Chasing Ghosts

There's a show on SyFy (the not-so-clever new name for the Sci-Fi channel) called "Ghost Hunters." I don't actually watch it, because I don't believe in ghosts in the traditional sense. But I get the gist. Bunch of guys wander around old houses and film the whole thing on cameras equipped with night vision. I've been recreating my own version of the show on the climbs of the Santa Monica Mountains. I'm not chasing ghosts, though, in the plural. I'm chasing one ghost in particular. And he's not actually dead. He's just moved to Taos, NM and has become someone of no consequence. And I don't use a camera or night vision during my quest. I only use my SL3. And my new Joule. Tools of the trade, to be sure, but not quite up to snuff with the Proton Pack of "Ghostbusters" fame or even an Air Ion Counter, which I found for sale at the GhostHunterStore.com.

Andrew McNaughton s a name probably unfamiliar to many of you. If it's not, your name is probably Brad Kearns. If you know who Andrew is and your name isn't Brad Kearns, then you probably know Andrew as the guy who won Wildflower a whole bunch of times back in the early days of triathlon. If you are Brad Kearns, you probably know Andrew as the neon-wearing maniac who made you ride from Conejo Valley to Antelope Valley for "fun." To me, Andrew is the guy who set the times to beat on pretty much every climb in the Santa Monica Mountains. Yerba Buena. Stunt. Piuma. And Rock Store, the object of my current quest.

Rock Store gas pumps to fire hydrant. Seems simple enough. It's about 4km including the run in from the pumps until it then kicks up at about 7% grade. Eleven minutes and thirty five seconds. That's the target. And it remains a target. I'd like to blame it on the wind. Or leaving my extra heavy saddle bag on. Or slow rolling training tires. But the truth is that the ghost is just really fast. And that makes it all the more fun to chase. And that's what keeps me going up and up those climbs.

The Starfish

I've almost wrapped up the giving away of prizes for The World Bicycle Relief Raffle from Ironman Arizona. As I finish up giving back to the people who supported this cause, I wanted to share this story with everyone. It was sent to me by the people at World Bicycle Relief who really drove (and drive) this amazing organization. Each bike that gets sent impacts about 20 people. And with the matching funds for 2009, we will almost double the impact of the money that was raised. That means that over 6,000 people will be affected by the work that we all did. And for those 6,000 people, the effort that we all made will make a difference in a very real way.

The Starfish - Ka Hôkû Kai [kah HOH' KOO' kai]

Once upon a time, there was a wise kupuna (elder), who went to the sea to contemplate. One day while walking along the shore, the kupuna looked down the beach, and saw a gracefully dancing human figure. The kupuna wondered out loud, "who would so joyfully greet this day with hula?" and began to walk faster to catch up. Getting closer ...

the kupuna saw that the dancer was a keiki (child), who was not dancing at all. The keiki was reaching down to the sand to pick up something, and was gently throwing it into the sea. The kupuna called out to the keiki, "Aloha! What are you doing?"

The keiki paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the sea." Surprised, the kupuna sputtered, "I guess I should have asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the sea?" The keiki smiled brightly, pointed upward and, with exquisite simplicity, replied "The sun is up, the tide is going out, if I don't throw them in they will die." "But don't you realize," asked the kupuna, "that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The keiki listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it gently into the sea, just beyond the breaking waves, and exuberantly declared, "It made a difference for that one."

Real Men of BAMFness: Brendan Witt

They build 'em tough in Saskatchewan. From TSN.ca: New York Islanders defenceman Brendan Witt was hit by a car in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to Newsday. But Witt reportedly picked himself up off the road and, after a few profanities, assured everyone he was all right before continuing on his way, prompting one witness to say, "it was like seeing Clint Eastwood, but in hockey."

Witt was crossing Arch Street to get a cup of coffee when a gold Yukon truck made an illegal turn and hit the 34-year-old. Newsday says Witt tried to jump on the hood of the vehicle before being thrown to the ground as he was struck.

"I'm okay," Witt told the crowd as he dusted himself off, according to Newsday. "I've got to go play some hockey. I'm a hockey player. I'm okay. No big deal."

BW, you are a BAMF

Thanks to Paulo Sousa for the nomination

IMAZ Media & Interviews

For some reason, people seem to be interested in what I've had to say lately. I don't think there's too much profound in here (probably not anything), but I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to reach out to me and ask me for my time. I was very happy to share and very humbled by the requests.

IMTalk.me - IM Talk podcast with Bevan & John: Episode 187

CycleOps Power News, Athletes, and Training - A Win for Rapp = Bikes for Students in Africa

EvoTri.com - JP on the Scene: Freestyle with the Rappstar

True-Motion.com - Rappstar wins 2009 Ironman Arizona

Team.FirstEndurance.com - 1st Endurance Triathlete Jordan Rapp Wins Ironman AZ

Inside Triathlon - IMAZ Video with Jordan Rapp & Lindsey Corbin

Slowtwitch.com - The Official Ask Me Any Question About IMAZ 2009 Thread

Love

Third Time's A Charm

© Yndecam.com

Real Men of BAMFness: Nicolas Rapp

Before anyone asks, yes, I am biased because his last name is Rapp. That in and of itself is almost enough to be a BAMF. But that's not what is earning him a mention here. According to his blog, TransworldExpedition.com, In the summer of 2009, Nicolas Rapp decided to take a break from his Art Director job at The Associated Press to attempt a one-year overland travel around the world in a Toyota Landcruiser. That is BAMF. It's like Eco-Challenge, only the whole world is the course. There are some good pics of the car (which is pimped, at least as pimp as a car that is designed to drive around the world and be lived out of can be) and Nick being Rico Suave. I need to work on my Rico Suave...

NR, you are a BAMF.

Thanks to Adam Campbell for the referral.

Ironman Arizona Charity Challenge

On November 22, 2009, I will be racing at Ironman Arizona in Tempe. Every day that I’m out training, I know I’m making a difference in my own chances for winning the race. I am fortunate enough to be able to “make my own luck.” But, for many kids in Africa, that is note the case so I’m hoping that I can change their luck. What will this take? $15,000 and you can be a part of it through this special Rappstar Raffle.

$15,000 will change an entire community’s luck in rural Zambia by bringing bikes to 100 secondary school children who face extremely long commutes – some of them walking close to 4 hours just to reach school – and also provide the supplies and training of 2 new field mechanics to care for those bikes. Just think, in the same time you complete your marathon portion of the Ironman, these kids are just getting to school. But, unlike you and I, who have a place to rest our feet after the hard day, they’ll have to do it all over again at the end of the day. So, why not take the step and provide a bike by joining World Bicycle Relief and my raffle and help give back through the power of bicycles.

Many of my sponsors have been very generous in providing prizes for a raffle that we will be doing starting the day after the Ironman. The raffle will be done electronically, so you don't have to be there. We will do the raffle on a roll-down system. So the first winner will get first pick of prizes, second place gets second choice, etc. You can donate ANY amount, but ONLY donations of $134 (the cost of one bicycle) will get you a raffle "ticket." For every multiple of $134 that you donate, you get another entry into the raffle. $268 buys you two tickets, $402 buys you three, $536 buys you four, etc.

If you want to know more, you can read the rest on Slowtwitch.com at Rappstar's Ironman Arizona Charity Challenge.

If you just want to give money, you can do that at grassroots.kintera.org/Active/Rappstar.

Simon On The Relentless Pursuit Of Perfection

Simon talks about why medals matter. To achieve the highest level of excellence requires something special. And there is a value in that and what it teaches us about ourselves. Being a part of the push to Beijing was pretty special, and Simon gives some insight into what drove us every day.

Real Men of BAMFness: Michael Jordan

His Royal Airness, #23, needs no introduction. But on the eve of his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, I think it's worth remembering that there is no "next Michael Jordan," and there never will be.

MJ, you are a BAMF.