Is Brett Farve Insane to Play Tomorrow?

I normally do not comment on football in my blog, but I have been asked this question so many times this week that it is comment worthy. For the record, even though I have allegiance to the New England Patriots and the Cowboys, I have always been a Brett Farve fan. He is the epitome of the endurance athlete as a football player, just like Cal Ripken was an example of the ever present endurance baseball player. (Yes, I love Cal too!) That aside, I think Brett is crazy to play tomorrow!

Why? First, he has two fractures in his foot and ankle. A stress fracture in his ankle and an avulsion fracture of his calcaneus (the heel bone). His ankle is already a disaster in which he has had at least 5 surgeries that we know of and has significant degenerative arthritis! Why make it worse? The season is a disaster and the Vikings are losing confidence in him. If he can’t move tomorrow, he is either going to get seriously hurt or get pulled by the coach. Why not sit voluntarily?

On the flip side, he probably needs an ankle replacement already. He could numb up his ankle, play, then risk crushing whatever cartilage was left. Stupid! And a bad example to younger football players. Face it: the season should be over and he should call it a career. (Which he should’ve done at the end of last season anyway!

Brett, don’t play. You risk hurting yourself more or at the very least looking more stupid that your antics have been in the last two years!

A Halloween Triathlon as the "Tri-Fairy"

Whew! What a weekend! The Dallas Athletes put on a great Halloween party at the Monster Triathlon in Keller, Texas this fine Sunday morning. After severe weather yesterday afternoon, the weather had cleared up to be perfect for racing. The start was in the beautiful Keller natatorium where the water is always a balmy 81 degrees. A lovely hilly ride (hills for Texas) through Bear Creek and finished with a run through the nature trails. What more could you ask for? (Maybe next year we could start at 9am instead of 7? Ha ha)

This year, I have been running long course triathlon and concentrating on the 70.3 distance, so frankly I was in no shape to race a fast sprint. I decided to have fun with the day and put on my costume. I was the “Tri-fairy” because it turns out they don’t make a Tinkerbelle costume in my size. I borrowed wings, a crown, and a magic wand from Sasha, my 4-year-old, and got a black tutu from Target. Add to that some ribbon on my hot pink bike and my costume was ready!

Tom was the race starter in his Burger King costume and we were officially under way. It’s amazing how triathletes really do come in all shapes and sizes! The youngest one I saw was 10 and the oldest at 78. Tall, thin and muscular all the way to looking like a small Sumo wrestler. It’s great to see so many people (almost 700) celebrating fitness and pushing the envelope.

The race is a favorite among the local tri-heads, but it also tends to draw a lot of first timers. My office administrator, Lori, was a newbie this morning. Not only did she push herself hard and do fantastic, but she finished in a virtual tie with me! I see many more triathlons in her future!

As for my race, I had a nice swim and was only run over by three guys. Got my costume on and went for a nice bike ride with 700 of my closest friends. Lots of comments when you are biking in a tutu with a crown affixed to your helmet and pink wings on your back!

Off the bike and on to the run! Tom announced as I went by the finish line that “This is Dr Crane, she treats feet and halitosis”. Very funny Tom! I only treat halitosis if your foot is in your mouth!!

Lori passed me on the run as I was jogging along giving lots of fairy dust to other runners with my magic wand. I sped up as she past me and finished just a few steps behind her! A good time was had by all!

Now it’s time to get busy and build some base for the winter s we can tackle the Inaugural Texas Ironman in May 2011. Tune back for updates from Janet and I on the road to Ironman Texas!

Run Happy!

My Kids Had Fun Doing Their First Triathlon!

Amazing fun this morning at the Monster Kids Triathlon in Keller, Texas. I am so proud of my daughters, Alex (12) and Caitlin (10). They worked hard, didn’t give up and finished with a smile! Donuts were the finisher prize this morning. The look on their face when they finished was priceless. They can now call themselves triathletes!

Dallas Athletes did a great job putting on the event and the volunteers were awesome. Imagine over 300 kids ages 4 to 13, separated into three groups; 4-7, 8-11, and 12-14. It was like herding cats to get them all to the starting line and then in the pool!

The littlest kids were adorable. Life jackets and a parent in tow are legal for under 7. Then they got on their tricycles or little bikes with training wheels and off they went for a one mile bike, then off the bike to run a half a mile. Just adorable were the smiling faces when they crossed the finish line and got their medals.

The older kids were much more serious and nervous, pacing the pool deck while the little kids got started first. Ages 8 to 11 had to swim 50 meters, and then bike 2 miles, then run a mile. Ages 12 to 14 had to swim 100 meters, then bike 3 miles and finish with a one mile run. The serious looks on these kids’ faces said they were not there just to have fun, but to compete!

The parents were an absolute treat to watch as well. It was very obvious that most were either runners or triathletes who had dragged their kids out of bed at 6am and were trying to infect them with the love of triathlon as well.

Tomorrow morning there is over 700 adults signed up to race in the Sprint triathlon version of the Monster Tri. I hope we all have as much fun as our kids did this morning. Run Happy….and Bike and Swim when you can!

I've Infected My Kids and They are Doing Their First Triathlon!

Wow! What an afternoon. My two oldest girls are doing their first triathlon tomorrow in Keller, Texas. We spend hours this afternoon running around, picking up their packets, getting new bike helmets (can’t bike with our skate board or horse back riding helmets according to the rules!), and finding appropriate gear. Luckily my 10 and 12-year-old can fit in my triathlon unitards (good thing I’m a midget ha ha). We even had to find swim caps.

Whew! Gear is all together and ready to go at 6am tomorrow morning. I’m excited. My first tri was at the age of 40! I’m glad my kids can get a taste of the sport I’ve come to love. The race is called the “Monster Kids Triathlon” and looks to be a lot of fun! They have competitors as young as 4 and as old as 13. Picture little kids on tricycles up to early teenagers. What a mix!

The adult sprint triathlon is Sunday, so we get to get up before dawn both days this weekend! I think I’m more excited then the girls, but my 12-year-old was telling everyone in school she was doing a tri and they were all impressed! Wish them luck! Will update with results and even pics!

I just hope they both have fun and maybe even want to do it again!

Run Happy! (and Bike and Swim if you please!)

Strategy + Execution = Success For Life!

Like many people in Southlake, Texas this afternoon, I was reading the new edition of Southlake Style magazine that came in the mail today. After the usual local nonsense, I came across an article by Harold Wilson of Multisport Coaching Systems about weight loss exercise programs for truly obese people. He talked about the fact that most articles spend so much time talking about the overwhelming numbers associated with obesity and of course the associated health risks, but almost never spend much time on how an obese person can actually lose the obese tag.

Harold spent some time talking about the people in the news that have successfully lost the weight (Think “The Biggest Loser” or Jared of Subway…heck, he is even going to try to run the New York City Marathon next month!).

The meat of the article discussed the keys to successful weight loss: strategy + execution = success! Wow! Isn’t that the key to just about everything? But wait, maybe Harold is on to something. I have runners that get so caught up in planning their training program that they have little energy left to execute it. Same goes for weight loss programs. Many people spend all their available energy in the planning, so they never get around to executing it!

So, I will reiterate to you Harold’s tips for weight loss and you will see that they hold truth in all exercise programs!

1. Save most of your energy or effort level for execution
2. Choose workouts that are smart and simple
3. Build your day around your workout and plan ahead
4. Educate yourself on the science of nutrition
5. And Remember these absolute truths:

Discipline is necessary
Consistency is key
Prepare your menu in advance
Do not skip workouts

Like many things in life, profoundly simple, yet simply profound! Thanks Harold!

PS. Since I shared with you Harold’s article, if you find yourself needing more advice you can find him at http://www.getfitgetfast.com/ or at the Southlake Larry North Fitness.