Phone it in Friday

Hey, who wants to see a video of some guy named Danny MacAskill doing some tricks on his bike? I hope you answered yes, because that’s what you’re getting today. Speaking of bikes I rode mine the other night, but Candis says it doesn’t count. I got home from a 7 mile tempo run and was invited to a friend’s house for some drinks to celebrate his wife passing her nursing exam (whatever that thing is called). Congrats Ruth! Anyway, since they live literally 2 blocks away we usually walk but I didn’t feel like walking on account of the 7 tempo miles I had just run and driving 2 blocks seemed too lazy, even for me (not that I haven’t driven to his house in the past) so I rode my bike there. And back! Isn’t that what you triathletes call a brick workout? Candis laughed when I suggested this and said no, but what does she know?

Update on yesterday’s BBQ post:  Last night I did a 3 mile easy run and when I got home Candis was grilling chicken on the BBQ, so despite her refusal to acknowledge my brick workout she’s still OK in my book. I think I’ll keep her. Naturally, I still found some things about the meal to complain about i.e. I didn’t smell anyone grilling on my run last night so I wasn’t particularly in the mood for BBQ.

The video below, like many of the videos that I post, was found at With Leather and features Danny MacAskill doing all kinds of sick stunts on his bike. Incidentally, for a guy that has obviously spent a lot of time on a bike seat, MacAskill ranks right up there with Bolt on the name-to-sport appropriateness scale.




Have a good weekend everyone!

Guess Who’s Getting a Free Bike!

You are! Good news fair readers, after countless hours wasted reading the tripe that I write, it is finally going to pay off to be a reader of this fine blog. The generous folks at Lipton have reached out to me and asked me to help promote the launch of their new Lipton White Teas, made from young White Tea buds. In order to do that they are giving away $25,000 through the “Free Your Y” (your Youth) video contest at www.areyouyoungenough.com and also giving a Lipton branded Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike (retail value $399) to one of the readers of Half-Fast. Despite my best efforts, they would not be persuaded that it was better to give the bike to me in exchange for a product review.

This bike could be yours!
When I first received the e-mail I was excited because I thought that I was getting the free bike, but then I realized that I had to give it away to one of my readers and I was all upset. I mean why should you guys get a free bike? I do all of the work around here, all you do is sit there staring blankly at your monitor with your fingers on the Alt + Tab keys in case your boss walks by. Then I was excited again because it occurred to me I might get some new readers out of this, but then I was all bummed again when I remembered that I’d really prefer a new bike over a few new readers (besides the last thing we need around here is an influx of helmet-wearing, pedal pushers). So you see, it’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster for me, but in the end I decided to give away the bike to one of you lazy readers. In addition to the Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike (more details here), the winner will also receive 5 coupons for a free 1.5 Liter Bottle of Lipton White Iced Tea and a $75 check for professional bike assembly.

How To Enter
Here’s what you need to do to enter: Now pay attention you knuckleheads because this is complicated. You must leave a comment on THIS POST stating why YOU think YOU deserve the bike OR what you plan to do with it. Go back and read that last sentence louder if you are still confused. Anyone who leaves such a comment on this post between now and 11:59 PM MDT Thursday, May 8th will have their name placed in a hat and on Friday May 9th I’ll draw a name from the hat and announce the winner. If I deem your comment to be one of the better or funnier responses then I’ll put your name in the hat twice to increase your chances of winning. The contest is open to residents of the United States and Canada. Please e-mail me with questions about the contest.

You might have seen this same contest over at Cranky Fitness because Crabby and Merry also hosted a similar bike giveaway but with less insults hurled at their readers. If you missed out on winning that bike, then consider this your second chance because I’m all about second chances here at Half-Fast. Also, don’t forget to check out the Free Your Y video contest which could land you $25,000. Just think of the things you could buy with all that scratch, I bet you could even afford to buy me a new bike.

Disclaimer The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of all Lipton Fuji bicycles awarded. Neither Pepsi Co. nor Unilever is liable for any injuries, damages or accidents that may result from the receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.

Half-Fast - Now With 50% More Cross Training!

As you know if you've been reading this blog for any length of time I've been using the FIRST half marathon training plan. This plan calls for 3 runs a week and 2 or 3 cross training days. Until now, I've been using soccer as one of my cross training days and doing strength training for the other. I'll now by adding a third cross training day by riding my brand new bike! My lovely wife got it for me on my birthday, it was a total surprise. Almost. (More on that story here, if you're so inclined.)

No, unfortunately mine does not have cool spinners like this one.

I'm so excited. I haven't owned a bike since I was 15, because I figured once I could drive what was the point of a bike? Remember those days? When you were too cool to be seen riding a bike because you drove a car. I remember driving around during the summer months with Will Smith's Summertime blasting on the speakers, wearing my mirrored sunglasses and rockin' a hyper-color T-shirt. How cool was I? (That's rhetorical, please don't answer it.)

Anyway, here's a list of things that I know about bike's:

• They have 2 wheels.
• You have to pedal them to make them go.
• They have gears.
• The seat is not comfortable - I learned this from my first ride this past week.

And that pretty much sums up my knowledge on the subject. So if you know of any helpful websites or have any helpful advice for a newbie cyclist like "don't ride on the street against oncoming traffic like a runner," or "don't stretch cold muscles before you cycle" (where were you guys on that one?) then please feel free to leave it in the comments or shoot me an e-mail.

I don't plan on becoming a serious cyclist or even competing in triathlons, I'm just a runner who doesn't want to have to run every freakin' day, so this is something that will help me to maintain fitness on days that I'm not running.