I blame it on the shoes
I most certainly have the blues
My achilles feels like rusty screws
Look, at least give me a clue
My gait sounds like a rabid zoo

I blame it on the shoes
Darn it, tell me why I hurt
So next time I can quickly avert
Please oh please help me
My body does not easily amuse
Time to go buy new shoes

Many times athletes get in an area where they feel they aren’t improving like they should, or they are seeing others pass them by. Well, it could be a number of things. My dad always used to tell me, you have to do more than anyone else if you want to be the best. If you think about that for a second, it’s true. 

Let’s take swimming for this example.  The coach gives everyone a workout and the majority of the swimmers train hard and roughly swim the same throughout the different sets given. Did you take 2 extra kicks off of every wall?  Did you not breathe off of every wall until the 3^rd stroke?  Are you fully concentrating on the drill given or just giving a half effort and resting until the next main set? How about sleeping more? Are you, and this is a big one, watching films, searching for tips, reading Splash magazine for the latest info on great athletes and being a student of your sport. I know what the answer there is. NOT MANY. Too bad, there is tons of stuff out there. There is no reason for mediocrity. If your coach isn’t paying attention to you, ask him or her questions, let them know your really care about your own improvement and share the desire for greatness. All of these things together will work. It may take time to form new habits, but it will work. Be patient, very patient.

So back to when I was a young athlete, after about the 5^th or 6^th time my dad kept telling me to do more than anyone else, I finally took action. More time in the weight room, concentrated more at practice, worked harder at my sport, watched other swimmers and athletes, learned how to be better at what I do.  Do you think Michael Jordan did more than everyone? How about Michael Phelps? Dara Torres? How about Lance Armstrong? Ever heard or Ryan Lochte?  Did you think these guys all just “tucked in” in practice (or out of the water) and maintained what everyone else was doing?  Easy answer.

Have a desire to be great and the will to work for great speed in and out of the water is what you need to do.

So do more than anyone else for a couple months, whether you are an athlete, or have personal goals, or in the work place.  It will work. Let me know how your life has changed for the better.

via Ironman.com and Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Lance Armstrong Foundation Announces New Partnership with Ironman to Raise $1 Million for People Affected by Cancer

“I am grateful to Ironman for partnering with LIVESTRONG to raise funds and awareness for people affected by cancer,” said Armstrong. “In my career as an athlete and as a cancer advocate, I’ve learned that progress demands partnership, but it’s not without a struggle.  And that’s what Team LIVESTRONG is about – it’s about purpose; it’s about challenge and it’s about empowering survivors to fight like hell.  There’s progress to be made with cancer and we invite anyone up for the challenge to join Team LIVESTRONG.

“At 13 years old, Lance got his start in triathlon by racing in the IronKids Series,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of World Triathlon Corporation.  “At 16 years old, he went pro and was considered a star in our sport.  At only 18, he was racing against the best triathletes in the world: Mark Allen, Dave Scott and Scott Molina.  We are happy to have him return to our sport.  Lance is a fierce competitor and his involvement with Ironman and Ironman 70.3 is good for triathlon.”

“Lance’s involvement at perhaps the toughest one-day event in all of sport sheds light on what surviving cancer can mean to millions around the world,” said Scott Tinley, two-time Ironman World Champion and Ironman Hall of Fame Inductee.  “I remember Lance as a determined kid who channeled that competitive spirit into an amazing career as a cyclist, survivor and advocate for survivors of a horrible disease. A partnership between LIVESTRONG and Ironman will further improve the lives of people affected by cancer. People need to realize that Lance’s foundation represents the use of sport to improve our world. There are only positive things that can come from having Lance join the Ironman family.”

“It is exciting to see Lance Armstrong, one of the greatest-ever endurance athletes, coming back to race triathlons in 2012,” said Craig Alexander, three-time Ironman World Champion and two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion.

“Lance is an exceptional athlete; he’s the type of person who wants to excel and be the best at whatever he puts his mind to,” said Chris Lieto, multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 champion. “I’m excited to see how his participation in our sport will draw attention to what it takes to be a triathlete and how challenging it can be.  It will definitely bring triathlon more into the mainstream and I know pro athletes, including myself, will look forward to racing with him at future events.”

Team LIVESTRONG adds Ironman races to its endurance events series designed to raise funds for people affected by cancer

Team LIVESTRONG has a limited number of entries for these events and people interested in joining Armstrong should visit www.TeamLIVESTRONG.org for more information.  Athletes who are already registered for one of these Ironman or Ironman 70.3 events can still race as part of Team LIVESTRONG.  General entry is also still available for each of these events and can be accessed at www.ironman.com. 

Through this partnership, Ironman will serve as a gold-level sponsor for the Team LIVESTRONG Challenge Series.  As a sponsor, Ironman will donate four Ironman World Championship slots in 2012 and 2013 to be auctioned with proceeds going directly to LIVESTRONG.

LIVESTRONG is the brand of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, created in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action.  The Foundation specializes in patient navigation services that help cancer survivors and their families overcome the insurance, financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.  As a member of Team LIVESTRONG, people walk, run, ride or tri in the fight against cancer in the LIVESTRONG Challenge Series or in other major athletic events around the world.  By participating and fundraising for Team LIVESTRONG, participants join a group of committed individuals dedicated to inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer.  To date, Team LIVESTRONG participants have raised $82 million for Foundation programs and services.  For more information, visit TeamLIVESTRONG.org.

About World Triathlon Corporation

World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a Tampa-based company recognized for athletic excellence, distinguished events and quality products. The WTC portfolio includes Ironman, Ironman 70.3, 5150 Triathlon Series, Iron Girl and IronKids, which have a combined total of more than 180 events worldwide each year. Supported by partners including Timex, PowerBar, K-Swiss and TYR, Ironman is the No.1 user-based sports brand in the world and has been a respected name in triathlon since its inception in 1978.  For more information, visit www.ironman.com. 

About LIVESTRONG/Lance Armstrong Foundation

LIVESTRONG serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death. Created as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the organization is now known publicly by its powerful brand – LIVESTRONG — and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Originating with the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to people affected by cancer around the world. Since its inception, the organization has raised $450 million for the fight against cancer. For more information, visit LIVESTRONG.org

Originally from: http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/the-lance-armstrong-foundation-announces-new-partnership-with-ironman-to-raise-1-million-for-people-affec#ixzz1ltRsJX9c

But before we get to the Kallarbrekencracken fish, let me show you some of the other magnificent specimens I have captured over the years.  Here are my best ones in print:

The Hairy Jazzy Hristosiden! A very rare piece from the ancient worlds. Hails from Bulgaria:

Hairy Jazzy Hristosiden

The Big Blue Abno BoddenHahn.  Another extremely rare shot from Germania:

Big Blue Abno BoddenHahn

This is a good one.  The Hannaskin VanCate. A spooky fish when bothered. But extremely elusive:

Hannaskin VanCate

This one was kinda funny, when I caught him, he saw me and his eyes did that. Hmm, The SilverRose Paperfin MinkiPotian:

SilverRose Paperfin MinkiPotian

The Green Bellyulginiti Blobotschner Fish. I won an award for this fish.  He kinda looks like one of my swimmers:

Green Bellyulginiti Blobotschner Fish

This one is my former favorite. The very terrifying AchmeRockatennius Jag.  He lived for 3 hours after being caught in Sebastian, FL. Almost bit my finger off:

AchmeRockatennius Jag

So those are on my bookcases as show pieces.  But after this weekend, I have now seen it all! I have finally seen the one and only Kallarbrekencracken Fish known to exist. Wow, what a find! Can I win the explorer, photographer and artist of the year? Maybe it will go in a museum.  Maybe we can keep in at SeaWorld.  Hmm.  I need to call around.

Check it out, tell me what you think.

(Psssst! It’s actually one of my swimmers working out despite a broken collar bone! What a stud!)

SARASOTA, Florida, February 7. LANCE Armstrong, the record seven time winner of the Tour de France in cycling, is officially registered as a member of United States Masters Swimming. 

Armstrong made noise within the swimming community last month when he competed at the Longhorn Aquatics New Year’s Classic. He placed 21st in the men’s 500-yard freestyle event with a time of 5:08.11. The 40-year-old athlete would have ranked ninth in the country with that swim a year ago in the men’s 40-44 age division. 

Recently, Armstrong tweeted to U.S. Masters Swimming that the 2012 USMS Spring Nationals were “on his calendar.” The event will take place at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C. from April 26-29.

See SwimmingWorld

10.  I had a hard day at school, I’m worn out
Coach is thinking: OMG, boo hoo!

9.   I was up all night sick, throwing up, better now though, see you tomorrow
Coach is thinking: Hmm, toughness, hmm…

8.   I have a stomach bug, you’re lucky you don’t have it
Coach is thinking: Don’t eat bugs, silly!

7.   The doctor told me to go easy today, so no stress, okay?
Coach is thinking: Who in heck are these freaking guys?

6.   I am having a hard time breathing today and I have swimmer’s ear, so the doctor told me to take a week off.
Coach is thinking: Again?!

5.   What? I can’t skip? I had a sleepover, I’m sore.
Coach is thinking:  Do your friends know how good you are? Well, they can help consol you when you get 17th place.

4.   Please! It won’t hurt me to miss one.
Coach is thinking: Phish! 

3.   I have a function, plans, and my parents said I will get worn out.
Coach is thinking: Too bad they can’t swim the races for you–I play a joke, parents…hehe)

2.   It is my grandmother’s sister’s birthday
Coach is thinking: Happy birthday.

And the number one reason to skip practice is:
1.   I heard it was going to be harder than any other practice this week.
Coach is thinking: I can always tell the ones that want to be really good or just talk about being good.

However, I got a new top excuse this week:  My collarbone is broken.
Coach is thinking: Okay, that one is true.

So, swimmers, I challenge you: Keep them coming!

The Associated Press reports that Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title Monday and banned for two years.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the three-time Tour champion after rejecting his claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat.

The three-man CAS panel upheld appeals by the International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged a Spanish cycling tribunal’s decision last year to exonerate Contador.

“The presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement,” CAS said in its ruling in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CAS backdated Contador’s ban and he is eligible to return to competition on Aug. 6. That ban means Contador will miss the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the London Olympics, but he would be eligible to ride in the Spanish Vuelta, which begins Aug. 18.

Contador becomes only the second Tour de France champion to be disqualified and stripped of victory for doping. The first was Floyd Landis, the American who lost his 2006 title after testing positive for testosterone.

They have live streaming for swimming, on demand replays, shows, specials, a great 2012 Olympic Hopefuls section, on and on! Give them a try!

Site address: http://cyclingfans.com/

here is the link for these guys!  http://triathlonLIVE.tv