he's a winner.... for a lifetime!

for those of you who don't know, b has really gotten into running.

back in the day when i use to grace the streets with my footsteps, he was always an onlooker. when we did the race around lake tahoe, he contributed by being driving support. he didn't often express his disdain for the sport, but made it clear he'd stick to surfing and mountain biking.

however, i think deep down, like most of us, he realized that running really is kind of the ultimate in bad ass ness. if you can run long and fast, you kind of can handle most sports. its the hardest on your body, and always gives you the most bang for your buck.

i can't quite remember how it all came together, but prolly about a year ago he dusted off his old nikes and hit the pavement. within weeks i think he realized his potential. since i'd been running casually (as in, just enough to eat what i want), we decided to do the oktoberfest run in osos. its only 4 miles, and not to toot my own horn (but i will), i kinda one the women's stroller division back when lils was like 6 months old. needless to say, i'm thinkin- no problem. i can at least keep up with b- especially since he'd be pushing oz in the stroller (lils was waiting at the finish with nanna). the whistle blows and immediately i realize b's pace is one i'm not gonna be able to match. before we even hit mile 1, he's out of my sight. humbling to say the least. i mean we'd run before and he didn't seem that fast. it goes without saying he beat me handedly.

that race was just the begining. he started reading more about running, and entered a couple a trail races (one of which i struggled through with him). he's currently running 6 days a week (mostly on his lunch), and will often be gone sunday afternoon for at least a couple hours running out in MDO. through this new hobby has come some new gear- but unlike his other main squeezes (surfing and mountain biking) its much cheaper. after getting new running, then trail running shoes, he'd been eyeing heart rate monitors for awhile, but we never could quite scrape it together to get one for him... so he took matters into his own hands and entered a contest for a new polar HRM.

without further ado... here is the winning entry...


For starters let me say that this is the only article of female 'gear' that I have ever worn...except for that one time but that is another story.
I am sure there are some who might say to themselves, "what is this joker talking about? Polar's heartrate monitors are unisex." Go ahead, google Polar F4 and see what comes up...tell me you don't see the word female in at least five of the first ten search results?! Of course if you go to PolarUSA.com and check out the F4 they have a certain color...BLACK THUNDER that effectively crushes the female aesthetic of this slimline monitor...but go ahead and look closely at the other monitors...see BLACK AMBER? What kind of message does that dainty little thing send when strapped to nordic wrist of a guy who mother nature chose to bless with a sweater vest?...(dig it, that is back hair and chest hair for those not so versed in the common of lingo body hair). Anyways, I got this bad boy (or girl) in 2005, and for all I know BLACK THUNDER was not an option...at the time it was a gift for my wife who was with our first child. Apparently it is not good practice to elevate your heartrate much above what a good book might produce when you are pregnant...and of course, being the good husband I am I thought it important to abide by the word of the Dr. and ensure that in her various pregnant exploits she maintain the required level of relaxation. And like any good husband I supported her nonactivity by being there with her...nonactive and happy...most of the time...and while she put on 35-ish lbs, I chose to stick with a scant 20lbs for my weight gain...of course I was without child so who the hell knows what I was thinking...oh, and one more thing; it's kinda hard to look like a Nordic Warlord when your sweatervest is stretchin' round the midregion.
Fast forward 12 months and another kid...I snaked my wife's F4 and it is still as girly as ever and I am starting to get a complex about it. I have started running and my mileage is increasing....that scant 20lbs is now down to 5lbs and I am striving for better mile times and images of David Hasselhof running down the beach, feral sweater vest glinting in the sun give me that motivation to run a little further and a little faster...
Fast forward to present...don't yet have another kid but there is one in the oven, 7 weeks! My viking genes cannot be contained and my kids both rock white blond hair...sweet...let's all hope together that neither of them get the sweater vest. Anyways, my mileage is up to 50/60 week...I have gotten into trail running, and trail racing...in fact at my last event (PC Trailruns 15k at Montana de Oro State Park in CA) I won my age group! That was pretty sweet cuz they're my home trails. My F4 is still my biggest weakness and now the battery is starting to go but it has seen me over hundreds of miles, both on and off road and in spite of it's less than nordic appearance it has been an invaluable training tool. Long ago I learned the meaning of 'recovery' runs and have reaped the benefit of those slow cruising runs at half throttle, my F4 is my tachometer and without it I almost always over-do it.
So, I've lived this long in my ladies F4...but now like an old girlfriend it is time to move on. But, between diaper money, last pair of trail shoes, and my wife's frickin VW van there ain't a dime to spare...so, I'm not above begging...but before I do that let me offer the opportunity for some first rate advertising...imagine it...POLARUSA.COM emblazoned in Times New Roman font size 30 across the back of my nordic sweater vest....sweet...pure sweetness.



here's what he won... and i must say, he brought it... that's one well-written piece.