sport – everydaysparks

My friend Doug is an Ironman

Posted on October 23, 2022October 23, 2022 by Cate

My friend Doug is an Ironman. Not the superhero, but an actual triathlete who is competing in the California Ironman event this weekend in Sacramento. California is Doug’s home state, but I’m betting that he has never experienced it like this before. For those of you who are more armchair athletes than superheroes in lycra, let me recap what is involved in the Ironman triathlon.

I guess at least it’s flat for cycling and running, and a nice temperature?
https://www.ironman.com/im-california

Firstly, Doug will swim 3.9km. Yes, really. Starting in the American River, which then joins the Sacramento River – I imagine it would be lovely in a boat or even a kayak, but am not sure that Doug and his 3,000 mates racing down the river will be in the mood for sightseeing.

After that refreshing dip, the Ironmen find their bikes (imagine the logistics of 3,000 bikes parked ready for the tired swimmers to locate), with an outfit change to carry them from the water to the pedals. Then it’s just your average Sunday bike ride, guys. 180.2km that sounds delightful on the official website: “two-loop tour of the beautiful farm and wine country” of the Sacramento River delta region. Apparently “athletes will tour what makes Sacramento the farm to fork city, which will showcase the great agricultural region of the Central Valley”. Almost sounds like competitors should bring a baguette and wheel of brie to pop in the wicker baskets they must surely have on their road bikes as they savour the journey!

Here is Doug with his bike in the parking lot for bikes that all appear to be black and look very similar. Like identical luggage on the carousel at the airport, with a tiny tag to avoid confusion. I very much hope that Doug is smiling like this when he next sees his bike – after his 3.9km River swim!

And then, as you leave your bike somewhere in yet another logistical feat of event management, you head off for a run. I should say, A MARATHON. Yep, 42.2km along the Sacramento River, old town, some “tree-lined paved trail” and then ending with a couple of laps around the California State Capitol building.

An easier way to kinda be an Ironman is to follow the course video on the website. I’ve done it now and you’ll be fine, Doug.
https://www.ironman.com/im-california-course

I will be tracking my friend Doug like a stalker via the very cool “Ironman Tracker” app. Given the time difference between California and Sydney, Doug will be starting at around 1am our time and suggests that he will “hopefully be done with the swim and bike” by the time his supporters in Sydney wake up. Perfect timing for me to track his marathon run over a coffee and cheer Doug on with one of his favourite cinnamon scrolls from the amazing bakery near where we both live on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Now that I think of it, baked goods are a cornerstone of our friendship. When I messaged Doug during the week to see if he was carb loading in preparation for the race, he mentioned that his Mom was helping with his prep. With these amazing looking Halloween sugar cookies, of course. Seasonally appropriate and full of energy and colourful goodness that every Iron-man, woman and child needs.

Good luck, my friend! Stay safe and may the sugar cookies you trained with fuel you with the wisdom of owls, the wingspan of bats, and the ability to roll like a pumpkin to the finish line. Go Doug, go!

Home sparks, Sparky gifts

Something Fishy

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Cate

Have you ever had a fish as a pet and thought, gee, you’re lazy? Or have you imagined your fish being capable of so much more than just swimming ’round and ’round the bowl, with the occasional detour through the fake castle or the fake volcano? Well, check this out. I first saw it on Fab.com – it’s the R2 Fish School: the complete kit to teach your fish amazing tricks. Uh huh.

Your Fish School kit comes with an instructional DVD, over 20 training bits, feeding wand and an instructional manual. Crikey, sounds complicated. But it would be worth it to see your fish performing cool feats to impress your family and friends. Wouldn’t it?

Apparently Dr Dean and his son Kyle developed this idea while they pursued their peculiar hobby of training fish to perform tricks. Yes, really. They found out that fish are smarter than we think, so they got in cahoots with the good people of R2 Solutions and – hey presto, the Fish School was born.

According to the Fish School website, “it is easy and fun to teach your pet fish to swim through hoops and tunnels, do the limbo, eat from your hand – even play soccer!” And if you want proof, the website has video footage of “Fish School graduates” doing their thing. Just don’t expect them to be wearing little fish caps and gowns.

They also have a web cam on poor Comet, a goldfish that is currently in training. Not for the fish Olympics, but to beat the current world champ of fishy tricks (yes, there’s a Guinness World Record for it) – Albert the goldfish, who has even appeared in a TV commercial.

For more info, you can check out Dr Dean’s Fish School website, or buy the kit for your fishy friend from R2 Solutions here.

WWWhat?

Face it

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Cate

I stumbled across this guy on a Sunday afternoon stroll through the virtual world and thought it was a story worth sharing. Essentially because he has a cool name and a funny face and a crazy idea. An irresistable combination!

Jack Blankenship is a student at the University of Alabama and he recently became something of a late night talk show celebrity in the USA due to his genius idea of bringing a giant cutout of his face (twisted into a pretty kooky expression) to college basketball games to distract the opposing team. Not sure where he puts his Face when his team is scoring (cos that Face will take everyone’s focus off the game) and I haven’t seen stats on the University of Alabama’s success rate, but I really like this idea.

And I see such potential beyond the basketball court… Babysitting troubles? Bring out that giant cutout of Cranky Daddy and that should do the trick! Productivity issues in the office? Hello giant CEO Face hanging from the ceiling panels! Worried about amorous teenagers on a date? Not when Grandma Annie’s frowning face is towering over them from the next row in the cinema! And if you could hook the giant Face up with eye-cams and speakers, teachers wouldn’t have to set foot in the classroom.

Nice work, Blankenship – am sure your funny face has a big future. I’m thinking of a “Just say no” sort of tie-in with giant billboards for an anti-drugs campaign or anti-speeding campaign. Or a new Happy Meal at McDonald’s. Something like that.

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