It was a lovely warm day in Iowa today with the temperature at 41.2 degrees when I went out for my run. It was only the third time this month that the temperatures were above freezing, so I took advantage of the weather and wore shorts as I did about two weeks ago. I actually got warm running in shorts which might have been surprising to the all the people outside in winter coats.
The high temperatures meant that the snow from weeks ago was melting. This left puddles. For those two houses along my running route who don't shovel their sidewalks, it meant a small river. Of course, I didn't notice this at first so I ran straight into the puddles. My shoes became soaked only ten minutes into my run and there were even more puddles to deal with. So I did the only thing I could do. I jumped in them. I must have looked like an idiot to the cars passing by but it made my run a lot more fun and took my mind of my tired legs. Sure, my shoes were soaked, my former white socks are now brown, my shorts were damp from my splashing, and my legs were wet, but it was fun acting like a kid. It made my 6.92 miles seem like nothing as I tried to make my splashes bigger and better.
Since it was warm there were many people outside. Lots of cars drove by me on one part of my route where I have to run on the sidewalk. Some drove close to the edge of the road so they'd hit all the puddles making big splashes that I had to avoid. Along with the splashing cars, I had two people yell at me. I've had people yell at me before but usually only one person per run, when I'm running by myself. With the team it seems like everybody yells but that must be their way of supporting us because they don't go to our meets. I kind of like the cheers because it lets me know that people are watching me which makes me go faster. It also reminds me of meets and it makes my run more fun. Some guy in an old truck that was riding close to the edge of the road yelled something uncomprehendable at me during my run but they were not able to get me wet. Less than ten minutes later a car drove by with one guy hanging out the window yelling "Hey yo" at me and waving. Strange people must only come outside when it's warm.
I appreciated the warm weather and would like to see more of it. Not warm warm, but 40's and 50's I like. Just running in shorts makes me go faster. It also helps me ignore how sore and tired I am. Hard work becomes much easier.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
100-0: A GAME OF VICTORY
As everyone should know by now, there was a basketball game in Texas between two small private schools that ended up with a score of 100-0. My first thought when I read the article in the newspaper was, "wow, how bad do you have to be to get that kind of score?" I was thinking more about how terrible the losing team was and didn't give much thought to the team that won. But now the story about the game between Covenant School and Dallas Academy is all over the internet and everyone seems to have an opinion. Every adult that is.
I've read a few articles about the game and still could not figure out why people were bashing the winning team. This is high school basketball, so you shouldn't have to go easy on a team. If Dallas Academy had come to the game prepared and ready to play, than the score wouldn't have happened. They would have at least made a basket. But they weren't prepared, they weren't ready to play the game, and it showed. It's not the winning team's fault, they practiced and they deserve to show the results. They know this isn't YMCA basketball anymore and that they were playing well. They shouldn't have to punish themselves for the fact that the other team can't play.
The coach of the Covenant School was fired recently because he refused to apologize. I couldn't figure out why he needed to apologize, for winning the game? I mean, what would you say in your apology, "I'm sorry our team is so good. Next time we'll just stand there so you can make some baskets". I was in total support of the school until they fired the coach. Now the school was bowed under pressure and is too scared to make the right decisions, they only make the ones that other people think they should make.
The problem is, the people who think they should make the decision of firing the coach and whatever else, don't know the whole story. They know this story, the one with the opinons of parents on the losing team that are passed off as facts and that doesn't give the whole story. They don't give both sides of the story.
"A parent who attended the game said Covenant continued to make 3-pointers -- even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points."
This part of the story obviously makes Covenant School look bad, they were shooting 3 pointers at the end. But look closer, this was a parent from the opposite team. There was no facts involved, the media just took the opinion of a losing parent to be the truth.
And what about the cheering? Why wouldn't there be cheering? I went to a middle school that was known for being terrible at sports. When people talk about my middle school and sports, they laugh. We knew we were bad, but we didn't give up. I played soccer in 8th grade to return the favor my friend gave me when she went out for track. The B team, the one I was on, scored one goal the entire season. It was at the very last game and by the way everyone was screaming and jumping up and down, you'd think we had won the game. None of the soccer teams won, but if we scored a goal, it was almost like we had. Later that year, the girl's track team consisted of 8 people. You can make a basketball team with 8 people, but with track you have no chance of winning a meet. We came in last at every single one, except the very last meet (we came in 2nd to last). Yet, when one of the members did well, there was so much screaming going on, more than the teams who won the meet. My sister is now on the basketball team there. Her team recently won their first game. They might actually win another. One of the other basketball teams hasn't won a game. A few weeks ago, they lost a game 72-9. This is middle school basketball. But those girls didn't give up because they have no choice.
Covenant School lost a game 82-6 only four years ago. They struggle to have a winning season. But they were winning the game, by a lot. Why wouldn't they cheer? I can only imagine what it would be like if that happened at my middle school. Parents would be standing up screaming and jumping. It would be like winning a championship game. I don't blame them for cheering. They didn't really have much of a choice though. Were they just supposed to sit there?
Another quote from the article is,
"Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. The team remains winless during the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia."
Every article I read has mentioned that Dallas Academy had eight players on the team. You only play schools of similar size, so Covenant had to have about the same number of people. Yet none of the articles ever mentions how many people were on the other team. I double checked on the school's roster to make sure, but Covenant School also had eight girls on their team. We seem to have overlooked that fact. In the article written by the winning coach, he mentions that they have had to end with only four people playing because of injuries, absences, and fouls.
It's great that they teach kids who have trouble learning but that should have nothing to do with how either team played. We shouldn't feel bad for the losing kids because they can't learn like others and we shouldn't think the winning team should have gone easier on them because of that. This would be along the lines of discriminating against people with disabilities. And since there is no physical disabilities involved, only a the fact that one team learns differently, there is no reason this should affect the game at all. One girl from the winning school was quoted as saying,
"I have ADD and ADHD. There is nothing that separates me from anyone on the Dallas Academy girls team, so there is nothing that should separate the value of our sides. What we did that night is what we are on this team for: to play basketball and win. As for the media calling our actions “unchristian”, that is very sad. For this team, and our coach are a living testimony. I am not sorry for how we played that night because I know that no harm was intended and I also know no harm occurred. I would hope America was more willing to read the lies in between the lines. The coach is as important to the team as we are—we are with him 100%."
As a high school athlete, I support the winning team. I have seen bad losses before but I still support Convenant School. The coach there sounds like he is very well liked by the team and he should be hired again. The other team was not prepared to play and now they are getting rewarded for that. I'm sure there are teams in every state that suffer these sort of losses all the time but keep playing. They don't give national attention because they don't whine about it. They also don't get Dallas Mavericks tickets. Instead, they practice harder, in a chance to better themselves in their sport. So that they can win like the Covenant School did. There is no reason this game should be forfeited or given all the attention that it has. Dallas Academy needs to find a basketball coach that can coach and the girls on the team need to learn how to play. They also need to know how to prepare for a game and do their best. If their best isn't good enough, they need to learn how to deal with it and not whine. That's how you become better, not just in basketball, but in life. Covenant School has learned this, that's why they are now a good team, because they overcame their losses. A team like this should not be punished but rewarded.
I've read a few articles about the game and still could not figure out why people were bashing the winning team. This is high school basketball, so you shouldn't have to go easy on a team. If Dallas Academy had come to the game prepared and ready to play, than the score wouldn't have happened. They would have at least made a basket. But they weren't prepared, they weren't ready to play the game, and it showed. It's not the winning team's fault, they practiced and they deserve to show the results. They know this isn't YMCA basketball anymore and that they were playing well. They shouldn't have to punish themselves for the fact that the other team can't play.
The coach of the Covenant School was fired recently because he refused to apologize. I couldn't figure out why he needed to apologize, for winning the game? I mean, what would you say in your apology, "I'm sorry our team is so good. Next time we'll just stand there so you can make some baskets". I was in total support of the school until they fired the coach. Now the school was bowed under pressure and is too scared to make the right decisions, they only make the ones that other people think they should make.
The problem is, the people who think they should make the decision of firing the coach and whatever else, don't know the whole story. They know this story, the one with the opinons of parents on the losing team that are passed off as facts and that doesn't give the whole story. They don't give both sides of the story.
"A parent who attended the game said Covenant continued to make 3-pointers -- even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points."
This part of the story obviously makes Covenant School look bad, they were shooting 3 pointers at the end. But look closer, this was a parent from the opposite team. There was no facts involved, the media just took the opinion of a losing parent to be the truth.
And what about the cheering? Why wouldn't there be cheering? I went to a middle school that was known for being terrible at sports. When people talk about my middle school and sports, they laugh. We knew we were bad, but we didn't give up. I played soccer in 8th grade to return the favor my friend gave me when she went out for track. The B team, the one I was on, scored one goal the entire season. It was at the very last game and by the way everyone was screaming and jumping up and down, you'd think we had won the game. None of the soccer teams won, but if we scored a goal, it was almost like we had. Later that year, the girl's track team consisted of 8 people. You can make a basketball team with 8 people, but with track you have no chance of winning a meet. We came in last at every single one, except the very last meet (we came in 2nd to last). Yet, when one of the members did well, there was so much screaming going on, more than the teams who won the meet. My sister is now on the basketball team there. Her team recently won their first game. They might actually win another. One of the other basketball teams hasn't won a game. A few weeks ago, they lost a game 72-9. This is middle school basketball. But those girls didn't give up because they have no choice.
Covenant School lost a game 82-6 only four years ago. They struggle to have a winning season. But they were winning the game, by a lot. Why wouldn't they cheer? I can only imagine what it would be like if that happened at my middle school. Parents would be standing up screaming and jumping. It would be like winning a championship game. I don't blame them for cheering. They didn't really have much of a choice though. Were they just supposed to sit there?
Another quote from the article is,
"Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. The team remains winless during the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia."
Every article I read has mentioned that Dallas Academy had eight players on the team. You only play schools of similar size, so Covenant had to have about the same number of people. Yet none of the articles ever mentions how many people were on the other team. I double checked on the school's roster to make sure, but Covenant School also had eight girls on their team. We seem to have overlooked that fact. In the article written by the winning coach, he mentions that they have had to end with only four people playing because of injuries, absences, and fouls.
It's great that they teach kids who have trouble learning but that should have nothing to do with how either team played. We shouldn't feel bad for the losing kids because they can't learn like others and we shouldn't think the winning team should have gone easier on them because of that. This would be along the lines of discriminating against people with disabilities. And since there is no physical disabilities involved, only a the fact that one team learns differently, there is no reason this should affect the game at all. One girl from the winning school was quoted as saying,
"I have ADD and ADHD. There is nothing that separates me from anyone on the Dallas Academy girls team, so there is nothing that should separate the value of our sides. What we did that night is what we are on this team for: to play basketball and win. As for the media calling our actions “unchristian”, that is very sad. For this team, and our coach are a living testimony. I am not sorry for how we played that night because I know that no harm was intended and I also know no harm occurred. I would hope America was more willing to read the lies in between the lines. The coach is as important to the team as we are—we are with him 100%."
As a high school athlete, I support the winning team. I have seen bad losses before but I still support Convenant School. The coach there sounds like he is very well liked by the team and he should be hired again. The other team was not prepared to play and now they are getting rewarded for that. I'm sure there are teams in every state that suffer these sort of losses all the time but keep playing. They don't give national attention because they don't whine about it. They also don't get Dallas Mavericks tickets. Instead, they practice harder, in a chance to better themselves in their sport. So that they can win like the Covenant School did. There is no reason this game should be forfeited or given all the attention that it has. Dallas Academy needs to find a basketball coach that can coach and the girls on the team need to learn how to play. They also need to know how to prepare for a game and do their best. If their best isn't good enough, they need to learn how to deal with it and not whine. That's how you become better, not just in basketball, but in life. Covenant School has learned this, that's why they are now a good team, because they overcame their losses. A team like this should not be punished but rewarded.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
MY QUESTION
On Thursday I ran in shorts. In January. It was a balmy 38 degrees out and as an Iowan, I know that you shouldn't pass up chances like this. I mean, it was over over 60 degrees warmer than last Thursday. Plus there's almost nothing better than shorts in January. To take advantage of this opportunity, I ran 7.3 miles, over a mile more than I was going to do. I wasn't going very fast but I enjoyed it a lot although my shoes were soaked throughout the run. But the sun was out and birds were singing on this unusually warm day which I very much liked.
Yesterday it was 6 degrees during my 3.24 mile run. I was bundled up in my cold weather gear but I was still cold. I certainly had the right to be; a 32 degree drop in two days. My throat was sore and I have developed a cough so the cold air just made me more miserable. I was glad I had done my long mileage earlier in the week so I did not have to run far. I did the same route today but it was warmer at 14 degrees. It was still chilly though. Although they were tough, I put my miles in for a grand total of 30.3 miles this week. Half those runs were long runs so I think I did a pretty good job. As long as the weather gets better, I might be able to keep this up.
As I went through my chilly run, I asked myself why I was doing this. Why was I running when most sane people would be inside? What was the point of pushing myself till I wanted to walk or till I couldn't feel my cheeks because of the wind? Why was I making myself run when I didn't feel good? Why did I run?
It wasn't a fabulous runner's high day so there was no easy answer to my question. Before I left for my run however, I looked at a picture hanging on my bulletin board. It's a photo from a newspaper from the 2004 Tour de France Team Time Trial that U.S. Postal Service won. It's not this famous photo, more like this one with the team in the rain, although not that exact picture. It has the title "Armstrong Territory" at the top and it helped answer my question today.
Lance rode for his team as evident in the winning team time trial. I run for my team, to help in the relays and to make others better. He rides to do his best, I was running so I could do my best in races. Lance was riding in pouring rain but that didn't stop him or his team. Cold weather was not going to stop me. He rode for his his coach, his family, and others who supported him. I was running to make those who support me proud. He was riding for himself, to make himself stronger and faster. My training run was only making me stronger and faster, to do better in other runs. Most of all, Lance was riding and has comeback to riding because he loves it. And that is were I found the true answer to my question.
Why was I out there running? Because I love it. I love running. This answer has kept me going on multiple runs, it has made me do more than I though I could. It's the reason I ran on the famous blue track at Drake were multiple Olympians have ran before me. It is also the reason I made varsity in xc. I hope this answer can make me keep running. Sure, it's cold and my throat hurt, but maybe I can overlook that.
Days like this when I run, sometimes I have to look for the answer. It might take me longer some days more than others. Sometimes I don't even have to ask. Other day's I will look and look and look. But I always find the answer.
Yesterday it was 6 degrees during my 3.24 mile run. I was bundled up in my cold weather gear but I was still cold. I certainly had the right to be; a 32 degree drop in two days. My throat was sore and I have developed a cough so the cold air just made me more miserable. I was glad I had done my long mileage earlier in the week so I did not have to run far. I did the same route today but it was warmer at 14 degrees. It was still chilly though. Although they were tough, I put my miles in for a grand total of 30.3 miles this week. Half those runs were long runs so I think I did a pretty good job. As long as the weather gets better, I might be able to keep this up.
As I went through my chilly run, I asked myself why I was doing this. Why was I running when most sane people would be inside? What was the point of pushing myself till I wanted to walk or till I couldn't feel my cheeks because of the wind? Why was I making myself run when I didn't feel good? Why did I run?
It wasn't a fabulous runner's high day so there was no easy answer to my question. Before I left for my run however, I looked at a picture hanging on my bulletin board. It's a photo from a newspaper from the 2004 Tour de France Team Time Trial that U.S. Postal Service won. It's not this famous photo, more like this one with the team in the rain, although not that exact picture. It has the title "Armstrong Territory" at the top and it helped answer my question today.
Lance rode for his team as evident in the winning team time trial. I run for my team, to help in the relays and to make others better. He rides to do his best, I was running so I could do my best in races. Lance was riding in pouring rain but that didn't stop him or his team. Cold weather was not going to stop me. He rode for his his coach, his family, and others who supported him. I was running to make those who support me proud. He was riding for himself, to make himself stronger and faster. My training run was only making me stronger and faster, to do better in other runs. Most of all, Lance was riding and has comeback to riding because he loves it. And that is were I found the true answer to my question.
Why was I out there running? Because I love it. I love running. This answer has kept me going on multiple runs, it has made me do more than I though I could. It's the reason I ran on the famous blue track at Drake were multiple Olympians have ran before me. It is also the reason I made varsity in xc. I hope this answer can make me keep running. Sure, it's cold and my throat hurt, but maybe I can overlook that.
Days like this when I run, sometimes I have to look for the answer. It might take me longer some days more than others. Sometimes I don't even have to ask. Other day's I will look and look and look. But I always find the answer.
Friday, January 23, 2009
IT'S A NEW DAY
Having been inspired by President Obama's (doesn't that sound cool?) inauguration and the multiple Obama songs by Will.I.Am, I'm getting into this "it's a new day" thing. I actually did a lot of my homework before I needed to, I've already ran over two 7 mile runs this week, I'm at 23.8 miles with two more days of running to go, and I got a new haircut that I actually like. And I talked to my coach this morning and have been thinking about my schedule next year instead of ignoring it.
Of course, I've done all this great stuff this week but nobody seems to care. All any adult seems to be concerned with now is the future. Not that I'm not concerned with the future, I do support President Obama, but it just seems so far away. I like being a kid. I like my school, my friends, my xc and track team, sometimes even my coach. I like my meets, my classes, my teachers, my new haircut, and playing the sims. I even like being told what to do. It seems like when I make the "big move" and go to college, I'll have to give it all up. I'm not sure I want that kind of change though. I don't like making all these big decisions and trying to find a career while everyone still treats you like a kid. It's just so.....overwhelming.
Adults seem to be keeping everything a secret. I still am confused about next year's classes not to mention the whole college/find your major thing. I don't know what college I want to go to or what I want to major in. I ask people for suggestions but they all say something like "it's your decision". But the reason I ask is that there are so many jobs out there, so much stuff I could do. It's an important decision that nobody seems to tell you anything about. It's not an easy decision either.
I like math. At least I thought I did until we began learning calculus. Imaginary numbers now seem easy compared to this. I like history. A.P. World History was so much fun and it was very interesting. U.S. History isn't as fun but I really like learning all these little facts about the people who made the world the way it is now. But do you suppose you could find a major dealing with history and math? If you like math, you're supposed to like science. I do not like science. Possible because every science teacher but one, I've disliked, but also because it's just so.....boring. It also has to do with the fact that I kind of get it, but no one ever forces me to really know the information, so then again I don't get it. I don't want a career in science, but math and science go hand in hand it seems.
I've thought about engineering because that's obviously math related. I even looked up the different kinds of engineering on wikipedia and various other sites. Most sites just give you a basic overview of what engineering involves. Nobody seems to answer my question of what engineers really do. Does anybody know or do they just avoid answering the question? I can't decide on a college major if I don't even know what half of them are about. It's such a confusing process.
Now I've rambled on and not really solved anything, but I have figured out that I will figure this out somehow. Because "it's a new day" and I just need to take advantage of that. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself anyways. I'm still a kid, no matter what adults are trying to convince me of. This realization calls for some kind of youthful activity. Sledding and playing computer games are now more appealing than they have been.
Of course, I've done all this great stuff this week but nobody seems to care. All any adult seems to be concerned with now is the future. Not that I'm not concerned with the future, I do support President Obama, but it just seems so far away. I like being a kid. I like my school, my friends, my xc and track team, sometimes even my coach. I like my meets, my classes, my teachers, my new haircut, and playing the sims. I even like being told what to do. It seems like when I make the "big move" and go to college, I'll have to give it all up. I'm not sure I want that kind of change though. I don't like making all these big decisions and trying to find a career while everyone still treats you like a kid. It's just so.....overwhelming.
Adults seem to be keeping everything a secret. I still am confused about next year's classes not to mention the whole college/find your major thing. I don't know what college I want to go to or what I want to major in. I ask people for suggestions but they all say something like "it's your decision". But the reason I ask is that there are so many jobs out there, so much stuff I could do. It's an important decision that nobody seems to tell you anything about. It's not an easy decision either.
I like math. At least I thought I did until we began learning calculus. Imaginary numbers now seem easy compared to this. I like history. A.P. World History was so much fun and it was very interesting. U.S. History isn't as fun but I really like learning all these little facts about the people who made the world the way it is now. But do you suppose you could find a major dealing with history and math? If you like math, you're supposed to like science. I do not like science. Possible because every science teacher but one, I've disliked, but also because it's just so.....boring. It also has to do with the fact that I kind of get it, but no one ever forces me to really know the information, so then again I don't get it. I don't want a career in science, but math and science go hand in hand it seems.
I've thought about engineering because that's obviously math related. I even looked up the different kinds of engineering on wikipedia and various other sites. Most sites just give you a basic overview of what engineering involves. Nobody seems to answer my question of what engineers really do. Does anybody know or do they just avoid answering the question? I can't decide on a college major if I don't even know what half of them are about. It's such a confusing process.
Now I've rambled on and not really solved anything, but I have figured out that I will figure this out somehow. Because "it's a new day" and I just need to take advantage of that. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself anyways. I'm still a kid, no matter what adults are trying to convince me of. This realization calls for some kind of youthful activity. Sledding and playing computer games are now more appealing than they have been.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Tomorrow Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. Today we celebrate a man who helped make tomorrow possible. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great Civil Rights leader and an even greater man. The accidental leader helped accomplish many advances in the Civil Rights Movement to establish racial equality.
A special on MLK came on the History Channel as my dad was watching it last night. Although I wasn't able to watch all of it, most of it was celebrating all MLK had done. There was a comment at the beginning of the show that slightly bothered me. King's daughter told the interviewer that she thinks her father would be disappointed by the world today. I happen to disagree with this statement. True, there are many bad things going on in the world, but there are also many good things. I think MLK would be proud to know that the majority of Americans do not think of skin color when they first meet someone. That people of all different races work together side by side for the good of this country. There is not perfect racial equality yet but we're closer now than we have been. I believe a smile would be on King's 80 year old face if he could be there at Obama's inaguration. His smile would match the hundreds of thousands of faces next to his, and he would be able to look around and see that his dream for a better America was finally in motion.
Tomorrow Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. Today we celebrate a man who helped make tomorrow possible. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great Civil Rights leader and an even greater man. The accidental leader helped accomplish many advances in the Civil Rights Movement to establish racial equality.
A special on MLK came on the History Channel as my dad was watching it last night. Although I wasn't able to watch all of it, most of it was celebrating all MLK had done. There was a comment at the beginning of the show that slightly bothered me. King's daughter told the interviewer that she thinks her father would be disappointed by the world today. I happen to disagree with this statement. True, there are many bad things going on in the world, but there are also many good things. I think MLK would be proud to know that the majority of Americans do not think of skin color when they first meet someone. That people of all different races work together side by side for the good of this country. There is not perfect racial equality yet but we're closer now than we have been. I believe a smile would be on King's 80 year old face if he could be there at Obama's inaguration. His smile would match the hundreds of thousands of faces next to his, and he would be able to look around and see that his dream for a better America was finally in motion.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
2008: MY YEAR IN CYCLING (PART I)
On August 10, 2007, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team announced they were disbanding because of the lack of a large sponsor. To me, the Discovery team was cycling. I followed them devotedly during the Tour de France in July and had watched them win over and over again. I loved all the riders on the squad and pretended I was racing them when I rode my bike. The Disco boys had helped me find a new passion in professional cycling and now they announced they were leaving.
The Discovery Channel team, previously called the U.S. Postal Service team from 1996-2004, had changed cycling by winning 8 Tours in 9 years. During this unprecedented level of success, they also won or placed in other races. They had signed Lance Armstrong, the most successful Tour cyclist ever and were the team of countless other stars. The DC team was given more media exposure than other teams and had reenergized American cycling. Every cycling fan had an opinion about them, and if they didn't like them, they definately admired the team. Discovery had done more for cycling in recent years than any other team yet they couldn't find a sponsor in the U.S.
I didn't read the full story until I went on Paceline, the home site of the team, and looked at the articles and forums to see everyones surprise. All around the cycling community, it was a feeling of shock. The most successful cycling team ever was breaking up because they didn't have a sponsor amid other reasons. If they couldn't get one, who could? Other teams have since gained or lost sponsors but it seems there's always a sponsor for European teams. This isn't always true, Credit Agricole had to disband in 2008 but they also had doping problems. Because Discovery was an American team, they had a harder time finding someone simply because few American companies want to sponsor a cycling team. The sport doesn't get much coverage in the U.S. and the sport is more popular in Europe. But this is a team that won the Tour 8 times since it began as the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team and changed to the Discovery team. Alberto Contador, who looked to be one of the next biggest cycling stars, won the Tour in 2007 yet less than 3 weeks later he was searching for a team. The lack of money was penalizing my favorite team in one of my favorite sports.
When Discovery announced they were disbanding, I searched the internet for articles and videos about them. In a way, I wanted to find them before I lost them. During the countless hours I spent on Youtube, Paceline, and other various websites, I found that I didn't really know my team. Sure I watched the Tour de France devotedly every July to cheer them on, but I couldn't tell you the results of their other races, much less most of the names of the actual races. I knew some of the basic, more famous races but I didn't know how Discovery had fared while riding in them. It was almost like I had betrayed my team; they had inspired me so many times but I hadn't given back. I should've loyally followed their every move but I was only there in July.
I decided that the end of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team would mean the beginning of cycling for me. I owed the team something and I was going to give back in my own way. I wouldn't make the mistake of putting my favorite team off to the side again. In 2008, I would follow cycling. Not just the Tour de France or the Grand Tours, but every race. I would be there (mostly on the Internet) because I hadn't always been there when my team was. Now I would be there to watch the now dispersed members fully become the stars they would be.
The last race the DC team fully participated in was the Tour of Missouri, a race in its first year that became a farewell to Discovery. I wanted to be there so much, to stand among the crowds and say goodbye to the great team that had inspired me so many times, the team that had made me discover cycling. Fans lined the streets to say goodbye to the most successful cycling team ever. That race was chosen to be the last to give American fans the final farewell from a multinational team that had been fully embraced as our own. In a fitting end to the most amazing team, George Hincapie won the weeklong Tour of Missouri. All the stars from Discovery came but in the end it was the always there and ever loyal Big George who captured the final crown in the tribute to the team.
My team was now gone and just a legend, but cycling was moving on. The riders had found new teams and wore different jerseys as they rode alongside teammates that used to be the opposition. They were starting a new journey in the cycling world, but this time I would be there by their side every step of the way.
The Discovery Channel team, previously called the U.S. Postal Service team from 1996-2004, had changed cycling by winning 8 Tours in 9 years. During this unprecedented level of success, they also won or placed in other races. They had signed Lance Armstrong, the most successful Tour cyclist ever and were the team of countless other stars. The DC team was given more media exposure than other teams and had reenergized American cycling. Every cycling fan had an opinion about them, and if they didn't like them, they definately admired the team. Discovery had done more for cycling in recent years than any other team yet they couldn't find a sponsor in the U.S.
I didn't read the full story until I went on Paceline, the home site of the team, and looked at the articles and forums to see everyones surprise. All around the cycling community, it was a feeling of shock. The most successful cycling team ever was breaking up because they didn't have a sponsor amid other reasons. If they couldn't get one, who could? Other teams have since gained or lost sponsors but it seems there's always a sponsor for European teams. This isn't always true, Credit Agricole had to disband in 2008 but they also had doping problems. Because Discovery was an American team, they had a harder time finding someone simply because few American companies want to sponsor a cycling team. The sport doesn't get much coverage in the U.S. and the sport is more popular in Europe. But this is a team that won the Tour 8 times since it began as the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team and changed to the Discovery team. Alberto Contador, who looked to be one of the next biggest cycling stars, won the Tour in 2007 yet less than 3 weeks later he was searching for a team. The lack of money was penalizing my favorite team in one of my favorite sports.
When Discovery announced they were disbanding, I searched the internet for articles and videos about them. In a way, I wanted to find them before I lost them. During the countless hours I spent on Youtube, Paceline, and other various websites, I found that I didn't really know my team. Sure I watched the Tour de France devotedly every July to cheer them on, but I couldn't tell you the results of their other races, much less most of the names of the actual races. I knew some of the basic, more famous races but I didn't know how Discovery had fared while riding in them. It was almost like I had betrayed my team; they had inspired me so many times but I hadn't given back. I should've loyally followed their every move but I was only there in July.
I decided that the end of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team would mean the beginning of cycling for me. I owed the team something and I was going to give back in my own way. I wouldn't make the mistake of putting my favorite team off to the side again. In 2008, I would follow cycling. Not just the Tour de France or the Grand Tours, but every race. I would be there (mostly on the Internet) because I hadn't always been there when my team was. Now I would be there to watch the now dispersed members fully become the stars they would be.
The last race the DC team fully participated in was the Tour of Missouri, a race in its first year that became a farewell to Discovery. I wanted to be there so much, to stand among the crowds and say goodbye to the great team that had inspired me so many times, the team that had made me discover cycling. Fans lined the streets to say goodbye to the most successful cycling team ever. That race was chosen to be the last to give American fans the final farewell from a multinational team that had been fully embraced as our own. In a fitting end to the most amazing team, George Hincapie won the weeklong Tour of Missouri. All the stars from Discovery came but in the end it was the always there and ever loyal Big George who captured the final crown in the tribute to the team.
My team was now gone and just a legend, but cycling was moving on. The riders had found new teams and wore different jerseys as they rode alongside teammates that used to be the opposition. They were starting a new journey in the cycling world, but this time I would be there by their side every step of the way.
MY WEEK IN REVIEW
I have had a very upside down week. Snow and intense cold have turned my week into a 5 day vacation from school. It's been tough though having no homework and only free time to deal with. It was pretty bad weather though, even for Iowa, with about 20 inches of snow and negative temperatures all the way down to -29 (that's without the windchill). At least there was no ice though, so my neighbor's car didn't end up in our front yard again.
The extreme cold did keep me from running, but that dealt more with safety issues. Running in wind chill warnings is dangerous and I'm not going to risk frostbite for a 10 minute run. So that meant I couldn't run from Tuesday to Thursday with cross training on Wednesday. While snowboarding Wednesday, I managed to make a not so spectacular crash turn into a huge ache Thursday. Since I was having a hard time getting off the couch, I decided that maybe I shouldn't cross train that day.
On Friday, my family drove to Ames for my younger sister's Lego League State competition that was to take place most of Saturday. Because it started very early, we had to stay in a hotel which meant I was able to run. On a treadmill of course, but it was still a run. I only ran 3 fast miles before I was forced to sleep but it was the first running I did since Monday.
The Lego League State competition started early on Saturday so we had to be there around 8:00. The competition had many parts but consisted mainly of three parts revolving around a central theme, which this year happened to be "climate connections". One section involved making the robot built of legos (that had been previously made by the kids) do specific tasks. The highest score of the three times they did this was their final score. They also had to research some way to help solve a problem related to the climate and give a presentation. The last part of the competition was two more presentations about the robot and the group's teamwork. A lot of hard work is put into the competitions but at times it can be a bit overwhelming with all the screaming children who supposedbly have team spirit, and a lot of waiting and standing around.
My family decided to wait around for the closing ceremonies before heading back. The closing ceremonies took about an hour longer than expected though because of a demonstration which tried to make Segways look cool. It didn't work but it wasted a lot of time. Many parents started getting ansty by the time they started giving out awards due to the road condition warnings flashing on the bottom of the screen. My sister's team didn't win any awards, but they made it to state which I think is the best part. Plus, the road conditions had gotten so bad that my parents decided to stay another night at the hotel. Which, judging by the 16 cars we saw in the ditch or off the sides of the road on the way home, was a good decision.
Another night in the hotel meant another night of running on the treadmill, which I was actually excited about. I ran 4 miles this time in a new PR of 31:09. This PR unfortunately doesn't count though since it was on a treadmill and inside. I had to take a break halfway through the run though because it was about 100 degrees in the exercise room. I had to do this the previous day too and I think I was freaking the desk guy out by standing outside when it was freezing out.
I ran only 4 miles again because my legs are pretty sore. It was slower at a time of 36:36 but it was outside and snowing (again). My pace was faster than it has been which is was but now my legs are really sore, especially on the outsides of my knee. So now I'm sitting here typing this icing my leg which in turn is making me really cold. Hopefully, my legs will be less sore but since it is the beginning of the cycling season I think I can deal with it. Expect my next post to be a bit different though, since it will not be about running but instead about my other favorite sport.
The extreme cold did keep me from running, but that dealt more with safety issues. Running in wind chill warnings is dangerous and I'm not going to risk frostbite for a 10 minute run. So that meant I couldn't run from Tuesday to Thursday with cross training on Wednesday. While snowboarding Wednesday, I managed to make a not so spectacular crash turn into a huge ache Thursday. Since I was having a hard time getting off the couch, I decided that maybe I shouldn't cross train that day.
On Friday, my family drove to Ames for my younger sister's Lego League State competition that was to take place most of Saturday. Because it started very early, we had to stay in a hotel which meant I was able to run. On a treadmill of course, but it was still a run. I only ran 3 fast miles before I was forced to sleep but it was the first running I did since Monday.
The Lego League State competition started early on Saturday so we had to be there around 8:00. The competition had many parts but consisted mainly of three parts revolving around a central theme, which this year happened to be "climate connections". One section involved making the robot built of legos (that had been previously made by the kids) do specific tasks. The highest score of the three times they did this was their final score. They also had to research some way to help solve a problem related to the climate and give a presentation. The last part of the competition was two more presentations about the robot and the group's teamwork. A lot of hard work is put into the competitions but at times it can be a bit overwhelming with all the screaming children who supposedbly have team spirit, and a lot of waiting and standing around.
My family decided to wait around for the closing ceremonies before heading back. The closing ceremonies took about an hour longer than expected though because of a demonstration which tried to make Segways look cool. It didn't work but it wasted a lot of time. Many parents started getting ansty by the time they started giving out awards due to the road condition warnings flashing on the bottom of the screen. My sister's team didn't win any awards, but they made it to state which I think is the best part. Plus, the road conditions had gotten so bad that my parents decided to stay another night at the hotel. Which, judging by the 16 cars we saw in the ditch or off the sides of the road on the way home, was a good decision.
Another night in the hotel meant another night of running on the treadmill, which I was actually excited about. I ran 4 miles this time in a new PR of 31:09. This PR unfortunately doesn't count though since it was on a treadmill and inside. I had to take a break halfway through the run though because it was about 100 degrees in the exercise room. I had to do this the previous day too and I think I was freaking the desk guy out by standing outside when it was freezing out.
I ran only 4 miles again because my legs are pretty sore. It was slower at a time of 36:36 but it was outside and snowing (again). My pace was faster than it has been which is was but now my legs are really sore, especially on the outsides of my knee. So now I'm sitting here typing this icing my leg which in turn is making me really cold. Hopefully, my legs will be less sore but since it is the beginning of the cycling season I think I can deal with it. Expect my next post to be a bit different though, since it will not be about running but instead about my other favorite sport.
Monday, January 12, 2009
EARLY OUT
Today after they announced school was getting out early and everyone erupted in cheers, they started making the obligatory weather related sports announcements. That meant that in almost every class I went to, there were various people complaining that their sport's practices were still on. What a bunch of lazy bums.
I guess I can kind of identify how they feel. I've been through too many announcements that come on and say "basically every sport is canceled except for track" or "all sports are canceled or indoors but long distance runners you still have to run outside". These announcements are terrible so once track starts, half days kind of lose their appeal. But these announcements also allow me to feel even more superior over other sports because weather doesn't stop us.
This superiority often makes me ridicule others when they complain. But some of my scorn is justified. The swimmers are complaining about practice- which is indoors. Basketball practices- indoors. Wrestling- also indoors. There are no sports that have their season during the winter that practice outdoors. Yet they complain when I know that regardless of the weather I will run outside. There's a reason we got out early, blizzard warnings, blowing snow including the three inches that was on the ground while I ran, plus it was cold outside. All those people complaining get to be inside so why are they complaining?
It was a warm 26 degrees when I ran today and not as windy as it has been. Sure, those 5.65 miles were incredibly slow because there was snow on the sidewalks and streets that made it hard to run on. Then there was the problem of the snow blowing into my face on the way back to my house. My long sleeve shirt was soaked and covered in snow. The snow had also covered my knee socks making my running tights underneath them, very wet. The worst part of the snow wasn't the fact that it stung my cheeks and made me cold, it was that it was freezing on my eyelashes, headband, and hair. I was constantly having to wipe off my face to see. And with the low visibility, that didn't help.
Running in the snow is, of course, magical at times, but not as much today. I was pretty focused on getting my run done so I could get warm and eat lunch (at 2:50) than noticing the quiet, snow globe like feel. I was trying to go faster too, but that wasn't working out as well. Overall, it wasn't a terrible run, just really hard. It's almost making me look forward to single digit temperatures.
I guess I can kind of identify how they feel. I've been through too many announcements that come on and say "basically every sport is canceled except for track" or "all sports are canceled or indoors but long distance runners you still have to run outside". These announcements are terrible so once track starts, half days kind of lose their appeal. But these announcements also allow me to feel even more superior over other sports because weather doesn't stop us.
This superiority often makes me ridicule others when they complain. But some of my scorn is justified. The swimmers are complaining about practice- which is indoors. Basketball practices- indoors. Wrestling- also indoors. There are no sports that have their season during the winter that practice outdoors. Yet they complain when I know that regardless of the weather I will run outside. There's a reason we got out early, blizzard warnings, blowing snow including the three inches that was on the ground while I ran, plus it was cold outside. All those people complaining get to be inside so why are they complaining?
It was a warm 26 degrees when I ran today and not as windy as it has been. Sure, those 5.65 miles were incredibly slow because there was snow on the sidewalks and streets that made it hard to run on. Then there was the problem of the snow blowing into my face on the way back to my house. My long sleeve shirt was soaked and covered in snow. The snow had also covered my knee socks making my running tights underneath them, very wet. The worst part of the snow wasn't the fact that it stung my cheeks and made me cold, it was that it was freezing on my eyelashes, headband, and hair. I was constantly having to wipe off my face to see. And with the low visibility, that didn't help.
Running in the snow is, of course, magical at times, but not as much today. I was pretty focused on getting my run done so I could get warm and eat lunch (at 2:50) than noticing the quiet, snow globe like feel. I was trying to go faster too, but that wasn't working out as well. Overall, it wasn't a terrible run, just really hard. It's almost making me look forward to single digit temperatures.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
NO MORE EXCUSES
This week was a week of progress. 31.9 miles of progress to be exact. Lately I haven't been training very well for track and have been worrying that my results will show it. I don't want to disappoint my family, my teammates, myself, and most of all my coach. Most of the time I can't stand him, but during xc I realized that my coach isn't as bad as I thought. My coach might actually have started believing in me and I don't want to let him down. And let's face it, running for results that at the moment seem far away hasn't exactly got me outside when it's been nice and cozy inside.
Last week I ran a measly amount of miles that does not deserve to be published but I had excuses. It was cold, icy, the streets weren't cleared of snow, there wasn't enough daylight to run in, my legs were sore, my fast teammates weren't getting my runs in, and I was bored with running the same roads around my house multiple times just to get a small run in. But these are the same excuses I've been using all winter to justify my small mileage. I realized that since I don't believe in excuses during a race (unless there is a really good one) than excuses shouldn't count during normal runs either.
Weather should not be an excuse as to why I'm slacking off. Because as Bill Bowerman says in one of my favorite quotes, "There is no bad weather, only soft people". I've been complaining about bad weather, bad road conditions, etc. but those are just excuses that soft people make. I can run in over 100 degree heat so I should be able to run when it's below freezing out. Sure, my cheeks will get numb but at least I won't sweat as much. I have run in thunderstorms, heavy rain, mud, and freezing rain, yet I was making excuses as to why I couldn't run because it was too windy out. I had been turning into one of those soft people who I make fun of as they pass me in their nice warm cars while I'm running.
My coach doesn't make excuses. He thinks there should be no reason that we aren't hitting our times even though its pouring rain and thundering with mud that sucks on your shoes, 90 degrees and sunny with no shade, or 20 degrees and icy. This is obviously very annoying because it's not like we aren't trying. But none of my excuses I tell myself would my coach even consider. He'd tell me to suck it up or use one of those funny sayings he's always telling us. He just started running again after xc ended so I'm not sure if he's as strict with himself as he is with us, but I'm pretty sure he'd get mad if he found out about my training. But I like those few and far between smiles and congratulations I get from him so I've decided to work harder. I mean, my coach is actually running (I saw him run for the first time in November) and I don't want him to be able to beat me when he runs with us. I want to be able to impress him and show him that I can do this. That I am a runner and will work hard to accomplish something he and I would be proud of.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and this Monday I decided to do something about it. I ran 5.65 miles after choosing a new out and back route that is very hilly but as my dad would say, "builds character". I ran the same route Tuesday and Wednesday, getting more tired but dropping almost a minute each time I ran it. Thursday I went to a gym and ran a fast 2.25 miles before swimming because a friend wanted me to workout with her. I was almost going to count this as a rest day but thought I could get enough miles in later in the week while still taking an actual rest day. Friday I didn't run. I made the excuse that it was too slushy outside and my legs were sore. I gave into the excuses but promised myself to run the rest of the week. Saturday I ran 5.65 miles. It was super windy and kind of slushy but I pushed through it. Plus there was an article about cycling and running in the sports section which hardly ever happens, so I was able to be inspired. Today, Sunday, I ran 7.05 miles very slowly. Physically I knew I could do it even though my legs were a little sore. The wind and cold turned it into more of a mental battle though, but I did it. All 31.9 miles of it.
As I sit here typing this, my legs are very tired. But they are a good tired because I know that hard work is what made them sore. Now I can talk to my coach and tell him without lying or not telling the whole truth, that I actually got my miles in. I won't have to avoid his room anymore and I will finally be able to walk around knowing that I accomplished something this week. I can now look at the sprinters and laugh again at the meager training they call running. I am myself again now that I running more than a few miles and am putting everything into my training. I have figured out that running is hard but harder when you make excuses. Because excuses may belong in other sports but they have no place in running.
Last week I ran a measly amount of miles that does not deserve to be published but I had excuses. It was cold, icy, the streets weren't cleared of snow, there wasn't enough daylight to run in, my legs were sore, my fast teammates weren't getting my runs in, and I was bored with running the same roads around my house multiple times just to get a small run in. But these are the same excuses I've been using all winter to justify my small mileage. I realized that since I don't believe in excuses during a race (unless there is a really good one) than excuses shouldn't count during normal runs either.
Weather should not be an excuse as to why I'm slacking off. Because as Bill Bowerman says in one of my favorite quotes, "There is no bad weather, only soft people". I've been complaining about bad weather, bad road conditions, etc. but those are just excuses that soft people make. I can run in over 100 degree heat so I should be able to run when it's below freezing out. Sure, my cheeks will get numb but at least I won't sweat as much. I have run in thunderstorms, heavy rain, mud, and freezing rain, yet I was making excuses as to why I couldn't run because it was too windy out. I had been turning into one of those soft people who I make fun of as they pass me in their nice warm cars while I'm running.
My coach doesn't make excuses. He thinks there should be no reason that we aren't hitting our times even though its pouring rain and thundering with mud that sucks on your shoes, 90 degrees and sunny with no shade, or 20 degrees and icy. This is obviously very annoying because it's not like we aren't trying. But none of my excuses I tell myself would my coach even consider. He'd tell me to suck it up or use one of those funny sayings he's always telling us. He just started running again after xc ended so I'm not sure if he's as strict with himself as he is with us, but I'm pretty sure he'd get mad if he found out about my training. But I like those few and far between smiles and congratulations I get from him so I've decided to work harder. I mean, my coach is actually running (I saw him run for the first time in November) and I don't want him to be able to beat me when he runs with us. I want to be able to impress him and show him that I can do this. That I am a runner and will work hard to accomplish something he and I would be proud of.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and this Monday I decided to do something about it. I ran 5.65 miles after choosing a new out and back route that is very hilly but as my dad would say, "builds character". I ran the same route Tuesday and Wednesday, getting more tired but dropping almost a minute each time I ran it. Thursday I went to a gym and ran a fast 2.25 miles before swimming because a friend wanted me to workout with her. I was almost going to count this as a rest day but thought I could get enough miles in later in the week while still taking an actual rest day. Friday I didn't run. I made the excuse that it was too slushy outside and my legs were sore. I gave into the excuses but promised myself to run the rest of the week. Saturday I ran 5.65 miles. It was super windy and kind of slushy but I pushed through it. Plus there was an article about cycling and running in the sports section which hardly ever happens, so I was able to be inspired. Today, Sunday, I ran 7.05 miles very slowly. Physically I knew I could do it even though my legs were a little sore. The wind and cold turned it into more of a mental battle though, but I did it. All 31.9 miles of it.
As I sit here typing this, my legs are very tired. But they are a good tired because I know that hard work is what made them sore. Now I can talk to my coach and tell him without lying or not telling the whole truth, that I actually got my miles in. I won't have to avoid his room anymore and I will finally be able to walk around knowing that I accomplished something this week. I can now look at the sprinters and laugh again at the meager training they call running. I am myself again now that I running more than a few miles and am putting everything into my training. I have figured out that running is hard but harder when you make excuses. Because excuses may belong in other sports but they have no place in running.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
