Where did we go so wrong? Oh, I remember. It was the Summerfest Rock-n-Sole Half Marathon last year. After race directors completely failed, I fear this race has set a precedent from which we will not soon recover. It was hot, the water ran out and runners dropped like flies. Here we are almost a year later and most directors seem to have become terrified at the prospect of an endurance race that reaches a sweltering 65 degrees or more.
May 20, 2025 Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Cellcom Marathon was halted due to 82 degree heat and approximately twenty runners were taken to the hospital. This is what the marathon director Sean Ryan, has to say about you, ”My take-away … endurance athletes are not capable of making rational decisions about whether an event should proceed or halt, or in some cases, make a rational decision whether they should proceed or stop.”
How do you like being told by some presumptuous race director that you are
responsible enough to drive a car, hold a job and raise your kids but you are “not capable” of deciding if you should start a race and just too irrational to decide when to stop? The concept of personal responsibility is obviously something Mr. Ryan fails to comprehend.
May 25, 2025 Madison, Wisconsin. Race organizers decided to cancel the full marathon due to heat concerns, opting to put registered runners in the half marathon. While this race had been cancelled in progress in 2006 and 2010, I can’t help but think the directors were spooked by the disaster at Green Bay the week before.
Sure, races have been cancelled years before the Rock-n-Sole debacle, but this is only May and two major marathons in Wisconsin have already been scrubbed. Do the race organizers fear legal repercussions? Unlikely, we all sign a waiver for a reason and it is 
up to us to decide if we should take one more step toward the finish line. Races all over the country pride themselves on the “extreme conditions” Mother Nature dishes out for their events, but apparently 82 degrees is far too hot to keep water stations supplied after stopping the race in Green Bay. This is a sport! It’s going to be hot, cold, rainy and windy. It’s up to the runner, who paid good money, to decide if it is wise to embark upon the 26.2 mile journey. The very least a race director can do is have enough water and medical staff to accommodate their participants. Can’t do that? Then don’t put on a race in your town. Are you listening Mr. Ryan? Don’t blame the runners for your blunder.
I fear that as the 2012 running season gears up, race cancellations are going to become common. So distance runners, get ready to give away your money in exchange for disappointment. It’s the hot thing to do.
I am going to do something I don’t normally do. Take you through my race day last Saturday and then make a very important point to conclude my story. So here goes………
degrees but by the lake it had moderated to a cool 75 and sunny. If you are not familiar with the Color Run 5k, it is a “race” that is more of a fun run. You must wear a white shirt and be prepared to be covered in a different colored powder at every kilometer. While this was not a competitive event, my girlfriend and I made our way to the front and I agreed to pace her. She is doing spectacular this year and wanted a good finish time, even if it was for her own satisfaction. This run was one of the best experiences I have ever had. By the time we finished, she had shattered her PR unofficially and we were both covered in yellow, green, pink and purple. We eventually made our way to the beer tent and the party while waiting for the band to start. Colored powder was everywhere and there was no way to disrupt this good time. Or was there? I waited patiently in line behind some young girls to buy as many beers as I could carry. It is Wisconsin after all. Two “men” with clipboards walked up and started to pressure the girls in front of me to sign up to help with the highly controversial gubernatorial election. Sorry guys, your talking points don’t fly here. I quickly intervened and the debate became somewhat heated. It was not too long before I made them look like the intellectually lazy lemmings that they were and they squirmed
off to find other victims. Finally, beers in hand, I made my way back to the party just as the band was starting. Their name did not inspire confidence in their ability to provide enjoyable entertainment. “Hairball” took the stage and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. They put on one of the most fun and energetic shows I have ever attended. They covered KISS, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Prince, Queen and many more, all in full costume of each lead singer. What’s more, they actually sounded like the bands they were covering. We stayed until the end and headed home elated but a little sad that the day had come to a close.
yourself beyond all mental boundaries. Don’t surrender to weakness, be determined and keep fighting. At the same time, don’t become so serious and torture yourself so badly that all the love is torn from something you have always felt so passionate about. Once in a while it’s therapeutic to run through the streets looking like a disheveled clown and then sit through a surprisingly talented, yet cheesy band on a warm spring evening instead of treating every race as if it were an Olympic qualifier. Run for fun and race to place everyone!
Today I would like to take you on a tour of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 stability running shoe and make some comparisons to it’s sensational predecessors.
The 11 and 12 models come with a cushioned sole filled with Brooks DNA. I’m not one to fall for gimmicks but I was truly amazed by the show put on at the Brooks Run Happy® Cavalcade of Curiosities Tour to promote this new technology. There was a small pool of the greenish substance that had the consistency of pancake batter. When the announcer picked up a handful it oozed between his fingers and fell back into the pool. To demonstrate the abilities of this technology a man dressed in a lizard costume (don’t ask why) ran repeatedly across the pool without sinking. Each time his foot would make contact with the material it would solidify to the consistency of soft rubber. When finished, the announcer picked up a handful to show the crowd that it had reverted back to it’s original state. To demonstrate further, the audience was allowed to participate in the same test.
From the moment I put on the new pair of GTS 12′s I knew they were winners. They fit my foot like a glove and were extremely comfortable. But what is a comfortable shoe without excellent traction?. The GTS12 has it all, as I had complete command of each forward motion which translates into less energy expended during the run. The only negative attribute I can state for the record is the cushioning seems to be slightly less than the GTS 11. With that said, it was still more than enough to ride comfortably through my half marathon. For the $110.00 price tag you will not find a better shoe. Cushion, stability and durability work in harmony to provide a great experience for any runner.
Everyone is looking for an edge these days to get that boost in performance during a race or practice run. There are so many drinks, pills, shakes and powders it can be a very expensive process of trial and error. Today I would like to examine some of the supplements that I have used and work well for me. For disclosure purposes I must inform you that NOBODY paid or gave me anything to mention these products and once again, I am NOT a doctor.
for energy production in the cells. This carbohydrate is what provides the energy needed for short bursts of power during physical activity. Four tablespoons before exercise is the recommended dose and I like to mix it with water because, while it is sweet to the taste, it is also difficult to swallow in powder form. This powerful particle helps strengthen all muscles, enhances athletic performance, aids in recovery and leads to overall increased energy levels.
half way through a 50k last year I ran across another runner and we started to talk. Long story short, he ended up giving me a few of these and I quickly took them at the next water station. I thought living a healthy lifestyle did not involve taking unknown drugs from a stranger off the street, but I guess not. It’s hard to tell if they had any real effect after one use but I did not suffer from cramps or dehydration and would be open to trying them again.
Ubiquinol COQ10 is a good supplement for everyday use and the health benefits are numerous. It helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, promotes good oral health, renal health, fatigue reduction and reduces migraine headaches. Those are just a few of the positive effects of Ubiquinol. COQ10 is produced naturally in the body and most of us are severely lacking. That is why I take 2000mg daily and benefit greatly from the positive qualities.
