Some years ago I developed a habit of saying “Good Morning” to just about everyone I pass on my morning bike and run sessions. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I actually get a response. Lately, I have even tried to squeak out a smile if I can because I have noticed runners never do a …
Category: Traithlon Posts
Fighting the Crypt Keeper Look
Fighting the Crypt Keeper Look – Thinking about implementing some Strength Training into the plan. So what’s wrong with being leaned down??? On the plus side being lean enables me to cruise along on runs, knife through water on swims and climb hills like a Billy goat on bike rides, so from a performance perspective …
Father Kinda Knows Best
Over the weekend my daughter and I had a father / daughter chat about want… She mentioned several times about wanting new things to replace some of the things she had but did not “like” any longer. My coaching to her was to learn to be happy with the things she had and to not …
When Eagles Soar and Bulldogs Growl
Today I celebrated the Marine Corps 240th birthday at zero dark hundred with an early morning run. As I moved along the coastline in the dark I thought about my brother Marines and our connection to three main symbols: the Eagle, the Globe and the Anchor. As Marines we know that the Eagle represents the country …
To be the Old Man…or the Iron Lady,
The “Old Man or Iron Lady” or the “Seasoned Veteran” as I prefer to be called refers to someone who has been in the game long enough to have experienced just about everything that could happen. He / She could be that person who is less likely to make mistakes when the stakes are high or …
Beyond the cubical, on an Autumn afternnon
Autumn lunch break bike rides in New England are a feast for the eyes, that nourish the soul. The buzz of the gears and the mashing of the pedals break the spell these country roads casts on each and every beholder. Today I had the good fortune to ride with the "Boys" and collectively we …
Lights! Frontal Cortex! Action! –
Have you ever wondered what turns on that positive light bulb in your head? You know that idea that motivates you to tears and pushes you forward when you thought there was nothing left in the can. Well those thoughts, idea, visions and inspirations happen in the front part of the brain. The frontal lobe is highly …
Advice from Leonardo Di Vinci
Imagine for a minute if Leonardo Di Vinci was your Tri coach / advisor.............What words of wisdom might he offer? Would they apply to us today and especially to a sport that did not even exist in his day? Here are a few quotes Leo offered for us to think about. Get out there and …
The Fall of the Fool
A Poem: "The way through the woods" by Rudyard Kipling Shamelessly altered to capture my fall in the pitch black woods! There is a road through the woods Built many years ago. Rocks and roots hide along this trail, Just where you never know. Yet, if you enter the woods, On a summer morning dark, You …
You Know your a TRI-Borg when… when your Electronic Devices do more talking than you do.
The other day someone asked ….what do you listen to on long run or ride days?.. my reply, nothing… Nothing …??? he said, “I could never do more than an hour without some tunes, podcasts, audio books or something to break the boredom” … This got me thinking… what the hell do I do out …
Triathlete’s need a laugh? Look in the mirror
How many of us struggled through Anatomy and Physiology in High School yet now we are aces when it comes to Lactic Acid, Sodium Intake, Urine Analysis, Proteins and Carbohydrates… And speaking about High School ……why is it … I could never work through unlatching a dates bra strap …..yet I can clip on my helmet …
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Dethrone Yourself and Listen
What’s your natural inclination when in conversation with others? Is it to engage quickly and share your perspective on the topic? …do you find yourself getting anxious when others are speaking because you are waiting to add your anecdotes? Or do you listen more than speak? My tendency is to get in there and converse …
Triathlete – Taking your place
In the past I have always felt a little insecure about identifying myself as a Triathlete. I have been competing in Triathlons for over 5 years but only recently have gotten comfortable with the title. One would think that after completing an Ironman and having Mike Reilly announce “You are an Ironman” would resolve any …
TriTime: A 4:00 AM Start
There is something about 4:00 AM that is special for Triathletes. It’s that perfect moment in the day when all things seem possible. It takes a daily demonstration of courage to wake, rollout and motor forward. Joggers, walkers and marathoners have 5:00 AM which has its own ambiance but does not hold special Mystic that …
What if you could finish an Ironman everyday?
What if we could feel like we do at the finish of an Ironman everyday? We could carry that amazing feeling with all day long no matter where every we went. Hear the cheer of the crowd, meet amazing people while we swim, bike run in some of the most beautiful places.... As we pass …
Continue reading What if you could finish an Ironman everyday?
Triathletes – Extrodinary Encounters
I spend a few mornings in the hotel cafe' with Gary a retired NYC Fireman that I later learned had worked "The Pile" (site of 9-11) as it is called. Over coffee on an very early morning before the race I asked him how he felt the race would go for him on Sunday. I …
What Does It Take Be An Ironman?
Everyone has a story .... This week at Lake Placid I heard a million of them... Some athletes have a story so inspirational that I get choked up just thinking back over them and others are the actual story themselves in the flesh... My story goes like this?..... Last year on July 28th, 2014 at …
Fighting Bulldogs – It’s about Sportsmanship!
In 2007 a rag tag group of Marines took on a challenge to form a run, bike, boat relay team and compete in the NY Great Race Series in Auburn NY. The original's were Steve Hathaway, Mike Paquette, (boat) Don Ferguson (runner) and Dave Orlowski (bike). Our goal was inspire our competitive juices and jump …
Continue reading Fighting Bulldogs – It’s about Sportsmanship!
Post Placid Blues – It’s a feelling
OK it’s over.... My big (spent all year training and thinking about it) goal race is done. I've trained like never before and and as a result I was blessed to race well, but now I'm flat.....I'm suffering from the post race blues... meaning I have no sense of direction, purpose or mission and am …
Don Ferguson…”You are and IRONMAN”
From Kona to Lake Placid and all around the world, every triathlete dreams of hearing Mike Reilly announce their finish personally over the roaring crowd. For those of you not familiar with Mike Reilly the Ironman Hall of Famer, he is best known as the Voice of Ironman. Tens of thousands of Ironman finishers around …
Tri Signs of Three
With less than a week before IMLP I can already feel my outbound communication beginning to shut down and the internal mind to self-chat channels starting to buzz. I get quiet and observe more when I’m under stress but my mind races away at full steam. To help guide my internal dialogue I’ve had what …
Making waves on Lake Placid
Thirteen days until Ironman Lake Placid and I’m feeling a tide random thoughts washing over me.... None of them really matter or make much sense. Like do I need a new helmet? And of course new glasses to match- What is the best Rudy Project discount? Of course my helmet is fine…no equipment changes before a race …
What’s my story?
What’s my story? When you are training regularly those around you know about it and identify those activities with you. It becomes part of your story. The personal narrative we tell others defines us in many ways so, I was thinking today … Does the story I tell others about who I am and why …
The Get Well Plan is working.
Started out for a long run this morning just after 4 AM wearing a headlight, hydration belt w/gels and red flashers looking like a rolling emergency response vehicle. My destination was Plum Island and the target distance was 18 miles this morning before leaving for work. After a much needed two day family time / mental breakdown …
Climbing out of a dark mood….
Although most of my days are upbeat and energy filled, life has a way of balancing bright days with dark ones. I tend to experience life this way but during triathlon training periods am motivated to move more quickly through the dark days so as not to impact training progress. After a high volume …
The Bow Legged Blogger 