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Here’s a Review of my 2009 Year to Date

New Prague Half Marathon – May 9, 2009 Finishing Strong with a nice Hawaiian Lei My first race of the Blazeman season was a half marathon in the small community of New Prague. This short 10 minute drive from my house was a great way to start the season. I really was unsure how I would do as I hadn’t done many longer training runs but I wanted to give the race a shot. It was idyllic conditions (outside of a decent wind) and I had one of the best races of my life…on my birthday nonetheless! Finishing the race in a time of 1:36 averaging 7:24/mile, was significantly faster than I was expecting. This course certainly isn’t flat and was encouraging that I may be able to drive for even faster times with the right preparation. New Prague Results

Lake Waconia Triathlon – June 28, 2009 First Triathlon Roll Across the Finishline Lake Waconia was my first major triathlon of the season (I competed in one indoor triathlon in April). The weather was miserable with 25 mph wind. The race director cut the swim in half. Unfortunately, swimming is my forte so I had to make up for it on the run and bike. The course ran along the side of the lake with the run culminating in a hill called ‘Graveyard Hill.’ While the race pushed me to my limits, I was able to finish strong and roll across my first triathlon finish line. It was a surreal moment with friends and family when I finished. Knowing that this was just the start of a battle to win this war on ALS. It was gratifying to compete and finish strong, yet daunting knowing the larger struggle of those I was representing. It was nonetheless the first step in a long journey. Waconia Results

Elysian Rookie Triathlon – July 11, 2009 Red Swim Cap to the right This was a wonderful event that we fit in while trying to find a good sprint to carry use between Waconia and St. Paul in August. Lots of interesting elements to this race (e.g. two transition zones, no bike racks, short 8 mile bike ride, etc.). I had a great race that day with a strong swim, decent bike ride and my fastest run ever (under 6:50/mile). This is one of the closer events to my house and one I will certainly consider doing again next year. Had numerous opportunities to share why I ‘roll’ and more information about ALS and the fire behind my triathlons. Elysian Results

St. Paul Triathlon – August 23, 2009 Great complete race in St. Paul Instantly one of my favorite events of my short triathlon career. This race takes place in the calm Lake Phalen just north of downtown St. Paul. While the unique multiple lap swim made for an interesting merger of heats as the race went on, I had one of my strongest swims of the season (enjoying my first race in my new Orca Wetsuit). After a strong ride and a decent run, I rolled across the finish line in Blazeman style. Two quick highlights to this race. #1) I had the wonderful opportunity to meet my first fellow Blazeman Warrior in person. Ironman Tim Smit was gracious and supportive as we both compete for a higher cause. #2) It was a wonderful spectator event where my daughters, wife, sister-in-law and parents could easily catch me multiple times on the course. Certainly helped motivate me to my strong finish. St. Paul Results

This was the first race where I was wearing Team Blazeman gear. I also rolled across the finish line in memory of Jon Blais’ and other PALS efforts to defeat ALS. I will add photos when we get them updated.

I felt the spirits of the ALS Warrior Poets today pulling me along. My best time up to today was 1:49 (a 8:22 per mile pace). My goal was to PR with a 8:00 per mile pace coming in around 1:45. With the power and strength from above and within, I completed the race in an official time in 1:36:34 (a 7:21 per mile pace).

After rolling across the finish line, many people asked me about my reasoning and was able to share the story of Team Blazeman. More people know about ALS today and that means more people can help work to fight this horrible disease.

It was an amazing birthday wish. A great cause…A great race…And a wonderful family there to cheer me on.

Love to you all,
TriHead
Joel Haugen

The word is freedom…Freedom from ALS. The goal…to Destroy ALS.

Nick’s Story

Nick with his Fantasy Football Trophy

We engaged more as the years at Luther went on. We worked together at KWLC, Luther’s radio station. We had the best work study jobs on campus as Nick was the Sports Director and I was the Production Manager. Nick would also broadcast the majority of Luther’s sports. This varied from basketball to baseball to football to soccer. It could have been Ping Pong and Nick could add his unbelievable knowledge of the sport with his detailed study of player stats and information. He kept the show flowing and was probably the only broadcaster I have ever listened to that could keep me fully engaged without a TV in front of my face.

We also had fond memories working together on a local ESPN News sports break. I still get a smile on my face as I remember Nick’s witty humor showing up on the local cable station each Sat. morning.

Nick started dating Ann, a close friend of both my wife Cathy and I, and we couldn’t be more ecstatic. We were excited to begin sharing memories as couples. Nick moved to St. Peter, MN after graduating to take a role as the Assistant Sports Information Director at Gustavus Adolphus College. Ann worked as a nurse and lived in Hudson. I can vividly remember picking Nick up on the way to the Minnesota Vikings training camp. It was an absolute blast having Nick there to provide his football insight and hilarious side comments.

Cathy and I had an amazing wedding that Nick and Ann were a part of in June 2003 (Ann was a bridesmaid). We planned another gathering soon but couldn’t swing a date that summer. Nick proposed to Ann and began preparations for a wonderful wedding.

We finally were able to connect in October of 2003 for the Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos football game. As a Broncos fan, Nick was on his game. The insults were flying prior to the weekend. Ann and Nick came up early to spend some time with us. We met at Chili’s in Burnsville, MN and I won’t forget the change in mood from going in the door to walking out of it.

Nick shared the news that he had ALS and was given three to five years to live. Cathy and I didn’t know how to respond. We cried that night…we stayed strong for Nick and Ann…and we began to deal with the fact that our time with Nick was limited.

We made the most of that weekend. Nick and I played catch while tailgating for over an hour. It is probably one of my favorite memories of Nick. It was just him and I in an empty parking lot throwing around the Pigskin and ribbing each other about whose team was about to win. ALS did not steal that experience from us.

Cathy and I did our best to see Nick and Ann over the coming years but my biggest regret is that we did not take initiative to visit them more often. We had a wonderful visit out to Colorado in 2004 where we went to Red Rock and we hiked with Nick and Ann to the top of the Continental Divide and Mountain Range there. What a wonderful trip. We went down to visit Nick and Ann a few times at their new home in Iowa. We always made sure to bring Nick’s favorite food. Chipotle. I’m sure Cathy will vividly remember when she brought a burrito without Nick’s favorite green salsa. The face Nick gave her is one I’ll never forget.

Nick’s condition worsened over the years. Our interaction began picking up as I helped him create his blog at Nick Ann Street. We shared comments about recent sporting events and kept up on the progression of this horrible disease.

There certainly were lighter notes. Nick continued to be a part of our fantasy football league. He won our inaugural year that you’ll see up above with his wonderful Bobblehead trophy. He would send his smack via e-mail and photos like the one above…always generating smiles from the league. I’ll miss that.

In early July 2008, Nick and Ann were returning home following a high school reunion when they were hit by a drunk driver. Nick broke several vertebrae in his back and was placed in a halo. While he seemed to be improving, the progression of his disease along with the injuries sustained in the accident, Nick passed away early the morning of July 19th, 2008. As his wife Ann so poignantly stated, “Nick is running with the angels.” I’m sure he is. And when he’s not running, I’m sure he’s in the press booth calling the game.

I roll for you Nick. Every race I compete in for the rest of my life will be finished in memory of you…rolling over the finish. While you may have lost your battle, you fought so others could win the war. We will win this war…in your honor.

Scott’s Story

I had the opportunity to work with Kirsten for a short time when I worked for Accenture. She was a wonderful person in our limited interaction and I have kept up as much as I can on Scott’s battle with ALS. It is striking to me the similarities in my life to Scott’s. I have a wonderful daughter born in April, a caring wife and another child on the way. But this warrior deals with these struggles on a daily basis. His humor and perseverance through this horrible disease has been inspiration. I roll for you Scott.

Jon’s Story

I first heard about Jon Blais’ struggle while watching coverage of the 2006 Ironman where Brian Breen ran in Jon’s place for the full Ironman event. With the personal touch that Nick has given me around ALS, Jon’s story touched me. When I became determined to commit my training to a noble cause, Team Blazeman was a perfect fit.

When I began exploring the possibility of joining Team Blazeman and working to build awareness, I sent an e-mail to the Blazeman organization with a few basic questions. Within hours, Bob Blais, Jon’s father, had given me a call. Bob and I talked for close to 45 minutes about Jon, about Nick and about the war that we have ahead of us to defeat this disease. Bob told me about Jon’s first love which was teaching those in need. He talked about his passion for the movie Braveheart and how he used this motivational movie as a springboard in his fight for ALS.

Jon shared several passions that I have including a love of poetry and multi-sport events. The video above shows how he used both of these to bring awareness to the disease that had so affected his life.

Jon completed a full Ironman in Hawaii in 2005, five months after he was diagnosed. This is a feat that I have not seen in my life. When the movie Gladiator ends, there is a quote that Jon’s family has shared.

What we do in life, echos in eternity.

Certainly Jon’s echo was loud and strong. Thousands of athletes like myself have begun to share his message and to continue to wage the war he so valiantly fought. I roll for you Jon.

What You Can Do
DONATE: As part of joining the Team Blazeman organization, I have agreed to raise funds that are used for a variety of ALS research and awareness activities. Bob Blais talked about the great efforts around harvesting and dispersing ALS tissue to assist ALS researchers to have the best tools to help battle this disease. I committed to raise over $1,000 in 2009 and need your help to get there.

RACE WITH ME: All you endurance athletes from 5k to marathon, from sprint triathlete to Ironman, I would love for you all to join me in this effort. You can join the Need2Tri team. Team Blazeman ranges in cost for $50 to $250 and includes a variety of gear to help you share the message. Fundraising commitment ranges from $0 to $1,000. Below is the link to the team’s site. If you do decide to join, make sure to join team Need2Tri. Please contact me at joelhaugen@gmail.com with any questions.

CHEER & PRAY
I am currently scheduled for the following events this season:
5/9 New Prague Half Marathon
6/14 Fairmont Triathlon
6/28 Lake Waconia
7/26 Chisago Lakes Sprint
8/23 St. Paul Triathlon
9/13 Burrito 10 Hour Triathlon
10/31 Monster Dash Half Marathon

Please let me know if you can attend and help cheer on the Need2Tri team and raise ALS awareness. If you are unable to attend, mark your calendars and say a few prayers and send a few thoughts my way.

Now give your eyes a rest. Thank you so much for reading through this and helping me on this journey. Don’t hesitate to e-mail me or keep an eye on my triathlon training at http://www.need2tri.com

God Bless,
TriHead
Joel Haugen

A quick quote:

The risk is mostly from heart problems during the swimming part. And while that risk is low — about 15 out of a million participants — it’s not inconsequential, the study’s author says.

I was planning to add my own thoughts until I received my USAT e-mail this morning from Christopher Hess. I tried to link to the article on the USAT website to no avail so I have copied it here. Please refer to their website. Chris hit every major point in his rebuttal that I thought I would defer my thoughts. What do you think?

Outdoor Activities Could be Hazardous to Health
2009 seems to be the year of warnings: losses in the economy, personal retirement accounts, unemployment rates, property values–everywhere we look, something seems hazardous to our personal welfare.

Every step we take outside our home is about Risk–what we’ll accept within our pursuit of quality living.

Nearly 100 people die from lightening strikes and 83 die from bee stings each year in the United States.

Granted, those people might still be alive if they hadn’t watched a storm, been in a garden, or romped in a field. Then again, living in a climate controlled, four-wall illusion of security is not really all about living, either.

Triathlon Poses “Risk” Compared to Marathon
While nearly 500,000 people lose their lives to tobacco-related illnesses every year, a few extraordinary episodes in living feature people who actually try something new, healthy, and wholesome. These pursuits of living suffer a few ill effects, although not nearly on the scale of tragedy as the sendentary lives that don’t make it out outside to watch storms, walk in the garden or try something courageous like triathlon.

One recent study suggests that perhaps 15 people out of one million–over a 21 month study–might suffer the loss of life while participating in a triathlon. Hearts and empathy always go to the people and families where tragedy has occurrred.

On the other hand, for people who don’t even try to participate or live healthy lives, disease, death and financial peril looms significantly larger than the lives lost in an open-water swim.

“Over 21 million Americans use smokeless tobacco and another 45 million are smokers, leading to death rates of nearly one-half million people each year,” states Christopher Hess, health advocate and fitness enthusiast.

“I’ve literally worked with over a thousand athletes since I began coaching in 1993. Not a one of them would consider the risks of one activity to another to be anything significant compared to the risks of dying without activity, direction or purpose.”

What Matters Most
Interesting snapshots to consider:

Number of people participating in triathlons over a 21 month period of time: 922,810

Number of people discovering satisfaction, energy, sense of purpose: 921,795

Number of people losing their lives to the unexpected during triathlon study period of time: 15

Ratio of satisfied people versus number of misfortunate circumstances: 61,520:1

Number of annual deaths from sedentary / obese lifestyles: 300,000

U.S. Obesity rate: 55%

Annual U.S. Average cost of medical treatment: $7,900.00 per person

What can you do?
Let’s suppose that you’re a fitness enthusiast. Perhaps one that would recommend a particular sport and then a mainstream news source calls that sport into question. What next?

- Ask for a fair comparison. What are the rewards of one sport compared to another and compared to no sport activity at all? Sports can be measured in any number of ways–social benefit, health savings, psychological esteem–”supersize” your comparisons and don’t accept the first one you read!

- Encourage others to seek qualified help. If someone in your sport reads about something “perilous,” be ready to help them find the help they need to avoid their own peril! Need the directory of coaches?

- Research and quantify. What is the emotional and social cost to losing a life to a sporting event? What is the same cost for a life who hasn’t tried sport and died young and diseased? Find out and share what you know!

The USAT Midwest Region is always on the look-out for fresh content to publish in this newsletter. Please submit article ideas to the editor at christopherhess@rocketmail.com.

So this week with the blessing of my wonderful wife, I upped for a new triathlon bike. Here are the specifications:

While some of the components lack some to be desired (especially the wheelset), it is a significant upgrade over the previous road bike I was using. My first ride yesterday was a good, windy ride that averaged almost 19 miles an hour. While still no where near the speed I want to be, I noticed a significant difference going up hills and maintaining a strong speed. While I couldn’t get the bike to go any faster down hill (the benefits of heavier tires I suspect), the saving energy in the other areas and maintaining speed on the longer flats is well worth it.

I’ll keep you posted as the training continues.

The past three mornings I’ve gotten up and into the gym and worked my butt off. No cutting back in the intensity. Was a bit concerned if that was the right tactic. I felt horrible going in to working out, felt great during and right after the workout and felt about as lousy as I did before working out a few hours later.

Did a bit of research into this and wanted to share an interesting article from New York Times.

A quick excerpt:

The investigators found no difference in symptoms between the group that exercised and the one that rested. And there was no difference in the time it took to recover from the colds. But when the exercisers assessed their symptoms, Dr. Kaminsky said, “people said they felt O.K. and, in some cases, they actually felt better.”

This season will be a good indicator if I’m over-doing it or not. Is 33 weeks of training too much? Do I have too many or too few races planned? Should my drop back weeks be more dropping back?

We’ll see. I’ll work to highlight the training of each week as I move forward and give you all an indication of how it is going. I’m reading insightful triathlon books, listening to podcasts and discussing training topics with a physical trainer and nutritionist. Hopefully you all will find value in these posts. Feel free to share your comments as we move forward with the Need 2 Tri.

- Joel