Randomness

So You Think You’re Older Than A Marathon Runner….. 

Have you ever searched race results to look up the top finishers, friends, or your own name?  I have looked up my friends and my own finish times on several occasions (once the race results were posted) and couldn’t help but wonder how I compared to others in my age group.  I was blown away to see that 36-year olds were still capable of running 5-minute mile paces!  Well, it got even more interesting the further up I went in age!  There are 70 year olds who can outrun you and I…..  “Don’t believe me, check it out for yourself.” 

I read an article of an individual who had run a half-marathon at the tender age of 99 years old.  I thought for sure that this was a typo, but sure enough this man did in fact run a half-marathon and finished in a little over 3 hours!  He had finished the half-marathon three years earlier in under 2:30 (besting my own current PR)!  “C’mon, a 99 year old man running a 2:30 half-marathon?”  His name is Fauja Singh, and he has an Adidas deal…..

Fauja Singh

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* Multiple Sources: WikiPedia, YouTube, TimesofIndia.com

Going The Distance….. 

For serious runners only: “the trifecta,” where an individual attempts to run three full-marathon distances back-to-back in consecutive days.  A simple Google search can yield dozens (or hundreds) of names of those who have successfully accomplished this.  “The trifecta” may also have another meaning too (to another category of serious runners); accomplish a 5K, 10K, and half-marathon from one weekend’s race events…..  Some races host multi-day races: 5K the first day followed by the 10K and ending with either a shotgun-start half/full (or split starts).  Either way I think it is just downright crazy to put your body through so much without rest periods in between.  Ok, I admit a little jealousy…..  But, these individuals are hardcore…..

Now you think that is crazy, think about the “ultra marathoners.”  These are folks who feel that 26.2 miles just isn’t enough for them…..  I’m talking distances of 50 kilometers (31.069 mi), 100 kilometers (62.137 mi), 50 miles (80.467 km) and 100 miles (160.934 km), although many races have other distances. The 100 kilometers is an official IAAF world record event but there are also multi-day 1,000 mile races too…..  “There’s absolutely no chance in H-E-double-hockey-sticks that I am running anything like that!”  <again, a little jealousy but I am inspired to try one of these>  I'd love to finish one of these before I die! 

One of the most grueling races I’ve ever known to have been run (on foot) was the 111-day challenge run by three men back in 2006-2007.  These runners traversed 4,300 miles across the Sahara desert taking them through six countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt.  “Folks, this is a big deal…..”  The documentary titled “Running the Sahara” can be purchased on DVD.
* Multiple Sources: WikiPedia, Runnersworld.com, or Runningthesahara.com/

The Fastest Man on No Legs…..

No mistake to the subject line; “The Fastest Man on NO legs” is Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius (born 22 November 1986), AKA the “Blade Runner.”  Pistorius, a South African Paralympic runner (double amputee) holds world records for the 100, 200, and 400 meter events.   Talk about fighting an uphill battle, Pistorius’ story is one to motivate…..  In 2007, Pistorius attempted to compete against “able-bodied” athletes but the IAAF amended competition rules (based upon claims that were generated to suggest Pistorius gained an advantage by use of his carbon-fiber Cheetah flex-foot limbs).  The amendment basically prevented Pistorius from legally competing in the 2008 Olympics.

After several months the decision was reversed (allowing Pistorius to compete against “able-bodied athletes).  Unfortunately, Pistorius did not qualify for the South African team despite finishing 3^rd overall (bronze medal, with a PR) in the 400M event (Lucerne, Switzerland).  He was also passed over for the relay team too (four other runners posted better times).  Pistorius later competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, where he took the gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events….  “Go ahead and look up his videos on YouTube; you can’t hang with this guy…..”

Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius AKA The Blade Runner

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* Source:  WikiPedia

How Much Can One Man Eat? 

Not related to running, but I thought it was good enough for my “Randomness page.” 

As a child, US Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He started swimming when he was only seven years old.  There is no doubt that Michael Phelps is extremely well suited to swimming. He has size 14 feet and a 6ft 7in arm reach, which is 3in longer than his height. He has relatively short legs for his height, which gives him an additional advantage in the pool.

Also his knees are double-jointed and his feet can rotate 15 degrees more than average, allowing them to be straightened fully so that his mighty feet act like flippers. These genetic advantages help him to kick off the wall and propel himself dolphin like 10m before actually have to swim. This is how he got the name, “the human dolphin”.

Well on to the facts that really got my attention and made think “wow!”  Michael Phelps’ diet consists of over 8,000 to 12,000 calories per day!  Let’s get this straight; the average man consumes about 2,000 calories per day.  Well, we all know that Phelps is no average man…..  You’re probably asking yourselves; “what is he eating?”  Here’s a breakdown of Phelps’ typical daily menu:

Breakfast: three sandwiches of fried egg sandwiches (with cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onions, mayonnaise) an omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast with powdered sugar, three chocolate-chip pancakes with two cups of coffee.

Lunch: One pound of pasta, two large ham and cheese sandwiches, and 1,000 calories of energy drinks.

Dinner: Another pound of pasta, a full-size pizza, and 1,000 calories of you guessed, energy drinks…..  

 The Phelps Diet

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* Multiple Sources: Motleyhealth.com, Webmd.com, and NYpost.com  

I haven’t actually seen Phelps eat all of this food (although I’ve seen Adam Richman accomplish this fete on multiple occasions while watching Man vs. Food).