Paul Asay

Back when Sherrie and I were dating I was over for dinner at their house and accidently kicked over a glass of water.  Her aunt made a big pronouncement that “Paul Asay spilt the water”.  Since then it has been a running joke when you make a small mistake to make a big pronouncement about it by saying your name and whatever you just did.  So thinking about the George Rogers Clark Trace Run this past weekend, I’m trying to decide if what I did was a big pronouncement deal, or a real mistake.  Here is the story: One of the friends I run with here at work, Don was headed down to Vincennes for the 10 mile run they have each year.  This was the 40 th year of the race and for whatever reason I've never run it.  Don asked me if I wanted to ride down with him, so just to be sociable I said I would.  I've only done one long-run all winter, and that was just two weeks ago, so I was really in no shape to race 10 miles.  I did my no...

For a little extra motivation to start the year here is a story I wrote this past fall on two friends of mine who among the absolute best (maybe the best) in the world at what they do.  That is swim bike and run.   Saturday August 18 th USA Triathlon Age Group Olympic Distance Championship, Sunday the 19 th Sprint Distance Championship, both races in the same Burlington Vermont location.  The most competitive age-group triathlon in the US.  Turns out I happen to personally know both of the champions in the 55-59 age group that emerged from each of those events.  Although I've met them at different times and places, know they have different personalities and backgrounds, and yet their experiences on that day were remarkably similar.  Thinking it would make an interesting contrast I asked them separately the same questions just to see how close their answers would be.  Introducing Ron Gierut Olympic Champion and Lincoln Murdoch Sprint C...

This past Thanksgiving day I had the opportunity to participate in the Brazil YMCA Turkey Trot 5k run.  Couple weeks back Nick and Tracy Sarris mentioned their whole family was going to run so I became an honorary member for the day and joined in.  Come Thanksgiving morning after a warm up with Nick we got in line and ready to start.  Five members of the Sarris family, me and about 170 others took off at the start. About a ½ mile in a was pretty far back in maybe 30 place and thinking I was starting a little too slow, but by mile 1 I was probably in the top 10.  First one went by in 6:40, and felt pretty relaxed.  Passed a couple more by mile two and heard 13:20 called out as I went by.  Made two miles go by at 6:40 even pace so not so bad.  Last mile I tried to catch the lead girl in front of me, but she picked it up and I ran in on my own finishing in 20:49 (7 th overall).  I think that averages out to 6:41 pace so pretty even splits....

My son Jacob is the hunter/fisherman of the family and last week got his second deer of the season in the woods behind my brother in-laws home.  I went over with my friend Ron to help him load it up in the truck.  Just taking a look at it before we picked it up reminds me that no matter if you like to hunt them like Jacob or just watch them from a far like myself, deer at true magnificent creatures.    Last summer I was riding the bike home from work when I watched two of them head across a field and straight at me.  They were running full speed and passed me so close I think I could have reached across the handlebars and touched them.  Sort of in awe at the power and grace as they flew passed thankful that they didn't take me out.  While deer may seem like a fairly uncomplicated creature, they like all living creatures are anything but that.  Watching the process of field dressing the animal the complexity of them become all t...

Last spring when Rev3 announced the season ending race in Venice Florida at the end of October, I planned to enter. Same location as our family get together in October the last two years. Sisters and brother said they would come and the race was on. Arrived just in time for the far edge of hurricane Sandy to stir up some serious waves. Day one at Venice I hit the beach for a practice swim in the angry ocean. Had a great talk with lifeguard Jamie Who gave me some good advice before venturing the waves. Try as I might I couldn't swim north into the current for anything. Had a good feeling the swim would get canceled with the crazy wind, waves and currents. No way to swim a straight line. Two days later on race morning with the wind still whipping 20 to 30 mph the swim did get canceled, so just the 56 mile bike and 13 mile run. Cake walk right :) Started in number order one every 3 seconds, basically by age so I got to meet all the other 50-54 guys. Nice bunch for sure. Got to r...

Last night the ISU campus sponsored a “Glow Run 5k” that benefited Habitat for Humanity so I joined in.  Needed to do a speed workout this week anyway so I just thought I would make that it.  My plan was to treat it like a typical workout so I got in a good swim at lunch and just did my normal thing like any other day.  Good and bad, but I had a meeting after work that included a really nice dinner so I participate in that to (nothing like a speed workout on a full stomach).  Probably finished dinner around 6 PM, made it home to change clothes and back on campus at 6:45 PM to register for the race.  Thankfully it didn't start till 7:30 so I had a bit of time.  My plan was to start easy, run the middle section full speed and then coast it in to the finish as a cool down.  The start went pretty much like that, and after the first ½ mile I was going race pace (makes it fun to pass people that way).  The whole glow run theme was kind o...

Last weekend was the return to Lake Lemon to yet once again face a very tough sprint triathlon course.   Made this trip with my friend Greg Lucas to set the swim course and transition area on Friday, then race the course on Saturday.   After the setup was finished on Friday afternoon we headed into Bloomington to the hotel and packet pickup.   Talked briefly with Scott Jerden, along with his dad William was there to pick up their packets.   Scott is a former winner of the race, so I had a feeling he would repeat the next day.    A bit later in the evening my friend Scott also can down and joined us for dinner. Race morning we loaded up and got to Lake Lemon well in advance of the race.   Found a bike rack near the top of transition and looked for a reasonable warm place to hang-out till the race start.   Water temp was 64 and air temp around 50 so a bit on the cool side.   Race time we were called to the start in 3 waves, and at ...