1. Some very funky lofts.

2. Seth Godin talks luxury vs premium

3. Joe Friel talks ageing and athletic performance.

4. Sean DSouza talks about the value of outsourcing in life.

5. Johnathan Mead talks of the 7 habits of free men. Powerful stuff.

Now go about your day again!

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this, from Science of Sport…

The 150m dissected – splits and projections

Bolt’s running is anything but lead-footed. He ran the first 100m in 9.90 seconds, which is an extra-ordinary time and a sign of things to come. But even more amazing, the final 100m (from 50m to the finish line) were clocked in an astonishing 8.72 seconds! That is being reported, though it’s so fast I’m almost sceptical. The splits, as recorded during the race, were:

* 50m – 5.64s (this compares to 5.50s in Beijing, by the way)
* 100m – 9.90s (a split of 4.26 s. In Beijing last year, Bolt’s last 50m of his 100m was 4.19s, including the infamous celebrations)
* 150 – 14.35s (split of 4.45 s)

I have tried hard to find the analysis we did on Usain Bolt’s 200m win in Beijing, because I am almost certain we looked at his splits from that race, but unfortunately I can’t seem to find the post in question. However, I’m pretty sure his last 100m was not as quick as 8.72 seconds (it would mean his first 100m took 10.58 seconds, which is much too slow). But the last 100m can be misleading because of the different race distances, and so to me, the first 100m in 9.90 secs is more intriguing, because few others have produced that form so early in the season.

Bolt has said he can take the record down to 9.4 seconds – it’s not exactly unusual for guys (especially sprinters) to make predictions about themselves (every sprinter worth his salt knocks a tenth of his time in order to hype himself up), but Bolt certainly has a lot to live up to, with hype and attention that has rarely been given to a track and field athlete.

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This week has really, and by that I mean REALLY flown by. I am in a great creative head space and my energy is being channeled this week in the direction of work and I haven’t had a chance to channel it into writing as such.

There are times when it’s really best to leave it to the professionals, this wisdom thing. I will never be the smartest person on the planet, so its my duty to share the little I may have come to know, and then point you in the direction of people far smarter than me. So here goes…

(drumroll)

I know that:

1. Red M&M’s are better than the yellow ones. Thanks Gringo.

2. They key to a long term sale is trust, and conversation, not sales.

3. People look better at 3:55am when the lights are off, than at 4:01am, when the lights are on.

4. You can build a base to go sub 10 hours as a guy, and sub 11 hours as a girl, at an Ironman, in 3 years.

5. White leather loafers are never cool. Even if you live in Belville.

6. Running in the forest with Faithless – All New Arrivals blasting in my ears can be counted as totally euphoric.

7. Big fears are given to us by us. Small fears are given to us by our mothers.

8. In swimming, you can sustain a certain pace, based on technique practise, but when you go over that pace, you might as well give up as energy expenditure double for no extra speed.

9. Brusselsprouts will never be in any menu in my house.

10. It’s possible to love someone more than what you can actually deal with.

11. I can go into a zone where time stands still when I am DJ’ing.

12. I felt the same zone last year at Ironman South Africa during the run.

13. Perceived value is king in the wine industry.

14. You can taste many flavours at once, especially when at Wang Thai.

15. Right now I am wasting your time

So, in lieu of Nommer 15, lets shoot directly to some inspirational videos. One on life, then we have the best sprint finish in triathlon ever, and one because its just awesome. I promise to channel some creativity and some real information to you next week i.e. I will work on it over the weekend and pre-post everything. Its going to be awesome.

awesome, right? now check this…

and lastly…

that’s only the most feared climb in the world…and look how the best in the world tackle it. Lance looks Ulrich in the eye with the biggest “I dare you” ever… and then rides away!

Now have yourself a great weekend.

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there are only 2 types of people in the world. cat people and dog people.

I am a dog person. I.e. I am this guy…

I am happy here, because I have a house to sleep in, food in my bowl, and a simple range of people I care for and would defend against intruders. I dislike being left out in the rain, but the sprinkler is something I schmaak with endless appeal. Don’t blow in my face, and don’t prod me in the ribs. I would, however, deal with a tummy rub and an open window well!

I have a smile on my dial, I don’t have to speak to you to know you (I just sniff your bum i.e. check your body language) and I am happy with routine, and everything in life is an adventure.

I get along well with dog people. They are positive, and they are responsive and they too like simple things and value a simple life. I try to surround myself with dog people because for them, every day is the best day in the world, ever.

The other type of person in the world is a rough estimation of the following picture:

I bet you they say:

1. They feel unvalued by their friends and moan they are left out of life, cut short by society, misunderstood

2. Their relationships are failing for reasons they cant understand. They don’t have many real friends.

3. They are demanding, intolerant if you don’t catch them in the right nanosecond and want what they want ok? Don’t ask why – just do it mother******!

4. Their attention needs are 100% corrected and right, no matter if you want or not.

5. I couldn’t get the rest because they were off on their own mission, even if I needed to complete this article in time. Their catmail is on “out of life” as they are seeing their therapist, masseuse, chiropractor, clairvoyant, BFF, 2ndary BFF & mother to sort out their “dilemma”

Remember to buy me yoghurt, because….

right on!

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to all my international readers….

I beg to ask the question…

Can your president….. DO THAT?

I think its fabulous, and not in bad taste. He is genuinely having a good time, something we don’t see politicians doing on many occasions.

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After I wrote the article on Friday regarding doping, Boonen tested positive for recreational Cocaine use. Coincidence? Does the Urban Ninja have inside information? Stroke of luck? Who cares? I have been searching for the best words on it, and here they are, courtesy of Belgium Knee Warmers.

Recreational drug use is one of those subjects (and activities) that evokes reactions as diverse as politics does. It’s easy to find folks who see recreational drug use as an utterly harmless way to blow off steam. Others see it as a forgivable indiscretion of youth. And we’re well aware that millions see it as a crime that can only be corrected with incarceration.

I offer that as a backdrop to Tom Boonen’s current trouble. Many cycling fans are ready to forgive him for doing something stupid so that he can get back to racing in time for the Tour de France. Plenty others see nothing that requires forgiveness. There are likely many others who want his license pulled, possibly even for good.

So cocaine isn’t illegal outside of competition. It’s a drug that carries a double-standard, and that is where the problem lies. If it’s use outside of competition isn’t illegal, then why do out-of-competition tests screen for it? They don’t test of aspirin and alcohol. The bigger question is why a rider can test positive for a substance that authorities shouldn’t be screening.

The answer is easy.

As individuals we’re all entitled to our views about how Boonen should be addressed. But our personal views are irrelevant, unfortunately. Here’s why: Our sport exists at the PRO level because of sponsors. Sponsor dollars are the gas the peloton runs on. They make the races possible, the teams possible and TV coverage possible. Without them, many of these guys would be working the fields.

Consider some of the organizations that no longer exist because of sponsor departures: the Motorola team, the Midi Libre race, Team ONCE, the San Francisco Grand Prix, Festina, the Tour DuPont, ad nauseum.

There is perhaps too little forgiveness in most of our lives and that at least some cycling fans are ready to say, “He deserves time off to enjoy himself; he’s not a monk,” is a kind and laudable response. Forgiveness from cyclists who see a difference between recreational drug use and doping may be nice, but it does nothing to assuage the concerns of those who see all drug use as criminal behavior. And those are the people whose opinions sponsors are concerned about.

It’s clear that the UCI and WADA have a zero-tolerance policy regarding all drugs that anyone might deem unacceptable. And while WADA’s handling of Boonen’s case raises ethical questions—why are they announcing a positive test for a substance that isn’t illegal out of competition—they do have a clear understanding of the morality of the average cycling fan.

As long as the casual follower of cycling believes all drug use to be roughly equal, or as long as the average sponsor believes casual followers believe this, then two actions are likely: Sponsors will be reluctant to sign cyclists with any sort of doping taint, or worse, they will leave the sport entirely.

It may be that serious cyclists don’t see cocaine as a gateway drug to PEDs. But the average viewer out in TV land doesn’t agree and this is, like most things, a battle of numbers. Whatever more people believe wins; just consider elections.

Just as Boonen’s drug use may be held to a double-standard, he himself is held to a different standard than other riders. If a nobody with no results is caught doping, then he’s just an idiot, but with Boonen, because he’s a champion, he’s a cheater and a bad example. Is it fair? Not much. Is it typical? Ever watched TMZ?

The average follower of cycling seems to accept that Boonen did actually test positive. Should we also accept the assessment that he has a drug problem that deserves treatment? That seems a bit much. The latest Hollywood real-life script is that after getting caught using drugs the best response is to cry mea culpa and to enter treatment. It makes for great public relations, but how appropriate a response would treatment be? How many people really think that Boonen, with two known positive tests for cocaine, is an addict? Probably mostly folks who think cocaine is a gateway drug to PEDs.

From 1999 to 2005 Lance Armstrong lived an ascetic life that revolved around his training. Even so he faces accusations of doping, correct or not. His asceticism is an example that ought to serve as a blueprint for PROs. Boonen seems to be getting the job done, just as Jacques Anquetil got the job done. But times have changed and the average viewer isn’t willing to turn a blind eye to drug use of any variety.

Fair or not, Boonen faces a choice: He can party like a “Lost” star, or he can be a god of Flanders. Turns out, even his sponsor thinks he can’t be both. But that won’t matter if he winds up incarcerated; in prison he can’t do either.

Article from Belgium Knee Warmers

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With the grand tours of cycling coming up, it has been on my mind that at times there are times when you need to go “all in” at critical times, or during special events. Your build up to this would go something like:

1. A big base to build the right type of muscle.

2. A build period with specific exercises for strength, speed, recovery, and to maximise performance at a set given discipline.

3. A peak period to rest and sharpen up.

4. A race period where everything needs to come together.

Whilst there is a lot of science to help these guys in their processes, there is never a fool proof way to win every time, unless you are a freak of nature with the biggest engine out there, and you simply need to see certain numbers in training to know that nobody can achieve that (Lance Armstrong).

So, if you are a Christian v d Velde, or an Andy Schleck, you train your rear off, harder than you have ever trained. You limit your losses in the time trials and at some point during the mountain stages; you have to put your whole year on the line.

You go all in, full tilt, and you believe in yourself. You push as hard as you can for the longest time you possibly can and hopefully, just hopefully, its good enough to beat the best of the best of the best, who are riding, hopefully, a few minutes further back down the mountain.

There is something truly heroic about it. Something so pure that it’s kept the minds and hearts of people rooting for their heroes for the past century. Something about it is so noble that the winners of the hardest bike racers in the world are held up as nobility in their home countries, having streets named after them, being invited to meet and talk cycling with the president, and in the rarest of circumstances, changing how cancer is battled, not only in the Austin, Texas, but indeed, around the world.

So is it surprising then, with such fame, such wealth and such celebrity on the line, that there are cheats in the world of cycling? Imagine you had the prospect of being a factory worker in Belgium as a child, but you had the ability to ride a bike like the wind, and you could become pro, and earn, as a base salary, far more than you could ever have dreamt of. Imagine you had one of those amazing days where you finished totally out of your depth, and you got on a podium, tasted victory, and the fame, fortune and celebrity that the top guys enjoy.

What would you do to have that again?

If someone showed you R5 000 000.00 in cash, and gave you the first R250 000.00 for today, what would you do to get to the R5 000 000.00 if it only took a consistent 5% more from you. What if they promised it would be R5 000 000.00 every year if you could do it on a regular basis, not always win, but consistently be in the top 5. What if it meant you could buy a house for your father, who is still working in a factory? What if it meant you could drive a Porsche? A car you always dreamt about. What if it meant you could give your mother the gifts she may always have longed for, or your kids a proper education.

What risks would you take to get those things?

People in business, they take risks all the time, and when they get caught for fraud, its often considered a part of the parcel to get to wealth and if you get caught – so be it, well done for trying and better luck next time.

I don’t admire the life of a pro cyclist. To be near the top is a perilous place to be. To be able to smell it, and know that it’s easier to cheat, than to do the hard work, to get all the benefits of those who may have done their hours, and might have a more tactical brain. I don’t want that.

My hat goes off to anyone who gives the pro life, in any sport, a serious go. Especially those who might fall just short of the big time, who are faced with these questions.

I salute you.

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I am NOT a big fan of the bumble bee puke color that Columbia have chosen this year, after looking so classy last year in the blue at le Tour.

but here is the proof that Scott can turn something around super quick, and make it legit, within UCI rules. Its far more P4 than its the Giant we have spoken about, and that front beaker is missing (because of UCI rules).

The front brake fits on the front of the fork, which, as Phil White from Cervelo says, doesnt make a difference. The rear brake is very much from the Felt DA.

All in all, its like they took a mix of the greatest areas of various bikes and slapped them together into one bike. Very naaaice. If you look in the background, you will see a whole load of the old bikes, which look like this..

Those are the older bikes, which the UCI now deems “Illegal” and were manufactured by Giant, for Highroad. Very different, actually.

Conclusion : Lets hope Probike get me to test one in the next week or so, so that I can get you a real answer… (hint)

Its Friday, so I will get some useful vids, a great post, and some other relevant info out later in the day.

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this morning as I checked my Tweetdeck I came across this from Mick (Michael) Rogers.

Seems the bikes are rideable now, already. A quick search got me to this video as well, and it seems…

We will see the bikes at the Giro d’Italia in just a few weeks! How freaking awesome is that!

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpZdO2qBv9M]

I like how they made a frame that was modular, could clip the various options on and off and see how it affected aerodynamics. If you don’t believe in “Aero”, read this article.

I am so excited I gotta go pee.

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For those of you who don’t know my swim history, here is a brief overview:

1. In the pool at 3. Thanks mom.

2. Started swimming squad at 6. Once a day, 3 days a week.

3. By age 12 I was goefing (foreigners read: swim practise) 10 sessions a week, plus a gala every weekend. Roughly 60km a week of swimming.

4. Peak weeks or “Hell Week” as we used to call it, peaked around 90km a week, in the pool. I have yet to outrun that in a week, even at full Ironman training.

Why swim so much, as a lightie (foreigners read: young one)?

Swimming is all technique, and I was a distance swimmer. Sure, old school mentality meant I probably could have skipped about 20% of that and put it to more effective things, but I reckon to be top class, and get your 10 000 hours in, nothing beats practise.

So, this week, I have hopped back in with a proper swim squad. I have a rabbit named Phil who I have to chase most of the session, which helps alot, since his stroke is exemplary and I have learnt a bit about the mistakes I may have been making in the past 10 years since I stopped competitive swimming.

I don’t ever want to swim full time again. But I would like to be able to hop out the water in any Ironman in sub 50 minutes all the time (2008 I was out in 49:23 in PE and 53:20 ish in Kona but thats not a wetsuit swim) with AS LITTLE EFFORT AS POSSIBLE. I dont want to lead any packs – just swim in the front pack, and conserve.

What is the stroke I am aiming for?

I love this video, and if it had David Guetta – Everytime we Touch in the background, I might sit and watch it all day. Literally.

Its the perfect stroke. Watch it again and again, and learn to implement this idea in your stroke. The roll in the hips, the shoulders, the reach, the “catch”. This is the ideal scenario, and the perfect stroke. WOW!

I hope to get close to this with squad. I have a coach who really cares that I swim correctly, even if it means I go slower right now. In the long term, I am looking to be as efficient as possible in the water, so that I can suck feet and get on the bike fresh, ready for a 180km cycle, and a 42.2km run, and some day, to get under 9 hours.

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