Finger Food

Full plate

So I went into Starbucks this morning and ordered the big, big Sidamo coffee. Of course I mispronounced it which drew a bunch of blank stares from the baristas, before they realized what I wanted and corrected me. "Oh... you mean Sis-AH-mo." "Yeah. Coffee." The Sidamo brew was described on the board above the urn as "delicate yet complex." OK. But when I quipped, "Delicate yet complex... sounds like me!" I got nothing. Blank stares. Anyway, there is a lot going on today. To start, the struggling Phillies offense takes its road show to Arlington, Texas this evening to play the Rangers. Actually, when I write struggling offense, I really meant all-or-nothing offense. That really seems to describe the Phillies' hitters perfectly. Need proof? Check out this stat I was e-mailed about the all-or-nothing Phillies: The Phillies have scored 10 or more runs in eight games this season for 110 runs. In the other 72 games, the Phillies have scored 294 runs, or 4.08 runs per game. When scoring 10 or more runs the Phillies are 8-0. In the other 72 games they are 35-37. Feast or famine. When was the last time a team with numbers so skewed won the World Series? *** Meanwhile, the track portion of the Olympic Trials begins in earnest tonight in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field. For those who don't follow the sport (and you know who you are), holding the track trials at Hayward Field is staging the World Series in Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium rolled into one. Yeah, it's a pretty big deal. It's an even bigger deal when one considers that the Olympic Trials are about as dramatic as it gets in sports. Think about it -- athletes get one chance once every four years to qualify for the Olympic team. If they don't finish in the top three in their event, they have to wait another four years for the next chance. Needless to say, they bring it at the Trials. Tonight at 9:20 p.m. the women's 10,000-meters team will be determined. But if Shalane Flanagan doesn't run away with this one, something is up. I'm also predicting that Katie McGregor and Elva Dryer will take the other two spots on the Olympic team. What about Kara Goucher? Come on, you can't go with the chalk all the time. *** Finally, the final appeal of the Floyd Landis case will be issued on Monday by the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. At last. *** There's more coming later today. I went to see Ted Leo and Pearl Jam in Washington last Sunday so I figured I might as write about that, too. *** Cryptic sentence of the day: Clips are back.

Good to the last drop

Regular readers of this site don't need to be told that I love coffee. To be more precise, I believe in coffee. Loaded with antioxidants and natural goodness, coffee is one of those little pleasures in life. Sometimes when it's quiet in the house and everyone is asleep at night, I catch myself pining for the morning so I can get downstairs and pour that first batch of the day into a big, blue cup. Some research indicates that coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver and gout. Better yet, because it's loaded with those glorious antioxidants, it stops free radicals from damaging cells. Better yet, coffee can be a load of fun. Once, for no particular reason other than I was in college and had nothing better to do, I drank nothing but a Colombian hazelnut brew continuously and stared at my face in the mirror until I actually saw the hair on my face grow. Then we went bowling. I don't recall what my score was from that outing on the lanes, but I bet it was pretty good. That's because coffee can also be classified as a performance-enhancer. In fact, the glorious caffeine that is the main stimulant found in those roasted beans is classified as a banned substance by the I.O.C. in certain doses. Actually, because of the ban on greenies and other amphetamines in baseball, coffee urns are quite prevalent in big-league dugouts and clubhouses. For folks that like to train for and run marathons, coffee is very much a part of the training regimen. Speaking for myself, I don't move very well in the morning without coffee chased by approximately 90-fluid ounces of water/electrolyte replacement. It's a strict drug regimen that helps keep my mind limber. However, if there is no time for the coffee to settle in before I have to get out the door extra early, a glucose gel fortified with about 100 calories and caffeine does the trick. After all, the point is to pile up the work in order to make the lungs and legs stronger than Babe the Blue Ox. Because there is no limit to a human's aerobic capacity, strength over a long distances is a matter of piling on as much work as possible. Sometimes it's a balancing act between health and injury, which very well could be the issue with Shane Victorino and his seemingly chronic calf problems. Victorino, the Phillies' center fielder, is on the 15-day disabled list with a calf injury. Worse, it's the second time the so-called "Flyin' Hawaiian" has landed on the disabled list since last August with an injured calf. The calf muscle, of course, is the engine of the leg. If a person has trouble with their knees, hamstrings or quads, chances are the problem began in the calf. Meanwhile, calf injuries are largely preventable. Most times they are caused by tightness, tiredness, hydration issues, or weakness. Certainly all sorts of variables could lead to those problems, but usually it doesn't take anything more than a few strengthening and training adjustments to correct the problem. Then again, maybe Victorino wasn't properly healed before he jumped back into the action last season. Healing, after all, takes time just like building strength does. *** Speaking of coffee, I finally got a chance to try out the Pikes Place blend at Starbucks the other day. The much-heralded blend from the uber-coffee shop is an attempt for the company to go back to the old days when it was all about the coffee and simplicity and not all the other stuff it seems to focus on these days. The hook with the Pikes Place coffee is that it isn't over-roasted like all of Starbucks' other blends. In fact, each shop posts when each particular batch was roasted in order to advertise some sort of bourgeoisie-ness in which the date a coffee is roasted is vital information. People need to know this. Anyway, according to a story in Time Magazine the Pikes Place blend is supposed to be lighter and crisper cup of coffee for "people who don't like Starbucks." I don't know... I guess that's right. Then again it seems as if my palate is ruined from drinking Starbucks coffee too much. Kind Coffee of Colorado... now that's a cup of coffee. *** In other news, Chelsea Clinton dropped into my neighborhood today -- with Ted Danson, too... Yeah, I didn't see it. I'm too busy watching Michael Bourn beat the Phillies. Apparently her mom is in Philly doing something on the other end of town.

Hamels: It's casual

Good morning from the windy, chilly and overcast Gulf Coast, folk(s). We'll get into it in a bit as soon as we take care of some important business, and finding some coffee here at the park. How can they not have coffee - it's just some hot water poured over some ground up beans. Sheesh! In the meantime, left-hander ace-in-the-waiting Cole Hamels talked to reporters about NOT getting the Opening Day start on March 31 against the Nats at the Bank. Guess what? He's cool with it. Better yet, he kind of likes going second.

"I actually don’t mind him being first," Hamels said. "I kind of like it."

Clicky click here to listen to what he told the reporters. I even wrote about it right here.

Hamels: It's casual

Good morning from the windy, chilly and overcast Gulf Coast, folk(s). We'll get into it in a bit as soon as we take care of some important business, and finding some coffee here at the park. How can they not have coffee - it's just some hot water poured over some ground up beans. Sheesh! In the meantime, left-hander ace-in-the-waiting Cole Hamels talked to reporters about NOT getting the Opening Day start on March 31 against the Nats at the Bank. Guess what? He's cool with it. Better yet, he kind of likes going second.

"I actually don’t mind him being first," Hamels said. "I kind of like it."

Clicky click here to listen to what he told the reporters. I even wrote about it right here.

Say it ain't so, Joe

This morning’s drive to the drive to the coffee shop started out just like any other. Actually, the only thing different this morning was that it was very normal. Way too normal, even. Unlike yesterday, we didn’t get run off the road by a suburban mother racing in her Prius to the coffee joint, before watching her jump out of the car while it was still moving to its resting point, jog to the shop with the driver’s side door still ajar before elbowing her way to the front of the line to order a peppermint latte…

Then she picked up a copy of The New York Times, sat down on one of the overstuffed grey chairs and began reading.

I see that kind of stuff every day and this one was almost as funny as the time when I saw a neighbor move his trash cans to edge of the driveway, take the lids off, climb on top in attempt to push the garbage further down in the receptacle. But while standing on top and jumping up and down ever so slightly to really push the trash down, the can tipped to its side like a tall tree falling in the forest. The only thing missing was someone shouting, “TIM-BER!” And all of this occurred in the time it takes one to drive by someone’s house.

Fortunately in that case the only damage was a soiled Burberry scarf, which the trash jumper likes to wear as if he was the Red Baron.

But this morning there was no speeding Prius or flying ace taking out the trash. No, this was much more sinister and came packaged in the mellifluous baritone of one of America’s most beloved sports announcers… well, that’s pushing it a bit. It was Joe Buck, not Vin Scully, and Joe was definitely selling something, which he did earnestly and without irony.

Yep, Joe wants you to buy MLB’s Extra Innings package, and he wants you to buy DirecTV, too. It’s easy, he said in his spanking new radio ad. Easier than owning cable, in fact… at least that’s what he said.

Here’s the curious part: Buck’s ad for the new DirecTV Extra Innings package was on the radio not long after senators from the Commerce Committee held a two-hour meeting with MLB President Bob DuPuy. Based on that information and the alacrity for which the Buck ad was aired, I’d guess it was produced a while ago, and I’d wager that DuPuy and the gang had no interest in negotiating a better deal with cable companies in order to sell their product to people who really, really want it.

In fact, DuPuy treated the Senators in very much the same way he did the fans by telling them that he would not agree to continue negotiating a more fan-friendly deal into the season. In other words, we’re lucky MLB lets us watch at all. Hell, we’re probably lucky they let us buy tickets while we can still afford them.

In other words, thanks Mr. DuPuy. Thanks for the new way to watch a ballgame. It kind of goes like this:

Bases loaded, two outs in the bottom of the ninth with the Phillies trailing by three with the chance to go to the playoffs for the first time since ’93 riding on this 3-2 pitch to Ryan Howard. The pitcher winds, delivers… buffering, buffering, buffering… 47 percent… buffering, buffering… 77 percent… buffering, buffering, buffering… 93 percent… buffering…

More: Baseball holds its ground on TV plans

Coffee! Now!

Come tomorrow morning I’m sure my head will be pounding. The pressure will be coming from inside my skull – between my eyes – and trying to bore a hole through my temples to create a vent and alleviate the pressure.

In the meantime, the pounding will feel like a jackhammer without the noise or road closures.

Yeah, you guessed it. Caffeine withdrawal.

In order to ensure that I get to bed before midnight and get proper sleep in order to be ready for Sunday’s race, I haven’t had any caffeine since Monday. Actually, I had two venti decaf coffees from Starbucks, which has some caffeine, but not enough to stop the headache.

So in attempt to get extra sleep I could be thwarting my plan by keeping myself awake with the pain in my head. Nonetheless, tomorrow will be a caffeinated morning. I’ll go to bed before midnight tonight, get up early, and drive as fast as I can to Starbucks for the regular cup of coffee. How can I get ready to race if I don’t feel like myself?

On another note, I haven’t taken any Ibuprofen in two days, either. Not that I’m a pill popper or anything, but good ol’ vitamin I has aided my recovery during the long training process. I’m not sure if it works or not, but I’ve recovered from run to run better this time around than ever before. That could come from an improved diet and not as much wear and tear on my body, too. However, I plan on popping four Ibuprofens on Sunday morning when I have my breakfast coffee and Clif Bar before the race.

As far as other health issues go, I noticed that I didn’t spit or blow too many snot rockets during an easy 10k in 41:59 even though my throat doesn’t feel too good and my hamstring and hip were tight after my ART appointment.

Hopefully tomorrow morning’s cup of coffee makes everything all better.

Running nugget
Bill Rodgers chatted with The New York Times and says he still loves to run. That's pretty evident for anyone has a conversation with the great marathoner -- no one needs the Times for that.

That's much better

It’s amazing what 20 ounces of one beverage can do for a person. Almost from the first taste of the coffee supposedly shipped in to Lancaster, Pa. from Guatemala, all of the aches and pains in my head slipped into the ether. Sure, it could be psychosomatic, but the energized feeling – as well as the shaky hands – has to come from somewhere.

Obviously, it’s from my drug of choice.

That brings me to a quote I once read that was attributed to William Burroughs where he once told an audience that, “drugs are an inevitable part of life.”

I couldn’t agree more and I’ve debated with people what exactly Burroughs was talking about. Most seem to think that the beat bard was talking about narcotics and the illicit stuff that he waxed on about in his writing, speaking and in a role in the Gus Van Sandt film Drugstore Cowboy.

That’s obvious, but I also believe Burroughs was talking about everyday drugs, too, like caffeine, aspirin, television, money, and whatever else people need in order to make it through the day. In that regard perhaps Burroughs should have said, “Addictions are an inevitable part of life.”

But that would have been too easy.

I also believe that the human body does not want drugs and that Mother Nature, in her own little odd way, is perfect.

Pretty ambiguous, huh?

Nevertheless, the coffee helped my head and the other fluids – an antioxidant drink and gallons and gallons of water – are helping me stave off the cold that seems to be affecting people in these parts. I’m sure the weather isn’t helping much, either. All week it’s been rather seasonal for mid-November, but today it’s sunny with the temperature pushing toward 70 degrees. Typically in these situations, I like to stay consistent with my clothing choices during my workouts. That means a long-sleeved Nike compression shirt and a pair of Pearl Izumi running shorts for my easy five miler in 30:05.

During the run I felt pretty laid back despite the fact that I ran at 6-minute pace. It didn't seem hard, but wasn't super, super easy, either -- I had to think about running that pace. However, I guess it's my average, uptempo pace which I hope to do for 26.2 miles on Sunday. Actually, I'd like to go 6 minutes for the first 13 miles and 5:30 to 5:50 for the last 13.

That will do it.

On another note, it’s typical for runners to gain a pound or two during the taper period since they aren’t cranking out the miles. For some (like me) this is a cause for concern because weight has a tendency to slow people down, but fortunately, I feel as fit this week as I did last week. Whether or not I gained (or lost) any weight is unknown since I choose not to weigh myself. Instead I gauge my fitness and healthiness by how fast (or slow) I am.

That doesn’t mean I don’t watch my diet, especially this week. But man, there is just so much to think about with this running stuff.

Running nugget
According to some blogger in San Francisco, the running boom is alive and well and isn’t fueled by the fast folks. To this we say, “No s---.”

Speaking of the elites, the elite of the elite women, Joan Samuelson, wants to run a sub-2:50 marathon when she turns 50. That would get her in the Olympic Trials, which is extremely impressive.

Then again, Joan Samuelson is the greatest American woman runner ever. There is no debate.

More coffee, please

In the old days, before I went to bed, I made an intricate mix of green tea, honey and lemon juice in an ice-tea machine so it would be ready in the morning before my run. So sure that the green tea made me run better that I lugged that old tea machine with me whenever I traveled to a race or even a pleasure trip.

Nobody knew how to make the tea the way I liked, I reasoned, though a few places came close. If I can recall correctly, the Adams Mark in Clearwater, Fla. had excellent ice tea.

I still have that tea maker and a taste for good ice tea with the right amount of honey and lemon, but I don’t really make it any more. These days, the magic elixir to make me run better every morning comes from Kind Coffee in Estes Park, the stand at Lancaster’s Central Market owned by those guys with interesting facial hair and t-shirts with pithy sayings, or Starbucks everywhere.

Coffee, baby. Coffee.

Apparently, while sitting in the press box at Citizens Bank Park, I wrote about coffee and caffeine as a performance enhancer, so I won’t delve to deeply into it again. However, I wonder what is going to happen when I dial down the training in late November and December…

I’m hooked, huh?

On another note, the Gatorade and Red Bull mixture I have been testing on occasional long runs is not only beneficial to the running, but delicious, too. I was extolling the virtues of the sugar-free Red Bull I drink with my sister recently and she was right there with me.

“You should try it with vodka,” she said.

Drink coffee... now!

Earlier this year I came to terms with something that had been troubling me for quite some time, and that's my addiction -- yes, addiction -- to caffeine. What I realized is that it's time for me to quit trying to quit caffeine. The monkey can not be shaken. Of course, like any self-respecting caffeine addict, the delivery of the intoxicant to my blood stream is very important. Anything other than diet coke, green tea and the true nectar of the gods, coffee, is a waste of time. So it was a delight to see the top e-mailed story in The New York Times today was one about the health benefits that come from drinking coffee. In fact, coffee just might have more antioxidants than drinking green tea, and green tea has been proven in some circles to stop some forms of cancer. So drink up, people. Have all the coffee and tea you like... just have that one healthful glass of wine to help you get rid of those shakes and get to sleep.