Posted by: Joe Nuss in Triathlon, Events, endurance on
Mar 05, 2010
Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon has been ranked fifth on a list of Best Distance Races in the World, according to the March issue of Triathlete magazine. The Wilmington, NC race is one of two American races listed among the top 10, with the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI sitting at the top of the list.
“We are amazed and proud that after only two years our Beach2Battleship Triathlon has been ranked among the top in the World,” said Dick Jones, executive director, YMCA. “It’s a tribute to everyone involved in putting the event together – the Wilmington Family YMCA, the event committee, our 800 volunteers and of course, the athletes.”
Posted by: Joe Nuss in Lifestyle, Events, endurance on
Feb 08, 2010
By Joe Nuss
One morning back in 2007, our Editor Joe Nuss walked into the office and informed us that he was doing one of the hardest mountain bike races in the world - the La Ruta de los Conquistadores, or what most people simply call "La Ruta." We all quickly went online to http://www.adventurerace.com to learn all about this incredible event that Joe would be training for. I still remember the very first image that was displayed on the site. It was of 4 mountain bike riders riding trough a river of muddy water about 3 feet deep in the middle of the jungle.
While we may have had some initially doubts about whether Joe could pull it off, we quickly learned that he was fully committed to the training that it would take to survive this epic test of endurance. Sure enough, fast forward 4 months and there we were once again all huddled around Joe's computer, this time looking at the pictures that he'd taken during his successful race as well as listening to the incredible stories that accompanied them. All the while, somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice was saying "someday you should do this also." Well, the time has come to listen to that voice and see for myself what La Ruta is all about. The Race Director, Roman Urbina, was kind enough to grant me a comped entry in exchange for marketing, so this blog will serve as the official announcement that I'll be racing in the 2010 La Ruta! Many monthly blogs will follow, so come back often.
The La Ruta is a 4-day stage race that takes place during the month of November in beautiful Costa Rica. It starts on the Pacific Coast and ends on the Caribbean coast. The route brings riders over and through just about every imaginable ecosystem and type of terrain. To finish requires tremendous physical conditioning, guts, and frankly an ability to to tolerate a good dose of pain and misery. But, as is the case with any major endurance race, this finish is amazing and, based on Joe's stories, well worth every sacrifice and every ounce of determination that it takes to get there.
Posted by: Joe Nuss in runner, Run, Events, endurance on
Jan 20, 2010
Runners in the February 7, 2010 State Farm Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon & ½ Marathon will want to set their alarm clocks a little earlier than usual as the last nighttime launch in the Space Shuttle’s storied 29-year history is set for 4:39 a.m. on race morning.
Posted by: Joe Nuss in Training, endurance on
Oct 12, 2009
CROSSFIT CORNER - The Dumbbell Clean: For Speed, Balance and Coordination
As adults our busy lives leave us limited time to train. Coordination, speed and balance usually take a back seat to more traditional strength exercises. CrossFit encourages athletes to address all areas of fitness through a variety of movements. The dumbbell clean is an excellent way to address weaknesses in explosiveness, balance and coordination. The dumbbell clean requires only two dumbbells and a little bit of practice.
Coaching Points
By Steve Lackey | Publisher
Last April I ran the Boston Marathon. For me, and pretty much any other marathoner, this is the most magical place to compete, a Disneyland for runners. From the moment you arrive, you notice the entire city and pretty much all of its residents are prepared and excited for you to run. Every runner is treated like royalty, and no matter what your level, you feel like an Olympian—it is truly a magical experience (even more so when you respect the challenge of the course).
At the start of the marathon, the crowds cheered as if we were crossing the finish line, and for 26.2 miles there was not a gap in the energy provided from the colorful personalities that lined the course—kids, parents, bikers, seniors in wheelchairs, college students. The first half of the Boston course is downhill. Veterans advise you to be careful not to go too fast—to stay within your ability. But with all the excitement of the crowd and the inspiration of all the other runners, that slipped my mind as I cruised almost effortlessly through the first 13 miles at a PR pace. It felt amazing—as if I were lifted by everyone else’s energy. My vision was wide, and around every corner something new and exciting was delivered.
