It rained. He ran. It's all it had done lately: rain. The earth was drenched. The sidewalks were flooded. Rain spouts and gutters roared like faucets. The world, weary of it, sought refuge.

note: this is shortened version of my blog entry (link available at the end of the article), and is part 4 of a multi-part series i'm writing to cover all of my thoughts on doping.

Like their parents before them, my parents owned a little store as I was growing up - antiques and collectibles and whatnot - and after hours, as my father counted down the register, I'd sit on the floor and play with some random scrap while he told me about his life.

Note: This is part 3 of a multi-part series i'm writing to cover all of my thoughts on doping.

Note: This is part 2 of a multi-part series i'm writing to cover my thoughts on doping. You can check out Part 1.

Libor Michalak, better known as BlueBird Biker to those who follow his blog, is a hardcore bicycle commuter and triathlete. He rides his fixed gear bike through months of rain, sleet and snow in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Note: i'm writing this as part 1 of several. in addition, this is a shortened version of the full entry made on my blog, which you can read by accessing the link in my profile below.

They should call it tiredathlon, not triathlon. All triathlon means is participation in three sports. But what we do is oh so much more. Sure the actual event has us swimming, biking and running, but what of the 4am wake-up call?

Ask a handful of coaches how long it takes to train for Ironman, and you’ll get answers that span anywhere from 18 weeks to a year. Ask the athletes why they train for Ironman, and you’ll get more answers that can fit on this page.

I remember my first triathlon. I remember the fear. Everybody looked so serious and professional. And then there was me. I felt as if I stood out like a tone-deaf Jew going Christmas caroling. (That's another story for a different time.) I had no clue what I was doing and was too scared to ask.