Recently the New York Times ran an article that really pissed me off.
It wasn’t about healthcare legislation, the recession or the Yankees.
It was about me.
Well, not exactly, but close enough that it got my attention and my ire.
Reasonable people might disagree, but to me the gist of the article was: if you aren’t an elite athlete, don’t even try to run a marathon [and as a natural extension of this elitist bullshit attitude, don’t even think about competing in a triathlon or endurance cycling event . . .].
“Tens of thousands of runners are training for marathons this time of year. . . Purists believe that running a marathon should be just that — running the entire course at a relatively fast clip. They point out that a six-hour marathoner is simply participating in the event, not racing in it. Slow runners have disrespected the distance, they say, and have ruined the marathon’s mystique.”
Really? Are you kidding me? Just because I’ll never – let me repeat – NEVER – win a bike race, I disrespect the event by entering it? Who gets to define “racing” versus “participating” and what makes one more intrinsically respectful than the other?
I train. I push myself to my limit. Just because I didn’t win the genetic lottery and am not “athletically gifted” I should not participate?
Based on the fact that there are now 400 comments to the article, it hit a nerve with many people.
What do you think? If you can’t win, should you stay home? Is it inappropriate to have the goal of simply finishing – whatever the event may be?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Movie Review - Race Across the Sky
After weeks of anticipation we saw Race Across the Sky - The Leadville Trail 100 2009 mountain bike race movie last night.
The photography was great, and the graphics showing the course were really well done. I think it helped our friends who haven't seen certain sections of the course visualize what we have described.
My only disappointment is that the movie's focus was too narrow. The Lance vs. Dave story is really only one of hundreds of compelling stories that could be told. Nearly every competitor has a story worth telling - their motivation, the hardships they have overcome, physical challenges, etc. A couple of those human interest angles were explored, but only superficially.
I think I've mentioned 24 Solo and Off Road to Athens in prior posts. Those movies take the time to develop the human interest angles, and I think they tell a more compelling story than Race Across the Sky does.
All that aside - I loved the film. It was exciting to watch it and relive the day.
I have to give it 4.5 stars - BECAUSE I'M IN IT!!
As the credits roll, in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it moment, there is a close-up shot of me! I was so surprised I blurted out "that's ME", amusing everyone in several seats near us. Now I just have to wait for the DVD release so I can watch that nano-second in super slo-mo . . . over & over again!
The photography was great, and the graphics showing the course were really well done. I think it helped our friends who haven't seen certain sections of the course visualize what we have described.
My only disappointment is that the movie's focus was too narrow. The Lance vs. Dave story is really only one of hundreds of compelling stories that could be told. Nearly every competitor has a story worth telling - their motivation, the hardships they have overcome, physical challenges, etc. A couple of those human interest angles were explored, but only superficially.
I think I've mentioned 24 Solo and Off Road to Athens in prior posts. Those movies take the time to develop the human interest angles, and I think they tell a more compelling story than Race Across the Sky does.
All that aside - I loved the film. It was exciting to watch it and relive the day.
I have to give it 4.5 stars - BECAUSE I'M IN IT!!
As the credits roll, in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it moment, there is a close-up shot of me! I was so surprised I blurted out "that's ME", amusing everyone in several seats near us. Now I just have to wait for the DVD release so I can watch that nano-second in super slo-mo . . . over & over again!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Golden Gate & Yosemite
Phil and I grew up on opposite sides of Glacier National Park in Montana (he spent his high school years in cloudy Columbia Falls, while I grew up on the east side of the park in sunny - but windy - Shelby).
We both have a great appreciation for the National Park system (pre-dating the Ken Burns PBS documentary by decades) and have been to many of the National Parks in the Western U.S.
For years I have wanted to visit Yosemite National Park. Yosemite, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more. Although not the first designated national park, Yosemite was a focal point in the development of the national park idea, largely owing to the work of John Muir.
John Muir is a shirt-tail relative on my mom's side of the family, and I have read some of his writings about the Sierras and Yosemite.
Phil had a very brief drive-through visit to Yosemite in his late teens, but didn't have a chance to do much exploring.
Our friends Lowry & Colleen are back on the mainland (San Jose) after years in Hawaii (which was also a great place to visit, of course). They are two of our preferred adventure companions, and were itching for a reason to get out and play. San Jose is kind-of-sort-of-almost reasonably close to Yosemite . . . Further, one of Phil's college friends is an engineer for the Park Service, currently working in Yosemite.
Serendipity.
We spent the first day of our trip in the San Francisco area. We saw the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum.
Walking up to the museum in Golden Gate Park for the King Tut exhibit.
Looking toward the Bridge from Land's End as the fog lifted.
We both have a great appreciation for the National Park system (pre-dating the Ken Burns PBS documentary by decades) and have been to many of the National Parks in the Western U.S.
For years I have wanted to visit Yosemite National Park. Yosemite, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more. Although not the first designated national park, Yosemite was a focal point in the development of the national park idea, largely owing to the work of John Muir.
John Muir is a shirt-tail relative on my mom's side of the family, and I have read some of his writings about the Sierras and Yosemite.
Phil had a very brief drive-through visit to Yosemite in his late teens, but didn't have a chance to do much exploring.
Our friends Lowry & Colleen are back on the mainland (San Jose) after years in Hawaii (which was also a great place to visit, of course). They are two of our preferred adventure companions, and were itching for a reason to get out and play. San Jose is kind-of-sort-of-almost reasonably close to Yosemite . . . Further, one of Phil's college friends is an engineer for the Park Service, currently working in Yosemite.
Serendipity.
We spent the first day of our trip in the San Francisco area. We saw the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum.
Walking up to the museum in Golden Gate Park for the King Tut exhibit.
Looking toward the Bridge from Land's End as the fog lifted.Then Lowry took us on a tour of his favorite mountain bike areas near the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. To quote Arnold - "we'll be back" with our bikes, for sure. We also made a quick trip to the Muir Woods National Monument - we had quite an action-packed day!
At Fort Point, below the Golden Gate Bridge.
The next day we were on our way to Yosemite.
In the Merced Grove, just inside the Yosemite park boundary.
Half Dome and El Capitan - an iconic view.
Phil's friend Mike was a GREAT guide. From meeting us with a picnic to share at the base of El Cap on our first day, to guiding us on his double secret trail in bear country on the last day, it was an adventure through and through.
At Vernal Fall.
Before the rain - and the bears - and the scrambling across exposed talus slopes . . .
Bridal Veil Falls from a perspective few visitors to the park ever see.
Nature Boy on the super double secret trail (after chasing bears and stressing out Colleen!).
Phil, Mike, Colleen & Lowry.
At Fort Point, below the Golden Gate Bridge.The next day we were on our way to Yosemite.
In the Merced Grove, just inside the Yosemite park boundary.
Half Dome and El Capitan - an iconic view.Phil's friend Mike was a GREAT guide. From meeting us with a picnic to share at the base of El Cap on our first day, to guiding us on his double secret trail in bear country on the last day, it was an adventure through and through.
At Vernal Fall.
Before the rain - and the bears - and the scrambling across exposed talus slopes . . .
Bridal Veil Falls from a perspective few visitors to the park ever see.
Nature Boy on the super double secret trail (after chasing bears and stressing out Colleen!).
Phil, Mike, Colleen & Lowry.We couldn't have had a better trip. Good weather, good food, good company . . . when can we go on another vacation?!
You can see more photos from our trip at the Facebook link below. I don't think you need to be a Facebook member to see them.
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