Bob Babbit with Alexander & Lieto

I listen to Babbit and Huddle's Competitor Radio Podcast and Babbit does another great job here. Enjoy!

PART 1


PART 2


PART 3


PART 4


PART 5

Canada & the USA

Vancouver 2010 Medal Standings

This guy rules!

Do him a solid and visit his website to leave a message of appreciation.

Lance TT Position

Lance Armstrong Rides -- powered by

Lance TT Position

Lance Armstrong Rides -- powered by

Doggie Inspiration

This is not my own unique content by any means, if fact, most of you might have seen this via the email "pass it on to a friend" train. However, I absolutely love this story. I remember seeing this dog on some talk show for a few minutes and it was quite cool. Enjoy!

This is 'Faith'

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.

He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which had to be amputated.

He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.



His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.

She named him 'Faith'.



In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around. Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk..

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.



Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.

His present owner Jude Stringfellow has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.















In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day. Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

I am not lazy

Really, I'm not!

As I stated many months ago, my activity on this blog will be reduced since you will be able to find my thoughts and other writing work elsewhere. I will be my best to post stuff here weekly but no guarantees.

You will find my work here:

Daily

http://triathlonmagazine.ca/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Triathlon-Magazine-Canada/461928425103?ref=ts


Weekly

http://mysportsshooter.com/


And of course here as things pop up (race reports, product reviews, forum)

http://www.teamrunningfree.com/

Thanks for following, please continue to do so, and feel free to drop me an email at any time or inquire about coaching services. If I can't help you I will certainly refer you to someone who can.

Great Athlete Interviews & Insight - Part 1

Running Free Haiti Fundraiser

This is just a reminder that the Training for Solidarity happens TOMORROW.

Visit here fore more details.

I will be a 5:30/km pacer. The chill in the air might make me go faster.


By the way, make sure to see Race Across the Sky. There is one more showing in the Toronto and surrounding area. It reminds me of another great film.

WIcked Cycling Insight

http://www.versus.com/shows/winning-with-johan/

I couldn't embed the videos but check out this site for some cool behind the scenes look at pro tour cycling with the guru Johan Bruyneel.

A Great Way to Help Haiti

Click on the banner above for more details.

Haiti needs us now more then ever...

On Saturday, January 16th, 2010 a Canadian team of volunteers was to hold the second annual Marathon de la Soliderite road race in Haiti. This unique project was to bring a day of celebration to Cap Haitians in an effort to bolster community pride and awareness back home on the plight of the Haiti people. Hours before our team was to descend on Cap Haitian, the earthquake hit. Communications were spotty at first and we were asked to continue with our journey. As the news worsened we decided we would not fly in. We thought we would only deplete the limited resources available to Haitians by being there. Now is the time when international emergence forces are needed most to deliver immediate needs. Our team has decided to push forward with our long term sustainability projects because now more then ever Haiti needs our help.

Running Free and Runners Den, two independent southern Ontario running shops have decided to unite for our Haitian neighbours. On Saturday, January 30th we both will be holding simultaneous events in Toronto and Hamilton in an effort to raise funds for long term projects in Haiti. We are naming the event after what was to have been the Marathon de la Soliderite. HAITI – TRAINING FOR SOLIDARITY will be a day the running community to come together for an up to 20km training run in support of our friends in Haiti. This will be a “pay what you can” event. Running Free and Runners Den will provide the venue, commemorative bib’s, food and support on the course. Pace bunnies will be available to guide 10- 20km training runs at paces from 4:30/km up to 6:00/km. This will be a great opportunity to enjoy a paced training run and support this very worth while cause. Let show our neighbours to the south we are thinking of them in this time of need.

All donors will receive a commemorative bib #, sponsor goodies, coffee, refreshments and snacks. This is a “pay what you can” event. Donations can also be made by calling our Running Free Markham location at 905.477.7871.

Toronto Event
Saturday January 30, 2010 – 9:00am registration
# Palais Royal
# 1601 Lake Shore Boulevard West
# Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3C1
# www.palaisroyale.ca
(The Palais Royal has graciously donated their beautiful facility for this event without hesitation - We thank them for this incredibly honourable gesture)

Training run will take place on Toronto’s waterfront trail. Please email Nick Capra at missionhaiti@runningfree.com for more information.

Hamilton Event
Saturday January 30, 2010 – 9:00am registration
# Westdale High School (Main & Longwood)

Contador's Press Conference Today

Free Videos by Ustream.TV

SLS3, Cujo, and 80 on 8

Sorry for the tardiness. Busy with lots of magazine and newsletter stuff.

Here are a few things to check out.

1. My review of the SLS3 Compression Sleeves.


2. Cujo Retires
A great goalie, a great guy, and I still have and wear my Leafs - Cujo toque. It is my typical Ironman race morning and post race hat.


3. An 80 year old Canadian just ran 38 minutes and change at a 8km race. Is that wicked or what? That is my goal, being able to move that fast at 80. Heck at would love to go at that pace at an Ironman.

Til next time.

H

The Soloist - the real dudes

Just finally watched the film The Soloist.
Great performances by Downey Jr. and Foxx.
Catch it if you can.

Here are the real guys:


Watch CBS Videos Online

The Cove

See the film, and get moved to do something.
A truly incredible documentary.





As the film states at the end, this slaughter will continue "Unless We Stop It."

Text DOLPHIN to 44144

Check out these sites for more information:

TakePart.com/TheCove

http://www.thecovemovie.com/

It will be hard to top this post for the rest of 2010.

A glimpse into bike building

This is more of the paint and decal process.
Quite impressive how much work goes in just for this.

Team Canada - Men's Hockey Roster

The initial roster for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver was announced a little while ago.

13 Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby (Alternate Captain), Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla (Alternate Captain), Patrick Marleau, Brendan Morrow, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Mike Richards, Eric Staal, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews.

7 Defenceman: Dan Boyle, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Scott Niedermayer (Captain), Chris Pronger (Alternate Captain), Brent Seabrook, Shea Weber.

3 Goalies: Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I hope you all had a great Christmas and wonderful family time. I also wish you all the best in 2010. May you achieve all your goals.

I decided to type this out as I sit on the couch and continue to gain weight, but get some much needed rest and relaxation. However, all of this sleep and inactivity is sure making me listless.

This was also a down week of training for me (I think I did 6 hrs), but I am right back at it tomorrow with a 90 minute bike ride.

By the way, go check out Avatar in 3D. It is one heck of a cinematic experience.

Finally, I just want to send a few quick thank you’s to some people and organizations that made this year my best ever.

In no particular order: My wife, family and friends (you Markham Tri crew dudes have taken things to a whole new level), Running Free (great store, great support, even better owners), John Salt & MultiSport Canada (the best race series period), Kevin Mackinnon (Triathlon Magazine Canada & Ironman.com) – huge influence and truly a super guy, Tony at Physiobility (got me back to racing after my Achilles surgery), Acid Zapper (give it a try it really works), Mike Cheliak - I don’t know what possessed you to give me a column on your site but I certainly appreciate it.

And of course all of you that regularly visit this blog. I hope still provide some entertainment and useful information. If not, you can always email me and ask questions (hosspro at hotmail dot com).

By the way, my coaching client list is quickly filling for 2010. If you wish to have me work with you please contact me ASAP. To make sure I give you the attention and services you need, I only work with a limited number of athletes each year.

Til 2010,

H

Macca on Lance

I can't totally disagree, but this is what will make Kona 2011 interesting for sure. I am sure the pro men will step up their game even more to make sure they are not embarassed.