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WAS THIS MAN CHEATED OUT Of AN OLYMpIC MEDAL? SpOkANE RUNNING HERO DON kARDONG AND THE STRANGE CASE Of EAST GERMAN ATHLETICS Training Tips for 5k Newbies // P.26 Roadtrip: New Hostel in Kellogg, ID // P.10 The Dos and Don’ts of Public Bicycle Parking // P.15 Health and Fitness: The Barefoot Running Debate // P.19 We Punish Stuff: New Gear Review Column Debuts // P.14
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March 2011
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In This Issue
LIGHTING RETROFITS Affordable | Profitable | Efficient | Attractive
Before
p.6 / From the Editor
MONTHLY
Keep Up And Give Back By Jon Snyder
www.outtheremonthly.com
p.8 / Out There News New Dog Park, Access Fund President
p.10 / Roadtrip New Hostel In Kellogg, ID By Estar Holmes
Out There Monthly / March 2011 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Jon Snyder jon@outtheremonthly.com Art Director
Kaitlin Snyder Managing Editor
Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Health & Fitness Editor
p.11 / Sustainable Living BALLE Network Launches By Taylor Weech
After Power City Electric can guide you through the current local, state and federal incentives for lighting retrofits and show you how most lighting projects pay for themselves in under three years.
(509) 535-8500 w w w. p owe rc i t ye l e c t r i c. co m
p.12 / What’s Your Gear? Teri Tucker: Triathlon Mom By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree
Dr. Bob Lutz senior writers
Jon Jonckers, Derrick Knowles Contributing Writers:
Ashley Graham, Sarah Hauge, Estar Holmes, Tim Lannigan, Stan Miller, Erika Prins, John Speare, Taylor Weech, Don Winant Distribution Coordinator
Barbara Snyder To request issues please call 509 / 534 / 3347 Ad Sales
Bill Bloom: 509 / 999 / 8214
p.14 / New Column: Punishing stuff Gear Reviews For The Urban Outdoors: All-Purpose Pants By John Speare
p.15 / Everyday cyclist Bicycle Parking Tips By John Speare
p.16 / Book Reviews Born To Run & K2 Tragedy By Stan Miller & Sarah Hauge
p.17 / MUSIC Report A Grammy, Sasquatch! & The Hop
Out There Monthly
Mailing Address: PO Box 559 Spokane, WA 99210 www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 534 / 3347 Out There Monthly is published once a month by Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2011 Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.
Printed on 50% recycled paper with soy based inks in the Inland Northwest PROUD MEMBER OF
By Ashley Graham & Tim Lannigan
p.19 / Health & Fitness Barefoot Running Controversy
Out There Monthly also supports
By Dr. Bob Lutz
p.20 / March INLAND NW OUTDOOR CAlendar & 6 Month Training Calendar p.22 / Was This Man Cheated Out Of An Olympic Medal? Spokane Running Hero Don Kardong And The Curious Case of East German Athletics By Don Winant
p.26 / Last Page Training Tips For Your First 5k By Erika Prins
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Out There Monthly / March 2011
On the cover: Don Kardong still running strong near the Sandifur Bridge in west Spokane. // Photo by Bob Johnson.
© Wolverine Outdoors 2011
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From the Editor: Keep Up and Give Back When you look at the slopes today it’s hard to remember that just a decade-and-a-half ago snowboarding was dominated by men. The gender distribution seems a lot more even these days. Lewis and Clark High School grad Kasey Weise recalls that when she first went to the local mountains, her girlfriends skied—and she did too. Until she met fellow LC student, snowboard nut—and her future sweetheart—Andy Spotts. He had a board, she had a car. They spent a lot of time at Silver Mountain trying to see if Kasey could “keep up” with Andy’s riding. Andy eventually did his time as a freeride pro, appearing in films. And Kasey more than kept up. They have
been living the mountain dream in Tahoe for the past 12 years where Kasey has parlayed a snowboard passion, and a degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, into a job as Marketing Director for Porters Tahoe, a premier mountain shop in the Sierras. “My life in the snowboard industry has been pretty awesome. I really wanted to give back,” she says. Which is why I was on the phone with her a couple weeks ago. Kasey had just joined the board of directors of the High Fives Foundation. High Five’s mission is “to raise money and awareness for athletes that have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action
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lessons. Just recently they funded their first wheelchair rugby player. Kasey’s task is to outreach to the snowboard community and help raise money for more grants. “Growing up in the Northwest taught me two things: to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible and to be passionate about the adventures of life,” she says. She’s also teaching young girls that they can keep up and give back. Check out: http://www.highfivesfoundation.org/
-------------------------------------------------------JON SNYDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@outtheremonthly.com
schedule of events
schweitzer.com
march 18-20
sports community.” Kasey and I talked about High Fives inspiring founder, Roy Tuscany, who suffered a devastating spinal injury in 2006, and the recent sit ski competition at the winter X-games. “There is no crutch for them. How can you not be inspired?” says Weise. That’s High Five’s message: It will be really frustrating—but always stay positive and rise again. Injured athletes can apply for grants from the foundation for equipment such as sit skis (which are not cheap, as new ones run about $3,000) or for treatments often not covered by health insurance such as acupuncture, yoga, and adaptive ski
march 5 Base Camp for Beer Fanatics
march (con’t) 25-27 SARS PNSA J3 Finals
Beer tasting with Deschutes Brewery and “Race for the Base” kamikaze ski race. Must be 21+ enter.
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An annual fund raiser to support the Heuga Center.
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Grom Stomp (presented by Oakley) Calling all groms (ages 6-11) for our “grom sized” slopestyle and ridercross competition.
April 1-2 24 Hours of Schweitzer
18-20 Stomp Games (presented by Smith Optics)
The Northwest’s premiere ski and snowboard freeride competition.
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Teams will ski & ride 24 hours for prizes, bragging rights and most importantly - fundraising for Cystinosis research. http://24hoursforhank.org
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Bring out your Hawaiian shirt for some fun in the sun! Lots of family activities daily!
For more information, visit schweitzer.com or call 877.487.4643 SMR_OTM_Mar.indd 1
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Out There Monthly / March 2011
2/10/2011 11:54:23 AM
March 2011
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Spokane finally has an off-leash dog park. The SpokAnimal Dog Park—located at High Bridge Park in an area bordered by Riverside, Government Way and A Street—is already proving to be a popular outdoor community gathering space. “I think it’s just phenomenal,” says SpokAnimal Executive Director Gail Mackie. “There were over 100 dogs there the other day. It has surpassed our dreams about how much it has been used. We never thought it would have this kind of an impact.” The park site is approximately 11 acres, which includes the parking area. About nine fenced acres is for the large dog area, which includes a central play area, steep hillside, boulders and trees. A separate area with a shorter fence is for small dogs to safely play and run around. The transition entrance area, which is shared by both, has complimentary bags for picking up pet waste, thanks to the Inland Empire Veterinary Medical Association. A water spigot, located outside the fenced areas, will be usable once park staff turns on the water supply for the spring season.
There are some finishing touches planned, according to Mackie, such as installing a dumpster and portable toilet. “We still have some things that need funding, such as picnic tables, picnic benches, [creation of] a fitness trail to walk with your dog—that would include obstacles—and we need permanent toilets,” Mackie says about the park’s long-term planning goals. She says they would also like to create a splash pad for the dogs. Park rules are posted at the entrance, and Mackie says the park is meant to be a relaxed, self-policing place. “Common sense and good pet ownership—that’s what we’re looking for,” she says. “There’s always a potential for problems when you get dogs together, but we just ask people to keep their dog in sight—go where they’re comfortable and [can have] the most fun.” The dog park is free to use and open daily from dawn to dusk. “That’s the joy of it—it’s open when you need it,” she says. “SpokAnimal is happy to be a part of it and letting people have fun with their pets—that’s what life is about: having fun and being safe.” //
New Access Fund President is From Spokane This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the Access Fund (AF), a national advocacy organization that works to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment. The Access Fund deals with issues at many high-profile climbing areas like Yosemite and Devils Tower, but it has also been instrumental in preserving and protecting Inland Northwest climbing spots like Frenchman’s Coulee and Big Rock. The newest Access Fund president, Paul Fish, is already investing significantly into the AF mission. As a local climber and the owner of Mountain Gear, Fish knows first-hand how critical climbing access and preservation can be. While the genesis of the AF was still a department of the American Alpine Club, he banded with others to preserve John H. Shields Park, aka Minnehaha. Over 20 years later, thanks to that conservation foresight, the park remains a rock climbing centerpiece and a hub for Beacon Hill mountain bikers and Centennial Trail users. While Fish has always had a strong commitment to the outdoor community and human-
powered sports, the victory at Minnehaha sparked further dedication. His retail business has always been a significant contributor to the AF throughout its 20-year history. He also launched the Red Rock Rendezvous, a major climbing festival held every year in the Red Rock National Conservation Area, Nevada. Now entering its eighth year, the Red Rock Rendezvous has raised over $10,000 for the AF at each festival. Currently, the AF continues to build up the wildly successful land acquisition fund. Since 1990, the Access Fund has assisted with 34 acquisitions through the Climbing Preservation Grant Program, helping to preserve over 6,500 acres of land for climbing, including the Lower Index Wall in 2009 and their very first acquisition at Peshastin Pinnacles in 1990. Fish quickly dodges direct credit for many of these victories, but he’s always eager to look at a map on a computer screen and point out the next issue and the next opportunity. This leaves no doubt that his conservation foresight will continue to serve climbers in his role as Access Fund president. //
Out There News Mount Spokane ski area expansion proposal State Parks Will Hold Public Workshop March 16
The drive up to mt. Spokane St. Park. // photo wellych.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces a public workshop on a proposal the agency has received for a 279acre expansion of the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park within Mount Spokane State Park. The workshop is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in Sub Lounge AB&C (also known as rooms 102, 103 and 104) in build-
A 30-day SEPA public comment period will continue through March 16. ing 17 at Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Dr. in Spokane. Participants will learn about the expansion proposal being made by Mount Spokane 2000, the concessionaire that runs the popular ski area on state park land. Comments on the proposal and the land classification for the area will be presented to the State Parks Commission for consideration at its meeting May 19, in Spokane. The proposal would expand the ski area by 279 acres, into an 800-acre portion of Mount Spokane State Park that currently does not have a formal land-use classification. The land area subject to expansion has been called the Potential Alpine Ski Expansion Area (PASEA) for purposes of discussion. The expansion would include the addition of one ski lift and seven new ski runs. The improvements and any additional expenses would be paid for by Mount Spokane 2000.
The agency is reviewing the proposal and has issued a Mitigated Determination of NonSignificance under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requiring preparation of a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) in the event that the Commission authorizes ski area expansion. A 30-day SEPA public comment period will continue through March 16. The proposal and other information concerning the potential expansion can be found online at www. parks.wa.gov/plans/mtspokane2/. Information also is available by calling Deb Wallace, strategic and long-range planning manager, at (360) 902-8623. Public comments may be provided by e-mail to deb.wallace@parks.wa.gov. Mount Spokane State Park is a 13,919-acre camping park in the Selkirk Mountains, northeast of Spokane. The forested park features stands of old-growth timber and granite rock outcroppings. It typically receives 300 inches of snow in the winter. //
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The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission thanks the public for supporting state parks. Donations made to State Parks through the vehicle license tab renewal program will keep state parks open in the 2009-2011 budget cycle, provided adequate revenues are collected. The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 97-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013. Washington State Parks is now on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.
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Road Trips
New Hostel in Kellogg, ID
Caters to Skiers, Boarders, Cyclists—and a Ghost? / By Estar Holmes
Proprietor Pat Ryan on the balcony of the new McKinley Inn Public House hostel overlooking old town Kellogg. Photo by Estar Holmes.
A new hostel that caters to skiers, boarders and cyclists welcomes visitors to the old town section of Kellogg, Idaho—less than a mile from Silver Mountain’s Gondola Village. It accommodates 24 guests, bunk style, six to a room with private baths. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi and a commercial kitchen. The balcony off the upstairs lounge overlooks old Kellogg and the surrounding hills with the gondola in the back-
ground. There is a pub and dining room on the ground floor and plans are in the works for a small open mic stage. “During a visit last summer I looked at the building and the rooms, and the place was a mess,” says Proprietor Pat Ryan, who is originally from Chelan, Wash. “Being a builder, I figured I could fix it.” He spent last fall repairing the leaky roof, replacing damaged drywall, painting, fixing sections of
the floor, and building the hostel-style loft beds. There are also four private rooms for two, for those who prefer their own space. The historic McKinley Inn attracted a raucous mining crowd complete with dance hall, gambling and bordello services during the Silver Valley’s heyday. It opened as the Connel Hotel in 1928, went through several owners, and was extensively remodeled in the 1990s by Russ Wilbur, who now caters to Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes cyclists at the classic Wild Boar Inn in Harrison. Wilbur says the place was a “complete disaster” when he purchased the building. He gutted it to the studs, turned 18 tiny rooms into eight, added a restaurant, and hired a German master woodworker living in Coeur d’Alene to craft the custom oak fixtures in the bar and lobby. Wilbur also installed the claw foot tubs in some of the bathrooms. “I hauled out ten 10-yard dump truck loads of trash and more than 100 pick-up loads,” Wilbur recalls. Before he bought the place, the clientele was
The inn’s most famous guest was actor John Wayne. prone to fights that spilled out onto the street. “One got shot out the back door, somebody else was stabbed in front,” he says. Probably the inn’s most famous guest was actor John Wayne, who relished rubbing shoulders with the local roughnecks. Wilbur says customers who met Wayne when it was called the Deluxe Bar said the actor felt at home there because he enjoyed the company of “real men.” Nowadays, the inn serves real men and women who prefer to melt their stress away on the surrounding ski hills and cycling trails. Ryan, an avid skier, discovered Kellogg on a family ski trip to Whitefish, Montana. The roads were bad, so they skied Silver Mountain instead, and he became a regular. He has put together ski and board packages with Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain. Lookout offers the better deal at $10 off per
guest. Silver Mountain visitors can save $2 per lift ticket. A ski shop is planned for next winter that will stock gear and provide overnight tune-ups with pick-up and delivery in Kellogg. Ryan also wants to add a demo center where people can try out a variety of ski brands. Visitors who explore uptown Kellogg will find a few collectible shops, clubs and restaurants within a three-block stroll from the inn. The Moose Creek Grill offers fine dining in a cozy setting, and the Wah Hing Chinese restaurant is right across the street. The public is invited to check out the weekly jam sessions with area musicians on Saturday nights in an amazing studio tucked into a room of the Inland Lounge next to the Wah Hing. Dirty Ernie’s bar occasionally books live music, and the Pizza Palace delivers to the inn. Ghost-loving skiers and cyclists will be delighted that the McKinley Inn is numbered among many old buildings in the Inland Northwest reputed to be haunted. Wilbur had heard the rumors, then one day a couple dining in the restaurant asked him if he realized the place played host to a spirit. “They offered to get rid of it for a fee,” he says. “My brother took them on a tour of the rooms upstairs, which resulted in their affirmation of a presence. I’d slept in every one of those rooms and never noticed any ghosts. I guess they just don’t bother me.” The McKinley Inn Public House is the only hostel for miles around. A hostel previously operated in Kellogg at the former Bunker Hill office, but that was before thousands of people started flocking to the region’s bike trails each year, and it didn’t last long. “I like the young crowd, and look forward to providing low budget hospitality for active people,” Ryan says. Private rooms at the McKinley Inn Public House start at $60 per night and hostel accommodations are $25. Search McKinley Inn Public House on Facebook to find special deals and updates. // WHEN YOU GO Take I-90 to Exit #51, Division St./Wardner south. Go past the Kellogg Depot Visitor Center and up the hill to old town. Turn right on McKinley. The inn is next to the timber frame arch on the west end of old Kellogg.
The only painter in Spokane who has completed an Ironman. Now that’s dedication!
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Out There Monthly / March 2011
GoGreen: Sustainable Living
NEW LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES BALLE Network Comes to Spokane / By Taylor Weech
Working to grow the local economy in spokane. // Photo Taylor Weech.
In the pursuit of sustainability—economically, environmentally, and in social equity—many communities are looking close to home to make changes. Shifts in thinking are easier to address on the local level and strategies are popping up across the country to help communities transition. One example that is coming to Spokane is BALLE, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies—a national organization that supports cities to network their local businesses. The BALLE website says that “[it’s] work is about community empowerment. BALLE networks of local businesses are working at the grassroots to reconnect eaters with farmers, investors with entrepreneurs, and business owners with their employees, neighbors and ecosystems….” Growing from a single network and a few organizers in 2001, BALLE now includes 80 local business networks in the U.S. and Canada, encompassing over 20,000 individual businesses. Networks in these cities have proven that when small businesses work together, they can overcome the overwhelming advantage that large-scale corporate chains have gradually developed over the last fifty years. Wyeth Larson, the sustainability coordinator at Mountain Gear, is currently facilitating and administrating the emerging BALLE network in Spokane, which is presently comprised of
a steering committee of nine local business owners. Larson says that BALLE and similar networks represent “a big shift back to valuing local businesses… states and counties spend a lot to get big companies to come in, but we could spend the same amount
“I think it consists of businesses being more empowered to advocate for their mutual interest…creating an economy that people want to be here for.” investing in local businesses that will have a greater positive impact on the community long-term.” The group that is currently working on establishing Spokane’s network came together after a Green Business Networking Luncheon during the 2010 Sustainable September festival. Larson says that the conversation there “got a lot of businesses excited about the BALLE concept…we have a desperate
SUSTAINABLELIVINGCALENDAR (March 19) Solar 101 Workshop. When: 9 AM - 12 PM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods - 32 W. 2nd. Bruce Gage of Eco Depot will discuss the basics of solar electric energy. This three hour workshop will provide information on how to best incorporate solar into your home or business. Interactive discussion will include the latest solar technologies and product presentation. Also conversation about the financial and tax incentives for “gettin’ green from the ground up”…and going Solar! Cost $25. Preregistration is required - only 20 spaces available! Register at Sun People Dry Goods, 32 W 2nd, Ste. 200 or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/142017. Info: sunpeopledrygoods.com.
(March 21) : Profile of a Green Sustainable Business. When: 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM. Where:
Spokane Convention Center. Tickets are $18 and available in advance from SLIP (509-209-2861) or at the door. Tickets may also be purchased online from Brown Paper Tickets ($1.99 service fee applies) at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/158936. Info: 509-209-2861.
(April 1) Opening for The Future EARTH & It’s Care.
When: 5 PM – 8 PM. Urbanna Natural Spa and Salon, 168 South Division St. Urbanna is hosting Jefferson’s 4th Grade: Ms. Schmidt’s Class “Earth Day Art” and poetry. Individual artists’ photos will be provided by Diane Maehl. Info: 509-747-7076, urbannaspa.com.//
need for businesses to be a part of building community…it’s all very interconnected; in a healthy economic system, we support those local businesses who support the community.” When these businesses work together to streamline their operations and intentionally support each other, they are also empowered to take the lead in making their city more socially active and environmentally aware. BALLE networks create greater leverage for local businesses by providing a forum for business owners to work together for their mutual benefit and the benefit of their customers. Many local networks offer trainings so business owners can share skills and techniques for enhancing their businesses’ efficiencies. In Bellingham, for example, how-to guides were published on seemingly simple ideas like installing a bike rack at your business. Businesses can also work together to enhance their ability to utilize green energy or focus their charitable activities in a way that provides a more coordinated, powerful impact on the community. Tanya Riordan runs the Hula Hut Grill in North Spokane and is on the steering committee of the emerging Spokane BALLE network. She joined the effort, she says, because “it has been difficult to find resources and information to make the changes we would like towards sustainability. [We] face a myriad of issues to work towards…energy efficiency, local procurement, sustainable supplies, recycling systems, and other improvements.” Many local businesses, especially those launched by entrepreneurs new to business in general, are daunted by the basics of running a business and don’t have time to prioritize working on a deeper level with their community or making careful decisions about the environmental and social impacts of their products. Riordan says, “A group providing practical and informative tools and resources to businesses, as well as addressing systemic sustainability challenges, will be invaluable.” With businesses supporting each other and working together strategically, the opportunities for locally-based economic growth will expand. First, BALLE networks aim to help businesses work together to be more sustainable. Second, they communicate to consumers why the work of these businesses is important. “We want people to think about how they are supporting local in their everyday actions,” says Larson. “It’s more than a buy local campaign…and more of an overall think local campaign.” For Spokane, this means helping shoppers understand the broad impact of what they buy and what they’re supporting with their money. About 70 cents of every dollar spent in a locally owned, independent store stays in the community, compared with about 17 cents when shopping at a chain or big-box store. Though BALLE is a national organization, the local chapters have control over their priorities and methods, since every city is different. “That is why the Spokane business owners are on the steering committee,” Larson says. “Many were born and raised here…we can talk about successes from other places, but our [network] will be entirely Spokane.” Aside from the nine businesses on the steering committee, there are about 40 who are currently involved in this project. The steering committee is encouraging all Spokane-area locally owned businesses to get involved in the planning process. This spring there will be a larger public meeting that business owners can attend to see the work being
done so far and give feedback before the network officially launches and incorporates. When asked about the long-term impact of BALLE in Spokane, Larson says, “…the grand vision? I think it consists of businesses being more empowered to advocate for their mutual interest…creating an economy that people want to be here for… and young people coming here to seek jobs in our locally powered economy.” He hopes that the network will support not only the existing businesses, but help to stimulate “entrepreneurial energy in our economy. It’s here, but I would love to see everyone jump on board and recognize the value,” he says. “I wish we had more people with the knowledge and guts to [open a business]. I hope a BALLE network will help inspire that.” Riordan, of Hula Hut, adds, “…ideally we’ll create a community culture where people understand the direct economic value of seeking their goods and services from local businesses. I see the Spokane Region promoting community sustainability as a vital economic development priority, and local businesses being valued as a critical element of that progress.” // To learn more about BALLE in Spokane, visit its website, www.livingeconomies.org, or the Spokane chapter’s new blog at ballespokane.blogspot.com. Questions can also be directed to Wyeth Larson at wlarson@mountaingear.com.
March 2011
/ Out There Monthly
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What’s Your Gear: Teri Tucker (triathlon mom)
Teri competing in the 2010 Valley Girl Triathlon. Photo courtesy of Teri Tucker.
If you’ve ever seen a woman biking around Spokane while towing two kids in a bike trailer, then you may have seen Teri Tucker on a training ride. She completed her first triathlon on April 10, 2004—a “mini-tri” at the old downtown YMCA, organized by the co-founders of Team Blaze, Scott and Tristin Roy. “They taught me how to swim. I had never used goggles or a swim cap before this class,” says Teri. “For the mini-tri we swam 300 yards in the YMCA pool. I was so dizzy when I got out that I fell down.”
She eventually made it to the front door, rode her bike through Riverfront Park down to Mission Park and back, and then ran 1.5-miles. “This was a wonderful experience for me. I met some great people that I still stay in touch with,” she says. “I actually won that tri, but to be fair there were only nine people competing in the whole event.” And then mommyhood was upon her; Teri was pregnant with twins. Her sons were born in the summer of 2005, and her next race was the Valley Girl Triathlon in 2007—a sprint tri featuring a one-third mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and three-mile run. “I signed up with Kirsten DeHart’s group, Moms in Motion, and we spent eight weeks training for this event. This group was fantastic,” says Teri. “Each woman was juggling motherhood and a love for athletics, and it was very satisfying to be connected with other women who were pursuing the same goals, especially during this time of my life. I have met some amazing women through this group who have enriched my life and have become wonderful friends. The spirit of camaraderie is magical, all of us working together for the simple goal of improving—improving our time, our technique, our fitness.” Teri’s Valley Girl finish time was 1:13. “Looking back, that seems like a very slow time, but I was very satisfied with finishing it,” she says. After this, her triathlon résumé revved up. In 2008, she competed in another sprint triathlon, and in 2009 completed both the West Plains WunderWoman sprint triathlon and the Spokane Triathlon, which was an Olympic distance. And last year, she ran a marathon and completed two
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sprint triathlons. “I trained for the marathon to improve my triathlon times,” she says. “My best time for the sprint tri distance is 1:06, last year’s WunderWoman. My ultimate triathlon goal is to compete in San
“The spirit of camaraderie is magical, all of us working together for the simple goal of improving—improving our time, our technique, our fitness.” Francisco’s Escape from Alcatraz.” She admits that tri events make her nervous, but she loves training and especially cycling. “When I bike with the boys, I usually pull them in a Chariot® bike trailer,” she says. “We crisscross the South Hill [trying] to sample as many parks as possible. Now that the boys are five years old, we have a tandem trail-a-bike that we will ride all over Spokane.” When the weather is warm, she swims in Medical Lake and completes 30 to 70-mile rides on the Palouse on the weekends. “I would like to train year round, but invariably the winter quarter is my busiest [one],” says Teri, who teaches online anthropology classes at Spokane Falls CC. During the winter, she skis
Out There Monthly / March 2011
every weekend and is a volunteer Nordic patroller at Mt. Spokane. “I love triathlons because I like giving myself a challenge and seeing if I can meet my goals,” she says. “The fact that I couldn’t swim and now I compete in triathlons is personally rewarding.” Here is Teri’s competition gear list: -------------------------------------------------------SWIM ATTIRE: “I swim in a sports bra, tri top, and my bike shorts on the day of the triathlon. I don’t own a wetsuit—I rented one from Fitness Fanatics for the Spokane Tri,” she says. She also wears Speedo or TYR dark goggles and a swim cap. -------------------------------------------------------BIKE & ATTIRE: Cervélo P2. “My favorite piece of gear is my tri bike,” says Teri. “I love this bike. For the first year that I owned it, every time I walked by it in the garage I would blow kisses to it. This bike makes me feel fast.” She uses Vision tri-bars, which came with her bike, and wears Sidi clipless cycling shoes, Zoot bike shorts, and her Moms in Motion Sugoi tri top for competitions. -------------------------------------------------------HELMET: Giro Ionos -------------------------------------------------------SUNGLASSES: Rudy Project -------------------------------------------------------WATCH: Garmin Fourrunner 310XT -------------------------------------------------------RUNNING SHOES: Saucony ProGrid Omni 9. “On my second triathlon, I did not wear socks and I still have the scars to remind me that saving 30 seconds is not worth that particular pain,” she says. //
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durability. I have had a number of falls in these pants. There are a few times where I was positive I had ripped them. The majority of my time in these pants is on a bicycle, and they show no wear around the sit bones. That significant achievement speaks to the fabric’s durability. If you are active in the cooler months and you want normal looking pants, and you can stomach paying $160 for pants, then the REI Acme pants are hard to beat.
REI Acme Pants I’m in my third winter with these pants, and I’m amazed at their durability, lightness, ability to dry quickly, wind-cutting greatness, and relative warmth. And yes, they look normal too! Quick feature list: zipped pockets, Velcro ankle straps (which would be better if they strapped more pant for cycling, but they do okay), neutral grey/slate color, real waist/inseam sizes (not just S, M, L, etc). There is also a women-specific version of the Acme. I’ve never paid so much for pants. They retail for $160, but they’re worth every cent. If my math is right, I’d say I’ve worn them nearly 300 times over the last 2.5 years. That’s about 50 cents a day. And they have plenty of life left. The fancy Schoeller fabric is comfy, stretchy, and easy to move around in. All the hyped properties of Schoeller are true. And I say this as a dyedin-the-wool “wool guy” who has never bought the fantasy of the vast majority of high-tech fabric claims. But the Schoeller PR folks speak the truth: this stuff blocks wind well, breathes well for temperatures up to the 60s, dries amazingly fast, and—with a good base layer—is perfectly suitable to temps down to the 20s. But the thing that gets me on these pants is the
Carhartt Dungaree If $160 just doesn’t pencil out for you, then consider the Carhartt Dungaree pants, which cost around $60. The Dungarees are no substitute for the Acme pants in the drying and stretchiness departments, and they don’t have a women’s version. But they are otherwise good all-purpose pants in the durability, weather-resistance, and value areas. And unless you hang with the highlycultivated crowd, Carhartts can probably work as casual wear for most scenarios. Although “dungaree” traditionally describes a type of heavy cotton fabric, in Carharttese, it describes the cut of a pant style: one with a “fuller” butt and thigh, which happens to be great for cycling and other active pursuits. Carhartt makes a number of Dungaree pants, but the specific version that makes for a good cool-weather daily driver is the Front Work Dungaree. It has a double layer of fabric on the front thigh and knee. As it turns out, the double front does a fantastic job of holding out water. In fact, riding a bicycle with these pants in a downpour barely wets them out. They’re wet, but they’re not soaked through. The reason is that the cotton weave is thick and tight. When water soaks it, the fibers expand and close off the spaces between the weave, blocking more water from passing through. It’s a traditional, and effective, method for providing water resistant cotton. While these pants are durable, they’re still cotton, so they will wear and rip in the way denim does. But those same properties make them more supple and comfy over time. And of course, they age nicely. //
Everyday Cyclist
http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com
Tips For Bike Parking
What’s The Best Way To Do It? / By John Speare If you ride your bike enough, you’re going to need to park it, lock it, and leave it unattended at some point. Here are some tips, thoughts and strategies for parking your bike. Ride a parkable bike. This means, when you go out on your bike and you know need to leave it locked up, likely outside, then ride a bike that you are comfortable leaving unattended. If you don’t have such a bike, then prioritize your life to procure one. A parkable bike has things like a rack, saddle, lights and wheels that are attached with bolts, rather than quick releases. Any of these components are steal-able in any case, but bolts deter the opportunistic thieves from looting your bike as they walk by.
A good illustration of this is River Park Square downtown. There is an awful bike rack at the north entrance: a deserted-feeling rack under the parking ramp. But at the south entrance of River Park Square, there’s a trio of new racks right out in the open. A thief will have to be a lot more brazen to shake down your bike out on Main Street than they will under cover of the parking ramp on the north side. Smart businesses will have good bike parking; be a smart business! Tossing up a bike rack is a nice gesture, and we should generally encourage it. But racks are often designed and installed by non-cyclists. In
Using two different types of locks to secure your bike is probably the best solution.
Street parking. // PHOTO JOHN SPEARE.
And if you have to fuss with either locking or removing racks, saddles, lights, and wheels every time you park your bike, then you’re less likely to ride the bike, which makes it less parkable. You should also be okay with letting the bike get scratched up. A business shouldn’t have to let you drag your bike inside to be considered “bike friendly.” A great thing about bikes is that they’re pretty small and compact. So they’re easy to find secure parking for. And a great thing about being a cyclist is being self-reliant in our transportation choice. The only business where it’s okay to bring your bike into is a bike shop. You may have an arrangement with your workplace figured out so you can bring your bike indoors. That’s okay too. But you shouldn’t expect to bring your bike inside a business just because you are spending money there. That kind of entitlement thinking gives the rest of us cyclists a bad reputation! Securing your bike is no one’s responsibility but your own. The best bike parking is a spot that is visible. Best-case bike parking scenario: right outside the window where you are dining or shopping, locked to a pole, under a light. If there is a bike rack, but you can’t see your bike, then lock up to the parking meter, sign pole, fence post, or other secure thing that allows you to see your bike while you’re in the business. If you can’t see it, then second best is a busy public space out in the open.
fact, it seems like bike racks are often an afterthought that are put up in a left-over chunk of space that is unusable for auto parking or other higher priority items. They’re almost never covered, often hidden from public view, and they’re often silly designs that look neat but don’t work well for many bikes. The best design is the inverted-U, which is admittedly boring to look at, but is the most functional rack around. And the best placement is right in front of the windows of the business where a potential thief would have an ample audience. Bonus points for overhead lights. Serious cyclist-love is reserved for businesses that also offer covered space. But that’s the least important after visibility, lights and rack design. No lock is secure. Given enough time, a dedicated thief can get through any lock, cable or chain. The goal is to make your bike as undesirable as possible. The challenge is not having a really desirable bike. Keep in mind that many bike thieves don’t know good bikes. All other things being equal, park your bike next to the flashiest looking mountain bike in the rack. The second important aspect of making your bike undesirable is to have it be really inconvenient to steal. Using two different types of locks to secure your bike is probably the best solution. If you have to leave your bike outside overnight, go with multiple lock styles. Otherwise, go with a small U-lock or the heaviest chain you are willing to lug around. Small U-locks are desirable because their Achilles heel is brute force, as opposed to cutting, so the goal is for you to fill up the space in the “U” with as much bike and rack as possible. After you get your parkable bike and locking plan dialed in, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of getting the best parking spot every time you go out! // John Speare grew up and lives in Spokane. He rides his bike everywhere. Check out his blog at http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com.
March 2011
/ Out There Monthly
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Out There Monthly / March 2011
NO WAY DOWN: LIFE AND DEATH ON K2 Graham Bowley, Harper Books, 2010, 304 pages
Some reviewers have succumbed to the temptation of comparing No Way Down to Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. Though both books deal with Himalayan mountain disasters, the similarities end there. Into Thin Air reveals Jon Krakauer’s view as an experienced climber with considerable journalistic experience. New York Times journalist Graham Bowley presents No Way Down purely as a journalist with no climbing bent. Without climbing experience, Bowley used the testimony of the survivors to tell his story. While this lends objectivity to his coverage, it creates a journalistic tone in the work. Bowley alludes to, but does not dwell on, the role of “commercialized” climbing in events like that on K2 in August 2008. The narrative, driven by discussions among climbers and Sherpa guides, covers many of the logistical problems and bad decisions that contributed to the disaster. However, Bowley does not speculate on the causes; he succinctly describes the effect. That No Way Down was published nearly two years after the events described is a testimony to the author’s commitment to “getting it right.” Bowley interviewed dozens of people—including most of the climbers who returned from the mountain—to find out what happened and to gain a personal understanding of climbers and climbing. While the story flows well and the book is easy to read, there are some annoying quirks in Bowley’s writing. Readers not familiar with climbing terminology may not notice his avoidance of jargon terms like “clipping in” to describe a climber attaching to a rope, or avoiding “piton” and “ice screw” to name the hardware used to attach ropes to the hill. There are also times where he uses parenthetical definitions for less esoteric terms like “bivouac” that interrupt the flow of the narrative. In spite of its foibles, No Way Down is an enjoyable and informative read. I believe time will judge No Way Down to be an objective look at one of the darker days in Himalayan climbing history. // Stan Miller
It started with a simple question: How come my foot hurts? Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run, couldn’t jog even a couple of miles without feeling like he was being stabbed in the foot with an ice pick. Frustrated and relentlessly curious, McDougall turned his question into a quest that became a book. The narrative spans continents and cultures and introduces a band of quirky characters—elite runners, scientists, doctors, coaches, and the reclusive, mysterious Tarahumara of Mexico’s Copper Canyons, an injury- and disease-free tribe of “superhumans” who
“The conclusion? Much of what’s commonly believed about running is wrong.” run with ease for hundreds of miles at a stretch. How can the Tarahumara put in extreme mileage on almost-impassable terrain while McDougall can barely eke out a short run? To find out, he culls decades of running research. The conclusion? Much of what’s commonly believed about running is wrong. For instance: our cushy, gel-happy shoes are actually causing injuries, not preventing them. “Blueprint your feet, and you’ll find a marvel engineers have been trying to match for centuries,” McDougall writes. Put your arches in shoes, and these architectural wonders are rendered impotent, supporting muscles atrophy, and pain ensues. Another key premise: humans evolved to run long, lo-o-o-o-ong distances. If running thrashes our knees or breaks down our bodies, it’s because we’re doing it wrong, no longer fueling properly, training correctly, or using the right form. The book’s topography is as full of ups and downs and switchback turns as a hilly ultramarathon. The story covers intense trail races, flashbacks of our anthropological roots, and mini profiles of a range of runners, all encompassed by the larger frame of McDougall’s own attempt at an ultra on the Tarahumara’s turf. McDougall writes with humor, and he loves to ratchet suspense—the many cliffhanger endings (love them or hate them) are the literary equivalent of the Copper Canyon drop-offs that mark the edges of the Tarahumara’s world. Whether or not you’re into McDougall’s style, the story is gripping and the science fascinating. Prepare to want to toss your running shoes and find out if you, too, are born to run. // Sarah Hauge
Crushing Rocks: The Music Report A Grammy, Sasquatch! & THe hop Happy March! A couple of important things have happened since last we “spoke”… First off, a hearty congrats to Kory Kruckenberg, formerly of Spokane, currently of Seattle, who made his way down to Los Angeles this past month to pick up a GRAMMY for Best Engineered Album, Classical. Woo! Kruckenberg, whom you may remember from December’s column wherein he was spoken quiiiiite highly of by Mon Chéri’s Caroline Francis, has worked with many a Washington band and is a real ace-up-thesleeve for the Seattle music scene and beyond. A well-deserved pat on the back to ‘im! ALSO, Sasquatch! Music Festival announced its lineup and sold out within the last month. Actually, it sold out within a week of the announcement (after being technically on sale since November). Snap! It’s the fastest selling year for the now-four-day festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre and comes with a lineup stacked both with old friends of the festival (see: Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Wilco, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine), as well as some exciting first-timers like Foo Fighters, Death from Above 1979, Bright Eyes, Robyn and more. YEAH, ROBYN. Yesssss, pop musiccc! And what ELSE? The Cretin Hop is open again! Or re-open! Or THE HOP is open! Either way, the allllllll ages music scene in town breathes a heavy sigh of relief!!! Now stationed at 706 N. Monroe, the Hop(!) is back and ready for business! Shows a-plenty are surely on the way and I’d recommend those of you Facebook-inclined folks hit up the venue’s page to see what’s coming up (www.facebook.com/thehopspokane — a couple of March
shows are on the books at this point!). My pals at local blog Check It Out Music, also pals of the precious and unpredictable all ages scene, give good quote on the occasion. As cocreator Andrea Williams shared via email: “We are stoked that TC brought the Hop back to life. Spokane needs a place for kids (both young and old) to go and let loose to killer local and national punk/rock bands. With all of the current venue changes in the area… he is a saint for keeping an all ages venue open, busy, and happening in the Spokane scene.” I couldn’t agree more! Let’s skip the lecture on supporting places like the Hop and just GO, yeah? YEAH! A fun bit of RANDOM this month is Good Charlotte at the Knitting Factory on March 23. I would never have really imagined myself recommending such a thing, but I could not deny the easy, breezy, catchiness of that 2007 “Dance Floor Anthem (I Don’t Want to Be in Love)” track. I maybe would go just to hear that. Then again, my life veers heavily toward crappy pop music as of late… Fair warning (have I said too much??). Tickets are $23.50 in advance. And about that sold out Sasquatch!... if you didn’t get tickets in time, you’re encouraged to keep an eye on the calendars of places like, SAYYY, the Knitting Factory. Bands pretty frequently are able to make a Spokane stop in the time frame around the fest! And if you ask me, checking something out downtown is far superior to a four day festival anyway. Hehe. First stop? BRIGHT EYES with Jenny and Johnny at the Knitting Factory on May 31. I’d get on that. Tickets are $25.00 and on sale now.//
/ By Ashley
CD OF THE MONTH //
BRIGHT EYES –
The People’s Key (Saddle Creek) What’s that you say? We were already on the SUBJECT of Bright Eyes? How very timely! Truthfully, I lost track of ol’ Conor Oberst for awhile there (most of the last five years), so my perspective is a little off. On the other hand, I think my previous theory that everything Oberst touches is somehow noteworthy. At the same time (are you tired of the sentence transitions yet?), I’m not sure Bright Eyes works for me anymore. The old stuff? Still magical in a way I can’t even wrap my head around, but almost as if it represented a moment in time that’s now a) gone and b) been replicated to death. No one is Conor Oberst, and in that, no one can re-create the magic of Fevers & Mirrors or Lifted…, but, while this is a solid effort undoubtedly (it can hardly NOT be), perhaps it’s best sent to bed (as planned). “Ladder Song” and “Jejune Stars” are highlights. //
Roadtrip DJ: March Tim Lannigan
Five Songs Everyone Should Hear OBLIVIANS / “PLAY 9 SONGS WITH MR. QUINTRON” / I DON’T WANNA LIVE ALONE This is the album—the one that made me think garage rock, gospel, soul and punk belonged in bed together. I challenge anyone not to play the steering wheel to this track. Oblivians forever. RYAN ADAMS / “HEARTBREAKER” / COME PICK ME UP Driving back from a vacation on the Washington coast, late summer evening with the whole family singing along (and the youngest mispronouncing certain swear words) is my “happy place.” Sorry to everyone I made fun of for listening to this when it came out. SWORD / “AGE OF WINTERS” / WINTER’S WOLVES When my bandmate Ryan moved back from Texas with the Sword’s Age of Winters, I found a reason to love metal again. Because this was metal with someone other than cookie monster singing Sabbath-esque licks and cahones the size of a bus. Turn the volume up for this song. My snowboarder and skier friends would call this a “going up the mountain album.” DIRTBOMBS / “ULTRAGLIDE IN BLACK” / UNDERDOG This is probably the best song ever. Probably the only cover that’s twenty times better than the original. Probably a reason to dance while driving, so please be safe. COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS / “BLUFF CITY” / YOU DON’T WANT ME Greg Cartwright is a fan-f ’in-tastic songwriter. (He’s in the Oblivians, too). This heart-on-yoursleeve, cryin’-in-your-beer, garage rock grind would make a weaker man cry. But I never cried to this song. Believe me. I swear. (Well, maybe once.) // March 2011
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Out There Monthly / March 2011
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Health andFitness Barefoot running controversy To Shoe Or Not To Shoe. / By Dr. Bob Lutz
Barefootin’. // Photo Shane Folden.
“Our research asked how and why humans can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes. We tested and confirmed what many people knew already: that most experienced, habitually barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on the heel and instead land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. The bulk of our published research explores the collisional mechanics of different kinds of foot strikes. We show that most forefoot and some midfoot strikes (shod or barefoot) do not generate the sudden, large impact transients that occur when you heel strike (shod or barefoot). Consequently, runners who forefoot or midfoot strike do not need shoes with elevated cushioned heels to cope with these sudden, high transient forces that occur when you land on the ground. Therefore, barefoot and minimally shod people can run easily on the hardest surfaces in the world without discomfort from landing. If impact transient forces contribute to some forms of injury, then this style of running
This is not to say that heel striking is bad. (shod or barefoot) might have some benefits, but that hypothesis remains to be tested.” (Lieberman, DE. 2010) What did he say? Like many runners, I’ve read Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall— the story of the Tumahura Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, one of the world’s great running cultures. They don’t put on their $150 Asics to go out for their daily run. Rather, they strap on sandals made from old tire treads. And by the way, their runs aren’t what most of us do on a weekly or monthly basis. Theirs can span hours to days, and they don’t break down like most of us would, given the miles and terrain they’re running. One of the colorful characters in the book is Barefoot Ted, who eschews anything but the calluses on his feet to navigate the trails of the Copper Canyon during the first staged race (http://trailrunningsoul.com/trs/2010/01/27/ video-ultra-marathon-in-the-copper-canyons/). The book and his exploits have spawned great
interest in running sans EVA cushioning, and thus we see the FiveFingers®, aka barefoot running, movement. Is this a fad? Well, it’s probably not going to interest any but the most avid runner, but is it sound? You can see from the opening quote that a Harvard researcher has devoted time and resources into exploring the issue. Given that an estimated 30-75 percent of runners are injured yearly, is it possible that technology is partially to blame? The biomechanical details of running are complicated to say the least. In essence, the premise of the barefoot argument is that prior to the introduction of the modern running shoe that’s heavy in heel support, less padded shoes encouraged runners to land on the balls or middle of their feet. Anatomically, this part of the foot is ideal for absorbing the impact of the running foot strike. However, an estimated 75 percent of runners wearing conventional running shoes heel strike. The exact whys of this aren’t known, but it’s suggested that the design of running shoes throws your body weight onto the heel of the shoe where the majority of padding is placed, thereby softening the impact. This, combined with added stability that’s built into the shoe, makes heel strike more comfortable and probable. But why is this a problem? The heel of the foot is anything but well designed to take on the force of impact that may be an estimated three times your body weight with each strike. Granted, there’s a good size fat pad overlying the heel bone, but that’s it—nothing else to distribute and diffuse these forces. So when your foot hits the ground, the force is transmitted upwards. This serves to increase stresses on the joints, muscles and connective tissues above the foot. Given that the average runner strikes the ground more than 600 times per kilometer, it’s no surprise the number of overuse injuries that occur with increasing mileage. Add to this that two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, and you have a lousy combination of factors potentially contributing to the high rates of running injuries. Now this is not to imply that heel striking is bad. It’s obvious that many runners avoid injury, and there’s no direct evidence to say that heel striking in running shoes is to blame. But it’s always interesting to consider the possibilities. So next time you find yourself in the park, a sandy beach, or another soft surface, consider doing a little self-experimentation. Take some strides in your running shoes, and notice how you strike the ground. Try shifting your weight forward so you hit the ground on the ball of your foot or your midfoot. Notice how this shifts the alignment of your body. Now take off your shoes and do a little jog/run. Alternate between heel strike and midfoot/forefoot strike. Again, get a sense of how your body is aligned over your feet. Notice a difference? You may find that given the opportunity of a little more time, you come to feel comfortable with this different gait and body position. If you like how it feels, then maybe it’s worth giving “barefoot” running a try. Who knows, you may simply be going back to the future of running. // (For more tips on barefoot running, check out the January issue of Outside magazine.)
March 2011
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Outdoor Calendar CLIMBING (Ongoing Wednesdays) Spider Monkey Climbing Club. When: 5 – 7PM. Where: Wild Walls, 202 W.
2nd Ave. For kids ages 4 – 10 years. Please call ahead. Come climb with friends! Cost $12 (single visit), $74 (8 punch pass). Info: 509-455-9596.
(March 5) Palouse Climbing Festival. Check in/
Submit your event at www.outtheremonthly.com
save your seat. Info: 509-328-9900, www.rei.com/ spokane.
(March 6) Elk Drug Drop-Outs Vintage & Cruiser Bicycle Ride. When: 3PM. Where: Starts at the Elk in Browne’s Addition biking to David’s Pizza (near GU) and back again. Family-friendly (though we do like our beer!). Info: 509-326-6949.
Registration: 9 AM. Where: University of Idaho, SRC. Come watch or compete with the region’s best climbers. Beginner, advanced, intermediate and open divisions, as well as collegiate and non-collegiate. Info: 208-885-6810, campusrec.uidaho.edu/outdoor.
(March 19) Full Moon Fiasco. When: 8 PM. Where:
(March 10) Rock Climbing Basics. When: 7 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. Participants will gain an understanding of the different types of climbing, necessary gear and how to get started. Register for free: www.rei.com/spokane. Info: 509-328-9900, rei. com/Spokane.
(March 26) Bike Commuting 101. When: 10 - 11:30
CYCLING
SKI/SNOWBOARD/ICE SKATE
(Ongoing) Pedals 2 People Open Shop. When:
(March 5) USASA Slopestyle. When: Various. Where:
Thursdays through Saturdays, 2pm-6pm T-F, 11am6pm Sat. Where: Pedals 2 People, 1802 E Sprague. The Pedals2People Community bike shop provides a place where you can learn to work on your bike and affordably rent tool space. Info: 509-842-6597, pedals2people.org/.
(Ongoing) WOW Cycling Club for Women. Ladies - it’s cold outside, but keep checking the forum for things to do in these cold months to stay in shape! Info: 509-951-6366. (March 31) Beginning Bike Maintenance. When: 7
PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe. In this presentation you’ll learn how to lube a chain, fix flats, and make minor adjustments to your bike. Register to
The Swamp Tavern. A relaxed bike ride through Spokane during the full moon. Any bike. Any level of rider. Any level of beverage enjoyer. Info: fbcspokane.blogspot.com.
AM. Where: Sun People Dry Goods - 32 W. 2nd. Are you afraid to bike commute in the City of Spokane? Join Pedals2People to learn basics to get started commuting in the City. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.
Mt Spokane. Riders compete for series points and a potential spot at USASA Nationals. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages are encouraged to compete. Helmets are MANDATORY. Must be a USASA member to compete, join for just the day or for the entire season! The organization allows competitors to compete in a safe, fair, judged environment that encourages fun and learning. Everyone is welcome to join the series and compete! Points are gathered throughout the season, and ultimately counted for a chance to enter the USASA Nationals. Info: mtspokane.com/event/122/usasa-slopestyle/
(March 5) Paws and Poles. When: Registration 9
AM/Race 11 AM. Where: 49º North. Dust off the dog booties, wax up your skis, dig out your snow-
shoes and have a heart-to-heart with your champion – because the 5th annual Paws and Poles fun run/ ski is back! Come play on the groomed trails at 49-degrees North with your pet. Free trails, great people and a barking good time. Proceeds benefit SpokAnimal, so bring your wallet for the live auction to follow. $15. Info: ski49n.com.
(March 5) NIC Outdoor Pursuits UP/Down Ski Race.When: Registration: 8:30am - Race:10:00am.
Where: Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area. The race is open to anyone using telemark, alpine touring, or split board gear. Prizes will be awarded for fastest man, woman and best dressed. Info: (208) 769-7809, jon_totten@nic.edu
(March 6) Cross Country Ski Tour at 49 Degrees North - Women’s Only. When: 10 AM - 2 PM. Where:
49 Degrees North. Get tips to better control and have more fun on your cross country skis in this non-competitive, women’s only atmosphere. Lunch provided.
CYCLING (April 19) Devil’s Slide Mtn Bike Race. Info: twinrivercyclists.org./events/devil%27%slide/ devil.htm
(April 26) Lilac Century. Info: northdivision.
com/lilac.htm
(May 21) Inland Empire Century. Richland, WA Info: http://www.inlandempirecentury.org/ (May 23 – 24) 24 hrs Round and Round Mt Bike race at Riverside Park. Info: roundan-
2129 N. Main St CdA. Fund raiser for junior’s team, donate your gently used gear or come to shop. If you are looking to get in to triathlons you won’t want to miss this event. Info: 208-667-5503.
(April 1-2) “24 Hours of Schweitzer” When: 8:30 AM, Fri - 8:30 AM Sat. Where: Schweitzer Mountain
Resort, Sandpoint, ID. Third-annual ski and snowboard benefit event and auction held in honor of 4-year-old Hank Sturgis, who has the rare, incurable disease cystinosis. Info: 208-610-2131, 24hoursforhank.org.
SNOWSHOE/HIKING/BACKPACKING (March 3) Avalanche Awareness. When: 7 PM. Where:
REI, 1125 N Monroe. REI hosts Jon Dodge from
(May 14) Windermere Marathon. Spokane Post Falls to Spokane. Info: WindermereMarathon.com (May 29) Coeur D’Alene Marathon. Spend Memorial Day Weekend in C’d’A. Info: cdamarathon.com
(June 4) Glenrose Mountain Goat Challlenge 10K. Info: mountaingoatchallenge.com. (July 23) Spokenya Run. Help those in Adiedo Kenya build a new medical clinic. Info: spokenyarun.org.
TRIATHLON
(June 4) CHaFE 150 Sandpoint, ID. Beautiful
(June 11) The X Tri! An off-road triathlon. Info:
(July 1-4) Northwest Tandem Rally. Spokane is the host for this years rally, join riders from all over the northwest.
MARATHONS (May 14) Windermere Marathon, Spokane, Washington. Info: windermeremarathon.com/ site3.aspx.
Organic Seeds
(March 19) Vertical Earth Junior Racing Team, Bike and Gear Swap/Expo/Fair. 10 AM – 2 PM. Where
dround.com
(June 11-12) Spokane Mountaineers Mountain Bike Skills Clinic. Info: spokanemountaineers.org
&
Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.
SIXMONTHTRAININGCALENDAR
ride in Idaho & Montana Info: 208-290-7148 www.chafe150.org
Heirloom
(May 29) Coeur d’Alene Marathon. Info: 509-
979-4370, cdamarathon.com
RUNNING (May 1) Lilac Bloomsday Run. Spokane’s Rite of
Spring. Info: bloomsdayrun.org
adventuresportsweek.com.
(August 6) Whidbey Island Triathlon (Langley, WA) A great first tri on a scenic course. Info: whidbeytriathlon.com.
(June 26) Ironman, Coeur d’Alene. Info: ironmancda.com
ADVENTURE RACING (August 14-20) Expedition Idaho! One of the premier expedition length races in the world! Info: expeditionidahorace.com
ROWING (Summer) Learn to Row. Instruction in sculling and sweep rowing. Info: spokanerowing.org
SKIING (April 2) Annual Slush Cup! Lookout Pass. Info: skilookout.com //
Have an Event You Would Like to List? // Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click the “Submit Your Event” link. // Events MUST be sent in by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the when, where format as seen in the calendar. Ongoing events need to be re-submitted each month.
20
Out There Monthly / March 2011
A locally-owned business | Now Open | 32 W. 2nd Ave. #200 Entrance faces Browne Street
Outdoor Calendar (March 5) Snowshoe Tour Family. When: 12:30-3:30
PM. Where: Mt. Spokane, Take the whole family on this inexpensive snowshoe trek at Mt. Spokane. All equipment is included in cost. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.
Transportation. When: 6 – 9 PM. Where: Mt.
Spokane, Moonlight on snow is a magical and memorable experience. Quietly you will explore the meadows and woods around Mount Spokane. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.
(March 20) Poker Orienteering. When: 1 PM. Where:
(March 12) Snowshoe Tour 49 Degrees North Women’s Only. When: 10 AM - 2 PM. Where: 49
Gonzaga University Campus. Eastern Washington Orienteering Club hosts a “poker orienteering” event. Register at 1:00 PM for 1:30 start. More info at ewoc.org. Info: tschoenleber@ewoc.org. www. ewoc.org.
(March 14) Outdoor Cooking Class. When: 6:30 - 8:30
(March 28) WTA trail work party. When: 8:30-3:30. Where: Liberty Lake County Park. Come join us to get the lower elevation trails in shape for the new hiking season. Please check our website for information and sign-up. Info: 206-625-1367. wta.org.
Degrees North. Learn tips for better control and more fun on your snowshoes in this non-competitive, women’s only atmosphere. Lunch provided. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org
PM. Where: Mountain Gear. Become a legend as you learn the secrets of great outdoor cooking. Various cooking tools and styles will be covered in class. Info: 509-625-6200, spokaneparks.org.
HQ, E. 6021 Mansfield. Learn the skills of camping and exploring the outdoors. Learn about the clothing, equipment, cooking, wellness,
©2004 SHAKLEE CORPORATION
(March 19) Snowshoe Moonlight Hike with
(April 1 thru May) Spokane Mountaineers Backpack School. When: Fridays at 6:30 PM. MountainGear
safety,navigation,outdoor etiquette, trailcraft, local hikes. Info: 509-838-8415, spokanemountaineers. org.
RUNNING/WALKING (Feb 28 - April 30) Snap Fitness Bloomsday Training Clinic. When: 6 PM. Mondays and Wednesdays. Where: Local Snap Fitness and Downtown. Train for your best Bloomsday ever with Snap Fitness. Walkers, joggers and runners welcome. Run with us Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. Info: 473-9477, snapfitness.com
(March 9) Bloomsday training. When: 5 PM. Where:
U District PT 730 N Hamilton. Train for Bloomsday with Moms In Motion! All abilities welcome. Meets every Wednesday at various locations. Info: momsinmotion.com.
PADDLING (March 28) Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club.When:
7 PM. Where: Corbin Community Center. Mike Copeland, adventure kayak film maker, will be sharing his slide presentation of his 15 day self supported trip thru the Grand Canyon. Info: 509-891-6069, goldcreekbuilding@comcast.net
YOGA (March 1 - April 29) Iyengar Yoga 8-week series for beginners. When: Mon, 9:30 AM or Tues or Thurs
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at 6 PM. Where: Sunflower Yoga, 6413 E. 14th Ave. Learn Iyengar yoga with attention to detail, alignment, use of props as needed and teacher adjustments. Gentle and intermediate classes also offered. Info: 509-535-7369, www.sunfloweryoga.net
EVENTS/MOVIES/MISC… (March 5) CHER - CPR Saturday. When: 10 AM - 2 PM. Where: The Warehouse Athletic Facility. Learn to save a loved one’s life with basic life support. Classes offered every ½ hour for FREE. Register online. Info: 509-232-8138, cherspokane.org.
(March 8) Spokane Fly Fishers Raffle. When: 6:30 PM. Where: St.Francis School; 1104 W. Heroy; Spokane. Tickets will be sold and fly fishing items and escorted flshing trips will be available for a raffle. The public is welcome. Info: 509-990-4782, mike1keegs@aol.com (March 11-13) 8th Annual Inland Northwest Motorcycyle Show. When: Fr 4 PM - 9 PM, Sat 10 AM
- 8 PM, Sun 10 AM- 4 PM. Where: Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Hundreds of Motorcycles, gleaming chrome and accessories. High Ridaz stunt riders and Budweiser Biker Bar. Plus Toyota’s $2000 Cash is King contest. Info: 509-466-4256, spokanemotorcycleshow.com.
(March 14) Magic Light: The Outdoor Photographer’s Passion. When: 7 PM. Where: REI, 1125 N Monroe.
www.shaklee.com
1- 800 - SHAKLEE
Contact me for more information
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Heidi Arbogast NAME
509-218-2582 PHONE
heidi@heidarbogast.com EMAIL
Join professional landscape photographer Tim Cooper for an information packed evening on landscape photography. Register for this free event. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/Spokane.
OUTDOOR MAR 2011 CALENDAR
Priest Lake Search & Rescue (www.plsar.com) for a free introductory course on Avalanche Awareness. Info: 509-328-9900, rei.com/spokane.
(March 19) Vertical Earth Junior Racing Team, Bike and Gear Swap/Expo/Fair. 10 AM – 2 PM. Where
2129 N. Main St CdA. Fund raiser for junior’s team, donate your gently used gear or come to shop. If you are looking to get in to triathlons you won’t want to miss this event. Info: 208-667-5503. // March 2011
/ Out There Monthly
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Don Kardong, bib #8 with the USA logo on signlet, at the 5:30 pm start of the Men’s Olympic Marathon on July 31, 1976 in the Montreal Olympic Stadium. To the left of Kardong, with a smile on his face, is USA’s Frank Shorter. Photo by Mark Shearman.
WAS THIS MAN CHEATED OUT OF AN OLYMPIC MEDAL? Spokane Running Hero Don Kardong And The Strange Case Of East German Athletics BY DON WINANT As he raced down the tunnel into the bowels of Olympic Stadium, chasing the East German runner leading the race, it did not matter whether the time gap was 3.2 seconds or 3.2 minutes. On that balmy, wet evening of July 31, 1976, in Montreal, Spokane’s Don Kardong would be “stuck in 4th place” in the aftermath of the men’s marathon of the Games of the XXI Olympiad. -----------------------------------------------------NATION OF ÜBER-ATHLETES Walter Ulbricht, the first head of state for East Germany, formally known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), preached “strength through physical culture and sport.” With severe sanctions and trade embargos imposed on the East Germans by the Free World, the communist country of 19 million people turned inward to produce a critical mass of Olympic gold medalists. Because the Communist elite deemed sport and fitness as high priorities, Article 34 of their Constitution demanded that all citizens, young or old, participate in some form of physical activity. The constitutional push to achieve statewide superiority in sport reached its zenith in the 1980s when, according to journalist Andrew Newman with the left-leaning newspaper Socialist Unity, the government funneled 2.5 billion dollars into 22
Out There Monthly / March 2011
the nation’s sport infrastructure. Physically gifted children and young adults competed in district Spartiakades, or Sports Festivals, which culminated with the National Spartiakade. This heavily funded and tightly controlled program ultimately catapulted the GDR as a world super power in sport. One guinea pig in this program was a child prodigy and an eventual Olympic marathon champion, Waldemar Cierpinski. -----------------------------------------------------TWO RUNNERS In America, it was a different world. As a teen, Don Kardong was tall, gangly and cerebrally inclined. In 1964, his Seattle Prep running coach tricked him into running cross-country as a conditioner for hoop dreams that never materialized. Kardong was the top runner on the team as a sophomore, and by his senior year, in 1966, he placed second place at the state cross-country championships. His sports heroes began to shift from Arnold Palmer to Billy Mills and East African Abebe Bikila. Kardong recalls, “Bikila’s victory in Rome (in the 1960 Olympic Marathon) was amazing, and barefoot at that. I didn’t immediately want to emulate him, but I think he planted a seed.” Kardong went on to become a standout collegiate runner at Stanford
University. Meanwhile in the GDR, the goal of every young card-carrying communist was to enter the privileged Children and Sport Schools. By age 12, Cierpinski was accepted into the Aufbau Nienburg Sports School where his day was split between academics and sport. Domestic production of elite athletes began as early as age five by casting a nationwide net through the Extended Sighting and Selection System—probing every nook of the GDR and annually screening 600,000 children. At age 18, Waldemar won the steeplechase in the Berlin Spartiakade, and at 19, he was invited to join an elite sports club, which was producing multiple world and Olympic champions at that time. In 1972, Coach Walter Schmidt changed the course of Cierpinski’s destiny. According to an interview with East German Sports Historian Barbara Carol Cole for her doctoral dissertation, Cierpinski says, “Coach Schmidt implemented a scientific approach to training that stopped the vicious cycle of injury for me.” Schmidt enrolled his protégé in highly classified sport science testing at the Kreischa Institute, which was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) accredited doping control laboratory. Ironically, it would play a crucial role in shielding East German athletes from the
detection of banned performance-enhancing drugs in international competitions. East German sport scientists probed every internal organ of the young Cierpinksi. They introduced carbo-loading, lactic acid testing, and the value of altitude training. In 1974, Cierpinski entered a marathon and placed a surprising third. Coach Schmidt immediately re-classified the steeplechaser as a marathoner, complete with 200-mile training weeks. To prevent the damaging effects of intensive marathon training, a highly classified program for chemically enhancing GDR athletes was implemented. -----------------------------------------------------BECOMING AN AMERICAN OLYMPIAN They weren’t exactly friends since he ran for division rival Stanford, but Kardong eventually warmed up to University of Oregon’s running legend Steve Prefontaine. In 1971, Kardong nearly defeated Prefontaine in the finals of the PAC-8 three-mile with multiple surges that brought Pre to the brink of vomiting. Kardong recalls about the NCAA Championships at Husky stadium that took place later that season, “I was flushed out of contention and failed miserably.” After the defeat, Stanford Coach Marshall Clark advised, “Don, you shouldn’t judge your
career on one bad race, no matter how bad.” “Coach Clark basically saved my career after one of the worst races of my life,” says Kardong. At the 1972 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, even after battling mononucleosis that spring, Don placed a respectable sixth place in the finals of both the 10,000 meter race and marathon. Just as serendipity touched Cierpinski, Kardong’s Stanford teammate, Steve Jones (a Rogers High School running protégé of Coach Tracy Walters)
-----------------------------------------------------GDR DOPING HISTORY Doping began long before the GDR was recognized as an Olympic super power. Dr. John Ziegler, sports physician for the U.S. weightlifting team, observed in 1953 that Russian weightlifters seemed pumped up and aggressive. The following year, a Russian physiologist admitted that Soviet weightlifters were injecting testosterone. Ziegler then collaborated with CIBA
------------------------------------------------------------------What Kardong discovered was that if he were to hold back early in the race, to conserve energy, he might have an opportunity to catch and surpass the leaders during the final miles. ------------------------------------------------------------------Pharmaceuticals to develop the synthetic anabolic steroid Dianabol, also known as Methandrostenolone. CIBA supplied Ziegler with classified Nazi documents verifying that in WWII the German military had injected testosterone into elite SS Troops to induce aggression. Dianabol, a prescription drug for trauma patients and those suffering from muscle wasting, was distributed by Ziegler to his cadre of elite weightlifters— effectively closing the competitive gap between the Americans and Russians. At the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, Dianabol was administered to the entire USA Weightlifting Team. The East Germans, frustrated over the impossibility of competing fairly with either the Americans or Russians, rushed to find a solution of their own. In 1964, the East Germans were conniving over ways of subverting doping controls at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Dr. Max Schuster and Stasi (secret police) Lieutenant Radeke confided in one another on August 18, 1964, at the Office of Research for Physical Culture and Sport in Leipzig, East Germany—later renamed the Research Institute for Physical Culture and Sport. This was one of the first d o c u me nte d meetings concerning the GDR’s frustration over their ineptitude in the realm of international ticket for the 1976 Olympic Marathon. courtesy of Mike McCloskey. and Olympic sports, and it time observed that during exhaustive treadmill would eventually spark one of the greatest experirunning, Kardong had a pain threshold that out- ments in human cultural and biological engineering. A transcript of this meeting is one of the Stasi distanced that of USA Olympians Prefontaine and files provided by the Federal Commissioner for Frank Shorter. the Records of the State Security Service of the Approaching the 1976 Olympic Marathon Trials former GDR and was translated by Dr. Andrew in Eugene, Oregon, Kardong’s training averaged Strenk, an East German historian and former 110 miles per week, including twice weekly speed U.S. Olympic swimmer. The transcript states, workouts and a 20-miler. The 27-year-old Kardong “The most effective means and preparations are infused gastronomical calories to sustain his enerunknown in the GDR; that for elite sports in the gy requirements, including, he says, “Fruit Loops coming years some sports will be passed up in and orange juice for breakfast, peanut butter and international competition if there is no resulting jelly sandwiches and cookies for lunch, pizza and clarity.” In order to develop a blueprint for supebeer for dinner, and hot fudge sundaes for dessert.” riority in Olympic sport, Lt. Radeke, Dr. Schuster On race day in Eugene, he put into action the and other sports scientists knew they would need analysis he had conducted on pacing elite mara“intensive research and development capabilities thoners by chasing down the pack—eventually to develop new substances, as well as [win] over qualifying in third place, behind Bill Rodgers and the leading pharmaceutical professionals of the Frank Shorter. invited Don to the YMCA’s Camp Reed to be one of Walters’ counselors along with Jones, Bob Isitt, and Olympic phenoms Gerry Lindgren and Lee Evans—an all-star group of Spokane runners. In 1974, as a struggling amateur athlete, Kardong moved in with Coach Walters and his wife Leta at their home in Green Bluff, Walters’ Fruit Ranch. During this time, Kardong taught at Loma Vista Elementary school and honed his slow-twitch muscle fiber skills with the help of Walters, a great motivator and strategist. Walters recalls that Kardong had performed an analysis of great marathoners in the world—those who excelled and those who fell apart. What Kardong discovered was that if he were to hold back early in the race, to conserve energy, he might have an opportunity to catch and surpass the leaders during the final miles. Kardong’s defeat at the 1972 trials was a blessing in disguise, in that four years of additional distance training toughened and transformed him into a truly world-class athlete. Studies carried out at the
March 2011
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UPPER RIGHT: Don Kardong chasing Belgium’s Karel Lismont to the finish in the Olympic Stadium. UPPER MIDDLE: Kardong at the marathon mid-point, running in the rain. Upper left: Kardong (right) in 1975 with his coach, Tracy Walters (left), and USA Olympian (Tokyo-1964) Gerry Lindgren. //Photos courtesy of Don Kardong. Lower Right: Kardong, Bloomsday race director. // Photo Bob Johnson.
GDR.” It was also noted at this meeting that strychnine (rat poison) in small doses had been effective in endurance athletes. After the 1964 Tokyo Games, the East Germans approached the company VEB Jenapharm, a pharmaceutical world leader who, in 1961, patented the anabolic steroid Oral-Turinabol—a synthetic version of the male hormone testosterone, created to be used for patients with severe muscle wasting diseases. According to Strenk, classified Stasi documents reveal that Dr. Klaus-Henning Chemnitius—a research scientist and director of the pharmacology division at Jenapharm—devised the idea to apply anabolic steroids to athletes. Dr. Chemnitius and his colleagues enhanced the muscle-building potential and minimized the androgenic properties, such as deepening of the voice, excessive hair growth and aggression. Many under-age athletes, mostly female swimmers, were placed on a highly toxic doping regimen referred to as “stacking”—the practice of combining two or more anabolic steroids in a four- to six-week training cycle. However, at the dosages applied to the East German athletes—10 to 30 milligrams per day, per individual drug—the outcome would be catastrophic, especially in adult and adolescent females. The devastating health consequences included severe acne, deepening of the voice, body and facial hair, clitoral hypertrophy and heightened libido, infertility and birth defects. In addition, it caused advanced heart disease and liver failure in young adults, and gynecomastia (breast growth) in males. By 1968, the GDR had successfully applied doping agents to their elite athletes, yet it was not in men but women. Dr. Manfred Höppner, deputy director of the Sports Medical Service, personally 24
Out There Monthly / March 2011
prescribed Oral-Turinabol to two female Olympic shot-putters, Marita Lange and Margitta GummelHelmbold. In a secret Stasi document, uncovered by West German doping detective Dr. Werner Franke, it was disclosed that Lange and Gummel-Helmbold were placed on a regimen of Oral-Turinabol six weeks before the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympic Games. Gummel-Helmbold received a total of 770 milligrams and won the Olympic gold medal with a world record launch of 19.61 meters, surpassing her prior best by 1.99 meters. Lange won the silver. Shortly afterwards, in a nationwide directive fully endorsed and funded by the communist party, Dr. Höppner implemented mandatory doping of thousands of East German athletes. In the early 1970s, elite American swimmers and their coaches suspected that East German women were taking more than vitamins, when the GDR women’s squad won 10 of 14 gold medals at the 1973 World Swimming Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Eventually, in 1974, the IOC banned anabolic steroids in Olympic competition. Two days later, the GDR Communist Party approved a highly classified program of outwitting the IOC. In the 1980s, when the IOC doping controls were more sophisticated, GDR turned to Chorionic Gonadotropin and human growth hormone to circumvent anti-
tocols to cover their tracks, starting 14 days from international competitions, by switching from Oral-Turinabol to short-acting testosterone that was undetectable three days after injection. This bridging protocol was advanced even further with the discovery of a designer steroid version of epitestosterone. Clearing GDR athletes for international competition involved sending coded urine samples to the IOC doping control lab in Kreischa to see if the athletes would pass or fail the drug tests. If positive, urine would be tested and re-tested until the athletes’ departure control values were within normal limits. In the entire life of the GDR sports system, only one athlete—shot-putter Ilona Slupianek, in Finland in 1977—was disqualified for doping in international competition. But three years later, at the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games, Slupianek won gold. Following Slupianek’s positive drug test, 17-yearold GDR sprinter and hurdler Renate Neufeld defected westward after she refused to comply with drug abuse. “I started to grow a moustache and my periods stopped,” she was quoted as saying in a Der Spiegel magazine article, published March 19, 1979. “One morning in October 1977, the secret police took me at 7:00 am and questioned me about my refusal to take pills prescribed by the coach.”
doping controls. Some of the drugs minimized the muscle-building and masculinization aspects of steroidal use and augmented downright aggression; these drugs were designed specifically for female gymnasts. In 1981, the communists were blindsided when West German biochemist Dr. Manfred Donike developed a test to detect high doses of natural and synthetic testosterone in urine. The East Germans parlayed in 1982 when the Leipzig Research Institute for Physical Culture and Sport synthesized epi-testosterone. The IOC Doping Control Laboratory implemented ingenious pro-
In 1978, prior to the FINA World Swimming Championships in West Berlin, 12 of East Germany’s top female swimmers failed the internal doping control screen in Kreischa. As a result, the entire East German squad was taken off steroids, and the consequences were disastrous—out of 14 gold medals, only one went to an East German while American swimmers won nine. Sadly, the brutality of the Stasi extended its long arm to everyday citizens, which in the end would alienate nearly the entire population from the East German Communist Party. Even after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, remnants of
------------------------------------------------------------------Eventually, in 1974, the IOC banned anabolic steroids in Olympic competition. Two days later, the GDR Communist Party approved a highly classified program of outwitting the IOC. -------------------------------------------------------------------
the Stasi old guard remained intact to prevent the release of the master doping plan—formally known as “State Theme Plan 14.25”—long after the two Germanys had reunited. -----------------------------------------------------1976 OLYMPIC MARATHON At 5:30 pm on July 31, 1976, the blast of the starting pistol reverberated inside Olympic stadium, sending 67 marathoners on their arduous journey through the streets of Montreal. Wind and a steady drizzle pelted the runners as they exited the Coliseum tunnel. Soon the pack began to splinter, and at the 15-kilometer mark, Lasse Virén—known as “the Flying Finn” and Olympic champion in the 5000 and 10,000 meters—Frank Shorter and Waldemar Cierpinski broke away. Sixty-one minutes into the marathon, Shorter surged ahead. It took Cierpinski four minutes to regain contact with him. Cierpinski recalls in his autobiography, Meilenweit bis Marathon, published in 1989, “I had difficulties in following the ‘train from hell’; I started to feel ill when Shorter carried out his first attack at 20k. It was a thankless struggle. How many times I wanted to give up.” Meanwhile, back in the pack and playing the tortoise, Kardong began to execute the plan he flawlessly carried out in the Olympic Trials. Sipping defizzed Coca-Cola for the sugar and caffeine boost, Kardong was strong. A come-from-behind strategy, along with a steady pace behind the lead pack, allowed Kardong to pick off the stragglers from the Cierpinski-Shorter “train from hell.” Kardong says, “Tracy Walters and his son, Kelly, were out on the marathon course cheering me on. Knowing that gave me great confidence and a shot of adrenalin when I needed it.” Up front, approaching mile 20, it was still just the two leaders, but then Cierpinski surged ahead on a slight incline. Nearing mile 24, he had a 100meter lead on Shorter, but then Shorter closed the gap to within 50 meters. Cierpinski states, in his book’s recollection of the showdown with Shorter, “How many times I wanted to let him go, I wanted to give up. I made an effort to hang once, five times, six times. For [Shorter], I came out of nowhere. It was a significant psychological advantage.” While the battle for gold continued, Kardong applied his strategy with precision. At mile 22, he passed Canada’s Jerome Drayton, Finland’s Lasse Virén, and Belgium’s Karel Lismont. Kardong says,
physiology from Ball State University’s Human Performance Laboratory, as well as postgraduate training in aerospace physiology at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. He was a captain stationed at the Air Force Flight Test Center in the Mojave Desert and with the Naval Special Warfare Command (U.S. Navy Seals) in San Diego. For the past two years, he has been researching historical aspects of doping in the former German Democratic Republic with Dr. Andrew Strenk, an East German historian and former U.S. Olympian. Winant works as a sport physiologist for Dr. PZ Pearce, M.D. at Champions Sports Medicine in Spokane, WA.
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elations, and eventually became an anti-doping crusader. Don Kardong was shocked by the discovery and experienced a shift in thinking about that race— an attitude of resignation to one of indignation. “There is only one thing that would be wrong, and that is to do nothing, which is what the IOC has chosen,” he says. In fact, that is precisely what IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch did for decades, says Shorter, essentially “treat[ing] the issue as a public relations problem rather than a drug problem”— as quoted in a 2000 Denver, Colorado, Westward article by Eric Dexheimer, “A Clean Break: Former Olympic runner Frank Shorter wants elite athletes to kick their habits.” When the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) appealed the IOC in October 1998 for redress of a lost Olympic gold medal for the 1976 USA Women’s 4x100 swim medley relay, the IOC’s position was: “The executive board considers that unfortunately there are too many variables involved to attempt to rewrite Olympic history.” Concerning the Cierpinski affair, Shorter sees it much differently than the IOC. He was quoted in the Dexheimer article as saying, “[T]his was much more of an atrocity to [Kardong] who finished out of the medals.” In a 1997 interview with Texas Tech University doctoral student Barbara Carol Cole, Cierpinski responded to the doping allegation, stating, “[As] long distance athletes, we had to prove that we had not taken anything before we left the country. That was a precautionary measure and we readily submitted to it because among us there wasn’t anything.” However, in the research studies uncovered by Dr. Franke, it was found that an annual dose of 600mg of Oral-Turinabol was optimal to prevent muscle wasting and promote recovery in marathoners. It also enabled distance runners to handle increasingly greater training loads. “Under today’s enforcement efforts by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Frank Shorter would have two gold medals, and Don Kardong [would have] the bronze medal…after Cierpinski had been disqualified,” says Bill Rodgers.
Don Winant has a master’s degree in exercise
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Although Kardong didn’t win a medal, he ran 2.5 minutes faster than his Olympic Trials time. “Don raised himself to a new top level in Montreal,” says Bill Rodgers, in an email interview. Rodgers was Kardong’s Olympic teammate and a four-time winner of the Boston and NYC Marathon. -----------------------------------------------------THE CIERPINSKI FILES On November 9, 1989, after weeks of mass demonstrations, the Communist Party, in a vote of no confidence by its citizens, opened the gates to the Berlin Wall. A year later, the two Germanys reunited. In its short-lived life span, East Germany amassed 345 Olympic gold medals, but at a huge price: bankruptcy of the state and thousands of chemically-enhanced athletes, which resulted in a tragic legacy of premature deaths, mandatory abortions, and birth defects in children—according to East German doping detectives, Dr. Werner W. Franke and Brigitte Berendonk. Dr. Franke is a cell and molecular biologist with the German Cancer Research Center, With the fall of the Iron Curtain, suspicions of government sponsored doping began to grow. Sport Physician Manfred Höppner, now cashedstrapped and unemployed, sold classified doping documents to the German magazine Der Spiegel, and other GDR sport professionals followed suit. In 1994, a unified Germany launched federal investigations, which focused on charges of government-enforced doping in underage female swimmers with the intent of causing bodily harm. This corresponded with a victims’ class-action civil suit against the pharmaceutical company Jenapharm. Dr. Franke and Berendonk uncovered thousands of classified documents on the State Theme Plan 14.25 to dope over 10,000 East German athletes, from 1968 to 1989—including logbooks documenting doping protocols for 200 track and field athletes. In a furious pace to prosecute the perpetrators before the October 2, 2000, statute of limitations deadline, dozens of former GDR communist leaders and sport personnel were convicted. The old guard would die off, including: Erich Honecker,
cable integrity and without the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Kardong’s close friends cite his humbleness and kindness as some of his greatest traits. As a founding member and past president of the Association of Road Racing Athletes (ARRA), Kardong advocated prize money for elite distance runners. His pioneering efforts afforded athletes the financial means to continue to train beyond their college careers and fostered professionalism in the Olympic Games. Kardong’s advocacy also enabled the 1992 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team to win gold in Barcelona. But in the Inland Northwest, Kardong is probably most well known for having founded, in 1977, the annual Lilac Bloomsday Run, which takes place the first Sunday in May. As one of the largest timed road races in the world, it is a well-organized and popular community event for thousands of runners and walkers of all ages. Some of the fastest road runners in the world toe the line, competing for nearly $76,000 in prize money. Spokane’s history will always have these facts straight. //
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------------------------------------------------------------------“Don raised himself to a new top level in Montreal,” says Bill Rodgers -------------------------------------------------------------------
For athletes the world over, including Americans, eluding the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) detectives is becoming far too problematic. WADA and the USOC have instituted unannounced drug testing 24/7 wherever an athlete may be in the world. Additionally, the instrumentation and drug testing protocols are evolving as fast as new designer drugs enter the black market. The U.S. Department of Justice has also weighed in on the criminality of doping, hence the conviction and imprisonment of former Olympic track sprinter Marion Jones, who returned her Olympic medals as a result. GDR’s elite sport system was “brutally systematic,” according to Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, an East German sport scientist who was quoted in Cole’s dissertation, “The East German Sports System: Image and Reality,” published in 2000. The system, indeed, got out of hand—it bankrupted the soul of a nation, and shamed and embittered its Olympic heroes. East German Sports Historian Dr. Andrew Strenk characterizes it as an inhumane metamorphosis, not only for the athletes who abused doping agents but also for those who administered the drugs. “It was a perverted form of capitalism whereby athletes, coaches, sports physicians and sport scientists were rewarded with cash, cars, housing and international travel,” he says. In fact, the master plan was so successful and prevalent that Dr. Manfred Höppner stated, in a 1977 letter to the Stasi, “At present anabolic steroids are applied in all sporting events, with the exception of sailing and women’s gymnastics.” -----------------------------------------------------THE LAST STEP Although Cierpinski has not been officially disqualified from the 1976 Olympic Marathon, and Kardong has yet to receive a bronze medal, it is well known that Kardong competed with impec-
ntain
Communist Chief; Manfred Ewald, head of the GDR Olympic Committee; General Erich Mielke, Stasi Chief; and Dr. Manfred Höppner. However, several swim coaches and sports medicine physicians were prosecuted. In 1994, federal prosecutors publicly disclosed copies of Stasi archives, which had been secured in the Ministry of State Security Headquarters in Leipzig. The files include the State Theme Plan 14.25 and names of high-ranking Stasi Generals, as well as a document that identified a Stasi collaborator with the code name “Willi,” who was actually Waldemar Cierpinski. Dr. Franke was astonished with the mountain of evidence in front of him, including a file dated June 24, 1974, that listed Waldemar Cierpinski as athlete #62. “This file is [one] that should choke the IOC with embarrassment. This is a chronicle of phony champions hoisted on the rostrum of world fame by the Communist drug-lords of the fallen state of East Germany,” Franke states in a UK Mail newspaper article by Malcolm Folley, published in 1998. In January 1998, when Frank Shorter received a copy of Dr. Franke’s Stasi document, “Cierpinski’s Smoking Gun,” Shorter went public with the rev-
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“That put me in third, which I held until mile 25, when Lismont caught me. We ran side by side for almost another mile, but as we headed downhill into the Stadium he surged, and I couldn’t stay with him. My legs were cramping and the downhill through the tunnel made the problem worse.” Waiting in the stadium were former Gonzaga Prep distance runner Terry Kelly and Kardong’s fellow Seattle Prep alumnus Mike McCloskey. They stood in unison when Kardong entered the Coliseum. “We were right above the tunnel…first came Karel Lismont, then Don Kardong trailing by 20 or 30 yards,” says Kelly. “With two and a half laps to go (600 meters), Kardong closed the gap on Lismont to within 10 yards. McCloskey cheered Kardong on as he launched himself out of the tunnel and into the throng of spectators, chewing up precious ground in the timeless gap between fourth and bronze.” According to McCloskey, “It was a sprint in slow motion. Kardong accelerated and minimized the gap, and Lismont parlayed with a counterattack to keep Kardong out of striking range.” At the finish line, Cierpinski won Olympic gold, Shorter won the silver, and Lismont took the bronze with Kardong only 3.2 seconds behind him.
Proceeds raised by this run are for our continuing effort to help protect and preserve the heritage and beauty of Glenrose. In addition, a significant portion of the proceeds from this years event will be donated to Chase Middle School & Dishman Hills Alliance (thinking locally) and Doctors Without Borders (thinking globally).
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at a time and walk for 90 seconds in between. Nonetheless, she was tempted once again to push herself. “You’re thinking, ‘I could be doing way more than this,’ ” she says, “but if you stick to the program, it’s easy.” She shared the emotions of her first days of running with her Catalyst Coaching blog readers— including the truth about discouraging days. “I’m not a personal trainer. I’m not a physiologist or anything like that,” she says. “I’m a motivator. A lot of this was motivating myself, setting small goals—it’s a lot of what I do with [other] people.” Carrel finished the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She ran the entire thing without stopping, which was what she had set out to do. Even as she celebrated achieving her goal, she was setting her eyes on Bloomsday. Then she ran the Windermere 5K, then began training for a 10k. Arthritis flare-ups in both her knees ruled out running for a full eight weeks, preventing her from completing her 10K training last season. “It was a setback for me,” she admits. “I pretty much had
Nonetheless, at age 47, she knew her new self needed a fit body—and she knew she had to run. decided that I wasn’t going to do it again.” Yet this year, Carrel has begun again with the Couch to 5K program that helped her regain a healthy body. “I feel like I’m pretty fit. I’m in a completely different space—mentally, physically,” she says. “Everything’s tied together—your mind, your body, your spirit.” Now she runs as a supplement to a well-paced weight-training program. “Sometimes it’s not about the goal itself, but the process that you go through and the things that you learn about yourself in the process,” says Carrel. “You’re like, “Oh, I can do this. And I can do that! And if I can do that, maybe I can do this!” Carrel says a half marathon, the next step beyond
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Two years ago, Cat Carrel traded alcohol for meditation. “I wasn’t one of those people who hit rock bottom or anything like that. I definitely didn’t feel like my life wasn’t moving forward,” she says. Giving up drinking was something she could do to propel her life in a new direction. Then she started a new career, working part-time in communications. She trained to become a life coach and then opened her own business, Catalyst Coaching. (Get it? Cat-alyst?) Spirit, check. Mind, check. But something was still missing from her complete life makeover. “Two-thousand ten was going to be the year that I reclaimed my fit body,” she says. “That was my mantra all year long.” At age 47, Carrel was losing energy, getting sick more often, and simply feeling less healthy. She felt her body breaking down. Even with renewed mental and spiritual confidence, she faced a discouraging past relationship with exercise. “When I would go to the gym— because I have been a gym rat in the past—I always overdid it,” she says. “It was, like, a 12 week cycle of getting injured, and then recovering, and then going back and getting injured again.” When training for a 5K when she turned 40, Carrel developed an IT band injury. “I remember it being hard on my body,” she says. “I walked away wondering, ‘why do people do this?’ ” Nonetheless, at age 47, she knew her new self needed a fit body—and she knew she had to run. “I just felt like I needed to do it, and I wanted to do it. I really wanted to. I don’t know why,” she says. Learning to meditate taught Carrel a new approach to achieving goals: starting small. “If you sit down and try to meditate for 30 minutes, you get frustrated and you don’t want to do it again,” she says. She took the first step to running a 5K: buying a good pair of running shoes. “It was very intimidating,” she says. Getting fitted for shoes was something only serious runners did, and she was still at the “couch” phase of the program. Next, she signed up for the race and paid the fee—a carrot to dangle in front of her brain during tough workouts. Carrel chose a training program that would help her break the cycle of overtraining and injuring her body, aptly titled “Couch to 5k.” The first days of training instructs the trainee to run only 30 seconds
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her 10K goal, might be too far. “I can imagine that after 12 miles, my body would hurt,” she says. “At this point, I can’t imagine doing it. [But] I couldn’t imagine doing Bloomsday, and I did Bloomsday.” // Training Tips for 5K Newbies 1. Start Small. Even if you feel like you can do more, running too far too soon can cause injuries that can take weeks or months to heal. Hal Higdon, author of Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, recommends increasing mileage by 10 percent, at most, per week. 2. Set a goal. “Sign up for a 5k first,” says Carrel. “Then you have that goal. Pay the money, sign up, and then hold that as your motivation.” 3. Choose a training program. Carrel used the Couch to 5K program on www.coolrunning.com. Give yourself adequate time to complete whichever program you select. 4. Customize your workout. You can’t get in shape if you’re injured, so listen to your body. Check with your doctor about any existing injuries or conditions that might require special attention. 5. Celebrate success —and brace for bad days. Whether you’ve just rocked workout or achieved your goal, throw yourself a big mental party; then remember that feeling next time you’re feeling unmotivated. “If you don’t feel good, you’re not going to take any action,” says Carrel. “That simple shift—it makes you feel adequate.”
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