Perhaps it was the calm before the fall storm, but it was a pretty quiet weekend on the racing front. Or maybe it was just sheer exhaustion, as the Orioles played three games between Friday and Monday, which all finished midnight or later after a few lengthy delays. The atmosphere in Baltimore is great right now, and we'll keep supporting the Birds as they take on the Pinstripes in New York.
Chicago Marathon on Sunday was a thing of beauty, as Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede ran a perfect race, negative splitting a Course Record 2:04:38. Andrew Beef Jaffe didn't quite negative split, but still ran 5 minutes faster than he went earlier this year at Boston, crossing the line in 219th place overall in 2:43:45. Molly Eagen ran a big PR, finishing in 3:57:48.
Nationally there were some big events in the B.A.A. Half Marathon and Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Miler, but there wasn't much for us out here. As new editor-in-chief of the Washington Running Report/GRC runner Charlie Ban says, we need to get ourselves out to Great Allegany 15k next year. So let's put that on the schedule and get it done.
We haven't seen Seth Tibbitts' name in a while, but he finished 2nd at the Casey Cares 5k in 17:51. Only first place got any money though, and it was solid - $250. Megan DiGregorio was sneaky and made sure she didn't mention it to anybody, and got the win in 18:33. Fiana York was 3rd in 19:02.
Down in Columbia, the REV3 Half Full Triathlon, featuring an Olympic distance event as well as a half iron, went on despite some absolutely atrocious weather for triathlon. The pros were racing the Olympic, as were the college kids (it was the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championship), but the ballers were racing the half. And by ballers, I mean yours truly and Lance Armstrong. I have to give a shout out to Mike Zero, who the morning after his birthday and the Virgin Free Fest concert came out to spectate, and really helped me out at the end of the race when I was in rough shape.
Our Purple Drink Athlete of the Week went to Jim Adams, as he raced not once, but TWICE this weekend. Sunday he did the Harvest Harrier 5k in Columbia, after running the Blue Steel Stampede 10k on Saturday. Both were challenging trail races.
We've got the Baltimore Running Festival this weekend, the expo starts Thursday. I hope everyone has everything ready! I'll be on the course on Saturday, so if you need anything, be sure to let me know. I can't promise I'll be able to carry too much, like I won't be able to take your clothes probably, but if you think you'll need any support, holler.
And of course we have triathlon's biggest event this Saturday - IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS from Kona! Baltimore + Kona, the best day of the fall.
Showing posts with label Lance Armstrong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lance Armstrong. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Lance: The Facts
When news broke yesterday that the USADA was set to file new charges against Lance Armstrong and a host of others for doping-related offenses, the media spin led everyone to believe that the USADA in some way had the power to ban LA from the sport of triathlon. This obviously is not correct, as they really don't have that kind of power. So who is imposing the ban?
That would be the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owners of the Ironman brand and its affiliated events. The WTC had signed a deal with Lance to race in 6 of its events. As of today, he's raced in 5 Ironman 70.3 events, winning the Florida 70.3 and finishing second in Panama (his first) and Hawaii. Lance was slated to race Ironman France next weekend and it was generally accepted he would compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona in October. So infatuated with Lance was Ironman that their website included a tab for "Lance Armstrong." All eyes were fixed on Lance, his training, his races, and he had, in a few short months, brought more visibility to the sport than all the athletes of the last decade combined.
But as soon as the news of the doping charges was announced, Ironman.com quickly took down their "Lance" tab, and it's their rules - not the USADA's - that are keeping Lance from competing. According to the WTC, any athlete who is under investigation for doping is ineligible to compete in WTC events.
In other words, Lance could compete in other triathlons - just not ones owned by WTC.
No word yet on whether the USADA will proceed with their case. They have merely sent notice to Lance, his team manager Johan Bruyneel, controversial doc Michele Ferrari, and a few others to let them know that they feel they have enough evidence to move forward with their case. You can read the full USADA letter here.
Lance has received mixed reactions from the professional triathlete community. Many feel he's a disruption and not an ambassador for the sport, and that his intentions are self-serving. Others have welcomed the challenge to take on and beat one of the best athletes of all time. Their reactions to this news have also been mixed, but there are a few supporters who just want to see Lance race, and question the WTC's "guilty until proven innocent" stance.
That would be the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owners of the Ironman brand and its affiliated events. The WTC had signed a deal with Lance to race in 6 of its events. As of today, he's raced in 5 Ironman 70.3 events, winning the Florida 70.3 and finishing second in Panama (his first) and Hawaii. Lance was slated to race Ironman France next weekend and it was generally accepted he would compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona in October. So infatuated with Lance was Ironman that their website included a tab for "Lance Armstrong." All eyes were fixed on Lance, his training, his races, and he had, in a few short months, brought more visibility to the sport than all the athletes of the last decade combined.
But as soon as the news of the doping charges was announced, Ironman.com quickly took down their "Lance" tab, and it's their rules - not the USADA's - that are keeping Lance from competing. According to the WTC, any athlete who is under investigation for doping is ineligible to compete in WTC events.
In other words, Lance could compete in other triathlons - just not ones owned by WTC.
No word yet on whether the USADA will proceed with their case. They have merely sent notice to Lance, his team manager Johan Bruyneel, controversial doc Michele Ferrari, and a few others to let them know that they feel they have enough evidence to move forward with their case. You can read the full USADA letter here.
Lance has received mixed reactions from the professional triathlete community. Many feel he's a disruption and not an ambassador for the sport, and that his intentions are self-serving. Others have welcomed the challenge to take on and beat one of the best athletes of all time. Their reactions to this news have also been mixed, but there are a few supporters who just want to see Lance race, and question the WTC's "guilty until proven innocent" stance.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Lance Armstrong BANNED From Triathlon
UPDATED: Read Dan Empfield's (of Slowtwitch) very reasonable opinion on the matter
UPDATED: Read Lance's response to the new USADA charges
In Lance Armstrong's quarter of a century of competing at the highest level of sport, he has battled through his fair share of accusations. How could it be possible that a guy who was on his death bed in 1997 come back to win the world's hardest bike race 7 times in a row less than two years later?
Breaking news from The Washington Post indicates that the United States Anti-Doping Agency has filed new charges against Mr. Armstrong, and effective immediately, he has been banned from the entire sport of triathlon, including Ironman France, which he was scheduled to race in just over a week.
While it's unclear what kind of long-term effect this will have on his ability to race triathlons, but, it would appear that he will likely be barred from competing at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii in October.
Regardless of your opinion - because that's all any of us has, as none of us has a sample of his blood from years ago to test ourselves - the guy has done some pretty amazing things.
I'm inclined to believe that any and every professional cyclist in the European peloton up to and including 2010 was doping in some capacity. If this includes Lance, so be it. That means he still worked harder than everyone else, committed himself to being the best prepared and cultivating the best team around him to win one race seven times straight. The amount of discipline, dedication, and good fortune is unbelievable.
Lance's case for himself, though, is still pretty solid. He's been competing, scratch that - winning - since he was a kid, and continued through his twenties, thirties, and now, in his early 40s, looks to be a true threat to win the Ironman World Championship.
Is it time we just give the guy a break? Some say no, and they feel that despite his contributions to society, including his oft-criticized Livestrong Foundation, are not enough to exempt him from alleged doping.
I don't think Lance and I would be best friends, but I do have immense respect for him as an athlete and competitor. If Lance wants to win, he will. I say it's time that the government stops wasting their time and tax-paying dollars chasing around one person who may have used performance-enhancing drugs years ago, and find a more productive use of their time.
UPDATED: Read Lance's response to the new USADA charges
In Lance Armstrong's quarter of a century of competing at the highest level of sport, he has battled through his fair share of accusations. How could it be possible that a guy who was on his death bed in 1997 come back to win the world's hardest bike race 7 times in a row less than two years later?
Breaking news from The Washington Post indicates that the United States Anti-Doping Agency has filed new charges against Mr. Armstrong, and effective immediately, he has been banned from the entire sport of triathlon, including Ironman France, which he was scheduled to race in just over a week.
While it's unclear what kind of long-term effect this will have on his ability to race triathlons, but, it would appear that he will likely be barred from competing at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii in October.
Regardless of your opinion - because that's all any of us has, as none of us has a sample of his blood from years ago to test ourselves - the guy has done some pretty amazing things.
I'm inclined to believe that any and every professional cyclist in the European peloton up to and including 2010 was doping in some capacity. If this includes Lance, so be it. That means he still worked harder than everyone else, committed himself to being the best prepared and cultivating the best team around him to win one race seven times straight. The amount of discipline, dedication, and good fortune is unbelievable.
Lance's case for himself, though, is still pretty solid. He's been competing, scratch that - winning - since he was a kid, and continued through his twenties, thirties, and now, in his early 40s, looks to be a true threat to win the Ironman World Championship.
Is it time we just give the guy a break? Some say no, and they feel that despite his contributions to society, including his oft-criticized Livestrong Foundation, are not enough to exempt him from alleged doping.
I don't think Lance and I would be best friends, but I do have immense respect for him as an athlete and competitor. If Lance wants to win, he will. I say it's time that the government stops wasting their time and tax-paying dollars chasing around one person who may have used performance-enhancing drugs years ago, and find a more productive use of their time.
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