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Winning Olympic medals in swimming is easy?
I nearly choked on my Wheaties when I read an article by Philip Hersh, who discounts Michael Phelps’ haul of eight gold medals, proclaiming that winning medals in swimming is easy.
“Could everyone please stop hyperventilating about Michael Phelps,” Hersh writes, going on to say that the swimmer is far from the greatest Olympic athlete of all time. (To read the article, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times, go here: http://cw11.trb.com/wpix-phelps0813,0,3349629.story)
Phelps may not be the greatest athlete ever, but if you’ve tried to swim across your neighborhood pool lately, Hersh’s tirade will make you want to pop him with one of Phelps’ size 14 swim fins.
“It is easy to win multiple medals in swimming,” Hersh writes. “The sport is far more forgiving on the body than track or gymnastics.”
I figured my swim coach would have an opinion, so I called him up.
“If you’re going to compare apples to oranges, you ought to at least have some understanding of what an orange is,” says Keith Bell, coach of TeamTexas swim team. I’ve trained for eight years under Bell, a four-time collegiate All-American swimmer who has set 31 world and 88 U.S. Masters national records and won a slew of Masters championships. He’s married to my other coach, Sandy Neilson-Bell, who snagged three gold medals swimming in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Hersh asserts that it’s easy to medal in swimming because athletes can recover more easily than, for example, in track. That may be true, but what Hersh forgets is that swimmers aren’t competing against track athletes. They’re competing against other swimmers, who all train in the water, and who arguably have among the most intense training regimens of any athlete.
Most elite swimmers spend about five hours a day, six days a week, churning through the water. Some spend up to eight hours in the pool. They also do dry land work with weights.
“You certainly don’t take as much pounding, but he’s forgetting that Phelps is not competing against people running track, he’s competing against other swimmers,” Bell says. “Swimmers train harder than any other athletes in world because they can, because they don’t take as much pounding.”
“Come on,” Bell says. “If I was as ignorant about track as he seems to be about swimming, I might say ‘What are you talking about you can’t recover from 9-second race? The shortest race in swimming is going to take twice that.’ Let’s compare 9 seconds in track to 4 minutes in the 400 individual medley.”
Bell agrees that the new suit technology makes swimming world records relatively — but not completely — meaningless. But, as he points out, all the Olympic swimmers in Beijing swam in the same pool and had access to the same suit technology, and Phelps still managed to beat them.
Hersh’s article is filled with gems. He says the risk of a false start is minimal in a swimming relay, compared to a track relay.
Where’d he get that idea? In swimming, swimmers are perched on a starting block above the water, waiting for the next swimmer to hit the wall. No baton slapped in your hand to know it’s your turn to go. “You have to time it perfectly, you have to be out above the water with your feet still on the blocks, and you have to judge whether (the next swimmer’s) going to kick into the wall. It’s an extremely difficult thing,” Bell says.
Hersh says if Olympic track had an 800-meter relay, Lewis probably would have won at least two more gold medals. You could say the same about Phelps. What if Olympic swimming had a 50-meter race? Phelps could have added to his medal collection.
And here’s my favorite bit from Hersh’s article: “Three of swimming’s four strokes — everything but the breaststroke — might as well be the same. Otherwise, how could backstroker Matt Grevers say he barely trained that stroke before winning an Olympic silver medal in the 100? Nearly every good freestyler can be a good butterflyer, and vice-versa.”
That’s like saying pole vaulting and long jumping might as well be the same. It’s laughable.
Consider Austin’s own Aaron Peirsol, who specializes in backstroke and won a gold in the 100 meters. “He is very good athlete and he can swim other strokes really well,” Bell says. “He’s a good butterflyer and freestyler, too, but he can’t make finals in the Olympics in any of those.”
Phelps haul of eight medals is astonishing. Hopefully we’ll get to see him add to that collection in London in 2012. Is that what it will take to make a believer out of Hersh?
Mr. Hersh, let the hyperventilating continue.
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Ride a bike to Democratic, Republican conventions
Imagine, hundreds of political convention-goers tooling around Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul on bicycles. Could it work?
Organizers of Freewheelin, the largest bike-sharing program ever launched in the United States, hope so. They’ve delivered 1,000 bicycles to Denver, where the Democratic National Convention will convene Aug. 25-28. The bikes will be set up downtown and around and major hotel centers for free use by convention attendees, residents and the media. To borrow a bike, all they have to do is register, head to one of eight bike stations, flash their Freewheelin card and pick up a helmet, bike and map.
When the Democratic convention ends, Freewheelin will do the same thing in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where the Republicans will gather for their convention Sept. 1-4. The idea is to demonstrate the health and environmental benefits of biking.
The bikes are equipped with an onboard computer that tracks and converts distance traveled, duration of the ride, calories burned and resulting carbon offset. The folks heading up Freewheelin say that if all the bikes were used during the entirety of both conventions, they could reduce the carbon footprint by 4.4 tons. And think of the calories burned and gas saved!
A 10-mile commute can save a bicyclist $7.50 in gas and car maintenance costs, according to Bikes Belong, a nonprofit cycling-advocacy group that is teaming with Humana, one of the nation’s largest health-benefits companies, to sponsor the Freewheelin program.
Bike sharing isn’t a new idea. When I was in Paris in October, the city had just launched it’s wildly popular bike sharing program, Velib (http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/). A station just outside our hotel was buzzing with activity, with commuters checking out bikes at all hours. Berlin, Barcelona and Rome have similar programs, and New York and Boston are working to establish their own.
Would a bike-sharing program work in Austin? With the growing density of downtown, I’d like to think so. Besides taking motor vehicles off the road, a bike-sharing program could help Mayor Will Wynn chug toward his goal of making Austin the fittest city in the country.
Those of us who ride our bikes to work already know one other benefit — a smile on our face before we start the work day.
Read more about the cool program here: http://www.freewheelinwaytogo.com/Registration/PreRegistrationWelcome.aspxB
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Hill Country Outdoors offers week-long memberships
A few changes are on tap at Hill Country Outdoors, a local recreation and social club. (That photo was taken at a club kayaking and bat watching expedition I tagged along on a few years ago.)
The club is now offering short-term memberships that cover a single week. That way, if you see something on their calendar you’re interested in, you can sign up for the short-term, see if you like it, and consider a longer-term membership later. The new one-week membership plan costs $10.95 per week.
The club is also starting a happy hour series called “Texas Two Step,” which starts in September.
“This new seven-day membership is perfect for visitors who are only here for a short time but want to explore and enjoy some of the fun outdoor activities available to us here in Austin,” Bill Talbot, owner of Hill Country Outdoors, said in a press release. “It’s also a great, low-risk way to check out the club before signing up for a longer term membership.”
The “Texas Two Step” will feature a hike on one of Austin’s many nature trails followed by dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant. The first one is scheduled for Sept. 4 at the Bull Creek Greenbelt.
The club has nearly 600 members and hosts more than 70 events each month, from hiking, camping and biking to road trips, wine-tastings and dinners. For more information, go to http://www.hillcountryoutdoors.com.
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Zilker Relays
If it’s time for the Zilker Relays, fall can’t be far away. (I say this optimistically, as I droop in the 100-degree heat.)
The race, founded by Paul Perrone, has been kicking off the fall running season in Austin since 2002. This year’s relay is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 — the same weekend as the much-hyped Nike Human Race, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 31.
The relays are popular among the city’s running community. Last year, more than 200 teams raced. This year, organizers Perrone and Raul Najera expect close to 300 teams.
Four person teams compete in the relay. Each runner takes a 2.5-mile loop around Zilker Park, then hands off to a teammate. After the race, runners get free music and food and dinner from Tacodeli.
A team representing Gilbert’s Gazelles won the relay last year, for the third year in a row.
Runners of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. For more information, go to www.zilkerrelays.com.
The Zilker Relays are presented by The Genesis Agency and Run-Far Racing Systems. Sponsors include Tacodeli, James Allen - Private Mortgage Bankin, Wells Fargo and Rogue Equipment.
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A little Olympic obsession…
I’m obsessed with the Olympics. I can’t get enough Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol and Katie Hoff. I also can’t get to bed before 11:30 p.m.
Last night, I stayed up until almost midnight watching. I could barely get out of bed when my alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. to head to the Dell Jewish Community Center, where I train with Team Texas swim team. I don’t think my coach, Keith Bell, was very sympathetic.
I love the swimming best because it’s pure sport. Besides, I know how hard it is to go fast in the water.
I’m fascinated by 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres. Mesmerized by the whole debate over the Speedo LZR swimsuits. Amazed by the Water Cube, with it’s air-filled bubble walls. Glued to the set anytime Michael “I’ve got the Longest Torso in the World” Phelps hits the pool. And hooked on watching the whole host of Austin swimmers churn through the water. (Go Aaron Peirsol!!)
The gymnastics is entertaining to watch, but I don’t like the subjectivity of the judging. There’s no question who’s won a swim race. The person who touches first gets the medal. But in gymnastics, you’ve got to rely on a panel of experts who don’t necessarily like the same thing.
Gymnastics, figure skating — amazing athletes, all of them, but I hate the scoring. It’s too emotional, too based on personal likes and dislikes. Did you watch the women’s all-around competition last night? I’m no expert, but listening to the commentators and watching for myself, it seemed that the judges gave some of the athletes higher scores than they deserved and others lower scores than they deserved.
It’s interesting how the sport of gymnastics has changed since I was a kid, and each judge would hold up a card with his or her score on it. The athletes back then seemed graceful, dainty, lithe. Today’s athletes follow the Mary Lou Retton mold — muscular little power houses that look like they could do some damage if I met them in a dark alley. Their routines are beautiful, but don’t look as fluid or artistic as they once did. It’s a different style, one more focused on athleticism.
A few random thoughts:
Did anyone see the female backstroker who raced without goggles on Thursday? Holy cow! How’d she do that?
Beach volleyball? Come on. We get hours of that and no baseball this year?
Did anyone else find the opening ceremonies, um, intimidating? I know they instructed the drummers to smile a little so we weren’t too weirded out, but parts of it seemed so militaristic. Loved the acrobats “jogging” around the perimeter of the globe, though. And many other things …
I’d like to see some of the equestrian events. No such luck, at least not on the stations I get.
Swimming, gymnastics, diving — the Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport. Basketball, cycling, tennis — the Olympics don’t compare to those sports’ premiere events.
So. Now begins the track and field portion of our event …
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New bike lane on Lamar
Even bikes need climbing lanes.
Ever notice how some cyclists sway and weave a little when they’re chugging up a hill? That makes us extra big targets for motorized vehicles.
To help make it safer for all of us, the city of Austin put in a climbing lane on the stretch of South Lamar Boulevard between Barton Springs Road and Treadwell Street. They painted a stripe and little stick figures of a cyclist in the road. That gives us room to wobble a little without darting in front of an oncoming car.
The climbing lane is the first of its kind in Austin. Famously bike-friendly cities like Portland and Seattle already have climbing lanes. They’ve also got huge numbers of bike commuters. I stood on a bridge in downtown Portland two years ago and watched flocks of cyclists cruise past. Awesome!
Annick Beaudet, the city of Austin’s bicycle program director, says the city decided to put the stripes on South Lamar because it sees high bike use. The lane will connect with existing Barton Springs bike lanes and, eventually, to new bike lanes being built through Zilker Park.
Bring it on!
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Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt
- Photos: Butler Park Pitch and Putt
I’m not a golfer, so I enlisted the help of co-worker Brandon Cobb to blog about Austin’s gem of a practice course, right in the middle of town. Read on to learn more about his experience:
It used to be that going home to visit my parents meant two things - yard work and basketball. Ever since I was old enough to shoot on a regulation rim, my dad, my brother and I have never missed an opportunity to get in a few games of 21 after cutting grass and pruning trees all afternoon. But when my dad’s worsening bone spurs ended our round-ball rivalry, my dad picked up golf and I picked up a better rake. Although I missed the friendly competition and trash-talking, I just didn’t have the time or money to follow my dad on to the links.
Recently a friend told me about the Butler Park Pitch and Putt. I was curious if this was the kind of golf I could get into. No cart, no bag of clubs to weigh you down. Just a pitching wedge, a putter and nine par three holes right in the center of town. I decided to give it a shot, so I called up the old man to see if he’d come down and give me pointers. He agreed and we hit the Pitch and Putt on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Butler Park Pitch and Putt is located on Lee Barton Drive near the corner of Riverside Drive and Lamar Boulevard. I’ve been in the Austin area for 10 years and driven past it plenty of times without ever stopping to take a closer look. The park is in its 58th year of operation, drawing a fair mix of serious golfers out to work on their short game, and beginners, like me, out to learn the fundamentals.
“We’ve also got a lot of regulars who come out for our Two Man Scramble tournament every Monday,” said Matt Ryan, who has been with the Pitch and Putt for eight years. The club house is equipped with everything you’ll need for the afternoon with rental clubs, tees, balls and a cooler full of Gatorade.
The first thing I realized about golf was how tricky it is to hit a mid-range shot. After a brief explanation and demonstration my dad hit a high, arching shot from the first tee box that landed softly on the green 74 yards away. It seemed simple enough, so after a few practice swings I teed off on my first shot of the day - a screaming line drive that sailed over the green and landed deep in the rough.
“Home run!,” my dad yelled.
Ideally, you want to be on the green in one with two putts to make par. I thought I would be lucky to get on the green in three strokes, but after a great chip in from the rough, I was on the green and my confidence was up. This wasn’t so hard, right?
Wrong.
The second thing I learned about golf is that putting requires very little force. Although I was farther away from the hole than my dad, he decided to forego golf etiquette in order to give me a lesson in putting.
“Arms straight, no bending at the wrist, and let the club do the work,” he said as he tapped it in for par.
No sweat, I thought. I was about eight or nine yards from the hole, so I figured I’d tap it twice and walk away with a bogey for the first hole. Imagine my dismay when I “tapped” my first putt only to watch it rocket past the hole and roll back into the rough.
My dad just smiled.
Two more shots put me back on the green and I was back to putting again. This time, I was determined to reign in my exuberance. Three more short putts and I finally hit the bottom of the cup. Whew!
After the first hole, things were not looking good for the home team; my dad was on par and I was plus five; it took me eight shots to sink a par three. It looked like it was going to be a long day.
The next eight holes went very much like the first, with my dad looking like Tiger Woods and me like Goofy in How To Play Golf. Still, just when frustration set in, I would hit a solid shot and be reinvigorated. And that was the third thing I learned - golf is strangely addicting. Despite the steep learning curve, I had to admit I was enjoying myself. Until then, I’d been in agreement with Churchill, who considered golf the best way to spoil a good walk.
After nine holes, 805 yards and plenty of sun, my dad was sitting at 32 (five over par) while I was looking at a whopping 48 (21 over par). My first time out at the Pitch and Putt was not a raging success, judging only by the score card. Still, I had fun at a game that I never thought I would enjoy and managed to spend the afternoon hanging out and shooting the bull with my dad, just like we used to.
And this time, I didn’t have to rake any leaves first.
Butler Park Pitch and Putt is located at 201 Lee Barton Road and is open from 9 a.m. to dark week days and 8:30 a.m. to dark weekends. One round of golf is $7 or play all day for $20. Call (512) 477-4430 for more information.
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Running races and Austin traffic
Hey, I’m back! Sorry for the lapse in postings, but I’ve been up in Michigan for the past week, soaking up the 70-degree temps. I even ran the National Blueberry Festival 5K, posting a personal best time. That’s what cool weather will do.
Looks like I missed some interesting discussions while I was gone. Thanks, Steve, for getting us all fired up about whether or not we’re real runners if we go slow enough to chat sometimes.
Austin’s a big running town. We’ve got foot races almost every weekend. They’re great for keeping us in shape, and for raising money for worthwhile charities. But for some, they’re traffic-snarling annoyances.
I heard recently from John Conley, race director of the Nike Human Race 10K and the Austin Marathon & Half Marathon. He’s on a City Council task force that’s trying to find remedies to the disruption to downtown traffic caused by special events. He’s the only race director on the 16-member task force, and he’s worried that the task force will take a hard stance on races held in our city. He says running events in Austin are in danger of being regulated out of existence or priced out of existence if rules tighten.
“A city council member once remarked to me that after a race, she only hears from people who are angry and inconvenienced,” Conley says. “She never hears from people thanking the city or complimenting a race or the charity that benefitted from the race.”
Conley agrees that people grumbling about the races cause have a legitimate complaint and we need to come up with a compromise. “We will get there, but so far, the only public energy that has been mustered is from the side that would like to see Austin running events go away,” he says. “The silence of the runners is deafening.”
The task force’s work will take months and probably won’t end this year. Conley wants to get the word out that running events benefit the city economy and its non-profits; that they help define Austin as a fit and desirable city; and that they contribute to the health and wellness of the entire community.
What are your thoughts on races and how they impact our city?
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Free movie screening: Extreme jump roping
Jump roping as an extreme sport? Apparently.
The Austin Film Festival will host a free screening of a documentary about competitive jump roping at 2 p.m. today at Regal Arbor Cinema, 9828 Great Hills Trail. The movie follows kids on five teams from around the country who push physical and psychological limits in pursuit of winning the World Championship.
Yes, you heard that right. World Championship of Jump Roping.
So you’re kids can start down that path of jump rope obsession, a free jump rope clinic will follow the screening. All ages are welcome.
Sounds kind of fun, actually.
For more information, go to http://www.jumpmovie.com.
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Running with headphones — Should it be banned?
When I’m running by myself, I sometimes wear an iPod. Having obnoxious ‘80s music blasting away somehow pumps me up to run a little longer and maybe a little faster. At least it distracts me from what otherwise could be a boring 45 minutes of plodding down the road.
My songs of choice? Stuff I’d normally be embarrassed to admit I listen to, like “Pump up the Jam” from Technotronic, “Groove is in the Heart” by Deee-Lite, and “Gonna Make You Sweat” by C+C Music Factory. It’s all about the beat.
Someone asked me what I thought about the recent trend of banning headphones during races.
It doesn’t bother me, because I’m usually running races with friends. And when I run with friends, I’m more interested in chatting with them than listening to music. That’s how I got through the 3M half marathon in February.
I do sympathize with folks who rely on the boost of music while they run to get them through a long race. But I’ve also seen people unknowingly run down the road, oblivious to traffic, because they’re so tuned into their headphones that they don’t hear car motors.
I’m not sure a ban is the right way to solve the problem.
What do you think? What do you listen to on your iPod when you’re running?
For more on the ban and the debate over it, check out this article:
http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/11/usatf-delegates-debate-headphones-ban/
Last night’s Team Fit City training was a tough one. We ran hill repeats in the Travis Heights neighborhood — first forward, then backward. Hot, hot, hot!
Thanks Patrick! I’ll miss next Thursday’s practice, but the group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the RunTex annex. We’ll start with yoga as usual, then move into the regular workout.
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Nike+ Human Race
The Nike Human Race is now a month away …
Need a little motivation? Watch this video provided by Nike of people in Austin preparing for the 10K run on Aug. 31. It’ll inspire you to get out and run, even in this insane heat.
We want Austin to show other host cities how it’s done. We’re one of just four cities around the country staging the event. We’re in impressive company, too, with Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. If you want to register for the race, which includes a free post-race concert by Ben Harper, go to https://www.nikeplus.com. The cost is $35, and proceeds go to one of three charities of your choice.
Need someone to train with? Join Team Fit City for tonight’s training. We’ll meet at 6:30 p.m. at RunTex on South First Street, then move to Auditorium Shores.
If you have a water bottle, bring it! We’re trying to wean ourselves off the paper cups at the RunTex water station.
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New York police officer knocks down cyclist
Have you seen this You Tube video?
The clip shows a Critical Mass bike ride through downtown New York on July 25.
Critical Mass rides are loosely organized group rides that were originally staged to draw attention to the bike-unfriendly nature of some cities.
To be fair, not everyone enjoys a big Critical Mass rally. Drivers get irritated because some Critical Mass cyclists revel in the joy of clogging intersections and jamming traffic. I find that pretty annoying myself.
But the original intention of Critical Mass — to point out that cities don’t always create bike-friendly infrastructure — is a good one in my book.
Back to the video, which shows a mob of cyclists rolling down the street. Nothing shocking there. Folks on the sidewalk are lined up watching the parade when a uniformed New York City police officer walks toward an oncoming bicyclist and knocks him to the pavement.
Pretty crazy. And it gets even crazier.
According to New York station WNBC-TV, the officer, Patrick Pogan, accused the cyclist, Christopher Long, of steering into him, flinging him to the ground and causing cuts on his forearms. The New York Times reported that the cyclist, 29-year-old Christopher Long, was later charged with attempted assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Luckily, a bystander with a video camera makes Pogan’s claim pretty dubious.
According to Newsday, Pogan is a rookie cop. He’s been reassigned to a desk job pending an internal investigation.
Discuss…
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Exercise and pregnancy
Sometimes, when women find out they’re pregnant, they quit exercising. They’re worried that too much exertion might harm their growing baby.
I’ve written before about prenatal fitness, and the importance of maintaining a reasonable exercise program during pregnancy. It’s always smart to consult your physician, but there’s a way to exercise safely. And it may benefit your baby in the long run.
Now Austin moms-to-be have a new resource in Total Mommy Fitness.
Tatum Rebelle recently unveiled the new company, which works with pregnant women and new mothers in their own homes, helping them work exercise into their busy daily routines and evaluating their nutrition plans. She also is helping to dispel myths about moms and working out.
Rebelle, 26, an ex-drill sergeant for the U.S. Army, used to work as a trainer at gyms in Scottsdale, Dallas and Fort Worth. She decided to start the company after noticing that many women stop going to the gym when they get pregnant, and many never return after they give birth. “I saw a huge need for this. I was looking for a resource as a trainer and couldn’t find one,” Rebelle says.
Now she is certified in personal training and prenatal and postnatal fitness by the American Council on Exercise. She’s also a member of the Mayor’s Fitness Council.
She and her team of trainers work one-on-one with clients, making sure they develop routines they can do between feeding babies, getting kids to school and heading to work. Total Mommy Fitness offers programs for women before they get pregnant, during and even after pregnancy, and when they have toddlers and young children.
“If a woman is pregnant, we work hand in hand with her doctor to make sure we’re not doing anything that goes against his or her recommendations,” Rebelle says. “We’re experts in pregnancy exercise, we know what they can do and can’t do and how to modify it accordingly.”
The program is individualized, focusing on each family and its specific needs. “One mom may have a problem with nutrition, another with getting motivated to exercise. We really sit down with them and go into their home and learn about their life and adapt accordingly,” Rebelle says. “We make it realistic and feasible for them.”
A package of 10 sessions starts at $850. Trainers meet clients at their home, so their child can nap or play during the session, or at a park, where the child can play.
“We start by assessing needs. If nutrition is their biggest problem, we start at the grocery store. We walk through the aisles, not telling them specific things to buy but showing them how to shop so they don’t leave with a basket full of junk food,” Rebelle says. “We get to know the person.”
Nutritional counseling is part of every session, and most clients keep a food log. “I never build a plan that says eat this or eat that for breakfast or lunch, but I’ll look at the log and we’ll talk about it,” Rebelle says.
Total Mommy Fitness also offers on-line training. If kids or dad want to get involved, Rebelle encourages a family session. For more information, go to www.totalmommyfitness.com, call 512-428-5673 or email info@totalmommyfitness.com.
Here are Rebelle’s Top 10 Myths about exercise and pregnancy::
- Myth: Exercise causes low birth weight. Total Mommy Fitness: Babies born to mothers who exercise are often born about 10 percent leaner, but with normal height and cranial circumference. They are more likely to remain leaner and fit throughout their lives.
- Myth: No weight training. Total Mommy Fitness: Resistance training is a vital part of any fitness program and can be maintained throughout pregnancy. Going slowly and using good form is important to prevent injury, but that is true whether pregnant or not.
- Myth: Exercise must be low-intensity. Total Mommy Fitness: The intensity of a pregnancy workout is a direct reflection of a woman’s pre-pregnancy fitness level. The same intensity can be maintained, and will naturally decrease as pregnancy progresses. Even if a woman has never exercised before, she can work out during pregnancy.
- Myth: Exercising in the first trimester will cause miscarriage. Total Mommy Fitness: A regular fitness regimen can be maintained from the beginning until delivery in a healthy pregnancy, with minimal modifications. There is no connection between exercise and miscarriage.
- Myth: Do not elevate heart rate over 140 beats per minute. Total Mommy Fitness: Women will often naturally have a higher heart rate at times during pregnancy. It is more important to listen to your own body, and use perceived exertion. Pregnant women should be able to speak comfortably while exercising.
- Myth: Do not elevate body temperature. Total Mommy Fitness: Pregnant women are better able to dissipate heat. Research has shown no abnormalities or fetal distress associated with increased body temperature caused by exercise.
- Myth: Entangled umbilical cord. Total Mommy Fitness: Exercise reduces the incidence of entanglement.
- Myth: Premature or prolonged labor. Total Mommy Fitness: There is no correlation found between premature labor and exercise, though it can reduce labor time by about 30 percent.
- Myth: Exercise can cause fetal distress and difficulties for baby after birth. Total Mommy Fitness: Remaining active during pregnancy actually reduces fetal distress and babies adapt faster to the outside and handle labor better, usually receiving better Apgar scores.
- Myth: Do no perform abdominal exercises during pregnancy. Total Mommy Fitness: Women can continue abdominal exercises, ensuring that they are doing so safely. They should not perform exercises lying on their back after the first trimester, and avoid twisting exercises if they have Diastasis Recti (separation of the abdominal muscles).
Here are some scenes from the opening party of Total Mommy Fitness last weekend:
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Skip the water cup on the hike-and-bike trail
I’m trying to break my paper cup habit.
For years, RunTex owner Paul Carrozza has provided free water stations to walkers and runners on the trail around Lady Bird Lake. Besides jugs of iced-down water, he stocks the stations with paper cup dispensers.
The cold water is crucial, but the cups are wasteful. That’s why RunTex is trying to wean us off the cups. The store promises to keep supplying the water.
I’ll miss the convenience, but I’m all for the change. It’s such a waste of resources, and I cringe when I see trash cans full of once-used cups. I’ve stood at the stations and watched one person use multiple cups. Then seen them at the next station, plucking another cup out of the dispenser.
On Saturday, my running buddies and I braved a 7-mile run. For the first time, I carried a bottle along the way. I worried it would bother me, but it really didn’t. After a few minutes, I hardly noticed it. It’ll be even easier when I get one of those detachable handles to allow me to carry a bottle in my hand without gripping it. Or I could buy a belt that lets me carry a bottle around my waist.
One nice consequence of carrying my own water? I drank more along the way. I didn’t have to wait until I reached a station to rehydrate. In this heat, that’s a good thing. (If you forget your bottle, don’t hesitate to use one of the cups — hydration is vital!)
I’m not alone. People are still using the cups that RunTex sets out, but I see more and more people carrying their own bottles. Hopefully, Carrozza will be able to cut back on the $3,000 a month he spends to pay for the cups.
Let’s make an effort to do our part. We don’t really need the cups. It’s environmentally friendly to refill a plastic bottle. You still get the water you need, but the planet saves the energy needed to make that cup.
If everyone skipped the cup, we could make a difference.
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Pfluger Bridge extension
Take a look at this architect’s rendering of the proposed extension of the Pfluger Bridge over Cesar Chavez Street. I can’t wait until it’s built!
The design phase of the extension is 60 percent complete, and construction is expected to begin in January 2009, according to the city of Austin. When it’s done, we’ll have a safe way to cross Cesar Chavez on foot or bike and get to places like Whole Foods and Book People.
The original pedestrian bridge opened in June 2001, but the city didn’t have the funds to build the extension across Cesar Chavez.
Once the City Council approves the final design plans, it will award a construction contract. The current budget for the extension is $2 million. Another $1 million has been approved for an underpass of the Union Pacific railway.
Here’s a shot of the bridge as it looks today:
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Tempo run with Team Fit City
Hurricane Dolly might have provided cooler temperatures, but she really racheted up the humidity Thursday. That made for one heck of a sweaty tempo run.
Team Fit City started off its Thursday night session (held in the RunTex Annex because of threatening skies) with 20 minutes of quadraceps-quaking yoga moves led by Desirae, who had us balancing on one leg and raising our arms over our heads like wings. That opened up our hips, warmed up our muscles and all kinds of other good things — just what runners need.
Then we trotted over to Auditorium Shores, where Patrick Guy ran us through our warmups. (See a cute picture of Guy posted last Thursday in this blog.)
Then it was on to the main event, a tempo run.
We did a 2-mile out-and-back run on the hike-and-bike trail, running at a faster pace on the way back than on the way out. That’s what’s called a negative split.
Guy, ever the coach, optimistically announced that we’d all be back in under 20 minutes. That got a few chuckles.
We’ll do another tempo run in about four weeks, and Guy promises we’ll see drastic improvement. I’m looking forward to that!
I was sweating before I even started, but finished the run (in a rather desperate state) in 17:03. Since I consider myself a 10-minute miler, that made me happy. In fact, I was still pretty charged up about it when I woke up this morning. I want to try again and go faster!
Of course, we’ve got a couple of speedsters in our group, including one who finished in under 13 minutes. We’ve got slower folks, too, and a couple of walkers. All that matters is that you’re out there trying, and getting fit.
Join us for our next training session, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Auditorium Shores. If you haven’t registered for the free Team Fit City training group, go to www.runtex.com. And if you haven’t registered for the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31, go to www.nikeplus.com.
Another exciting note: We got our Team Fit City shirts! They’re made of cool technical fabric. Everyone on the team gets one — free.
So, how’d you survive the tempo run? Let us know how you did — and how you plan to improve next time.
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Bad manners on the trail
Riding my bike home the other day along the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike trail, I nearly got mowed over by a scooter.
A motorized scooter.
An idiot in a gray helmet on a red motorized scooter, to be exact.
He zipped past, scaring the snot out of me as I pedaled along a stretch of trail between 34th and 38th streets. When he paused to read a sign on the side of the trail, I sped up to him and (politely) asked him if he knew it was illegal to drive a motorized vehicle on the trail. (I tried to think of a non-confrontational way to approach him, but decided there wasn’t one. So what the heck.)
“Yes,” he said, looking me straight in the eye.
I couldn’t think of a response, so I just said OK and pedaled on. A few minutes later, he zoomed by me again.
What’s up with that? I ride the hike and bike trails because I don’t have to worry about getting buzzed by cars and motorcycles. Or scooters.
Scooter Dude isn’t the only one demonstrating bad trail etiquette. Other examples?
- Running three or more abreast on the trail, clogging the works for folks who are trying to pass. If you run in a big group, try to stay to one side and let people through.
- Not cleaning up after your pooch when he poops on the trail. Please, just carry a bag and pick it up. Who wants that washed into Town Lake? And, while I’m at it, dispose of said bag. Doesn’t do any good to bag it up and leave it on the trail.
- Indiscriminate spitting on the trail. Look before you let fly with a loogie.
- Creating your own off-trail short cut, which can cause erosion. Stick to the trail. You’re out there to get exercise, right? Running a few extra yards is a good thing.
- Barreling down the trail on a bike, dive bombing runners. Consider using a handlebar bell to alert walkers and runners that you’re coming through, and keep your speed down. The trail isn’t a criterium course. Don’t use it to set a land speed record.
The list is endless. What’s your biggest pet peeve on the trail?
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Training for an Ironman while stationed in Iraq
Imagine training for an Ironman triathlon. Now imagine training for an Ironman triathlon while stationed at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.
Not much off time, and, well, there’s the heat. And dust.
My friend Lynne Smith, who swam the English Channel last year, sent me a picture of her friend Major Bill Conner, who is training for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii this October.
Sometimes I complain about the difficulties of squeezing in a workout, but I’ve got it easy. Conner, 34, works seven days a week, for 15 or more hours a day.
“I really do not have a daily routine as each day is different, except that I usually end up going to bed very late,” he wrote in an email. “I just have to be very flexible with my workouts.”
Conner, who is from Tulsa, Okla., where he was a high school track and cross country athlete, is a frequent visitor to Austin. He’s been doing triathlons since 1996, and has two Ironmans under his belt — Coeur d’Alene in 2003 and Arizona in 2005.
As you might have guessed, Camp Fallujah has no pool, so he can’t swim. Instead, he’s focusing on the bike portion of the race. A fellow Marine gave Conner his indoor trainer when he left Camp Fallujah, which has helped. On Saturday nights, Conner tries to ride six or more hours on the trainer, while watching a video of the Ironman course.
“I turn off the air conditioning in the room to help simulate the conditions that I will be facing in Hawaii, and it usually gets up to 90-plus degrees and very humid. Now I only wish I could find a way to simulate the 40 mph winds,” he writes.
He also bought an inexpensive mountain bike from the exchange on the base and has been riding it as often as possible around the camp’s perimeter. Once a week, he also runs the perimeter by flashlight.
“Everything else I try and fit it in when I can break away for an hour or two,” he writes. “Some days I am not able to break away, so I do not get my workout in — but my job comes first.”
Conner is scheduled to return to the United States in September. He plans to jump right into the pool, since he’s had almost zero pool time while in Iraq.
“I have gotten to swim in one of Saddam’s pool at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and another base, but there is not a pool on Camp Fallujah, so I definitely will not be breaking any records in the water,” he writes.
He also plans to get a new bike. He’s still using the one he bought when he first started doing triathlons 12 years ago.
Conner will dedicate his Ironman to three friends killed while serving their country — LCDR Erik Kristenson, who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan; Major Megan McClung, killed in an explosion in Ramadi; and Major Doug Zembiec, also killed during his deployment.
“Specifically, I plan to dedicate the swim to Major Zembiec, who was one of the best amphibious reconnaissance Marines who has served in the Corps,” he writes. “I would dedicate the bike segment to LCDR Erik Kristenson, who I rowed on the varsity heavyweight rowing team with four years. Lastly, I would run the marathon portion for Major Megan McClung, who was an avid runner and triathlete herself. She actually competed in the Hawaii Ironman in 2000 and 2001 and was the fastest female military triathlete that year.”
“There also has been a lot of sacrificing over here,” Conner writes. “Whether it is a Marine who is away from his new wife or girlfriend or not being able to see the birth of their child or attend the funeral of a relative. Some, like Erik, Doug and Megan, have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country and will never be forgotten.”
The attached photo was taken on the three-year anniversary of Kristenson’s death in Afghanistan. Conner did a special 6-hour ride that day — 2 hours outside and 4 on the indoor trainer because of a sandstorm.
Scholarship funds have been created for all three friends:
- Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship Gonzaga College High School 19 Eye St. NW Washington, DC 20001
- Doug Zembiec Memorial Wrestling Club 1127 Meadowalk, San Antonio, TX 78253
- Major McClung Memorial Scholarship Women Marines Association P.O. Box 8405 Falls Church, VA 22041
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Crowding the hike and bike trail?
A not-very friendly posting from a reader made me stop and think.
After I published some photos of our Team Fit City running group on my blog, he (or she) commented that we should go away and quit using public parks for this type of activity (actually, he used a bad word here, but I’ll spare you.) “When we are trying to relax, this is the last thing we want to see — a herd like this commandeering the area,” he wrote.
Um, nice.
I’m curious what type of activity he’d rather see at our parks. None at all?
The trail is a public place and it belongs to all of us.
And I’m pretty sure we weren’t taking over the entire trail.
We did our drills on the big field at Auditorium Shores at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, one of the hottest times of the day. Even our group of about 40 folks didn’t “commandeer” the place. We took up one small corner of the field for our yoga session, which lasted 20 minutes. Our drills took another 20 minutes. And we spent the last 20 minutes galloping around the edges of that big field.
Really, not so bad.
In a world where obesity has become epidemic, I’m all for getting everyone we can outdoors and moving.
I’m happy when I see lots of folks out using our trail. It shows me they’re concerned about their health and long-term fitness.
Can’t we all relax and enjoy our parks together? What do you think?
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Is Dallas really more walkable than Austin?
Get this. Someone thinks that Dallas and Houston are more walkable than Austin.
What?
Of course, it depends what neighborhood you live in. And that’s what Walk Score is all about. You can go to the website, plug in your address, and up pops a list of stuff within a short walk.
When I entered my home address, it showed the Randall’s grocery store, Zuzu Restaurant, Starbucks Coffee, all within half a mile of my home. Also close by? Little Longhorn Saloon, Alamo Drafthouse, Northwest Park and a few health stores and pharmacies. It also shows a map, with all the places highlighted.
Cool!
Walk Score ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in 40 cities. It calculates the walkability of an address by its proximity to stores, restaurants, parks and schools. It helps you figure out how hard it would be to live without a car. As the website points out, it’s not how pretty an area is for walking.
It also doesn’t consider public transit, street width, block length, street design, safety, topography, freeways, rivers or weather, which all factor in to how often you want to venture out on foot.
I’ve got a grocery store less than half a mile away, for example. But to get there I’ve got to cross Loop 1 and a railroad track. Not a very enticing option.
And if heat had anything to do with it, Austin wouldn’t even make the list.
San Francisco tops the list. Its most walkable neighborhoods, according to the website, are Chinatown, the Financial District and downtown.
Next up are New York, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.
As for Texas cities, Dallas ranks 24th, Houston 26th, Austin 29th, El Paso 31st and San Antonio 32nd. Austin’s most pedestrian friendly neighborhoods are downtown, the University of Texas area and West University.<
Latest comments
“…streets like South Congress are not for bikers. Austin has many hike and bike trails along with group rides.” What a load of crap! You have to be careful where ever you ride, but this does not justify any screwhead hitting a cyclist…PERIOD!
... read the full comment by Billy Spence, Jr. | Comment on Hit and run bike accidents Read Hit and run bike accidents
Some of my best memories are playing golf (getting to drive the cart) with my dad. This is sure to be a memory to last another 58 years. Great story!
... read the full comment by Monica | Comment on Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt Read Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt
NOt to mention that it was the early training grounds for the likes of Ben Crenshaw , Tom Kite and many others(including myself) to hone our short game.
... read the full comment by Al | Comment on Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt Read Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt
I laughed out loud at the goofy movie reference! What a wonderful memory you will always have, even if he kicked your butt.
... read the full comment by La Guardia | Comment on Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt Read Golfing with Dad at the Butler Park Pitch and Putt
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