This New Year's blog has nothing yet everything to do with training and racing.  Below is some great advice a friend sent this morning.  Thought we could post them here for those of us who may be looking for an extra resolution or two.....

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14 If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy
dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will
this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone and everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Spacecoastmultisport.com wishes each of you a very merry Christmas! (Even you, Scrooge!)

Run out of gift ides for your beloved?  The National Training Center Sports Medicine Institute in Clermont offers some cool services for athletes who want hard baseline data.  Utilizing the same equipment and protocols as the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, the guys at NTCSMI can provide the following at a reasonable cost:  Maximum Oxygen Uptake Analysis (VO2 Max): Lactate Threshold Analysis; Motion Analysis; Gait Analysis; Agility Testing; Power Testing; Video Swim Stroke Analysis in an endless pool and Swim Dry-Land Strength Test.

Two of the most beneficial for triathletes would be the Lactate Threshold Analysis to baseline the proper training zones and the Swim Stroke Analysis. Be prepared to cringe on the later as several cameras record your every movement from every angle both in and out of the water. Frame-by-frame reviews with corrective action are offered afterward.

 

For more information about pricing and testing or to schedule an appointment, contact: Karyn Harpell 352 241 7144 ext. 4204; or email karyn.harpell@orhs.org. 

The inaugural Jingle Bell Jog 5K kicked off at 8 a.m. at Kiwanis Island Park followed by breakfast with Santa.  Results are still unavailable but will be posted once we get them. Saving the best for last.....at 5:45 p.m. several hundred lined up in front of the Satellite Beach library for the start of Running Zone series race #2, the Jingle Bell 2-Miler. 

Twenty-year-old Kyle Hunter managed to take the victory from last year's winner, Jim Van Veen.  Hunter hit the line in 9:52 followed by Van Veen in 9:56.

The women's race was less exciting as Caitlin Reese, who won in 11:14, had 45 seconds to spare on Ceal Walker, who hit the line in 11::59.

Complete results are available, courtesy of Running Zone at: http://www.runningzone.com/results.html?id=0260

two turtle doves?  We stuck them in the cage with the partridge.  The dogs sure seem interested....

For those who belong to USA Triathlon, be prepared to increase the amount of your check this year.  Last month the USAT Board voted too increase membership rates from $30 to $39, an almost 30 percent increase in annual dues.  For folks who go for the one-day license, costs per race will increase 10 percent with the daily rate increasing from $9 to $10.

Would that be today?  I can't seem to get that dialed in for some reason.  Anyway, if you want to feel the festiveness of the holidays plus relieve some of the stress they can bring, don't forget about Saturday's Jingle Bell 2-Miler, the second of the four-race Running Zone race series.   

If you did the race last year, you know what a blast it is.  Participants receive a santa hat, jingle bells for their shoes and an awesome technical shirt.  Race Director Denise Piercy also spends hours baking Gecko cookies for folks to enjoy afterward as part of the post-race fun. 

This race is a seriously good time for the entire family as well as a fast, flat course.   If you want to take it a bit slower, the residents along the route have decked out their houses in holiday slendor and many come out to cheer you on. The race kicks off at 5:45 p.m. at the Satellite Beach library.  For more info and an application log on to:
http://www.runningzone.com/docs/pdfdxl8KA.pdf

Tri One O One roared into being today with the announcement that each of the races in the 2007 four-race series will offer a cash purse of $50,000.  Each race will include a 1.86-mile swim; 80.6-mile bike and 18.6-mile run.  The inaugural race  will kick off on May 6 in Bradenton, FL followed by races in CA, Halifax, Nova Scotia and the world championship on Nov. 11 in Texas.  Organizers plan to hold 20 races worldwide in 2008.  For complete details visit the website at http://www.trioneoone.com/

Warm and humid – not what you’d expect or really want when you race a half marathon in December.  But that’s what almost 2000 finishers had to deal with yesterday at the OUC Half Marathon which started and finished at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.  Local top-dogs who ran included Bob Christensen, 49, of Rockledge, who posted a 1:30:36.  The fastest local lady was Titusville’s Sarah Gutery, 41, who was sixteenth female overall and second in her age group with a 1:38:44. 

Congrats to all of Brevard’s finishers including Jorge Abreu, 1:44:24; Greg Aker, 1:42:56; Cathy Alvira, 2:30:09; Cynthia Baily, 3:06:41; Brian Barnett, 1:48:19; Cyndi Bergs, 2:14:47;  Tom Bixby, 2:10:25; Tammy Bogdasarian, 2:15:12; Richard Boggs, 2:02:24; Jonathan Brown, 1:41:42; Elly Chamberlain, 2:29:50; Keith Chandler, 2:56:15; Patti Chandler, 2:56:16; Cedric Ching, 1:45:18; Linda Coward, 1:58:30; Michelle Flores, 2:34:09; Frank Fortino, 2:34:10; Deborah Furguson, 2:36:08; Jo Ann Harvey, 2:25:26; Dave Herst, 1:47:33; Tim Jellett, 2:09:55; Christine Kearns, 3:12:39; Homberg Komthirath, 2:07:21; Philip Lintereur, 2:31:23; Kevin Litt, 2:25:12; Tegan Litt, 2:02:20; Kathy Ojeda, 1:59:22; Juan Posada, 2:19:00; Lynn Preuss, 2:26:15; John Rice, 2:49:06; Steve Shannon, 2:19:21; Derek Sichler, 1:43:23; Kristina Sleeman, 2:26:15; Linda Smith, 1:56:37; Nicholas Smith, 1:52:36; William Swanner, 2:36:58; Scott Wilmont, 1:40:57; Debra Wolfe, 2:11:23.

Unless you're a pro or have the bucks for a charity spot, you're out of luck for one of the top-ten, hand-painted Bill Castleman age group awards that St. Anthony's Triathlon doles out each April in St. Petersburg, FL.  (1991 ag award at right) 

Registration for the April 29, 2007 race opened yesterday at 9 a.m. EST.  Less than 24 hours later, 3,500 individuals and 100 relay teams had filled the roster.

Shame on us!  All that great racing over the holiday weekend and we didn't update in a timely manner.  Hope everyone had a great turkey-fest and set a PR at one of the events!

Quick recap of last week's races......Close to 400 runners filled the streets of Cocoa Isles in Cocoa Beach for Rebecca Spark's Space Coast Art Festival Turkey Trot 5K.  What a blast for runners, volunteers and spectators.  Cocoa Beaches Leeann Nawrocki took the ladies victory in 17:57 while Track Shack ringer, Kenny Jesenky, grabbed the men's in 15:49.  Complete results here: http://www.uprunninginc.com/Results/tt06.pdf

Another 400 runners and walkers burned off pre-feast calories at the Suntree Turkeytrot 5K and 10K in, well, Suntree.  Former homeboy racing stud, Christian Minor, came in to spend the day with his family and set a course record of 15:14 for the 5K.  His mom, Karen, took the women's top spot in 20:33.  Wonder who had to cook later?

Mike Kearns, who is now stationed at PAFB, won the 10K in 36:17.  It was Kearns first 10K. Tallahassee's Yvonne Gsteiger took the women's in 45:28.  The former triathlete, who has won Pineappleman a couple of times was in town to visit her parents.  Complete 5/10K results at: http://www.suntreeturkeytrot.org/results06.htm

Finally, what can you say about the Space Coast Marathon weekend except KUDOS to the finishers; volunteers and especially Don and Denise Piercy, co-race directors and owners of Running Zone in Melbourne.  What an exciting weekend for all!! 

Several links to cover Marathon Weekend better than we could here:
Photos:  Even though he never posted any photos here like he promised, take a gander at the shots Barry Jones nailed at the 5K  http://trihokie.smugmug.com/gallery/2182448  and at the half and full marathon: link at http://www.spacecoastrunners.org/

Results for all three races, courtesy of Running Zone: http://www.runningzone.com/results.html

FLORIDA TODAY column on Bart Yasso, featured speaker at the pre-race pasta dinner, by Patti Sponsler:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061116/SPORTS/611160345/-1/archives

FLORIDA TODAY Marathon Advance by Patti Sponsler:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/SPORTS/611250331/1002/SPORTS

FLORIDA TODAY Marathon Winner Coverage by Robert Hughes:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061127/SPORTS/611270320/1002/SPORTS

FLORIDA TODAY Locals Coverage by Patti Sponsler:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/SPORTS/611300346/1002/SPORTS

Love the photo on right for two reasons: (1)Doug Butler's s**t-eating grin - he is the proud coach of Kayla Hale whose 17:19 5K qualified her for nationals that weekend at the Foot Locker XC invitational in North Carolina.  Doug, who had about zero hours of sleep due to the NC trip, said Kayla's achievement meant more to him than any race time he could pull that weekend. (he pulled 7th OA and first AG in 1:21:58. (2) Does the guy to Doug's right have his singlet on backward???????