Saratoga News Saratoga Sampler Mary Ann Cook Saratogan faces midlife running, biking and swimming IRONMAN: Jim Magill met his midlife crisis head on by beginning to run competitively. That was eight years, 30 ultra runs (over 26.2 miles) and 14,100 mile runs ago. Every year since then he's sought a new challenge and this year it was the Canadian Ironman Triathlon followed by the Eagle 100 run five days later. The Ironman Triathlon is made up of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run. He completed the event in 12 hours, 56 minutes, more than four hours under the maximum time allowed. He completed the 100-mile Eagle run in British Columbia in 29 hours, 45 minutes. That run included crossing a river 13 different times and an ascent of 8,000 feet. That sounds harrowing enough for several lifetimes, but the real challenges for him, he says, were the swim and cycle portions of the triathlon. He completed the swim section in one hour, 27 minutes, the bike portion in seven hours and the run in 4.30. So the swimming lessons from Robin Cannon of Los Gatos Athletic Club and the 50- to 100-mile cycle stints obviously paid off. He regularly swam 2,500 to 3,000 meters. Though the triathlon is probably a better test of athleticism, the 100-miler is definitely tougher. He explains why: It's two or three times longer, it's run partly in the dark and there are long stretches of being alone. He emerged with scraped knees after slipping down an incline, but that was his only injury. And he maintains anyone can do it--set and succeed in a grueling milieu. For nourishment he ingested Gatorade, Cliff bars and electrolyte gel tablets. And he always travels with plenty of liquid. He was amazed and appalled at the number of runners who didn't ensure they'd keep hydrated with a steady supply of liquid. He's an engineer, retired this year at age 51, and says the feeling of confidence after a challenge permeates every aspect of his life. His goal is to keep the career, social and health sections of his life in balance. The challenge for next year? He doesn't know yet. KNOW SARATOGA? Entrants in the "Do You Know Saratoga" contest conducted at the recent Celebrate Saratoga street dance had to correctly identify nine Saratoga landmarks. Those entries with the correct answers were put into a giant drawing and these winners emerged: Janet Gerst won the grand prize of a night at the Inn at Saratoga donated by Jack Hickling and a $75 gift certificate at Viaggio donated by A. J. Szenda. Jim Griffin was another grand-prize winner with a night at Saratoga Oaks Lodge donated by Lea Ann and Paul Hernandez and brunch for two at Bella Saratoga, donated by Bill Cooper. Other winners: Eric Kraule won a $25 certificate from Front Window donated by Kristin Davis; Karen Burley won $25 from Florentine donated by David Hurley; Sara Douglas, $50 gift certificate from Orang Rapvotzel Salon; and Mary Fleischli, a $60 certificate from Bangkok Palace donated by Art Young. The contest was the idea of Fran Andreson of Backyard Pool, who tried it out on his fellow Rotarians and only one got 100 percent. "We think we know Saratoga, but this shows we really don't pay much attention to our surroundings," he says. Here are the correct answers for those who saw the photots: 1. Warren Hutton house. 2. West Valley College. 3. Mountain Winery. 4. Foothill Club Building. 5. Memorial Arch 6. Hakone Garden. 7. Odd Fellows. 8. Wildwood Park. 9. Montalvo. Rick Benetti and Judy Coulter helped with the contest, too. TO TIBET: Ann Marie and Averell Mix are newly returned from a three-week, Stanford-sponsored trip to Tibet and Bhutan. The trip was led by history professor Mark Mancall, who is writing the first dictionary for Bhutan, based on the dialect that has been declared the official language, dzongkha. The Mixes have taken earlier trips to India, so are no strangers to that part of the world, and though it's arduous, the trip appealed to them. In both countries the topography of the land is deep valleys and high mountains. Roads wash out regularly so travel is hazardous. It was fascinating to see the process of modernizing, while maintaining many of the old ways. "We're still sorting it out," they say. The countries are agrarian economies and Bhutan is trying to retain its independence, while Tibet has been under Chinese rule since 1959. The professor opened many doors to officialdom to the group of 20, and the Mixes were eager to learn about the culture. The only off-putting aspect they report is the smell of yak butter. This is burned in sacred bowls as an offering to Buddha and seems ever-present, permeating the air, an unpleasant odor to newcomers. But the Mixes didn't turn up their noses at eating yak. Indeed, Ann Marie proclaimed the yak burger she had in Tibet the finest she had ever consumed. Think the arches will meet that challenge? LIBRARY AWARENESS: Next week is library week in Saratoga and Friends of the Libraries will sponsor Robert Rohlf, professional consultant, who will address the space constraints of the library and possible short-term solutions. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Community Center. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.