GROUNDHOGS CAN RUN

Hi..

Game one of the NFL season is in the books. Browns hung with the Vikings for half of the game. Too much talent for Favre-Peterson and company. Browns lacking in many areas, but there is some promise. We'll see. Congrats to Cantons Josh McDaniels, (Broncos coach) whom I covered a lot in high school and college (John Carroll) for getting his first NFL win in his first game. It came because of a miracle, deflected pass for a t.d., but Josh doesn't care.!!


Many of our area ultra runners were resting their feet Sunday after the Punxsutawney 50 K on Saturday in PA.


Props to Vince Rucci in the middle , Mark Godale on the left for finishing 1st and 2nd respectively.(The man on right is a Punxy resident who was third) One of our close family friends, David Wank came in 5th in the race. Thats fantastic. Props to all the folks who train at North Chagrin for their showings in the race. I am still trying to find out how everyone did. Kanye West was not entered in the race but still claims Beyonce is the greatest trail runner ever.


Training continues. Worked up to a 90 minute trail run with no complications from the summer ultra. Progress.


I am off to a local high school to do our Athlete of the Week piece.


Life's a Blast

PLAY WITH JOY

Hi Folks. the title means something, but no, it doesn't mean getting silly with some woman named Joy!!!...

It sums up how longtime shortstop Omar Vizquel plays baseball. I covered Omar for many years when he was an Indian. Now, he's 42 years old, owns 11 Gold Gloves for fielding excellence and still might play one more year.

I interviewed Omar a couple of days ago and he even hinted he would love to play his final year in Cleveland. A few years back the Indians began their youth movement and Omar ended up in Texas. Thats where he still plays and even at his age, has put up some Sportscenter Top 10 plays this year. Simply stated, he played the game with flair and you always could tell he was having fun. If you think pro athletes are jaded and stale you haven't seen Omar. Plus he as always been the same...good and bad. His first year in Cleveland, 1994, he committed 3 errors in one game... We were dumbfounded. He stood at his locker and answered all of our questions. Thats a real pro.!!!! A real pro is there when times are bad..not just when its all roses. I think Lebron James could learn something from Omar.

On the workout front. Today. In the am, I lifted upper body and did a tough leg workout. My sessions are always high tempo. I use the push--pull method. For instance. One set shoulder presses (push) followed by a set of bicep curls (pull). I get it done fast. For am cardio, I set the Concept 2 Rowing machine. 10 intervals... 200 meters with 30 seconds rest. I wanted to do each on in 48 seconds. For the most part, the reps were

48.5 seconds..a few 49-plus and one at 51 seconds. Good strong effort.

This Afternoon, I ran the trails at North Chagrin. 40 minutes. Gorgeous Day.

Son Pat might race at Geneva Sunday. I can't as the Browns open the season vs Favre and the Vikings. I will be busy.

Life's a Blast

JUST ADD WATER

Hi.
A gorgeous morning on Lake Erie got even better for me Saturday am. I went to a place in Willoughby called.."Just add Water", which mostly caters to scuba divers.

I had heard you can purchase prescription goggle lenses...kinda like when you go to Walgreens and find those reading glasses. I asked the guy to let me test out the different strengths of lenses and find the ones that fit my blind eyesight.....haha!!

It took awhile, but we got the formula and put the goggles together.. Best thing was each lense was about 8.50 and the actual strap and middle plastic was about 7-something.. got everything for about 25 bucks.. Great goggles....and...of course...in the water...I am..no longer.......Blind!!!!!!!!!

So, I went to the Lake. I always have my swim stuff in the trunk.(what triathlete doesn't right,??) I hopped in and cruised along the shore for about 40 minutes. It was amazing!!! First of all, Lake Erie is very clean, a far cry from when I was a kid. Now, ....wow!! I was watching little fishes swim around, as I cut through the water....

What a great way to spend part of your Saturday.
Saturday afternoon, I got to the station a bit early so I could get much of my work done, producing the sports I anchor.(7pm eastern, after Fox Baseball). That way, I could go up on the roof of Fox 8 and watch the Thunderbirds perform in the Cleveland National air show.. I never tire of watching those amazing machines..
On Friday, I got in a very strong 1 hour, 15 minute run on the trails. I did 10 sets of hill sprints of 30 seconds up..and jog back.. Good workout!!.

Life's a Blast!!

THE TOES ARE TALKING

This whole barefoot running thing is gaining momentum. No, the whole world is not ditching the 150 dollar shoes, but more and more people are questioning the need to run with such highly cushioned shoes. It seems to me..the more cushion on the shoe, the more force you bring down on the ground with each strike.....

I resolve to spend 10 minutes twice a week, running barefoot to strengthen my feet and to always go shoeless in the house....even in winter...


But don't take my word for it..... The New York Times had a recent piece on the whole thing... Here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/business/30shoe.html

Meanwhile, my training is getting more and more hour runs.,I have no ill effects from the 50 mile ultra I did in June...full speed ahead. I am going to run a 100 mile ultra marathon next year....I am leaning toward Burning River in August. My goal this month is to get a 3 hour run in as I will start to pile on the miles. Game on people. Game on.!!!

Shoutout to one of my favorite bloggers-triathletes. DC Rainmaker who pr'd at Ironman Canada. Expect to see him in Kona oneday. I gare--own-teee it.

Life's a Blast

TRY TO DIE LIVING NOT LIVE DYING

Hi again,

Got in a one hour trail run this morning and thus, a very good week of workouts and keeping with a better eating plan. I confess, I did a one day liquids only fast last Sunday and that got me back on track a bit.

Last night was our first Friday Night Touchdown Night over high school football coverage. We cover 20 games..using 7 cameras and its an wild scene, especially when everyone gets back in the building around 10p and has 35 minutes to edit..write etc all the highlights. My 3 games were all affected by thunderstorms...postponements..delays...etc. Crazy night but we hit the air and knocked it out of the park.

I read a short piece in Sports Illustrated about ultra marathoner ArthurWebb. He has run 12 straight Badwater Ultra marathons. He is 67. He is my new role model.. hahaha. Badwater is the 135 mile race from Death Valley to an elevation of 8,500 feet. Run in a furnace for about 2-3 days and thats Badwater. Arthur had a quote I love. "I'd rather die living, than live dying" I think that sums up many of us endurance junkies. Any one of us could be smoked right in the middle of a race or a workout. I look back on Daryl Kollai, who at age 53 last year died on a training bike workout. Live your life to the edge...and hey, you'll love the view"

Speaking of Daryl. Kim Shaheen, who trained alot with Daryl, is racing Ironman Louisville. No doubt she will be thinking of our late friend when she crosses the line and hears.."You are an Ironman" Good luck to all who are racing.

Life's a Blast

INGLORIOUS ULTRA GUY

Hi again...
I am trying to get in the habit of posting 3 or more times a week...so here goes.
Saturday, I ran 70 minutes with a group getting ready for Punxsytawney 50 K in early Sept. It was great being with a group and getting the running insults and give and take.
Monday, I did upper body. Tuesday, I ran for an hour on the trails. Today (weds) I hit a full body workout in the AM.... and then got in a brisk 35 minutes solo on the trails while The Bride taught a Pilates class.
Saw Inglorious Basterds. Very well done flick..with yes...alot of gore...but it was suspenseful. Great acting..especially the guy playing the German SS officer. Yes, Brad Pitt was good too.
The Bride got lots of new toys and is blasting her clients with some innovative techniques. She had me do a few variations of some lifting sets...using kettlebells. Big time tough!! I vow to do more of these kinds of workouts....

I want to mention a young man who is very inspiring. Cory Skoczen, Ashland U. football player suffered a spinal cord injury 2 weeks ago and was initially feared to be paralyzed. He has shown great determination and has slowly gotten some feeling back..and now has been released from the hospital. He was advised to take a year off...but Cory has already vowed to go classes and to resume a normal life as best he can. He will be on the sidelines this fall, I am sure and will boost the morale of his Eagle teammates. Keep Cory in your thougths.

Life's a Blast

Long Time Running Buddy

Hi folks....sorry its been about a month since my last post. I am back running and have put 2 weeks together with a longest run of 1 hour and 10 minutes. This is great because I could not even run up until 3 weeks ago. I feel very much healed from the 50 mile ultra. Plans for future upcoming....

She was a running buddy of mine from the first time I saw her. She always wanted to test my limits and our jaunts at Euclid Creek Reservation were soul searching time. The Bride encouraged me to run with her and I always came back from our runs with a better attitude. Everything about Bailey was good. Devoted friend. Un questioned love towards me and to everyone. I ran with her until about 2-3 years ago. In the past year, her health went downhill. I always wanted her around and selfishly thought this could be the case , at least until next year. But sadly no. Two weeks ago, The Bride and I had to let her go. It was heart breaking but we feel she is in a better place.

I always think of her when I lace up the shoes. I know part of her will be scattered at the park and also in our backyard amoungst the gorgeous flowers and plants The Bride has placed.

Bailey lived nearly 15 years. She will live on in our hearts forever.

God Bless our Bailey