77 hours/ 22. 4 mph
Run - 4 runs/ 13 miles/ 1.61 hours/ 7:27 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 3 miles/ 1.51 hours
Total - 14 workouts/ 213.25 miles/ 11.89 hours

2013
Bike - 12 rides/ 322 miles/ 14.50 hours/22.2 mph
Run - 7 runs/ 22 miles/ 2.74 hours/ 7:29 per mile
Swim - 6 swims/ 6.25 miles/ 3.11 hours
Total - 25 workouts/ 350.25 miles/ 20. 35 hours

Goals For Week
Bike - 6-7 rides/ 180-200 miles
Run - 4 runs/ 14-16 miles
Swim - 3 swims/ 3 miles

I have also started my search for a new triathlon/time trial bike. I find it amazing some of the deals you can find Ebay. It it unreal how people can just turn bikes over yearly and afford to sell the older bike at such discounts!!!

Also if you are reading this please check out  my page for raising money for the Melanoma Research Foundation:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/MartyOwens/MFMTriathlon2013

Kona 2013!

So It Begins Again....

  


And we are off and training!

Even though it is still 5 months away, the EnduraFit Ironman 70.3 Eagleman Triathlon feels not so far off now that it is officially 2013! The first week of training of 2013 got off to a great start as I was able to run after battling the strained soleus for 3 weeks. It was not a lot of running but I got 4 easy and pain free runs of 3 miles. It also felt good to get back in the pool and get 3 quality swims. By the end of the 3rd day in the pool, I felt like I was back to where I was before the 10 day break from the pool. Fitness numbers on the bike are climbing each week!

Training Totals
Week
Bike - 7 ride/ 195 miles/ 8.91 hours/ 21.8 mph
Run - 4 runs/ 12 miles/ 1.49 miles/ 7:24 per mile
Swim - 3 swims/ 3.25 miles/ 1.59
Total - 14 workouts/ 210.25 miles/ 11.99 hours

2013
Bike - 5 rides/ 125 miles/ 5.73 hours/ 21.8 mph
Run - 3 runs/ 9 miles/ 1.11 hours/ 7:23 per mile
Swim -  3 swims/ 3.25 miles/ 1.59 hours
Total - 11 workouts/ 137.25 miles/ 8.43 hours

Goals For Week
Bike - 6-7 rides/ 170-190 miles
Run - 3-4 runs/ 12-15 miles
Swim - 3-4 swims/ 3-4 miles

This week I also decided and started a fund raising page. I will be raising money throughout the year for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Three years ago I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma that required extensive surgery on my lip. I hope to raise awareness among athletes to pay attention the simple things especially protection from the sun! Below is a link to my page:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/MartyOwens/MFMTriathlon2013

Kona 2013!

2013 - Train Smarter Not More (Maybe A Little More)

 

While I may have not raced as many times as I had hoped, I feel good about the 4 races I did compete. My first year of training in my return to the sport triathlon went incredibly well. In my smaller races, I did win my age group 2 times and finished 3rd in the other. In those races I place 7th, 10th and 11th overall.

Training Totals 2012
Bike - 283 rides/ 8969 miles/ 415. 57 hours/ 21.6 mph
Run - 176 runs/ 1096.25 miles/ 131.94 hours/ 7:13 per mile
Swim - 133 swims/ 121 miles/ 59.58 hours
Total- 592 workouts/ 10,186 miles/ 607.09 hours

Even though it will be my 2nd year returning to triathlon, I have set some high expectations of my 2013 season. There is no doubt in my mind that getting back to Kona can easily happen if I can remain healthy throughout the training. I have learned, through my years of competing and coaching, is that training smarter is better than training more. I know I will need to increase some of this past year's training, especially when I qualify for Kona, I don't need some of the crazy numbers I see people posting on Twitter or Facebook.  I do hope to meet some of my Twitter friends at the races as they have helped keep me motivated through a lot of this training.

Goals for 2013
Race 5-7 times
Qualify for Vegas (70.3 World Championships) or Kona @ Eagleman 70.3
Top 10 finish @ all local/smaller triathlons
Top 3 finish in Age Group @ all races

Training Goals for 2013
Bike - 275-300 rides/ 8,800-9,100 miles
Run- 195-200 runs/ 1,200 miles
Swim- 150-160swims/145-150 miles

2013 - Shit Gets Real Now!

#TeamUnattached