One Hour on the Bike...

Copyright - Chain Reaction Cycles

Ok, just for the record they left out the part about the rider and machine becoming one... powering each other toward a common goal. Ice Cream!

But seriously... while on the bike I think the body eventually finds its “perfect rhythm”.  Each of the vital internal systems comes into sync… freeing the brain from the distraction of having to mange them individually... like little children competing for attention.

And as this happens you begin to enter a special place… a place where your mind is now freed to wander in different directions and engage in the kind of creative, reflective and philosophical thinking that is necessary to live a healthy, happy and rewarding life.

And on my opinion… this is the true value of exercise.

Thanks to Chain Reaction and visit their web site here to view the original graphic:
http://www.chainreactionhub.com/latest-news/2076-what-happens-during-one-hour-of-riding-your-bicycle

Jackson Horner - Coach, Gentleman and Friend.

Ever have one of those moments when a song you h-a-t-e suddenly pops up and you can't get it out of your head? I did a pretty tough... pretty fast paced hill workout today and during the last half (when I was starting to bonk)... I started hearing two voices running thru my mind... much like one of those songs.

The first was my old SCAHS track coach yelling "Work the hills Mengle -- work the hills!". That was one of Jackson Horner's favorites. And to this day I know he was right in pushing us on those hills... because that is where races are won and lost. Remember last year's Tour? (Forget the mechanical... forget Alberto's bad behavior... the race was "won"... and "lost" on a hill!).

The other voice was Penn State and US Olympic Team track coach Harry Groves... "You can't teach guts!"... as he reminded me many times last summer. For anyone who knows Harry this would of course be one of his less "colorful" quotes. In fact there is a whole website dedicated to Harry and his famous (and unedited) quotes and comments on anything from running to politics.

Anyway... like a blast from the past I could hear both of them like they were right there beside me. And I was thankful I couldn't get their voices out of my head because I found myself standing in the pedals and powering up the hills with renewed vigor and determination. Not wanting to let them down... not wanting to let myself down.

As a runner I owe much of my (moderate) success to both these outstanding and dedicated individuals. And it appears that even though I'm not running much now... and have traded running shoes for rubber tires and gears... they still have much to offer in terms of advice, inspiration and motivation. These could be my two favorite quotes of all time and of course cover much more than running, cycling or getting through a tough workout.

Thanks and Rest in Peace Coach Horner.

Tragedy in Boston.

I've always felt major sporting events are supposed to be places where competitors from across the globe, across the country or across town come together on a neutral playing field to test themselves. They test themselves against each other and often more importantly... against themselves. They work hard, they play hard and occasionally they even rest hard.  Simply put the vast majority of athletes at all levels tend to be idealistic, determined and gracious in either victory or defeat.

Unfortunately there are also those who express their "idealism" in a different way. Those who live their lives in a very dark and confusing place that most of us living in the civilized world can't even begin to imagine or understand. They're the out and out terrorists, the nut cases and other assorted crazies.

Tragically every so often a group of these crazy bastards get the idea that a major sporting event (probably in part exactly because of it's idealistic principles) would also be the perfect place to try and advance their political agenda. Shock value and prime time TV coverage are an irresistible combination to them. Witness the Black September terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics in '72, the political agendas that overshadowed the Berlin and Moscow Olympics, the act of a single garden variety crazy in Atlanta... and now Boston and it's marathon.

Just as tragically it's often only the athletes, their families and their supporters that pay the price of these senseless, cowardly and shameful acts. In the case of Boston, no one's even made any claim of responsibility or purpose. So what did they seek to achieve other than the murder and maiming of innocent people, all of who came to Boston and started the day with high hopes and aspirations?  We may never know. However, as has been proven time and again by people like Jesse Owens... the heart and spirit of the athlete will always triumph over assorted acts of evil, senseless violence and political extremism.

I believe Boston will come back stronger, inspired and determined not to let this become what the marathon is most remembered for. In fact I believe that on Patriot's day next year more runners than ever will toe the line in the most inspiring run of the marathon ever.  A celebration of the spirit of the athlete over the evil intent of the person or persons responsible for yesterday's tragedy.