The Man in the Arena

This isn't the first time I've shared this, but since I'm still on the subject of crap in my home gym, I'm taking the opportunity to promote again this inspirational product sold in my CafePress shop. Each sale pads my pockets a little. How's that for disclosure?

I was first made aware of this quote by my good friend Jason. I made him one of these after he had a hard time at a brutally hot Ironman. I ordered one up for myself as well. Today it hangs on the wall directly in front of my treadmill.

The 26th American President, Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at La Sorbonne (The University of Paris) in France on April 23, 1910. An excerpt of this speech would later become admired as The Man in the Arena, one of my all time favorites. Pick up a Theodore Roosevelt Man in the Arena Quote Print and you'll never own a more inspirational print.

It reads:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

My (older) version is slightly different (I.e.; it's not italicized). This is a quality matted, framed print. It is very classy, and worthy of mounting in the most revered of places in your home. I have mine in my basement, but it's not the print that makes the basement, it's the print that helps to make it more than just a basement.

My medal collection.

I've seen a few of these posts lately, including this one from Bethany, as well as this one from Marlene, and I feel like playing along.

Although I only have 12 medals (and 2 trophies) in my collection. I am absolutely proud of each of them, and the collection as a whole. It even makes me a little mad when I hear about people who throw their medals away, or pretend they don't matter, sometimes demeaning those of us who keep them around, particularly if we put them on display. It's not that we're keeping them visible to proclaim how much better we are than everyone else (afterall, mine are in a room not even available to guests), they are little momentos that are sometimes fun to hold, and reflect on points in our lives that are far removed from more distant points in our life, which is usually a positive thing. Some of my medals have little stories to go along with them, or maybe not so interesting, but important to me, and of which I may not recall without a little assistance.

Here are most of them. They hang off a corkboard in our gym, along with various other things, such as race bibs, which there are literally a hundred (or more) of. The left side of the board is mine, the right side is Jamie's.

We also have a bookshelf full of souvenirs, photos, and my favorite medals.

(It's shiny, it's big, and it's freaking Mickey Mouse! Who doesn't love Mickey?)

(Obviously.)

Probably my least favorite. A half iron triathlon with a $125 entry fee and all they could muster is a blank medal with a cheap sticker stuck on to it?

To be fair, 2010 was drastically improved.

I also like this one, because it's a little different. It's not metal. Clay? Oh, and it has little beer-dudes wearing sunglasses on it. They appear at first glance to be running, but I think they are actually dancing. Win!

Welcome new followers!

I'm a technology professional, and have dabbled (since 1996) in the web/internet business, sometimes successfully. I'm well-versed in marketing, and I'm aware of SEO strategies and procedures, but followers have been a challenge. Perhaps my story isn't that interesting, or I just haven't given away enough free crap.

So giving stuff away is the key to gaining followers. Having Running Diva Mom for a wife doesn't hurt either. However it occurred, I would like to "Welcome!" you all. I hope you stick around. What can I blog about that you might find interesting?

By the way, the last day to get in on the Racevine Shirt Giveaway is this Sunday, Aug. 1st, if you already haven't.

Racevine.com Shirt Giveaway

After communicating for about a year and a half exclusively online, I recently had the pleasure of finally meeting Greg Lou, the founder of Racevine.com. Greg lives in San Francisco, but when I found out that he would be in the Madison, WI area for a wedding, I offered him the opportunity to hook up for an open water swim, which we both needed, so I swung by and picked him up to go for a swim at Governor Dodge State Park in Dodgeville, WI, a short drive from where he was lodging in beautiful Spring Green, WI. Our swim was short due to time constraints, but meeting up with Greg was a pleasure. I feel strongly about his Racevine project, and recommend everyone check it out, add races to their schedules, and post reviews.

I happen to have a couple of shirts (made from a nice technical fabric) left over from a promotional thing that my Edge Multisport team/consultancy did for Racevine last year. Regretfully neither is my size (XL and Small), so I am giving one away here on my blog. My first giveaway in fact, taking a page out of my wife's bag of tricks, so that I can hopefully increase my "followers" count. To be eligible you must do the following:

1) Be a follower of my blog. Post a comment.
2) Sign up for a Racevine.com account and review at least one race. Post a comment with a link to your review.
3) Post about this giveaway on FB, Twitter, or your blog. Post a comment and tell me where you posted about this giveaway.
4) Post a comment and tell me if you would prefer a size XL or a Small.

Taken last fall before the Tyranena Half Marathon with a couple of my buddies, Garret, and Jin. I'm on the right.

If this giveaway reaches 10 entrants, I'll throw in some extra goodies also left over from an Edge Multisport promotion. Deadline is Aug. 1, and I'll use random.org to pick the winner shortly thereafter.

Speaking of giveaways, Kovas is giving away a pair of CEP Socks or sleeves over at Midwest Multisport Life. As you know, I have used CEP Socks for recovery, and love them.

Clydesdalerunning.com 4th Anniversary

The 4th anniversary of clydesdalerunning.com is next month. I have covered everything from my first race report of a 5K PR (26:22) to the bathroom sink. I can't believe I won my age group with a 26:22 effort, something I think I've only done once since, and I'm a much more impressive athlete than I used to be. I actually proceeded to PR my next 3 races.

At least 3 dozen races of various distances and disciplines, and about 200 posts later, I'm still here, but not a clydesdale anymore, and slightly torn between changing the theme/name/URL, or leaving it as a part of the whole story.

I'm sort of at a crossroads, still starting a new chapter in my career, and unsure what lies ahead personally, professionally, or what I'm really going to want to do with racing after my upcoming fall marathon. As of this writing, I'm not yet certain what types of races are in my future. I would like to perhaps try an ultra, running back-to-back marathons, or a "Goofy" (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). Though the appeal of a destination Ironman seems appealing as well, but expensive.

For a while I was on a total-body fitness kick, eating really well, rounding out my routine to ensure a healthy, lean body, but I slipped, because 6 weeks without work can really cut into a budget, and will be recovering from that yet for a while. I would like to get back on that track, and see where that road takes me. If it takes me away from racing and into something else, I'm okay with that too, just as long as I don't miss racing and can maintain or enhance my healthy lifestyle, and be a positive influence on my children.

Regardless of where it goes from here, it's been life-changing, and this has been my necessary primary outlet, for that I feel like I have a relationship with my blog. One of great affection. I rely on clydelsdalerunning.com so much, whether for planning, venting, or sorting through my often scrambled thoughts, it's been of great assistance and support in this (hate this cliché) "journey". I can't wait to see where I'm headed, and I look forward to continuing my relationship with my blog. Here's to another 4+ years...

PRs (Personal Records) Updated

5K: 22:02 (2010 Freedom Run, 7.4.10 DeForest, WI)
8K: 43:45 (2008 Crazylegs Classic, 4.26.08, Madison, WI)
10K: 48:12 (2009 RASCW Home Run, 10.3.09, Fitchburg, WI)
Half Marathon: 1:53:59 (2009 Tyranena Beer Run, 11.7.09, Lake Mills, WI)
Marathon: 4:53:33 (2009 Disney World Marathon, 1.11.09, Walt Disney World, FL)

Half Ironman: 5:56:45 (2010 High Cliff Triathlon, 6.19.10, Sherwood, WI)
Ironman: 13:56:31 (2009 Ironman Wisconsin, 9.13.09, Madison, WI)

• Proudest PR: 2009 Ironman Wisconsin.
• Most embrassing PR: 2009 Walt Disney World Marathon.
• Which PR could I get TODAY? I could rip off an 8K PR today without specific training because it's a short distance (no long-term build-up required), and slow.
• PR I would most like to achieve: Marathon is my current focus.
• Next PR: Half Marathon, I hope. It's the next race on my schedule, and I have plenty of time to prepare.
• New PR I would like to set: I’m thinking very distant future here, but maybe a 50K, or back-to-back marathons or a "Goofy" (half-marathon and marathon combo on consecutive days).
• PRs not included: Sprint tri. They are all different.

Race Report: 2010 Freedom Run 5K

22:02. That's a PR. I started stronger than I finished, but I finished pretty strong, passing a few in the last mile. Just a few seconds shy of a sub-22, which would have been really nice. I probably could have pushed it a little harder down the stretch to get there, but I was pretty complacent with an easy PR. Now I've got 21:?? to shoot for.

I felt like a real runner tooday. Like I was finally one of "those" guys, even though I was about 30 seconds removed from placing in my age group.

Congrats to my friend Dwight for winning his age group (30-39, same as me). Dwight's training hard for Ironman Wisconsin and already putting in big hours, but is taking a little down time before hitting it even harder soon. It's going to be a blast rooting him on in September.