Category Archives: competition

Triathlons bring out the beast or just the best of us

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Yes, all this sounds pathetic in some respect. But it’s par for the course to be nervous about some aspect of the triathlon when you’re starting out. Some find the idea of riding a bike in traffic disarming, or find the run portion daunting. Yet as you train you eventually overcome your fears. Then come longer courses and challenges like open water swims, hilly bikes and hot runs. That’s the so-called “charm” of the sport. It never really gets easier. You just go longer, faster or grow obsessed in the process. Continue reading →

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The obsession with sports and the infantilization of society

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

While walking through my local Target store, a tee-shirt jumped out at me. It said “NEVER DEFEATED.” The shirt was obviously suited for a three-year-old child. And I thought: “Of course you’ve never been defeated you little twit. You’re three … Continue reading →

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The long way round to a triathlon wetsuit

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Always open to new experiences….that’s got to be your philosophy if you want to grow in this life. Which is why sitting on a grassy hill above the Quarry Pool in my hometown of Batavia was yet another part of … Continue reading →

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The obstacle course and the Tour de France

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

About a decade ago I wrote to one of the leading physiotherapy groups in the Chicago region with an idea to promote their services. And I paraphrase. “We should set up Human Agility Trials just like they do for dogs.” And … Continue reading →

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How to benefit from using speed in your training

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Athletes who do not come up through organized programs in endurance sports often struggle with how to improve their base speed. They simply never get put in situations where the pace is pushed enough to stretch their self-perception. If your … Continue reading →

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How to survive the Tour de France (and its commercials) without guilt

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

A part of me feels very guilty right now. I’ve been watching the Tour de France at high speed on DVR. In the past, there was a certain commitment to following the Tour. You had to choose the morning or … Continue reading →

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Not on your life should you ever get caught, but hang on…

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Top athletes use such motivation in their training. They know that no matter how fast they might be going in a workout, someone, somewhere else must be going faster. Such notions haunt the dreams of athletes at every level. We don’t like to get beat, but we really don’t like to get caught. That means someone is so much better than you…they are not only going faster, they also made up tons of time and are actually passing you by. Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, cycling, doing pulls in cycling, running, the rules velominati, We Run and Ride Every Day | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy Fireworks Day

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

This morning on my ride with a friend, he related a recent political bit he’d seen on a late night show in which residents of a beach town in California were interviewed about the meaning of Independence Day. You can … Continue reading →

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Oh look! It’s time for the Tour de France, and Lance is back

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Well we nailed June to the wall, didn’t we? For me it meant riding up and down and all around Wisconsin and Illinois. Horribly Hilly was like a stage of the Tour de France. 72 miles and 6000 feet of … Continue reading →

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10 honest-to-goodness tips on how to get better as a runner and rider

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Christopher Cudworth

Several times in life some kind-hearted person has pulled me aside to dispense a piece or two of good advice. This has happened at church. At work. And on the athletic field. So while I am not a certified coach, … Continue reading →

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