“What’s the cost, of living your life? How important is the time we spent, because you can bet: there will be a smile on my face.” – Gorilla Biscuits

I am still searching for that feeling I had when I was 15. Smashed again the front of the stage of the Anthrax Club in Norwalk CT. Gorilla Biscuits had made the trip from NYC. Kings of the positive youth/straight edge scene this was a life changing moment, or I should say part of a series of them. As I screamed along an jumped on, off and around the stage I knew the following:

1) this mattered.
2) all the things people told me mattered; didn’t.

I have struggled with that realization ever since.

Since those days GB and the club have died. me and my best friends played in bands and carried the flame of the ideas and more importantly the FEELING of the scene and music. But even that faded and in time even the film of those days has faded to black like many of the memories.

I have tried to find that feeling ever since. on the start line nothing stupid matters. I bet you get it. I bet you want something pure to. Something that’s not about money. Something you cant buy. That feeling of believing in something and that the thing you believe in is true, pure, sincere.

Sport gives us that. In its heart sport is pure. Despite all the layers of corruption that gets heaped on a sport, the core is pure and comes out. You can buy wheels but you cant by speed. An entry buys you a bib number but only you can earn the finish, and the result. The money spent on sport is the furthest thing you will ever think about as you run down the chute of an event. Don’t get me wrong, getting ripped off sucks. But I always want to remember why we do what we do. Because what we do passionately matters, and everything else doesn’t. And no one knew that better than that 15 year old kid waiting for those magical first notes in that club. Remember What Matters. Go!
(pic: it’s a gluten free cherrio and gluten free tounge javelin)

The new Evil Racing Cult mosh up video is ready. #zentricamp, So Cal training and more!

Evil Racing Cult Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqCW1UpJEE&feature=youtu.be

Want to get to sunny warm Spain this winter!?!?

We got one spot left for the first session.

Www.stronglikebulltraining.com

“you say I got crazy eyes.” -Janes Addiction

Everyday has something special here. The last two days were awesome. Two days ago was a 3 hour ride then a trip up The 20k 3000+ foot Mt Palomar. This is a legit climb and a great way to finish off 5 hours on the bike. I tried to hold steady-tempo but my legs are getting heavy and were cooked from the 7.5 hours the day prior. I held 220w for 90 minutes, meh but i will take it. Then it was a screaming down hill! Weeee! I topped the day off with a sunset ride run up the local hills for an hour and to top off 6 more hours.

The next day was 101 miles ending on the famed 101 highway. The first 100k was all climbing through the inland hills and then a fast drop down to the ocean. The miles ticked away under sunny skies and at this point after the days prior I was really feeling frayed. But as the ride went on I felt better and better. At the end Christine attacked and dropped me on a climb 98 miles in. I went 300 watts but could only barely catch up! She is so strong!

Hear it’s snowing back home…
(foto: top of Mt Palomar)

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My main hommie tossed up a nice post on me: www.zentriathlon.com

(photo me outside our shared shrine, home of transworld skate/snowboard fueling 13-15 year old me and saving my teen sanity!)

Check it out

We live in fear of our own potential – Rise Against

Once the athletes leave I am left to my own devices and lack of restraint in warm weather and great training grounds.

Today became “the bonus day”. Everything got supersized. First my 60 minute run became 70 minutes. Brett came for a proper send off but wasn’t keen on a turn around so we added 10 minutes.

Then the 4 hour ride became 4:20 when me and the Guru added full on double peak. Someone at the top was also getting his 4:20 on but at top of a mountain it’s pretty breezy so I should pass any WADA testing.

Then it was off to strength training at Ezia’s Human Performance which is a great space the camp used. I got paired up with John a great coach and he beat on me like a rented mule. Since I am too cheap or stupid to rent a car I got to ride each way. Also I got there early and did 20 minutes of stretching.

So 70 run + 4:20 ride + 20 ride there + 20 minutes stretching + 60 minutes strength work + 20 minute ride home = 7.5 hours.

(photo: new aero lid ready for testing. The Boba Fett by ERC)

“Southern California will destroy you.” – Bad Religion

Day 4 came and people seemed to want to suck up every second and at 6 am the house was buzzing. A bunch of us headed out on a run along the beach for an hour. When we returned we meet up with the rest of the camp an did an hour of trails and single track over local hills. Nice 2 hours of running and effortless and mentally easy.

After that we chilled and watched video to review our swim form and run form on a giant screen tv. Ouch. I love seeing myself on tv but felt naked when I realized how much I do wrong!

We also had our last meal together where Christine Lynch who gained the nickname Christine Lunch, put out all kinds of super foods. You know your eating right when your eating salad wrapped in…more salad!

To save room I road to my main homeboy Morgan’s house and took a detour up full on Double Peak the local 5k climb that hangs out at 17 percent. Got a nice 2 hour ride in which I rarely do on long run days. But southern California makes you want to train.

(photo: athletes running and hanging)

Team Continuum after selling out all ya spots for Ironman got more!

Want into this race that sold out in half an hour? Want to help people fighting cancer? Want to get coaching from me and do some great workouts with a great bunch of athletes?

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“I know your smart, you mentioned it before.” Helmet

Day 3 came with a lovely ride during sunrise. Legs were pissed off from the double run with silly winter speed work so the ride was fun but nothing special.

After that we did a great run. It was amazing how hobbled I was but we did a long warm up which really helped. Sometimes you just need to give yourself an extra 5-10 minutes of easy to loosen up. Then we did 3 x 3 minutes up a monster of a hill followed by 4 x 1 minute uphill bounding. Then ran home. More ouch but very good stuff. I think this was a very productive workout.

Next up was a talk by me about lessons for the pro ranks and a better talk by Christine on what goes in your face hole. Brett also talked some about training and such all over an amazingly heathy lunch of tempeh and greens.

but the high light of the day was the swim at La Jolla. Walking in I saw sea lions then a whale. Then after we jumped it I saw kelp trees and colorful fishes. Pelicans flew inches over my head. I have never swam some place that was so alive! It was amazing and one of the greatest workouts of my life. After 2 miles it was done.

“California ubber alias California ubber alias.” – Dead Kennedys

day started with a sweet run along the beach at dawn. My man Billy Boy took it out to hard and I struggled to not get dropped so I decided to lift the pace to “uncomfortable” on the way back when I found my legs, because I am kind of a dick like that.

After that it was a kick ass movement class on swimming with Jessi. She do kicks ass. Dry land drills and movement are so where it’s at. For the first time I was “reaching” properly. Mostly bc Jessi told me to think rotation from the hip, not focusing on the “reach” which made me think of my hand. This is a massive improvement.

After that we went swimming and it was great to really focus on drills. We were in the water for a long time so weight have but in some yards but the key was form form form, movement movement movement.

Then we ate a super health mean made by Christine Lynch. If you don’t eat like she cooks your gonna die soon and painfully. She is the light and the way…for food.

Then we hit a new strength and conditioning gym here in So Cal Ezia’s which if your in the hood you must check out. Plus it was right next to the offices of Transworld the home the skate and snowboard mags I crew up on!

After that it was off to the track. I never do track work and never this early in the year but, hey, trying new things is nice. We did a full 30-45 minutes of movement, drills and warm up first. Nice business and i got a ton of stuff to incorporate into my coaching and workouts.

Then we did a hard track workout. I did a mile on 5:44 which was a nice surprise considering I had 20+ miles in 48 hours already. Then I did 4 x 400 on 1:15-1:18. Then another sub 6 mile. Ouch.

Another day here in heaven.