Wanna get high?

Please excuse my inner scientist.

• The US Population today is reportedly 317 million people (http://www.census.gov/popclock/)
• In 2012 1.85 million Americans successfully completed a half-marathon, an impressive 14.9% increase from 2012 (http://www.runningusa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=333&returnTo=annual-reports). 
• According to Gallup poles, 38% of the US Population has smoked marijuana (120 million people) but only 7% report they still smoke marijuana (22 million people). (http://www.gallup.com/poll/163835/tried-marijuana-little-changed-80s.aspx)

The other day my good friend from undergrad, John Savage, flew in to D.C. on a red-eye for a New Years Reunion (for those interested, John blogs at: http://savagesentiments.blogspot.com/). The series of texts exchanged by John and I went as follows:

John: "In dc"

Me: "Awesome, headed to hotel?"

John: "Ya, caught the super shuttle."

John: "Checked in. Aim for run at 2?"

Me: "Sounds good, Ill pick you up at the metro."

Now, John and I don't claim to be a shining example of healthy living. We both enjoy the more than occasional, big mexican burrito and too many beers. Heck, I eat ice cream almost nightly. But let's say instead of a triathlete, John was a pothead. If John were a smoker, the first thing he would have done when he got off the plane was to light up. The difference? Endorphins over THC, instead of hitting up a dealer, he hits me up for a run. While I don't want to spark a big debate about whether or not weed is as "bad" for you as people make it out to be, I think we can all agree that going for a run is a healthier option.

Before writing this I wasn't really sure what the numbers were for people who smoke weed, compared to people who run. I have to say, I am shocked. 

In 2011, 12x more people regularly smoked marijuana than completed a half-marathon!!!!!! I don't hold it against people that they smoke. In fact I know a number of very fit athletes that have. To each their own. That said, here are some more facts:

• The average smoker spends more than $1,000 on weed yearly.
• The average price of a running shoe= 100 bucks, replaced 3-4x, $400/yearly

The choice is yours. 

Eyes on the prize, 2014!

My 2013 racing season came to an unfortunate end after being plagued by a chronic foot injury that held me out of 70.3 World Championships. I am delighted to say that I have finally found a fantastic physical therapist in Muncie that is using ASTYM, a progressive treatment modality intended to promote soft tissue growth, that seems to be getting me and my foot back on track!

I am excited to announce that in 2014 I will be racing for Big Sexy Racing! The team is an elite/amateur triathlon team, run by 6x Ironman Champion Chris McDonald. I look forward to partnering with some new great sponsors including, Cobb Cycling, Bonk Breaker, Precision Bikes, Toro nutrition, Blue seventy, PowerTap, Newton Running, Ogio, SL3S, Biofuse, and Rubys Lube. For the past month I have been in contact with a number of my new teammates via social media and it seems to be an energetic and enthusiastic group of fitness fiends!

In preparation for the season I have been riding the trainer as much as I can mentally stand when its dark and the cyclocross bike when its not, going for freezing cold runs, and drinking lots of beer while looking at races for the 2014 schedule. Below is a tentative race schedule for the 2014 season:

4.19.14  BSU Sprint Sprint Triathlon

5.10.14  Muncie May Olympic Triathlon**

5.31.14 AutoCar Richmond Toughman Half-Ironman

6.29.14 Ironman Couer d’Alene*

7.12.14 Muncie 70.3

08.09.14 Muncie Man

9.16.14 Muncie September Triathlon (Olympic)

10.4.14 Prairie Creek Reservoir Triathlon Championship (Olympic)

*Race tentative on my foot being back to full health by the end of January, giving me sufficient time to train for these longer distance races

**Will not be racing if I race the Marathon the week before