Recreation Through Endurance

It's that time of year again. Time for the lists. So, I'll join in on the fun and add my own Top 10 List:

Top 10 Athletic Moments of 2007 That I Observed
(In no particlular order)

Travis Williams crossing the finish line in Stokesville after the SM100

Jay deBellonia, the anti-racer, completing the Xterra Sport in Richmond


Liz screaming with excitement during the Tidewater Challenge between whoops


Brandon Wright trading spots for 1st with me during the Fall Cup and edging me out in the end.


Liz and Jana running the trail 5k during Xterra Nationals Weekend.


Ann Green running up then back down one of the steepest roads I've seen to keep RSR in front of the Blue Mountain Oysters during the Blue Ridge Relay


Mike Stricker completing the Monument 10k after losing 25 pounds


My sister Jana and her (now) fiance Chad taking their first mountain bike ride at the SM100


Liz riding the Flume Trail at Lake Tahoe after 1500' feet of climbing


Brittany Hott, Chris Peck, and Liz Ward running the OBX Marathon


Let's hope 2008 is just as exciting and fun.

I guess my soft spot for The Onion is well known. On Christmas, my mom gifted me Our Dumb World which does a pretty good job at making fun of everywhere. I've learned quite a bit of false information about all sorts of places such as Kenya.

Who knew the traditional way to greet someone is "On your left!"

...and to all a good weekend.

One of the best female runners I know (recent 3:31 marathon) says she doesn't remember her runs. She's zoned out and doesn't notice scenery. She also likes doing track work because she just runs in a circle and doesn't get lost.

I have another friend that says he gets beat doing 10 miles on the local trails, then can go out and do 40 miles in the mountains with long unending climbs.

I've been on rides and especially races where I just stay on the wheel of the guy in front of me, then something happens that causes me to fall back a few seconds and I can't catch back up.

They say endurance sports are as much mental as physical. It's just a certain type of mental.

I'm not really running, I'm not really running...

Snipet:

The moral of the story? No matter how high you jump, how fast you run or swim, how powerfully you row, you can do better. But sometimes your mind gets in the way.

Check this out. It's not my style of riding and I couldn't dream of doing it, so needless to say, I'm impressed. I thought the double-skinnies were good until it got to the helmet cam. Notice that it's all on a single take.

Blogging's supposed to be like Flight Club. The only rule is no talking about Fight Club... or blogging about blogging.

Well, I'm going go do it just this once. I'm not going to ask for comments or anything like that, just let you know about a new feature so to speak.

From now on, you can get the same wishful thinking and dreams of fitness of Recreation Through Endurance at a new address: http://jaredstangl.com/

Enjoy and update your bookmarks if so inclined.

Who knew?



Now, you just have to come up with a good excuse for the boss for a "momentary lapse in wakefulness."

Last night before I left work, Liz called me to say she was going to a Christmas show with her mom. She then told me that she wouldn't be home until later, so I had the night off and could do what I wanted.

My coworkers fielded several suggestions: Getting together for a poker game. Going drinking with some buddies. Other forms of trouble a 20-something, married man could get into.

In the end, I did do something most people wouldn't recommend or look up to. It made me feel bad, I hurt inside, and ended up falling asleep on the couch after she got home. That's what I get for doing an hour of speed work in the drizzling rain.

As the weather cools and cabin fever starts to set in early, I find myself not looking forward to months of winter. Still, it's part of the cycle of seasons and we must go through the 5 o'clock darkness.

I'm still on an Into The Wild kick and am well into Into Thin Air. The coldness of the settings and the outcomes match the chill in the air outside, but remind me of the adventures I had this year. It's time for some downtime to resettle, but that doesn't calm the search for adventure. Perhaps, through the winter, it's possible to fill it with books, music, movies, and local, homey escapades. Perhaps not. Though I probably won't be getting out into the remote wilderness with my tires or shoes anytime soon, it doesn't mean I won't be thinking about it.

I was disappointed when Lee Graves stopped writing the Outdoors articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Through all the hunting and fishing articles there were some about biking, running, and other adventure type sports. When Andy Thompson took over, I didn't know where it would go.

As it's turned out, Andy's written more stories on the sports I'm interested in. Though I don't kayak (but no doubt I would), I've found out about Trip Jennings, who's an extremist in the kayak and from Richmond. Here's a sampling of his work:



You can look up more of Trip's stuff by searching "Epicocity" on You Tube, or buying the DVD when it comes out. ...or buying the DVD for me and I'll invite you over to watch it.