Dancing Treadmill Guy

Well, that's the end of running on a treadmill for me...I just can't. After seeing what this guy can do on the treadmill, I'm sort of embarrassed to even get on there again.

Just...wow.

Is a 2:00 Hour Marathon Possible?

Not bloody likely.

We've discussed this briefly before, but we need to discuss it again. Why? Well, because some people, even some sorta smart running-type people, continue to insist that it's not only possible, but imminent.

I'm not buying it. My take is this: I won't be around to see it happen....and it wouldn't surprise me that much if it never happened.

My favorite guys, The Science of Sport dudes, just wrote a new post about why they're in the "won't happen" camp. Check it out right here.

Graphic from Runner's World.

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - June 2013

Just an unbelievable amount of triathlons on this week's sched. Lots of them have the swim leg in a pool, so if open water worries you, good news!

Quite a few important marathons on the list as well, with Newport, NODM, and Green River all making an appearance.

No matter what your pleasure, you should be able to scratch the itch this week.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF MAY 27th TO JUNE 2nd

June 1st / Silver Falls Challenge Trail Run 6m and 5k / Silverton, OR

June 1st / Bay Trail Fun Run 10k and 5k / Sandpoint, ID

June 1st / Run to the Ruts Trail Run 5k / Baker City, OR

June 1st / Granite Man Trail Run 10k and 5m / Applegate Lake, OR

June 1st / Red Devil Challenge Trail Runs 25k and 10k / Cashmere, WA

June 2nd / Dirty Girl's Run Wild Trail Half Marathon and 6.55m / Lakewood, WA

June 2nd / Raptor Ridge Trail Run 10m / Bellingham, WA

June 2nd / Run for the Hills Trail Runs 30k and 8k / Corvallis, OR

June 2nd / Hood View Trail Run 5k / Boring, OR

June 1st / Sun Valley Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Sun Valley, ID

June 1st / 3 Rivers Race Against Domestic Violence Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / La Grande, OR

June 1st / Green River Marathon / Kent, WA

June 1st / Newport Marathon / Newport, OR

June 1st / Duvall Centennial Half Marathon / Duvall, WA

June 1st / Spirit of Magic Valley Half Marathon and 5k / Twin Falls, ID

June 2nd / North Olympic Discovery Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Port Angeles, WA

June 2nd / Victoria Goddess Run Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Langford, BC

June 2nd / Timberline Half Marathon / Timothy Lake, OR

June 1st / Granite Man Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint / Applegate Lake, OR

June 1st / Queen City Triathlon Sprint / East Helena, MT

June 1st / McMinnville Triathlon Sprint / McMinnville, OR

June 1st / Tri-Berry Triathlon Sprint / Lynden, WA

June 1st / Issaquah Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint / Issaquah, WA

June 2nd / Series 33 Triathlon Sprint / Oregon City, OR

June 2nd / EWU Iron Eagle Triathlon Sprint / Cheney, WA

June 2nd / Pine Hollow Triathlon Sprint / Wamic, OR

May 30th / Spring Into Summer 8k / Eugene, OR (Thursday Night Run!)

May 31st / Grumpy Grouch Fun Run 5k / Kettle Falls, WA (Friday Night Run!)

June 1st / Stoller Vineyards 5k / Dayton, OR

June 1st / HandsOn Superhero Dash 10k and 5k / Salem, OR

June 1st / Kyron's Bring Them Home Run 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Lebanon Strawberry Festival 5k / Lebanon, OR

June 1st / Soles2Souls 10k and 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Fallen Trooper Memorial Run 10k and 5k / St Paul, OR

June 1st / Hockinson Fun Days 5k / Bush Prairie, WA

June 1st / Starlight Run 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Santiam Memorial Hospital 8k and 5k / Stayton, OR

June 1st / Moonlight Five 5m / Springfield, OR (Night Run!)

June 1st / Duvall Centennial 10k and 5k / Duvall, WA

June 1st / Iron Paws No Barriers Run 10k and 5k / Coeur d'Alene, ID

June 1st / Human Race 10k and 5k / Bellingham, WA

June 1st / Maritime Gig Family 5k / Gig Harbor, WA

June 1st / Dog Island 10k / Guemes Island, WA

June 1st / Reardan Mule Days 10k and 5k / Reardan, WA

June 1st / Lynch Creek 10k and 5k / Eatonville, WA

June 1st / Mountain Goat Challenge 10k / Spokane, WA

June 1st / Prineville Memorial Hotshot Run 10k and 5k / Prineville, OR

June 1st / Goldsborough Creek 7m / Shelton, WA

June 1st / Wildcat 5k / Ellensburg, WA

June 1st / Girls on the Run 5k / Corvallis, OR

June 1st / Issaquah Tri 10k and 5k / Issaquah, WA

June 1st / Cougar Prowl 5k / Silverdale, WA

June 2nd / Big Backyard 5k / Redmond, WA

June 2nd / Tonkin Challenge - For the Love of Schools 10k and 5k / Wilsonville, OR

June 2nd / Komen Race for the Cure 5k / Seattle, WA

June 2nd / Run Like a Girl 10k and 5k / Vancouver, WA

June 2nd / I Topped the Rock 5k / Castle Rock, WA

June 2nd / SAF Block Party 8k / Redmond, WA

June 2nd / Heaven Can Wait 5k / Bend, OR

Twenty Tri Bikes Reviewed - Yes, 20 Tri Bikes Reviewed!

Just in time for your summer races, Triathlete Magazine reviews 20 new 2013 models of triathlon bikes.

Check it out right here.

Open up that wallet...they're not cheap.

Best Running Song for April - Spacehog - In the Meantime

What a great song. There's something about a Spacehog song...no matter where or when you hear one of their songs, it only takes about five seconds to identify it as Spacehog. They just have a great, unique sound.

This, of course, is their huge hit from 1995, In the Meantime.



And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that lead singer Royston Langdon actually was married to Liv Tyler. That's called "marrying above your station" for old Royston. I mean, marrying Arwen?!? Come on! Plus their son, Milo, has to be pretty well set-up, gene-wise, for singing stardom, with both Spacehog and Aerosmith genes awash in him!



One more great Spacehog song for your listening and running pleasure here: Mungo City. I first heard this song back in the day from grabbing a Spacehog CD, having no idea who they were, probably from a "12 for a Penny!" deal from Columbia House. Just a great album.



Rock that Run!

Past Best Running Songs: March: Youngblood Hawke / "We Come Running" February: Yolanda Be Cool / "We No Speak Americano" January: The Naked and Famous / "Young Blood" December: Of Monsters and Men / "Little Talks" November: The Black Keys / "Little Black Submarines" October: Cold War Kids / "Hospital Beds" September: Bloc Party / "Octopus" August: Matt and Kim / "Let's Go" July: Gemini / "Blue" June: Joe Jackson / "Got the Time" May: Tiesto vs. Diplo / "C'mon!" April: Grouplove / "Tongue Tied" March: Foxy Shazam / "I Like It" February: Foster the People / "Don't Stop" January: Hot Hot Heat / "Bandages" December: Camp Lo / "Luchini aka This Is It" November: Wolfmother / "Joker and the Thief" October: Phoenix / "1901" September: Matt and Kim / "Daylight" August: Collie Buddz / "Holiday" July: Pretenders / "Tattooed Love Boys" June: The Wombats / "Moving to New York" May: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros / "40 Day Dream" April: Foxy Shazam / "Unstoppable" March: Pharrell / "Fun Fun Fun" February: Puff Daddy / "Come With Me" January: We Are Scientists / "The Great Escape" December: Cee Lo Green / "F**k You" November: Tokyo Police Club / "Breakneck Speed" October: Two Door Cinema Club / "Something Good Can Work" September: Stone Temple Pilots / "Cinnamon" August: Louis XIV / "Guilt by Association" July: Devo / "Fresh" June: Saliva / "Your Disease" May: Metric / "Gold Guns Girls" April: OK Go / "This Too Shall Pass" March: The Hours / "Ali In The Jungle" February: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs / "El Matador" January: White Rabbits / "Percussion Gun" December: Deftones / "Knife Prty" November: The Kooks / "Always Where I Need To Be" October: At the Drive In / "One Armed Scissor" September: Silversun Pickups / "Lazy Eye" August: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros / "Johnny Appleseed" July: Deathray / "I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh)" June: Raconteurs / "Salute Your Solution" May: Tea Party / "Save Me" April: Bloc Party / "Like Eating Glass" Ever: The English Beat / "I Confess"

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - May 2013

Sort of a slow week here, as Memorial Day Weekend isn't viewed as a running holiday like many of the other big holiday weekends. Still, there's nothing stopping you from racing one of the fine races below while also remembering the men and women who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our country.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF MAY 20th TO MAY 26th

May 23rd / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 200m / Renton, WA

May 24th / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 150m / Renton, WA

May 25th / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 100m / Renton, WA

May 25th / Ridgeline Ramble Trail Run 20k and 10k / Eugene, OR

May 25th / Soaring River Trail 50k, Marathon, 15k and 8k / Sammamish, WA

May 25th / High Desert Trail Run Half Marathon and 10k / Kuna, ID

May 25th / Happy Girls Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Bend, OR

May 25th / Hero Half Marathon / Sweet Home, OR

May 25th / Race Against Child Abuse Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / St. Helens, OR

May 25th / Redfish Lake Lodge Memorial Run Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Stanley, ID

May 26th / Coeur d'Alene Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k / Coeur d'Alene, ID

May 26th / Calgary Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Calgary, AB

May 26th / Run for Water Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Abbotsford, BC

May 25th / Cascade Duathlon Olympic and Sprint / Boise, ID

May 25th / SCHEELS Red, White and Blue Duathlon Sprint / Great Falls, MT

May 26th / Bigfork Whitewater Triathlon Sprint / Bigfork, MT

May 26th / Onion Man Triathlon Olympic / Walla Walla, WA

May 25th / Portland's Free Them 5k / Tualatin, OR

May 25th / Run for the Son 5k / Liberty Lake, WA

May 25th / Spring Festival 10k and 5k / Moses Lake, WA

May 25th / Mazama 10k and 5k / Winthrop, WA

May 25th / Leap 5k / Redmond, WA

May 25th / Memorial Day Weekend Run 15k, 10k and 5k / Seattle, WA

May 25th / Riverfest 10k and 5k / Maupin, OR

May 25th / DASH Race for the Kids 5k / Prosser, WA

May 25th / Flippers, Fins and Feathers 5k / Newport, OR

May 25th / Memorial Day 6k / Klamath Falls, OR

May 25th / Retreat to Weippe 10k and 5k / Weippe, ID

May 25th / SCHEELS Red, White and Blue 5k / Great Falls, MT

May 26th / Run to Africa 10k and 5k / Lebanon, OR

May 26th / Good Karma 5k / Seattle, WA

May 26th / Rum Run 10k and 5k / Tualatin, OR

Putting the Hansons Marathon Method to the Test - A Review

I've finally decided on my Fall marathon for 2013 - the Skagit Flats Marathon, back in my old stomping grounds of Burlington, WA.

Why the Skagit Flats? Well...it's flat. I mean, it's right there in the name. And in the first week of September, it's also at a great time to qualify for the 2014 Boston Marathon. And it's just slightly more than 20 weeks out, so timing-wise, it's perfect.

Plus, it's apparently where Corvallis dudes go to run fast! See the results here: specifically finishers in 9th and 12th places! Who am I to argue with that?!?

So starting on May 6th, I'll be diving headfirst into the Hansons Marathon Method training plan. Yes, I have the book. Yes, I think it sounds very intriguing. Yes, I like the idea that the long runs never get over 16 miles long. And yes, I know there are critics of the 16-mile long run thing, but there's more to it, as I'll explain below.

So the Hansons, and the book's author Luke Humphrey (marathon PR: 2:14) are big into a few theories. First, you shouldn't be doing more than 25% of your week's total mileage on the long run. So if you're doing 50+ mile weeks, a 20 or 22 mile long run is really too much. If you're running 100 mile weeks, fine...but then if you're running 100 mile weeks, you probably aren't hunting for a new training plan anyway. Second, you shouldn't be out there running for more than 2.5 to 3 hours on your long run. Again, for normal humans, running at LR pace, not race pace, a 22 mile long run can take a looooong time. At 9 minute pace, a 22-miler takes nearly 3.5 hours. And then your chance of injury goes up. Finally, they preach training while fatigued. So the 16 mile run on its own might not be that long, but it comes directly after three other days of runs of 6-10 miles long. And the plan doesn't have a rest day on the day after the long run either, with the only rest day coming on Wednesday. Through this method, the Hansons hope the 16 mile run, on tired legs, will mimic the last 16 miles of a marathon, not the first 16 miles.

It's an intriguing theory and we'll discuss it more as I progress through the 18 week plan.

So stay tuned! Hansons Marathon Method starts in 10 days!

Suzy Favor Hamilton - Three Time Olympian and Call-Girl

Just where you'd expect to find good writing on the sport of running and athletics...Elle magazine has a great story just out on Suzy Favor Hamilton.

If you're not aware, the superstar runner was recently "outed" as a high-priced escort, apparently for a number of years after her retirement from the track. And all while still married and with a young daughter. The husband apparently knew of the escorting and "didn't approve." Yeah, that's putting it mildly.

It's an odd story to be sure, but the writer, Louisa Kamps, does a nice job comparing Hamilton's troubles in retirement to other elite athletes' restlessness and strange antics when they suddenly leave the spotlight. And I'm not making excuses for her, but I do find it sad that while Hamilton was in her prime, she was beaten consistently on the track by a clearly doped-up Regina Jacobs.

And no offense to Suzy, but if I'm paying her $600 an hour for anything, it would be running coaching. I mean, is that the going rate for decent escorts these days? Seems sort of steep to me.

Stay safe out there.

Silver Linings Playbook - A Novel

You know...a book. Not a movie. Yes, I realize there is a movie, but we're going to talk about the book (but to show that I am a guy and am not completely unaware of the movie's charms, I will post a few photos of Jennifer Lawrence as well.)



OK, now that you've got that out of your system, let's talk about the book. I realize some of you may not even realize Silver Linings Playbook is a book. The movie got a lot of pub and won a lot of awards, plus the book is five years old now.

So just let me say this, whether you've seen the movie or not, please pick up this fantastic book immediately.

Matthew Quick has penned an amazing tale of people, and mental illness, and loss, and people, and sports, and family, and people, and the EAGLES! If you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about..."AHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

The main characters here: Pat and Tiffany, are about as odd a couple as you'll ever find in literature and yet they both seem very real. Very, very flawed and real. Throw in Pat's Dad, who will be familiar to anyone that has grown up in a family obsessed with sport, Pat's Mom, his family and friends, his therapist...and Kenny G (the evil Kenny G) and you've got quite a cast of characters.

Silver Linings Playbook is one of those rare, wonderful books in which the very act of reading through the pages makes you want to be a better person. It makes you want to stand up for other people - people that are like you, and unlike you. Through Pat's eyes, you see the world in a different way, and want to treat those in it differently.

It's just wonderful.

Check out Matthew Quick's very 90's-looking website here. And read up on his young-adult novels, which have all won quite a bit of acclaim as well.

Please head over to Amazon, or your local library and grab this novel right now. Tell them Hank Baskett sent you.

(And yes, I know the movie comes out on dvd in like a week - read the book first!)

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - May 2013

Just when you read your 14th article about how the Half Marathon is the most popular race in the country or the latest blog post about how triathlon is taking over the endurance world, you get a week like this: 39 5k races in one week.

Yes, 39.

My friends, the 5k is not going away anytime soon. Embrace it.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF MAY 13th TO MAY 19th

May 18th / Carson to Stevenson Ridge Trail Run 16k / Carson, WA

May 18th / Havoc at the Hideout Trail 10k / North Plains, OR

May 18th / Watershed Preserve Trail Run 12hr / Redmond, WA

May 18th / A Step Ahead Trail Run 5k / Astoria, OR

May 19th / Sun Mountain Trail Races 50m, 50k and 25k / Winthrop, WA

May 18th / Sage Rat Run Half Marathon, 12k and 5k / Prosser, WA

May 18th / Tommy Vaughn's Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Blackfoot, ID

May 18th / Famous Idaho Potato Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Boise, ID

May 18th / Queen of the High Road Half Marathon / Wilsonville, OR

May 18th / Race Through Hell's Canyon Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Oxbow, OR

May 19th / Keizer Iris Half Marathon and 10k / Keizer, OR

May 19th / Rock n Roll Half Marathon / Portland, OR

May 19th / Windermere Marathon and Half Marathon / Spokane, WA

May 19th / Capital City Marathon, Half Marathon and 5m / Olympia, WA

May 18th / Oregon Trail Triathlon Sprint / North Powder, OR

May 18th / The PEAK Triathlon Sprint / Missoula, MT

May 18th / Troika Tri Half Iron / Medical Lake, WA

May 18th / Stayton Triathlon Sprint / Stayton, OR

May 19th / Duck Bill Thrill Triathlon Olympic / Fall Creek Reservoir, OR

May 15th / IRC Mother's Day 5k / Auburn, WA (Wednesday Night Run!)

May 18th / Younglife's Doughnut Dash 10k and 5k / Vancouver, WA

May 18th / Banks Linear Trail Brave Run 10k and 5k / Banks, OR

May 18th / Barnes Community 5k / Beaverton, OR

May 18th / Stomp Out Abuse ARMS 5k / Hillsboro, OR

May 18th / Keizer Iris Run 5k / Keizer, OR

May 18th / Run Girlfriend Run 10k and 5k / Sandy, OR

May 18th / The Friar Trot 10k and 5k / Sherwood, OR

May 18th / Eagle Wings Walk and Roll Run 10k and 5k / Arlington, WA

May 18th / Girls on the Run 5k / Seattle, WA

May 18th / CES Color Splash 10k and 5k / Coupeville, WA

May 18th / Wild Goose Chase 3.5m / Wilbur, WA

May 18th / Student Stride for Education 5k / Washougal, WA

May 18th / West Valley School Spring Run Off 12k and 5k / Kalispell, MT

May 18th / Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5k / Spokane, WA

May 18th / Seattle's Best 15k and Best Dressed 10k / Seattle, WA

May 18th / MAX MUSCLE Parade Run 5k / Vancouver, WA

May 18th / Dirty Girl Mud Run 5k / Seattle, WA

May 18th / Glow Run 5k / Richland, WA

May 18th / To the Sound of Zebra Hooves 5k / Richland, WA

May 18th / YMCA Bridge to Bridge 5k / Kennewick, WA

May 18th / Relay for Hope Child Abuse Prevention 10k and 5k / Richland, WA

May 18th / Komen Race for the Cure 5k / Helena, MT

May 18th / Bay View Women's Run 10k / Burlington, WA

May 18th / Viking Fest Road Run 5m / Poulsbo, WA

May 18th / K9 9k / Bozeman, MT

May 18th / Run for Their Lives 5k / Corvallis, OR

May 18th / Girls on the Run Spring 5k / Wenatchee, WA

May 18th / Rhody Run 10k and 5k / Florence, OR

May 18th / Fly Day 5k / Everett, WA

May 18th / Hope Run 5k / Coeur d'Alene, ID

May 18th / Petpalooza Dog Trot 5k / Auburn, WA

May 18th / Run for the Hill of It 8m / Lewiston, ID

May 19th / Beat the Bridge 8k / Seattle, WA

May 19th / Haulin' Axe 5k / Bellingham, WA

May 19th / Barnes Community 5k / Beaverton, OR

May 19th / Portland Parks $5 5k / Portland, OR

May 19th / West Seattle 5k / West Seattle, WA

May 19th / Born to Run Challenge 15k and 5k / Eugene, OR

May 19th / Whitefish WAG Race 15k and 4m / Whitefish, MT

May 19th / Rhody Run 12k / Port Townsend, WA

May 19th / Bark in the Park 5k / Eugene, OR