Tom Barrett's blog

bib fraud at Boston Marathon

April 24, 2014 by Tom Barrett   Comments (1)

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I enjoyed this week's Boston Marathon as a participant from Heartbreak Hill.  It was great seeing an american win for the first time in over 30 years.
The word at this year's Boston Marathon was that security was super tight and would extend to "bandits" running without a bib.
see: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/04/12/long-accepted-boston-marathon-bandits-fall-prey-stricter-security/sIuP6HB8xVYI8GChTzzs5H/story.html
But some folks decided they wanted to run so bad, that they... Read full post

Taking a Jog at the Los Angeles Airport – Runners Beware

August 28, 2013 by Tom Barrett   Comments (0)

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If you’re staying at the Los Angeles Airport and planning to go for a run, beware!
I was staying at a hotel at the Los Angeles Airport.  I decided to go for a run in the morning and asked for suggestions from the front desk.  They suggested a run to the Pacific Ocean, which was just 3.5 miles away.  The front desk helpfully traced the route using a yellow highlighter on a street map, which I placed into my pocket.
Let me stop here and give you a quick overview of the Los... Read full post

Dangerous exercise: The hype of dehydration & heat-stroke

January 16, 2013 by Tom Barrett   Comments (1)

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A fascinating article on deaths caused from sports.  Claims that causes of death due to heat stroke and dehydration are largely untrue.
This raises interesting questions about how much hydration during an extreme event is necessary.
http://www.sportsscientists.com/2013/01/dangerous-exercise-hype-of-dehydration.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FcJKs+%28The+Science+of+Sport%29
 
What does everyone else think?
 
Tom

Book recommendations about running, triathlons, etc.

October 25, 2012 by Tom Barrett   Comments (0)

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I am looking for some recomendations on inspirational books about running and extreme sports in general.
I've enjoyed some great books on running:  especially "Confessions of an All-Night Runner" and "Born to Run"
Reading "Once a Runner" now.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for me?
Here is a top-5 list from someone on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Books-About-Running/lm/R244RX5QYI3Q7W
Has anyone read any of these?
Tom

Cheating in marathons

September 10, 2012 by Tom Barrett   Comments (3)

How easy is it to cheat during a marathon?
Hilarious article in the August New Yorker about a man driven to run a marathon in all 50 states but raising a lot of suspician that he is actually running them.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/06/120806fa_fact_singer?currentPage=all
What do you think?  How could he pull off this hoax?  Or, is he for real?
tom barrett

Paul Ryan's Marathon

September 2, 2012 by Tom Barrett   Comments (4)

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I ran my first (and so far only) marathon just over a year ago at the age of 51.  I am proud of not only finishing and raising money for charity, but achieving the respectable time of 3:54.  I "beat" four hours.
Last week, Paul Ryan on a talk show radio show said that, in his first (and only) marathon about twenty years ago, that he "beat" three hours, running a "2:50 somehting" when he was in his twenties.  This is an impressive time for anyone.
It turns out it wasn't true.... Read full post

Disqualifying olympic athletes for social behavior

August 8, 2012 by Tom Barrett   Comments (0)

How do people feel about disqualifying olympic athletes for social behavior, such as Tweets?
Should "inappropriate" behavior (determined by an unspecified panel of officials be grounds for disqualification from the sporting events?
tom