Boundary Lines…

For the first time in 23 years of life I found myself awake at 5am for the sake of training. Those who know me would tell you I’m not the most punctual of people, and when it comes to early morning workouts I’d rather eat glass than get up before sunrise. In fact, I can recall at one point threatening someone’s life when they tried to get me out of bed early for a race. However, with work, friends, and other commitments, I’m quickly realizing that there are only so many hours in the day for training.

As part of my sponsorship contract with the SBR Multisports Ambassador team, I have agreed to lead members of their triathlon club team through workouts. Currently this means a 6am run in Central Park. Let me be the first to tell you that Central Park at 6am in late January is an extremely strange place. It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s filled with some of the strangest faces you can find. Running groups, Teams of cyclists, dog runners, are non-existent. What are left are a few faces who seem to smile as you pass. Maybe they understood that I was a first time visitor. A “newby” to their hardened routine.

The trip back home was a tired one. I couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower. Eat something more substantial then 3 cookies and some water. But like most mornings, the first thing to catch my eye was the Internet. In my inbox there was an email from my coach. Upon his return from racing at Cyclocross Masters in Belgium he sent out a letter to his athletes entitled “The Difference…”

This is a part of the letter:

Monday we met with a friend, Michal, at his house south of Brussels for a 2.5 hour (fairly) easy ride (as easy as you can in 40 mile/hr wind and rain). We returned home to his lovely mother with tea and crepes waiting.

After we clean up, she is speaking with us in broken English, we are telling her of our last 2 days of back to back, tough Belgium cross races. She proceeds to ask WHY we did not train 4 hours today, like the Belgians? “maybe ze Americans, you not train enough”?

This is really their mentality over there. Tough, weathered, hard men out for 4+ hours in howling wind and pouring rain day in day out….

So if you think the weather sucks a bit, add a layer of clothes, put on your fenders…and GO TRAIN.

*******

After reading this I can tell you I have a new appreciation for all those poor souls who I saw in the park yesterday morning. Maybe we forget what the training is all about. Every cold ride, every bad day, it makes us stronger. I for one am really looking forward to next Tuesday’s 6am run.

So if you’re feeling like seeing a different view of the park. One without the 9-5 crowds and chaos. I’ll see you at 203 West 58^th St. at 6am. It should be a good run.

2008 Sponsorship Announced.

As of Monday January 14^th 2008, I have officially signed a sponsorship contract with the SBR Multisports Ambassador Team. This will be a one-year agreement for the 2008-year and Triathlon Season. The Team will consist of 12 sponsored Ambassadors who will be supported by the following Brands:

SBR Multisports, Blue Seventy Wetsuits, Zoot Clothing and Footwear, Rudy Project Helmets and Eyewear, and Squadra.

I’m extremely excited to work with SBR Multisports as well as the above listed sponsors and know that 2008 will surely be a season that will turn some heads.

The sponsorship section of the blog will be updated as more developes.

Now, let’s just lock down a bike!

A stupid grin I've earned.

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be lent a book. It was a gift of sorts, which was given to me with an enclosed card and message. The intent was not only for me to read it, but more so to share in the enjoyment that the book had given to its owner. Like most things in my life, especially books, it went on my bookshelf and there it would stay for the past several months.

Fast forward to last week. It may be one of several reasons; maybe it’s my worsening speech, maybe my inability it understand certain English words, or maybe the way I find myself reading articles without really understanding them, but I found myself eager to read again. This is an urge I have not had in years. Of course I can blame a number of things for my lack of interest in books, however in the end I think we all make time for that which we enjoy. At 23, I doubt there are many of my peers reading out of passion anymore. Instead we would prefer to go out, or watch some television, or frankly distract ourselves in a million ways… Reading is just not a priority. However if one were to ever question just why I didn’t read more, I would hesitate and respond as many others would with: “well… I just don’t have time to.”

So back to last Monday, there I stood examining my bookcase, and I took down the lent book. This would be the first book I would choose to read in over a year. From a practical side this was a fantastic first read. Just scratching at 150 pages, this would be something quick, painless. Not some 700-page epic I would get sick of in a day. I knew if I would spend a week on it, there would be an end, closure, some form of accomplishment. It may sound stupid, but I can guarantee you that the facial expression you would find on anyone in my position, would be nothing short of a marathon finishers photo, when the last page was read. A stupid grin. I stupid grin I earned.

The person who lent it to me often speaks of how much they miss learning. For them this statement means going back to school. It means being able to soak in all the little things that they thought they might never know. A genuine love of learning. Today many of us blame thing like the Internet and television with the current state of education in this country. I have on several occasions heard my professors state that: “these outlets stupefy our youth.” I can’t do that. I am a result of these outlets for better or worse. The Internet, television, and everything in between raised me. However, information from any outlet should be questioned. Learn from it. And know that every outlet has endless potential.

For now I’m going to hold onto this grin I have on my face, because I earned it. And I must say it’s been years since any outlet has made me feel so accomplished. I encourage you to rethink just how satisfying starting and ending a book may be. As for those who care about in-between, I highly suggest:

“A Man Without A Country” by Kurt Vonnegut.