It's not always about you...

Sometimes you have to race for others.

I did a 5k this weekend, and it was a great experience. I didn't set a PR, the course was nothing special, and I didn't even bother with a race t-shirt.

My brother - also a triathlete - raced with me. I paced him to great time, pushed him a little. He did so well that the next day in training, he set a PR on a 13 mile run! (I was lounging here when he did that, and take no credit.)





Helping my brother reach his goal made it a race I will never forget. Whether you raise funds, race friends, or push others to their best, the most rewarding finishes can be when it's not about you.


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Lactate threshold or bust? Not quite.

When for a fun (read: relaxing) 7 mile run yesterday. My running - and training in general - got a heck of a lot more fun when I realized not every session needed to be at lactate threshold!

I now know about LSD, intervals, recovery, periodization and so on. I'm not an expert or a coach, but learning that I didn't need to go all-out, all the time has made training much more enjoyable.

Yes, I have to do my LT runs, my intervals, and I am getting faster. Like most, I have a small amount of dread for those training days. But not destroying myself on every session has made my life - and my training - far more pleasant!


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Your LBS is the Best Bargain

I admit, I like a bargain. But of late, I have started to ask myself, 'At What Cost'?

I see great deals on websites for bike gear, running gear, and so on. On the surface, it seems like a good idea - some extra bucks in the bank, and delivered right to my door. But what about your LBS? Will that online, discount retailer answer your silly questions? Are they going to be there early before a ride to fix that gear you broke last night? Are they going to let you drool over Bike Porn or stop in for a chat? And if you don't have a relation with your LBS, can you expect rush service or a quick fitting-in when you need a last minute repair to keep you in a big race?

I'm very fortunate; I have a great bike shop in Boston - Landry's Bicycles - that treats me well. When I was lucky enough to win some bike components, they helped me choose the right frame, build a bike, and worked with me every step of the way. They answer my silly questions, have great guest speakers, fun rides, and they sponsor a lot of local tris and bike races and events.

Sure, I could get some stuff cheaper online, but is the savings really worth the expense of not having my LBS?


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What do you want to do?

What do you want to do? It's a question I have asked many people, from CEOs to homeless drug addicts. The question isn't what do you want to do today, but what do you want to do in life. The answers vary, but the follow-up question is most important:

What's stopping you?

What obstacles - not roadblocks - are keeping you from your dreams? Be it your dream job, your dream time, your dream race?

After you answer those questions - what and what's stopping - it will help you define your goals and then help you map out a path to achieving them.

So: what do you want to do?


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Are they really that dumb?

Did Hamilton really just go to Lance's fav hangout in Aspen for a quick bite, expecting to be unnoticed? Did Lance speak his mind or have a little awkward 'excuse me' while going to wash his hands in the men's room? Do they think the public is not watching their every move? And when do we get to watch the video?

Until then, a recent pic:




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