You Mess With The Bull You Get The Horns

Get ready to join TEAM STL's 2008 Red Bull Racing Herd. That's right!!! Production is underway on the 2008 TEAM Jersey and this year we are going all out. Think you are fast enough to run with the bulls? If so then contact me so that I can order you a team jersey. The Red Bull Racing Herd includes yours truly, Mike Pepper, Seiichi Noda, Tom Rosenthal, Bill Cragg, Scott Stern, Nancy Lieberman, Tom Irwin and YOU. Previous Ironman experience is not a pre-requistite. You just have to want to get out there and have fun. No B.S. (that is a pun). Membership is open so join the herd if you want to :

• Set goals and inspire others
• Have fun training with Seiichi
• Challenge yourself and Rosenthal
• Train with others including Pepper
• Compete against Bill Cragg
• Gain fitness
• Improve performance
• Have a valid reason for wearing a cool jersey
  

Contact me if you are interested in RUNNING WITH THE BULLS in 2008.

Larry's Thanksgiving Day Run

The Larry Alton Thanksgiving Day Run was once again a huge success. Runners of all abilities turned out on this chilly, but pleasant, Thanksgiving morning. As always, Larry was dressed impeccably well. The standing room only crowd was whipped into a frenzy with a very moving rendition of America The Beautiful before heading down to the Park for a 10 mile run. The party then moved to Nancy Lieberman's house where Tommy Rosenthal's unattended children preceded to spill chocolate cake on her white carpet. All in all it was a teriffic Thanksgiving that brought all of our running friends together!!!

Larry looking sharp!

Seiichi, Tom Irwin & Tom Rosenthal

Mina poses with John for their annual photo

John is winning the race!!!

Lynn, Vic, Beth & Medina

What Makes A Triathlete

The multi-sport lifestyles has created great memories for all of us. I am sincerely thankful to all of my friends and family who have supported TEAM STL!!! Everything that we do would simply not be possible without all of you. As we continue to reminisce about the past while looking ahead to the future, I thought it was important to define what makes a triathlete...

• Your favorite clothes contain the words Cool or Max
• Going for a short jog means running through your entire lunch break
• You are aware that transitions are not a type of prescription sun glass or time of profound personal change
• You know precisely what size of wet suit, running shoe, bike shoe fits you to the exact half size
• You know the name of several bike seat manufactures
• You have a multi-colored collection of swim caps
• Your refrigerator has more sports drinks than beer
• An easy swim for you is any distance less than 1500 yards
• You plan your vacations around your training for your A, B or C race and…you know the difference between an A, B or C race
• When traveling for work you select your hotel based on the exercise room
• You were an evening person who is now a morning person
• You’re favorite bar has the word power, cliff, energy and not Cheers
• You know what Plantar Fasciitis is and how to pronounce it
• You know your resting, max, and zone 1-4 heart rates
• Spending $2000 on a bike seems reasonable to you
• You shave way too many body parts for a guy
• You know how to easily remove permanent black marker from your skin
• You’ve had a recent conversation that contained the words, Aero, PB, PR, Split, diarrhea, rack, goggles, non-stick Pam, butt burn, black toe nail and Bento
• You can swim a sub 1:00 minute 100 yards without flip turns and…that something hard between your legs is usually a pull buoy
• You know that drafting is not a football or baseball recruiting term
• You have the word “Triathlon” on your Tivo’s wish list
• Your car has an M-Dot or USAT sticker
• Your car has a bike rack
• Your idea of fast food is a power bar and Gatorade
• You keep a set of workout clothes in your car
• Your friends and family think you are a complete exercise fanatic
• You’ve crossed the finish line with your friends and family
• You are reading this.

Infinit

Tired of feeling like a drug dealer every time you mix your nutritional baggies, then this product might be pretty cool for you. We have all spent a tremendous amount of trial and error time trying to figure out the perfect nutritional concoction. Well, INFINIT lets you create a customized powder. Just set your flavor level, choose your carbohydrate blend, tell them how many calories per serving you need, adjust your electrolyte level and figure out if you want caffeine. They then send you a special powder. No more worrying about a stable of DEA agents busting through your door while you are cutting product in your own kitchen! Here is a sample that Seiichi put together.

A Few Good Triathletes

There has been considerable debate regarding the rampant drafting that took place this year at Ironman Florida. Bill Cragg took time out of his lax schedule to address why Noda is doing Ironman Florida in 2008. Seiichi wants (or is it needs) that course for his sub 12:00 goal.

By Bill Cragg...

Seiichi, we live in a world that has rules, and those rules have to be enabled by tri-buddies with fast bikes and great swim times. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Mister Sub - 12 Candyass? Sure you had a fast time at IM Moo. A sub-12 in Florida with drafting, hardly an accomplishment.

We have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That these packs, while tragic, probably save you time. And that this flatness, while grotesque and incomprehensible to us, saves time for only you, you selfish bastard. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at tri club blog sites, you want to be in that pack, you need to be in that pack. Coach ELF would be disgusted with this approach to success. The Goddess Pele will embark on a storm of brimstone if you set foot on such hallowed grounds.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain our brotherhood to a man who softpedals and freewheels in the packs formed by the flatness that is provided, then questions and ditches his tri-buddies for Ghisallo guys by which we introduce him to. I would rather you just said thank you, and rode on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you enter Ironman Lake Placid like the rest of us and call yourself part of this brotherhood once again. Otherwise, you are disbanded and will be cast aside. You're out and Stern will be in.

Track Club Half

TPR, Strass, Pep, JP, Karen, Stern & Vic

Karen and Kids

We had awesome weather today for the Saint Louis Track Club's Half Marathon. The weather was a little chilly at the start which had me second and third guessing my wardrobe selection for the day. You would think that by now I would have figured out what to wear but no. Team STL was fractured again toady as Rosenthal took off to run with Scott Stern. Suddenly Pepper and I are no longer good enough, he has to elevate his game by running with Scott. Seiichi sat this one out so that he could cheer on Chris (9th place overall in the 5k - third in his age division) but was kind enough to run us into the finish. Dr. Cragg was hard at work providing post race massages so he too was a no show at the starting line. Vic Richey left his headphones at the start in favor of running with me and Pepper. Now that is what I call team spirit. Courtney Irwin is no longer considered a newcomer to this sport as she blazed through the field with a very respectable time. Julie Pepper was able to overcome her hangover from drinking Bloody Marrys the day before at the Mizzou game and turned in a tremendous performance running alongside Karen Sher. And as always, Carol Wright was seen running the 5K course for a second time. All in all a great day that would only have been made better if they would have gone with dry fit material for the shirts instead of 100% polyester!!!

Seiichi Signs Up For Florida

Shock came over TEAM STL on Sunday as one of our own ventured outside the team bond and signed up for Ironman Florida on his OWN!!! Somehow Dr. Noda was able to gain one of the coveted spots for IM FLA in 2008. The fact that the race sold out in mere minutes was not a factor for Seiichi as he gained an entry online. Outrage and disapointment were common emotions felt by the other members of TEAM STL who felt betrayed by Seiichi's decision to embark on this solo journey. This must be how the Doobie Brothers felt when they broke up!!! While several penalty flags were thrown, I am sure that we will all support Seiichi's bid to become a TWO TIME IRONMAN FINISHER.