Rolling Thunder

I have never been a fan of being underdressed. Don't hate, appreciate...



...what says "I am classy, but here to party" more than a tuxedo t'shirt?

"Dude! When Has a Half Marathon Ever Been Fun?"

"In life, the race for excellence has no finish line."

A half marathon is always fun if you make fun your priority. Unless you want to have fun by smashing your personal best...in that case you have to go through hell to have fun. I was looking for an overall fun experience, not the suffering type of fun. Spokane Half Marathon; "I am holding myself to the standard of simply having fun, no time goals needed." The trip to Spokane was very enjoyable. The drive both directions was great, the weather...perfect, the accommodations...prime. Again, I was put up like a king by my friends in Spokane...shout out.

Also, I had a chance to stop at Fitness Fanatics and ride the fastest time trial bike in the world, awesome. Race morning was cold, the temperature, according to the vehicle I was in, was 27 F. It was actually perfect because I was going to use this race as a tune up for the Seattle Marathon. If I could comfortably run in short sleeves in 27 degree weather I would do the same in Seattle.

Needless to say it was cold, even with a 2 mile warmup I was still freezing...but delighted to be at the race. I don't remember much of the first part of the race, the most likely reason being I ran with patience and enjoyed it. I remember looking at my watch and seeing 160+ bpm, which is high, but it didn't stress or hurt at all, so I figured what's the worst that could happen.

I remember a lot of hills and crazy group of cheerleaders starting at the 4 mile mark...wild bunch! Still under no stress I hit the 6 mile mark, finding myself and one other runner running by ourselves, no one in sight. Weird! The results say 675 people did the half but for 2.5 miles I was deserted and alone on my section of the course. In both half marathons I ran this summer I ran extremely patient the first half. I really enjoy racing this way as the strength I saved in the first half is always there in the second half and the finish, it feels great. True to style, I was ready to cruise after hitting the halfway point. I ran with a quicker turnover and less concern for the hills.

I had made way up and around a group of runners, feels good. It would have a been a wicked negative split for this race if it were not for mile 9's Doomsday hill, not that it was insanely hard, simply I lost 2 minutes through the trek up this monster, oh well. Honestly the miles never hurt, I caught people, ran with the groups for a minute or two then left them behind. Maybe I need to not run so conservative the first half...nah.

Mile 11 found me in a group of 5 runners. I felt the pace lift, they were surging, I never was worried, I felt too good for them to suddenly crack me...at mile 12 they were left behind and out of sight. The final mile was fun, I was running well, I was finally warm, except my left hand which remained frozen the whole race. Twisting and turning the course entered Riverfront Park.

I was fine to cruise the finish easy, but...a guy 10 yards ahead of me looked back. I don't like that, I would have been fine with not sprinting to catch him, but when he looked back I took it as a personal challenge. By looking back he threw out the challenge that he was concerned and wanted to beat me. "Okay, you brought this on yourself buddy." With 50 meters to go I was on his heels waiting for my chance. With 20 meters to go I poured on the speed cutting across the width of the finishing chute (think tour de france) pulled ahead without a challenge and came flying into the half marathon chute at full speed.

I'm sure it was much grander in my head than in reality...but memories are what you make them to be, for me the grander the better. ~ An hour later I was asleep, hood up, drifting in and out of the post race food and marathon festivities. A fun day, comfortable 95 minute run, negative split, 48th of 650+ people. I definitely would go back to this race.

Spokane Half Marathon / Cyclocross Race

I am looking forward to the Spokane Half, another vacation, another day of living the dream, and another day to race.

I am not looking forward to the next 'cross race. I am not fully recovered from my bug and the pain makes me cringe already...my 'cross game is NOT tight.

Failure Not An Option...

"Failure not an option" is a position taken, in sports, by many. A commitment to finishing at all costs..."You will finish this race." For others, Jan Ullrich included, a different approach is taken. An approach that includes respectfully retiring from competition when the mind or body is unable or unwilling to function, an approach that finds quitting as a positive alternative to the detriment, to mind or body, associated with a kamikaze "finish at all costs" mindset.

My mind runs over this topic as I contemplate my 'cross race DNF last night. I knew the race wasn't going to good. I have been sick this whole week and had no energy or form of exercise. Walking up the stairs, going to the grocery store, and walking to class would leave me winded trying to settle my breathing down...the beauty of a chest cold.

There are certain activities that you can do with a chest cold, all involve very low intensity and duration. Cyclocross, an hour of redline, is not one of those activities. Within the first lap my legs screamed as they were already anaerobic thanks to the short supply of oxygen my lungs could inhale. My chest and lungs burned with incredible pain, a pain of a cardiovascular system that was not functioning as it should, a pain of a system that was being called upon to run full throttle and try and clear itself of toxins at the same time.

No system is equipped to handle such stress, I raced 3 more laps with excruciating chest pain. Why am I here? My reason has always been "have fun." This was a far off place from fun, as such I no longer held myself accountable to finishing the race. My main goal of having fun was not being met, a violation of contract in my mind. I discretely slipped off the course and retired from the race. "I am not having fun, I am done." I don't regret my decision at all, as I belong to the later group that sees quitting as a viable option when it is in your body's best interest. Macho-ism, ego, or whatever aside, sometimes your best alternative is "to shut 'er down."

Granted I agree there are things that simply a finish is an accomplishment in itself. Ironman, marathons, century rides etc. require you to be at your best to simply finish coherent and upright. Those really long and demanding races have something special about them, that is the reason I finished in Grand Coulee, finishing is more than most people will ever do.

When I race I race to get the best out of my body and mind. Usually my results are numbers based, such as overall time etc. Fore whatever reason, I have bad races and bad days. On those bad days when I find myself out of competition I quit...Physically I usually finish the race, but once my chances of contention have passed I mentally quit. I back down, knowing that there is always another day to race. I give in to the discomfort and "shut 'er down." Is there anything wrong with that?

I am sure many people find it disagreeable or even despicable. I race to do my best, not simply to finish. I can finish almost any event, a true test is to finish that event going as fast as possible. Sometimes things don't go my way, so what. I am still alive and able to race another day by saving my mind and body.

I respect those people that fight to the end simply to finish, that is a great attitude to have. A commitment to finish what you start is an admirable quality. In the end though, are they "winners" for never giving up?...Yes. Am I a "winner "for demanding the best out of my mind and body, never settling for less, and calling it a day when my body cannot produce what I demand?...Yes. We all have different perspectives about winning, losing, and quitting. Winning does not make you a "winner," nor does losing or quitting make you a "loser" or a "quitter." The only person that has the ability to judge your winning, losing and quitting is the person you look at everyday in the mirror, the person that accompanies you on every swim, ride, and run...yourself.

The Opportunity To Better Myself...

Two years ago I was a spectator of Montana's Rolling Thunder 'Cross Race. I hadn't the slightest idea that this race would drive my non-triathlon interest 2 years later.


It is a special race that I would like to be a part of. Rolling Thunder is the main reason for doing cyclocross, and more importantly one of those times when I have something to focus my effort towards...a task that requires me to better myself in order to acheive.