Friday, November 20, 2009
Why Do You Write About That?
Posted by John Branston on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 4:42 PM
It's a fair question. He/she (?) is not the first to ask that. I ask myself that all the time.
The short answer is "because I feel like it."
When Sports is Better than Sex
Posted by John Branston on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 10:35 AM
That's what an old tennis partner used to say, just loud enough for his doubles partner and opponents to hear, after hitting a winner.
Athletes know the feeling by other names — runner's high, in the zone, out of your head, grooved, unconscious — but I like "better than sex" for those rare moments of perfection for us amateurs more familiar with failures that are "worse than dental surgery."
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Would You Dope If You Could?
Posted by John Branston on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM
As one of the PGA's attorneys said in court last week, professional athletes are held to high standards for the integrity of the game.
"When you become a professional athlete you don't always get to do everything the man on the street gets to do," said Rich Young, a lawyer in Colorado Springs who has worked on the Floyd Landis case and other major doping suspensions.
If, as a weekend warrior, you could take drugs to boost your strength, speed your recovery, improve your time, or calm your nerves, would you do it? I'm not so sure.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Bad Knees to New Knees: One Man's Story
Posted by John Branston on Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Enjoy 'em while you got 'em, athletes. Here's one man's story of injury, decline, and hopefully recovery next year.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Cyclocross on Sunday
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 11:45 AM
The event includes something for riders from 5 to 55 years old, ranging from a 50-yard dash to a 40 minute race over the 1.5 mile course. There is also a men's pro division with a 50-minute race.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the first races are at 9 a.m. Mountain bikes are welcome, and the entry fee is $30 for all categories ($10 for childrem 14 and under), benefitting the Church Health Center.
Cyclocross is spectator friendly and held on an obstacle course that requires riders to dismount several times and carry their bikes.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Best Low-Calorie Beer: None of 'Em
Posted by John Branston on Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 1:30 PM
The best beers for athletes, according to an unscientific survey of athletes I know, are these:
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Komen Race Plus St Jude Marathon: 31,500 Participants
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 10:43 AM
More than 16,000 people signed up to participate in last weekend's 2009 Komen Memphis-Midsouth Race for the Cure in Germantown. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon in December is at capacity with 3,500 participants in the marathon and a good chance of making the goal of 12,000 more in the FK and half marathon.
There are some lessons for backers of other sports vying for attention and funding in Memphis.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Great Excuses for Backsliding
Posted by John Branston on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 1:29 PM
In January I set personal goals for strength, weight, and competition with a goal of winning a national age-group championship. So far, so so. I've met two of the three goals but have been backsliding lately, and I come up with new excuses every week.
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